I look at his history of treatment of other female to intellectuals only to see if there is a pattern of sexism, and I have heard of none. Instead, I have found quite the opposite (his forward in Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow is soaring in its praise). The nature of academia is that one' bonafides are always questioned. Because he questioned hers, does not make him sexist. It makes him a scholar. His job is to critique scholarly work, and based on the article you cited, her scholarly work was also critiqued by others. As to criticisms of Obama, they are all warranted considering the dire predicament of African Americans in this recession. The issue is not muddied for me as I know neither Obama nor West, nor do I care whether or not they like one another. The substance of West's arguements are sadly correct.

I like Melissa Harris Perry as well, and enjoy her perspective. We certainly need to have a range of black voices. However, I don't translate West's critique of Perry as sexist as he has supported many women in his long career. He has an issue with her on a personal level and as a scholar. Whether he is right or wrong can be debated by those close to that situation. What I care about is West's concern that the poor have been largely ignored in the campaign. He raises the very important issue as did Maxine Waters on the plight of in this recession. And the numbers don't lie. We are suffering dispraportionately. I am thrilled to see Melissa Harris Perry join the discussion, but I as much as love the president the issues West are raising are far too important to ignore.

"The fact that people think Nene is some reflection of me is a product of racism. I don't think that we, as marginalized people, should buy into and abet thinking like that. Nene is a hot mess, and like every other hot mess on reality TV, reflects only her own disfunction."I agree. She does. But, and here is where I still disagree, because so many people, including sadly black men, and even a few black woman, still buy into the stereotype, I don't think we can just say Nene is crazy and move on. The Nene's need to be roundly denounced and held as cautionary tales to our daughers who are fed fat on such media portrayals, or what specifically do you suggest to not "buy into and abet thinking like that?" As I see it, that is exactly what the author is trying to do.

I agree with both of you. We are culpable if we go on national television and demean one another. The fact that "the media traffics in stereotypes" doesn't help. Of course those who behave badly "have a right to exist" but they should be roundly critized and condemned at every turn. Ugly behavior in any culture is ugly. I always wonder where these caricatures come from because I don't run into them either. The Black woman I know are the most beautiful, loving, generous, funny, kind, nurturing, creative, resourceful woman on the planet. And did I mention smart? And that despite being maligned, disrespected, and degraded on a daily basis. We don't need to be redefined our real stories just need to be told.