Category Archives: opinion

Friend Of The Pod?

The opinion pages calling for Joe Biden to resign after a bad debate people are like the Red Wedding episode of Game of Thrones. People are canceling their subscriptions to The New York Times. Some folks are absolutely apoplectic.

I was most surprised by the Pod Save America guys, John, Jon and Tommy. I saw a clip of their podcast after the debate and they turned on a dime against Biden. I can’t imagine this is playing well with everyone working at the podcast company. The three worked on campaigns. They know that it would be nearly impossible to get a new candidate less than six months before the election. Almost everyone who wants Biden to quit doesn’t want Kamala Harris either.

This is not a new problem. Biden said he would be a one-term president, but he and the DNC have had four years to come up with a succession plan. If Kamala isn’t the one, then they should have made another plan. There should have been plans b, c, and d. In fact, there should have been a succession other than Hillary Clinton in 2016. It seems like we as a country were too naive back then. I am frustrated, but it is not a new frustration. There are people who are experts, political strategists who knew this could happen and did nothing. Now we are stuck like Chuck.

New WOrd: Manesia

One of my favorite podcasts is Who? Weekly, a celebrity podcast. They often talk about “face blindness” which is when an actor resembles other actors and causes confusion. Well, “face blindness” is similar to a term I coined years ago.

Friends typically create a shorthand language either by body language or by words or even sounds that express so much with so little. At some point, I was going to catalog my squad’s dictionary, but I quit after this one word- Manesia. Manesia is a funny portmanteau combining man and amnesia.

Though I created the term years ago, there’s a meme that popped up last year that perfectly sums up what manesia. When Keke Palmer did the Vanity Fair and didn’t recognize Dick Chaney, she inadvertently started the meme, “Sorry To This Man“.

Manesia (noun) — forgetting who a man is even if you have been introduced before to him several times. This happens mainly because men tend to dress similarly in a uniform of untucked striped shirts, jeans, and New Balance sneakers. Also, there is not a lot of diversity of facial hair or haircut style, so it may be difficult to differentiate one guy from others. Women primarily get manesia, but this condition can affect both men and women. A good way to combat manesia is for more men to obtain a personality, be charming and gracious. European accents help as well.

First World?

What happens when a first world country is governed like a third world dictatorship?! We have been living like this for over two years, but no one wants to admit ir. We actually could learn a lot from immigrants who moved here escaping dictators and authoritarian rule. We need to hear their voices. Give them a platform.

I Was Never Afraid To Support Hillary Clinton

I wasn’t enthusiastic about supporting Hillary Clinton. I voted for her.  One of my Facebook “friends” unfriended back in the spring during the primaries because he was a die-hard Bernie Sanders supporter. I was just irked that this dude blew up my comment thread on Facebook by arguing with other friends on Facebook. I had to disable the comments because it was getting ugly. However, I was never in fear of my safety. It is prescient that some Hillary supporters joined Pantsuit Nation (PSN) as a safe space for Hillary Clinton. Did they know something I didn’t know?! In retrospect, I would posit that PSN had many close friends and family who were Trump supporters, and they sought out PSN as refuge. However, it wasn’t like joining Weight Watchers. Pantsuit Nation is the worst accountability partner ever. By remaining silent and not promoting advocacy, PSN was just a place to bitch and moan about Trump. In a way, it makes more sense that there was a secret Trump Facebook group, but since Trump voters had nothing to worry about, I guess it wasn’t necessary. Besides, there are secret Facebook groups for buying guns, and I am sure they reach a similar demographic.

Wing WoMAn

Last week, I was out at a drinking with friends and one of my friend’s co-workers was complaining about being single. I offered to go out with her and we could each other’s wing woman. Later, she recounted a story about how she used her cleavage and curvy plus-sized body to get the host of a restaurant to give her and her parents a table. She mentioned that the host was a black guy. “Black guys love me.” I rolled my eyes. Does she think she can use me to get swirly with some random Black dude? The offer to be her wing woman has officially been rescinded.

I am Not ReaDY FOR A WHITE PRESIDENT

Dear President Barack Obama,

I feel abandoned.

Eight years of having a Black president has spoiled me.

Why didn’t you and the Democratic Party groom a POC to succeed you in office? You have had nearly eight years to do this. The population of this country is increasingly diverse. White people will be the minority in 2045. If most of our elected officials don’t look like the electorate, the United States will resemble South Africa back before Nelson Mandela became president.

What are we doing here? Voting rights have narrowed with the gutting of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Now, you have to be rich to run for any office. Right now, the only people of color who could afford to run for office are businessmen, professional athletes, and entertainers. I will not vote for Kanye West in 2020. I have standards. You raised the bar, sir.

I just don’t get it.

Sincerely,

Nichelle

Gatekeepers

Gatekeepers are everywhere. They exists in the ivy league schools, fraternities and sororities, the toniest suburbs and the Upper East Side co-op boards.
Everything is not for everyone. Not everyone will fit in. However, gatekeepers have made it extremely difficult for social mobility and innovation.

Every community has a culture. Gatekeepers maintain the status quo culture by selecting who get in. Gatekeepers don’t like change. They only want to people that they assume will compliment the community. However, gatekeepers are often too narrow in their focus. Gatekeepers rely on pattern-matching to decide eligibility.

When it comes to innovation, inclusion and diversity works. Most financial advisors will tell you to to diversify assets and investments for a better return.
Gatekeepers need to open up the community to people who may not look like them but have the same habits and goals that the community has.