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50 Years of Freedom
May 17, 2011 Rather than isolating the original Riders’ troubled and painful history to fleeting commemorations or to the realms of amnesia and denial, the 2011 Freedom Ride declares precisely the opposite: that history is alive, ongoing and real. Part celebration and part education, the 2011 Freedom Rides re-enact history.
Trumped-Up Racism
Apr 28, 2011 The certificate and its release prove two things most people should already know: Obama is an American. And, as Tavis Smiley put it, the 2012 presidential race is shaping up to be “the ugliest, the nastiest, the most divisive, and the most racist in the history of this Republic." As with any post-racial attack—appealing to racists but also appealing to deniability—Trump’s latest complaint feeds directly into our nation’s history of racism and racist entitlement.
The Rise of Mad Masculinity
Mar 29, 2011 The first quarter of 2011 has ushered in the year of the “mad man.” Sadly, this idea is being turned into a commodity that can be consumed repeatedly across a range of media outlets. The first quarter of 2011 has ushered in the year of the “mad man.”
Mixed Race Beauty Gets a Mainstream Makeover
Mar 8, 2011 We need to remember that beauty and race are both social constructions—concepts societies create that may not actually exist in nature. As a result, beauty and race are associated with and impacted by class, immigration, gender, sexuality and marketing.Are mixed race faces considered the most beautiful?
The Coming MiscegeNation?
Feb 14, 2011 Does today’s focus on multiracialism mean that we’re finally seeing the end of racism? Or does it mean that racism has simply gone underground?
A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste—Except in Ohio
Jan 30, 2011 Kelly Williams-Bolar, an aspiring teacher and mother of two, was sentenced to 10 days in jail for sending her children to school outside her district. But in this time of economic crisis, it is hard to believe that a single mother such as Williams-Bolar is a criminal.
10 Reasons Why the Slurs Should Stay in ‘Huck Finn’
Jan 7, 2011 If you find this book offensive, don’t buy it or read it. There are plenty of books that none of us have an interest in reading for one reason or another. We don’t rewrite them. We simply choose not to read them.Erasing racial epithets doesn’t erase race or racism. Actually, not talking about the “hurtful epithets” perpetuates racism because we’re never allowed to make corrections.
Racism as a National Default Mechanism
Dec 7, 2010 In a speech regarding the Pigford lawsuit, Rep. Steve King implied that Obama supported the farmers because he is “very, very urban” and not because the USDA admitted its historical practice of discriminating against African-American farmers. The latest racial gaffe regarding our president came late last month from Rep. Steve King of Iowa.
Everyone Looks a Little Bit Asian
Oct 28, 2010 Sharron Angle's recent confusing remarks about race and ethnicity serve a unique purpose. They provide an opportunity to open dialogue in a campaign season that has been more focused on economics than on ethnicity. Could it be that the two are connected?Sharron Angle's recent confusing remarks about race and ethnicity serve a unique purpose.
Taking ‘Superman’ to School
Oct 17, 2010 This depiction of our nation’s teachers is typical of those who promote a particular reform agenda calling for charter schools, anti-unionism and merit pay based on high-stakes test scores While it’s fine to promote this agenda, it’s also ethical to provide a balanced critique.
