Get Rich or Die Trying.....or New Millennium Minstrelsy

There is a mentality that has been running rampant in the African American community for perhaps a hundred years. It is the archetypal minstrel mindset which is often displayed by actors, hip hop artists, media personalities and even bloggers. Statements such as "I'll be ghettocentric all the way to the bank" or the G-Unit mantra of "get rich or die trying" are indicators of what some people of color will do to achieve success regardless of desecrating the Black image. There is one historical gentleman of note that perhaps provided the template for today's minstrels, Stepin Fetchit. A new biographical work that was recently reviewed in the New York Times, entitled, Stepin Fetchit : The Life and Times of Lincoln Perry, written by Mel Watkins denotes numerous stories of Fetchit's rise to fame at the expense of the Black community. In deference to Fetchit, he did become a millionaire with an ostentatious Pink cadillac, neon license plate and an Asian house staff in tow. The reprehensible part is that in 70 years, this type of foolhardy Negro still exists. Whether it's a pink caddy, Hummer on 26" rims or phillyblunt-centric blog it is easy to see that some things never change. But don't worry....I will continue to showcase an alternate view of Black life and NEVER don the minstrel make-up. We don't serve crunk juice here at Afronerd.