How Could Charity Go Wrong???...Isn't That A Good Thing???...
Happy New Year and all the jazz to everyone! I hope that the New Year is treating everyone well so far. I didn't get a chance to make out a list of resolutions. I heard and read all over the place how other people declare that they don't make resolutions, so that they won't have to break them and how silly resolutions are. Blah, blah, blah. I believe in the "to each his own " approach. Whatever works. Procrastinators like me need to clearly outline goals, milestones, and achievement dates. Otherwise nothing would get done. We've got to start somewhere, right? But oh well. I've got about 5 or 10 minutes to type this entry. So bear with me.
The Beginning of The Flap...
Okay. Now onto the flap about Op.rah's school In short, by now many of you may have heard about the multi-million dollar school Op.rah set up in South Africa to educate girls. The school opened with a lot of fanfare, media, and stars who came out to support Op.rah and her cause. Over the years, I've commented on Op.rah's actions. Frankly, I think she landed on her face with the whole "A Mi.llion Little Pieces" fiasco with James Fr.ey. And I really don't care for the fact that she sometimes goes around telling people that white women work for her with the exception of one black woman (probably not Gayle). What's the point of that? She doesn't want us working for her or what? *insert annoyed facial expression*
But in all fairness, I try to keep an open mind and "judge/comment on" (whatever you want to call it) her actions on a case by case basis. And my verdict is that I don't see anything wrong with her helping poor students in another country. Why not? The continent of Africa has been continuously raped and stolen from via slavery and colonialism. Some of the people there are struggling under some really horrible conditions. Many of the girls picked to attend Op.rah's school are orphans because their parents died of diease. They don't have the necessities. Clothes are in short supply. And many don't know where their next meal is coming from. So, if Op.rah wants to take her own money and finance a school, why are some folks here in the U.S. crying foul?
The Badmouthing Begins...
Well according to some folks like Linda Sta.si of the New Y.ork Post, Sta.si feels that Op.rah made a huge mistake in not building the school in the U.S. As Sta.si puts it, charity should start at home and not in the place of one's ancestors. *triple huh?* Then she went onto talk about how her grannies or great grannies got on a boat from Italy to come to America to make a better life. I guess somewhere down the line or in the middle of the Atlantic ocean someone forgot to give this cow a History book to let her know that most black folks' ancestors didn't have a choice in coming here. There was that thing called slavery, which later gave way jim crow laws, which begot subtle racism that still exists today in that folks like this chick still don't the understand the ramifications of it all. And nobody, do you hear me???, nobody should ever get out here trying to compare their hardships to ours in an attempt to chastise us about our choices. If Ms. Sta.si disagrees with Op.rah's decision, then Ms. Sta.si can very well raise her own money and do with it what she sees fit minus the flapjacking of her mouth. But let me just say that Ms. Sta.si possibly could have had some merit to her discussion if she didn't have such a nasty attitude.
Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due...
While I'm no Oprah-bot serving a high position in a Pope-rah fan club, I have to admit that her school project is an excellent one. Just think about the impact that the school is going to have on the the South African nation as a whole and the lives of the young people who hail from some really modest backgrounds. They'll be free to explore a whole new world, which may include a new love for reading and a feeling that anything is possible if they can dream it. Forgive me, but I just get all excited about education and all of the possibilities. I sincerely hope that their outcomes far exceed our expectations.
On the flip side, I have to admit that I had to frown my eyebrows a bit when O.prah told the media that she didn't build the school in the U.S., because the poor kids here aren't serious about education and that they only wanted i.pods or something to that effect. Then later, when asked the same question, she admonished herself for using such a broad brush when referring to American kids. But in hindsight, Op.rah's probably thinking that she should have just said that she wanted to build the school in South Africa and left things at that and not mentioned the U.S. I somewhat disagree with her. I believe that we all have the capacity to help the kids in Africa and in the U.S. , because I hate dichotomies. Why does everything have to be about "Eithers" and "Ors". Why not "Ands?" The kids from both countries are poor, but in different ways. The kids in South Africa may be poor financially, while the kids in the U.S. may be poor morally (by no fault of their own) because of the overall materialistic/money driven culture that we live here and that Op.rah is a part of (she is a brand name). With that said, rich kids are equally asking for the i.pods instead of uniforms and extra books. So although I'm in disagreement with O.prah to certain extent, I can't totally condemn her. The woman did step up to the plate and make a school come into fruition for some kids who need it. I just want to encourage her to not give up on the American poor kids.
Okay, I'm officially late for work. I've got to run. I'll clean up the typos later.
5 comments:
Anything O does something she catches flack. I do not see anyone else with tons of money opening up schools, but somehow O is wrong. Whatever to that. It is her money and she earned and she can spend it however she wants. Why does she have to help Americans? Not that she has not helped them already (she is the largest single donor to Morehouse College).
Miz JJ: Hey lady. Don't go making me laugh out loud at work, because I'm not even supposed to be blogging now. But I am under cover on the job site.
But seriously, on the up and up, Op.rah has every right to do what she wants to do with her money. I'm in total in agreement with you about building the school being a good thing. However, somewhere in the back of her mind she's remembering that the American public made her the billionaire that she is today. That woman is filthy rich. (Side Note: She needs to let me know about some money making ventures.) And in some way her status in the entertainment world makes her a part of the money grubbing culture that she seems to despise. Besides it would make her look hypocritical to tell Americans to give and give when she says at the same time that she doesn't want to give to them.
As for Morehouse (men only college), it's a private HBCU and not a state supported one. She needed to help them since she was an HBCU student at one time. HBCUs still play a critical part in educating a significant number black students when the predominantly white schools turn down their applications. People would be amazed at the number of doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, scientists, business owners, and other professionals HBCUs produce. My former HBCU classmates and I discuss this all the time. But back to Op.rah. Her money is greatly appreciated.
Rather, I think Op.rah became frustrated with the public school system and the level of bureaucratic garbage that exist. The American educational system would not have given her the latitude to do the things she's doing in South Africa. But what's needed more than her money in this particular case is her faith and support in the kids who suffer morally in the U.S. She has to remember to separate the system and the kids when discussing their welfare. It's an abstract way of looking at this. But I just hope that she won't give up on poor American young folks who weren't raised right and have completely no understanding of what striving to be the best is all about. I get tired of dealing with the culture here too at times, but in the back of my mind I just can't walk away from folks in need whether they be in Africa and the U.S. We've got to help them all.
As for Linda Sta.si and folks like her, they can raise their own money and build their own school. That woman worked my nerves on that tv show. I started to send an email to the New Y.ork Post, but decided to blog about it instead. *shrug* I better slid out of here and get off my lunch break.
i don't think it should matter where the charity is being given - as long as there is someone willing to give it and keep giving it to those in need - till there are no more people needing it. no one 'deserves' it more than anyone else, so it shouldn't matter whether you 'give at home' first or not.
Aziza, PLEASE!!! Didn'cha know luv? It doesn't matter what Oprah does. There will always be a person who somehow finds some kind of wrong with it. She could give a million dollars to each and every PERSON in the country, and someone would say, 'just a million dollars? Why not 2 million???' It's friggin' sickening luv. By the way, HOW ARE YA Luv??? I'm still on the Left coast but will be back in the Va area soon!
Po' So.fia.
Can't CATCH a break. Maybe she oughta start a chain email thingy promising a thousand dollars (and not deliver) maybe people will get off her back.
She's done more than enough, in comparison to other millionnaires. People need to give it a rest.
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