I believe in full disclosure…

or at the very least, smart discretion…

Native Detroiters all over the country are probably aware of the snafu our good Mayor Kwame has gotten himself into. I have much to say about it, but not right now. lol.

It’s been a long two days for me, so, to be continued…

*EDIT*

So last night, I watched the video of Kwame’s “apology” to his wife, his sons, and the city of Detroit. I felt like it was Maury, Detroit-style.

I’m so disappointed by all of this. I can’t say I’m wholly shocked and appalled at the affair — the racy text messages, the secret rendezvous…this stuff is almost like a foregone conclusion nowadays. I am disappointed because apparently Kwame forgot that old adage that rings down through the corridors of most young, Black minds, as our mothers warned us ’cause their mamas warned them:

You gotta do twice as much to get half as far.

Kwame, it ain’t fair, is it?
It ain’t fair that you gotta represent Black folk.
And Black politicians.
And Black men.
And Black husbands.
And Black fathers.
And Black husband-father-politicians.

See, I’m not getting it twisted. Just ’cause we’ve been arrivin’ doesn’t mean the standard has stayed the same. The further Black folks achieve, the further we have to go, because this journey toward societal status in America almost like chasing a moving target.

So, no, Kwame didn’t snort coke a la Marion. But he should have understood that he needed to be perfect. He needed to get it right, the first (three) times. He needed to be pristine. The standard jump-off/drug use/foot-in-mouth/bad call ”mistake” just doesn’t fly when you’re black. Ask Jesse. Ask Cosby. Ask Vick. It’s just not the same for us.

I know that’s a whole lot of pressure for a 30-something year-old PK (Politician’s Kid). But Kwame should have known. When he looked into his 3 boys’ eyes, he should have known. What example does he set for them? Why must I now defend another Black man to folks who say, see, tol’ you so? How do I tell my students to aspire to become powerful leaders when even not-so-absolute power is corrupting us absolutely?

Sigh.

Do you have any experiences of having to do better than the others? About being closely, unfairly scrutinized?