Are Black People As Guilty of “Whitewashing” As White People?

The Posthumous Stoning of A Black Legend Because He Chose To Marry A White Woman Poses Questions We Need To Answer

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Very recently I was charged with “whitewashing” and “tone policing” because I challenged a fellow writer on her objective in publishing what I deemed to be a hit piece on a legendary Black actor.

Of course the charges against me are bullshit as are those against the actor himself, but they raise questions that are relevant in a broader context. Black writers are not shy about doing public take downs on Black public figures and that is perfectly understandable. However, a take-down piece without probative value is little more than glorified gossip or aimless bitching. And because gossip can be so corrosive and bitching so distracting, they must be challenged when put forth as work to be taken seriously.

Because it is never my goal to offend anyone who reads my work, I am encouraging those who may be sensitive to attacks on convenient narratives and sacred cows to skip this one. Convenient narratives hate inconvenient truths like vampires hate garlic. But pay a visit to your friendly neighborhood cardiologist and they’ll gladly remind you that a healthy dose of garlic is great for your heart and the blood pumping through it. And from a cultural standpoint, Black folks need that…