On Banned Books Week, the Manchin Clan, Florida education, and Will "Power" Packer
The Hump Day Hot Topics!
"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” The late Isaac Asimov, prolific science-fiction writer and biochemistry professor, Boston University.
Banned Books Week
There has been quite the lament on social media of late regarding the "made up holidays" of National Daughter's and Son's Day, and while most of the lamenters amuse me for their "get off my lawn" curmudgeonly comments, today's first post centers upon another “made up” but fully actual annual event, Banned Books Week.
When I considered the meme below that contains the most banned books in American public schools and libraries, I quickly noticed that I had read all but one, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," before I finished middle school in the mid-80s:
In addition to the depicted banned books, others that are rarely on public school curricula include the following old school classics that I enjoyed in print or the silver screen:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
And the more recent classics:
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin
What I find troubling is that for all of the bombast that some of our fellow Americans spew about our nation's supposed "exceptionalism" and “freedoms,” that the acquiring of knowledge is not just frowned upon—but openly mocked by those whose inability to sit, read, and reflect beyond a Tweet, Instagram caption, or short Facebook status update—is but one more sign of the decline that could eventually become the fall of the Republic.
As a Black man whose own thirst for knowledge is unquenchable, I find it even more disturbing that the majority of the listed banned books—both classics and of recent vintage—at their core address race, systemic and individualized racism, sexism, toxic male patriarchy, and perspectives on the bad, worse, and worst aspects of industrialism and capitalist statism. That these texts are banned, and that pleasure reading and the pursuit of knowledge is generally shunned, are reminders that the ruling elite control the minds of massive audiences who adore their power, wealth, and celebrity status without ever questioning why such privileges are afforded to so few.
Ergo, the Hobbservation Point challenges our supporters to select at least one of the above-listed banned books that they have not previously read and do so before the Christmas holidays arrive. Drop me a message and let me know which book you read and how it impacted you!
The Manchins of West Virginia
I have always found it odd when people vote against their own economic self interests—and even odder when politicians advocate policies that do not ease the economic burdens of the majority of their constituents. But that's precisely what is transpiring with Sen. Joe Manchin, (D-WV), the lone blue light in the ruby red Republican State of West Virginia.
For those unaware, West Virginia is one of the poorest states in the Union (6th), a poverty sealed by the decline in its chief coal mining industry over the past 50 years. Nevermind the fact that the Biden budget would earmark subsidies for poor and lower class West Virginia families to subsist during these economically challenging pandemic times, some of Manchin's Democratic and Republican supporters back home are enamored with his refusal to budge on a spending package that he has deemed excessive. In a CNN interview last month, Manchin said, "We've tried to help Americans in every way that we can and alot of the help that we've put out there is still there and going to run until 2022."
The "help" that Manchin refers to are tenets of The Cares Act that was signed by former President Donald Trump and in one form, provided a little under $4,000 per qualifying adult that was spread out over three payments in 2020 and 2021. A fact that I find curious in that such stimuli spending was ok with Manchin and Republicans when Trump was in office, but is now not ok simply because they are willing to say "no" if it hurts President Joe Biden or Democrats in the upcoming mid-term elections.
What's worse is that many of the deeply red Republican West Virginia faithful actually support Biden's "Build Back Better" budget tenets because they believe that it will help them by making childcare credits permanent, cutting taxes for the middle and lower classes, raising taxes on those making more than $200,000 per year, while providing public works programs the likes of which have not been seen since Franklin Roosevelt's still revered New Deal.
Nevertheless, that Manchin is a part of Republican intrasigence to the Biden plan is of no surprise because Manchin, 74, seems more focused on maintaining his Senate seat than easing the financial suffering of those whose inability to pay bills and purchase goods and services impacts the bottom line of all corporations.
And speaking of corporate bottom lines, the fact that Manchin's daughter, Heather Manchin Breach, is the former president and CEO of Mylan Pharmaceuticals who worked closely with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals to keep prices of its popular EpiPen sky high (and unaffordable for most Americans), continues to prove that this is no populist oriented Democratic family—but a profit pursuing patrician clan who are Republicans masquerading in Democratic clothing.
Gov. Desantis fails to receive federal education funds
Despite a critical need, Florida is the only state in the Union to not receive federal funds designed to supplement public school education costs due to Gov. Ron Desantis's administrative failure to delineate how the state would use nearly $2.3 billion dollars available for its education coffers.
In a letter written this past Monday, Ian Rosenblum, Assistant Secretary for Policy and Programs for the U.S. Department of Education, wrote: "The Florida Department of Education's delay raises significant concerns because of the unnecessary uncertainty it is creating for school districts across the state and because it is hindering their ability to confidently plan for how to use these funds to address the needs of students."
Since the late 90's, most Florida Republicans have been staunch advocates of dismantling the traditional public school model by supporting charter schools and private school vouchers for private and parochial schools. So it is of little surprise that Desantis has been antagonistic in some ways during the pandemic with school boards, including Republican leaning ones that have broken with him on mask wearing, and others that remain enraged by his inane attacks on "critical race theory," the latest Republican ploy to usurp real history and stifle readings of some of the very books mentioned in today's blog.
To that point, Florida Democratic State Senator Tina Polsky suggested that "the state's failure to use and apply for federal aid stems from a pattern of distrust and dislike of public schools," adding, "I don't understand because 90% of Floridian students go to public school...As much as [Republicans] would like to change that to all voucher, all charter, or all anything but public, it's not going to happen. And they're not looking out for the 90%."
Indeed, which is but another reason why as we head into 2022, defeating Ron Desantis is priority one for Democrats and rational thinking Republicans in the Sunshine State.
Florida A&M University Alumnus Will Packer to produce next hear’s Oscars show
Shout-out to mega producer Will Packer for being tapped to produce the 2022 Academy Awards Show!
I met and befriended Packer back during my student days at Morehouse in the 90s when he and his old partner, Rob Hardy, were making their first film, Chocolate City, under the watchful eye of their adviser and FAMU Humanities professor, Dr. V. Hobbs (my momma).
In the time since graduating from FAMU, Packer has produced or directed over two dozen films, including Stomp the Yard, Girl Trip, Think Like a Man, and scored executive producer credit for the hit NWA Biopic, Straight Outta Compton.
While I typically fall asleep on the Oscars each year no matter how hard I try, Lord willing, I will be at rapt attention in support of Brother Packer next spring!
Thank you for subscribing to the Hobbservation Point. Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Banned Books - for baby boomers each of the photographed books was required reading in high school college prep English. Back in the sixties and seventies they were called classics. It appears parents have to direct their children's education at home or risk rearing uneducated and unprepared for life children.
I long ago donated those banned books but will cruise through a local bookstore or thrift to find one to read or reread. Thanks for the armchair challenge!