Let's Play TransGriot Jeopardy!

Every now and then I get an interesting comments on the various posts I write that I just have to elevate into a post in order to properly eviscerate it.

This one comes from commenter Renee W, who alleges she's a Black female Republican and took issue with my recent post slamming Angela McGlowan.

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Dear Mrs. Roberts

First of all as a Black female, can I give you a bit of advice give honor were honor is due. You need to get off of Angela's back, whether you’re a Democrat or Republican stand for what you believe and leave it at that.

Mrs. McGlowan has won my favor and regardless of if she doesn’t fit into what you think she should fit into. Watch yourself, because one day you’re going to look around and see a new breed of republican who skin may just be a little darker than you would like. Angela has won my favor as well as the favor of many BLACK women, who are secure in their race. Women who are bold, fierce and willing to stand up for things that are right. Now you take that how you want to take it, and please feel free to comment. I will be awaiting your reply.

Real quick question why in the world would anyone support the abortion industry? When more black baby’s die at the hands of Planned Parenthood than any race. Hummm possible genocide? Duh you think.
I don’t care if your republican, independent, democrat shows me good politics and I will show you real change.
Renee. W --Plainfield--


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Renee, Renee, Renee.
Mrs. Roberts is my mother. I'm Ms. Roberts and happily single. But thanks for the respectful props anyway.

Your Republican minders are going to have to prep you better before you step to me with these tired GOP talking points.

Oldest conservative Internet trick in the book is for you vanilla flavored peeps to go into an African American blog or online space, try to claim you're Black, and then launch into conservative talking points and spin.

There's only a 2-10% chance you actually are Black, but I'll give you the benefit of a doubt on this one just for fun.

USS Monica going to DEFCON 1...spooling up 20 megatons of knowledge to drop on this poor deluded Faux News watching person. Board is green, rhetorical Tomahawks ready. Begin countdown. 5..4..3..2..1..launch

Renee, I too admire Black women who are bold, fierce and willing to stand up for things that are right.

But the women I admire such as Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), the late Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), the late Rep. Barbara Jordan (D-TX), the late Rep. Shirley Chisholm, the late Audre Lorde, Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Jasmyne Cannick, Dr. Marisa Richmond and the late Coretta Scott King stand and stood up for what is right, not right wing.

And what I define as right is advancing the same social justice, civil rights, political and economic justice we've been pushing as a people since emancipation.

And what exactly has Angela McGlowan 'stood for that is right' that motivated you to post a comment on TransGriot to 'get off Angela McGlowan's back'?

Expound on that in terms longer than a single sentence.

Now let's play Final TransGriot Jeopardy!. Remember your answer must be phrased in the form of a question.

The Final TransGriot Jeopardy category is 'Black Leadership', and the answer is:

This noted political scientist and commentator from the University of Maryland penned the 'Definition Of Black Leadership'. Name this distinguished professor.


Times up...the Final TransGriot Jeopardy answer is:

Who is Dr. Ronald Walters?

I am simply judging her by the definition of Black leadership as articulated by Dr. Ronald Walters, and Angela McGlowan falls far short of that.

In case you aren't aware of that...here it is:

The task of Black leadership is to provide the vision, resources, tactics, and strategies that facilitate the achievement of the objectives of Black people.

These objectives have been variously described as freedom, integration, equality, liberation, or defined in the terms of specific public policies. It is a role that often requires disturbing the peace. And we constantly carry on a dialogue about the fitness of various leaders and the qualities they bring to the table to fulfill this mission.

If Angela were working for the uplift of the Black community, maybe I could 'give credit where credit is due'. Impressive resume, Ole Miss grad, minister's daughter. But it's the people she's chosen to align herself with politically that's the problem.

I can't ignore the fact that Condoleezza For The New Millennium supports a party that has worked tirelessly AGAINST the interests of African-Americans for over 40 years. The fact she's from Mississippi makes it particularly odious and she should fracking know better.

She has aligned herself with the racist Teabagger movement, worked for Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) and as a Fox News commentator willingly participated in attacks on President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and African-Americans in general.




As for the 'many Black women who are secure in their race' that you claim support Angela McGlowan, I have to ask you, in what alternate universe? Maybe in Fox 'News' watching Bizarro world, but in the reality based universe Black women proud of being Black and seeking to uplift the race are predominately politically liberal-progressive, Democrats and members of Black Greek letter sororities and social organizations, not conservative teabagger sellouts hating on the President, the First Lady and the Black community.

And since you brought it up, let's talk about that proud legacy of negro Republican women such as Condoleezza Rice, Judge Janice Rogers Clown, oops Brown, Star Parker, Amy Holmes, Alveda King and Tara Wall.

So far all I see and hear from the 'new breed' of negro Republican women is the same tired, failed, racist GOP policies and message white male Repugnicans spewed for decades. They are regurgitated by pretty packages all too willing to sell their people out for designer clothes, book deals, media attention and face time at conservative conventions.

I also see many of these women, such as Amy Holmes distancing themselves from their African heritage as well or more concerned with being loyal to the conservative movement and clocking those sellout dollars than they are to the Black community.

Ahh, makes me wanna go get a pair of Ferragamo pumps and rush to change my voter registration to Republican.

Dr. Julia Hare, another fierce Black woman, warned us at a recent 'State of the Black Union' event there's a difference between Black leaders and leading Blacks.

Angela McGlowan sadly doesn't fit into either category.

And finally, why bring up Margaret Sanger in the context of your alleged defense of Angela McGlowan?

FYI for you, contrary to the lies the anti-abortion industry pimps about Planned Parenthood and Margaret Sanger, she had the support of W.E.B. Du Bois and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. If she was as 'racist' as you and your anti choice friends allege, why would she in 1930 open up a family planning clinic staffed with a Black doctor and Black social worker in Harlem?

The mission of that clinic was to enlist support for contraceptive use and extol the benefits of family planning at a time when Black people women were routinely denied access to their city's health and social services

This clinic was endorsed by the way by powerful institutions in the African American community such as The Amsterdam News newspaper, the Abyssinian Baptist Church, the Urban League, and W.E.B. Du Bois.

Renee, Duh, we're only 13% of the population, so there are far more white women terminating their pregnancies than Black women.

BTW Planned Parenthood was run from 1978-1992 by Faye Wattleton, an African American woman, so that blows your 'Black genocide' talking point straight to Hades doesn't it?.

But if you had other news sources besides Fox, the sacreligious Reich and the conservative movement you would have known that.

Thank you for playing Renee W, and we have lovely parting gifts for you.

E-Mail From Fredrikka

TransGriot note: It's nice to hear from people who not only appreciate your writing (a gentle hint for you TransGriot readers to leave comments from time to time), they take the time out of their busy schedules to tell you.

I deeply appreciate that. It's also a wake-up call as to just how much of a role model and inspiration others consider me, even if I don't feel like I am most days.

Fredrikka Maxwell, who's a TransGriot guest poster from time to time sent me this e-mail. Someone on the Dignity list (for GLBT Catholics) she's on sent her a link to my Destruction of the Black Transwoman Image post I wrote a few days ago that I crossposted to the Bilerico Project as well. It also underscores the point I was making that I'm not the only African-American transwoman who's beyond sick and tired of being saddled with the 'all Black transwomen are hookers' stereotype.

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Marvin,
Monica Roberts is someone I have met, have high regard for, and count among my friends.

She has a clear insight into the black community and knows firsthand what it's like to be black and trans. And she's one of those women who have come through that drama and trauma and still holds her head high and walks tall like the regal daughter of kings of the Motherland.

Monica founded a thriving Yahoo list for black trans people, their friends, families, and allies, called Transsistahs-Transbrothas. And when she first thought of starting her list, then called Transsistahs, I was one of the charter members.

Monica is on target with her post. There is, among the mainstream media, the perception that all black transwomen are sex workers. Now I don't deny that some black transwomen may have taken to prostitution. It's not something I've ever encouraged. Here's my take on that.

I know from bitter firsthand experience that a lot of trans people are currently under or flat out unemployed. When you go to hunt for employment on the web, for example, you will usually find on most applications, a space for or a question about whether you've worked under another name. In a perfect world it would be OK to say yes to that. Bu in the real world that can out you and cause you to lose the job you thought you were going to be hired for.

Does the name Peter Oiler mean anything to you? Oiler was a truck driver for the Winn-Dixie grocery chain. They found out somehow that, away from work he was a cross dresser and fired him. He sued. He lost. The court seemed to think it was OK for the company to fire him even if the wasn't doing anything gender variant on company time. Now Oiler wasn't black. He was like mos of you, a white dude.

My reason for bringing him up is that black trans people have gone through that.

Does the name Susan Stanton mean anything to you? Just a person who worked for her city for 14 distinguished years only to get fired because it was learned she was beginning to transition.

There are thousands of black trans people who have gone though that. And what do some of them do since they can't find jobs anywhere? Some take to the streets in more ways than one. Some actually LIVE on the damn street.

And even if you have a decent job, your health insurance may have a specific exclusion for anything related to Gender Reassignment Surgery. That means hormones, or Facial Feminization Surgery, or finding a qualified gender therapist. And your therapists and endocrinologists, electrologist, and your surgeons all have one thing in common. THEY ALL WANT YOUR FREAKING MONEY.

So I'm not going to pass judgment on those who take to the streets. I just say a prayer of thanksgiving and realize that, there, but for the grace of God go I.

But I'm not now, never have, and never will encourage anyone to hit the streets. But I'm telling you that I understand how some people can feel like that's an option.

But, having said that, ALL BLACK TRANSWOMEN ARE NOT WHORES. Thank you. That's the truth from somebody who knows transwomen who run call centers, who are classical musicians, who are nurses, police officers, writers, and motivational speakers and even a minister or two. And that's just the transWOMEN, who include regal souls like my friend Monica Roberts.