Category Archives: Race, racism and related issues

Everyone’s a little bit racist. But some are more so than others.

A few years ago I went to see “Avenue Q” on Broadway, mostly because I’d heard its funniest song used in a World of Warcraft machinima vid and thought any play that makes a song out of internet porn was a must-see.
(…Yes, I’m a geek. If you didn’t know, now you know.)
There was another song […] Continue reading

Posted in Race, racism and related issues, Syndicated feeds | 16 Comments

Easter in Orange County

Last Sunday, sitting on the steps next to my container garden outside my Long Beach apartment, I heard a group of people singing in the next building. I thought of the seder I’d had a couple of nights before; my … Continue reading

Posted in Class, poverty, labor, & related issues, Families structures, divorce, etc, Jews and Judaism, Race, racism and related issues | 48 Comments

John Hope Franklin, Black Scholar and Activist, Is Dead at 94

Cross-posted from The Mustard Seed. I can’t believe I didn’t catch this sooner, it wasn’t until I read it today on As’ad AbuKhalil’s blog. John Hope Franklin, a prolific scholar of African-American history who profoundly influenced thinking about slavery and … Continue reading

Posted in In the news, Race, racism and related issues | 1 Comment

Edward James Olmos on how we use the word Race

Edward Olmos (who, as most “Alas” readers know, plays Admiral Adama on “Battlestar Galactica”) discusses race I just heard one of the proliferative statements done by one of the great humanitarians: He’s really trying to organize and bring us together, … Continue reading

Posted in Race, racism and related issues | 21 Comments

Post-Race Doomsday Detonation: Catch the (Shock) Wave!

Cross-posted from The Mustard Seed. Who wants to check out the raps of a pissed-off, punk-rocking, straight-edge, vegan eating, 31337 typing, Pilipino activist blogger and scholar? I do! And so you do you God damn-it! The power of the simulacra … Continue reading

Posted in Class, poverty, labor, & related issues, Colonialism, Economics and the like, Mind-blowing Miscellania and other Neat Stuff, Race, racism and related issues | 1 Comment

Police Chief: I Want Young Black Men To Be Afraid Every Time They See The Police

(Above cartoon by Mikhaela Reid.) This quote from the Chicago Tribune says it all: “If I see three or four young black men walking down the street, I have to stop them and check their names,” said [Homer, Louisiana Police … Continue reading

Posted in Race, racism and related issues | 18 Comments

Mary Anne Mohanraj on Racism 101

Mary Anne Mohanraj, guest posting at Scalzi.com, writes a very clear and well-organized “racism 101” post: Nalo Hopkinson, a wonderful SF/F writer whose work I recommend to you, put this pithily in my blog comments when she said, “…many in … Continue reading

Posted in Race, racism and related issues | 44 Comments

Cops In Texas Town Routinely Rob Black Motorists

Lu emailed me a link to this story: TENAHA, Texas— You can drive into this dusty fleck of a town near the Texas-Louisiana border if you’re African-American, but you might not be able to drive out of it—at least not … Continue reading

Posted in Race, racism and related issues | 17 Comments

What Privilege Discussions Are and Aren't Saying, from Raven Radiation

This post originally appeared on Raven Radiation. It was written by a friend and former student of mine. While it was posted in relation to events that anyone who’s active in the science fiction and fantasy blogosphere will recognize, I … Continue reading

Posted in Race, racism and related issues | 19 Comments

Has Jeff Danzinger Been Hiding In The Clueless Chamber Since 1945?

A blatantly racist cartoon from Jeff Danzinger: As Kevin says: You can practically hear the “ah, so.” I mean – bowlers? Really? How Charlie Chan can you get?! Which is too bad, because otherwise this would be a funny cartoon. … Continue reading

Posted in Cartooning & comics, Race, racism and related issues | 11 Comments