Archive for the 'race' Category

31
Oct

be bold. be brave. be red.

By vegankid 0 Comments
Categories: gender & sex, race and take action

Be bold

Today, like any other day should be, is a day of solidarity with women of color. But today is a specifically organized day of action to support women of color in the fight against violence. Today, you can show your solidarity by wearing red, attending an event, or otherwise taking action. You can find out more at Document the Silence. Here’s a snippet from that site:

Recent events in the United States have moved us to action. Violence against women is sadly, not a new phenomenon in our country or in the world, however, in the last year women of color have experienced brutal forms of violence, torture, rape and injustice which have gone unnoticed, received little to no media coverage, or a limited community response. We are responding to:

  • The brutal and inhumane rape, torture, and kidnapping of Megan Williams in Logan, West Virginia who was held by six assailants for a month.
  • Rape survivors in the Dunbar Housing Projects in West Palm Beach, Florida one of whom was forced to perform sexual acts on her own child.
  • A 13 year old native American girl was beaten by two white women and has since been harassed by several men yelling “white power” outside of her home
  • Seven black lesbian girls attempted to stop an attacker and were latter charged with aggravated assault and are facing up to 11 year prison sentences

In a Litany of Survival, Audre Lorde writes, “When we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak remembering we were never meant to survive.” These words shape our collective organizing to break the silence surrounding women of color’s stories of violence. We are asking for community groups, grass-root organizations, college campus students and groups, communities of faith, online communities, and individuals to join us in speaking out against violence against women of color. If we speak, we cannot be invisible.

I was also excited to find this poem from Ursula Rucker on the site (she been a favorite of mine for a number of years now).

29
Oct

18th Erase Racism Carnival is up!

By vegankid 0 Comments
Categories: carnivals and race

The 18th Erase Racism Carnival is up at Kill Bigotry! There are a lot of great posts to read through, so be sure to check it out.

Next month’s host is Eric Stoller (followed by Present Progressive Mood). For more information about the Erase Racism Carnival or to become a future host, check out the official page at Ally Work.

24
Oct

link garden: addicts, nooses, responsibility and solidarity

By vegankid 5 Comments
Categories: race, sobriety and take action

I have a large back log of posts that I want to write, but time has not been my friend lately (what do you expect when you are trying to raise $30,000 in 3 months and buy 22 acres of land… on top of the day job). But here is some of what I’ve been reading around the blogosphere:

The Perverse Pleasure of Laughing at Addicts [My Private Casbah] - this one really hit home cuz as you may know (but probably don’t since I haven’t written about it on this blog in a couple of years), i’m a recovering addict. I’ve been clean for quite some time now, but the ignorance exhumed when I hear people talk about addicts never fails to annoy me.

Lately I’ve noticed how much of a thrill many folks in this society get from making fun of or looking down on people with drug addictions. I guess it’s just so easy to do. After all, how many people are willing to stand up for someone who “just isn’t willing to pull themselves up by their bootstraps” and kick their addiction to substances that they know are harming them? I can’t even count how many jokes and quips and skits I’ve seen that use people with drug addictions as the punchline or as the object of derision. Frankly, I’m downright sick of it.

Nooses are racial threat, not pranks [racialicious] - i wish i could respond to this with a solid “duh”, but unfortunately we still aren’t there yet.

“In the context of today, the noose means, ‘There is still a racial hierarchy in this country, and you better not overstep your bounds,’” said Carmen Van Kerckhove, the founder of a New York consulting firm, New Demographic, that specializes in workplace problems, including racial tension.

Whites Need to Take Responsibility for Their Racism (Alternate Title: Stop Giving White People 2nd, 3rd and 4th Chances When Blacks Get Zero Chances) [Rachel's Tavern] - you just have to read this.

I am struck by how common this phenomenon is. The basic pattern that these discussion follow is:

1. White person makes incredibly racist statements.
2. Some people express outrage over those statements; others seek to downplay the statements.
3. Those who want to downplay the statements are able to win the “hearts and minds” of the vast majority of whites, who want operate by the anything but racism philosophy.
4. The conversation the turns to how it really isn’t racist or wasn’t intention of the person. Since this allows people to think it is not that person’s fault, they then proceed to the last step.
5. Blaming the real victims of racism.

A Really Ignorant Comment–I Have No Race, No Culture, No Nationality [Rachel's Tavern] - Rachel has provided me with a new response to this claim (which i’ve heard too many times): “please take Sociology 100″. Maybe i’ll start a Sociology 100 fund to pay for people to take the course:)

As for race, just because she doesn’t think she has a race; doesn’t mean that her race (which I am fairly certain is white) doesn’t have a profound impact on her experiences. Next time this person goes into a store, gets pulled over by a cop, or goes to just about any place, I’m sure people are not going to notice her race.

News Groups Seek Truth of Jena [The Unapologetic Mexican] - i’m glad the media is doing something.

The Associated Press on Monday joined more than two dozen other organizations, including newspapers, television networks and network affiliates, in filing a court petition that challenges a judge’s decision to seal Mychal Bell’s case and close court proceedings to the news media and public.

International day of action for community responses to sexual assault [Women of Color Blog]

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION
For Community Responses to Sexual Assault

November 30th 2007

We are calling for people to organise in their own towns and cities to
take action on this day. This means whatever it means to you – maybe
organising in your school, occupying an office or a court or a police
station, holding a rally, making a publication, talking to people, or
anything you can think of.

Call for Solidarity with Aboriginal People in the Northern Territory [Women of Color Blog]

Call for Solidarity with Aboriginal People in the Northern Territory
Stop the Invasion!

International Day of Action, November 17th

In June this year, the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard,
announced that there would be a ‘National Emergency Response’ to
combat child abuse in Aboriginal communities in the Northern
Territory. The measures announced included the quarantining of half of
all welfare payments, the abolition of the Community Development
Employment Program, the appointment of managers for 73 prescribed
communities, compulsory sexual health examinations of children, and
the abolition of the permit system, amongst other things.

Ecuador wants military base in Miami [Reuters; hat tip to Lucky White Girl]

Ecuador’s leftist President Rafael Correa said Washington must let him open a military base in Miami if the United States wants to keep using an air base on Ecuador’s Pacific coast.

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