Everything you just said in this post even further promotes the very issues I stated before along with bluezulu's and actually is even further disturbing...not to mention it also underscores even further the very problems some see as some black men only caring about their own particular issues and not the issues outside of just racism that effects their very own brothers and sisters...even WITHIN thier own black communities.
it also may show you have a very limited understanding of cross sectional issues that effect different black people.
1. the fact that you take this "black people has to be for everyone else far too much" as a concern and that you feel that "black people have to put their concerns on the back-burner to mollify our allies" is showing that black people WHO ARE LGBT (they do exist in large numbers whther you like it or not) and black feminist or womanist issues are largely invisible to you and you see these concerns as a "white" thing. This is an issue black people within the LGBT community AND many black women feel and discuss all the time and everything in your post supports it.
First of all I never said my concern about black people being for everyone else was LGBT specific. This happens in a variety of ways, with black people taking up causes and not getting reciprocal support. What I do feel throughout this post that you are making assumptions about me and putting words in my mouth even though I have clearly tried to write out my thoughts, but that's your right to do so.
Homosexual and gender issues ARE a black issue because there ARE black LGBT people existing who feel excluded and not accepted and often ESPECIALLY within their own black communities. Funny thing is THEY feel the same way you do...that their particular issues are put on the back burner in lieu of the greater "race" struggle or even seen as "not a black thing" or a "unnatural thing they picked up from white people" and thus should not only be ignored but condemned. And again everything in your post proves that.
You keep linking LGBT and gender issues like they are one and the same and they are not, or not always. Fair enough that homosexual and gender issues are black issues, but at the same time is a cop stopping and frisking you because you are gay or because you are black?
For instance: Coates has made his bones and spent most of his career talking about race issues and racism...Reggie Hudlin and Priest before him in his own way did the same with their runs...but Coates, after only 1 issue, focuses on a lesbian couple and gender issues and suddenly there is a "concern"...never mind that those issues affects a segment of black people as well that are often ignored or "put on the back burner" themselves...by their own people.
Are LGBT issues really being put on the back burner by blacks? The most important social movement for black folks in decades is very supportive of LGBT issues, and there are countless black thought pieces in support of LGBT rights, President Obama is a supporter of LGBT issues and has been more vocal about them than he has regarding issues that affect blacks (straight or gay). Even Farrakhan defended the LGBT community at the latest Million Man March. Though for some of this mainstream support, there is a racial component here where the face of LGBT is often white so it is more acceptable to support their cause in the mainstream. I've already laid out why I am concerned about Ayo and Aneka and what it might portend going forward so I'm not going to repeat it.
But of course you "have an issue with the "promotion" of homosexuality (because of course LGBT people seeing themselves in a black comic can only be "promotion" and not "inclusion") ahead of racism and colonialism in a Black Panther comic. WHY? Could it be that you only care about your own concerns and fantasies and inclusion in the world? That as a straight black man you want to see upfront and foremost in a comic about a black afrofuturistic country only those things that affect YOU and not concerns that affect black people that are not black straight men for ONCE in this comic being in the forefront? Because its giving support to something other than some dudes fragile black male ego?
Of course I care about my own inclusion and 'fantasies', likewise you do too, or you wouldn't be so huffy about my comments. Why wouldn't a comic book about a African kingdom, one of the few unconquered by colonialism, not talk about issues affecting or afflicting the continent? Why would they talk about homosexuality, which is a very hot topic right now, instead of long running problems, historical problems, that have often gotten short shrift in the media? I once read that Black Panther/T'Challa was inspired by the new wave of African freedom fighters and movements of the 50s and 60s, but you think that history and the continuing issues that are part of that history should be ignored or take a backseat to see a same sex couple? I very much do see promotion of homosexuality because the media is talking about it, displaying, celebrating it, and now it is a situation where it must be embraced, must be celebrated, or you are a homophobe or transphobic. I just saw that the American Idol runner up is taking hit for saying she doesn't agree with that lifestyle. Now she also said she has gay friends and is tolerant of the homosexual lifestyle, but tolerance is no longer enough.
All that being, I'm not saying that any issues should be excluded from this Panther run or in other media, though I am concerned about what gets priority, and why. I think homosexuality is more acceptable so its getting the priority in this Panther run, so far.
I've seen the attack on the 'fragile' straight male ego before. But is there such a thing as a fragile female or rather feminist ego or homosexual male/female ego? Are the concerns of homosexuals more legitimate than straight people? Are homosexuals only allowed to express displeasure? And it not be seen as an issue of fragility?
The idea that you think that the issues of straight black men are at the forefront is troubling. There have been long fights about the lack of representation, of diversity in front of and behind the cameras in Hollywood. Where is this great representation for straight black males?Where are there voices being heard so clearly? There is an issue of representation where black voices are concerned period. This belief that straight black males have it so good while everyone else suffers is erroneous. Fair enough you might see more straight black males in media, but also you see more straight black males demonized in media.
This is the very issues many black women and LGBT people have discussed...that the struggle always and mainly focuses on straight black men while women and especially black people who are LGBT should just be quiet, not be represented in any meaningful way, or always be secondary.
I've never once said anyone should be quiet. I think there is a hostility towards straight black males from feminists that want to make all black men out to be Mister from The Color Purple. I have no problem at all with black women or LGBT people having a voice, and they do have voices. The struggle doesn't focus solely on black men, but black men do take a lot of punishment and they do need help. The idea that you should be condemning that help instead of acknowledging the problems is cause for concern. It doesn't have to be either/or, zero sum game. But I do feel that's how some feminists play it.
Thankfully Coates disagrees with you and has a wider view and sensitivity to issues that affects black people other than straight black males.
I'm just one dude, with my opinion. Don't generalize all black males because of me. And Coates is entitled to his view, I'm still supporting his work...for now, but in the future that remains to be seen.
2. The fact you think Coates is writing this because "homosexuality is more acceptable and it endears him to more liberals" is laughable and sad at the same time. Dude has spent his career writing about controversial race isssues and even made a case for reparations...which even some liberal white people dont agree with. So now all of a sudden he's writing to appease liberals? lol... Thats whats laughable. What's sad is that you actually NEED to believe this because you cant accept that a straight, married black man actually is writing this because he cares about and sees this as an issue that should be addressed. And it IS an issue within the black community as well as outside of it. Financially yes, its possible more LGBT people and even women might pick it up ecause they see themselves included in it in a intelligent and meaningful way. Hopefully straight black dudes wont be scared off from it because of this.
Coates is also writing at The Atlantic. He's a pet black intellectual. That doesn't mean I don't agree with many of his articles. I have liked his writing and that made me interested when I heard he got this gig. But I also understand that he is working for a white magazine and promotion of homosexuality won't piss them off. It will endear him to them. Are there some white liberals who disagree with him? Sure, but what does that mean? It doesn't mean there aren't others who agree with him, or agree with him enough, to continue paying him to write. And his arguments for reparations don't prevent him from supporting Senator Sanders after chastising him for not supporting them. Coates can express some displeasure but still be counted on to fold right back into a progressive tent. He's an eloquent writer, an insightful person, but one that isn't going to turn over any tables. Which I get that, The Atlantic or Marvel wouldn't hire him if he was a barn burner, but I'm not going to pretend he's this bold, radical thinker either. He's a racial interpreter for white people.
Plus, its only the first issue. We dont know yet if "racism and colonialism" wont be touched upon too along with the issues he's already presented. but his first run was already touted to be involving an internal Wakandan prolem.
You are right on that it is the first issue. And I've said that, more than once, that Coates said he was delaying discussing those topics. Which I do find odd since so many issues connected to Africa revolve around them. Now I am skeptical that he will actually get to them or if he does he will address them in a surface, non-controversial way like many others have also done when depicting Africa.
3. Your rant about black misogyny and actually bringing up misandry, which in many ways is a much smaller to nonexistent issue in a patriarchal world and in comics, where male characters far outweigh female ones and black male characters are far greater than the almost non-existent black female ones, smacks of a disingenous defensive argument. its like white people bringing up their own oppression whenever someone talks about white supremacy. Its pretty much a non-argument when looking at the facts of the world.
Rant? Was I writing in ALL CAPS? No, I saying something you dislike so you want to delegitimize it by making it seem like I'm frothing at the mouth. When I think about misandry, yes, I agree to some extent what you are saying here, regarding how powerful misandry might be in comparison to misogyny in the overall country. Though I do think we need to decouple the white experience from the black experience. While there are more black male characters in mainstream comics, or at least prominent black male characters, it's not like its black men who are generally writing these characters. They are not true representations of black people, male or female. They are often white peoples ideas of what black people are. That being said, the most well known black character in comics for a long time was Storm. She was so well known that some fans hated that she married Panther. I read that even John Byrne felt that Storm was too good for Panther. Now in other black popular media, there is misandry. The black man ain't sh*t basically has been touted in movies for a long time now and to some extent in music.
The general power differences between white males and white females, I don't know if that is exactly replicated in the black community. And if it has been, I don't know if that is no longer the case with black women getting more degrees and having relatively better employment. So the power differentials might be different.
And why is it whenever negativity within the black community and the ills SOME black men do is discussed its an overall "attack on the black man?" What are some of us being so fragile about that we shouldnt accept some judgement, especially from our own, about ourselves? Ive been a black man probably longer than you, and whenever these things are bought up, I dont feel its an overall attack on black men and definitely dont feel we are all "lazy and shiftless" and whatever else you said. But yes, some black men are sexist and misogynistic and in more subtle ways they arent even aware of, totally dismissive and blind to issues outside of what affects them personally. the fact that this is sometimes ought up and discussed, especially by other black people, isnt a "broad brush" over all black men. Again, your post underscores this. There are many examples of black men being loving and not lazy in the world and in media. The current president and his wife is one of the best examples of a black man and a black love around...why do I see these examples and you dont?
Look at some of your statements in regards to me. It went away from just going after me, Emperorjones, to swiping at all black men, or rather straight black men. So I think its very easy to generalize. So is all the negativity in the black community solely coming from straight black males? Its not an issue of 'accepting' judgment, its who the judgment is coming from and for what purpose. And also the people who are judging how would they feel if the mirror is turned back on them? It seems to me you are going into this assuming that straight black men are a problem, perhaps the problem, so we need that tough love, we need the finger wagging, and so on and so on. And black men get that, from all corners, including from President Obama. I think some feminists and perhaps some others have allowed the our so-called allies, the media, and academia to poison us against each other, and that its okay to bash straight black men. For example I saw an Ebony article going after Michael B. Jordan for referring to black women as 'females'. Are you kidding me? That doesn't mean that black women aren't getting bashed or black LGBT people aren't getting bashed either, but why is it an outrage when its females and gay folks but not when its straight black males?
One of the few nice things I do have to say about President Obama is that his marriage is a great optic to counter some of the negativity regarding heterosexual intraracial relationships, but they are still too far and in between.
Now, how many positive or intriguing examples do you see of black LGBT people?
Off the top of my head, the lead character (Jamal?) on Empire. Curtis Holt on Arrow. Morris Chestnut's sister on Rosewood. Lafayette and Tara on True Blood. I don't watch much a wide variety of shows these days, but I can assume there are more or soon will be.
I feel you on T'Challa so far not being the front and center character of this story, but that doesnt mean its not a good story nor one that will elevate the character...and the best stories dont always involve the central character "kicking ass" to satisfy our male egos. He's attempting to, for better or worse, deal with redefining the world around the central character. Coates already said this story would focus on the politics and standing of Wakanda as a whole and T'challa as a monarch. its only the 1st issue.
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I don't know if it will be a good story. I know Coates is a good writer. I'm really feeling the art. I don't think kicking ass is purely a male thing. Look at how feminists celebrated Rey in The Force Awakens. Was her kicking ass purely a male thing. And we've seen a rise of (white) female action stars over the years in Resident Evil, Underworld, and The Hunger Games. Now we have The Force Awakens and soon to have Rogue One. I think many groups want to see someone like them kick ass, irrespective of gender.
