WHO OWNS YA, BABY?: From Slavery to Affirmative Action

BlueStarBase.org ^ | May 24, 2003 | Barbara Stanley

[EveningStar]

I supposed I should have entitled this ‘a rose by any other name’ but the smell isn’t very sweet, is it? Last evening I watched the American Idol program on Fox. I have seen a few of these programs before and the level of talent making it to the finals is, in a word, awesome. God really has gifted some of these kids with ability to spare in the singing department. And I’m not writing about the programs which promote kids who sing through their noses, dress like Britney Spaniel, er, Spears (notice how that hair looks like dogs’ ears?), are way too precocious to bear and are more like mini-adults than real children. Why anyone would take the beauty that is the child and replace it with a faux adult has always escaped me. Just like the beauty pageant entrants whose moms dress them up like little Barbie Dolls… I just don’t get it. For me, there is no beauty like that of the innocence of a genuine child.

There were two finalists in last night’s competition: Ruben, an obese black man with quite a rhythm and blues voice and Clay, a southern guy who has the range of voice than can handle a broad spectrum of music and wit, poise and charm to spare. At one point, the guys sang a duet and Ruben’s voice, mellow as it is, was lost in the powerful instrument of Clay. So guess who won? Yup, Ruben.

[Lunatic Fringe]

What on earth did this article have to do with slavery or affirmiative action?

[sirshackleton]

I second that...what the hell was the point?

[Dr. Zzyzx]

Haven't seen the show, don't know for sure, but I think the guy's saying Ruben won because of his race, not his talent.

[Zavien Doombringer]

And...the point is?....(drum roll)

[Lunatic Fringe]

And where does she say that in the article? It wasn't even hinted....

[f.Christian]

I watched that star search show go diversty big time ...

some trashy visiting Japansee performers were given the 1st prize and the Americans (( shock )) got the shaft ---

I don't know anything about this 'idol' program !

[CAPTAINSUPERMARVELMAN]

And why is Ruben always described as an obese "black" man and Clay never described as a scrawny little southern "white" guy? Last time I checked they were both from the south.

[Dr. Zzyzx]

And where does she say that in the article? It wasn't even hinted....

At one point, the guys sang a duet and Ruben’s voice, mellow as it is, was lost in the powerful instrument of Clay. So guess who won? Yup, Ruben.

[Scothia]

I watched that star search show go diversty big time ...

some trashy visiting Japansee performers were given the 1st prize and the Americans (( shock )) got the shaft ---

To whom, exactly, are you referring? I saw the whole season of Star Search. The finalist winners, on Wednesday night last week, were an American boy singer of Filipino extraction, two American dancers, a Canadian comedienne, and an Italian-American adult singer from Brooklyn.

The Superstar Finals on Friday night were won by a young American girl, a young American boy dancer, the Canadian, and the woman from Brooklyn. All phenomenal talents and deserving of what they got.

The entire winners list is available on cbs.com/starsearch, if you'd like to validate my list.

So what channel were you watching, anyway? More to the point, what beverages were you enjoying while watching?

[f.Christian]

Sorry ... this was 15 yrs ago !

[Catspaw]

I suppose one has to write about something to fill space, no matter how irrelevant.

[EveningStar]

I've never seen any of those shows but I enjoyed this article, nontheless.

[EveningStar]

Are you getting arm weary?

[Zavien Doombringer]

hehehe, I still am trying to see the issue. I don't know, maybe the post was supposed to bring debate...

[Lee Heggy]

"maybe the post was supposed to bring debate"

Pretty lame attempt. Who gives a **!! about manufactured 'celebrities' anyway. I don't care what color or what planet they come from. Most people watch such stuff for the same reasons they watch Jerry Springer or Judge Judy. BLAH!

[Catspaw]

I watched a a few of the last episodes of American Idol. The last three contestants were equally talented, but had different singing styles. If this was to be a race-based contest, then the woman who came in 3rd would have been one of the top 2 with Ruben. As I said, it's an irrelevant column, just filling space.

[Zavien Doombringer]

You have my vote...I could care less. I didn't watch the freak show anyway.

[Revenge Of Daffy-Duck]

"There were two finalists...Ruben, an obese black man....When this contest began, some hoped Ruben would take it seriously and drop a few pounds to improve his overall health and appearance..."

Yeah! Why didn't Ruben just reach behind his head and flip his "Lose Weight Now" switch? Oh, if only this lady could have spoken to him! "You know what? You should loose some weight" she could inform him. And suddenly the scales would have fallen from his eyes, and all would have been revealed!