About the Author

The author is a white Anti-Racist, Social Justice Advocate. She seeks knowledge and truths surrounding the interconnections of the historical and contemporary issues of racism across the globe.

With knowledge and truth comes responsibility. As a woman who is part of the dominate white culture and a citizen of the world, there is a responsibility to share information that will

lead to a more culturally humble society.

The author at times reacts in an emotionally charged manner but does so with a

good heart and from a good place.

The author is of the belief that there is only one race label and that is the Human Race.


August 19, 2011

Martin Luther King Monument Washington, D. C. Gala Celebration

MLK...Take a Seat at the Table?

Once again I have been given the opportunity to view a cultural issue based on a diverse cultural lens.  I think it is a true testament to  Martin Luther King's life and work to have Dr. King’s message of brotherhood which was grounded in racial, economic and social justice, to be memorialized and celebrated through the creation of the Martin Luther King Monument in Washington, D. C.  I stumbled over an article by L. Arthalia Cravin and although she  voiced her excitement regarding the MLK project, her observation of the television commercial advertising the monument's gala dedication was profound in my humble opinion.

  Ms. Cravin eloquently described her initial thoughts and warned   "we should be very careful that Dr. King’s true message of brotherhood is not glossed over in favor of pomp and circumstance".                                                                                                            
The reason for this warning, was upon Ms. Cravin's initial viewing of the commercial advertising the gala celebration. Ms. Cravin noticed a long table as she listened to the words of Dr. King as he spoke of his dream of the “former sons of slaves and the former sons of slave owners” sitting together at the "table of brotherhood” and...
                                        empty plates?

Ms. Cravin speaks about the growing economic disparities and social conditions for Black America. How can different people from different walks of life sit at the same table if the portions of food are so vastly different, how does this signify true brotherhood?
You can read Ms. Cravin's message in it's entirety at http://northamarillonow.co/wp2/?p=6348




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Wednesday, August 10, 2011
“And the Winner is … ”

My 18 year old son somehow convinced me to watch the move “Predators” the other night. Although I found this science fiction movie to be action packed with some decent special effects, for my taste, there was way too much testosterone gone bad!  In any event, as Joseph and I continued to watch the story unfold, my son said to me “I bet you anything Mom that the African American dude gets killed first”   “No Way” I replied. I was astounded by this assumption because I think that Mahershalalhashbaz Ali as Mombasa, is not only awesome for the part, but he is damn good lookin’ to boot! Well I was right, it was an American Mexican who was killed first, Dan Trejo... so there!

Whoops, not more than a few minutes latter BAM, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali was skewed like a shish-kabob!

So here I thought I was the only one who found out about this hidden little movie industry secret. As soon as I went to work I tracked down an African American friend/mentor, (I’ll call her MW) whom I admire. I anxiously told her of my new found revelation...well, Joseph's revelation!  "New…hmmm, I don’t think so" as she chuckled. She told me that the Black actors who are not box office wonders, usually get killed first or soon there after.  Well thanks MW, there goes my new found theory! But in all seriousness, I am glad that I learned just one more fact that validates how racism is so embedded in our societal culture. It has become second nature in refuting the possibility that this level of exclusion still occurs, and is a constant reminder of how much more work we need to actually do!!

If you are a Black actor but you are not a big headliner like Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Laurence Fishburne, Morgan Freeman, and Samuel L. Jackson to name a few, there are three elementary questions one should asked themselves before watching a movie, during and up until the movie credits.                                                                      
1. Does the Black actor die first?
2. If not, how soon does he/she die?
3. Can a Black person ever make it to the credits?

Oh yeah, I would like butter on my popcorn too please!

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