Anti-Racism
AN ANTI-RACISM INDOCTRINATION PRE-SCHOOL IS COMING TO SEATTLE
Being a guilty white liberal is exhausting business and parents don’t always have time to pass these lessons of shame on to their children. Luckily a couple of hipster doofus liberals are starting a pre-school to help indoctrinate children in the ways of social justice and identity politics. No, seriously, there will soon be an anti-racism pre-school in Seattle to teach 4-year-olds to check their white privilege.
Teachers Benjamin Gore and Jasen Frelot have created a space in the back of Columbia City Church of Hope where early childhood education is centered around the stories of people of color. They’re holding a series of community workshops, and they plan to open a preschool in fall 2017.
When the preschool opens, the discussion of race and racism isn’t regulated to a month and isn’t a notion of things past. Their curriculum is working to change biases through the stories that are untold.
“We’re looking to create the confidence that when these kids go into predominately white schools that they can bring counter narratives to the school,” said Gore.
To get an indication of what kinds of things will be taught at this pre-school, the news showed Gore telling the kids a story about Garrett Morgan, a black inventor who developed the modern traffic signal. In Gore’s telling of this tale he says that people didn’t listen to Morgan because of the color of his skin. This is completely untrue as Morgan sold his traffic signal patent for a sizable amount of money. “He had brown skin,” said Gore of Morgan. “ A hundred years ago, just like today in a different way, people with darker skin aren’t listen to as much. And that’s the story of Garrett Morgan.” Morgan was hardly ignored. In addition to the traffic signal, he also invented hair care products, sewing machine innovations
Yes, Trump’s Aide Really Did Throw “White Power” Sign
Take a look at the guy in the picture.
That’s Steve Miller, senior advisor to Donald Trump. He’s also an avowed racist.
Don’t take my word for it—that’s what his friends and family say. He hasn’t been quiet about it at all: he has openly disparaged blacks, Latinos, and Asians throughout his school career, from high school to Duke University, where he palled around with white supremacist leader Richard Spencer.
He continued his racist streak when he interned with Jeff Sessions and now spends his days trying to out-bigot the other white supremacist named Steve in Trump’s White House. No wonder David Duke adores him.
Now look at the picture. I used a screen grab for the very same shot of Miller that was used in the headlines for The Guardian, New York Daily, and Washington Post just to name a few. He made headlines that day for defending the Muslim ban by saying Trump’s actions “will not be questioned”!
That’s a topic for another day.
You might think that’s an odd natural gesture to make. And it is. What Steve is doing is completely intentional:
The right hand, on top, is showing just three fingers: “W”.
His left hand curls to make the “P” formation.
WP. White Power. White nationalists know exactly what that sign means.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, this is a common white supremacist hand sign “particularly” used in California. (Stephen Miller is from Santa Monica.)
The sad thing is that I can’t even say this is the only time this month a racist hand sign was used in the White House Briefing Room. Earlier this month in front of the same podium, the racist Pepe hand signal was broadcast to racists and anti-Semites all over the nation. (See below.)
OK!! We get it!! White supremacists are calling the shots in the White House.
Trump Asks Black Reporter Super Racist Question When Discussing Inner Cities
Donald Trump held a press conference at the White House on Thursday, February 16 that grew combative while he addressed the media.
Things became especially contentious when the president took questions from a Jewish and a black reporter on topics surrounding anti-Semitism and racism.
Jake Turx, White House correspondent for Ami Magazine, a Jewish publication, asked Trump about his plans to combat anti-Semitism in the country.
Turx asked his question respectfully and told Trump he did not blame him personally for hate crimes against Jews, but wanted to know about his plans.
Donald Trump held a press conference at the White House on Thursday, February 16 that grew combative while he addressed the media. Things became especially contentious when the president took questions from a Jewish and a black reporter on topics surrounding anti-Semitism and racism. Jake Turx, White House correspondent for Ami Magazine, a Jewish publication, asked Trump about his plans to combat anti-Semitism in the country. Turx asked his question respectfully and told Trump he did not blame him personally for hate crimes against Jews, but wanted to know about his plans. Donald Trump held a press conference at the White House on Thursday, February 16 that grew combative while he addressed the media. Things became especially contentious when the president took questions from a Jewish and a black reporter on topics surrounding anti-Semitism and racism. Jake Turx, White House correspondent for Ami Magazine, a Jewish publication, asked Trump about his plans to combat anti-Semitism in the country. Turx asked his question respectfully and told Trump he did not blame him personally for hate crimes against Jews, but wanted to know about his plans. Turx asked his question respectfully and told Trump he did not blame him personally for hate crimes against Jews, but wanted to know about his plans.
Trump Answers Question About Anti-Semitism With Characteristic Eloquence and Insight
President Donald Trump (!) held a press conference Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at which an Israeli reporter asked Trump a question about the contribution his own rhetoric may have made to the United States’ recent rise in anti-Semitic violence. And, truly, our president’s answer will inspire you (to live the rest of your life in a remote Mongolian cave). The transcript:
Well, I just want to say that we are, you know, very honored by the victory that we had. 306 electoral college votes. We were not supposed to crack 220. You know that, right? There was no way to 221 but then they said there’s no way to 270. And there’s tremendous enthusiasm out there. I will say that we are going to have peace in this country. We are going to stop crime in this country. We are going to do everything within our power to stop long-simmering racism and every other thing that’s going on, because a lot of bad things have been taking place over a long period of time. I think one of the reasons I won the election is because we have a very, very divided nation. Very divided, and hopefully, I’ll be able to do something about that. And I—you know, it’s something that was very important to me.
As far as people, Jewish people—so many friends, a daughter who happens to be here right now. A son-in-law, and three beautiful grandchildren. I think that you’re going to see a lot of different United States of America over the next three, four, or eight years. I think a lot of good things are happening and you’re going to see a lot of love. You’re going to see a lot of love. OK? Thank you.
Action must follow words on racism, says Muslim Society of P.E.I.
The Muslim Society of P.E.I. is one of 40 Muslim groups across the country urging MPs to support a motion to strike a parliamentary committee to study systemic racism and religious discrimination.
The group has co-signed a letter to MPs about Motion 103, introduced in the House of Commons in December, which calls for the establishment of the committee.
Zain Esseghaier, spokesman for the Muslim Society of P.E.I., said the importance of Motion 103 has grown since the attack on a Quebec City mosque in January.
“There was a lot of support, actually an overwhelming support. A lot of kind words were said. People were very supportive of the Muslim community. And that’s great, that’s fantastic, that’s really heartwarming,” said Esseghaier. “But where do we go from here? We have to do something. There should be some action taken so that our words are followed by action.” The open letter also calls for cities to fund police training for hate crimes, and for provinces to create anti-racism directorates and a mandatory high school class on systemic racism. It also asks that Parliament declare a National Day of Remembrance and Action on Islamophobia on Jan. 29, in memory of the Quebec shooting victims. “There was a lot of support, actually an overwhelming support. A lot of kind words were said. People were very supportive of the Muslim community. And that’s great, that’s fantastic, that’s really heartwarming,” said Esseghaier. “But where do we go from here? We have to do something. There should be some action taken so that our words are followed by action.” The open letter also calls for cities to fund police training for hate crimes, and for provinces to create anti-racism directorates and a mandatory high school class on systemic racism. It also asks that Parliament declare a National Day of Remembrance and Action on Islamophobia on Jan. 29, in memory of the Quebec shooting victims.
How to talk to your kids about racism: tips from parenting expert
Black History Month might be a good time to talk to your kids about racism. And there’s plenty to talk about.
A study of online behavior in Canada commissioned by CBC’s Marketplace shows a six hundred per cent jump in how often we use language that is sexist, homophobic or racist.
Alexandre Bissonnette, the man charged with killing six people praying at a mosque in Quebec last month was a fan of Donald Trump and extreme right-wing ideologies.
But what should you say to kids about that? Samantha Kemp-Jackson, a journalist who writes about parenting, has some advice. You can listen to her full interview with the CBC’s Conrad Collaco by clicking the image at the top of this page or you can read an edited and abridged transcript below.
Samantha Kemp-Jackson, journalist, parenting writer and blogger We’re more than three weeks into the Trump administration in the U.S., how concerned are you, as a parent, about how people talk about race in the U.S.? I’m very concerned. We’ve heard about the Muslim ban. We’ve heard about Mexico and building a wall. That divisiveness has percolated up here. Some politicians are talking about screening for Canadian values. I’m very concerned. The issue of race and racism is something we have to address head-on as parents. After the attack on Muslims in Quebec City, how do you think we should talk to kids about violence directed at visible minorities and why it happens? The Trump Effect: Has it come to Canada?
Violence is never ok specifically when it is targeted against people from another race or another religious or ethnic background. We need to talk about what our values are as Canadians and how we feel about embracing other cultures and ethnicities. We need to tell our kids that this is not what Canadians believe in. We don’ target people because of their religious or ethnic background. It’s a good catalyst for a discussion.
Muslim U.S. Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad says she was held by U.S. Customs
Fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, the first female Muslim American to medal for the United States in the Olympics, said Tuesday she was recently detained at U.S. Customs for two hours without explanation.
Muhammad, who is a native of Maplewood, N.J., said she didn’t know if she was held as a result of the Trump administration’s travel ban but is sure the move was a result of her ethnicity.
“I don’t know why,” she told the web site Popsugar during a speaking engagement at the MAKERS Conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. “I can’t tell you why it happened to me, but I know that I’m Muslim. I have an Arabic name. And even though I represent Team USA and I have that Olympic hardware, it doesn’t change how you look and how people perceive you.”
Muhammad, who graduated from Duke, won bronze in team sabre at the Rio Olympics last year. She was also the first American to compete in an Olympics wearing a hijab.
“My human response is to cry because I was so sad and upset and disheartened — and just disappointed,” she said. “At the same time, I’m one of those people who feels like I have to be strong for those people who may not be able to find that strength. I feel like I have to speak up for those people whose voices go unheard.
“It was a really hard two hours, but at the same time, I made it home. I try to remember to be positive and to try to leave all these situations, even if they may be very difficult, with love. I think that we will come out on top as women, as people of color, as Muslims, as transgender people, as people who are part of the disabled community — I think that we’ll come out on top.” And if she could say one thing to President Trump? “I feel like that’s a loaded question,” She said. “I’m not really sure how to answer that. It’s like, where do I start?”
Trump Set To Sign Executive Order Legalizing Use Of Blood Diamonds & Conflict Minerals
The Donald Trump Administration is poised to push through an executive order allowing American firms to secretly use conflict minerals in their products. Blood diamonds and other conflict minerals are primarily found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and surrounding central African countries where they are mined by armed militant groups and sold to fund their destructive activities.
Conflict minerals fund brutal guerrillas who exploit child soldiers, attack civilians, destroy infrastructure, loot towns, and prevent the economic development needed to lift millions out of poverty. Much of the minerals are mined using child or slave labor.
The minerals, which include diamonds as well as tungsten, tin, gold, and tantalum, are ubiquitous in electronics like cellphones and laptops. With the world’s insatiable appetite for more and more ‘smart’ devices, these minerals are extremely lucrative.
As part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank law, a sweeping set of Wall Street reforms, American firms are required to investigate their supply chains of minerals for human rights abuses and support of violent conflicts with “due diligence.” Then, companies must file public reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing their findings. Now Trump is planning on allowing firms to use conflict minerals without any transparency.
The Dodd-Frank rule had a visible effect on stability in central Africa and led to more responsible mining practices, but this progress is about to be reversed. Global Witness, a group that has done extensive research on conflict minerals in the DRC, told the Guardian that Trump’s proposed executive order is a “gift to companies wanting to do business with the criminal and the corrupt.”
They continued, “This law helps stop US companies funding conflict and human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding countries. Suspending it will benefit secretive and corrupt business practices.”
Confronting racism is key to realising working class unity and power
Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal — Working people need to confront racism, sexism and anti-immigrant prejudice if we are to be successful in uniting our class sufficiently to take on the huge power of the one percent – the super-rich owners of most productive wealth in society.
Workers face many challenges uniting against their common enemy – the boss class and its paid servants.
We are usually brought up to see our role in life as being nothing more than cogs in someone else’s machine. Creativity is discouraged. Aspiring for “something better” is seen as only leading to disappointment and failure. Rebellion is crushed.
Our role in life is to become a wage slave working for “the man”.
Organising collectively is the worst crime and can result in being banished from polite society as a “communist unionist”, or “haters and wreckers”.
Since humanity emerged from the stage of primitive communism 10,000 years ago all human societies have been run by those who control the wealth. The dominant ideas of those societies are the ideas that promote the interests of the ruling class. We are told that those who make up the ruling class are superior in some way. Identities we have in common to the ruling class are promoted. Those of us who provide labour and create the wealth for the rulers be that as peasants, slaves or workers are taught to think as members of a kingdom, a nation or a race rather than as members of a class.
Before class society existed there were no special forms of oppression that could be imposed. Women were equal. “Race” did not even exist as a category. However, with the development of agriculture, there was a surplus in production that was able to be monopolised by a separate class of owners. This was the first revolution in production and witnessed the subordination of women as a “second sex”. Institutionalised discrimination followed.
This was referred to as the “world-historic defeat of the female sex” by socialist pioneer Frederick Engles writing over 100 years ago.
Canadian lawmakers urge action to curb Islamophobia
Muslim leaders on Wednesday sent a letter to the Canadian Parliament thatt requested the government institute measures to combat Islamophobia.
They also asked that Jan. 29, the day a lone gunman killed six worshipers in a Quebec City mosque, be declared as an annual national day of remembrance.
The request for the recognition of Jan. 29 was in the form of an open letter to Canadian citizens and the government, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
The letter was read by the executive director of the National Council of Canadian Muslims at a news conference on Parliament Hill in the Canadian capital of Ottawa.
Ihsaan Gardee first thanked Canadians for their outpouring of sympathy and solidarity following the Jan. 29 killings, which also left 19 others wounded. He then asked Canadians to take action to curb Islamophobia and listed suggestions for the federal, provincial and municipal levels of government. “How can we work harder to stamp out hate against anyone?” Gardee said, as reported by the CBC. The Muslim leaders laid out steps, including more money to train police at the community level about how to deal with hate crimes and public annual reviews of hate crimes. At the provincial level, they suggested the creation of an anti-racism committee to oversee issues of racism and support education campaigns, as well as institute a course on racism to be taught in high school. At the federal level, the letter called for all members of Parliament to support Motion 103, a bill to study ways of reducing Islamophobia, Global News television reported. Haroun Bouzzi, co-president of the Association of Muslims and Arabs for a Secular Quebec, said: “We’re not saying Canada or Quebec are racist. But there are racist systems and sexist systems.” Mohamed Yangui, president of the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec said the Muslim community is a victim of ignorance.