The Atlantic - Latest Comments in One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

DJ ImagoDei — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:57:44 -0000

Dennis Haysbert plays a badass military man - Sgt. Major Jonas Blan on ABC's The Unit. And we honour his service. Meanwhile Billy Dee played a traitor to the Rebel Alliance, Morgan Freeman drove Ms. Daisy and MF Doom is needed more by the global force of hip hop than by any one racial group.

So who should our spokesman be? Dennis Haysbert. That's All State's Stand. Like all 50 states kid!

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

Breukelyne — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:25:36 -0000

I nominate David Hasselhoff for White Spokesperson. He doesn't take himself too seriously and makes silly music videos. I think that's probably a predictable nomination on the kitsch front though, sorry.

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

Kim — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:39:45 -0000

I started the Morgan Freeman thang but now I'm beginning to regret it. He really would make a better spokesperson for white people than for black.

Nell Carter is an excellent suggestion, but clearly we need Cicely. If she's not available, the woman from the Pine-Sol commercials will do.

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

BethanyAnne — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:29:35 -0000

Spokesperson, huh...

"I want you to go up to that podium, and find my microphone."

"Which one is it?"

"It's the one that says Bad Motherfucker"

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

Dan Goldman — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:29:22 -0000

It's gotta be Billy Dee! If he's good enough for Colt 45 commercials, he's good enough for all Black people!

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

Stefan — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:51:51 -0000

What about Russell Simmons? Isn't he the quintessential voice of the first wave of the hip hop generation?

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

renegademom — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:51:24 -0000

I want Andre Braugher to speak to me......oh, I mean FOR me.....

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

dsquared — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:25:42 -0000

Does MF Doom really fulfill the criterion of being a single person?

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

Zack R. — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:14:17 -0000

Although I was originally wooed by John McLaughlin's platform of, "drowning those oreos in milk" and re-instituting the rebel yell (contradictory?), in the end I had to go with Pat Riley. He's got all those championship rings from his Laker days, I couldn't resist.

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

janine — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:59:40 -0000

I nominated Billy Dee, so I'm staying with him. I might even start watching cable news again if they drag him and his smooth husky voice on screen every time something happens related to Black people.

But isn't it true that Black people never have 1 spokesman? We have two: Good Cop/Bad Cop, Chuck D/Flava Flav, Martin/Malcolm, Jesse/Sharpton. So I say that Billy Dee should have Ernie Hudson as his co-captain. If there's one thing people of all races love besides Star Wars, it's Ghostbusters.

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

janine — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:56:25 -0000

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

ChristianPinko — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:53:02 -0000

I second the Samuel L. Jackson nomination, on condition that he maintain at all times his Jules Winnfield persona. With jheri curls.

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

Jake H. — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:26:14 -0000

As a white man voting solely on identity politics, I obviously must choose Riles.

Is there any white guy more qualified for the post? I mean, when Dave Chappelle came up with the "I Know Black People" game show, don't you think he probably thought of Riles first but couldn't get him?

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

Michael R. Jackson — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:17:38 -0000

Chakka Khan re-recorded The Reading Rainbow theme song but I have been informed that TINA FABRIQUE originated it, and that is who I am referring to.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=c6j8EiWIVZs

Although, this isn't the opening I remember and listening to this I'm not sure this is not Chakka. Hmmm ...

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

dtah — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:13:55 -0000

the clear answer is Pat Riley. Man's got a) style, b) is conniving and scheming, and c) is gifted at sports. the perfect white man to represent all blacks.

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

Hogan — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:04:14 -0000

No matter how this turns out, Charles Barkley will always be my Black Spokesperson.

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

srpeter — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:53:01 -0000

Wolverine. He was married to black woman. And he has a nice voice.

I nominate Sam Jackson for white ppl spokesperson. Even if he was conveying a racist thought, it would sound like The Truth to black ppl.

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

Derrick Gibson — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:47:08 -0000

I rise in support of that most OG of nominees: Billy Dee Williams. Sure, the other cats in the competition are cool, but compared to Billy Dee, they cannot compete.

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

peep — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:42:55 -0000

Alternately, how about the Lorax?

He spoke for the trees,

Now he speaks for you and me.

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

peep — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:41:36 -0000

Since George Burn died, Morgan Freeman is God.

He should speak for all of us.

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

JT (Chicago) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:39:06 -0000

Since I nominated Dennis Haysbert, I voted for him. We'd be in good hands. Billy Dee in those new commercials (Comcast?) looks a bit too comfortable in his old age.

As for a white spokesman, it has to be Dennis Hopper.

Do we Mexican Americans get a spokesman, or are we stuck with Lou Dobbs?

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

Catch — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:26:58 -0000

Duh, Billy Dee of course. Ladies love him. He could woo the Hillary supporters. On second thought, Billy Dee for VP.

"Reading Rainbow" lady for black spokesperson.

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

Jen R — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:03:41 -0000

Can white people have Morgan Freeman as our spokesperson too?

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

Padraig — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:52:36 -0000

A vote for MF Doom here. Get the hipster honkies in the coalition with the rapper who dominates the aesthetics of Adult Swim!

As for White People Spokespeople, I'd like to nominate Lawrence Fishburn. Consider his star-role in Othello: there he played an African hired to lead an Italian Republic, cause that way he wouldn't be beholden to any one faction. Similarly, White people are simply too divided to have a White spokesman. Of course, High-Podesta Fishburn will have to have a lieutenant and an ensign - Eminem and George Clooney would do nicely, I think.

Re: One Spokesperson to Lead Them All

Preston — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:48:35 -0000

"Or whoever sang the theme song for "Reading Rainbow.""

I believe that was Chaka Khan.