David Talbert gets last laugh on First Sunday…or does he?
Every Friday I’m blessed to be on the Larry Young Morning Show (WOLB Baltimore 1010AM) for the last hour of the program with my good brother, Farajii Muhammad.
Larry (or “LY”) decided late last year to invite two “Under 30” community servants to be on the air and give commentary from a youthful perspective regarding the issues that he and Coach Butch McAdams’ raise. I think it was also enticing to them that Bro. Farajii is a Muslim minister and I am a Christian minister.
Well we had quite an interesting show on Friday, January 4th - the first show of the year. As always Farajii and I got to the studio without knowledge of what we would be discussing for the day. We were informed upon arrival that that day we would be having an in-studio interview with David Talbert to discuss his latest movie - First Sunday starring Ice Cube, Katt Williams, and Tracy Morgan. The film is about two friends who come up with the plan to rob a Black Church for its building fund money. 
When I heard this, my stomach immediately began to turn. I had seen the previews to this film and honestly did not like what I saw and did not plan on wasting my money to see the full picture. How was I going to conduct this interview in a way that wouldn’t offend Talbert or Larry Young - the man who opened the door for me to get on the show?
I wrestled with this question up until 9:30AM when during a commercial break, Talbert walked in and greeted everyone in the room.
The brother seemed cool enough, but I’m sure he had no idea that this wouldn’t be the easy-going promotional interview that he had planned.
The interview started easy enough with Larry introducing Talbert to the listening family and reminding them of the many plays that had written. The brother has been putting in his work - no doubt. They exchanged niceties and Farajii began asking him about the industry - “What is it like to be a Black man in the industry?” - “How did you get Ice Cube, Katt Williams, and Tracy Morgan on the same play?”…those types of questions.
Once Talbert answered them, I knew that I had to engage the brother. Now mind you - I’m sitting right next to this man…he’s sandwiched between me and Farajii.
So I get started with my piece:
Brother David - thanks for being here. I’m a third-generation preacher and to be honest, when I saw the preview for your film - First Sunday - it left the same taste in my mouth that movies like Soul Plane, Friday, and Friday After Next did. I know that sometimes previews are edited in such a way that would best get butts in the seats - even if the preview doesn’t accurately portray the story of the movie. Can you tell me if the preview is an accurate portrayal of your film and if so, what impact do you hope your film has on the Black community?
THAT’S ALL I SAID!…but it must have been a tender spot because Talbert goes off!
(I’m paraphrasing)
“Excuse me “Mr. Third Generation Preacher” are you judging my movie before you’ve even seen it?”
(Ok - so I didn’t care for the tone the brotha was using so I came back a little snappy)
“No, I’m not judging your movie, I’m asking you a question about the previews that are already out.”
Talbert responds:
“Well maybe you need to go see the movie and then make an analysis of it.”
“Well brotha I’m not sure if I want to go see your movie given the previews.”
“Well maybe you need to check your taste. You may have the wrong taste.”
(OH NO HE DIDN’T!)
“Well brotha my taste was developed by Marcus Garvey, Harriet Tubman, Brother Malcolm X, Assata Shakur, and many other Ancestors and Elders so if that’s the wrong taste then I don’t want to be right.”
Larry is scrambling by now and the rest of the folks in the studio are trying to make sense of what is happening on live radio between their celebrity guest and the mild-mannered preacher on the show. LY grabs the reigns of the conversation and questions me further about my objections to this film. I explain to him very calmly that I don’t think that Black people in this country have the luxury to make a mockery of ourselves and an institution that has been the bedrock of our collective progress to this point. When will we stop participating in and being entertained by the minstrel show that debases our human dignity and self-worth?
Then Coach Butch McAdams screams out, “It’s just a movie, Rev. Brown!” He then offers to buy me a ticket so that we can go together. I politely decline and then recline back in my chair my point having been made already. (I don’t believe in being disagreeable just for the sake of disagreement. I looked the man in his eyeballs and told him what I thought. Nothing more to say.)
They continued with the interview and near the end of it, Talbert to his credit acknowledged that I had a valuable perspective and assured the listening family that he would never sell his soul to make a quick buck.
30 MILLION DOLLARS LATER…
David Talbert’s film has been out for nearly two weeks now and I’m sure he’s happy about how much loot his work has pulled in. I’m not sure if he’s read the reviews though. They are what I’d thought they’d be.
“Baltimore, also the setting for HBO’s superlative drama “The Wire,” is making something of a name for itself as the media’s poster child for urban decay.”
“The movie is designed to be uplifting and inspirational, but everything about it is tired and listless. It doesn’t so much make you feel the spirit as drain it out of you.”
Marcus Williams from The Afro American Newspaper said:
“In the midst of the often repulsive sensationalized stereotypes; your stomach is guaranteed to cramp from laughter.”
And Box Office Mojo.Com Readers give the movie a “D.”
Though Talbert made his millions, I’m afraid that he compromised his own integrity in sending a film like this out into the world. The brother has great talent and skill, but what does it say that the only film that the corporate movie industry would put on the big screen was this one? Out of all of his scripts - they wanted the one that did the best job of making a mockery of Black Humanity - as if we don’t get enough of that already.
I learned long ago that there are more important things in this world than money and fame. I’d rather be broke with my dignity and integrity than make millions by acting in the minstrel show starring my own people! I believe that what you send out to the Universe sometimes comes back to you and I refuse to send out anything that would shame my God or desecrate the honorable legacy of my Ancestors.
David Talbert, you’ve definitely kept the laughs coming, but unfortunately once again - Black folks are the butt of this joke.
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:47 am
Right on! it is about time that someone confronted these folks who cash in on this type of bufoonery. While it may be profitable at the box office, I often cringe when I consider what it costs in terms of the humanity of African descended folks. I’m proud that you spoke up in this day and age where any type of critique of the staus quo is considered “hatin”, which makes it impossible to build an accurate analysis (as the brotha suggested you should do prior to offereing your opinion).
No doubt, that following his advice would further benefit him and his pocket, and successful box office serves to affirm this mess. We have been building analysis since 1619, isn’t it time we can operate on assumption about somethings? I certainly made the same assumptions that you did about this film and have always urged my children to think critically about such material since they are the audience that it is often targeted toward.
Thanks for taking that stony path to the truth. It may be a rough patch and that can make it a lonely path, but it is worth it in the long run.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:41 am
What scares me is that some of our people are quite impressionable. With the economy going as it is, I can honestly see someone doing this. If I’m not mistaken, it has already been done in PG County, MD. If someone or a group of a people really sink as low as to steal from a church, then we as a people are really going downhill.
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I am happy to hear this. I was reflecting just last week on the Tavis Smiley, Contract With America Conference I believe it was. Rev. Jackson, Sharpton, Moss and others on side, and the young urban professionals on the other. The youngsters argued with the keepers of the trust that we have moved ahead with the vision and you keep saying learn the history.
Sharpton argued, but you must know the history. The youngsters including the professor from Yale and the president of Radio One argued, we cannot stay back there, its a new day, we have created business and in fact you need our donation.
We are going through a paradigm shift is my point. At first I wanted to see this film, then I saw Ice Cube on Jimmy Kimmel’s show. Kimmel asked, wasn’t this movie filmed in a church? Ice Cube answered yes. Kimmel enquired further, but wasn’t there cursing in the film. Ice Cube answered yes. Kimmel asked well wasn’t that a problem, cursing in a church building. Cube replied, other people may have had a problem with it - but I don’t!
I said, well that did it for me. Okay folks, the Rev, now a part of the avantgarde, and a keeper of the trust-orthodoxy, realizes that we need to bridge the gap between the old and the new. Having said that, getting with the ‘do that praise young Christian-set’, is as likely challenging for me, a member in the over 50 crowd, as it is for them to get with the over 50 crowd.
Do that praise - I heard some of the youngsters exulting in a worhsip service. EEKKK!!!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:07 am
AMEN!!!!!! My daughter has been begging me to take her to see this movie for the last three weeks and I have politely avoided committing to see this movie. From the previews you could see that it is a minstrel show plain and simple. It worries me that for all of the talent that we have amongst our people in the film and television industry from actors to writers to now major producers like Oprah and Bob Johnson/Tracey Edmonds, the product that usually makes it out to the masses is often weak and based on the negative stereotypes of our people and communities.
January 23rd, 2008 at 11:44 pm
It has been a while since I wrote.
The previews always seem to get us interested in the “show” one way or another. The controversial dialog between you and “Brother David” (IMHO - that was quite a set up) likely contributed to the box office. Makes me wonder what kind of show you were participating in at the radio station on that day. I love your use of Appeal to Authority in the “30 Million Dollars Later” section. It is however greatly debatable (pun intended).
January 25th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
David Talbert and Tyler Perry are creative. They know how to appeal to the lowest denominator in the black experience and translate it into dollars. From a financial standpoint, both of these guys are talented. Black people do not on the whole care for anything that will challenge them mentally when it comes to the arts. Drugs, shucking and jiviving, booty shake, men dressed in drag, men treating women like crap, and gangsters is for the most part what passes for and what is aimed to the black community as far as art goes. The sad part is that is what 85 percent of us want and expect. Earlier this month at Center Stage was an excellent August Wilson production of “Joe Turner Has Come And Gone”. The audience was 65 percent white. A higher standard of acting that the majority of black folks missed out on yet again. Mr. Heber if you really sit back and look at your surroundings when you appear on WOLB on Fridays, you should not be shocked at Mr. Young or the Coach. Larry Young has not given a straight answer to a direct question in years on that program and the “Coach” is nothing more than an actor playing the role of Devil’s Advocate. Both have been brought and sold. Hence the stance if it is a hot topic(like the Dr. Powers incident over a year ago) they always say that they can’t talk about it at this time. Don’t take my word for it. Ask them directly. Also one of the creators of “The Wire” had a book called Homicide: Life on the Streets which was based on a year in Baltimore Police department Homicide division. Not fiction. Fact. All anyone needs to know about Larry Young is in that book. So it should not be a shock that when it comes to deception, do anything for a buck or other less than straight-forward thinking or talk, you will not get that from being on that show. Buffonery and other dumbing-down type of entertainment is the target audience of BET, TV and RADIO ONE. You can’t rail against BET and at the same time work for or be in cohoots with their just as equally self-hating counterpart. Let it marinade for a second, and tell me I’m wrong.
January 25th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Interesting points, CS.
For the sake of clarity, let me first say that I do not work for nor do I receive any type of financial compensation from Radio One. I am a community activist and servant - not a radio personality.
Furthermore, I’m not sure how you define what “being in cohoots with” that radio station means, but my objective is very clear when I sit behind that mic on Friday mornings. My main goal is to inform the tens of thousands of listeners about important initiatives that I am blessed to be a part of. For instance, I’ve been talking about the Closing of Liquor Stores in Park Heights for weeks and as a result I have people stopping me on the street asking me when the next meeting is, I tell them - and they actually show up! Perhaps you’ve been listening to the show and heard me talking about youth mentoring. As a result of me speaking on that issue, four young professionals came to me with an idea for a mentoring program and for the past three months we’ve been mentoring incarcerated youth at the Charles Hickey School EVERY SATURDAY for an hour and a half. Today, I mentioned my involvement with a rally for Isaiah Simmons, III earlier this week. Those who murdered him at the Bowling Brook Preparatory School were only charged with “reckless endangerment” though the state’s medical examiner ruled Simmons’ death a homicide. I pray that those listening to my voice today were moved by the information I shared and will come alongside and help “encourage” the state’s attorney to file manslaughter charges.
So if you define my involvement with that station for 1 hour / 1 day a week as being “in cohoots” with them then so be it. I know that God is using me - as I am singularly focused - to upbuild my community and organize those who are ready to do the WORK. I’m clear that most folks in that realm are TALKERS…just as well as I’m clear that most folks on this blog exert most of their revolutionary energy TYPING…but let’s be clear - I use Friday mornings as a day to report back to the SOLDIERS what has happened and what needs to be done.
Though I disagree with the conclusion of your statement, I certainly recognize the many valid points you make. I just assure you that I’m not in this so that I can become the next Tom Joyner. Now - Fred Hampton, Huey Newton, Kwame Nkrumah, Steve Biko? sure. But not Michael Baisden.
P.S. - Ask Pastor Delman Coates, leader of the Enough is Enough campaign if he appreciates my efforts at that station. I’m the one who had him on the air three times to talk about his efforts against BET - much to the chagrin of some of the executives that were listening outside of the studio.
January 26th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Well, Mr. Heber you also make a few points also in response to my entry. I must take umbrage with the term “revolutionary energy TYPING just as well as TALKING” in so many words. My comments are are just that, my comments or opinion or views or as I see it a contribution to your valuable blog. No more, no less. I am not on the airwaves trying to influence, steer or peddle anything. The reason that I say valuable blog is because you can pretty much say what you want on this site without being edited and I have to give credit where it is due in this case. I also take offense to the term “revolutionary energy TYPING” again….so much to the point of wanting to meet you in an alley……………so we can discuss how I can help, share and exchange ideas as far as some of these causes go. Point well taken Mr. Heber.
January 26th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
CS - if “revolutionary energy TYPING just as well as TALKING” offended you please accept my apologies. I have no interest in a message board battle. Neither one of us wins in that case. (there is a winner though) And you are right - this blog is a place where you can say what you want - even against the creator of the site! Every opinion is valuable and most comments are prudent to the edifying of the body.
Again - not interested in battling. There is too much work to be done…a better use of both of our energies. If you were offended - my apologies. Let’s remember the lesson of COINTELPRO.
Let’s work.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Not offended…..awakened. Also not trying to battle and that is not the objective. The point of wanting to meet you in an alley was in jest but not the point of discussing the ways I can help, share and exchange ideas. Myself and a couple of brothers would very well like to meet with you one day. All of us are over 40 plus but we very well know that the only way that change happens is for the younger generation to be engaged. The only way. Also cahoots was not what I was trying to say. Bad choice of words. Anyway, agree or disagree, friend not foe. Peace.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Squashed. Glad that’s over. More than willing to meet with true Elders. Let’s make that happen sooner rather than later.
Peace to you.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Thank you for confronting Mr. Talbert.
I was disgusted by the title as well as the movie plot.
I decided not to see the movie and will not spend another dollar
on any future plays, movies or any other project.