Different Worlds
Some time ago, a friend forwarded a link to a fantastic website called www.blackpeopleloveus.com. Perhaps you've seen it; good work gets around. I won't get into the specifics of what you will see when you go there; you should check it out for yourself. In a general sense, what you will see (in my mind) is a brilliant social commentary that uses sarcasm and humor to make its point.
But if you look deeper into the site, you'll see some other things, too. Go specifically to their letters section, and read for a few minutes. It took me a few minutes to figure out if the letters were genuine or also a parody. They are surely genuine (if not, Sally and Johnny are even smarter and funnier than I thought).
What is striking is how so many people do not see the site as parody, or just aren't sure what it is or how to respond to it. Some people are angry, some are confused, some think it's a joke, some just think Sally is hot...the reactions are all over the map. My guess is that "Sally" and "Johnny" probably anticipated these reactions, and they help to serve their overall goal.
I just never cease to be amazed at how so many different people can look at the same thing, and see so many very different things. In particular, I'm amazed at how sarcasm-challenged our world is. But maybe I'm all wet on Sally and Johnny; maybe it's not a parody at all. Maybe they just really feel good about their relationship with their black friends. And why shouldn't they? Black people are A-OK. Keep raisin' that roof, Johnny! Fight the power!
3:46:18 PM 
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