A Way with Words

pla·gia·rize - transitive verb : to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (another's production) without crediting the source

A couple of days ago the media broke the story that the Clinton camp is accusing Barack Obama of plagiarism. This allegation was based on Obama’s use of phrases from Massachusetts Governer Deval Patrick’s speeches.

I love it – Obama a plagiarist. This claim is over the top and this is why I don’t believe the hype.

One – Obama and Patrick are cut from the same cloth. Two Black men of humble beginnings who find themselves in positions that no one ever thought possible. The message is obviously going to have some commonality – not unless they start making up new words for what these two have achieved!

Two – Obama and Patrick are friends. Can you imagine their conversations? Hey Barack, I saw your speech the other night. You killed it! But if you really want to bring down the house you should say….

Three – Obama, Patrick and many other public figures are scripted or use speech writers. Those folks are never really credited

Four – Words are a shared experience in our community – from Martin Luther King’s I have a dream, to Malcolm X’s daunting phrase – “By any means necessary”, to Martin Lawrence’s Wazzup!!!?? I bet you the folks from the ad agency who produced that beer commercial did not send Martin Lawrence a check for that catch phrase.

Words should be shared, and they do not have to be defamatory. Obama, cruising through to his tenth win is NOT a plagiarist but a victim of another borrowed term – HATERATION.

Now the residue from this toxin is trying to affect the position Michelle Obama has the right to assume as the future first lady of these United States.

Malcolm X said in his last speech that Black people need to develop the analytical ability to read between the lines. So make sure you don’t get caught in the hype. More importantly, save all your friends from the impenetrable noise of the media machine!

With that I wish you all the best today and always.

G