Could Jimmy Manyi, the South African government spokesman, set Sheen straight?
When African parents want to organize their kids to clean up a mess they've made, or take a seat in the car for a road trip, or grab some food in the kitchen -- or what have you, they tell the kids: "HEY! Come and answer your father's name!"
The phrase is like a helpful command that nudges you to do something -- anything -- good, if only for the sake of your papa. Even when you get grown, you'll keep hearing that same phrase, "come and answer your father's name."
Thus, if you were Charlie Sheen--and you had some African parents right about now? It wouldn't matter if you were a "grown" 45-year-old like he is; somebody from your father's side of the family -- if not your father himself -- would be watching you on the telly tube as you were exploding on it, wondering why in the great caves of Kenya you were misrepresenting your father's name.
Your African mother would likely scream in the background, as she clutched her bespoke gold necklace and rolled her eyes at the T.V. screen, recalling how many plates of fufu she cooked for you as a child, and how many ignorant comments she had to endure from racists at her fifth job, where she worked an extra 38 hours a day in the '70s in order to save money for your college education -- Harvard, specifically, where all African immigrants attend -- only for you to have failed to attend Harvard... choosing instead to do "acting," and now disgracing your family as a consequence of this clearly problematic choice.
Sure, Charlie Sheen answers his father Martin Sheen's last name, but man, if Charlie had some continental African parents? He would be in serious trouble telling these doggone "warlock" stories, throwing his hands in the air on television like he was throwing a spear... talking 'bout "WINNING! WINNING!" and disgracing his community of cousins, elders, and villagers back in Africa that hang his picture as a beacon of hope in their homes, clubs, and restaurants.
He just wouldn't go around abusing the word, "warlock," because REAL wars would have been fought where his African parents came from, if they came from a country that still fights tribal wars--or, heck, if they came from any African country within the last half-century when colonialism ended.
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Father Knows Best: Dads From TV & Film
Father Knows Best: Black Dads On TV & In Film
Various images of African American fathers have graced television and motion picture screens over the years. From Bill Cosby's lovable Cliff Huxtable on 'The Cosby Show' to Terry Crews' comic relief on 'Everybody Hates Chris,' it's easy to cite memorable father figures. Following his role as the father in 'Dr. Dolittle,' Eddie Murphy returns to the big screen as another dad, Evan Danielson, in 'Imagine That.' The film hits theaters June 12. See some of the others.
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Father Knows Best: Black Dads On TV & In Film
Father Knows Best: Black Dads On TV & In Film
Various images of African American fathers have graced television and motion picture screens over the years. From Bill Cosby's lovable Cliff Huxtable on 'The Cosby Show' to Terry Crews' comic relief on 'Everybody Hates Chris,' it's easy to cite memorable father figures. Following his role as the father in 'Dr. Dolittle,' Eddie Murphy returns to the big screen as another dad, Evan Danielson, in 'Imagine That.' The film hits theaters June 12. See some of the others.
Father Knows Best: Black Dads On TV & In Film
Bill Cosby: Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable
There wasn't a more even-tempered, junk food-craving and all-around loveable television father than Bill Cosby. During the '80s, Cosby reigned supreme as Cliff Huxtable, the patriarch of 'The Cosby Show.' Cosby had almost total creative control on the series, in which he played an obstetrician raising his five children with his attorney wife, Clair, in Brooklyn Heights, New York. The show stressed the importance of family and higher education, the latter of which Cosby has advocated for and financially supported for decades.
Father Knows Best: Black Dads On TV & In Film
Denzel Washington: John Q
Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington hasn't played the role of father many times in his career, although he has four children of his own. Yet in the 2002 'John Q,' the 54-year-old Mount Vernon, N.Y., native effortlessly conveyed how one father, John Quincy Archibald, holds a hospital hostage until his son's name is put on the heart transplant list.
Father Knows Best: Black Dads On TV & In Film
Duane Martin: Robert James
The UPN sitcom 'All of Us,' loosely based on Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith's blended family, found actor Duane Martin as Robert James, a divorced entertainment reporter trying to keep the peace between his ex-wife, Neesee, and his fiancée, Tia, for the sake of his son. The show ran for four seasons before being canceled in 2007.
Father Knows Best: Black Dads On TV & In Film
Flex Alexander: Flex Washington
Being a single father is not a story that gets broadcast too often, but Flex Alexander nailed the role of Flex Washington on 'One on One.' This former Salt 'N' Pepa background dancer played a full-time dad whose daughter moves in with him when his ex-wife takes a job overseas. Flex also created and produced the UPN sitcom, which ran for five seasons, from 2001 until 2006.
Father Knows Best: Black Dads On TV & In Film
Ice Cube: Durell
In the comedy 'First Sunday,' Ice Cube plays Durell, a man who plots to rob a church with his best friend to pay off a debt and keep his son's mother from moving to Atlanta. The former NWA rapper lucks up and is able to prevent his ex from uprooting and taking their son down South.
Father Knows Best: Black Dads On TV & In Film
James Earl Jones: King Jaffe Joffer
Tony Award-winning actor James Earl Jones played royalty in the 1988 comedy 'Coming to America.' As his Majesty King Jaffe-Joffer of Zamunda, Jones' character allowed his son, Akeem (played by Eddie Murphy), to visit America in search of a wife before returning home to go through with his arranged marriage.
Father Knows Best: Black Dads On TV & In Film
John Amos: James Evans Sr.
For three seasons, Emmy Award-winner John Amos portrayed James Evans on 'Good Times,' a sitcom about a family living in an apartment in a Southside Chicago housing project. After the third season, James was killed, leaving wife Florida to raise their three children without the strong hand and discipline of her husband.
Father Knows Best: Black Dads On TV & In Film
Eddie Murphy: Evan Danielson
On June 12, comedian Eddie Murphy will play father to another little girl in 'Imagine That.' The film follows Murphy as Evan Danielson, a successful financial executive who turns to his 7-year-old daughter for help with his business problems. The 'Beverly Hills Cop' star played a father in the film 'Dr. Dolittle' and is the second highest grossing actor in motion picture history.
Father Knows Best: Black Dads On TV & In Film
Laurence Fishburne: Furious Styles
In the 1991 Academy Award-nominated film 'Boyz N Da Hood,' Laurence Fishburne is Furious Styles – a strict disciplinarian of a father trying to protect his son, Tre, from the dangers of South Central Los Angeles. In a pivotal scene, the 'What's Love Got to Do With It' actor tries to prevent Tre from seeking revenge for his best friend's death.
Father Knows Best: Black Dads On TV & In Film
And, he just wouldn't have this luxury of "tiger blood" metaphors, unless he had physically seen a tiger as he dodged bullets from the African army in his father's dictator-led country. Most modern-day Africans have never, in fact, seen tigers, but quite a few have seen bullets and war. Think Egyptians, Tunisians, Djiboutians, Cote D'Ivoreans... you know... people with
real news, who don't get covered because they don't film 'Two and a Half Men'; they instead fend for two and a half men: i.e. themselves, their uncle, their little brother. They care for two and a half women: i.e. their mother, their aunt, their little sister. They miss two and a half meals a day, and work two and a half jobs... only to make two and a half dollars a week.
Charlie just wouldn't have the guts (if his D.N.A. leaned a little less towards "Adonis," and a little more in the African god-of-thunder/survivor-of-apartheid direction) to parade around big studio networks, losing wives and children all over the place, making the news cycle revolve around him and his overly privileged lifestyle.
He wouldn't have the gall, if his name were Shobola rather than Sheen, Chukwu rather than Charlie, to dominate the airwaves with gibberish, as his former homies fight for free and fair elections in towns where African politicians have rigged their votes.
Oh, no. Charlie's entire level of consciousness would be slightly different, if he had, maybe not just African parents, but at least some whoop-arse roots that were traceable from Africa to the Caribbean to the Carolinas, Georgia, Brooklyn and beyond. Many who have that background know exactly how it works. Even more know that as much as we love Charlie, as much as we enjoy his tragic-comedic genius, and his colorful T.V. appearances, there are much more believable revolutions in the Motherland that have not been televised -- even as they're happening live.
To him, we say: do better, Uncle Charlie, and heal well.
China Okasi is a journalist/media personality who dishes witty commentary on CNN, Fox News & more. She is a Founding Editor and Editorial Consultant for MadameNoire.com. This fast-paced entrepreneur also owns PennandPaper.com and several other properties. Find out more at ChinaOkasi.com, or follow her at @ChinaOkasi.
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Comments: (58)
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By: community organizer on 3/04/2011 7:21PM
"come and answer your father's name".....Obama met his father one time and was raised by his white side of the family so how would this statement have worked for him? and how many of our black children don't even know their father's name....
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By: Mika on 3/04/2011 7:23PM
Hahahaaha! This had me rolling on the floor...yo Uncle Charlie, are you listening?
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By: Janetta on 3/07/2011 9:03AM
lol
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By: ooozzzzz on 3/04/2011 11:39PM
Charlie Sheen is his stage name, he is not White but Hispanic.
His father, actor Martin Sheen's real name is Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez and Charlie Sheen's real name is Carlos Irwin Estevez and he has a brother who is also an actor who goes by his real name Emilio Estevez.
And if he had some African parents, nothing would change because Charlie Sheen makes 2 million dollar an episode, not two million a year but two million dollars a show and as along as that's the case and the parents (they could be martians from the planet Mars) are enjoying the fruits of his financial labor, Charlie Sheen can call all the warlocks and tiger's blood that he wants.
And the only reason people are trippin' on Charlie Shenn is because he has two live-in girlfriends living with him, he told CBS, the people who control his show and his handlers to fuck off (and he can afford to do that) he parties and he gets high....Hell everyone in Hollywood gets high so he's not doing anything different than anyone else.
People are losing big money because Charlie won't play ball but he doesn't have to anymore because he has nade his hundreds of millions and owes no one.
If he had African parents......Get real.
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By: aj on 3/07/2011 8:07AM
I agree with you about him having made his millions and has to answer to noone. so when wwill he dissappear? im tired of seeing his zombied out personality on tv. i change the channel as soon as he pops on....further...if he really loved all his success, he is destroying it now. he got breaks because of his father, a HOLLYWOOD LEGEND. in all things you do, honor your mother and father.
changing his name to something less ethnic...lol tiger blood? lolololol that sounds like punk ass blood if ya ask me!
but, im hearing your POV and I agree, in this capitolistic society, its about making the money and he is doing that. maybe he will make enough to pay someone to tell him how to take it all with him when he dies from whateer drugs he is taking?
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By: ladylove on 3/07/2011 11:10AM
While I agree with you that he has a boat load of money which allows him to act like the fool that he is, I do not agree that he would still be the same even if he did have African parents. That is the whole point of the article! If he had African parents, he would more than likely think twice about acting a fool and perhaps they would be offering him some good old down home advice about how to deal with this mess that he's in as well as his responsibility to the community as a man of wealth.
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By: Greg on 3/05/2011 5:55AM
This article is little more than a joke! The majority of black people can't even get their own children under control, so why think that if Charlie Sheen had black parents that it would make any difference? Black people need to take care of their own business which is clear today that many haven't, and aren't doing! Try taking care of your own children, before giving advice to anyone in the arena!
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By: Fay on 3/06/2011 6:37PM
Greg, you obviously don't know many Africans, neither are you familiar with the different African Tribes or African Cultures. Rotten Apples are found everywhere, the African nationality is not an exception. Now... You obviously did not understand the article mentioned above. Perhaps you should take baby steps as I think it went right over your head. If you want to be or act like an AUTHORITY on Africans, then I suggest you educate yourself first, because you are speaking from a disadvantaged point of view. Good luck on furthering your education with regards to the above.
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By: Janetta on 3/07/2011 9:06AM
ys, agreed w Fay. im still learning too, but i think ur op is on point.
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By: O-nxx on 3/07/2011 10:36AM
Greg, you are mistaken. She said "African" parents- which bears a cultural distinction from that of Black-America or as I assume you are grouping the uncultured group of Black America. African parents from day one teach their children about bearing "shame upon their names". This reason there fore has made "MOST" of African children (1st generation American or not) very competitive and successful here in America. In the basis of China's point- such disgust and lucid shame that Charlie Sheen displays would never hold stagnant in my community. (Yes- I am of African descent)
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