Curious as to what people think about this idea. The intersections of race and gender are always complicated as are the politics of respectability and the history of sexual violence. Does this make sense to folks? Is there such a thing as Black Male Privilege? If so, is Dr. Lewis defining it correctly?
Showing posts with label race. Show all posts
Showing posts with label race. Show all posts
4/13/10
1/25/10
A Whites-Only Pro Basketball League Set to Start June 2010
There is obviously not a whole lot to say about this except "wow" and then e-mail the race wire article about it to all your white basket ball playing friends with the subject "maybe you can join!"
At least that's what I did.
3/18/09
thoughts from spring break '09: race discourse
back from my last ever undergraduate spring break trip! was visiting my younger sister z, who is currently living in san juan, puerto rico.
thinking about: conceptions/constructions of RACE (who knew?) in places other than the continental united states of a...
i think that puerto rico would be an interesting case study in professor eudell's "race discourse in the americas" syllabus, which included non-US societies of cuba, the dominican republic, and... venezuela, perhaps? though maybe the wishy-washy status of puerto rico as a freely associated commonwealth aka colony of the united states would muddy its eligibility as a non-US example. if you ask me, it'd just make it that much more interesting/complex... (though really, what's not complex?) looking at a semi-shared, semi-not shared cultural/political history with the continental USA.
the/a point being: our constructions of race as a society inform how our society functions in relation to people's exterior skin tones, despite the fact that the amount of our genetic makeup as humans which accounts for said skin tones is surprisingly and astonishingly TINY--and yet, not surprisingly, because those societal ideas of race are based off of so many non-truths (that some people are inferior to others, or less human, based on thier skin tones), different societies have different ideas of race... and maybe there's hope in that.
thinking about: conceptions/constructions of RACE (who knew?) in places other than the continental united states of a...
i think that puerto rico would be an interesting case study in professor eudell's "race discourse in the americas" syllabus, which included non-US societies of cuba, the dominican republic, and... venezuela, perhaps? though maybe the wishy-washy status of puerto rico as a freely associated commonwealth aka colony of the united states would muddy its eligibility as a non-US example. if you ask me, it'd just make it that much more interesting/complex... (though really, what's not complex?) looking at a semi-shared, semi-not shared cultural/political history with the continental USA.
the/a point being: our constructions of race as a society inform how our society functions in relation to people's exterior skin tones, despite the fact that the amount of our genetic makeup as humans which accounts for said skin tones is surprisingly and astonishingly TINY--and yet, not surprisingly, because those societal ideas of race are based off of so many non-truths (that some people are inferior to others, or less human, based on thier skin tones), different societies have different ideas of race... and maybe there's hope in that.
3/3/09
eternal principles of right
james weldon johnson writes, in the autobiography of an ex-colored man, 1912
"the greatest interest of the audience was centered on Booker T. Washington, and not because he so much surpassed the others in eloquence, but because of what he represented with so much earnestness and faith. And it is this that all of that small but gallant band of colored men who are publicly fighting the cause of their race have behind them. Even those who oppose them know that these men have the eternal principles of right on their side, and they will be victors even though they should go down in defeat."
this quote reminds me of the letter written by activists in Austin in response to learning that a co-organizer was a government informant. they referenced "the trust and openness that give our communities cohesion and power."
i keep going back to this last sentiment. it speaks worlds to me, reminding me that as impossible as these struggles may seem because we are up against power and money ( and i can only imagine how they seem for those with less social/economic status than i have been unjustly afforded!), our very strength is in our refusal to accept society's definitions of what is important (individual over the collective, which leads us not to be open and not to trust one another), and who is more human/deserving/etc.
a part of me reacts to the idea that one side is right. and yet, as sociology professor rob rosenthal reminded me last week, all activism is by definition arrogant*, we believe ourselves to be right, to have a better idea of what justice looks like or what other reality is more desirable than the status quo. perhaps what Johnson calls 'the eternal principles of right,' that which will ultimately win out because it has to, is what i think of as (again!) humanity-- some underlying, over-arching entity of good, an essence of what we are as human beings and what we share as members of a species, that will always have more capacity to generate love than hatred.
i believe in this humanity more strongly than i believe in all else.
* partial definition of arrogant, since the word has such negative connotations: "making claims or pretensions to superior importance or right"
rest of the definition: overbearingly assuming; insolently proud
how do we find the balance between holding on to our dearest beliefs and not doing so in such a way that prevents us from keeping our eyes/ears/minds open to critique and change?
"the greatest interest of the audience was centered on Booker T. Washington, and not because he so much surpassed the others in eloquence, but because of what he represented with so much earnestness and faith. And it is this that all of that small but gallant band of colored men who are publicly fighting the cause of their race have behind them. Even those who oppose them know that these men have the eternal principles of right on their side, and they will be victors even though they should go down in defeat."
this quote reminds me of the letter written by activists in Austin in response to learning that a co-organizer was a government informant. they referenced "the trust and openness that give our communities cohesion and power."
i keep going back to this last sentiment. it speaks worlds to me, reminding me that as impossible as these struggles may seem because we are up against power and money ( and i can only imagine how they seem for those with less social/economic status than i have been unjustly afforded!), our very strength is in our refusal to accept society's definitions of what is important (individual over the collective, which leads us not to be open and not to trust one another), and who is more human/deserving/etc.
a part of me reacts to the idea that one side is right. and yet, as sociology professor rob rosenthal reminded me last week, all activism is by definition arrogant*, we believe ourselves to be right, to have a better idea of what justice looks like or what other reality is more desirable than the status quo. perhaps what Johnson calls 'the eternal principles of right,' that which will ultimately win out because it has to, is what i think of as (again!) humanity-- some underlying, over-arching entity of good, an essence of what we are as human beings and what we share as members of a species, that will always have more capacity to generate love than hatred.
i believe in this humanity more strongly than i believe in all else.
* partial definition of arrogant, since the word has such negative connotations: "making claims or pretensions to superior importance or right"
rest of the definition: overbearingly assuming; insolently proud
how do we find the balance between holding on to our dearest beliefs and not doing so in such a way that prevents us from keeping our eyes/ears/minds open to critique and change?
1/13/09
Rally and Rage Over BART Police Murder of Oscar Grant
from San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center:
updated 01/13/09
Fruitvale BART Station Rally Followed by Riots in the Streets of Oakland
On January 7th at 11am, a memorial service was held for Oscar Grant at Palma Ceia Baptist Church in Oakland.
In the early afternoon of January 7th, it was announced that officer Johannes Mehserle had resigned from the BART police force so he would not be forced to testify at an internal hearing.
Later in the day, a rally was held at the Fruitvale BART station. Protesters gathered at 3pm and by 5pm the crowd had swelled to over one thousand people. Organizers noted that they intend to build a movement against police brutality and plan to hold several other demonstrations in the coming weeks. After dozens of speakers addressed the crowd for about 2 hours, a march began. Hundreds of protesters marched up International Blvd towards downtown Oakland. As the crowd passed the Lake Merritt BART area, there was a brief confrontation where a police car was attacked and a dumpster lit on fire. Within minutes, riot police arrived and shot tear gas into the crowd. The protest continued into the night as dozens of protesters took over and blocked the intersection of 14th and Broadway for over an hour, with chants of "We are Oscar Grant." A line of riot police then moved in to push the crowd out of the intersection and down 14th Street toward Lake Merritt. The protesters ran down 14th where dozens of car windows were broken and an SUV was set on fire. Police forces charged toward the group a few blocks later, and as protesters dispersed, windows were broken at a McDonald's.
About 9pm, Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums appeared near the Lake Merritt end of 14th Street and began walking back towards Broadway passing the damage along the way. People confronted him regarding the BART officer still not having been detained or even questioned one week later. Once Dellums, and the growing crowd following him, arrived at City Hall in Frank Ogawa Plaza, he addressed about 200 protesters from the steps of City Hall. He told the crowd to be respectful. He said the killing was a homicide and that he had ordered the City of Oakland to investigate the BART killing. The crowd interrupted much of his speech, expressing their displeasure with the situation.
As Dellums finished talking to the crowd and headed into City Hall, the crowd starting booing and then many people chanted "Round 2" and rushed toward San Pablo Ave. breaking more car windows. Tear gas was again fired by police. Protesters moved towards Lake Merritt down 17th Street. More windows were smashed and more dumpsters were set on fire. Another car was burned. At about 10pm, police in gas masks in police cars swooped in on protesters at 17th and Jackson. At that point, the crowd of protesters split up again and headed in several different directions. After a sizable crowd began to reconvene at 15th and Broadway, many headed up Telegraph, pulling objects into the road and breaking more windows. Just before 11pm, around 50 people were surrounded by police across from the Paramount Theater on Broadway. Many protesters lay down on the ground as police moved in to arrest them.
Oakland police are reporting that they arrested 105 people for a variety of offenses. Many have been released but some are still being held at Santa Rita jail or the Glenn Dyer County Jail..
Support for arrestees still being detained was called for at two hearings Friday, January 9th. Also on January 9th, students from Oakland High marched to the court house. On Monday, January 12th, there was a demonstation in SF: Photos. CAPE, the Coalition Against Police Execution, has called for a Rally for Justice for Oscar Grant at Oakland City Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 14th starting at 4pm. There will be a benefit for legal defense Saturday, January 17th.
The National Lawyer's Guild has been taking reports of arrests and instances of police brutality at (415) 285-1011.
updated 01/13/09
Fruitvale BART Station Rally Followed by Riots in the Streets of Oakland
On January 7th at 11am, a memorial service was held for Oscar Grant at Palma Ceia Baptist Church in Oakland. In the early afternoon of January 7th, it was announced that officer Johannes Mehserle had resigned from the BART police force so he would not be forced to testify at an internal hearing.
Later in the day, a rally was held at the Fruitvale BART station. Protesters gathered at 3pm and by 5pm the crowd had swelled to over one thousand people. Organizers noted that they intend to build a movement against police brutality and plan to hold several other demonstrations in the coming weeks. After dozens of speakers addressed the crowd for about 2 hours, a march began. Hundreds of protesters marched up International Blvd towards downtown Oakland. As the crowd passed the Lake Merritt BART area, there was a brief confrontation where a police car was attacked and a dumpster lit on fire. Within minutes, riot police arrived and shot tear gas into the crowd. The protest continued into the night as dozens of protesters took over and blocked the intersection of 14th and Broadway for over an hour, with chants of "We are Oscar Grant." A line of riot police then moved in to push the crowd out of the intersection and down 14th Street toward Lake Merritt. The protesters ran down 14th where dozens of car windows were broken and an SUV was set on fire. Police forces charged toward the group a few blocks later, and as protesters dispersed, windows were broken at a McDonald's.
About 9pm, Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums appeared near the Lake Merritt end of 14th Street and began walking back towards Broadway passing the damage along the way. People confronted him regarding the BART officer still not having been detained or even questioned one week later. Once Dellums, and the growing crowd following him, arrived at City Hall in Frank Ogawa Plaza, he addressed about 200 protesters from the steps of City Hall. He told the crowd to be respectful. He said the killing was a homicide and that he had ordered the City of Oakland to investigate the BART killing. The crowd interrupted much of his speech, expressing their displeasure with the situation.
As Dellums finished talking to the crowd and headed into City Hall, the crowd starting booing and then many people chanted "Round 2" and rushed toward San Pablo Ave. breaking more car windows. Tear gas was again fired by police. Protesters moved towards Lake Merritt down 17th Street. More windows were smashed and more dumpsters were set on fire. Another car was burned. At about 10pm, police in gas masks in police cars swooped in on protesters at 17th and Jackson. At that point, the crowd of protesters split up again and headed in several different directions. After a sizable crowd began to reconvene at 15th and Broadway, many headed up Telegraph, pulling objects into the road and breaking more windows. Just before 11pm, around 50 people were surrounded by police across from the Paramount Theater on Broadway. Many protesters lay down on the ground as police moved in to arrest them.
Oakland police are reporting that they arrested 105 people for a variety of offenses. Many have been released but some are still being held at Santa Rita jail or the Glenn Dyer County Jail..
Support for arrestees still being detained was called for at two hearings Friday, January 9th. Also on January 9th, students from Oakland High marched to the court house. On Monday, January 12th, there was a demonstation in SF: Photos. CAPE, the Coalition Against Police Execution, has called for a Rally for Justice for Oscar Grant at Oakland City Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 14th starting at 4pm. There will be a benefit for legal defense Saturday, January 17th.
The National Lawyer's Guild has been taking reports of arrests and instances of police brutality at (415) 285-1011.
12/22/08
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