Racism as parody stands as no laughing matter
A Trenton pastor caught up in questions regarding a City Council decision to memorialize his family’s ministry with street signage produced acrimony by forwarding a message that parodied an AfricanAmerican “church mother” as a monkey wearing a wig.
The photo showed a monkey with a caption that read, “When That Church Mother Come Through With a Fresh New Wig.” Bishop Charles Brinson, leader of the Brinson Memorial Church of Trenton, said he had no idea his attempt at forwarding levity could offend anyone.
“Oh, oh, oh, that’s not the church mother per se, it’s just a parody. That’s just something that I thought was cute,” Brinson said. “You have issues with that post? Why?”
Mind you, Brinson, an African-American, apparently rightminded and understanding his standing and position here on Planet Earth, had no qualms with advancing a parody about a black woman being sullied by being connected to an ape.
Brinson advanced the animalization of black people, then, instead of his slipping into one of his mink coats that connects to an admitted admiration for fur, wrapped himself in a Mike Tysoninduced Bolivian. From Tarzan to King Kong to that dreadful Roseanne Barr post that compared former President Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett to an ape, black people have experienced a dehumanization.
These frequent racist connections carry significant weight when offered by Caucasians. When dispensed by other blacks, in this case Brinson, this amounts to something that mirrors selfhatred, an attack on our bodies, minds and spirits.
“It’s just a parody,” Brinson reiterated. “It’s not anyone specific. Not anyone from my church. Not anyone. I apologize if you were offended or others were hurt by it. But I don’t see how this offends any body. People take Facebook a little too seriously. I don’t take Facebook as seriously as a lot of people. I just found this one with the monkey funny.”
“This has no bearing on the actual church mother. A church mother wears a new wig. (Brinson chuckled) Just call it religious humor. If there were a problem with that — I apologize.”
Asked again about the monkey and church mother, Brinson deferred creation. “Hey, someone else posted it. That was just a “Share” actually. And I just put it up on my Facebook page. People are just touchy about things that amount to nothing. Facebook is not the Gospel. Facebook is not the infallible Word. Facebook is just something that you play with. I’m not on Facebook that much.”
Facebook in the hands of bigots remains a dangerous proposition despite support here for First Amendment rights. Freedom of speech, press and religion remain crucial to honoring the rights and protections of U.S. citizens.
Still, these freedoms, especially regarding speech and press, demand that people be held responsible for their words and actions. So, while Brinson giggles away a pathetic reproduction of racial animus, he receives no exoneration for this Facebook post that continues this narrative that tethers blacks and primates.
Brinson wields ignorance and while he preaches that the primate in question represents no particular person, he should understand that the “Church Mother...With A Fresh New Wig” ranks as a portrayal of every black woman.
This alleged preacher or pastor who references himself as a “bishop” yet incorporates all the sins of self indulgence and egomania, owes an apology to society. His perpetuation of racism and black-infused hate avoids common decency.
Such reprehensible behaviors and attitudes demand that people stand against him as a wave of unrestricted hate shadows our nation.
No, Mr. Brinson. Your pay-itforward effort exists as insult, far from the world of parody. May God have mercy on your lost black soul.