This is my 100th Black History Month profile and I feel that makes me a bona fide black historian. I'm certainly not black -- I'm snowman pale, I can't dance, and I can barely dunk on an 8-foot basketball goal -- but I do I think I've got at least a little African-Americred. I grew up in an all-black neighborhood, I know all the words to Whoomp There It Is, and I think I might have said "shawty" once. Now, I'm not saying I'm as worthy a BHM honoree as, say, George Washington Carver or Steve Urkel, but I do think that my four years of highlighting lesser-known black heroes is admirable in its own way. Certainly as admirable as anything a certain black US President has accomplished during the past four years. Easy digs like that aside, I'm proud of my little collection, and I'm grateful that it has resonated with at least a few of the people with whom I've shared them. I've enjoyed writing these profiles every year and it's hard to imagine not continuing to write them in the future. I guess it's true, once you go black, you really can't go back.
I don't know who you are yet, but based on past winners, there's a 97% chance you're black. Yes, only one white guy has ever defied the odds/gravity and won the most prestigious award that dunking has to offer... and that win was more sham than slam. Whitey's winning dunk "from the free throw line" was more like "from kinda close to being in the vicinity of the free throw line." Just further proof that white lies CAN be detrimental. No such worries this year, however, as every slam dunk participant is African-American... as it should be. Tomorrow night we'll discover your identity, but thanks ahead of time for the amazing dunks. (You may be wondering why I chose to highlight basketball on Valentine's day. It's because love and basketball go well together, just ask Omar Epps.)
Y'all gonna make me lose my mind if you don't think DMX deserves some Black History Month honors. A rapper AND an actor?! There just aren't that many people out there who can do both. You know, besides Drake, Gucci Mane, Ludacris, Eminem, Will Smith, 50 Cent, Queen Latifah, Xzibit, The Game, Big Boi, Andre 3000, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Ice T, Vanilla Ice, Mos Def, Marky Mark, LL Cool J, Ja Rule, Tupac, Common, Tyrese, T.I., and most of the Wu Tang Clan. And none of those guys were in a film the caliber of Cradle 2 the Grave. Talk about your Oscar snubs. Anyway, the best thing about DMX isn't his rapping or acting ability, it's that he's such a giving person. Whether it's money, a ride, or just advice, you can bet that X gon' give it to ya. Happy BHM, DMX, you definitely deserve a spot up in here, up in here.
