A year ago I had a professor who said that Gladys Knight had served as a model for Aunt Jemima and that as a result he would never listen to Gladys Knight, Pips or no Pips. A couple of quick wiki checks, plus the added fact that Aunt Jemima was never that attractive, led me to discount his assertion.
I didn't think of it again until "Midnight Train to Georgia" came up on my shuffle this morning. For some reason my curiosity was aroused and I googled "Gladys Knight Aunt Jemima." Well I found (via google books... awesome) Slave in a Box: The Strange Career of Aunt Jemima by M.M. Manring, available in full-text excerpt, natch.
From what I could gather from the excerpt about Gladys Knight, she did appear in an Aunt Jemima commercial, though not as Aunt Jemima. Instead she's a kindly grandmother who serves her grandkids the high-fructose, high-racist stuff.
But that's not even the kicker: google has started serving text ads on google books (natch). And what were the first two ads it served up for this consciousness-raising critique of racist imagery in pop-culture? "Sexy Black Skin Care" and "African Nose Jobs." I did not follow these links, perhaps they're more positive than I suspect. I kind of doubt it though.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Pedestrians, three episodes
1) Yesterday was my first appointment at Packard Community Clinic. I found it to be awesome. I got excellent care, spent less time waiting than at my old expensive doctors office, and it was free (with Washtenaw Health Plan)! Even if you have no insurance at all it's still on a sliding scale.
But never mind the appointment itself, how about how I got there? My intention was to bike, but I found that my tire was flat (again), so I had to take the bus and walk instead. I was pretty sure that the 5 stopped right by the clinic, but because I didn't want to miss it, and because I had time, I got off about half a mile early and walked the rest of the way.
This was a good decision. The weather was gorgeous, and the stroll helped me to take in the character of that strip. I think it's developing into a pretty vital neighborhood. Shi-shi bike shops, diners, car repair, grocery stores, doctors' offices, it's pretty much got it all.
Anyway as I walked across the PCC parking lot I was almost run over by a Ford Taurus, whose driver then slowed down (from about 40 mph, I think) to wag his finger at me and caution me "gotta look both ways." I thought about telling him "gotta give the right-of-way" but it seemed pointless.
On the way home, after telling my new doctor I don't eat fast food, I grabbed some fish and chips from Mary's Fried Chicken, and picked up some bar tape from Two Wheel Tango. I was really feeling the need to bike so I took the Chariot back to Ypsi Cycle and asked if they could figure out why my tires kept going flat. They tinkered around with things for a while but eventually just ended up giving me a new wheel, as well as wrapping my handlebars with the aforementioned tape, all for a measly ten bucks. Truly those dudes do rock.
2) As I biked home -- illegally on the Pearl Street sidewalk (fortunately Steve Pierce and his Segway were nowhere to be seen) -- I almost collided with a creature I'd heretofore only heard tell of around campfires and women's studies classes: a middle aged man, decked in pinstripes, exiting the back door of the Deja Vu.
Clearly he was so satisfied that he was neglecting his surroundings. Even as I screeched to a halt a few feet from him he didn't even turn around to see what the ruckus was about. As I passed him I turned to see he was still grinning as he got into his Buick, and I felt a twinge of empathy. If he hadn't just received untold pleasures, this man probably would've felt the same way I did that morning in the Clinic parking lot. I resolved not to ride on sidewalks again if I could avoid it (this lasted approximately 6 hours).
3) Later that evening as I left the Co-op, I waited on the curb for another Ford Taurus to pass before I crossed the street. "I learned my lesson," I thought. "Never cross a Taurus." But the driver waved me by.
"Hey!" He shouted. I turned. "It's the pedestrians we need, right? One love, baby!"
One love indeed.
But never mind the appointment itself, how about how I got there? My intention was to bike, but I found that my tire was flat (again), so I had to take the bus and walk instead. I was pretty sure that the 5 stopped right by the clinic, but because I didn't want to miss it, and because I had time, I got off about half a mile early and walked the rest of the way.
This was a good decision. The weather was gorgeous, and the stroll helped me to take in the character of that strip. I think it's developing into a pretty vital neighborhood. Shi-shi bike shops, diners, car repair, grocery stores, doctors' offices, it's pretty much got it all.
Anyway as I walked across the PCC parking lot I was almost run over by a Ford Taurus, whose driver then slowed down (from about 40 mph, I think) to wag his finger at me and caution me "gotta look both ways." I thought about telling him "gotta give the right-of-way" but it seemed pointless.
On the way home, after telling my new doctor I don't eat fast food, I grabbed some fish and chips from Mary's Fried Chicken, and picked up some bar tape from Two Wheel Tango. I was really feeling the need to bike so I took the Chariot back to Ypsi Cycle and asked if they could figure out why my tires kept going flat. They tinkered around with things for a while but eventually just ended up giving me a new wheel, as well as wrapping my handlebars with the aforementioned tape, all for a measly ten bucks. Truly those dudes do rock.
2) As I biked home -- illegally on the Pearl Street sidewalk (fortunately Steve Pierce and his Segway were nowhere to be seen) -- I almost collided with a creature I'd heretofore only heard tell of around campfires and women's studies classes: a middle aged man, decked in pinstripes, exiting the back door of the Deja Vu.
Clearly he was so satisfied that he was neglecting his surroundings. Even as I screeched to a halt a few feet from him he didn't even turn around to see what the ruckus was about. As I passed him I turned to see he was still grinning as he got into his Buick, and I felt a twinge of empathy. If he hadn't just received untold pleasures, this man probably would've felt the same way I did that morning in the Clinic parking lot. I resolved not to ride on sidewalks again if I could avoid it (this lasted approximately 6 hours).
3) Later that evening as I left the Co-op, I waited on the curb for another Ford Taurus to pass before I crossed the street. "I learned my lesson," I thought. "Never cross a Taurus." But the driver waved me by.
"Hey!" He shouted. I turned. "It's the pedestrians we need, right? One love, baby!"
One love indeed.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
a response, ment with good natured love and apprecitation...
I will belive it when i see it.......... we three suck...
apathy for life!
apathy for life!
Monday, April 21, 2008
The impending Ypsilanti blog Renaissance
Wait till the semester ends, you'll see! April 28th, look out suckas!
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