Ann has a well written article discussing the vicious racist/sexist stereotype of Aunt Jemima and its impact upon the status of Black women in America then and today. Here's the article:
Towards the End of Aunt Jemima
Also read:
The Mammy Caricature
The Cultural Image of African American Women
After reading the article, I want people to sign the petition denoucing the mammy/Aunt Jemima stereotyping of all Black women in America at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/aj461153/petition.html
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Yolanda Denise King and Jerry Falwell, R.I.P.
First news, the death of Martin Luther King's eldest daughter Yolanda Denise King. She died yesterday in California. She was 51 years old.
Andrew Young, a lieutenant of Martin Luther King Jr.'s during the civil rights movement who remained close to the family after the civil rights icon's death, said Yolanda King had just spoken at an event for the American Heart Association. Last year, Yolanda King became a spokeswoman for the organization, and promoted a campaign to raise awareness, especially among blacks, about stroke.
For more on the untimely passing of Yolanda King, please go to:
Also, in the news, the Rev. Jerry Falwell died yesterday at home in Virginia. He was 73 years old.
For more, click on:
For more, click on:
May they rest in peace!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Consuelo Yznaga's Twin Daugthers Depicted In Stained Glass Window
Chapel stained glass window depicting Consuelo Yznaga's twin daughters receiving blessings from Mary. Her daughters died in their teens, leaving her distraught and alone, for her son proved to be just as immoral like his late father. Her daughters meant the world to her. Here's a link where I found this neat photo at:
http://www.standrew-kimbolton.org.uk/Guide.htm
What's your opinion on this?
Friday, May 11, 2007
Commentary on Barack Obama and Racism
A COMMENTARY ON OBAMA AND RACE
Obama's protection reveals ugly 'secret'
Leonard Pitts, a syndicated columnist in Washington:
McClatchy-Tribune NewspapersPublished May 8, 2007
Not Rudy Giuliani, who is a supporter of abortion rights.
Not Tom Tancredo, who is a hard-liner on immigration.
Not John Edwards, who is a critic of the war in Iraq.
Only Barack Obama, who is black.
No other presidential candidate, no matter his or her polarizing positions, has felt it necessary to seek protection from the Secret Service. But last week we learned that Obama has sought and will receive that protection, the only candidate ever to do so this early in the process. Only one other candidate even has a Secret Service detail: Hillary Rodham Clinton. And that's because she's a former first lady.You know who else required early protection? Jesse Jackson, when he ran for president in 1984 and '88.Neither Obama's campaign nor the Secret Service will comment on precisely what went into the decision to assign a detail to the senator, beyond saying it was based on no specific threat. But one need not be a seer to divine the reason. Put it this way: The darker the candidate's skin and the more serious his candidacy, the earlier he seems to need protecting.All of which adds a telling dimension to the ongoing debate about Obama and blackness that has percolated for months beneath the surface of his candidacy.On the one side, you have earnest white people insisting that, because his mother was white, Obama is not really black, but "biracial."On the other side, you have earnest black people insisting that, because his heritage does not trace to slavery, Obama is not really black enough -- that is, not black in a cultural sense.Apparently, however, he is both black and black enough for whatever individual or individuals unnerved his handlers enough to seek Secret Service protection.That's a truth that cuts the clutter.In a sense, the fact that we have the luxury of debating "what" Obama is testifies to the racial progress this nation has made.
Once upon a time, nobody had to debate. Back before Colin and Cosby and Condoleezza, before Air Jordan took wing and Johnson made Magic, before Oprah was America's favorite sister girl and Martin spoke of dreams, back when a Southern restaurant caused an international incident by refusing service to an African diplomat -- back in the day, there was no need of abstract rhetoric on what black is.You knew. The world made sure of it.If we have moved beyond that day, if we are proud to think ourselves more enlightened now, it is nevertheless naive to believe the naked meanness of that day has wholly disappeared.It is fashionable now to speak of systemic racism and the need for black folk to take a greater hand in their own salvation. Those discussions are valid. But it is also occasionally instructive to remember that old-fashioned mean-as-a-snake, thick-as-a-brick hatred is still alive and well and living in the U.S.A.
Sometimes, it lolls in the shade of the intellectual cover provided it by the likes of Rush Limbaugh.
Sometimes, it is dressed in suit and tie and sounds reasonable when told by the likes of David Duke.
Sometimes, it is sung in wobbly adolescent voices by the likes of Prussian Blue.
And sometimes, it just rears up on its hind legs and brays that it will commit violence rather than accept a black man as its president.
We like to pretend this bile is not still in us. We like to pretend we are beyond it. Then the man who could be our next president must ask to be protected from those who think him too dark for the job. Something to remember next time you are tempted to debate what black is. The world still has ways of making you know.
And people have a nerve to say that we're colorblind. Colorblind my foot! Racialism is alive and well and it's not going away as long as bigots in high places promote, reproduce, and tolerate antiblack racism as a means to maintain the status quo.
Obama's protection reveals ugly 'secret'
Leonard Pitts, a syndicated columnist in Washington:
McClatchy-Tribune NewspapersPublished May 8, 2007
Not Rudy Giuliani, who is a supporter of abortion rights.
Not Tom Tancredo, who is a hard-liner on immigration.
Not John Edwards, who is a critic of the war in Iraq.
Only Barack Obama, who is black.
No other presidential candidate, no matter his or her polarizing positions, has felt it necessary to seek protection from the Secret Service. But last week we learned that Obama has sought and will receive that protection, the only candidate ever to do so this early in the process. Only one other candidate even has a Secret Service detail: Hillary Rodham Clinton. And that's because she's a former first lady.You know who else required early protection? Jesse Jackson, when he ran for president in 1984 and '88.Neither Obama's campaign nor the Secret Service will comment on precisely what went into the decision to assign a detail to the senator, beyond saying it was based on no specific threat. But one need not be a seer to divine the reason. Put it this way: The darker the candidate's skin and the more serious his candidacy, the earlier he seems to need protecting.All of which adds a telling dimension to the ongoing debate about Obama and blackness that has percolated for months beneath the surface of his candidacy.On the one side, you have earnest white people insisting that, because his mother was white, Obama is not really black, but "biracial."On the other side, you have earnest black people insisting that, because his heritage does not trace to slavery, Obama is not really black enough -- that is, not black in a cultural sense.Apparently, however, he is both black and black enough for whatever individual or individuals unnerved his handlers enough to seek Secret Service protection.That's a truth that cuts the clutter.In a sense, the fact that we have the luxury of debating "what" Obama is testifies to the racial progress this nation has made.
Once upon a time, nobody had to debate. Back before Colin and Cosby and Condoleezza, before Air Jordan took wing and Johnson made Magic, before Oprah was America's favorite sister girl and Martin spoke of dreams, back when a Southern restaurant caused an international incident by refusing service to an African diplomat -- back in the day, there was no need of abstract rhetoric on what black is.You knew. The world made sure of it.If we have moved beyond that day, if we are proud to think ourselves more enlightened now, it is nevertheless naive to believe the naked meanness of that day has wholly disappeared.It is fashionable now to speak of systemic racism and the need for black folk to take a greater hand in their own salvation. Those discussions are valid. But it is also occasionally instructive to remember that old-fashioned mean-as-a-snake, thick-as-a-brick hatred is still alive and well and living in the U.S.A.
Sometimes, it lolls in the shade of the intellectual cover provided it by the likes of Rush Limbaugh.
Sometimes, it is dressed in suit and tie and sounds reasonable when told by the likes of David Duke.
Sometimes, it is sung in wobbly adolescent voices by the likes of Prussian Blue.
And sometimes, it just rears up on its hind legs and brays that it will commit violence rather than accept a black man as its president.
We like to pretend this bile is not still in us. We like to pretend we are beyond it. Then the man who could be our next president must ask to be protected from those who think him too dark for the job. Something to remember next time you are tempted to debate what black is. The world still has ways of making you know.
And people have a nerve to say that we're colorblind. Colorblind my foot! Racialism is alive and well and it's not going away as long as bigots in high places promote, reproduce, and tolerate antiblack racism as a means to maintain the status quo.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
News for 5-10-2007
Saturday, April 28, 2007
"The Apotheosis of Shawna" (2007)
I made the sketch over a two-week period. Isn't she lovely? What say you?
Friday, April 27, 2007
News for 4-27-2007
Here's a very disturbing report on the plight of Native American women. The Native American women are far more likely to be assaulted than other women. It's due to lack of police and tribal funding as well as lack of societal concern for such women and girls. Here's the link below:
Native American Women Face Higher Rape Rate
Policewomen in NYC are suing NYPD seargent for making insensitive racist/sexist remarks. Click here for story.
Imus producer upbraided Al Sharpton. Click here. Can't the producer accept critcism for once!
Native American Women Face Higher Rape Rate
Policewomen in NYC are suing NYPD seargent for making insensitive racist/sexist remarks. Click here for story.
Imus producer upbraided Al Sharpton. Click here. Can't the producer accept critcism for once!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Black and beautiful: African-American women haven't had an easy time in the fashion world
Related article:
Are black men dressed as women just a drag? By LaMont Jones, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
It's sad and it's wrong for Black women to be shortchanged in this manner by the Black community and society at large. If you don't like what I'm saying in connection to the plight of Black women in America, that's too bad because it's the truth and truth hurts.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
More on the Virginia Tech Shooting
Students held a vigil for the victims of thehorrendous massacre at VT on Monday
Window Photo of the professor shot at VT on MondayHere are several newslinks to the Virginia Tech shooting. This is the most senseless shooting in recent times. It could have been prevented by warning the students and faculty in advance after receving threats from the student there. Again, here are the links below:
May God watch us all and the family members of the victims and may the victims rest in peace, amen.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Tragedy in Virginia
Today, a gunman went to Virginia Tech, killing 33 people.
BLACKSBURG, Va. - A gunman massacred 32 people at Virginia Tech in the deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history Monday, cutting down his victims in two attacks two hours apart before the university could grasp what was happening and get the warning out to students.
This is the worst college shooting in U.S. history. Here are the links to this horrible tragedy:
Senseless Shooting in Virginia by Ann
News coverage of the shooting from ABC News
More coverage at Yahoo.com
BLACKSBURG, Va. - A gunman massacred 32 people at Virginia Tech in the deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history Monday, cutting down his victims in two attacks two hours apart before the university could grasp what was happening and get the warning out to students.
This is the worst college shooting in U.S. history. Here are the links to this horrible tragedy:
Senseless Shooting in Virginia by Ann
News coverage of the shooting from ABC News
More coverage at Yahoo.com
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