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• April D. Byrd

  

  • 33 posts
   

  February 10, 2012 10:17:45 AM EST

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  Roland Martin was suspended from CNN for something he posted on twitter. I posted this blog http://www.blackbloggersconnect.com/blogs/584/1012/raging-about-roland Here on BBC to express my feelings regarding the matter. What are your thoughts? I believe an open conversation needs to be engaged.

• Monique Jeanty

  

  • 24 posts
   

  February 10, 2012 12:40:46 PM EST

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  It was unfortunate. Sometimes, Black people say things in a way that mainstream population does not understand. Very often, it takes a lot of time for them to get it, and by the time they do, we have moved on to another expression or way of doing things.
  
  On Chris Rock's show, "Everybody Hates Raymond," the mother was always talking about where she was going to slap somebody and how far they would go after she did it. It's just an expression. I have heard gay people on the street say some vile things to one another that have been far worse than what Roland Martin said. He did not encourage anyone to hurt anybody else. Not long ago, men did not know when they were sexually harassing women. They thought they were just being funny.
  
  We live in a time when there is so much hate, people don't know what to think. So, even though I may think they overreacted and didn't get the humor, a suspension seems fair.
• April D. Byrd

  

  • 33 posts
   

  February 10, 2012 4:57:23 PM EST

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  Hi Monique! I agree with you in some sense whatever culture's lingo it is, no person should say anything about slapping another person if it's not in self-defense. I also believe that CNN is unjustly dismissing the immorality of that problem and giving that particular group too much power. In condoning that kind of lifestyle; if THAT GROUP has the right to rebuttle so powerfully as to affect the media, what happens to the unity of america? could it be the cause for some sort of mini civil war? I talk more about it in my post http://www.blackbloggersconnect.com/blogs/584/1012/raging-about-roland
• Jessica Ann Mitchell

  

  • 20 posts
   

  February 11, 2012 10:51:21 AM EST

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  When I first read his tweet, I wasn't sure what to think of it. However, his employers have to protect their brand and they can't risk having one of their employees tweeting anything that could appear to be homophobic. Especially since many members of the LGBT community have been murdered and harassed. He has the right to say whatever he wants but he should be prepared to face the consequences when dealing with an employer. Roland Martin should just be more careful about his tweets. He seems to be the kind of celeb that sometimes tweets without thinking. Bizzy Blanco talked about it in one of his articles as well: http://bizzyblanco.com/2012/02/08/roland-martin-gets-suspended-for-offensive-remarks-on-twitter-good-riddance-my-2-cents/ . Thanks for bringing this topic up April, its a very important subject.
• April D. Byrd

  

  • 33 posts
   

  February 11, 2012 1:47:07 PM EST

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  You're right Jessica CNN has every right to take the action that they feel suitable. Being a major news network It stills shock me that they would react to something so frivolous as that a gay group chose to target a particular "tweet". The influence that gay people are having over the media is sad and if they can influence such a major factor is'nt it high time that followers of goodness, righteousness, and purity stand up and take up true power and authority? Good news in the media is too often taken for granted. But our voices need to be heard to make the much needed difference. That' why I'm Raging!: http://www.blackbloggersconnect.com/blogs/584/1012/raging-about-roland
• VINCENT JACKSON

  

  • 16 posts
   

  February 13, 2012 5:31:25 PM EST

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  I just goes to show that in this everything is censored and there know freedom of speech ,

  America likes to label people and now and for ever more you are a part of this group and

  that you can never do or say anything to change it is a shame but is true . So be careful

  what you say and do because will follow you for life .

• April D. Byrd

  

  • 33 posts
   

  February 13, 2012 5:38:25 PM EST

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  That's A great point Vincent. People are definitely accountable for the things they say so it's best to show wisdom and discernment in All situations. He should be held accountable for not having more refinement as a person. but don't you think CNN was wrong for suspending Him?
• Denise Turney

  

  • 6 posts
   

  February 14, 2012 11:37:02 AM EST

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  Shows the impact of social media. Time and again people have been told to watch what they post at social networks. Can't get too relaxed while your posting on the Internet.
  
  Denise
  http://www.writemoneyinc.com
• April D. Byrd

  

  • 33 posts
   

  February 14, 2012 12:31:07 PM EST

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  Amen To That Denise! Now following you on twitter @_aprilinspired https://twitter.com/#!/_aprilinspired please follow back. Looking forward to connecting more!!
• Love Hope Heal

  

  • 7 posts
   

  February 20, 2012 1:41:30 AM EST

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  April, I understand why some are upset with Roland Martin's suspension, but your post is oozing with homophobia. This belief that the LBGT community is someone an "enemy" is why they have been beaten and battered to the point where jokes like the one Roland Martin posted can not be ignored because they teeter on the lines of supporting violence towards Gay people. and Glaad does have the right to speak out against it. I'm so tired of members of the Black community supporting homophobia and thinking its okay. Gay people are the least of our problems. Peace-
• Monique Jeanty

  

  • 24 posts
   

  February 20, 2012 10:21:40 AM EST

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  I am beginning to think your post has helped me to think about how I feel about the LBGT community. Maybe that's why I didn't think too much about Roland Martin's comments.
  
  Hope Hope Heal--I agree with you when you say that the Black community supports homophobia. I'm not gay and I rarely think about the LBGT community. But I stopped going to church because of the minister seemed focused on the fact that homosexuals are going to hell. Since I don't understand homosexuality, I got annoyed. I considered thse fiery sermons to be intolerant and unChristian-like. I never felt I was in the position to judge others. I don't want to know how it feels to be gay any more than I want to know how it feels to be white.
  
  Once, I was at an arts program, when I overheard this guy telling his friend that he had just met someone and he wanted to get married and have a few kids. My back was turned, but my ears automatically pricked up. His main concern was that many people in his family had health issues and he was afraid of passing on the cancers, strokes, and diabetes that his family members were dealing with. His friend asked him what he was going to do. He said that he and his new love were going to find a really nice girl who was in good health who was willing to let them use THEIR sperm for artificial insemination. I was shocked. I almost turned around to say, "That's nasty!"
  
  I turned to look at them from the corner of y eye and I saw two nice-looking guys. One guy was looking really worried and sad. His friend was looking sympathetic. He was nodding his head when he said, "You can have a family, man. Nobody wants to be alone." If I were talking to my girl friends, I might have said something like that. The conversation seemed strange to me, but I just decided that God knew and understood better than I ever could. Letting go of judgment is so liberating!
  
  Usually, I am so focused on the problems with our schools, young people, careers and the changing landscape of our society, that I don't invest too much emotionality about things I don't understand.
  
  Love Hope Heal is right--gay people are the least of our problems.
• April D. Byrd

  

  • 33 posts
   

  February 20, 2012 8:43:58 PM EST

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  Thanks Monique and Love! Great commentary! This is an issue that needs to be addressed in our community. I stand for peace and justice for all. In the post "Raging About Roland": http://www.blackbloggersconnect.com/blogs/584/1012/raging-about-roland My concern is how this particular group has had such a strong influence on the media, and how any One particular group can affect America at such a large capacity over something as small as a tweet. However EVERYTHING has it's consequences, understood! Yes Roland Martin was wrong for what he said, but for it to have such an impact as far as suspension, (I feel) is strongly uncalled for on CNN's part. I am not fearful or contempt of anyone, for anything, that's what "homophobia" means. I LOVE.
  
  
  @Love Hope Heal: Having a "phobia" of anyone is not ok for any community to have. Gay people are not a problem, but being gay is a problem. It's a spirit of excess that crosses the natural balance of love, wholeness and purity. If you have that one problem, it goes down the line affecting all other areas of wholeness about a person, Monique.
  
  
  
  It's wrong to be fearful, hold in contempt, or abuse anyone for their problems, but I refuse to pretend for anyone that it's not problem. The problem is that too many people who "don't understand it" are standing up for it.
  
  Question: In what ways do you guys feel "homosexuality" reflects truth or wholeness in any sense?