Thursday, July 22, 2010

A Tale of Two Cities: Violence in Indy, "not the whiteman's bitch" in Milwaukee



Political slogans have long been an effective tool in galvanizing supporters, energizing the candidates and for providing material to flaunt on t-shirts, bumper stickers and yard signs.

Who could ever forget the efficient and economical usage of the nebulous phrase “Yes, we can” by Mein Obama in 2008. This three word slogan became a rallying cry for people the nation over, reducing many who yelled the catchphrase at rallies to whimpering and uncontrollable snobs.

To this day, no one is quite sure what “Yes, we can” actually refers to or what answering in the affirmative to accomplished.

An article from Businessweek (before Bloomberg bought it) rated some of the best slogans of all-time:

Ad slogans have been wrongly trivialized in the modern era, says Cone, who studied slogans going well back into the 19th century for his forthcoming book,Powerlines: Words That Sell Brands, Grip Fans, and Sometimes Change History (Bloomberg Press). In almost every case, the candidate with the best written slogan in the election went onto the White House.

• Dwight Eisenhower had "I Like Ike," vs. "The Experienced Candidate" for Adlai Stevenson.

• Lyndon Johnson had "All the Way with LBJ," while Barry Goldwater went with, "In Your Heart, You Know He's Right."

• Franklin Roosevelt had "Happy Days Are Here Again," while Al Smith campaigned on the leaden, "Honest. Able. Fearless."

Looking at political slogans as advertising and marketing is the proper way to evaluate and differentiate campaigns, working primarily as a pitch to attract a viable and potential consumer to invest time and eventually a vote for your candidate.

In an age when individuals of the caliber of Corrine Brown and Hank Johnson have graced the hallowed corridors where the US Congress congregates as elected officials (ostensibly thanks to campaign slogans that resonated with their constituency), one must express shock that the life-affirming principles expounded in the catchphrase “Yes, we can” were mendaciously stated.

For “Yes, we can” is a phrase Ieshuh Griffin found flatly and patently incorrect when attempting to register her political slogan with Wisconsin state election officials:

State elections officials Wednesday narrowly rejected a Milwaukee Assembly candidate's attempt to run with the slogan "NOT the 'whiteman's bitch' " under her name on the ballot.

Ieshuh Griffin, an independent candidate with a history of feuds with local officials, said in response she would sue the state Government Accountability Board for infringing on her freedom of speech.

She is running to replace retiring Rep. Annette "Polly" Williams (D-Milwaukee).

"I'm not making a derogatory statement toward an ethnic group. I'm stating what I'm not," Griffin told board members. "It's my constitutional right to freedom of speech."

Unlike candidates from the established Democratic and Republican parties, independents are allowed a five-word statement of purpose on the ballot to explain to voters what their candidacy is about.

Shane Falk, a staff attorney for the Accountability Board, said that the board had the ability to restrict obscene or derogatory candidate statements from the ballot.

The board staff ruled that the statement was derogatory and should not be allowed. With one member absent, the board voted 3-2 in favor of reversing that ruling and allowing the wording. Under state law, however, four votes are needed for the board to act.

As a result, the staff decision stands, and Griffin will be on the ballot with "independent" by her name and nothing else. Falk noted that Griffin was still free to use the phrase in her campaign literature and any ads she might run.

The board, which administers state election laws, consists of six former judges. All of them are white.

This is not the first time that Griffin has been critical of a government action.

She said the same thing in May 2007 of a decision by a Milwaukee County circuit judge who found her sister, April Griffin, in contempt of court and jailed her for refusing to tell authorities where to find her son in a custody dispute case that received national attention…

Williams, who is retiring after 30 years in the Assembly, said she learned of the phrase Ieshuh Griffin wanted to use when her constituents mentioned seeing it on her nomination papers.

"That phrase kind of threw them," said Williams, who is African-American. "They were just kind of surprised. . . . I think most of the people would feel kind of offended by that."

Board member Thomas Barland, who voted to allow Griffin to make the statement, disagreed.

"She says a lot in five words," Barland said of Griffin. "It wasn't pornographic. It wasn't obscene, and I didn't interpret it as racial."

Donald Downs, a free speech expert at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said approving the ballot language would have made it difficult to reject a hypothetical case in which a white candidate said he was not beholden to the "black man." He said that the board was probably within its rights to restrict the speech because the ballot was, in a sense, "providing a platform" for Griffin.

"I don't think they're out of the ballpark," Downs said of the board. "Because of the special context, the government is going to have more of a say in what's said."

“Not the whiteman’s bitch” is a slogan and catchphrase Black people can rally around. Poetic, encouraging and a determinedly positive message that echo’s with rugged defiance, Ieshuh’s slogan represents the attitude of women who are habitually passed over for roles in Hollywood and worse, increasingly by members of their own race.

Though it speaks to an individuality few could ever hope to proclaim, Ieshuh’s message is a collective battle-cry for all Black people and will hopefully become a phrase that unites a community in desperate need for authentic leadership in the unceasing conflict with Pre-Obama America.

Sadly, slogans also are connected with events and organizations and the Indiana Black Expo (IBE) recently witnessed an exasperating rejection of its motto: “Celebrating 40 years of culture, heritage and community.”

Last weekend, while Ieshuh Griffin was busy coming up ways to market her slogan – “Not the Whiteman’s bitch” – so that she could reap its divisive nature by pandering to elements in Milwaukee and ensure her election, the IBE was beset with problems that showcase the fractured nature of a culture long thought to be monolithic, but increasingly fragmented:

Indianapolis - Mayor Greg Ballard says he's outraged at shooting attacks which left ten people wounded during the Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration.

Ballard and other leaders held a news conference Sunday to talk about the three attacks, none of which happened at Expo events themselves.

"This incident, I want everybody to understand, does not define the Summer Celebration. It does not define Black Expo, it does not define the City of Indianapolis, nor the African-American community in Indianapolis," Ballard said.

Clergy called for parents to get in the game, police say they were doing their job and organizers of Summer Celebration said they were tired of defending the actions of a few.

"I am sick and tired of us making excuses for some of our young people," said a clergy member.

Those speaking at the Sunday press conference at the Artsgarden, over the scene of one of the shootings, are looking for answers. Not just the arrest of the person or persons who fired the shots into a crowd Saturday night, but how to keep this kind of violence out of Indiana Black Expo's Summer Celebration.

"Because, at the end of the day, we still have to make sure we are providing options of our youth and I think if Indiana Black Expo did not provide things like the celebrity basketball game or other youth events, it would probably be a worse problem," said Tanya Bell, the president and chief operating officer of Indiana Black Expo.

The shooting is a punctuation mark on the 40-year history of Summer Celebration. The final Saturday of the nine-day event is unofficially called "Second Saturday" and is an increasing thorn in the side of organizers and police.

"This is not the first incident that has occurred downtown during one of our events," said Bell.

In past years, hundreds of teenagers have been picked up for curfew violations and the night is often shattered with gunfire and crowds running for cover.

"Let's not ignore the bigger, deeper, critical and urgent issue that plagues black families and that black-on-black crime, when did it get to the point that our babies can pull the trigger without a conscious, while innocent lives are in harm's way and police officers are standing nearby," said Bell.

For police, the first order of business is capturing those responsible for the shootings.

"We know who the shooter is. We have the shooter on film. We have the incident on film and we will bring the shooter to justice," said Straub.

Bringing those responsible to justice is just one piece of the puzzle the group is charged to assemble. The other is to convince the community that Summer Celebration is safe.

"We need to deal with the real issues. Some of our kids are out of control, some of our kids are rude, bad, they don't care how they talk to people, they disrespect authority and they don't respect property or life and some of our kids are violent," said Reverend Charles Harrison.

No one in the group is offering any immediate solutions. Bell said she needs some time to look things over.

The nations coloring book masquerading as a newspaper, The USA Today, buried the story of the misfortunate events at the IBE exp, but did publish this fascinating quotation:

"We have to be mad as hell about this," said Charles Harrison, a United Methodist pastor who was standing a few feet from where the first shootings occurred. "This incident we cannot tolerate in our community."

Slogans are wonderful things, summing up in few words what the candidate or group stands for and works to unite people of disparate backgrounds behind a common flag.

“Not the whiteman’s bitch” is as straightforward, daring and bold a slogan one could dare conjure and use to raise brand awareness. Unfortunately, the events at the IBE conference in Indianapolis over July 18-19 tarnished the unifying slogan that erroneously is utilized by members of that organization.

Slogans come to define an organization, a person, an organization or an entire corporations marketing strategy (365 Black at McDonald’s) and when these fail to live up to the hype that surrounds them, the person or group espousing such claims appears to have engaged in blatant false advertising.

The IBE failed to live up to their profound slogan of celebrating community at their annual event in Indy, although some could argue that a celebration of culture was on full-display.

Slogans must be authentic and if they fail to “keep it real” then they fall prey to the pitfalls of false advertising and will need re-branding. “Not the whiteman’s bitch” is one of the most pronounced, effective and honest campaign slogans of all-time, conversely the slogan by the IBE has been shown to be demonstrably false.

“Yes, we can”… as long as you aren’t the whiteman’s bitch.

Stuff Black People Don’t Like… actually, we’re speechless. A tale of two cities, Milwaukee and Indianapolis, are home to two intriguing examples of sloganeering gone wrong.

Has it really come this?

Yes, for Milwaukee - named for an Indian term meaning "The good land" - is now land where people who were once the whiteman's bitch roam free.

Video of Ieshuh Griffin can be found here.

And Indianapolis is home to the same type of broken community that no amount of sloganeering can hide. Chicago and Birmingham have the same problem too. Newark and Baltimore as well.

It should be noted both of these cities mentioned are two of the whitest big cities in America. The best of times, the worst times... you decide.







30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Actually I find the use of any slogan in Ms Griffin's campaign rather redundant. The name "Ieshuh" alone clarifies the issue. Certainly no one would assume that a lady named "Ieshuh" would be a white man's sperm receptacle of choice.

For those that did not know: "Ieshuh" has big plans. A presidential run in 2016 seems to be a distinct possibility. In anticipation of this groundbreaking event, I have compiled a list of "Ieshuh's" possible running mates.

Aaja (pronounced Asia)
Acacia
Ajeenah
Akai
Aquanita
Aryan
White
Baleria
Barbertha
Callie (pronounced Kelly)
CaAndi
Chetiqua
Cloteal
Curly
Top
Darhies
Dayphine
Debrasharme
Derecio
Dertiteriesa
Dikueria & Dikuria (twins)
Dildree
Dishon
Dovanna
Duanita
Dyiamond
Dwendolyn
Effillyne
Elizabeth Taylor
Endrissa
Equandolyn
Esaw
Everage
Floyce
Franshawn
Ghia
Godzilla
Pimp
Ivier
Jartavious
JyesahJhnai
Keithen
Kentnilla
Lafondra
La,poo (yes, contains comma)
Latronia
Lemonjello & Orangejello (twins)
L’Tonya
Machoda
Nau-Quia
Mayima
Minute
Miquel
Nethel
Omnipotence
Ondra (pronounced André)
Ozro
Padraic
Pecola
Phe-anjoy
Precious
Unique
Queen
Esther
Quithreaun
Rincesetta
Sanja
Saranus
Shanieja
Sharicus
Shiquipa
SiJourna’i
Silquia
Sinetra
Summer Love
Termicka
Tequilla
Timphanie
Tryphenia
Tywana
Tzaddi & Tzavvi (twins)
Ulheric
Undlia
Undrea (pronounced André)
Wsam
Xiomara
XL
Yaw
Yuvodka
Sharice
Wilida
Zaquan
Zufan
Zyneene

Anonymous said...

I spent a week in Myrtle Beach during Black Bike Week.

It really sucked, half the restaurants/shops were closed.

Anonymous said...

"Clergy called for parents to get in the game"

LOLOL Great idea!!

However...

With 70% black children born out-of-wedlock, it's a little late to start calling on parents.

CWN said...

"Not the whiteman's bitch"

You go girl!!!

They should have let it through, why hide how a sista really feels? I bet anything that tons of blacks would have voted for her.

On the other hand, a white candidate who would have said that they were "not beholden to blacks" would have been shunned as a racist, and spineless whites would not have voted for them.

But I do believe in keepin it real, son. Strong black women such as Leshuh need to stand up and proclaim that they will not let the man hold them down. Crackers be wackers, nom sayin'?


Leshuh's speech: "Good evening, mutha fuckers. Now, Y'all may know me as Leshuh, Little L, LELE, or Sista L Train, but no matter , you all knows that I keeps it real. Bitch will go ta jail over a nigga. You better bileeeze that!"

"I'm here up in this mutha fucker ta tells you that I is running for Milwaukee Assembly, or sum shit. And I don't give a fuck about crackers. I don't even likes white bread or mayO-naise. I even hates my eyeballz and teef. Mutha fuckin honkey's make me sick!!!!!!

Now some may call me a racist. But why come I be a racist simply for standing up to tha man, who has opp-(you down with OPP, yeah you know me) ressed , enslaved, raped, murdered, jim crowed, lynched , beaten, .....(an hour later)... tortured, burned, dragged, devalued, dehumanized, molesterized, quaterized, mocked, blocked, socked," Suddenly she stops, because her head hurts, and she runs out of vocaubulary.

"Mutha fuckers be trippin like a mug yo. That be all you need ta know. I is supported by the NAACP, Black Panthers, tha REV. Jesse Jackson, and tha REV. Al sharpton. Plus, a few comedians frum BET."

"If you election me into power, Im gone keep this mutha fucker rollin'. Money for tha mutha fuckin black man. LET IT RAIN!!!!!! Woot Woot."

"The cracker jack man tried to hold this sista down when he sents me away to da pen for beaten dis honkey bitch who done gone and stared at me, hard, but she ain't know me, dumb white bitch. You don't knows me, don't looks at me." But let me digresstify, as one of my heros, a man who go by tha name X said befo he was killed by tha CIA ( crackers in action), WE did not lands on side of a plimuth rocks, those rocks done landed on us."

"So in closing dis testimosation, let me axe you all dis final question. Where else you gone find a hard hittin nigga like LELE who keeps it so real wit tha white devil? So holla at ya boo, vote foe Little L bay-bee.

Anonymous said...

I don't know many whitemen who would want that as a "bitch". Take off the store-bought hair and you have a black dude. So unless the "whiteman" in question is harboring some seriously homo tendencies, she would get turned down for certain.

Anonymous said...

Here's a similar story from Austin, TX w/ the usual narrative:

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/04/12/0412highland.html

And people wonder why Detroit, a city with 900k people, can't attract a national supermarket chain:

http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2007/07/detroit-supermarket-desert.html

This site is awesome.

Hirsch said...

"Every dollar bill shows a Pacific race." I thought whites hailed from the Caucus Mountains. Apparently we hail from the Ocean.

Anonymous said...

This woman seems like a big joke to whites, but blacks really do not see the problem and are DEAD serious. She looks like a big dummy with no brain under her wig, but trust me, blacks will support someone like this only because she is spewing black victimology and "speaks their language". She does not make blacks feel intimidated like whites do. Ever see a black person totally shut down in the presence of all whites? I have, it is quite amazing and inspiring. Blacks will only rant and rave when there are lots of blacks around to shout an Amen. I tried to convince a white associate the other day that blacks hate whites and want them dead. He did not believe this to be true. That is what directs every action and decision blacks make. Anti-White (which translates to anti-education, anti law-enforcement, anti-proper grammer, anti-intellectualism, anti-marriage, anti-morality, etc.). What they do not realize is that without whitey building and funding this operation, society will collapse. This will take time to happen, but it will if the majority does not nip this in the bud now. WAKE UP PEOPLE!!

Anonymous said...

CWN, as usual, you are SO on point here. Love this! Please post more often.

"I'm here up in this mutha fucker ta tells you that I is running for Milwaukee Assembly, or sum shit. And I don't give a fuck about crackers. I don't even likes white bread or mayO-naise. I even hates my eyeballz and teef. Mutha fuckin honkey's make me sick!!!!!!"

Steve said...

Considering Alvin Greene's success I predict she will do well among her peers. Another strong intelligent (cough) black woman in the same vein as Cynthia McKinny or Sheila Jackson Lee.

Anonymous said...

I was reading comments about the Black Expo shootings some where else. Blacks were saying that it was a tragedy that could happen any where to any type of people. B.S.

At Renaissance fairs all across the country many thousands of white people show up with swords and daggers. No one ever gets murdered despite so many people being heavily armed. Tell me again how 'We all da same'.

Could you imagine if thousands of blacks showed up at a Black Expo with spears and machetes?

The real tragedy is that none of the black savages shot at the expo died and went to Hell where they belong.

Anonymous said...

CWN...that was really quite funny. As satirically humourous as it is to us, it also captures the essence of the thought process, vocabulary and mindset of far, far too many blacks. The average white person is simply not able to understand how fundamentally different the races are and how, biologically, we will never get blacks to understand us...and vice-versa.
Storm clouds are gathering rapidly and many sacrifices and hardships will have to be endured for us to survive. Thanks to the traitorous left, who will have to be made to pay severely for their betrayal, these battles will have to be fought. Humour, however, is always appreciated.
Northlander

Anonymous said...

SBPDL,

I'm quite sure that a true supporter of free speech such as yourself has to stand behind Ieshuh Griffin 100% in principal at the very least.

I believe they would have refused an even less "racially charged" statement like "I'm not the man's bitch". I would of preferred That one, because it keeps focus on the true enemy of all of us.

-Black guy

Anonymous said...

"This woman seems like a big joke to whites, but blacks really do not see the problem and are DEAD serious."

Is she as big of a joke as the corporate/government ran Tea Party?

-Black guy

Fayette White Guy said...

@Anonymous 3:57,

I lived in the North Myrtle Beach area where these folks congregated for 13 years. Traffic is horrendous, and you can't blame businesses for closing due to the clientele this event attracts. When they left, it looked like a war zone because of all the trash strewn about.

Anonymous said...

I spend at least a few hours each week in the car listening to the local "urban" station, hearing first-hand Al Sharpton and other Black talk shows. I am certain that is more Whites did the same, there would be a lot fewer DWLs and Obama would not be president.

Listening to these talk shows opens up the Black world-view for all to see - you get to hear how Black people REALLY feel about the "evil whites" and get to hear all of the crackpot conspiracy theories of how whites created AIDS to kill Blacks and so on.

I strongly recommend that everyone listen to their local urban station (usually AM has the Black talk shows) so you can hear for yourself - you may be shocked how they really feel about us. This "Iesha" (quite a common name in that community) is NOT out of the Black mainstream, and more Whites need to wake up to this fact.

Anonymous said...

" I tried to convince a white associate the other day that blacks hate whites and want them dead. He did not believe this to be true."

That white associate is one of the many smart whites who aren't bias and racist like you. Ever think of the possibility that you're completely stupid and drunk? I'm black and I like whites like any other race. You're obviously one of those few who have been diagnosed with white paranoia. I suggest you see a doctor, and quick.

*HA!!!!*

Robert said...

A prayer for the dying

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtHwKz5XuTw&feature=related

Stuff Black People Don't Like said...

Black Guy,

I have nothing against Ieshuh Griffin. I hope she wins her lawsuit and can use the slogan for her campaign.

http://www.wisn.com/news/24359700/detail.html

Regardless, I might have to co-opt it for this website:

SBPDL: "Not the whiteman's bitch"

Anonymous said...

"What they do not realize is that without whitey building and funding this operation, society will collapse. "

That's why they can never get rid of "Whitey", even if they succeeded at killing us all. Eventually, without us running and maintaining agriculture, electrical power, transportation, etc, they would die out in all areas but those with year-round climates and flora and fauna that would sustain them on a day-to-day basis. Eventually, the more intelligent, foresightful and less violent and more cooperative among them would move to the colder climates to get away from the disorder and violence. Then the yet more intelligent, etc. would move still farther north and because of the diminished sunlight, begin to evolve lighter and lighter skin, the farther north they settled. These newly evolved white people would eventually build boats and learn how to navigate the ocean, and then go to the black territories and bring back slaves. Eventually, the more compassionate among them would call for the slaves' emancipation, civil rights, and later, welfare and affirmative action and the whole process would begin again.

Anonymous said...

"These newly evolved white people would eventually build boats and learn how to navigate the ocean, and then go to the black territories and bring back slaves."

Actually, the black people would have already learned how to navigate the ocean, built boats, and so forth.Did you know that there are man African tribes that constructed boats and other things before whites came to America? Isn't just amazing how blacks were able to adapt to slavery, come up with codes that whites couldn't grasp until later on, and plan escapes and escape routes? Also, slavery will never be held in the USA. Not unless the world falls into an apocalypse.

miked said...

Black guy,

Free speech can only exist in a civil society. Otherwise, if the society is not civil, someone will end up being stifled, be it by government or just those around them.

Anonymous said...

Let's not forget "Antwan" the bastardized spelling of "Antoine", as a possible running mate.

Anonymous said...

"I'm not making a derogatory statement toward an ethnic group. I'm stating what I'm not," Griffin told board members. "It's my constitutional right to freedom of speech."

Ok Ms Griffen. I plan on running for the Milwaukee assembly under the slogan "Not the Blackman's Wallet". That's not derogatory toward any specific group, I'm just saying what I'm not.

Anonymous said...

"Did you know that there are man African tribes that constructed boats and other things before whites came to America?"

Blacks also landed on the moon and built computers before whites.

Anonymous said...

"Blacks also landed on the moon and built computers before whites."

Don't forget nuclear fusion and hover cars!

Anonymous said...

"Don't forget nuclear fusion and hover cars!"

Einstein copied his theory of relativity from scribblings on African caves.

Africans also invented coaxial cable, even before the television.

Anonymous said...

"That white associate is one of the many smart whites who aren't bias and racist like you. Ever think of the possibility that you're completely stupid and drunk? I'm black and I like whites like any other race. You're obviously one of those few who have been diagnosed with white paranoia. I suggest you see a doctor, and quick."

(*Sigh*)

No, genius, my white associate is a flaming DWL (look it up) and thinks that there is only one race, the "human race", and we are all pink on the inside, AND he lives out in whitey-ville and has no daily contact with angry, hateful blacks who are taught to always fight the Man for a financial payoff. Don't worry, I will lure him to my side eventually. Once he sees what is really happening, he will stop self-hating and defending another race to the detriment of his own.

Maybe I should have used the term "underclass" blacks, sorry. Most blacks with half of a brain know that they can't bite the hand that feeds them. So there, you are excluded from my argument. You can relax and jump on the next poster.

Anonymous said...

"No, genius, my white associate is a flaming DWL (look it up) and thinks that there is only one race, the "human race", and we are all pink on the inside,"

Again, he's right. Do get some help.

"AND he lives out in whitey-ville and has no daily contact with angry, hateful blacks who are taught to always fight the Man for a financial payoff."

You're so stereotypical. Again, this is white paranoia. You're symptoms just keep progressing!

"Once he sees what is really happening, he will stop self-hating and defending another race to the detriment of his own."

If he's smart like most of us, he won't go to your side. Also, if he's as smart as I think he is, he thinks you're a crazy white supremists with series race problems. Also, you're not self-hating yourself if you're not being a white supremist like you. You're actually showing signs of maturity and self-security. Unlike you, you're an insecure white supremist who tell lies about blacks.

I believe you stated somewhere around, "blacks hate whites and want to kill them". That's false and shows you obviously are a paranoid little, insecure, white supremist, who has wet dreams and nightmares knowing that there's a black guy looking to kill him. Again, this is white paranoia.

"So there, you are excluded from my argument."

Actually, I basically started this argument by targeting what you said about blacks hating whites and wanting to kill them. But go ahead, tell me I'm excluded from an argument. I didn't even know it was that. I thought it was simply a conversation of how you posted a false view on blacks. If telling me I'm excluded makes you feel more powerful or superior than me, a black guy, go ahead.

"Most blacks with half of a brain know that they can't bite the hand that feeds them."

We survive either with whites or not. How do you think so many blacks escaped plantations during slavery? Never mind, you're going to say something stupid like "whites helped them escaped", that's partially the truth, but in most cases wasn't the truth.

Just remember, that I'll be under your bed tonight, waiting to kill you.

*HA!!!!*

Silent Running said...

I didn't interpret it as racial.

I bet he doesn't interpret himself as being Caucasian either.