Holders Cowards Comments Examined : NPR

There’s a bunch of commentary out there regarding Attorney General Holder’s Black History Month comments.  I thought this particular exchange on NPR between Joe Klein and Michael Eric Dyson was an interesting microcosm of the problems that come with discussing race.

Gays in Baghdad

Interesting and sad Newsweek article about the targeted violence in Iraq.

NYTIMES: Report Takes Aim at ‘Model Minority’ Stereotype of Asian-American Students

Education

Report Takes Aim at ‘Model Minority’ Stereotype of Asian-American Students By TAMAR LEWIN

Published: June 10, 2008

The image of Asian-Americans as a homogeneous group of high achievers taking over the campuses of the nation’s most selective colleges came under assault in a report.

NYTIMES: Gay Unions Shed Light on Gender in Marriage

Gay Unions Shed Light on Gender in Marriage By TARA PARKER-POPE

“A growing body of evidence shows that same-sex couples have a great deal to teach everyone else about marriage and relationships”

‘Black Guy’ booth livens up Corvallis Saturday market

Semi-interesting tidbit.  It does convey the sense that it is a rather white town. 

Al-Qaida’s stance on women sparks extremist debate – Yahoo! News

Ok, I thought this was an interesting story. On first blush, I’d want women to be respected and included and to contribute fully to any enterprise. But wait! The relevant enterprise is the use of violent means for political gain. I’m not sure that I want these folks to leverage their gender diversity in order to be more effective in their core mision.

Nevertheless, I can’t help think that if women were truly included in the top level leadership, the “movement” would tend to gravitate away from senseless violence and immolation and toward more practical, sensible, and ultimately constructive strategies.

So wait, perhaps I do want women to be fully included?

Newsweek: How Our Unconscious Votes

In this article, Sharon Begley discusses conscious and unconscious bias and racism and how it affects voters. Counter-intuitively, perhaps, she suggests that the Obama camp should be talking up the issue of race and simultaneously finding points of similarity with the voting public in order to counteract latent racist attitudes. She also brings up the finding that conservatives are generally happier than liberals.

BET Struggles to Relate with Black Viewers : NPR

This item, BET Struggles to Relate with Black Viewers, sparked some discussion.  In a time of “500 channels,” what is (or should be) the role of a channel targeted specifically to an African-American audience?  Does it matter whether the channel is no longer Black-owned?  

NYT: California Court Affirms Right to Gay Marriage

California Court Affirms Right to Gay Marriage By ADAM LIPTAK

“The ruling, striking down laws limiting marriages to unions between a man and a woman, would make California the second state to allow same-sex marriage.”

It’s amazing how much time and energy some folks will dedicate to reverse this rather than on working to make this a more just and inclusive society for everyone.   I suppose it is easier to suppress and deny rather than build and affirm.

Civil rights coalition: Delta needs to boost diversity

An example of the scrutiny that high-visibility companies are under and the public pressure that can be generated.