Letter to Editor of LA Weekly re: Jungle Fever

Date: Friday, August 23, 2002 8:19 PM
From: Derrick Mathis
Subject: Hey there!

Hi,

my name is Derrick Mathis. You don’t know me, but last year I wrote some small piece on a concert appearance by Jill Scott at the House of Blues here in Los Angeles for the LA Weekly. Would you believe that it’s just now that I’ve learned that there was some feedback to that piece??? The LA Weekly, I’m afraid, really is weak on notifying writers about that…wish they weren’t.

I read your letter to the editor…I was quite shocked at some the reactions I got to the Jill Scott piece, actually. Not that I’m trying to explain why I wrote what I did, but in truth, I was just relaying a very funny incident that happened by sheer coincidence. This brotha’ holdin’ this white chick’s hand really did push his way through the crowd, you know, a real rude ass. At the time it wouldn’t have mattered if he was dragging along a stuffed teddy bear. He was pushy and aggresive. As a result, he drew attention to himself in an already overly packed and uncomfortable room. It just so happened that as soon as he got to the middle of the place, Jill Scott launched into her song. She was completely oblivious to what had just taken place. I was laughing so hard I was in tears. He got exactly what he deserved. You had to be there. It really was funny. And by the way, the “jungle fever” line? I never wrote that. The editor added i t on as a tag line.

However, whatever…. I think I chose to respond to your letter and only your letter is because, well, I dunno. I rarely read for pleasure these days (dude, I’m too busy…shameful but true) but I’m reading this book right now titled “Lay My Burden Down: A folk history of Slavery” edited by B.A. Botkin. I highly recommend it if you haven’t read it. A guy with a parcel of opinions like yourself on race should definately read it. And if you have kids you should read some of the stories outloud to them. It’s a collection of first-person narratives of ex- black slaves interviewed during the 1930s. Really deep. Most of the ex-slaves were in the age range of 85 to 120-years old when they were interviewed! Some horrific stories, some just plain sad and depressing—all of it, surreal. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the first book I’ve read on slavery…but for some reason these first-person accounts are more vivid than anything I’ve read in the past…oh, now I remember why I chose to respond to your letter. It was the part where you said something about “journalists like Derrick Mathis being sympathic to Jill Scott. Wow, okay. Well, see I’m reading this book, right? And some of the women ex- slaves, amongst other atrocities, talk in detail about the whole business of mixed-race offspring due to their masters forced sexual relationships with some of the slave women. Really ugly and painful stuff to read if you’re of African-American descent. I know it’s been hard for me to choke down. But that stuff about the mixed-race offspring really is just a drop in the bucket in terms of the painful issues surrounding slaves, ex-slaves and children of ex-slaves being conditioned to believe that white is best and dark is bad. Sad to say, this sort of thinking among some is still alive and well in Black culture today.

I, for one, believe Jill Scott when she says she has nothing against mixed-race relationships. Personally, I’m with her on this. But what Scott is addressing is so much deeper than mixed raced relationships and I think that anyone of mixed-race descent who takes offense to Jill Scott’s song just doesn’t get it. It’s not about hating the white woman. It’s not about hating the black man who loves a white woman. It’s really about the historical politics of race, sex and the African-American in white America.

Look guy, thanks for this opportunity. The subject matter is too deep to go off the cliff with right now. I’d be sitting here forever. And besides, I’m sleepy and hungry. That book has really left me very contemplative and saddened. I needed to write about it and coming across your letter gave me a good reason. The issue of mixed-race has always has been a very painful issue for black people. A very painful one and the wounds are still laying wide open. Thank God artists like Jill Scott are saying the things that they’re saying. It’s what she’s seeing and has been seeing and it makes her angry. Deal is, her song has a lot more to do with our history in America than non-blacks are willing to acknowledge….so typical. Ironically, it seems nowadays that a good portion of urban White America has decided that the “one drop of negro blood” rule doesn’t apply anymore. That’s a good thing. But a sad thing too. The goddamn rule should have never existed.

peace,
dm