Dear Editor,
In your 06-06-12 article “‘Mama Jama’ chosen as grand marshal of Fourth of July parade,” you reported that Debbie Burdette is not sure if she will be appearing in the parade as herself or her character “Mama Jama.” I would like to suggest that the choice should be easy.
Debbie Burdette is a respected community leader who has devoted countless volunteer hours to promoting literacy.
“Mama Jama,” on the other hand, is a racist character that offends people by reducing African culture to a silly caricature and undermining equality in our community. Jelani Cobb, former professor of African Studies at Rutgers University, explains, “The more we look at people as caricatures, the harder it is to operate as a democracy. What underlies this kind of costuming is the belief that these people aren’t quite equal to what we are, or aren’t as American as we are, or that you as a person who’s not a member of that group should be able to dictate how painful the stereotype should be.”
If Burdette shows up to the Fourth of July parade wearing a costume of traditional African clothing, the lesson she’ll be teaching our children is that she can do no wrong because of her white privilege. I hope that Burdette will decide to do the right thing and respect everyone in our community as she serves in the honorable position of grand marshal.
Further, because I do not want my tax dollars to support everyday racism, I have started a petition to ask the City of LaGrange to remove the “Mama Jama” show from our government TV channel. You can sign the petition at the following URL:
http://www.change.org/petitions/city-of-lagrange-georgia-remove-mama-jama-from-tv
Sincerely,
Scott Smith
Youngs Mill Rd.
Out with the OLD AND TIRED IN WITH SOME FRESH AND NEW!! So get busy folks and find a replacement soon.
What are you doing to help children in our community?
Other than hiding behind a race card and stirring trouble for the community, WHAT is your contribution?
There is always resistance to progress, but LaGrange was designed with excessive resistance. As an unfortunate consequence, some of us do not understand our obligations.
It is the fate of some folks to be as invisible as possible so as to avoid the harsh treatment exacted on their families for generations. In contrast, people with more security and contentment have an obligation to consider their actions in the broader context of a society with a long history of racism supported by powers of state, industry, religion, and foundation.
Responsible citizens must choose a response to displays of anachronism in deference to our racist history. My response is that Mama Jama is just as unacceptable as Sambo and blackface.
Mike Smith
I'll sign a petition that pretentious when I have the ability to buy a big enough Hummer just to huff the gas fumes it gives off.
Whatever you do, whatever time you give, don't just live to troll — troll to live.
Go Debbie and the few like you who dedicate a portion of your lives to enhance the lives of those who are not touched by the many like your critic. Inane it is that your criticism is prefaced by praise – then, followed by criticism and contradiction.
Enough said – understandable it is that a person who supports the right of someone to walk around exposing their butts to the public – would find it unacceptable that someone like Debbie should walk around dressed in brightness, color, and hope. Scott – you indeed have a problem – ask your dad for some guidance.
Mike Smith
Mighty mysterious!
Any yet xians rarely display humor.
Our students love you Mama Jama! Keep up the good work!
you do the praying and let those better equipped do the thinking