February 23, 2009, - 4:04 pm
Attention, Black America: Forget the White House, You Can Be a NEWBO
By Debbie Schlussel
CNBC is heavily advertising a Thursday Night special, called, “NEWBOs: The Rise of America’s New Black Overclass.” The ads, featuring pictures of rappers Sean “Diddy” Combs, ‘Lil Wayne, and Wyclef Jean, LeBron James, and assorted other pro athletes, tout these men as “THE NEW AMERICAN DREAM.”
Huh? Isn’t this the image Black Americans have been trying to get their kids away from–i.e., that their only hope is to become an athlete or entertainer?
Well, now comes Wall Street Journal reporter Lee Hawkins hosting this story about this “world of opportunity.” He reports on
a generation of self-made, young, black multimillionaires emerging from sports, media and entertainment to live the American dream. . . . It’s a world of opportunity, opulence . . . .
Blacks making it in sports and music–this is new? That’ll be a surprise for Michael Jackson, O.J. Simpson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, etc., etc., etc.
Anyway, Mr. Hawkins has developed a new term for them, “NEWBOs”–the New Black Overclass. Um, here’s a tip, if Diddy and ‘Lil Wayne are your “overclass”–your antidote to the Black underclass–your people are in trouble.
One other thing: In materials promoing this stupid show with a new label for an old concept, Hawkins apparently plans to ask these athletes and performers how racism has affected them. Racism? Um, hello . . . . who do you think is buying the CDs (or downloads) and tickets to sporting events?
Here’s a hint: the majority of them are not Black. Yes, NEWBOs are a problem for all of America, Black or White. NOT a solution or something to be admired.
This silly show airs on CBNC, this week.
With role models such as Thomas Sowell, Larry Elder, Morgan Freeman, and Alan Keyes to name a few and they’re touting the list above?
Rich B on February 23, 2009 at 5:02 pm