Quote of the Day

PortlyDyke, from the always excellent Shakespeare’s Sister, brings it:

Yes, I think that racism, misogyny, and homophobia (and whole bunch of other hatred-based “isms”) are interconnected. Yes, I think that it’s important for me to “connect-the-dots” between these forms of oppression, and understand how they intertwine.

However, I think that if I’m really going to understand that tapestry of hate, and learn how to untangle it — there will be times when I must look carefully, and talk long into the night, about the specific threads which don’t touch me in the same way that they touch others who on the “magical oppression carpet-ride” with me. (Wheee! Are we fucking having fun yet? No. I thought not.)

Quote of the Day – On Solidarity

This is the best damn thing I’ve read in a while. From Vox:

Let’s talk a little about solidarity. Solidarity is not blindly supporting what someone says is your cause. Solidarity is, at the barest of minimums, listening to people. It’s listening to criticisms instead of treating them as attacks, and actually hearing them and acknowledging them. It’s a mutual relationship in which all sides (not both, because there is much beyond the binary) interact with each other and take something away from that interaction.

Solidarity is including people — not as tokens, not as a way to silence critics, but really, truly including them in major decisions, major discussions, and including the problems they face when deciding how to fight.

Solidarity means learning from the past instead of repeating the same mistakes that have been made from 1848 straight through the present day.

Solidarity is providing support for people, not making them feel hurt and sickened every time a topic comes up because of your attacks. Solidarity brings people in, it doesn’t drive them away.

Solidarity has never been about presenting a united front. It has always been about recognizing other people AS PEOPLE and treating them accordingly. THAT is solidarity, not some fucked up “you can’t criticize me, the man is watching!” concept.

Gina McCauley Given Props by Essence Magazine

Gina McCauley of What About Our Daughters has been named one of the 25 Most Influential of 2007 by Essence magazine:

NEW YORK, Nov. 16 /PRNewswire/ — ESSENCE magazine reflects back on 2007 and recognizes 25 distinguished African-Americans who have made a difference. From triumphs on the playing field to victories in the court of public opinion, from groundbreaking moments in politics and entertainment to the hard-fought battles of everyday heroes, ESSENCE salutes those that gave everybody much to talk about in 2007. Senator Barack Obama received the most votes in an online poll on essence.com, earning recognition as the “Readers’ Choice” for the year’s most influential African-American.

“Some of the most poignant moments in African-American history took place in 2007, from the unified stance that was taken in support of the JENA Six and the Rutgers University Women’s Basketball team to the triumphant victory made by Barry Bonds,” says Angela Burt-Murray, editor-in-chief, ESSENCE. “Making their voices heard on essence.com, the overwhelmingly positive response from our 8 million readers for Senator Obama as African-American of the Year is noteworthy, as African-American women are predicted to be the tipping point for the Black vote in the 2008 election.”

“I am deeply honored to be named ESSENCE Magazine’s “Readers’ Choice: African-American of the Year,” says Senator Barack Obama. “Michelle and I have long admired ESSENCE for its invaluable role in celebrating the rich talents, beauty and spirit of African American women. It means a great deal to me to have the support of my fellow ESSENCE readers.”

Although the list honors renowned ministers like Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton and Bishop T.D. Jakes, and famous entertainers like Beyonce Knowles and Don Cheadle, unsung heroes are included as well, such as Majora Carter, founder of Sustainable South Bronx, a community organization dedicated to environmental rejuvenation. Newark mayor Cory A. Booker is also featured for his accomplishments, including a decline in city shootings, which are down 28 percent under his leadership.

The melange of influencers, ranging from actors and advocates to moguls and students, were compiled in a compelling feature of rarely seen before photos and biographical profiles.

25 Most Influential List
— Senator Barack Obama
— Gina McCauley- Blogger, whataboutourdaughters.com
— Tyler Perry – Writer, Producer, Director
— Majora Carter – Environmentalist, Founder, Executive Director,
Sustainable South Bronx
— Victoria Lanier- Former Youth Director, NAACP, Northeast Region
— Reverend Jesse L. Jackson – Civil Rights Activist, Minister
— Reverend Al Sharpton – Civil Rights Activist and President, National
Action Network
— The JENA Six
— Beyonce Knowles – Singer, Songwriter, Actress
— Oprah Winfrey – Media Mogul, School Founder
— Timbaland – Music Producer, Recording Artist
— Cory A. Booker – Mayor of Newark, New Jersey
— Lovie Smith – Head Coach, NFC Champions, Chicago Bears
— Tony Dungy – Head Coach, Super Bowl Champions, Indianapolis Colts
— Deval Patrick – Governor, Massachusetts
— Don Cheadle – Actor, Activist
— Shonda Rhimes – Creator, Executive Producer, Grey’s Anatomy and Private
Practice
— Venus Williams – Tennis Champion
— Charles Rangel – Chairman, House Committee on Ways and Means
— Barry Bonds – “Home Run King”
— Cynthia Tucker – Syndicated Columnist, Editorial Page Editor, Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
— The Scarlet Knights – Rutgers University Women’s Basketball Team, NCAA
Finalists
— Kiri Davis – Filmmaker, Youth Activist
— Bishop T.D. Jakes – Founder, Senior Pastor, The Potter’s House of
Dallas
— Steve Harvey – Radio Personality, Comedian, Actor

Congratulations are definitely in order to Gina. She is a tireless activist and she deserves all the recognition she receives. I do have to say, though, that I find myself agreeing with Mo’Kelly regarding some of the other choices on this list. Regardless, Congratulations to Gina! Now get over to her site and show her some much deserved love.

Women of Color Bloggers Represent

Check this out! It’s a mad cool celebration of women of color feminism. I discovered this from my hero Blackamazon.¹

Update: This was done by the amazingly bad ass Sudy, just so y’know.

1. I seriously think I’m going to write her in for President [↩]

Worth Reading

Unless you are living in a cave with limited wireless access, you’ve heard that Mychal Bell is back in jail. This one leaves me speechless, although I’m not suprised. Not one bit.

Black Lawyers for Justice and the Support Committee for Megan Williams (I couldn’t find a link. If anyone knows of one, please let me know in comments) have a Call to Action for Megan Williams: National March Against Hate Crimes and Racism:

ST CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Oct. 12 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — March Purpose: To bring national and statewide support to Charleston resident Megan Williams, the Williams Family, and victims of other hate crimes nationwide. The Jena 6 case, the rise in the hanging of nooses, and other current acts of racially motivated injustice and intimidation against Blacks/African Americans will all be highlighted at this National March against Hate Crimes. Families and victims of hate crimes that are occurring throughout the nation will attend. Black Lawyers For Justice, the Williams Family and organizers are demanding that Federal Hate Crimes charges as well as State hate crime charges be brought in the Williams’ case.

When: Saturday, November 3, 2007 12:00 Noon (Pre-March Rally to begin at 10 a.m.)

Where: March begins at First Baptist Church 423 Shrewsbury St Charleston, W.Va. 25301 and Marchers will proceed to Charleston W.Va. State Capitol Building for National Rally

Contact: Black Lawyers for Justice (BLFJ)
Malik Shabazz, Esq. (Attorney for Megan Williams and the Williams’ Family)
Phone: 202-397-4577 Local: (304) 657-1493
Email: shabazzlaw@aol.com
Web: blacklawyersforjustice.org

Who are the Organizers?
The primary organizers for the march are Black Lawyers for Justice (BLFJ) and the Support Committee for Megan Williams. This march will be endorsed by at least 100 Black organizations, student groups, clergy, and leaders of every stripe. An initial endorsement list will be produced on 10-15-07.

WHY A MARCH TO SUPPORT MEGAN WILLIAMS AND OPPOSE HATE CRIMES?
On November 3, 2007 a historic National March will take place in Charleston, West Virginia. This call to action is to support young Megan Williams, who is the victim of one of the worst hate crimes in United States history. The March is also called to address an astounding yet unacceptable rise in hate crimes and incidents of injustices currently perpetrated against Blacks (African) Americans. On September 12, 2007, and in subsequent preliminary hearings, it was revealed that Megan Williams, a twenty year old Black Woman, was lured into a nearby Logan county trailer house of hatred. Young Megan, who also has special disability needs, was viciously and repeatedly raped, choked, stabbed, forced to eat dog and rat feces while her six white tormentors berated her by calling her “nigger” incessantly. According to evidence gathered, Megan was sodomized with a stick and a noose was tied around her neck for lengthy periods during this week long ordeal all of which has been verified by several of the co-defendants signed confessions. “This is an this ugly and outrageous ordeal.”

Prosecutors said. “Every time they stabbed her, they called her ‘nigger.” Carmen Williams, the mother, told The Charleston Gazette. “She wakes up in the middle of the night screaming, ‘Mommy.’ What’s really, really bad is, we don’t know everything, and they did to her. She is crying all the time. No doubt, had she not been rescued they were going to kill her and throw her in a nearby lake.”

Arrested are: Frankie Brewster, 49, and her son Bobby Brewster, 24., Karen Burton, 46; her daughter Alisha, 23; Danny Combs, 20, and George Messer, 27 -six whites from nearby Logan County, West Virginia. The suspects took turns beating, stabbing, choking and sexually abusing Williams, while consistently threatening her with death, according to criminal complaints. A rope was placed around Williams’ neck, her hair was ripped out and she was made to eat dog and rat feces, drink from a toilet and lick up blood, the complaint charges. At one point, she was sexually assaulted while scalding water and melting hot wax from a candle was poured on her body. At another point she was forced to lick the toes of the sadistic defendants. She was stabbed in the leg at least four times and both of her ankles were cut by a female suspect who allegedly taunted her, saying, “This one is for Kunta Kinte, and that’s what we do to niggers around here.”

“The Megan Williams case is beyond a doubt, one of the worst hate crimes in U.S. History. The Megan Williams case is even worse than the case of the Jena 6…,” said Attorney Malik Shabazz Esq., Megan Williams Family Attorney and Spokesman for Black Lawyers For Justice, speaking at the October 3rd preliminary hearing in Logan County, West VA.

Shabazz also stated, “The number of outright hate crimes and injustice cases against Blacks is rising so rapidly it’s hard for our office to keep track. We are calling for every concerned person in our community to respond to this national crisis with vigor and due diligence. The November 3rd March in Charleston is a big step in the direction of organizing to challenge the tide of attacks occurring against Blacks.”

HATE CRIMES DOCUMENTED
In addition to the Megan Williams case, criminal acts of hatred and intimidation using hanging nooses have sprung up all over the nation. The hanging noose, central to the Jena case, is used by racists as an actionable threat to the safety and well being of Blacks, who have suffered innumerable historical injustices via hanging ropes also known as lynching. On Sept 7th, a three foot noose was found hung at the University of Maryland, College Park, roiling the campus. On October 4th, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported that police were investigating several cases in which nooses were left at workplaces to intimidate black employees in the Pittsburgh area. The Tribune reported, “A supervisor at the Verizon Wireless Business Services Center in Marshall found a black doll with a noose around its neck and racial slurs directed at it.”

Several similar hate crime incidents have been reported in the Pittsburgh area in the last month. In Long Island, New York last month, police found a noose hanging in the locker room. Many believed it was hung by a police officer and was in response to the newly elected Black police chief. Last month, in North Carolina, nooses were found hung at a public school. On October 3rd in Washington D.C., white students and historical Galluadet University for the deaf, reportedly held a Black student hostage for over an hour and repeatedly wrote “KKK” all over his body with markers. All over the U.S., Police assaulting and killing unarmed Black victims is on the rise again.

A FOLLOW UP TO JENA
The November 3rd National March against Hate Crimes is also an effort to end the continued persecution of the Jena 6. Mychal Bell and the Jena 6 are still facing jail time after responding to racist persecution at the High school in Jena, Louisiana. Also the addresses and phone numbers of the Jena 6 Families were posted on Neo-Nazi/Klan websites; subsequently, white supremacists have committed acts of aggression near their homes and BLFJ has copies of letters from various Ku Klux Klan organizations directly threatening the Jena 6 families. Members of the Jena 6 are endorsing and are expected at this march.

Over 100 organizations, student groups, youth organizations, clergy, rappers, and leaders are set to endorse the November 3rd March (a list will be released on 10/15/07) Like in Jena, organizers going to get busses, travel the highway and organize to support Megan Williams and organize against these attacks.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

- Friday November 2nd 5:00 p.m.:
A Pre-March remembrance/ prayer vigil will take place at the Logan County trailer home where Megan Williams was kidnapped and tortured

- Saturday November 3rd 10 a.m.:
Pre-March Rally for National March against Hate Crimes and Racism
First Baptist Church 423 Shrewsbury St Charleston, WVA 25301

- Saturday November 3rd 12:00 noon:
National March against Hate Crimes and Racism, Charleston, West VA March will begin in front of the First Baptist Church located at 423 Shrewsbury St Charleston WVA 25301 and proceed to the West Virginia State Capitol Building

- Saturday November 3rd 5:00 p.m.:
Fundraiser for Megan Williams and Town Hall Meeting on Race Relations to take place at Rehoboth Cathedral of Christ in Charleston, West Virginia – Bishop James Carter III is the host pastor.

Information:
To Endorse This March or for Updates and Further Details, Contact us via web at www.Blacklawyersforjustice.org phone at (202) 397-4577 or via email at Shabazzlaw@aol.com.

NEWS SOURCE: Black Lawyers for Justice

This will be as big, if not bigger than the Jena protest. It seems as if many folks thought that hanging nooses all over the place would keep the uppity Negroes in place, but oh no; you were wrong. Very wrong.

Kai, bad ass that he is, brings it with The White Liberal Conundrum.

Thinking Girl tells it like it is and reminds everyone that handholding is not an option and that “objectivity is a myth.”

Chris Clarke weighs in on trolls and moderation policies. You might notice that I’ve linked to his post in my own comments policy. Read it. Understand it. If you don’t, you will probably be banned if you comment here.

Also read Roy’s post on privilege and oppression. I love Roy because he’s always willing to tackle the deep stuff. And he’s honest as all get out about it. The lack of bullshit that I find in his writing makes me happy.

Brownfemipower on the Institutional Violence Against Girls. Another must read. If you don’t follow the link, you are dumb.

And yeah, I’m happy to see Blackamazon, my hero, posting again. I hope she comes back to us.

Required Reading

It is imperative that you go over to Blackamazon’s place and read the Carnival of Education- Radical School Edition right now. Here’s a taste:

Why Radical Education Black Amazon?

Because I am officially on the tail end of my youth and I am tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiired.

of people trying to “save” me

I am young, black, black, brown, female, fat, poor and if one more person seeks to “guide” “instruct” ”counsel” or dissect me , or the multitudes like me

*F#@*F#@*F(*& THE MACHETE MAKES A REAPPEARANCE I SWEAR TO ALL ABOVE AND BELOW!

*edited cause I am actually gearing this to young people ( which is comical considering how much I cuss just three posts down ALLOW ME MY PLEASANT FICTIONS)

Forget saviors

We need teachers. We need them from the places we have never thought to have gotten them before

What are you doing still here? Get over there and start reading and following links, now!