“That Conversation about Race” category archive
All That Was Old Is New Again 0
At the Des Moines Register, Marty Ryan writes of the current movement among some, mostly on the right, to ban books that tell truths which challenge the prejudices of make said book-banners feel uncomfortable. Here’s a bit; follow the link for the rest.
President Ronald Reagan’s attorney general, Edwin Meese, established the Attorney General’s Commission on Pornography in 1986. It was commonly known as The Meese Commission. At the end, the commission issued a bulky two-volume report, much of it consisting of detailed narrations of the plots of pornographic movies dutifully set down by FBI agents who’d been assigned to view them – at taxpayers’ expense, of course.” Not one of those FBI agents turned into a sexual predator. However, the commissioners believed dysfunctional predators who had testified to the commission that “Porn made me do it.” It was laughable. More laughable was the fact that former Attorney General John Ashcroft had blue drapes made to cover the bare breasts of Lady Justice.
Gutting Out the Vote 0
Thom and Greg Palast take an in-depth look at efforts to protect the right to vote.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
Charles M. Blow discusses how Virginia’s governor-elect Youngkin won the election by playing the oldest card in the American deck.
All That Was Old Is New Again 0
Brian Greenspun, publisher of the Las Vegas Sun, considers a piece by the Smithsonian Institute’s Jon Grinspan and suggests that it should be required reading. Here’s a bit of Greenspun’s article:
Strategization 0
PoliticalProf sums it up.
A Notion of Immigrants 0
At The Roanoke Times, John Freivalds points out that prejudice against those who would come after them has been a common theme among previous immigrants to these parts.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
Michael Paul Williams takes a look at the recent election in Virginia. Methinks he has a point, for the last thing many white Americans want to do is confront the dark reality of America’s history. Here’s a bit; follow the link for the rest.
In the 1970s, white parents fled to the suburbs rather than have their children sit in a classroom with Black children. Today, parents in suburban locales such as Chesterfield, Hanover, Loudoun and Stafford counties are trying to keep the history of anti-Black racism out of the classroom.
America’s original sin (and the denial thereof) casts a long and dark shadow.
The Privileged F(l)ew 0
An insurrectionist, much to her surprise, is going to jail. A snippet:
Follow the link for context.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
San Marcos, Texas, Police Department sued for tearing a new sheet out of an old book.
All the History that Fits 0
The bigots and racists moving to ban the teaching of critical race theory and, indeed, the facts of America’s history of enslavement and racism claim they are trying to protect their children’s tender little fee-fees from damage.
At Psychology Today Blogs, Dr. Amanda Fialk argues that, in contrast, not teaching truthful history will have detrimental effects. A snippet:
(snip)
Just as the teaching of CRT in schools is vital to the mental health of children of color, abandoning CRT in schools could negatively impact the mental health of white children. Stated simply, CRT calls for critical thinking. Critical thinking allows for the development of empathy, empathic conversations, and open and honest dialogues about race. Practicing empathy is important in building and maintaining secure social attachments, connections, and relationships.
Follow the link for the rest.
(Broken link fixed.)
A Turning Point without a Turn 0
Werner Herzog’s Bear sees an historical parallel.
In Other Words . . . . 0
Atrios translates.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
Will Bunch takes a look at the right-wing strategy to leverage school boards and curricula to gain political power. A snippet:
But those with big money are betting that this is a winning political strategy.