Most recent public comments by Tiara Sparrow https://nowcomment.com/users/49727 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1326678 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1326678 This section reminded me of a book I read called "Pimp" by Iceberg Slim, who was really Robert Beck, an African American pimp in the U.S. who wrote fictional novels based on his experiences, in "the game." It was interesting that this paralleled with how Iceberg got into the Pimp game for extra money and a living wage and got addicted to the success and money he was making, and how it made him feel powerful, and capable of deciding his destiny. Mon, 15 Apr 2019 18:36:02 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315803 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315803 I totally agree with what you're saying. I believe there is a new film called "Pimp" with Keke Palmer, but even then when watching the trailers I wonder if this depiction is accurate. There is ultimately silence from the women who are living this lifestyle, and I believe it is due to the suppression of their narratives. It is leaving me to wonder if anyone has done this research and spoken with women from this lifestyle to see their perspective. It makes me wonder if anyone even cares outside of our Media class, and how we can shed light on these untold, hushed narratives. In the Wire I feel the depiction of women in the gang is slim to none, but when it is they're outside of the real stories and lifestyle of the game, I wish they had stayed on the show long enough to include a season about the female perspectives of this lifestyle and what these women have gone through, because I, like many others are probably very ignorant to the involvement and struggle of these women. Thu, 04 Apr 2019 11:04:42 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315797 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315797 I wonder though, if there is an ultimate reason for the positioning of women in submissive/ subservient roles. I feel as though we don't learn much about if it is for the protection of the women, which isn't likely because they were taking advantage of teenage addicts... Or maybe it was to keep the women in a space where they would only know so much, but not be totally exposed to what the men were really doing in the streets. It leaves me with more questions than answers. Thu, 04 Apr 2019 10:59:48 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315796 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315796 I totally agree with your sentiments. I think that the limited engagement with women in the game and their stories in the show was very disappointing. We saw bits of D'Angelo's mother attempting to pressure him back into it for support, but we didn't get to see much of the backstory as to why she would need this support. I think sexual violence and the matriarchy of street life would be a topic that people would want to know about so I'm not sure why they have such a narrowly sanitized portrayal of women around this lifestyle. Thu, 04 Apr 2019 10:56:21 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309641 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309641 I like this line because it is very true. The way the press and government demonized "drugs" to cover their racism gets more and more obvious as we educate ourselves and learn from the past. I think that Reagan absolutely planned this policy as propaganda and wanted to start an all out divide in the country. The CIA has allegedly murdered threats to "america" such as the leaders of the Black Panther Party, Bob Marley, and many other influential black figures with strong voices and large platforms. I use the term conspiracy lightly because I believe there are a lot of truths in these conspiracies. If you're reading this please look up the origin and who may have coined the term "conspiracy theory" and form an opinion on your own. You're very ignorant if you believe everything in the media and that the government tells you... Thu, 28 Mar 2019 10:48:14 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309626 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309626 I definitely agree with both of what you had to say. I think the fact that we had a black president may have silenced the racists for a couple of years but it clearly did not fix the racial issues in America. Obama could barely get anything done without push back from Senate or the House. While he was president we can see that the racism in America began boiling to a new point that we haven't witnessed since the Civil Rights Movement. We can see the outcome with the vote of the radical republican Trump into office. Now that these issues are in the forefront America is left in a subdued level of distress as we wonder what is to come next and how someone so erratic and unpredictable could be running our country. It's absolutely FACTS that Obama wouldn't last a day doing or saying any of the ignorant things that Trump has said and done while in office. We also see the racism in femininity when we look at how the first ladies are vastly different but how Michelle was painted as masculine and negatively in the white media while Melania seems to get nothing but sympathy for being with the man she chose to mary, to further her careers. I can say honestly that I don't think any of us signed up for this, and even those who did vote for him didn't and still don't even know what they have done our country. It is funny though, that now we can make a joke of the systems in America even the presidential executive systems are clearly flawed and it makes America and its history out to be a joke in my opinion, which is nearing the truth. Thu, 28 Mar 2019 10:41:31 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309581 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309581 I totally agree with your point. Many times lawyers do fight for the rights of the people, but corruption is prevalent within the justice system. It makes me question why these famous women are in big legal trouble for buying their daughters way into school, when we see that all the systems of America can be bought out by esteem and money. We even heard Prof.Williams speak about how he had people helping coach his son into better schools, which is also a privilege that low income and minority groups sometimes don't have. We live in a world where many people are trying to strive and survive regardless of who is suffering and struggling in the oppressive environment that is America. So I do believe it is up to us to at the very least question these structures and try to search for solutions, or at the very least call attention to these inequities. Thu, 28 Mar 2019 10:32:47 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309577 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309577 This is very true. I think if we look at all aspects of life including pay wage, job opportunity, certain "urbanized" areas of housing, police brutality, and even institutions of higher learning we still see stereotyping and discrimination. You can find this in all aspects of life, although it is harder to witness personally and understand if you are not a minority. We see in higher education that the "Canon" of what great film, literature, art should be is framed by white men who were allowed access and privilege to education and these institutions from the beginning. Thu, 28 Mar 2019 10:27:47 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309575 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309575 I think this line is powerful, because many times to disregard and dismiss the negative impact of racism and structure of racism people claim to be "color blind" when that may just be the most ignorant and racist thing you could say. I've had professors claim to be color blind. As humans we are designed to judge and to parallel and compare ourselves with others. "Color" has been ingrained in how we view other Americans, so it's great that Alexander calls attention to this contradiction. Thu, 28 Mar 2019 10:23:03 -0400