Is it just me or are black women getting a lot of bad press lately. First it was the Condoleezza Rice, and now for those who haven't followed, The Apprentice. It ushered in such catch phrases as: "You're FIRED!", and more recently "You're Hired". But never a more proud and yet horrifying moment for people of color as was the highly anticipated final episode. The 2 finalist, Bill Rancic and Kwame Jackson, the affable Harvard grad with his MBA in tow, successfully navigated through 3 months of white women, white men and of course "The Donald" trying to pick off those they felt would not adapt to Trump's corporate culture. Playing his part, Kwame managed to escape to freedom reaching the final round, out of 215,000 applicants and 16 contestants.

Initially giving the impression of getting along with the "white folks" all too well, Kwame later revealed being the first in his family to get a graduate degree and explained his grandfather could only sign his name with an X being the son of a slave himself. Never did he say it to win sympathy or as a badge of shame but instead realizing he carries the legacy of being 3 generations removed from the plantation and ultimately living The American Dream. It was a great day for black folks.

Even more dynamic for us black folks is that some how not one but two managed to escape. A former white house staffer and Howard Alum, the most hated and most watched character was Omarosa. Many cheered her on when they saw she was immediately being categorized as the opinionated and assertive black women who can't get along with anyone else in the house, a.k.a. The black bitch. This title is typically given to those not very deserving and several were up in arms coming to Omarosa's defense. Both a proud display of education, perseverance through the white man's ranks and good old fashion hard work led many to believe that the two had made a silent pact that would allow the world to see the power of what happens when a black man and black woman works together for the continuance of their race in financial and social arenas.

So rarely seen in reality television, in Omarosa's final hours, seeing Kwame comfort Omarosa and her ease in showing him, another contestant, her pain and vulnerability, white America didn't understand that armor comes down when a fellow member is knocked out of the race for reasons beyond their control, but all too familiar; the race and or gender bias. Something they share all too well. At the end of the day knowing white people won't look out for you and 'We gotta stick together'.

Which is why I understood Kwame's later decision to have Omarosa ride with him in the final inning to his home stretch. With his decision everyone of color in America understood his gesture was as follows: just because they said you were a pain in the ass I know they don't understand you the way I do, your struggles, your dreams and your history. Where you've come from, where you've been and where we're going. We're in this together and I trust by my admission of seeing the good in you, you won't screw me over and perform better for me than you did them, holding us and our people up in a favorable light, defying all odds. I'm not going to let them demonize you.

But like anything, there's always a "nigga" in the mix and the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Hell being the board room and Trump saying: "you're fired!" Omarosa ultimately was the lynch pin in Kwame's demise. It would not be above speculation to say that Omarosa sabotaged Kwame not only during the final mission by blatantly lying and costing Kwame precious face time and shame. Later in the board room Omarosa was the most vocal on Kwame's shortcomings when asked by Trump if Kwame was an effective leader. Even Trump winced at Omarosa's vocality and bold faced lies claiming that Kwame lost sight of his main responsibility, which really was her main responsibility- keep up with talent at all times. But like most haters, she overplayed her hand unaware that Trump was aware she had snuck off with MTV's Jessica Simpson while Kwame tried to contact her via radio.

Was it purposeful? Possibly. With these types of individuals you never know. Their sickness goes deeper than words can express. As a white house staffer, Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, (wife of entrepreneur Aaron Stallworth), was transferred 5 times due to her tendency to incite violence amongst her co-workers. As an MSN article would site, one co-worker in fact wanted to slug her. Did Omarosa develop this disruptive behavior while paying her way through college on the beauty pageant circuit or did her lady like behavior evolve from ghetto life in the Youngstown Projects? Who knows, but having been in that similar situation (being called a bitch for assertion), daily African American women, specifically, walk a tight rope of not being a piece of ass to white and black men while warding off Miss Anne's attempts to undercut you and play the nut role while doing so. Many have achieved coveted status but not without a price.

Currently Condoleeza, and Oprah are the only two that comes to mind. One played the role in a movie, what the other really is, a mammy. Neither women is married, or even has the feigning of sexual interest. One waves the poor, deprived negro child banner proudly while the other displays the opposite but both are printed on the same coin. Although it has only been implied with Oprah, Condi, in an interview with the Washington Post's magazine, proudly displayed her lineage showing pride of her descendence from house "negroes" claiming all are not built alike. There are "house" negroes who were close to master and therefore able to obtain education and higher status and field negroes who attended to master's other needs. But the preference was given to house negroes.

Omarosa embodies both of those women as she prominently displays that people always think she comes from a wealthy family but she professes boldly that she comes from a broken government subsidized home and has a brother doing the perp walk. Would someone tell her the girl from the ghetto story went out with the first Bush era. Leading me to believe possibly she was jealous of Kwame's success and his handling of humble beginnings with stride. That project mentality called her right back and she resorted to a crabs in a barrel plantation mentality. Believing whether consciously or subconsciously the white man's ice was colder and Kwame couldn't win over Bill. Further proving all my skin folk ain't my kin folk and niggas come in all shades.

Right now I'm feeling ashamed of Omarosa, praying this negative barrage of media attention and display will decease. For all black women this is not good. This is the one time, a black man can open his window and legitimately scream obscenities and say that a woman was the result of his downfall. As women we know there's always a sneaky one in the bunch. Who knew Omarosa would not only sabotage her brother out of spite and overall incompetence but she used her feminine powers for evil and not good.

Kwame Jackson's Official Site: www.kwamejackson.com

Omarosa's Official Site: www.omarosa.com

Released: May 3rd, 2004

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