By: Cheryl Smith
This week, I am reminded of the column, So Much to Talk About, So Little Space, written by James Washington of the Dallas Weekly.
Would I write about my classmate Steve Washington, founder of the group Slave? I knew his health was failing, but I still hoped he would be able to attend our 50-year class reunion this summer.
Or would I share expressions about Gyna Bivens, with whom I shared the microphone from time to time at Soul 73 KKDA?
I could talk about those Epstein files and tell you how we are going to share them with you in the future.
Or I could go into one of my endless rants about voting – Election Day is March 3, but early voting begins February 17!
Instead, I will delve into the truth about people I know and love.
First, I say thanks to Pam G. and Dr. Susan S. for inviting me to their Super Bowl party.
I explained to them that I was still taking a knee. I just needed someone to call me when it was halftime because I wanted to see Bad Bunny.
In August 2025, I traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Walking through the airport, I saw Bad Bunny signs on the wall, and his picture was everywhere.
I found out that he was doing a residency there, and everyone was so excited because they talked about his generosity, his philanthropic nature, and his love of humanity.
Everyone was talking about Bad Bunny.
Fast forward to Super Bowl Sunday.
Full disclosure: my household is 1/3 Puerto Rican.
I am quickly learning Spanish, even though I took classes at East Orange High School and Florida A&M University, last century.
I know I have been making progress because I have learned how to say “NO” in Spanish. What an accomplishment!
Well, anyway, as I watched Bad Bunny perform, I was moving to the beat. I was enjoying the energy, and I hoped that others were too because understanding other cultures is more than just eating the food, listening to the music, wearing the clothes and drinking whatever is the favorite drink.
Much to my chagrin, following the show, I started seeing words on social media and hearing commentaries on television.
I said ‘here we go again,’ because folks bashed Kendrick Lamar, last year.
Admittedly, there’s a little petty in me because I did get a thrill from all the angst Kendrick’s show caused folks. Actually, I was overjoyed!
Let them be uncomfortable, let them be confused, and please let them have enough sense to ask questions and try to understand without flapping their tongues.
Guess that last part was wishful thinking!
If comments were ignorant last year, give me a word that explains the hysteria of 2026.
I think the first comment I heard from a critic was, “Speak English.“
Then it was “I can’t understand a thing they’re saying,” or even worse, “couldn’t we have gotten someone from America?”
Now, these comments weren’t just coming from whites; they were coming from Blacks also.
Then I heard similar remarks coming from the resident of the USA.
I think I posted on social media that some people were going to be really upset when they wake up the next day and realize that they sound like the resident.
I called it “colonizer speak.”
After all, this is the height of arrogance – “you will do and speak – what I say, and nothing else matters.”
Unfortunately, I come from a people who, once landing on the East Coast were forbidden from using the language of their motherland.
But to hear Black people, during Black History Month, spouting the same rhetoric coming from the resident and MAGAs is sad. Talk about taking on the ways of the oppressor.
This means we have some work to do. We have a lot more work to do than I thought.
We absolutely cannot leave the world the way it is today for our descendants.
They’re going to hear about and read about how twisted the society has become, and they may just tear everything up and start all over again because no one in their right mind should be condoning some of the stuff we are dealing with.
Bad Bunny said it best, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
