William Barr’s recent comments to police officers reveal an attitude toward people of color that James Baldwin would recognize instantly.
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Tag Archives: racism
Beowulf Transcends Tolkien’s Racism
“Beowulf” and “Lord of the Rings” have blind spots but they are transcendent works for all that.
What Trump Means by Infestation
Tuesday Following Donald Trump’s latest racist tirade, this one targeting Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings and his “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess” of a Baltimore district, I’m reposting an essay I wrote a year ago May. At the time, commentators had begun noticing that Trump frequently opts for images of infestation when talking about brown […]
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Donald Trump, Elijah Cummings, images of infestation, Lucille Clifton Comments closed
A Dream of Black and White Together
Spiritual Sunday My mother and I went to hear St. Olaf’s sublime choir at Sewanee’s All Saints Chapel Thursday night. (This in spite of the fact that we both attended St. Olaf’s archrival, Carleton College.) Amongst the program’s “peace on earth” offerings was an arrangement of Langston Hughes’s “I Dream a World.” I share it […]
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "I Dream a World", Black History Month, Civil Rights, Langston Hughes Comments closed
Light & Dark Wrestle for America’s Soul
An image of darkness and light grappling for ascendency in Silko’s “Ceremony” sums up my view of America at the moment.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Ceremony, election 2018, GOP, Leslie Marmon Silko Comments closed
Baldwin on Making Education Relevant
Baldwin’s “Essays to Teachers” reminds them of what education should really be about.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Invisible Man, James Baldwin, Julius Caesar Ralph Ellison, Letter to Teachers, Terrorism, William Shakespeare Comments closed
Many Ways To Stand Up to Racism
I share a Nikki Giovanni poem in memory of Heather Heyer, along with those who were badly injured by angry white supremacists.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Rosa Parks", Charlottesville demonstrations, Nikki Giovanni Comments closed
Pap Would Have Voted for Trump
“Last place aversion” accounts for white resentment of safety net programs. Huck’s father is an example of the process at work.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Huckleberry Finn, last place aversion, Mark Twain, Pap, social safety net, status anxiety Comments closed
Iago Trump Whispers Poison into Our Ears
Of all Shakespeare characters, Trump, driven by racial resentment and thriving on chaos, may most resemble Iago.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Donald Trump, Othello, racial resentment, William Shakespeare Comments closed