Subscribe to Breaking NewsWithers: Sullivan makes Prince the stand in for all blacks
Was so hoping to end the day minus any Proposition 8 news; however, writer Andrew Sullivan decided to turn his ire toward Prince. Seems as if the stiletto-heeled singer has some views about same-sex marriage and sexuality that are slightly loopy (especially considering his fondness for the high-heels and fishnet stockings).
Anyway Sullivan takes Prince to task but this is Sullivan we are talking about so he needs to go for the rhetorical excess because that’s his way:
“Prop 8 has helped unearth the seething homophobia in much of black America.”
Seething homophobia in much of black-America. So if Prince says something crazy that is now black America talking? Mmmm. These folk will be surprised to hear that.
And why does Sullivan attach Prince’s “ideas” to race? They could simply be a reflection of his faith, as suggested by Sullivan’s colleague Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Perhaps Sullivan should read Coates, or ten other people I can think of, before he decides to ruminate on race.
PS: Prince, good businessman he is, says he said nothing of the sort.
Anti-gay bigotry is extreme in the black community. It needs to be confronted and addressed.
Anti-gay bigotry needs to be addressed across the board as well.
Didn’t Prince said he was misquoted or something? Anyway, Prince doesn’t resemble the embodiment of homophobia in any day of the year. Relating Prince to homophobia is laughable at best. I mean, look at him. He could rant anti-gay slurs all day for all I care and I would think, “yeah, but you’re still Prince.”
I’m a HUGE Prince fan. I have been since 1982 when 1999 was released.
Knowing how he talks, the words aren’t verbatim. Doesn’t sound like his style. I know that sounds odd but it’s what someone who’s watched his career for nearly 30 years thinks. Having said that, knowing his recent actions and professed faith choice, I don’t doubt he said something to that effect.
Don’t worry. His Gay fan base will mail him pictures of himself in bikini briefs grinding on his male bass player as a reminder of what made him popular. Or pictures from the Lovesexy era when he was going out in all out drag.
Really? Prince? The JW from Minnesota? C’mon, I’m white and I even I know Prince is not the voice of the black community. Andrew’s comments are uncalled for.
I wanted to sate that it wasn’t an attak because too many times on boards it is taken as one and it is better to state it up front than leave it to intrepretation. Thanks for the pass on.
Poor pathetic “Prince” – guess he lost his Raspberry Beret in a Mormon Church.
Sean,
It wasn’t taken as an attack. I’ll pass your idea along to Jennifer, the 365 editor.
Sincerely,
James
My point of asking “who decides to you all are the voice to listen too anyway” was to ask politely but bluntly who made the choice to select those commentators on this site and what qualifies you to have a national platform. I would be interested just to have all of the main bloggers on 365gay.com to have some profile of them available so we know from where you speak and what led you to this platform. It is not to attack you personally, it is an attempt to know who is raising questions.
Sean,
“I want to know who decides you all are the voice to listen too anyway.”
I claim no spokesperson status.
As for Savage, you are right. Lately he has gone over the top (even though he does have a point: animus toward same sex marriage has more to do with age than anything else).
Sincerely,
James
James, I am not defending Andrew Sullivan here because sometimes all of you bloggers and commentaters say the wrong thing. However, I find it interesting that there seems to be more focus on more conservative minded gay bloggers like Sullivan and Chris Crain then outlandish comments made by a more liberal minded Dan Savage. Savage has come out and said that he hopes the older generation dies soon and continually uses the word bigot. Seems to me that accountability needs to include all the people who seem to speak for us here and not just a few. I want to know who decides you all are the voice to listen too anyway.
Wayne,
“Because the majority of your posts that I’ve read seem to suggest that having a frank conversation about homophobia within the Black community is not a priority with you.”
This is not a fair reading of my work. You are entitled to your opinion, but to say this implies you are not reading closely at all.
Sincerely,
James
My numerous comments on homophobia in the black community dispute this charge.
———-
Really? Because the majority of your posts that I’ve read seem to suggest that having a frank conversation about homophobia within the Black community is not a priority with you of late. Though, to be fair, Wayne Besen has picked up your slack in that area somewhat.
Wayne,
“Because then we might have to actually admit that there is a problem within the African American community with homophobia.”
My numerous comments on homophobia in the black community dispute this charge.
Sincerely,
James
Well, if Prince is a bad example of homophobia within the Black music scene, then what about Eminem’s good rap friend Trick Trick, who tells gays to “Keep Their Faggo Money” and not to buy his album. And besides the many offenses found in Rap, there are also any number of Jamaican Raggaeton acts that routinely spout anti-gay filth and literally call for gays to be murdered. I guess none of those warrant a discussion of the gay hatred and homophobia that’s being perpetuated throughout much of popular Black music? Because then we might have to actually admit that there is a problem within the African American community with homophobia. And God knows, that’s just not the politically correct thing to do.
Prince hasn’t just jumped the shark. He’s officially hit the “she’s a mess” stage. Fifteen years from now, Michael Jackson and he could be living together…maybe some kind of JW Golden Girls scene, with a broke-down Macaulay Caulkin doing liquor runs for them.