Oh Oprah . . .

Last Thursday’s Oprah Winfrey show highlighted the story of a Zimbabwe woman Tererai Trent who overcame poverty, an adolescent marriage, and an abusive husband to attain her Ph.D. in the United States, fulfilling her lifelong goal of obtaining an American education. Trent is scheduled to receive her doctorate degree in December of this year.

For her achievements Trent (and Oprah) graciously and partially credits Jo Luck, a white woman from Heifer International, who visited her country in 1986 or 1991 (depending on which web site is actually accurate) encouraging Zimbabwe women to fulfill their aspirations. Luck told Trent, “It is achievable” after hearing Trent’s dream of receiving an education. Luck (now Heifer International CEO) made an appearance on the show as well.

Trent’s real-life story was one of several inspirational accounts of female empowerment lifted from the pages of the newly-published book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. The husband and wife author team (Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn) were featured on the show as well. And in true Oprah form, each audience member received a complimentary copy of the book with the option of attending a private book-signing following the show.

Also featured on the show were actor Ben Affleck and his work with rape victims in the Congo and Lisa Shannon, a white woman who sponsored two Congo rape vicitms after viewing a report on rape in the Congo on Oprah’s show in 1995.

On the surface these stories of female empowerment, hope, and outreach are all inspirational and touching but these accounts are couched within layers of exoticism, notions of the white man’s burden, and the elevation of the immigrant narrative.

The works of Affleck, Luck, Shannon and Oprah herself are all laudable expressions of humanity. We at BGTC have no reservations with people helping people, but at the same time we must critically examine everything. It is only through analysis can we make solid reasoned decisions about the world in which we live and navigate daily.

We live in a nation where there 39.8 million people (13% of the pop.) live in poverty. It is important to note that the definition of poverty for the United States Census is extremely low, for instance the poverty threshold for one person on their own is $10, 991.00, basically 916.00 a month, or $30.00 a day. When you compare that with the increasing cost of college education, we have a problem in our own front yard. According to the CollegeBoard the average cost of tuition for in-state enrollment in a two-year college is $2,402.00, or roughly 22% of their annual income. So why is there such push to help those abroad when there is so little effort domestically? Is it because to acknowledge the shortcomings of our society would illuminate the extreme inequities in our social and economic structures? Would it effectively illustrate that the difference between the ruling 1%, in Zimbabwe really isn’t that different from the ruling 1% percent in the United States? It is easier to project inequity onto a foreign locality, another people; but it is a true test of humanity to address the failings of a culture that provides one with comfort at the expense of another’s survival.

And lest we forget Oprah’s thoughts on America’s inner-city youth. When asked why she decided to construct her $40 million school for adolescent girls in South Africa and not in rural Mississippi (where she was born) or inner-city Milwaukee (where she was raised), she stated “I became so frustrated with visiting inner-city schools that I just stopped going. The sense that you need to learn just isn’t there.  If you ask the kids what they want or need, they will say an iPod or some sneakers. In South Africa, they don’t ask for money or toys. They ask for uniforms so they can go to school.” According to the US Census 29.4% of the population under the age of 18 live in poverty in Mississippi and  14.5% of the same demographic group in Wisconsin live in poverty.  Perhaps young people in these two states may desire iPods and sneakers like the rest of society, but it is certain that they need all the help they can get to progress.

Farewell Facebook, farewell.

As an adult, I have always been somewhat slow to embrace technology or at least the forms that I felt encroached on my personal space. It took me forever to get a cell phone—even after my younger sister and mother had one. The thought of someone being able to reach me at all hours of the day concerned me. I must admit, I liked the degree of inaccessibility afforded by not having a phone strapped to my hip. But the question of personal safety living as a single woman took precedence over my desire to be Ms. Incognegro. And since acquiring the phone, I’d be hard-pressed to imagine my life without it.

While many of my friends were/are avid users of MySpace, I opted out. When I was younger, I was a member of the BlackPlanet world, however, my tenure there was short-lived after realizing the site was mostly frequented by young men trying to get laid.

So after much hesitation and at the encouragement of friends of course, I entered the realm of Facebook. I have been a member for about a year now. It was a good run but it’s now time to say good-bye. I enjoyed reconnecting with former friends from college and high school. However, the instant interconnectivity is more than my obscure heart can bear. There are some former acquaintances that I would rather not reconnect with. For the most part, I have kept in touch with the VIPs.

And the overzealous users determined to save every person who was a member of their graduating class as their friend, despite the fact that they didn’t say two words to you during the last two years of high school is yet another point of annoyance. Tack that onto the users with stealth investigative reporting skills avidly posting old embarrassing photographs and films of your likeness without the courtesy of even asking for your consent.  Is there any question as to why I’m calling it quits? I have had enough. I can’t take a damn picture without wondering whether or not it’ll be on my friend’s page the very next day. My life or former life or even my so-called life for that matter needn’t be lived online for the viewing pleasure of the clicking masses of cyberspace. I’m not your entertainment.