Ellis Cose on black female achievement -- LONG

Steeltrap · #1 02-24-2003, 04:58 PM

http://www.msnbc.com/news/875614.asp?0cv=KA01#BODY

This is an excellent article by Ellis Cose and Newsweek's cover story. I do find it peculiar, however, that Beyonce Knowles, who as far as I know isn't college-educated, was picked to be on the cover w/Soror Star Jones

and this other woman, who may be Mellody Hobson of Ariel Capital Management:

sphinxpoet · #2 02-24-2003, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Steeltrap
http://www.msnbc.com/news/875614.asp?0cv=KA01#BODY

This is an excellent article by Ellis Cose and Newsweek's cover story. I do find it peculiar, however, that Beyonce Knowles, who as far as I know isn't college-educated, was picked to be on the cover w/Soror Star Jones and this other woman, who may be Mellody Hobson of Ariel Capital Management:

I enjoyed the article. I feel like this is a growing trend that has great implications but the only problem is the higher you climb the more people try to bring you down!

Sphinxpoet

ClassyLady · #3 02-24-2003, 10:01 PM

"Given the history of black women on this planet, one would have to be supremely foolish to believe that there is any challenge they cannot overcome."

I think that was the perfect way to end an insightful and well-written article. But, ST, I'm with you, I cannot see why Beyonce would be on the cover of the magazine. She is not college-educated or a professional and the article was really not describing her at all. Maybe they just needed a popular and pretty face to sell that issue of the magazine.

Steeltrap · #4 02-25-2003, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ClassyLady
"Given the history of black women on this planet, one would have to be supremely foolish to believe that there is any challenge they cannot overcome."

I think that was the perfect way to end an insightful and well-written article. But, ST, I'm with you, I cannot see why Beyonce would be on the cover of the magazine. She is not college-educated or a professional and the article was really not describing her at all. Maybe they just needed a popular and pretty face to sell that issue of the magazine.

I agree with that, because surely Beyonce, although a popular entertainer, doesn't really have the gravitas that Star Jones or Mellody Hobson have. BTW, Ms. Hobson is a Princeton grad. Ariel, a black-owned money management firm, has $10B under its domain.

AKA2D '91 · #5 02-25-2003, 01:34 PM

Did she even complete high school?

Look closely at the picture. It seems like B was "added" to the picture. Her "black" isn't the same as the others, nor does the lighting seem the same. Or is it just my eyes seeing this?

Steeltrap · #6 02-25-2003, 01:36 PM

I did go back and look at that cover, and perhaps Beyonce does look like she was photoshopped in, even though she was part of an accompanying story to the lead piece. She, Star, Mellody, Deborah Roberts (Mrs. Al Roker) and a few others participated in a panel discussion.

Eclipse · #7 02-25-2003, 01:51 PM

Interesting article. This is a conincident, but on Saturday night my husband and I attended a gathering at a friend's house. The gathering was all couples. There were probably about 40 - 50 people there: all black couples, from mid 20s - 40s, reasonably intelligent, giving back, gainfully employed. I could also think of, off the top of my head, at least 10 or more additional couples in my immediate circle that were NOT there. One of the discussions that we had was around the school of thought that black folks don't get married anymore and that there are no good black men. While I realize that I am "blessed" and that there are other good black women out there who cannot find a mate, I found it disturbing that a mother would tell her daughters "Don't expect to find a man". I think those kinds of conversations lead us as women to not be open to "good men". Same thing when talking about men who are not at my "level". What do you guys think?

AKA2D '91 · #8 02-25-2003, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Steeltrap
I did go back and look at that cover, and perhaps Beyonce does look like she was photoshopped in, even though she was part of an accompanying story to the lead piece. She, Star, Mellody, Deborah Roberts (Mrs. Al Roker) and a few others participated in a panel discussion.

BUT, that doesn't mean she was 'pose to be on the cover.

She probably was "added" to get more sales.

If this is the case, who did she replace? Maybe Deborah?

Munchkin03 · #9 02-26-2003, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ClassyLady
I cannot see why Beyonce would be on the cover of the magazine. She is not college-educated or a professional and the article was really not describing her at all.

I didn't understand that either--and it's nothing against Beyonce. It didn't seem like she had that much to add to the panel discussion, either. When Star and Deborah were discussing the news industry, and Mellody and the other lady were discussing Wall Street, all she had to compare the situation with was the Super Bowl halftime show--an achievement, yes, but nowhere near what these women have done. She didn't seem to hold her own against older women who have accomplished more in their fields.

The article was interesting, and it certainly ended on an uplifting note, but to have the sentiments I've been feeling pretty strongly for the past six months written out for me to read was unsettling.

1savvydiva · #10 02-26-2003, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Munchkin03

The article was interesting, and it certainly ended on an uplifting note, but to have the sentiments I've been feeling pretty strongly for the past six months written out for me to read was unsettling.

YESSS!! I totally agree with you. In my circle of friends, (maybe about 6 of us that are somewhat close), ONE of us has been in a relationship since our freshman semester (about 4 years), and the rest of us are just like

. Our conversations have centered around this very topic the last few gatherings we have had. Why is it so hard to find a 'good man'. Why is it that WE were told that most of us would find "our soulmate" in college/during our college days. Why is it that we THOUGHT that when we went to college we would be exposed to the 'cream of the crop'. How come half of the brothers I know that ARE progressing towards a degree are the main cheats? Most of them figure that they ARE the 'cream of the crop', so they have this Midas complex that you should be feel PRIVILEGED that they chose you (forget the fact that he's messing with Pam, Gina, Shanaynay, etc., etc.)

I could go on and on.

Is it to much too ask for a faithful brother who I can have an intelligent conversation with, and who can understand what I mean when I say that I had a hard day at school/work, etc?

It was very discouraging for me to read that it's not 'just me', and that my friends and I are actually on to something, very discouraging indeed.

toocute · #11 02-26-2003, 04:08 PM

Well.....I felt the article made the situation seem a little different from what it really is. There are still educated black men out there, but what I find (in corporate America), is that many of them (not all) aren't really lookin at being with a sista, and if they are, it's all physical. And then they get mad when it doesn't work out and they give up on us altogether.

So as far as the article goes, I do agree that with our generation it will be hard as black women to stay within the race, but it's not necessarily because there are NO black men at our level - in my opinion its because a lot of the black men's standards go to another level - a highly unrealistic level.....

I'm blessed to have found and married a strong black man and we are equally matched education and salary wise, but I have SO many friends in their mid and upper 30's not married and worried cuz the clock is ticking.

*by the way*

I think Beyonce finished high school. Dang y'all.

djjukebox · #12 02-26-2003, 10:19 PM

Well, the bigger question for me is how do I answer the self evaluation question of what kind of man am I?

As long as I can answer that I am God fearing, hard working, hard playing, devoted to my wife (when I get one), my children (when I have them), my family, and my Fraternity/community, then I really don't care what a few misguided and possibly bitter women might say or even be misquoted as saying.

In a speech I gave back during the K/_\ Anniversary, I noted that the Omega man that the world knows is the one they see in the community. Its not the Shaq's or Mike's or Jesse's or Grand Basilei. It is me and you out there (whatever your Fraternity or if you're not in a Frat at all) working and living each day that determines what people really feel about us as men and Omega men. So, keep examining yourself to see what kind of man you have become and consequently what kind of man the community will see.

If you know there are changes you need to make, the article shouldn't be what prompts you. But if you know that you can stand on your character and accomplishments, we don't have to answer those kinds of articles. We just continue to live exemplary lives...

DJ Jukebox alias The Swamp Thang 5-K/_\-93... Those Nasty QUES >_O_<

AKA2D '91 · #13 02-27-2003, 08:55 AM

He ACTUALLY has something to say! What, not advertising an event? I gotta write this down.

djjukebox · #14 02-27-2003, 03:29 PM

AKA2D.. keep on ni... I'mma hafta give Ricky Smiley a call and get you on Comic View. "Dayum.. is she funn-knee?" Hell yeah..

AKA2D '91 · #15 02-27-2003, 04:11 PM

BTW, I'd prefer you call someone other than Rickey Smiley.