Very good post and explanation.
I wonder if there is also more of a sexuality to some black cultures that are either offended or threatened by homosexuality. I mean no disrespect but there seems to be a big divide between the open sexuality of some and the primness of the church going black women.
There was a time when we were in fact threatened by homosexual acts. Missing from my the his-story of American slavery are the acts of debauchery forced on men, women, and children. Imagine a time when you could do anything you wanted to do to another human being.
But also, homosexuality is not an accepted practice throughout Africa or the arab world. There are long-held cultural taboos that just won't go away, generally because there is rarely an outlet for counter expression. I'm not sure those taboos are rooted in sexual fears as much as being rooted in religious programming.
I now live in Atlanta, the "Black San Francisco." You'll find more open black homosexuality here than in any other city in America. At the same time, Atlanta has always had a strong connection to black religious history. But there is little contention or connection between the two. The gay community here is essentially ignored by the church. Sure the musical director is gay, but we just won't talk about it. Sure many of us have a gay person in our families, but we just won't talk about it.
I've also met Jackson on a couple of occasions. He does have an aura about him that makes you want to hear what he has to say, but some of the stuff he says is so hypocritical I expected him to simply blow-up into a ball of flames. He and Cynthia McKinney never seemed comfortable around each other even though they often came together of different issues. The issue of the rights of homosexuals was not one of those issues they came together on. Cynthia has always been a champion of gay rights and she didn't care who was listening or who didn't like it. She would speak that truth to God.
Consequentially, unknown to the naked eye, the black church in Atlanta, led by mega-pimp-preacher Eddie Long, did not support Cynthia during any of her elections .. and in fact, Long worked hard against her. Did I mention that Long voted for George Bush .. twice? Did I mention that Long was a recipient of lots of George Bush's "faith-based" money? Did I mention that Long is one of the afore-mentioned Bentley owners .. and his own private jet .. and a Jaguar .. a 3 million dollar home .. and a Hummer that if you saw it driving down the road you would probably believe it belonged to a rapper like Ludacris.
Did I mention that Long is gay?
On the "down-low" as we like to call it, but it doesn't take much to see through Long's cover.
When Johnny Cochran died, I had to deliver a speech about him for the Congresswoman at Long's Church spread, which I call the Ponderosa. Before the services began, Long took up a collection from his sheep. When you enter the church you are given a big white envelope .. which you're supposed to place your offerings in. When the sheep are called to bring forth their offerings, they form a long procession that leads to the huge stage where they are to place the big white envelopes. When they're done there is so many big envelopes on the stage that a guy came out and actually swept them up with a big ass broom. I was astounded.
Iceberg Slim, noted black pimp and author, never had it that good .. or easy.
I don't want to give the impression that all balck churches operate in this manner or that they are all anti-gay. But far too many are in my opinion.
Sometimes my head just spins around and around.
Beam me up Flip Wilson.
