Charles Easley

A note to workers in customer service: I will not be ignored By Professor Locs – August 4, 2010

Like many of you, I like to keep track of how I spend my hard-earned money. So nothing drives me crazier than people not giving me good customer service.

Have you ever spoken to a store clerk or said “good morning” and they give you that deer-in-headlights look? You know, just staring at you blankly like they were waiting for the closed-caption to kick in for clearer communication.

I was at Walmart the other day and this young guy was ringing me up. He didn’t speak, didn’t make eye contact and gave me no salutation, other than tossing my bag towards me. If I want to be completely ignored I would go to the DMV and have it done by professionals.

Are we not in a recession? You would think folks with a job would be a little more celebratory.

If you have read my blog you know nothing drives me crazier than greeters who don’t speak when you walk in the store. They put more energy into looking up and around you than simply speaking. Greeting is all they do; can't they handle that one job function?

I was at the grocery store and this young lady was scanning my groceries, so I decided to help her out and bag my own items. When she was done scanning I noticed her looking at me while I continued to labor. I finally stopped and said, "Boo, I have been at work all day; I am trying to help you out." She came to her senses and finally started bagging.

I was recently at Chick-fil-A, and I don't know if they include Xanax and Ecstasy in their training modules, but those folks are polite, enthusiastic and professional. I love going in there, just for the good vibes and nuggets.

My favorite scenario was when I was going through the drive-thru at Bojangles and decided to order an extra biscuit at the window. Apparently, BoomKeisha was not having it and began to scold me -- very loudly -- about how I was messing up her register and really needed to order at the speaker next time.

I sat there listening to drive-thru etiquette tips from this young ebony goddess, with her burgundy finger waves, pink acrylic nails and animated hand gestures, and somewhere between being completely caught off guard and mildly entertained, I came to my senses.

I said, "Surely somewhere in your vast training they must have covered this particular situation. Girl, if you don't go get me that extra biscuit."

We both laughed, and I was off with my 2 piece and extra biscuit.

I worked at McDonald's for years in high school. It was not the most glamorous job, but I was glad to be working and earning money. I knew it was not my life's work so I did not feel trapped or ambivalent.

If you do not like dealing with people, then don't work in customer service! It's like being a teacher and saying you hate kids.

There is dignity in all honest work, so if you have a job that involves customer service, would it really kill you to smile and be polite? If so,...fake it!

And the Oscar goes to... By Professor Locs – March 10, 2010

Sunday night was the 82nd Annual Academy Awards, and I wager that you could not name one nominee or winner from the 81st Annual Academy Awards if I held a gun to your head.

The Academy Awards are not a big event in regards to African Americans and their contributions in cinema. This is business as usual for the Oscars.

Let's face it, Spike Lee has about as much chance of being recognized by the Academy as R. Kelly has of babysitting the Obama daughters.

The Academy is still dizzy from honoring, Halle Berry, Denzel Washington and Sidney Poitier in one year.

Talented winners aside, it is exhausting trying to equalize decades of invisibility. This year, however, was different.

If you ever wondered what Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey's love child would look like, it is the spitting image of Precious, a small film with big, beautiful, talented women, including Monique and newcomer Gaboury Sidibe. Honorable mention to Mariah Carey, minus glam, hair, wind machine and makeup.

It is so refreshing to see a film about a full-size black woman who is not really a black man in drag (No offense, Tyler).

Although we did not see a double win Oscar night, Monique walked away with the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

I know what some of you are saying: “Not another Oscar for African Americans playing negative roles. Did we not learn anything from ‘The Color Purple’ debate?”

I have said this before: The real challenge is to make more films that explore the rich and diverse landscape of African-American culture.

Lecture over, now back to the Oscars.

I did not go to see “Precious,” but I read “Push,” the book on which the movie was based. I was concerned, due to the dark nature of the film, that the lights would come up and I would be in the back of the theater, in the fetal position, crying and rocking myself like Sophia in “The Color Purple.” But I digress.

The real question is, what do Sidibe and Monique do now, especially when Hollywood has created so few significant roles for African-American women, much less plus-sized black women?

And as much as I enjoy Divas in leather, remember, “Catwoman” was Halle Berry's first role post Oscar.

If we want provocative roles, we have to think outside the box. So here are Professor Locs’ Top Five Potential Film Roles for Monique and Sidibe:

1.Gimme A Break: The Movie: Monique updates the role of a sassy black housekeeper who takes on the responsibility of raising three bratty, entitled, white girls and their disgruntled Father.
2. Sex in the Chocolate City: Monique, along with a bevy of big, beautiful, black women, take on Washington, D.C. -- and society’s image of plus-sized women -- as they celebrate their sexuality.
3. The Weather Girls: Life After Sylvester: Rupaul takes on his most challenging role out of drag, kind of, by playing the enigmatic cross-dressing Sylvester, with his two beautiful and talented backup singers played by Monique and Sidibe.
4. Twilight: I Like Dark Meat: The story of a skinny, white boy vampire that literally bites off more than he can chew and gets turned out by Sidibe, a voluptuous, ebony goddess from the urban streets.
5. Sister Act 3: Madea Finds Religion: Madea and Monique go undercover to save an inner-city orphanage. These sisters run a daycare, catfish stand, and salon and nail shop, all while ministering music to a ragtag choir of young hood hopeful. (Cameo by Whoopi Goldberg as Mother Mavis Superior.)

Coming to a theater near you!

Whose culture is this anyway? By Professor Locs – June 15, 2011

An Oakland-based rapper has come under fire for using the n-word.

I know, you are like, “So what, do we not hear this on every other MTV, BET music video and hip-hop awards show?”

The major difference with this young female rapper is that she is white.

Kreayshawn -- yes that is how her name is spelled; she might be white, but that is definitely some urban spelling…lol -- Kreayshawn is a 21-year-old, up-and-coming multi-media artist. Her career is taking off as her single “Gucci Gucci” has enjoyed more than 3 million views on YouTube.

Her n-word drama began last week after she tweeted the following:

“People are actin so funny omg lol---1 got 200K views...not 200K dollars...WTF YOU WANT FROM A N***A? DMX VOICE”

I have talked about the process of cultural appropriation in the classroom for years. I have engaged in many passionate discussions with students about the global influence of hip-hop and how many fans cannot appropriately distinguish between signifiers of a culture and their origins.

I remember walking on the University of Iowa campus as a graduate student and heard the booming base of Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power.” I got excited that I might catch a rare and Bigfoot-inspired glimpse of another African American, but I was blown away when I saw a jeep full of white guys jamming loudly.

Historically, I have tried to make the point with students that when they use the n-word so freely, others who do not share the same culture begin to associate that word with other signifiers of hip-hop, like sagging your jeans, bling and gold fronts. In essence, the n-word is reduced to a fashion accessory.

Kreayshawn has justified her use of the n-word due to her upbringing.

“But like I said, in Oakland...everyone calls each other that,” she was quoted as saying. “I feel like that word is used in the low-income community more than anything. ...I was raised around this... People call me that.”

I have heard this argument before, and it does not stick.

I was having a similar conversation with my colleague, Professor Cooper, the other day, and we agreed that many of us grew up with not a lot of material things, but we were still expected to conduct ourselves like we had some sense and home training. If anything, we were expected to over compensate, less we bring shame to our family and community.

Knowing when to exercise formal-vs-informal conduct and voice was always stressed.

I remember sitting in barbershops where black men freely used the n-word and talked about everything from politics to celebrities to local gossip. There was always the rare occasion when a white inspector would drop by and immediately the language and tone would change from culturally informal to formal.

It was like a secret alarm had been set off at a frequency that only those who shared a similar culture could hear and respond to accordingly.

Well, people, the alarm may be screaming, but we have a generation of youth who are culturally tone deaf.

Can we really hold mainstream artist accountable when we cannot come to a consensus between African American artist and youth? How many times have you been somewhere and heard youth using foul language and the n-word, maybe on a bus, school, restaurant or any public venue?

Why is this level of disrespect tolerated within the African American community? You will never watch the Country Music Awards and hear a country artist yelling, “This goes out to all my country n-words and h--s!”

The nature of the mainstream is to appropriate culture from marginalized groups and communities. The responsibility of those marginalized groups is to monitor what and how such signifiers are appropriated.

If we are not committed to monitoring our own cultural signifiers, do not be surprised when you get a knock at the door and two adorable white Girl Scouts say to you, “So what’s up n-word? You want the Samoa’s or Thin Mints?”

I’m just saying.

It's my birthday, and I'm feeling a bit reflective By Professor Locs – July 27, 2011

Editor's Note: Professor Locs, aka Charles Easley, is an educator who explores race, class, gender, sexuality, media and popular culture with humor and insight. His column is published here each Wednesday. Opinions expressed are solely his own. Click here to read his blog.

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Today is my birthday, and quite frankly, I am not sure what to feel.

I know some people loathe birthdays because they feel it only reminds them of how old they are getting or how different they look. This is sometimes offset by having friends who are larger and older than you -- how you doing, Roy…lol.

It is a strange feeling when the two people who are responsible for you being here are no longer with you physically. My Mom and I always had this ritual; she would call and wish me a happy birthday, and I would always crack some lame joke like, “Thanks for birthing me, and sorry about my big head.”

We would laugh and I would thank her for the card, plant or edible arrangement she sent me through the mail. My Dad, a man of few words, would usually send a card.

My grandparents would also send a card but would always follow up with a phone call to make sure I got “the birthday money” -- code for ten dollars…smile. My grandfather would always recant some story from my childhood, reminding me what a bad scamp I was as a little boy. Although I had heard these stories countless times, there was always something comforting about having your life validated by someone you loved.

When you get right down to it, isn’t that what a birthday is all about?

Last year my Facebook wall was bloated with happy birthday greetings from family, friends, old students, new students and a myriad of quirky acquaintances I have met along the way.

Today in our fast-track, technology-driven lives, we have made the art of celebration as quick and easy as a microwave dinner. Between Facebook and text messages, we get to say Merry Christmas, Happy Anniversary, congratulations on the new baby, get well soon, sorry about your pet, Mr. Whiskers, and, yes, Happy Birthday.

We are able to express a wide range of sentiments to people with incredible convenience and efficiency. Don’t get me wrong; we should be happy when anyone is thinking about us, but there is something to be said for old-school, rich communication.

I recently received a birthday card in the mail from my good friend Marty and her husband. I cannot tell you the simple joy it is to get a card knowing that someone took a few minutes to think about the right message, a silly phrase or just a picture that sparks a shared memory or joke. Not to mention the added task of negotiating the post office, which, quite frankly, sometimes is right up there with the DMV.

One of my best friends, Jerry, and I spoke this weekend. I talked about my upcoming birthday, and we spent an hour on the phone laughing about our carefree days as graduate students, travels in Europe and all the crazy characters we met and special moments shared.

Like the time Jerry came to visit me in Atlanta. I took him to all my old haunts where he got free shots from bartenders who normally would not give me the time of the day. Curse his pecs and big arms. Or when he tried to sell me as a harem boy to some crazy patron we met in a bar in Zurich.

Jerry reminded me not to forget the crazy, wisecracking, fun-filled guy I was when I was younger. Sometimes as we get older and are bogged down with all the trappings of titles, careers, mortgages, taxes, family and other responsibilities, we lose the essence of our true selves.

I know sometimes when I look up suddenly or get a quick glance of myself in a reflective surface, there he is staring at me. He is that skinny kid, sporting the high-top fade, ’80s fashion, goofy grin and brightening any club dance floor with that authentic and distinctive laugh.

It is amazing how much of your life you can remember when you are surrounded by friends and loved ones. Maybe that is what a real birthday celebration is about, not so much to mark the years we think we have left but to remember all those moments we sometimes forget on our own but magically get to relive when surrounded by those we love.

Anyway, as I celebrate my day, I challenge all of you to share your birthday thoughts and observations. This challenge especially goes out to all you old-school Leos in the month of July. Remember: Our claws may not be as sharp, we may order takeout rather than run down a gazelle, or even our roar may come with a pesky cough, but trust me; there is still plenty of life and fight in this old cat.

Happy Birthday to me….smile.

Our aquarium has become chaotic By Professor Locs – June 1, 2011

We are living in a culture that cares less and less about the general community.

I once attended a diversity training that talked about the serenity that you observe in an aquarium. The sereneness exists because, although there are multiple species present, there is a mutual understanding and respect of the shared space.

I will share a ridiculous but all too common incident a little later, but what this really comes down to is a basic sense of respect. Respect for oneself and respect for your fellow man.

Somewhere as a society we have lost that sensibility. This was definitely the case for a group of Amtrak passengers. We have all been there, either at a restaurant, movie theater, grocery store, restroom or elevator. Really, you can insert any publicly shared space.

Following my earlier analogy, there you are in the aquarium, swimming and minding your own business when some obnoxious, snaggletooth garfish is talking loud on a cell phone. No, they are not in a discreet alcove of the reef speaking softly; they are swimming and talking loud enough for the entire aquarium to hear. Where is a great white shark when you need one, you wonder?

This was the scene for the Amtrak passengers.

Lakeysha Beard, a 39-year-old woman, talked on her cell phone for more than half a day last Monday while on an Amtrak train commuting from Oakland, Calif., to Portland, Ore. The loud conversation lasted 16 hours.

Really! Who are you talking to for that long? There is no reason to be on the phone with anyone, unless maybe you are in labor, and even then don’t you have to stop and breathe at some point?

Observers said that a few passengers asked the woman to put the phone away a few times prior to notifying the train staff. That is absolutely ridiculous that other grown people have to tell another grown person that her behavior is disruptive and obnoxious.

Staff members were unable to convince the woman to end the conversation, so they stopped the train and authorities arrested the woman. What type of clueless, narcissistic Verizon phone banshee do you have to be to have an entire train of folks comment on your disruptive behavior?

I said earlier that this story was really about a steady decline of people showing each other simple courtesy and respect.

I have been asked during our in-service training to speak to faculty about their duty to hold students accountable. The awkwardness for some is, how do you approach an unruly garfish when you are a school-conscious tetra? The answer is that we all are responsible for the collective serenity of our community.

We have seen evidence of this recently here in Charlotte as a group of young African American youth were acting out and disrupting the shared public space.

I had a conversation with an esteemed colleague, Professor Cooper, and his observation is that we must get away from people with entitlement issues and “institutional blame,” i.e., it is the school’s problem, judicial system, society. We have to take accountability for our own actions and the actions of those who are part of our community.

My colleague and I discussed how it seems that we have a group of African American youth who are not only playing into the stereotype of young urban thugs but they are using that image to their advantage to challenge the larger community and authority. Why? Because they know that people fear them.

I constantly speak to students about appropriate behavior because, regardless of their racial or cultural background, there is a common expectation of professional behavior.

We as a community, especially as African-Americans, have the same expectation. We cannot be afraid of our own children. We cannot let our youth punk us into inaction. I have two twin nephews who are now both as big and possibly stronger than me, but I let them know that even if I have to get a running start and jump in their chest, then they will know that I was there.

If we do not begin to take action then we could soon find that our serene aquarium community has been overtaken by an unscrupulous school of pants-shagging piranha.

It's time we adults take it to the flash-mob crowd By Professor Locs – August 24, 2011

We are being inundated with images from the media covering an ever-increasing series of “flash mobs.”

Professor Locs

Recently, some Wisconsin youth at a state fair participated in a flash mob scene. Eric, who asked News radio 620 WTMJ not to use his last name, recalled incidents he witnessed that night: “I looked toward the bridge, right before you get on the freeway, and all I saw was a road full of black kids, jumping over people’s cars, jumping on people’s hoods, running over the top of them.”

It seems most of the violent behavior at the fair was being directed at white patrons. Some say the incident was motivated by hip-hop music being played at the fair. I found this to be ridiculous that people actually think that black youth have some Pavlovian response to rap music, especially considering that the featured artist at the Wisconsin State Fair was M.C. Hammer, an artist known more for his mainstream appeal. (“Don’t Touch This” and genie pants do not exactly inspire an enraged state of mind.)

Philadelphia has also seen a recent rise in flash mob activity. More than 50 teens were arrested there after a city curfew crackdown was implemented. This was Mayor Michael Nutter’s response to prevent future incidents. The curfew sweep in Philadelphia included the arrest of youth as young as 11 years old.

Really, people, where are the parents and how and why is an 11-year-old child roaming around the city after 9 p.m., unescorted by an adult?

Mayor Nutter berated the out-of-control black teens in a public rant: “You have damaged your own race,” he said. “If you walk into somebody’s office with your hair uncombed and a pick in the back, and your shoes untied, and your pants half down, tattoos up and down your arms and on your neck, and you wonder why somebody won’t hire you? They don’t hire you ’cause you look like you’re crazy.”

We have observed similar behavior right here in Charlotte as black youth chose to show up and show out during an uptown event. There have been some positive initiatives like the one by a local group of African-American men calling them selves “Men Who Care Global.” They want to model the behavior of how a group of African-American men can and should act in public.

While I applaud their efforts, I must also ask is this enough?

According to dictionary.com, a flash mob is defined as: a large group of people mobilized by social media to meet in a public place for the purpose of doing an unusual or entertaining activity of short duration.

The term “flash mob” has historically been linked to a group who wants to gather and make political and cultural statements and/or share artistic exchanges. So when did this concept get warped into the act of rebellious youth acting out in violent ways? And more specifically, when did the term become synonymous in the media with black youth showing out like they have absolutely no home training?

I spoke with my colleague, Professor Thomas Cooper, who teaches sociology, and he explained that we have seen this type of flash-mob behavior before, beginning in the ’70s when urban youth would go “wilding.” Wilding is when a group of youth would go out and participate in aggressive and destructive behavior. It’s kind of like spring break but without MTV as a sponsor.

Professor Cooper went on to explain that there should be shared responsibility between judicial agencies like the police and grassroots leadership within the community. This reinforces the community as advocates rather than adversaries.

I have said before that some black youth not only understand the “thug” stereotype but also have chosen to embrace it. Why? Because they know that people fear them and it gives them a warped since of power. Think about it; if they are young and feeling disenfranchised, receiving even negative attention is better than feeling invisible and hopeless.

There needs to be a revolution of thought and action, especially among African-American adults.

I recently read something someone posted on Facebook concerning the flash-mob mentality. They suggested that adults should use similar tactics. Now this strategy is not for the fainthearted, Dr. Spock, time out, get in touch with your inner child, Maury Povich help me my child is out of control type of authority figure.

No, guys, we need to tap into our community and cultural resources. We need to bring back the belt-wielding Uncle Shortys, Aunt Lucilles, Big Mommas and old-school paddle-packing teachers, principals and coaches. So the next time an unruly group of youth decides to organize a flash mob scene, they are met by a seasoned flash force of disciplinarians ready to take it to the butt.

Maybe if the youth see that not only are we unafraid but that we are also prepared to execute some public home training, maybe then they may not feel so disenfranchised.

How is that for a brief but culturally entertaining exchange?

I am being somewhat facetious, but I welcome your thoughts on how best to take back our children?

Professor Locs: Guest Host Again on The Satisfied Life Pt.2

Hey guys this is the second installment of my time guest hosting with the ladies on The Satisfied Life. We had such a good time. Thanks again Ramona for thinking of me...smile.  Topics include celebrity weight loss and Obama and Jesus as role models for teens. February 6,2011  

Professor Locs: Guest Host Again on The Satisfied Life Pt.1

Hey guys here is an edited version of my second appearance part one as  Guest Host  on The Satisfied Life. You can only hear me and Ramona since the other host are plugged in remotely. I had a great time! The show should have a link on their site soon.

Ramona Holloway found me through my weekly column on Q City Metro.  I was very flattered that she asked me to guest host.  

Professor Locs: Second Week Guest Host The Satisfied Life 1

Hey guys here is an edited version of my second week  Guest Host spot on The Satisfied Life. You can only hear me and Ramona since the other host are plugged in remotely. I had a great time! The show should have a link on their site soon.

Ramona Holloway found me through my weekly column on Q City Metro.  I was very flattered that she asked me to guest host.  

Professor Locs: Guest Host The Satisfied Life 1

Hey guys here is an edited version of my Guest Host spot on The Satisfied Life. You can only hear me and Ramona since the other host are plugged in remotely. I had a great time! The show should have a link on their site soon.

Ramona Holloway found me through my weekly column on Q City Metro.  I was very flattered that she asked me to guest host.