A Twitter conversation vents frustration at White people who say culturally “ignorant” things. Is this racism or not? You decide.
Monthly Archives: January 2014
Confronting Islamophobia through Comedy
This funny and thought-provoking documentary features an American Muslim comedy tour through some of the more conservative parts of the United States.
For more information, visit The Muslims are Coming! website, or watch it on Netflix.
Here’s the trailer:
80 Maps That Explain the World – Washington Post
Maps can show us many things — here are some interesting ones!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/08/12/40-maps-that-explain-the-world/?lines
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/01/13/40-more-maps-that-explain-the-world/
Trans-Racial Adoptions, Race & Heritage
NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday (01/12/14) explores how families can embrace and celebrate racial history and heritage through trans-racial adoptions.
White Privilege Explained Comic Style
Explaining White Privilege to a Broke White Person
Gina Crosley-Corcoran examines insterectionality and the relationship between socioeconomic status and race.
http://thefeministbreeder.com/explaining-white-privilege-broke-white-person/
Germany Adds Lessons in Islam to Better Blend Its Melting Pot By ALISON SMALE/NYTimes
Germany’s changing demographics due to immigration, especially of Muslim Turks, present problems and opportunities. This article examines the addition of lessons in Islam in the public education system in response to those changes.
Concern Over an Increasingly Seen Gesture Grows in France By SCOTT SAYARE/NYTimes
Growing controversy over the use of a nonverbal gesture linked to Nazi Germany is increasing in France. Questions of racial/cultural hatred versus freedom of expression, political correctness, and history are part of the discussion in this very real case study currently unfolding.
Related:
- BBC News – Who, What, Why: What is the quenelle gesture? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-25550581
- The Daily Mirror (UK Newspaper) – Nicolas Anelka, Dieudonné and why la quenelle can never be considered an innocent gesture: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/nicolas-anelka-quenelle-dieudonnes-la-2970567
- Haaretz (Israeli Newspaper) – What the hell is a ‘quenelle’? Why everyone is searching Google for an anti-Semitic salute: http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/routine-emergencies/1.566422
Suggestions for Communicating with those Whose Native Language is Different from Yours
A concise list of things to do when communicating with those whose first language is different from your own (when you’re communicating in your native language):
http://businesslife.ba.com/Ideas/10-Tips/10-tips-for-communicating-with-non-native-colleagues.html
Ani DiFranco, White Feminists, and Racism
There have been quite a few good articles about the problem of racism and white centering among White feminists. If you are not familiar with the current conflict, Ani DiFranco has been criticized for planning a songwriting workshop (since cancelled) at a former plantation in Louisiana. In addition to the lack of sensitivity to the issue of slavery, history, and ongoing racism, DiFranco has been criticized for how the situation was handled after the fact. This post is a good one for those of us who are white to read, examining how we can address our own racism, including what to do when we have inadvertently offended someone (with a great comparison with an accidental physical injury).
Related:
- http://www.forharriet.com/2013/12/dear-ani-difranco-supporters-you-cannot.html
- http://www.xojane.com/issues/after-solidarityisforwhitewomen-so-you-want-to-be-an-ally
- http://www.tolerance.org/activity/test-yourself-hidden-bias
- http://www.salon.com/2013/08/16/what_picketing_taught_me_about_feminism/
- http://www.theguardian.com/news/oliver-burkeman-s-blog/2013/aug/15/racist-sexist-you-are-more
Intercultural Resources 