Uptown Notes

About two years ago I sat down for a conversation with TheGrio.com discussing the role of discrimination and testing in [...]

Recently, a firestorm surrounding Shirley Sherrod erupted. A spliced video of her speech ended in her force resignation from the USDA and condemnation by the NAACP. Following the debacle, there were multiple editorials and comments about the failures of the NAACP. While I completely agree the NAACP and USDA failed to respond appropriately to Sherrod, I don’t think the picture that has been painted of the NAACP is accurate or contemporary. Beneath I offer some reasons why and what it means for movement building.

Finally a skit on Gates that made me laugh. Hat tip to ZM

A brief round-up of the best pieces on Sotomayor’s nomination by Barack Obama for the Supreme Court.

People were shocked by the passage of Prop 8 and the votes of African-Americans… should we be? “In many ways, folks have been shocked that voting for Left or progressive politics doesn’t necessarily mean that you support social justice or equality for all. I can’t help but think that we have assumed for far too long that coming from a certain background, speaking a certain tongue, wearing certain buttons inherently connects our struggles for justice. In reality, a social justice orientation is taught one, a lived one, a challenging one. If we are not forever questioning our oppressions and our own privileges I’ve come to believe we are playing party or ideological politics, not engaging in politics of change and justice. Our inability to see our connectedness and divergences in our struggles have ended up making justice for “just us.”

Well, it looks like Proposal 2 passed in the state of Michigan last night 58% to 42%. The passing of [...]

Well a few moments ago I ran to the polls and made sure to vote, especially on Prop 2. There [...]

For the past few years, I have watched patiently as Proposal 2 has come into the spotlight. It’s been a [...]

So the big news in the Daily today is apparently Tony Saunders was ousted from the Black Student Union for [...]