Withholding a handshake is a direct violation.

It’s easy to look at Sen. McCain begging off a handshake from Sen. Barack Obama and just see a white guy dissing a black guy. But I wouldn’t get Al and Jesse on the BlackPhone just yet — I think that whole thing is a sight more complicated than prejudice and politics. I’m (arguably) as much a race man as anyone, but real men everywhere know McCain’s in clear violation of the man code. Let me explain.

For me and most of the men I know, the handshake is as good as gold: it’s a bond that seals a covenant of honor and mutual respect. Now, some cats go overboard. Like, shake my hand firm, man, but don’t squeeze too hard. Who are you? Popeye? No need to break my fingers.

Also, there’s hand hygiene: Don’t sneeze into your palm and offer your hand—that just shows a lack of home-training.

And don’t let me catch you in the washroom not washing your hands after you take care of business, son. Instant violation.

If you are eating ribs or barbecue, dap will do just fine, thank you. Unless you know me as a Free Mason and can hold your light, don’t try to slip me any finger-dance, hand-jive or crazy-ish. Just give me a grip, make it firm, and keep it moving. And if you’re white, my name is Jimi Izrael, not Jimmie Walker — shake my hand like a man and keep that ’70s-era-black-power handshake you’ve been perfecting for the last 10 years. Nothing like a white man hunched over in a lean trying to give you some “soul.” Holy crap.

Everywhere in America, the handshake is a mark among men, an unspoken rite of affirmation and respect that says, “You know what? After all is done and said, you’ve got a pair, I’ve got a pair, and we both respect and revere that commonality.” White men shake honorably. Black men have the half hug, which includes a grip. Gay men hug freely (as all real men should). Women kinda shake each others’ fingers, and men shake hands with women as a matter of business: it’s an equalizer, a nod of respect. One thing is for sure: the handshake is not to be taken lightly.

Like anything, there are degrees of insults. Like offering a man your left hand instead of your right — particularly if you are not left-handed — it’s a declaration of intention: a gesture that signifies a deeply held enmity, hinting of vendetta. Refusing a handshake altogether is a violation that, from the boardroom to the poolroom, will pretty much get your ass kicked. And when a man won’t shake another man’s hand, it’s insulting at a base level.

There are laws among men for shaking hands. There is no “ladies first” when it comes to the handshake: Deferring a handshake to your woman is like an open-hand slap — something you just don’t do. You reject these simple truths as just street-corner protocol or puff-puff-pass politicking at your peril. This is real talk. This is the code of men.

McCain said more by not shaking Obama’s hand — passing off to his wife — than words ever could. If he didn’t want to touch him, he surely would not have let his wife do so. So to all you racial Chicken Littles out there: No, the diss was not about race. It was a violation 10 times more serious than that. McCain refusing Obama’s hand was about dismissing Obama’s manhood, refusing to meet him on the level, denying his equality as a man and worthy opponent.

Jimi Izrael is a culture-critic and award-winning journalist living in Cleveland, Ohio. He can be reached through his website, www.jimiizrael.com

Reprinted with permission from author and take from http://www.theroot.com/id/48400

• Did you know that a Tennessee State Constitutional amendment was devised and passed which took away your rights of marrying the person of your choice? These rights were written into our constitution and taken away from us. When I say “us,” I mean all of us. We are now constitutionally restricted as to whom we can marry.
• Did you know that Stacey Campfield, a Representative from a district that lies hundreds of miles from Clarksville, tried to legislate the removal of all mention of GLBT families and life from elementary and middle school curricula in the State of Tennessee?
• Did you know that a couple of legislators from Memphis, once again hundreds of miles from Clarksville, tried to legislate who can adopt children? I don’t think that you’ll be happy to know that it was their idea that only legally married couples can adopt children.
• Did you know that we live in the only state in the entire USA that has legislation on the books that says that you canot change the sex on your birth certificate? The only state in the entire country?

I know that you’ve heard and read about equality groups and thought “this has nothing to do with me.” You might think “just as long as I can go have a good time with my friends and meet new people, I’m fine.” Well, I’d like to challenge you to look beyond yourself. For example, there are people in your community who want to marry. There are children in your community who need to learn that being GLBT is not wrong, bad, immoral or “simply something that you shouldn’t talk about.” There are single men and women, gay and straight; and unmarried couples, gay and straight; right here in Clarksville, who almost lost their rights to adopt children. Clarksville has the shame of being one of the largest cities in a state that has the shining reputation of being the only state in the entire country with legislation on the books that says that you cannot change the sex on your birth certificate.

Haven’t heard enough? Let’s take it one step further. Imagine your straight brother, sister or friend being denied the opportunity to adopt a child because a man out in Memphis decides that he or she is incapable to be a parent. What about your friends who have been together for twenty years? No go, they don’t qualify.

How would you feel if your niece or nephew were taught in school that your sexual orientation is something that cannot be mentioned?

Is it hitting home now? It should be hitting home now. In fact, you should be concerned. The last three facts that I mentioned are examples of situations from the year 2008, not the year 1958. Considering that, can you imagine what might be introduced in the 2009 Legislative Session?

Now, you might be able to see my logic that an equality group has everything to do with you, your ability to have a good time with your friends and meeting new people. It has everything to do with the relationships that you have with your family. It has everything to do with what children are being taught in schools. It has everything to do with how the rest of the country looks at the State of Tennessee—your home.

We’re fighting so that you can have a family, we’re fighting so that children will have healthy attitudes toward you, we’re fighting so that you can be proud to say that you’re from a state where oppressive, backwards laws are on not on the books. We’re fighting so that even more bizarre legislation will not pass in the 2009 session.

We’re also fighting to help you in positive ways, providing opportunities for you to have the same rights as other residents of Montgomery County.

Sounds great? Of course it does. Here’s the down side. We need your help and it’s not coming through. The GLBT and allied communities in the Clarksville area needs to help us because Clarksville, unfortunately, is not our only battleground. Tennessee is a huge state. There are more than 500 miles to cover from Bristol to Memphis. We need to rely on local people to help us make Clarksville a better place. We’ll set you up. We’ll give you guidance. We’ll hold your hand through the initial learning process. But, we need local people to make this work for Clarksville. Be proud of your community and be proud to be a GLBT Clarksvillian. Write to me at to show us that you care about your community. We’ll put you to work and give you only the amount of work that you think that would interest you.

The NAACP, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Springfield Branch is currently undergoing a reactivation and reorganization effort. The branch had lapsed into an inactive status. However, citizens recently have expressed their desire to see the branch once again active and engaged in local affairs as an advocate and watchdog for their civil rights.

Rev. Gardner with Terry McMoore and Jimmie M. Garland Sr. of Clarksville Branch NAACP.

Rev. James Gardner, president of the Springfield Branch, conducted the meeting. The reactivation meeting was attended by more than sixty citizens. He thanked those attending. He stated that the main objective at this point is to increase the membership level to the critical threshold for activation as a viable branch. Due to recent constitution changes, branches are now required to have a minimum of 100 members for activation.

Rev. Gardner stated that a primary interest of Springfield citizens is the equitable distribution of taxpayer dollars in providing city services such as sidewalks, street lights, parks, recreation and/or community centers. He said that some citizens had expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of sidewalks in the Southside and Westside communities, while seeing the provision of these amenities in other more affluent areas of the city. There was also concerns with the lack of adequate street lights in the aforementioned minority communities. While more affluent areas of the city seem to have no problems getting this city service, minority citizens are at a lost to understand this disparity in regards to their own community. Gardner then stated that “all residents should feel that their government hears and heeds all inquiries about government services.”

Representing the Tennessee State Conference of NAACP Branches and the Clarksville Branch were State Conference 3rd Vice-President and Clarksville Branch President Jimmie M. Garland Sr. and Branch First Vice-President Rev. James Hill. Garland addressed the gathering, encouraging their continued efforts to reactivate their branch. Garland noted that a review of the local government structure might well reveal a disparity in school system suspension rates, and likewise a review of jail incarceration rates might display a similar disparity in the make-up of inmates. Garland said there is clearly defined “Cradle to Prison” syndrome being impacted upon the minority community. Young minority males, both Black and Hispanic/Latino, are finding themselves routed out of the social mainstream, via suspensions in the education system into the juvenile and adult judicial/incarceration system, at devastating rates. Additionally, he stressed that a review of the heads of local government agencies will likely show a disparity in positions of leadership. “All of these points are areas of concern and interest to you and the NAACP.”

He noted that the history of the NAACP is borne out of a desire and struggle for equal treatment in America’s bounty. The fight against discrimination which so many Americans, not just Blacks, but also Native Americans, Jews, Chinese, Irish, Catholics, Hindus, Arabs, Persians, Italians, Hispanics and Latinos, the handicapped and the disabled, the immigrant- regardless of status, and the GLBT community, have suffered at one time or another has been championed by the NAACP. Equality and fairness are the main goals of the NAACP’s struggle. “As much as we would like to see the day when we don’t have to make that argument, THAT day is not yet here.”

Garland said the Tennessee State Convention would be held in Clarksville in September and invited the Springfield Branch to co-host along with the Dickson and other neighboring area branches. He added that this would be an excellent opportunity for a newly initiated Youth Council to meet and network with other Youth Council chapters from across the state as well.

First Vice-President Rev. James Hill spoke of the shared health interests between Springfield and Clarksville. He heads up CAMTAN, Clarksville Area Ministers Technical Assistance Network, a HIV/AIDS assistance and support network, which serves clients in both Clarksville and Springfield. The organization provides assistance and support to HIV/AIDS victims. The lack of funding to communities beyond the Greater Metro-Nashville population places many of these victims in adverse situations of alienation, abuse, neglect, homelessness and an inability to obtain the medical care vital to their very survival. Additionally, CAMTAN is also active in increasing awareness of STDs. He said that the statistics for infection rates of STD’s and HIV/AIDS in the Springfield/Clarksville and greater area represent an underreported population that will only increase the need for treatment. Many people who are infected with HIV are not even aware of their condition. The infection rate for STDs such as Chlamydia, Syphilis are on a rampant upswing in our area. Statistics show that women, especially Black women, are bearing the brunt of the HIV infection upswing. Rev. Hill told the group that CAMTAN serves Robertson, Chetam, Stewart, Dickson, and Montgomery counties and is not a government funded agency.

Terry McMoore spoke to the group as the past press and publicity person for the Clarksville branch. He encouraged the group to continue in their effort and said that their mayor had issued a press statement saying, “As long the leaders and membership are the right make-up, the NAACP is welcome in Springfield.” He urged the group to take the mayor at his word and show local government that ” ‘the right people’ are indeed involved with your branch.” He went on to say that, “Often people outside the NAACP fear its presence. but that need not be the case. Experience has shown that many times officials conduct government affairs in discriminatory ways unintentionally, out of ignorance. Many times, thru NAACP efforts, when those ways have been shown to be hurtful and harmful, the officials have taken corrective actions to eliminate the offensive practices.” He encouraged everyone to become branch members and be active in branch affairs. He also told the group to solicit their own government officials as members.

In an encouraging sign, when a call for a show of hands of registered voters was made, every Springfield citizen’s hand was raised. Rev. Gardner thanked the Clarksville visitors for their encouragement and show of support. Membership forms were distributed to the group. Membership is open to all who support the mission and objectives of the NAACP. The Springfield Branch meets monthly, on the second Monday of the month, at 7 PM. Contact Rev. James Gardner for further branch and membership information.

Springfield citizens excited about the branch reactivation.

Springfield citizens talk about their objectives.

Rev. Hill and Rev. Gardner converse among Springfield citizens.

This will be our first organizational meeting for TEP Montgomery County. We’ll discuss formation strategy, things that we can do to help bring about equality in Montgomery County and some future activities!

To find out more about the Tennessee Equality Project, visit us at www.tnep.org. If you have any questions, contact Todd Hughes at .

The Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) is holding an organizational meeting on November 12, at 7:00 PM, at Borders Bookstore Café, 2801 Wilma Rudolph Blvd., in Clarksville, to present the issue and discuss the reality of and omissions in the non-discrimination law. TEP can assist Montgomery County residents in making their opinions on this bill and other issues of equality heard at both the state and national levels.

Dr. Marisa Richmond, President of the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition, points out the following faults in the legislation:

• It is unprecedented for Congress to pass civil rights legislation that is not supported by a single organization in the community the law is supposed to protect. According to Richmond, over 300 LGBT organizations representing over 2 million Americans actively oppose any employment nondiscrimination legislation that does not include gender identity.

• HR 3685 does NOT provide sufficient protection against discrimination for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans.Richmond states that not only does this bill completely fail to protect transgender people, but it also fails to protect lesbians, gay men, bisexual, and straight people who do not conform to gender stereotypes.

• HR 3685 is morally and strategically wrong. Not only is it morally wrong to leave part of the LGBT community out of this bill, but it is also strategically wrong. We have learned from our work in the states that it is far easier to include gender identity in civil rights legislation the first time it is passed than it is to try to go back and add it in later.

The House is voting on this resolution as we read this. What can you do to help stop this inequitable legislation? The most effective way to make your voice heard is to contact US Congressmen Marsha Blackburn or John Tanner at http://www.house.gov/writerep/.

Elsewhere in Tennessee: Nashville

The Tennessee Equality Project held a meeting with Nashville Community Members and Leaders to Solicit Opinions for non-discrimination ordinance for Nashville, TN.

A group of approximately sixty community members met on the evening of Wednesday, October 12, at the East End Methodist Church in Nashville to discuss the possibilities for a non-discrimination ordinance and other positive legislation for Metro Nashville.

Attending the meeting were leaders from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce, the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) and the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition. Each leader provided a short presentation on behalf of his or her group, within the context of the possibility of a non-discrimination ordinance for Metro Nashville.

After the presentations, Mr. Sam Felker moderated a discussion between attendees in which many expressed their outlook regarding a positive plan of action for conducting the initiative. While participants expressed a wide variety of opinions, several themes were common: a carefully planned effort that is appropriate for implementation in the Nashville community; building strong alliances with local businesses; community and faith leaders, and the general populace; and a careful consideration of what has worked in other communities.

About the Tennessee Equality Project

The Tennessee Equality Project is a statewide organization dedicated to promote and sustain the equality of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons in the State of Tennessee through the establishment of fair and equitable laws protecting these rights and the elimination of laws that would seek to counter this effort. TEP is also concerned with fair and just treatment for victims of hate crimes.

TEP’s mode of operation is unique in that we believe in forming a strong bond with legislators who are sympathetic to our causes. While the Tennessee Legislature is in session, they monitor our legislators and have a full-time lobbyist on the hill representing the GLBT community. In addition, TEP encourages and provides the resources for Tennesseans to contact their representatives regarding specific legislation that affects the GLBT community in Tennessee .

• African American men are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as white males (9.5% compared to 4% for whites).
• Among young men (20 to 24-years-old) 76.5 of whites were employed, compared to 68.8% of blacks.
• For blacks over 25-years-old with less than a high school education 60% are unemployed, as compared to 53% of whites.
• African American men earn only 75% as much as their white counterparts.
• For African Americans under 18-years-old, 33.5% live in poverty, compared to 10% of white youths.
• Among black Americans, 47.9% own their homes, whereas 75.8% of whites own homes. In addition, blacks are three times more likely to obtain high-priced mortgages than whites.
• Black men are more than 7 times more likely to be incarcerated than white men.
• Average jail sentences for African American males are 10 months longer than for white men.
• Young black men between 15 and 34-years-old are nine times more likely to die of homicide than white men the same age and they are almost seven times as likely to contract HIV/AIDS.
• Black children do well in early childhood–over two-thirds are enrolled in early childhood education programs, such as Head Start, compared to 64% of white children. However, black children, especially males, begin to drop out in middle school and high school at alarming rates.
• Twenty-one percent of teachers in majority black schools had less than three years experience, compared to 10 percent in majority white schools.
• Dollars spent per black student were 82% of those spent per white student.

For Excutive Summary: click here

For Report Abstracts: click here

To Obtain Complete 2007 Report: click here

Of course, the usual suspects come out of the woodwork to denounce liberal ideology in typical fashion. In contrast, liberals focus on the reality that we can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results. After all, that’s the definition of “insanity.”

I’ve said it before… it’s time for us to show genuine leadership instead of reacting based on fear. I’m thankful that liberals have been around to make history throughout time.

A liberal saw the excesses and errors within the Church in 1517 and posted his 95 theses on the door of his church in Wittenberg, which began the Reformation. Right around that same time, a liberal translated the Bible into English, which gave the Scriptures to the people in the common vernacular. Liberals led the way to start a country based on equality and the “right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Liberals fought to put an end to slavery. Liberals spoke out for the Native Americans, but were squelched in an environment of abject hatred toward our nation’s first residents.

Liberals fought for the civil rights act of 1964. Liberals fought for women’s rights. Liberals have always stood up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. They stood for the slaves, child labor laws, worker’s compensation, anti-trust laws, occupational safety laws, equal housing, and fair lending practices. If that’s “giving away the farm,” then I’m glad we did.

In fact, Jesus himself preached love, tolerance, justice, and equality for all people. That’s pretty liberal, isn’t it? So long as He preached it, so will I. He is the great equalizer, and that’s a message that can never tarnish or wither. It is, in fact, the core of the Gospel: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” If you look carefully, there’s no asterisk there. “Whosoever” means “whosoever.”

What’s unfortunate is that Liberals have allowed the word “liberal” to be tarnished by right-wing attacks. They’ve allowed themselves to be labeled as crybabies and whiners. Thankfully, that’s beginning to change.

As a democratic republic, our responsibility is not to “majority rules” but rather to protect those who are NOT in the majority. This is why this system of government works. It protects those who are not in power or in the majority. This is the heart of the bill of rights (the first ten amendments to the US constitution). It protects those who aren’t Christian white males.

So who’s less fortunate? Look around. There are hundreds of families who can’t afford a Thanksgiving dinner this week. There are countless teenagers who live in abject poverty (most of them minorities) who are convinced that they’ll never get out of that situation. Instead of blaming liberals, why not join hands with them and help to fund programs that are designed to provide alternatives to the streets?

There are more than 150 confirmed cases of HIV in Montgomery County. For every confirmed case, statistics indicate that there are at least 2 people who don’t know they’re infected. Liberals have fought to fund HIV awareness and education, as well as research for effective treatment. Instead of blaming liberals and gays, why not show the kind of compassion that Christ called for? Why not help with these programs?

Yes, there are those who are less fortunate. I’ve been in that situation. I thank God that I’m no longer there. It took work, patience, and God’s favor in my life to get where I am today. Sadly, there are those that just can’t seem to rise above their situation, no matter what. Jesus said we’d have the poor with us always. He also said that we should minister to them any way we can. “What you have done to the least of these, you have done it to me,” He said.

Christianity, however, isn’t the only faith which embraces charity. The ideal of charity is encouraged in nearly every major world religion. Maybe one day we’ll begin to rise above name-calling and work together to help everyone… no matter who they are, what they look like, or who they love.