Friday, December 16, 2011

Cue the Satire-Epiphany: Forbes Pulls an NY Times, Publishes Idiocy

Really, journalists? You're making me reconsider the merits of censorship. Someone has to filter this nonsense.

The latest idiocy from a major newspaper or magazine, this time from the lofty peak of white privilege:

"If I Were A Poor Black Kid", Gene Marks

The collective outrage:

"A Muscular Empathy", Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic

"If I Were a Middle Class White Guy Writing About Being a Poor Black Kid", Touré , Time

"Opinion: If I Were a Rich White Dude", Jeff Yang (WNYC)

"Letter from a poor black kid", Baratunde Thurston, CNN

"What It's Really Like to Be a Poor Black Kid"Atlantic Wire (a good collection of links)

More responses here: 'If I were a poor black kid': 6 counterattacks"

The article itself is an impressive exercise in obliviousness, paternalism, class and race privilege, and sheer lack of common sense. Really, as a middle-aged white guy who just decided to adopt the voice of a poor black kid...did that at any point seem like a very, very stupid thing to do?

I'm waiting for his Paul Kane moment. "Come on, guys, I was just making a point! I'm edgy."

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