Responsible Journalism - WAFF 48 Huntsville or Antoine Dodson. Titles are overrated anyway.

Many of you may have watched a hilarious video over the weekend.



And maybe you were even lucky enough to see a good parody of the now historic youtube clip of Antoine Dodson and his sister, Kelly Dodson. If you haven't, enjoy the clips embedded in this blog.



However, I would like to use this space to discuss some very important topics that relate directly to this video. First, did WAFF 48 have to show the ignorance in this video? In my opinion, they HAD to show the story. It is not their job to censor the ignorance of any victim or person involved in a news story. If they had not shown this video it would have been far worse. In this country we need to be honest and stop trying to hide things that are completely fucked up in our nation. Plus, can we really fault Antoine? He was angry, his sister was assaulted, what would you have done?

I understand this is a story that seems to place black Americans or blacks that live in HSV projects in a poor light. But aren't they already in a poor light? If someone sheds light on your life and it looks shitty, wasn't it shitty beforehand? I'd argue yes. Shedding light may even help someone by allowing others to see their struggle. Kelly was a victim and so was Antoine. Yet we see that our community (black, white, whoever) needs to do better. First, work together to stop criminals of this type. Then, education needs to become a larger part of our community. Opportunities for educational growth need to be more readily available to people like Antoine. I feel like I'm getting a little preachy, but if these videos made you feel uncomfortable then GOOD. GREAT even. Maybe you should feel uncomfortable all the time, so you can get off your ass and help someone else that is less fortunate than yourself.

And I must say this before the NAACP or Al Sharpton begins to cry racism and such on WAFF. Our community needs a WAKE UP call. WAFF48 did its job and reported the news. Is it their fault that the victim was so ridiculous and hilarious? NO. The issue that our 'black leaders' should evaluate is how to stop blacks from being ignorant and poor (EDUCATION). Not all black people fit into any mold. But crying racism every five seconds never addresses the basic issue: how do we move our community FORWARD. Don Imus is not a person that matters. We focus on issues that are not an issue. Can we (black leaders) begin to see the forest for the trees?

This blog is about to get very preachy. ATTENTION BLACK AMERICA (also, listen up WORLD): everything is not RACISM. If I point out that the majority of black men are in prison on a radio program, don't get mad at ME. Get mad at the black men in prison or the system that put them there! You can only solve a problem if you address the source. And the source isn't people screaming "nigger" or whatever. Sometimes it is deeper than that. While racism is a problem, the BIGGER issue is our community. You want to change the perception of the racists? Stop shooting each other, go to school, get a job, get off the government, stop abusing welfare, the kids, and your girlfriends/wives, and live a cleaner lifestyle. Guess what will happen? Soon the majority of black folks will be wealthy, healthy, and wise. So when the racists make comments, you can BRUSH THEM OFF! Why? Because you will know the truth. Let people say whatever the FUCK they want (that could be constitutional...). Stop wasting time on that shit. Waste time fixing our society (black, white, hispanic, who the fuck ever) from the inside out! These issues are systemic and firing Don Imus or getting mad at Michael Richards is NOT gonna do shit to solve the issues.

And while I am here...DO SOME GOOD. This is for Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and the NAACP. Stop being media puppets. Stop commenting on every fucking side issue. HELP THE COMMUNITY. I know you do some great things, but stop worrying about little things and wasting everyone's fucking time. Worry about the actual community, not the perception of the community.

In my ranting and raving, I have neglected the origin of this post. WAFF48, please keep doing what you are doing. REPORT THE NEWS. I have zero issue with YOU. Antoine and Kelly, you do you as well. That is who you are. Try to rise above your current state, other than that, keep pushing forward. Folks laughing at the videos, KEEP LAUGHING. The shit is hilarious. News media, pundits, bloggers (me included), and anyone else to which this applies, GO FUCK YOURSELF. Unless you are gonna address the actual issues here (class separation, lack of education, financial burdens, project living environment), then save your commentary.