She's Back!

DBFEB
January 15 2005, 8:54PM

Shirley was supposed to emcee an event in Atlanta called Divas Rock. About a week or so before the event she was dumped. http://www.sovo.com/2004/11-19/news/localnews/diva.cfm explains. There was a lot of anger after that from mostly white gay people who think that Shirley is just funny and making social commentary. Rupaul has also stated that she doesn't think Shirley is a racist and has Shirley on her latest album which stops me from buying.

I guess the problem that I have is why isn't the gay community as a whole saying that she is a disgrace. I obviously expect outrage from the Black gay community but I'm truly disappointed in the white and latino community here in Atlanta who's saying that Shirley Q Liquor is a visionary.

Issues like this is why I'm not really comfortable in the white gay community. A lot of them just don't get it and I'm tired of explaining it to them.

Kola Boof
January 15 2005, 9:13PM

KEITH....on the one hand, I am totally against this play, the character Shirley Liquor and am especially apalled that a white person is behind the whole stink-stink.

On the other hand....I truly LOVE the language that you evoked up top:

"axe your mamma how she durrin"

"ignunt"

I LOVE THAT LANGUAGE...it's POETRY....and like Jazz and Blues, it was created by Black Southerners and is part of a FLAVOR that makes Black Americans special and unique.

It is NOTHING...to be ashamed of. And this is one of the problems that I do have AAs--the constant "being ashamed" of things they have no right to be judgemental of and the constant THROWING OUT everything their ancestors fashioned (fashioned from PAIN and REAL EXPERIENCE, you understand)....just so they can feel that they me measure up to Whites and can Speak/Dress/Behave just as "comely" as Whites do.

It's truly difficult dealing with this "chronic SHAME" that Black Americans have about EVERYTHING...because it denotes weakness and it gives the Whites a power that they don't really have.

Why be outraged at a black man hanging from a tree----if you're not willing to give birth to that barefoot, nappyheaded negro again???

I'm totally against the Comedian and the SHOW......but I absolutely LOVE that shantilly-country-old folks' twang-talk.

What US gone eat?

I love it.

Roger
January 16 2005, 2:20AM

What a surprise, a white person has found a way to profit off of the stereotyped-hype of the lives of black folk-more specifically, black women. I wonder how many of those persons so eager to support Shirley Q., turn right around and cry discrimination when some right-wing evangelical Christian organization goes on a campaign blitz to portray gays as anything lesser than human. But of course, someone finds it funny, so its not the same. You have to also wander how proud the white guy behind Shirley Q. must feel that he is giving us Black folk some "edumacation" on just how funny social problems are. Oh come on, let's give him a break. You see, he can so accurately mimick some of our most beloved family members, he definitely gets it better than we do. You now, little things like a historical context will be known by all, because everybody knows so much about black history, right?
Honestly, the thing that bothers me most is that minority gay groups will probably will be alone in confronting Miss Q. The larger white gay community will have better things to worry about than a bunch of over-sensitive black queers who cant seem to understand how not racist the larger gay community "really" is. There wont be any articles or op-eds from the Advocate or GLAAD explaining to the reader just why so many black people might find Shirley a little offensive. They also won't understand how right-wing organisations have been so successful in carving wedges within our community, using race as an all-powerful axe. Or, that there is some reason that the black people in the audience dont seem to be laughing...instead, looking rather shocked and hurt by the spectacle.
How can it be that in 2005, anyone would find black-face, white-face, asian jokes, mexican-jokes, jewish jokes, or any number of "ignunt" puns funny? Oh, thats right, we have evolved beyond that, so its all in "good fun." "Lighten-up", for we all know that no one has ever been hurt by the perpetuation of stereotypes.
In a country that ironically in the same year (1998) had a white gay boy strung-up and left for dead in Wyoming, and a black man in Texas drug to death by a pick up truck till his head poped off, both making national news, why is it that no one can see that the seeds to racism and hate have the most humble of begginings. Who cares if their misfortune is an awful thing, "it sure is funny!". Who cares if most of the people on welfare, in this country are white, not black. You cant tell a joke by offending the majority of the audience. The minority is much simpler(less empathy). But, maybe its just me. I mean, who cares about asking the gay community to be better people. The last thing I would want to do is bring anyone down.

Marti Abernathey
January 16 2005, 6:38AM

Um, Rupaul had a GREAT point. Everyone is up in arms because Chuck is white, but it's a given that no one within the black community would be offended if he were black. So it all comes down to skin color?

Ironic.

Marti Abernathey
MartiAbernathey.com

William A. Hall
January 16 2005, 11:01AM

Maybe we'll get lucky and "s"he'll be invited to perform at Bush's coronation - sorry, inaugeration, along with special guest Prince Harry in full Nazi regalia.

It would certainly be in keeping with the racist and homophobic politics many of Bush's supporters.

Just a thought

cmoney
January 16 2005, 9:30PM

If this white racist queen were not gay, everyone would understand the appauling offensiveness of her "black face" act. When was the last time you saw a straight minstrel act that did not evoke howls of protest from the African-American community? Yet, African American gays are supposed to just "get over it" because this white racist bitch is in drag and performing campy humor. Being gay (and, therefore a target of discrimination) does not automatically cleanse the soul of racial insensitivity. Somehow, being gay has immunized Charles Knipp and Rupaul of any racial sensitivity and awareness of the painful history of "blackface" minstrel acts. Do any of Shirley Q's supporters tell Jewish people to "get over it" when they and others decried Prince Harry's foolish wearing of a Nazi costume? Of course not. Any one can see that this would be offensive to people who were massacred by the Nazis. But African-Americans are supposed to be happy that a racist white queen is making fun (and dollars) with racist stereotypes that emanated from slavery and post slavery Jim Crow laws that demeaned and killed our ancestors. Slavery was our holocaust. No, I don't get the joke.

Troy
January 16 2005, 9:38PM

Shirley Q. Liquor? Shirley Q. Liquor? Sure does have a familiar ring to it..Could it be the same person or personas that drive us to the sex partys held late at night and black men are charged money to squeeze into a dark room and share semen and blood all in the name of sex every weekend and throughout the week?
Or could it be the same persona; Shirley Q. Liquor that has us jam pack a so-called gay club or bar while we are padded down and I.D.s taken not to mention large sums of money as a cover and drink fees as we enter.
Is this the same Shirley that has our lips sealed shut our hands tied and our inaction cemented while we fight one another and accept everything even the worse of the worse as some sort of prize...Too many simple common ways to beat this elephant in the room but AGAIN all we want to do is bust a nut and keep laughing and look good while we're doing it!
Maybe one day Shirley Q. Liquor will be gone for good but today, she's headed to broadway and everyone knows why and how she'll get there we've blessed her spirit way too many times. Too many Shirleys and not enough time. Excellent article Keith, but what do we tell our selves and how do we take it home and take care of this on going problem. Yeah, we already know; Mums the word! Silence to all our otherwise good and intentional actions!

DB
January 17 2005, 9:50AM

What sadness! This, too, is an example of the fact that times are changing, mostly for the worst. Too often people stretch the parameters of "free speech." What is often left out is the fact that your rights end where someone else's begins. Which is another way of saying, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Say what you want about what you will, but have some respect. Miss Q. apparently is not even respecting herself. There's a difference in some slap stick comedy or humor and plain offensiveness. Nothing about this situation makes me feel that there's a bone that's not racist in her body. What a spectacle. What next? People are truly doing whatever they can to be known for something. It's very sad.

Mark N.
January 17 2005, 4:46PM

I can understand some peoples anger and hurt behind the "Shirley Q. Liquor" character. But, come on what is the real reason for this uproar? I tend to agree that anytime someone white makes people laugh while dressing up in "black face" it gets our community (black community)upset, well some of our community. But, it is mighty funny no one seem to be raising uproars when the Wayans brothers did "white face" in White Chicks. Why is that? Let's look at both sides. If we are ever going to progress we need to get over these old, old feelings of protesting against "minstrel" acts. We know who we are and we should be ok with who and what we are. I happen to like "Shirley Q. Liquor's" act. And it is obvious that Mr. Charles Knipp has been around black people and he might have been raised with us since he was little. Has anyone ever sat down with the man and ask him where he got this ideal from??? If we are going to protest this then I think that we should be protesting everything and everybody that puts on a different face than themselves. White Chicks, Will & Grace, etc. all of those straight "actor" portraying gay men/women. It all falls into the same catagory.......in my opinion.

Mark

Trihaha
January 18 2005, 2:57PM

Shirley Q. Liquor did not appear at Jr's "House of God" party yesterday, however about 20 people w/ "signs" (paper & pen, not even Sharpee & poster board) were there to try and stop something that wasn't happening anyways. I was embarrassed by the lack of turnout for this "rally". I thought there would be a better turnout than that. Oh well, at least the party inside was Legendary!

Broderick
January 21 2005, 8:08AM

Only a white person would not be offended by the comedy of Shirley Q Liquor, Minstrel shows were not staged just to entertain it's aim was focused on the stereotypes of blacks during and after slavery. Whites can never understand why we are provoked because of this because they have never had to deal with racism.

bklynbro
January 21 2005, 2:46PM

Any chance of getting this upset and your panties in knot about homophobia in hip hop and reggae? Black gay men are being beat down regularly in the Carib and around the US by homophobic Black males. Remember Ms. Gunn in Jersey? Please, who cares about some messy ass drag queen (and I've seen Black ones say and do the same thing as this one) when there are so many other inportant issues affecting Black gays? Hell, Black comedians (as well as drag queens) make fun of welfare mothers and Black people on the regular - even gay jokes. People, we have so many more important things to upset about! Any chance of getting this upset about homophobia in hip hop? Where are all these so-called activist on homophobia in the Black community and what are their plans?

Ron Lee
February 1 2005, 2:44AM

I really think that they think we are all on drugs and too dalerious to speak out.These hip-hoppers have everybody thinking it's kool to say NIGGA,AND EVERYONE SEEMS TO THINK THEY CAN INSULT US IN ANYWAY. I WISH BLACK GAY MEN STOP TALKING ABOUT SHIT;AND DO SOMETHING.