Posted on 09/26/2002 10:19:40 AM PDT by mafree
The barbers at Handsome Barber Shop, 2711 N. Teutonia Ave., have a message for Jesse Jackson.
Lighten up, Jesse.
This comes in the aftermath of Jackson's criticism of some of the dialogue in the country's No. 1 movie, "Barbershop."
Jackson is upset because some characters in the movie - which is written, produced and directed by blacks - engage in mean-spirited banter about leading civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks.
There are also biting comments made about a certain Chicago-based minister.
Meaning, Jesse Jackson.
In his criticism of the film's irreverent attitude toward civil rights figures, Jackson accused the filmmakers of "trying to turn tragedy into comedy."
This week, producers Bob Teitel and Milwaukee native George Tillman apologized for the slap, saying they didn't mean to offend anyone.
Now Jackson wants them to go further; he wants the negative references deleted from the film and from future DVD and video cassette releases.
At Handsome Barber Shop, where a team of five barbers cut heads in the middle of the African-American community, the consensus was this is a whole lot of fuss over nothing.
"It's not offensive, this is everyday life," said barber Deveron Moore, 28.
Moore said the movie did a good job of presenting the regular give-and-take between customers and barbers.
He went to see "Barbershop" on opening night at Mayfair Mall. He rated the movie as an excellent depiction of the daily rhythm and flow of a typical black barbershop. Particularly, the conversation.
"Ain't nothing off the record in a barbershop," he laughed.
Percy Walker, 28, also cuts hair at Handsome Barber. He also thought Jackson's criticism was misguided. The negative comments were challenged by other characters in the movie.
Also, he pointed out some younger fans probably won't pay much attention to Jackson's complaints. Sadly, many of the younger blacks who flocked to this PG-13 movie didn't even know Rosa Parks.
Many don't even remember when Jackson himself was a presidential candidate.
Thaddeus Moore, 48, said the conversation at Handsome Barber can run the gamut. Sports, politics, current events, the latest episode of "The Jerry Springer Show" are all up for grabs.
About the only forbidden topics are explicit sexual references or constant profanity, because at any given time, many of the customers are children.
Bottom line, said Thaddeus Moore: "There's almost nothing you can't say in a barbershop."
Personally, I was surprised Jackson took the opportunity to impose this sort of censorship on the most popular black movie in years, an impressive crossover success many observers feel may help future black-themed movies succeed at the box office.
Particularly since, he must realize, the black barbershop is a traditional enclave in the African-American community.
It's the place most black men - and some women - go to hear the latest on the community grapevine, discuss their opinions in an unrestrained way and enjoy fellowship across generational lines.
Frankly, Jackson seems desperate for attention - not an unthinkable possibility - if he wants to make points off this one.
I've seen "Barbershop"; it's a well-made and entertaining film, at times poignant and sincere in its commentary on the way blacks interact.
Also, it's funny as hell.
The barbers at Handsome Barber Shop think it's a good representation of their profession, and that should be good enough for most people.
But they did have an opinion about why Jackson might have decided to make this an issue.
"I think he just wants to get people's attention off that (out-of-wedlock) baby of his," one of the cutters said.
See, that's the way it goes in a barbershop. Nothing's off limits.
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Did anyone watch the Miss America pageant a few days ago? They had a history quiz section at the end, where contestants all got to show off their familiarity with American history. They asked questions on Charles Lindbergh, etc.
Some of the contestants got hardly any right. Almost all of the questions had at least one contestant answer wrong. But what was the one question EVERYONE got right?
You guessed it, Rosa Parks. I said to my son, of course, in elementary school they teach 5 years of civil rights and squeeze the rest in one year...
2. Taliban letter.
Yep...the corporate blackmail industry must be in a slump these days.
FReegards...MUD
F@CK JESSIE JACKSON!!!
More recently, there was the "Taliban Letter" back in October, where he claimed the Taliban faxed him a request to mediate.
Always wants to be in the center of things.
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