Khan

It's the old saying: "talk is cheap." In this case, however, even certain actions are cheap. It's easy to say "Black Lives Matter!" and to march with us and "take a knee" and all the rest. Right now, actions like those are what we call "fashionable," or "trendy." But, what are you going to do when the protesting stops (because, like 'em or not, but they can't go on forever) and social media has moved onto the next shiny object? How have the high-profile deaths of George Floyd and other POC affected you beyond this news cycle? You might SAY you will "do better" from now on, but will you? Will you continue to stand with us, who have to keep fighting this fight even when the rest of the world isn't watching (or caring)? Or will you default back to "So glad it ain't me!" the next time you see a person of color harassed, threatened or discriminated against on account of their skin color and then resume your daily, white business? Furthermore, if you told me these law enforcement officers who display solidarity with the protesters and POC are, in fact, attempting to lull protesters into backing down so they can "restore law and order," I wouldn't be a bit surprised. They don't appear to be so cunning, but then again, neither does the Trump administration or the Republicans in Congress; yet, they manage to get an awful lot done (or undone) even after we scream bloody murder. As a Christian, I wish I weren't this cynical about anyone, let alone white people. But, as an American, I have to be. For me, and for anyone in my shoes, it's literally the difference between life and death. Exactly. There ARE no "good cops." The only ones who might qualify for that distinction are the ones who speak up and out (and throw their lives and livelihoods in the balance) the minute they see any kind of injustice; and who refuse to back down from their convictions, no matter how pressure their colleagues (and in many cases, their loved ones and communities) apply on them. But, "Serpico" was, in the end, just one guy.

It always does whenever VR's name enters the conversation. She's polarizing, to put it VERY mildly. YES. PREACH. Or, they decide to play the game, so to speak, until they are in a position where they can tell the (white) producers and network/studio execs to shove it.

Exactly. Nothing talks louder to these suits than money. Nothing.

Wrong. White people ARE speaking out. On ALL sides. And for every white person who protests alongside us, there's another who screams "ALL LIVES MATTER!," or wonders why we're so angry, or why we're causing so much trouble. Again, wrong. You have the right to speak out, but you don't have the right to tell us how WE choose to speak out. Because, nine times out of ten, that's really what you're doing when you THINK you're just "speaking out." Because, those who remain silent in the face of racism -- in the name of "free speech" or "going along to get along" -- are as guilty as the racists themselves. Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. Three rallies in one week are one thing -- but what're gonna do next week? Next month? Next year? What are you gonna do the next time someone tells you your white privilege is showing? Are you gonna take that as a sign to modify your way of thinking and behaving? Or are you gonna remind that person you once dated a Black man who wore dreads and you once went to three BLM rallies in one week? This one's for you, and for the others in the back: WHITE PRIVILEGE HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH FINANCIAL STATUS. You could live on the streets of NYC in a cardboard box, with an old pickle jar for a toilet, and you're still gonna be treated differently (and better) than a Black man living under the exact same conditions. White privilege and economic inequality only intersect when White America tells us that the reason why we aren't as wealthy as our Caucasian counterparts is because we aren't working hard enough; when, in fact, it's because your skin color has allowed you distinct advantages in the business world that ours never do. And for God's sake, PLEASE spare us ALL any further talk of how being harassed by law enforcement on account of your Black bf helps you understand our situation better. If anything, your ex should be the one sharing these experiences of how systemic racism has affected his life, not you. I don't care how many times you've seen one of us harassed and/or threatened by cops for no reason. I don't care how many (Black) men you've dated, or how many Black families you lived next to while growing up. You could be Navin P. Johnson, for all I care, but unless you were born and have lived your entire life AS a Black man, you have No. Idea.

Why is it every time we bring up VR, this happens? "Why is she so against Y&R? Why can't she just be grateful? Other Black people who've worked on the show haven't complained! She's just a troublemaker!" Even now, when current events are proving her more and more right, just the mere mention of the woman's name brandishes the white privilege. So? White privilege doesn't care who you screw.

And you would be right.

And boy are we learning that lesson right now!

All skinfolk ain't kinfolk.

Even I must admit I was wrong to criticize VR back in the day for going on about the racial and ethnic inequalities happening BTS at Y&R and elsewhere. Back then, I thought she was being bitter and refusing to move on. But now, I'm starting to think that, if anything, she might've held back on some of the gorier details.

What can you say? Trolls gonna troll!

He left jail? Really? I guess he WANTS to die.

I wish they had followed through with Mallet/Mindy, too. I never "got" the Nick/Mindy pairing beyond how it would have impacted his relationship with Alexandra. It's just too bad Judi Evans was on AW, because I DEFINITELY think a Nick/Beth pairing would have been more interesting.

Not to mention YoHarmony, who I SWEAR was MAB's salute to Fontaine.

I understand, because, for much of my adult life, that was me. Even now, I don't believe either party operates in the best interests of the American public. But, I have to put aside my skepticism about politics and politicians in general, because the Trump administration has proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that there IS such a thing as the lesser of two evils.

Augustus, Moses.... MAB stayed giving her African-American creations the slaviest of slave names.

True dat.

We're just one step away from going back to literacy tests for voters.

Oooh, that would have been a GREAT opportunity to revisit ATWT history! What if Susan (Hughes, not Stewart) had NOT died in that manner? What if that had been a "cover story" to hide the truth -- like, she was killed by someone (a family member? Maybe the long-forgotten uncle, John?) who attempted to molest her or something?

Unfortunately, this show would rather take the easy way out and say Dru's been in a coma this entire time and being kept (under an assumed name) in a hospital by Victor, or Jack, or Adam, or Devon, or who the hell knows.

You know, I never understood that part of the Hugheses' backstory. Susan Hughes was struck by lightning while swimming? Was the lightning some freak occurrence? What was she doing swimming during a storm anyway?

It would be like getting a do-over with Lily, but without all the Cane-related baggage.

Despicable.

AND...that different family she has? Includes a daughter (or step/foster daughter) named Lily. That way, you could kill off CK's Lily and STILL have a daughter of Dru's with the same name, but portrayed by a different (and better!) actress. It's like recasting, but without the recasting!

Well, with more and more productions happening in and around that area, it makes sense. Of course, as more people and businesses flock to GA, housing costs are likely rising to astronomical levels, thus creating issues particularly for working-class African-Americans who live there already.

Well, I know I wasn't the FIRST one to suggest this pairing, but I did agree that the two complimented each other; and I still think that to be the case. (That is, if Douglas Marland was ever open to collaboration on that level, which I doubt, lol.) I think it comes down to producers. Marland's best work seemed to happen under EP's (Robert Calhoun, Gloria Monty, even Allen Potter) who saw the potential in, and amplified the rest of the production to match, the writing, thereby creating a sense of energy and vibrancy that other producers (Joe Stuart and ESPECIALLY Laurie Caso) couldn't. Now, imagine, for the moment, Douglas Marland working with the likes of JFP.