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Saturday, April 01, 2006

Sisters....Case of the SOBWD's (Scary Old Black Woman's Disease)?




I'm not sure if I have a point with this next entry only that it seems that we may have another case of what I call SOBWD (Scary Old Black Woman's Disease). This term came about while I was listening to Howard Stern as he was describing Diana Ross and her DUI encounter with authorities a few years back. Is it really that simple whereby a woman of color reaches a certain age and aberrant nonsensical behavior ensues? Of course I am being facetious but allow me this indulgence in describing two cases that are eerily similar. On March 29th, Democratic Congresswoman Cynthia Mckinney(pictured above, from Georgia's 4th district) allegedly struck a United States Capitol Police officer with her cellular phone after he allegedly grabbed her arm as she went around the metal detectors upon entering the Longworth House Office Building located in Washington, D.C. Congressional Members possess identifying lapel pins and are not required to pass through metal detectors. McKinney stated that she was not wearing her pin that morning, but did show her Congressional identification badge. The officer apparently did not recognize the Congresswoman and the rest as they say is history. Mckinney is decrying racism and the Capitol Police are still investigating the matter-no charges have been filed to date. What makes this altercation more disturbing is that Mckinney has had a history of mishaps with Capitol security dating back to 93' all stemming from her refusal in wearing her Congressional pin.

In the case of Naomi Campbell(I'm sure you are aware of her famous face), on March 30th (did she get together with McKinney to plan this?) she allegedly struck her assistant, Ana Scolavino, 41, accusing her of stealing a pair of designer jeans. Scolavino allegedly required several stitches and Campbell was subsequently arrested. Naomi's weapon of choice....you guessed it..a cell phone. Neither woman is owning up to their alleged transgressions. Campbell is claiming that her assistant struck herself obfuscating the fact that she too has had a history of striking her peons (or is that pee-ons). What is mindbogling is how this will be played in the media and why would these high profile sisters risk their status for tomfoolery. Better yet, will we(joe public) let this slide? False claims, if that is the case in these matters, can fall into a "boy who cried wolf syndrome" making it difficult to fight legitimate occurrences. And is this a case of age, in which these women may be getting older and having problems with entitlement issues. All that I would ask is that these persons "get a grip" and realize that your status and/or wealth should forever be present in your minds eye...let's hope that they get their just desserts. Hopefully not the kind that requires frosting.

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