Tag Archives: Diversity

Faulkner on Racism: Sadly, Still Relevant

By Robin Bates | Published: March 1, 2023

Faulkner’s “Absalom, Absalom!” understands White America’s race hatred in a deep way that is still revelant.

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Shafak: Storyland Is the Taste of Freedom

By Robin Bates | Published: January 22, 2018

Turkish novelist Elif Shafak says that we must cultivate emotional intelligence to live in an increasingly diverse world while battling authoritarians’ reductive desires. Lit is vital in this endeavor.

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Dear Trump: America Contains Multitudes

By Robin Bates | Published: July 4, 2017

To celebrate July 4, do not listen to Donald Trump, who preaches paranoia and exclusion. Read Whitman’s “Song of Myself.” His America contains multitudes.

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Pratchett’s Strong Case for Diversity

By Robin Bates | Published: May 19, 2017

Terry Pratchett’s comic fantasy Discworld books culminated in the introduction of the railway in his final novel. Pratchett is an effective advocate for a post-modern, multicultural world.

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America’s Dream: We Contain Multitudes

By Robin Bates | Published: June 23, 2016

My Trinidadian daughter-in-law today becomes an American citizen. I welcome her with an excerpt from Whitman’s “Song of Myself” that contains multitudes.

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Men in Black 3 Embraces the Sixties

By Robin Bates | Published: June 15, 2012

The latest “Men in Black” films takes for granted a diverse and multicultural world, set in motion by the 1960’s.

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Uncomfortable Books that Help Us Grow

By Robin Bates | Published: April 22, 2010

Streep and Kline in Sophie’s Choice  A recent survey of the Tea Party movement has revealed that the movement is overwhelmingly white, educated, middle class and conservative, and people are now studying what it all means.  I love this post Ta-Tehisi Coates, a senior editor for The Atlantic. As occurs in the world of the […]

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