Announcer: (sang)  KB 92

You're listening to KB92, Kansas Citys best late night talk with Walter Odel

Walter:   Good evening listeners, you're here with Walter Odel and tonight's topic, Who is the Black Man in the 21st century?

Now, I was born in the Paseo just 5 miles from this very spot.  My mother and father worked at Hallmark down at the Plaza; dad maintenance, mom 2nd shift cleaning crew.  My father was a proud man, a proud black man.  He was always forcing pride down my throat.  I must have been dragged to the Negro Baseball hall of fame 12 times before my tenth birthday. Yes, dad was a proud Black man, but he was also a pissed off black man; angry all the time claiming THE MAN had cost him three promotions.  He would try to insight my mother and me into his one man riot, That's why we have to live in this tiny two-bedroom hole with faded shutters and chipping paint thats why you ain't got a new ball glove boy, and why your momma has to save ol' bacon fat in that green-bean can to cook with! He could keep this up for hours.  Dad would come home at night filled with ideas for his own greeting cards.

Hows this?  Front: Sorry to hear about you not getting that promotion.  Inside: But DAMN whitey didn't want you to have it!

                        Or this one

Front: you have a picture of a black man bent over the hood of a car.  Inside it says, Call Bubbas Bail Bondsman for those times when profiling bends you over for whitey!

Dad liked the word whitey, whitey and THE MAN.

Problem was, I just didn't get it.  I had a friend once who was white and I liked him.  Sorry, I just couldn't resist.  Seems every white person I ever talked to tries to weasel into the conversation at one point or another that they had a friend who was black.  Like they needed to prove they weren't racist. 

For those of you just tuning in and have never listened to the show I will just come right out and say it, I am a black man.  But just who am I and how do I fit in, in the good old 21st century?  That is the topic of tonight's show.  I will be taking callers at 1 800 459 0092 after this message from one of our sponsors.

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Walter:  Well, we are back and we have our first caller, a Mr. McNalley from Overland Park.  Mr. McNalley you'e on the air with Walter.

McNalley:  (Irish accent, obviously drunk)  Ah, I'e been a listenin'to the show for a about three weeks now since my wife booted me out of me own house screamin like a banshee bout me being a drunken bum.  Her words, not mine.  Anyway, I want you to know I like what you have to say.

Walter: Thanks, for the personal history there Mr. McNalley

McNalley:  Call me Jimmy.

Walter:  Ok, you got it.  Jimmy, what do you have to say about the state of the Blackman in the 21st century? 

McNalley:  Well, Mr. Odell, thats Irish isn' it?  No matter, we Irish have been the blacks of Europe for Centuries and I know your plight.

Walter:  Never said I had a plight, but go on.

McNalley:  I know what its like to be poked fun of as being a drunk just because of where God graced me to be born.

Walter:  Jimmy, are we drunk tonight?

McNalley:  I had a few but why does it matter?  Me wife had done left me and I have no reason to go on livin'.

Walter:  Well, now Jimmy that sounds just awful but do you have anything to say on tonights topic?

McNalley:  Are you daf man!  Im tryin to tell you but you just won' listen.  I told you my wife wont let me back in and I have no hope!  Do you hear me Walter?

Walter:  I do man.  I can tell youre hurting.  Perhaps you can call back tomorrow morning at 7:00am when Dr. Flagen has her call-in show?  Thanks (Click)

That was Mr. McNalley.  I think we can take a couple of things from what just went on even though Jimmy never really seemed to be on topic.  One is that others are still struggling to find where they too fit in.  The black man is not alone.  And two, stereo-types can be reinforced by just a few.  And if you are one of those few then don' complain when people call you what you are.

Well be right back after this brief message.

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Walter:  We are back, our next caller is D Pity from Independence.  Youre on the air with Walter.

D Pity:              Sup Odel?

                                     I know how you feelin'

                                                Life aint appealin'

                                          Hit hard

                                    Gone are the days of stealin cars

                        Always hit-n-miss

                                    Niggas got a get his

                                    Be proud

                                                spreadin out like an atomic cloud

                                                Out loud

                        Cutting my way like a field plowed

Walter: Whoa, D Pity, powerful words but some of our listeners may need a translation.  What are you trying to say about the Blackman in the 21st century?

D Pity:  You know whats I'm talkin bout dog.

Walter:   D Pity, I think my listeners need a bit more.

D Pity:    You gots to be foolin,

 (interrupting in the back ground the sound of an angry mother yelling)

                        Marvin!  Marvin! You get off that phone right now!  And you better not be calling that..that jiggaboo station again!

(whining) Mom! Um, I have to go. Sorry Mr. Odel.  Love your show you are really cool an all. (click)

Walter:  Hmmm, something tells me that was no brother. 

I think what we can learn from D Pity Marvin, is that just because you think you may have it bad, there are others out there who might envy what you've got.  So, take the time to look at the good in your life, focus on what you have, not on what you don't.  Well be right back after this commercial.    

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Walter: Were back.  I have Tammy from Joplin on the line.  Tammy what have you to say about tonights topic? 

Tammy:  I think you should get over yourself Odel..  Blackman, poor, poor Blackman.  You dont know how good you have it.  Try being a woman.  Black or white or whatever, men, ALL men, are in the drivers seat.

Walter:  Problem with men, Tammy?

Tammy:  No problem, just dont see why any man would complain.