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Malcolm X said it best in a 1962 speech: “The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is a black woman…”

More than 60 years later, these words still ring true.

Recently, it’s an apt description as it relates to footage of a horrific incident that occurred recently in Houston.

Ro Bashe, a Somali immigrant, took to social media to show viewers her badly injured face. Bashe said a man hit her with a brick and then ran away. The reason for his violent actions, according to Bashe, was that she refused to give him her phone number.

Yes, you read that correctly.

In the same video, she chastised the Black men in the area who witnessed the encounter, screaming at them and asking why none had intervened on her behalf. “I want you to be a man and do something!” Bashe yelled. “You gonna let a man hit me in my face?!”

The sordid incident exposed the interlocking intersection of racism and sexism. There were some disturbing similarities between a number of Black men’s reactions to the video and the way white racists often respond to acts of violence directed toward Black people in general. A segment of Black men were hostile, callous and downright dismissive of Bashe and the violence she encountered.

There were those who claimed she was an unapologetic feminist who bashed Black men on websites and thus was not worthy of protection. Some men stated she was not a “true” woman due to the fact she is a lesbian. Others argued they could not justify defending a woman that they did not know and possibly risk physical harm. Such lame, ridiculous and cowardly excuses were a sad sight to witness.

It has been this sort of complicity and willful disingenuousness from notable segments of the Black community that has enabled men of all races, including other Black men, the ability to escape any sort of punishment for their sinister behavior. Perpetrators of such sadistic behavior tend to be subjected to a watered-down version of belated justice, or suffer no consequences at all for their actions. The undisputed truth is that too many Black men are all too willing to adopt a “hear no evil, see no evil, fear no evil” philosophy when it comes to addressing and combating violence or vilification toward Black women.

Such intra-racial divisive drama manifested itself within the Black Power Movement, during the Mike Tyson-Robin Givens saga in 1988, and soon afterwards between Mike Tyson and Desiree Washington. A few years later, such drama manifested itself during Anita Hill/Clarence Thomas hearings in 1991. More recent times have included R. Kelly v. Black female Victims and Megan Thee Stallion/Tony Lanez. We are witnessing such brazen animosity here in the present day where Black female politicians, journalists, judges and prosecutors are routinely disregarded and disrespected by Donald Trump and other right-wing politicians.

The words of Black women are often given short shrift in our society. From Anita Hill to Robin Givens, the ex-wife of Mike Tyson, Black women are often not given the benefit of the doubt afforded their white counterparts. Media depictions of Black women as loudmouthed, combative and sassy have dominated the cultural landscape for decades. Though in recent years, we’ve been presented more positive images of Black women.

The undisputed truth is Black women have been the backbone of the Black race. They have kept our people above water.

Historically, Black women have come to the aid of Black men, white women (ask Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Doug Jones in Alabama) and pretty much everyone else, yet the same level of support and loyalty from others is rarely, if ever, reciprocated. Their historical tenacity coupled with undeniable impervious loyalty and fierce strength has been nothing short of herculean.

Such continued disloyalty and betrayal from others, in particular, Black men, cannot continue. Black women deserve better from everyone.

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Copyright 2023 Elwood Watson, distributed by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate

Elwood Watson is a professor of history, Black studies, and gender and sexuality studies at East Tennessee State University. He is also an author and public speaker.

It appears some Republican donors are really concerned that presidential candidate Tim Scott, South Carolina’s junior senator,  is a 57-year-old bachelor — and whatever implications that may entail.

Top party donors are raising concerns about the fact the conservative Black senator has never been married. and want some of their concerns about the matter addressed before they decide to become committed to his candidacy, according to Axios.

Scott has never been known to talk about his romantic life. Apparently, his reluctance has apparently “raised concerns” among certain donors who are frantically looking for a competitive alternative to the multiple indicted, twice impeached Donald Trump, especially as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis struggles on the campaign trail.

The last time voters elected an unmarried president was Grover Cleveland in 1884. One source familiar with the concerns of GOP donors told Axios a candidate being single is a bigger problem for Republicans than Democrats.

Scott is an Evangelical Christian who preaches abstinence until marriage and made his virginity a big part of his public persona — until he admitted to a reporter he was no longer a virgin at age 46. He’s mentioned a girlfriend, but has never revealed her identity, and believes it is an antiquated and outdated assumption to judge a presidential candidate on their marital status.

“The fact that half of America’s adult population is single for the first time, to suggest that somehow being married or not married is going to be the determining factor of whether you’re a good president or not — it sounds like we’re living in 1963 and not 2023,” Scott told Axios in May.

Such a mentality should hardly be surprising for a party chronically obsessed with what individuals do in their bedrooms. For these right-wing conservatives, anyone who deviates from the traditional, standard script of holy matrimony is viewed as abnormal or suspect. Single, unmarried men like Scott are assumed to be everything from slovenly and irresponsible to obsessed with sex and possibly closeted pedophiles.

While we are gradually evolving, the truth is we still live in a society where many people still place a high premium on marriage, especially when it comes to women. In fact, I have a friend (now in his second marriage) who came close to having a nervous breakdown in his early thirties due to the fact that he was still unmarried. He was convinced his entire manhood hinged on being wedded and a family man. He is far from alone. The fact is that there are many people who decide to stay in flawed, unhealthy, and sometimes violent marriages due to societal pressure and social acceptance, along with a fear of being alone or being seen as a failure.

Over the years, I have had my share of conversations with friends, acquaintances and strangers who have discussed dissatisfaction with their current marriages or relationships. Many married men and women are in strong, loving, and stable partnerships, but some prefer to remain single for various reasons. They are content and unmarried life suits them just fine.

Marital bliss for many is relationship non grata. In a nation that has a 50% divorce rate, perhaps these unattached adults, Scott included, may be on to something.

It seems obvious to say, but not every person needs to be partnered up. Single people deserve to be treated with as much dignity and respect as their married counterparts. The notion that marriage is the only viable option for men to be fulfilled, develop into responsible human beings, cultivate and satisfy their inner brawn, and garner acceptance from the larger society is patronizing and insulting to those men and women who desire a certain degree of social independence.

To paraphrase Beyonce Knowles – all the single fellas!

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Copyright 2023 Elwood Watson, distributed by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate

Elwood Watson is a professor of history, Black studies, and gender and sexuality studies at East Tennessee State University. He is also an author and public speaker.

As segments of the nation remembered the 60th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington, we simultaneously witnessed another horrendous, senseless act of racially sadistic violence occur in Jacksonville, Florida.

Armed with an AR-15 and a handgun decorated with a swastika, 21-year-old Ryan Christopher Palmiter carried out a racist mass shooting at a Dollar General store in the New Town neighborhood of Jacksonville. After killing three Black people, two of whom worked at the store, Palmiter shot and killed himself at the scene.

It was later revealed Palmiter, wearing a tactical vest and face mask, had attempted to enter the campus of the historically Black Edward Waters University before moving on to the Dollar General.

“Portions of these manifestos detail the shooter’s disgusting ideology of hate,” Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters told reporters. “Plainly put, the shooting was racially motivated, and he hated black people.”

In addition to a number of racist manifestos, law enforcement also found among Palmiter’s possessions a suicide note to his family and a will, indicating his intention to end his own life after the shooting.

The obviously disturbed young man was deeply infested with irrational hatred and xenophobia. There is no question that the attack was premeditated. He targeted a Black college and ended up at a discount store to kill as many Black people as possible. His white supremacist actions were driven by hardcore, deep-seated animus and hatred.

While violence against Black people is hardly new and people of color in America have been routinely targeted throughout the country’s history, it will take time for the victims’ families and other Jacksonville residents to fully heal from this senseless tragedy.

To add insult to injury, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had the gall to attend a vigil on Sunday evening.

Mind you, this is the same DeSantis who has railed against critical race theory, prohibited Advanced Placement African American history from being taught in Florida high schools, and declared that slavery was beneficial for Black slaves.

Given his deplorable antics, it was nothing short of obscene for DeSantis to attend such an event. Not surprisingly, the governor was loudly booed and drowned out as he attempted to deliver a speech.

Notably, DeSantis attempted to speak on the anniversary of what is known in Jacksonville as Ax Handle Saturday. On August. 27, 1960, in one of the city’s downtown parks, Black Americans staging a peaceful sit-in to protest segregation at a lunch counter were attacked by a White mob wielding baseball bats and ax handles. When the demonstrators fought back, police came and arrested the Black victims, as opposed to the White aggressors.

While Palmiter may not have been part of any online chat or secret dark web group, he was no doubt influenced by much of the blatantly, callous acidic rhetoric that has been steadily emanating from the current fractured political environment. Much of it comes from the deep depths of the political and cultural right-wing echo chamber.

There is rancid rhetoric that pours out from corners of the extreme left as well. But the vast majority of liberal politicians rarely, if ever, take to the airwaves stoking the fires of cultural resentment, as has been the case with a number of political figures on the right – including elected officials. From Josh Hawley to Marjorie Taylor Greene, from Lauren Bobert to Matt Gaetz, brazenly inflammatory rhetoric is part and parcel of the game. Just recently, Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy called Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who is Black, part of the “modern KKK.”

The three victims in the Jacksonville shooting perished for one reason – they were Black in a nation that continues to produce and promote white supremacists intent on hating, harassing, harming and murdering those they dislike or disagree with.

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Copyright 2023 Elwood Watson, distributed by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate

Elwood Watson is a professor of history, Black studies, and gender and sexuality studies at East Tennessee State University. He is also an author and public speaker.

After whipping themselves up in orgasmic levels of ecstasy, conservatives have tried to do a rapid U-turn of their embrace of YouTube sensation Oliver Anthony and his hit song, “Rich Men North of Richmond.”

The flip-flop comes after Anthony (real name Christopher Anthony Lunsford) derided Republican politicians, radio hosts, and conservative news outlets for brazenly adopting his song.

“It was funny seeing that presidential debate,” Anthony said of last week’s Republican contest. “I wrote that song about those people.”

The tune, which Anthony uploaded to YouTube earlier this month, had caught fire with conservative figures like Fox News host Sean Hannity, who described it as an authentic expression of working-class American life. Widely perceived as a conservative anthem, it also drew critiques from some on the left, who called the lyrics racist. For the record, Anthony categorized the song as apolitical.

The Farmville, Virginia native stated that he was frustrated by what he perceived as the manipulation of his music by both sides of the political spectrum. He resented right-wing politicians and pundits assuming he shared their politics and values after they incorrectly perceived as the song’s derision of excess spending and bloated government.

Simultaneously, he was angered and disappointed by some liberals trying to cancel him over a specific lyric about the “obese milkin’ welfare.” Such perceptions prompted folk singer Billy Bragg to create his own alternative version of the song, and gave Anthony a strong warning about what he saw as the singer “punching down.”

Understandably, it’s easy to perceive such language describing those on welfare as code works for Black people, Black women in particular. Such pernicious stereotypes aside, Anthony made it clear in no uncertain terms he was speaking in support of those who are disenfranchised and marginalized of all races and ethnic groups. Such a resounding clarification was reassuring to hear. For the record, the majority of welfare recipients are white.

Anthony’s unlikely hit is the latest in a notable surge in country music songs embraced by the conservative right that have catapulted in popularity, joining Jason Aldean’s controversial “Try That in a Small Town” and the equally polarizing “Last Night” by Morgan Wallen.

There is no doubt such songs deeply resonate in the psyche of many on the right. There is a long-brewing sentiment among lots of conservatives, mostly White, that they are victims being exploited, manipulated and harmed by so-called liberal elites. They are also under the misguided belief they and their communities are under siege by Black people and non-White immigrants.

These folks tend to be poor or on lower income. Since the Reagan years, these individuals have suffered drastic levels of economic and emotional instability and dysfunction. In a society that often equates whiteness with power and success, falling short and being unable to partake in such achievements undoubtedly magnifies the psychological pain and resentment of many members of this social demographic.

These are the men and women who have largely bought into the arrogant, brash, deceptive and perverse illusion that the dilemmas they are facing are not of their own making and are due to “those” people, whether their minority groups, the disabled, radical feminists, leftist Jews, or members of the LGBTQIA community. In the minds of many conservatives, its these groups that are preventing them from ascending the social ladder of upward mobility and onward toward pursuit of the American dream.

Anthony, on the contrary, has unapologetically informed them the economic and political quandaries they find themselves in are the result of corporate greed, complicit politicians, unchecked globalism, and other associated factors. The myth that dark-skinned, non-Christian people are a menace has largely been a perpetrated myth crafted by those in positions of power who desire to keep us fighting and pointing fingers at one another.

It’s commentary that’s difficult for many conservatives to hear. Will at least some right-wingers be able to digest the message of such crucial medicine in an effort to heal themselves of their current disease? That’s the million-dollar question that must be answered.

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Copyright 2023 Elwood Watson, distributed by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate

Elwood Watson is a professor of history, Black studies, and gender and sexuality studies at East Tennessee State University. He is also an author and public speaker.

It is hardly surprising that Black judges and prosecutors are being targeted by Donald Trump and his MAGA supporters.

Earlier this month, Abigail Jo Shry, a Donald Trump supporter, was held without bond on federal charges of threatening to kill U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, who is presiding over the case against Trump for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 election. Prosecutors said Shiry, who is white, contacted Chutkan’s office and made death threats and racist remarks.

“If Trump doesn’t get elected in 2024, we are coming to kill you,” Shry said to Chutkan, who is Black, according to an affidavit from a DHS officer. “So, tread lightly, b—- … You will be targeted personally, publicly, your family, all of it.”

Shiry told Department of Homeland Security officials she didn’t really intend to murder the judge, but because of her sinister behavior, she’s facing a federal charge that carries up to a five-year sentence.

It doesn’t require a rocket scientist to conclude that Shiry is a mentally-unhinged person who has been seduced, brainwashed, and manipulated by Donald Trump and his gang of right-wing partners in crime. Trump and friends have been phenomenally successful in psychologically manipulating his angry, largely misguided cult of diehard followers that he is their savior, and that he is unjustly under relentless siege by a well-educated, elitist media apparatus hellbent on destroying him and the larger American culture that they envision.

These are the men and women who wish to:

· Make it harder for Black people to vote.

· Encourage people to be weary and resentful of non-white immigrants.

· Convince everyone that transgender people are freaks of nature.

· Persuade homophobic people that granting LGBTQIA people equal rights somehow takes away their own rights.

· Redefine and whitewash the evils of slavery.

· Label rhetoric touting any religion other than Christianity as un-American.

In essence, this sums up the current Republican platform.

Sadly, this is nothing new. Paranoia and populist rage has been part of American history since the inception of this nation. This type of hostility and resistance toward change – and a romantic attachment toward anti-intellectualism – was rampant during the early to mid-19th century in Jacksonian America.

We saw it with the political left (and some segments of the right) during the New Deal of the 1930s. Several decades later, the religious right managed to promote a populist spirit that derided gays, feminists, minorities and other non-White, non-Christian folk during the late 1970s and 1980s to the present day. Such rage is often politically and cyclically based, usually when their perceived opponents acquire political, social or economic gains.

Jingoistic populism, fear, resentment, xenophobia and other vices aside, the major factor in the overwhelming, irrational hatred of change is deeply rooted in racial and cultural resentment. This is particularly the case for MAGA supporters, sons of the Confederacy and other citizens who are either sympathetic to or associated with similar groups.

Additionally, continuing demographic changes are creating even more anxiety among this crowd. Being a numerical minority is a very disturbing prospect for those who long for an earlier era. Obviously, it would be wise for these individuals to accept the fact that racial diversity and pluralism are now permanent factors in American society. The days of a racial homogeneous, pre-1960, Norman Rockwell, “Leave it to Beaver” America is no longer a reality and, quite frankly, never existed.

It’s long past time for these MAGA folks to move into the 21st century, get with the program and deal with reality.

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Copyright 2023 Elwood Watson, distributed by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate

Elwood Watson is a professor of history, Black studies, and gender and sexuality studies at East Tennessee State University. He is also an author and public speaker.

Voracious popular culture connoisseur that I am, I have been avidly following the drama surrounding pop icon Lizzo. As an academic who teaches race, gender and sexuality studies, the story has all the intersectional elements that make for a riveting story.

Over the past couple of weeks, the Grammy award winning artist known for her hits such as “Truth Hurts,” “Jerome,” and “Exactly How Feel” has been embroiled in controversy and legal drama.

Three of Lizzo’s tour dancers – Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez – have accused the singer of sexual harassment and fostering a disruptive and distressing work environment through sexual, racial and religious harassment in several incidents between 2021 and 2023. These same dancers further allege that Lizzo, known as an advocate for body positivity and self-love, criticized a dancer’s recent weight gain and later berated, then terminated that dancer in question for recording a meeting.

According to the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles earlier this month and first reported by NBC News, Lizzo allegedly pressured one dancer to touch a nude performer at a club in Amsterdam and subjected several dancers to an “excruciating” 12-hour audition after making false accusations that they drank while working. Additionally, the suit alleges that Lizzo’s dance captain, Shirlene Quigley, pushed her Christian beliefs upon other performers and denigrated those who had premarital sex, while also simulating oral sex, sharing lewd sexual fantasies and discussing one performer’s virginity.

The suit names Lizzo, legal name Melissa Viviane Jefferson, her production company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc and Quigley as defendants. Marty Singer, an attorney for Lizzo, told NBC News the lawsuit is “without merit” and that he is “confident that Lizzo will be completely vindicated in this matter.”

News of the lawsuit against Lizzo was shocking to her legion of fans due to their connection to her online. The pristine, progressive image so many of her followers associated with Lizzo was one she meticulously crafted. Truth be told, many politically progressive celebrities eagerly attach themselves to movements they admire in an effort to promote a specific product. Body positivity has been successful for Lizzo, largely due to her personal dilemmas as an obese Black woman in the entertainment industry. Her successful shapewear brand, Yitty, is marketed as “Shapewear for Every Body.” Nonetheless, she is being accused of fat-shaming one of her plus-sized dancers who has worn and promoted Yitty.

Like all celebrities, Lizzo has her detractors. There is a segment of these naysayers who deride and are hostile toward her message of diversity and inclusion, and this current saga provides them with the ammunition they need to attack. Even if she is guilty of the charges levied against her, it doesn’t devalue or diminish any of the causes she has promoted or represented. There is no doubt that her most diehard supporters are praying she is innocent.

As someone who is not necessarily either a fan or detractor, I hope Lizzo comes through this for the sake of her fans. This situation also provides a valuable reminder to be careful when it comes to worshiping celebrities.

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Copyright 2023 Elwood Watson, distributed by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate

Elwood Watson is a professor of history, Black studies, and gender and sexuality studies at East Tennessee State University. He is also an author and public speaker.

The evolution of Black Lives Matter, the election of Donald Trump, and a growing fear of immigrants have led to deep levels of resentment and hostility among a sizable segment of white Americans.
Many Americans of European descent misguidedly see the nation they grew up in as infested with hordes of non-White people, threatening to resign the country as a potpourri of foreign languages, multiple religions and mass confusion.

Not all white Americans harbor such deplorable viewpoints, of course. But those that do have been indoctrinated by diverse swaths of right-wing commentary, ranging from far-right radio personalities such as Michael Savage and Mark Levin to xenophobic politicians like Lauren Bobert and Marjorie Taylor-Greene. This combination of retrograde influences has resulted in many conservatives constantly looking over their shoulders and under their beds for illegal aliens.

The “people of color as boogeyman” argument is one that has been historically propagated by the parochial, isolationist, political right for decades. Such a reductive mindset can be traced directly to white denial and white fragility.

Many people of all races and ethnic groups, including white Americans, are deftly astute to the fact our country has failed to live up to the principles espoused in the Constitution. Everyone is well aware America as a nation has historically mistreated and abused its Black and other non-white citizens, denials notwithstanding.

That’s why whenever a person of color overtly espouses such truths, reaction from certain segments of the white populace is swift and callously fierce. Some are not above engaging in racial slurs, threatening or advocating violence and other forms of racial invective. As a columnist, I can personally attest to being the target of such behavior. The sad part about it is that there are usually some non-whites (usually conservatives of color) who are more than eager to jump on the self-flagellation “yes, I agree with you bigots” bandwagon.

The truth is the majority of whites who throw racist shade on critics of white racism do so from old fashioned racist rhetoric. The message is that people of color should keep their mouths shut, be humble and “know their place.”

The blatantly racist, profoundly ignorant and arrogant argument being made here is that people of non-European heritage are not legitimate citizens of America, and that our very existence is supposed to be periodically reviewed and verified by others. Guess what? The 14th amendment settled this question once and for all in 1868.

Many of these same racist individuals who would deny people of color the right to utilize our first amendment rights are the very people who have no apprehension engaging and exercising their constitutional rights no matter how vile, unprofessional, racist or disrespectful. Many of them are the same people who enthusiastically cheer when Donald Trump engages in vicious diatribes in his criticisms of individuals he is upset with or dislikes.

It is evident these people see dissent and free speech as reserved for whites only. In essence, free speech for me, but not for thee.

The obscene level of hypocrisy is staggering. Many of these so-called patriotic Americans have been so adamant in their efforts to proclaim their own moral (and in some cases, racial) superiority, dismissing the viewpoints of those they personify as “the other,” vilifying them for their positions, that they have failed miserably in their efforts to listen to or consider others.

This is the classic example of White supremacy, white fragility, white arrogance and white privilege manifesting itself.

In short, to all you fragile, racially pathetic bigots, get over yourselves.

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Copyright 2023 Elwood Watson, distributed by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate

Elwood Watson is a professor of history, Black studies, and gender and sexuality studies at East Tennessee State University. He is also an author and public speaker.

There are probably many Americans who thought this day would never come. More than a few people, myself included, were skeptical that Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice possessed the strength and courage to overcome their traditional habit of risk aversion.

Instead, the criminal justice system is going to do battle against one of the most devious and horrendous conspiracies in the history of the nation.

The latest indictment of Donald Trump, brought by special counsel Jack Smith are the results of a tedious, laborious, all-encompassing effort to hold those who attempted to overthrow and sabotage the results of an American presidential election accountable. Any person interested in the potential preservation of democracy should relish that Garland and his department is planning to hold all those involved in the coup accountable, including the former president.

According to the indictment, some of the individuals critical to the inquiry are: Rudy Giuliani, the disgraced attorney who oversaw Trump’s attempts to claim the election was marred by widespread fraud; John Eastman, a legal scholar who provided the basis to overturn the election by manipulating the count of electors to the Electoral College; Sidney Powell, a lawyer who encouraged Trump to use the military to seize voting machines and repeat the election; Jeffrey Clark, a former DOJ official; and Kenneth Chesebro and James Troupis, lawyers who helped engineer the plan to employ fake electors pledged to Trump in states that were won by Joe Biden.

The charges in the indictment are breathtaking. It reveals that Trump and his enablers were fiercely brazen in their efforts to retain power at all costs, regardless of the consequences for the nation. One could argue these people give mobsters a run for their money.

The indictment methodically and tediously documents that Trump was repeatedly told time and time and time again by his own advisers, allies and fellow administration officials that his allegations were false and unfounded. Nonetheless, like a horse wearing binders, he publicly continued to state such falsehoods.

He was also told his claims were not true, according to the indictment, by two attorneys general, multiple other Justice Department officials, and the government’s election security chief — all his appointees. He was told by his own vice president, Mike Pence, other campaign officials, the investigators they hired. Moreover, he was given identical information by Republican governors and secretaries of state and state legislators.

It all boils down to one simple fact – Trump’s conspiracy theory was bloated, fabricated garbage. Thus, the only individual who attempted to defraud the nation was Trump himself.

Despite such ravishingly convincing and transparent evidence, I remain unconvinced that even a guilty verdict would alter the impervious perceptions of Trump’s most loyal supporters, who live in the bizarro world of MAGA Land. As the former president commented in 2016 while running for president, he could shoot someone in the middle of 5th avenue and he “wouldn’t lose any voters.”

The modern right is a movement driven in large part by the grievances of a motley crew of disgruntled and angry white men and women who feel they have been deprived of their due respect and deference. They are under the assumption they have been forced to surrender the power that was “rightfully theirs” based on the superiority of their race. They see Donald Trump as the “political messiah,” who will return them to their supposed rightful place of authority. Disillusionment, confusion and resentment have become the current state of affairs for many Republicans.

After the indictment was handed down and announced, widespread support for the former president was immediately evident among right-wing groups. Vast segments of the conservative media echo-chamber have deliriously lauded the increasingly abrasive activity that is occurring among the more aggressive sectors of the cultural right. It has become a sad and horrid spectacle to witness and must not be ignored.

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Copyright 2023 Elwood Watson, distributed by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate

Elwood Watson is a professor of history, Black studies, and gender and sexuality studies at East Tennessee State University. He is also an author and public speaker.

The issue of men and mental health often remains a silent crisis in our society.

The reasons for this vary, though many experts attribute it to the growing number of pressures placed on men in contemporary life. Rapid transformations ranging from work, family, and personal life have taken its toll on a considerable segment of men in our current culture.

Regardless of the reasons (and they are important to diagnose) the fact remains that many men are often apprehensive, and in some cases outright resistant, to seeking help to confront the issue.

For many men, doing so indicates they are weak and raises a fear they will be viewed as insufficiently masculine. When it comes to emotional related issues, men are taught to “wear the mask” and present a public face of power, confidence, and strength.

Consequently, the “I have it all under control. Everything is cool” persona is having a crippling effect on many men as they are falling further behind, and in some cases are dropping out of society in general. This is a situation that needs to be addressed, and men themselves can make such changes in their own lives.

The truth is women are much more inclined to open up about their personal health and mental struggles, not just with one another, but with the larger society. There have been some male celebrities – such as Prince Harry, Carson Daly, Pete Davidson and Shawn Mendes – who have gone public revealing their struggles with mental illness and the steps they took to address and combat their struggles.

It is undoubtedly safe to say that these men are hardly the only male public figures who deal with these challenges. The reason why these gentlemen decided to open up about their situations was to send a message to other men that even though they may seem to have it all – money, fame, fortune etc… That they still are human and are vulnerable. Moreover, their stories may inspire other men to acknowledge whatever warring factions reside within their minds.

As men, pride is often one of our greatest assets. Consequently, it can also result in being among our greatest liabilities. Those of us in tune with reality are well aware of the fact we are not immortal. We are prone to stumbling and falling short along the way. We are human. Too many of us are afraid to ask for help. We fear doing so will make us appear weak, emasculated, and vulnerable.

Accept the fact that all of us are in need of help at some point in our lives, and seeking assistance when you need it is not only acceptable, it is very practical.

Mental illness and social anxiety are disorders that can affect any man (or woman) at any point in their lives. None of us are immune from the possibility of enduring such an experience. What is important is how we choose to confront such a situation.

Some men tend to run away from or deny such problems. Other men can take a direct look in the mirror, confront and face such problems head on. For those men facing such a dilemma, which path will you choose? The standard route of denial, or the road less traveled of confronting the problem.

Your health and peace of mind may depend on it.

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Copyright 2023 Elwood Watson, distributed by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate

Elwood Watson is a professor of history, Black studies, and gender and sexuality studies at East Tennessee State University. He is also an author and public speaker.

Like many material icons, Barbie has had a complex history.

When Mattel introduced Barbie to the public in 1959, America was beginning to enter deep into the throes of the Cold War. The modern civil rights movement was beginning to gain steam and the nation was largely embracing the status quo. While the second wave of feminism became a radical force on multiple fronts – racial, sexual, political, etc. – the doll was immune from intense criticism.

To many, Barbie was seen as a doll that little girls of all races embraced. It was viewed in the realm of childhood and escaped the attention of progressive, socially conscious women.

During the 1980s and early 1990s, America made a political U-turn to the right and a new era of conservatism saturated the nation. Many movements and institutions that were considered to radical or insufficiently patriotic were denounced and targeted. The feminist movement was not spared.

The backlash against women’s liberation was stark. The fall of 1991 introduced the nation to the Anita Hill/Clarence Thomas hearings and blasted the issue of sexual harassment into the mainstream. Sexual assault on college campuses and in the larger society become an issue of rampant concern. Women like Camille Paglia, Christina Hoff Sommers, Rene Denfeld and others wrote best-selling books critical of the feminist movement while simultaneously considering themselves feminists. Thus, that second wave of feminism found itself under fierce attacks from various quarters.

Interestingly, it was during this period that Black, Latina and other non-white Barbies were introduced to the public. While such an expansion of dolls of various races and ethnicities was applauded, these new supposedly “ethnic Barbies” resembled the traditional Barbie doll with her thin lips, long hair, and other Eurocentric features.

Critics derided such homogeneity and lack of originality, charging Mattel with promoting a message to young non-white girls – whether intentionally or unconsciously – that they should strive to be “as white as possible.” Subliminally promoting a “white is superior” message. Some cited the Black doll/white doll experiment that was conducted by husband-and-wife psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark during the mid-1940s, where children of various races were convinced that white dolls were more attractive and possessed other positive character traits that were bereft in Black dolls.

Decades later, in 2018, “Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie” provided a detailed look at the Barbie Phenomenon from business, ethnic, political and psychological perspectives. The documentary depicted Mattel as a company in crisis. Faced with shrinking revenues and a declining consumer base, the company planned to introduce a collection of dolls whose skin tones and body types represent the full spectrum of racial diversity. Women of multiple racial and ethnic groups were interviewed for the film, including Barbie historians, feminist icon Gloria Steinem, and author Roxanne Gay.

We live in a culture where many images, institutions and entities are routinely targeted for criticism. In a society where race, gender, class , and other related factors are prominent, it is not all that surprising that Barbie would be a target of criticism. She is a symbol ripe for critique.

Unlike many toys geared toward children that have waned or floundered in popularity or demand, Barbie has demonstrated a remarkable degree of resiliency. For more than six decades, the doll has managed to survive, evolve and weather countless storms and controversies, be they racial, political, sexual, cultural, or economic.

Barbie has somehow managed to persevere over the years despite facing all these headwinds, and deserves her “Barbenheimer” moment in the sun.

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Copyright 2023 Elwood Watson, distributed by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate

Elwood Watson is a professor of history, Black studies, and gender and sexuality studies at East Tennessee State University. He is also an author and public speaker.