25 years ago, one murder woke Britain up to the reality of violent racism
The story of Stephen Lawrence, the teenager murdered in 1993 is distressing, infuriating, and inspiring.
Distressing because of the horrific way he died, stabbed by a gang of attackers on a London street, and frustrating because of the ineptitude of the investigation that followed. Locals to the area started reporting names of a group of suspects to the police within hours but that information was not acted upon. There were indications of corruption, and the police treated the family with distrust and disrespect. Investigative failures weakened the case so that prosecutions failed, the suspects were able to treat the process with contempt and the family faced injustice at every turn. Only two of the five suspects have been convicted, and even that took decades.
But the family’s dignity and courage are inspiring. Their determination eventually brought about not only justice for Stephen, but also far-reaching change in the British criminal justice system and beyond.
I vividly recall reading reports of the Stephen Lawrence murder. I had just completed my research on violent racism and the news of yet another racist murder in southeast London made for depressing reading.
I was struck by the similarity with dozens of previous murders—a poor initial response from police, who denied a racist motive, incompetence in the investigation, a family ripped apart by grief, but also frustrated by their experiences of being patronized by the police. The pattern was so familiar, I have to admit, that I did not expect this to be the case that would attract the support of Nelson Mandela and the Daily Mail alike. I didn’t think it would lead to a public inquiry that would bring racism and policing to the center of British politics.
Iggy Azalea on Racism: ‘There Is Privilege That Comes With the Color of Your Skin’
Iggy Azalea has had her share of ups and downs, and in a new interview with GQ it’s clear she’s hoping for an eventual comeback after a scrapped album, canceled tour, and a label switch to Island Records she referred to as “special.”
Of the discussions around Iggy’s success, the most prominent has always been that of appropriation and white privilege in the context of hip hop, and the Australian-born rapper tackles it head-on. “I understand that in America there is institutionalized racism and there is privilege that comes with the color of your skin,” she says. “I want you to acknowledge my work and [to understand] that this wasn’t easy but I also don’t want to detract from or trivialize any people of colors’ position because that’s legitimate.” Iggy maintains not only that the public’s refusal to acknowledge her past success is due to her being “a white woman from Australia,” but that she herself has not exactly benefited from privilege due to her working-class upbringing. “I don’t wanna say that everyone’s feelings about racial privilege are invalid ‘cause I was poor. But how do we have a conversation where I’m not discrediting either scenario?”
Of the discussions around Iggy’s success, the most prominent has always been that of appropriation and white privilege in the context of hip hop, and the Australian-born rapper tackles it head-on. “I understand that in America there is institutionalized racism and there is privilege that comes with the color of your skin,” she says. “I want you to acknowledge my work and [to understand] that this wasn’t easy but I also don’t want to detract from or trivialize any people of colors’ position because that’s legitimate.” Iggy maintains not only that the public’s refusal to acknowledge her past success is due to her being “a white woman from Australia,” but that she herself has not exactly benefited from privilege due to her working-class upbringing. “I don’t wanna say that everyone’s feelings about racial privilege are invalid ‘cause I was poor. But how do we have a conversation where I’m not discrediting either scenario?”
SU students must confront racism on campus without administrative help
For the umpteenth time, a fraternity has been suspended. And for the umpteenth time, administrators are attempting to placate students by calling for more training and more discussions. This simply hasn’t worked.
Students can’t have a constructive dialogue with individuals who use language that supports white supremacy as a system of oppression. A dialogue implies both parties are on equal footing. It implies respect — something these people believe marginalized communities don’t deserve.
When white supremacists say the lives of marginalized communities have no value, we don’t hear them out. We kick them out. There can’t be room for debate on that. Room for debate implies the possibility of legitimizing their beliefs.
And when we try to contradict those beliefs, we realize people don’t learn when they’ve decided not to. You can’t convince someone who believes Earth is flat that it’s round unless they have some doubts about the flat-Earth theory in the first place. You can’t convince an anti-vaxxer to vaccinate their children unless they already doubt vaccines are dangerous.
Students can’t have a constructive dialogue with individuals who use language that supports white supremacy as a system of oppression. A dialogue implies both parties are on equal footing. It implies respect — something these people believe marginalized communities don’t deserve. When white supremacists say the lives of marginalized communities have no value, we don’t hear them out. We kick them out. There can’t be room for debate on that. Room for debate implies the possibility of legitimizing their beliefs. And when we try to contradict those beliefs, we realize people don’t learn when they’ve decided not to. You can’t convince someone who believes Earth is flat that it’s round unless they have some doubts about the flat-Earth theory in the first place. You can’t convince an anti-vaxxer to vaccinate their children unless they already doubt vaccines are dangerous.
Globe team tells story behind race in Boston stories
Is Boston racist? That’s the simplest version of the question discussed Monday at the Kennedy School by Khalil Gibran Muhammad, a professor of history, race, and public policy, and a group of Boston Globe spotlight team journalists whose December series examining race in Boston was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in local reporting.
But as the Globe team quickly noted, the report sought to reveal the complex reality behind that question — and the challenges that lie ahead.
The series of seven articles, gathered under the heading “Boston. Racism. Image. Reality,” uncovered uncomfortable truths underlying nearly all aspects of life in the greater metropolitan area, and compared Boston both with other cities and with its own past.
Is Boston racist? That’s the simplest version of the question discussed Monday at the Kennedy School by Khalil Gibran Muhammad, a professor of history, race, and public policy, and a group of Boston Globe spotlight team journalists whose December series examining race in Boston was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in local reporting. But as the Globe team quickly noted, the report sought to reveal the complex reality behind that question — and the challenges that lie ahead. The series of seven articles, gathered under the heading “Boston. Racism. Image. Reality,” uncovered uncomfortable truths underlying nearly all aspects of life in the greater metropolitan area, and compared Boston both with other cities and with its own past. But as the Globe team quickly noted, the report sought to reveal the complex reality behind that question — and the challenges that lie ahead. The series of seven articles, gathered under the heading “Boston. Racism. Image. Reality,” uncovered uncomfortable truths underlying nearly all aspects of life in the greater metropolitan area, and compared Boston both with other cities and with its own past.
Racial fliers distributed in Charlottesville
Residents in the Locust Avenue area in Charlottesville say disturbing fliers were distributed in their neighborhood over the past several days.
Fliers left in driveways on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning bore the phrase “It’s okay to be white.” The fliers were folded in ziplock baggies and weighted with a small stone.
Locust Avenue resident Andy Orban said he’s disturbed by the tactic and the message it sends.
Residents in the Locust Avenue area in Charlottesville say disturbing fliers were distributed in their neighborhood over the past several days. Fliers left in driveways on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning bore the phrase “It’s okay to be white.” The fliers were folded in ziplock baggies and weighted with a small stone. Locust Avenue resident Andy Orban said he’s disturbed by the tactic and the message it sends. Residents in the Locust Avenue area in Charlottesville say disturbing fliers were distributed in their neighborhood over the past several days. Fliers left in driveways on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning bore the phrase “It’s okay to be white.” The fliers were folded in ziplock baggies and weighted with a small stone. Locust Avenue resident Andy Orban said he’s disturbed by the tactic and the message it sends. Residents in the Locust Avenue area in Charlottesville say disturbing fliers were distributed in their neighborhood over the past several days. Fliers left in driveways on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning bore the phrase “It’s okay to be white.” The fliers were folded in ziplock baggies and weighted with a small stone. Locust Avenue resident Andy Orban said he’s disturbed by the tactic and the message it sends.
Screaming woman ‘is viciously beaten by women in Iran because her red headscarf is deemed an “insufficient” hijab’
A terrified woman has been savagely beaten by morality police thugs in Iran because her headscarf was deemed an ‘insufficient’ covering, activists said.
The outrageous scene, in what appears to be a public park in broad daylight, was secretly filmed by an onlooker and has been spread online by dissident groups.
The disturbing footage initially shows a woman with a red scarf pushed to the back of her head having a heated conversation with a man and another woman.
Seconds later, two women wearing all-black coverings that leave only their faces visible barge onto the scene and begin grabbing and shouting at the woman.
The aggressive goons – who are believed to be members of the Islamic theocracy’s morality police – become increasingly violent towards their frightened victim
The victim can be heard screeching in terror as the sickening abuse continues. At the end of the video, the brutal attackers can be seen pointing and shouting at members of the crowd who appear to disagree with their barbaric actions
The veil has been a mandatory dress requirement for women in Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Pictured: The terrified victim is beaten by the thugs
The aggressive goons – who are believed to be members of the Islamic theocracy’s morality police – become increasingly violent towards their frightened victim.
Other women, who do not appear to be members of the force, assist the primary attackers as an argument rages throughout.
The victim can be heard screeching in terror as the sickening abuse continues.
She can later be seen lying on the floor, crying in pain and without her headscarf, as a large crowd surrounds her.
At the end of the video, the brutal attackers can be seen pointing and shouting at members of the crowd who appear to disagree with their barbaric actions.
Starbucks to train workers on ‘unconscious bias,’ CEO says
Starbucks wants to add training for store managers on “unconscious bias,” CEO Kevin Johnson said Monday, as activists held more protests at a Philadelphia store where two black men were arrested after employees said they were trespassing.
Johnson, who has called the arrests “reprehensible,” arrived in Philadelphia this weekend after video of the incident gained traction online. He said he hopes to meet with the two men in the next couple of days and apologize face to face. A company spokesman said the men have agreed to a meeting with Johnson, but it was not immediately known when it would take place.
“I’d like to have a dialogue with them and the opportunity to listen to them with compassion and empathy through the experience they went through,” said Johnson, who has been CEO for about a year. Stewart Cohen, the lawyer for the two men, said he hopes “something productive for the community” can come out of such a meeting.
Starbucks wants to add training for store managers on “unconscious bias,” CEO Kevin Johnson said Monday, as activists held more protests at a Philadelphia store where two black men were arrested after employees said they were trespassing. Johnson, who has called the arrests “reprehensible,” arrived in Philadelphia this weekend after video of the incident gained traction online. He said he hopes to meet with the two men in the next couple of days and apologize face to face. A company spokesman said the men have agreed to a meeting with Johnson, but it was not immediately known when it would take place. “I’d like to have a dialogue with them and the opportunity to listen to them with compassion and empathy through the experience they went through,” said Johnson, who has been CEO for about a year. Stewart Cohen, the lawyer for the two men, said he hopes “something productive for the community” can come out of such a meeting.
UK bars anti-Muslim from entering the country
Two leading far-right activists were barred from entering the UK in the lead up to a conference hosted by an increasingly active British white supremacist group.
Martin Sellner, an Austrian activist, and Abel Bodi, a Hungarian, had been scheduled to attend the private Generation Identityconference near London.
But the pair were detained at Stansted airport and denied entry to the UK on Friday – just a month after Mr Sellner was blocked from entering Britain by border officials.
Two leading far-right activists were barred from entering the UK in the lead up to a conference hosted by an increasingly active British white supremacist group. Martin Sellner, an Austrian activist, and Abel Bodi, a Hungarian, had been scheduled to attend the private Generation Identityconference near London. But the pair were detained at Stansted airport and denied entry to the UK on Friday – just a month after Mr Sellner was blocked from entering Britain by border officials. Two leading far-right activists were barred from entering the UK in the lead up to a conference hosted by an increasingly active British white supremacist group. Martin Sellner, an Austrian activist, and Abel Bodi, a Hungarian, had been scheduled to attend the private Generation Identityconference near London. But the pair were detained at Stansted airport and denied entry to the UK on Friday – just a month after Mr Sellner was blocked from entering Britain by border officials. Two leading far-right activists were barred from entering the UK in the lead up to a conference hosted by an increasingly active British white supremacist group. Martin Sellner, an Austrian activist, and Abel Bodi, a Hungarian, had been scheduled to attend the private Generation Identityconference near London. But the pair were detained at Stansted airport and denied entry to the UK on Friday – just a month after Mr Sellner was blocked from entering Britain by border officials.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WHEN YOU FACE PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION?
Individual experiences at work as employees are quite distinctive. Sometimes, it feels like you’re the only one that has ever experienced such. Yes, it’s always unique. But all employment laws account for the most extreme conditions, including all those that many of us are yet to imagine, while also considering the very minimal scenarios. The important thing is to follow the right procedures for a deserving justice when we perceive discrimination.
It is a fact that some employers are afraid of dealing with pregnant women, despite how family-friendly workplaces have become in recent years. They tend to believe that pregnant women are no longer as hard-working as they used to be. Hence, discrimination in varied forms may begin to surface subtly. In a few cases, aggressive! Pregnancy discrimination may surface in the form of promotion denial, assigning of jobs that depict underperformance – mostly undesirable functions, training denial, demotion, etc.
Individual experiences at work as employees are quite distinctive. Sometimes, it feels like you’re the only one that has ever experienced such. Yes, it’s always unique. But all employment laws account for the most extreme conditions, including all those that many of us are yet to imagine, while also considering the very minimal scenarios. The important thing is to follow the right procedures for a deserving justice when we perceive discrimination. It is a fact that some employers are afraid of dealing with pregnant women, despite how family-friendly workplaces have become in recent years. They tend to believe that pregnant women are no longer as hard-working as they used to be. Hence, discrimination in varied forms may begin to surface subtly. In a few cases, aggressive! Pregnancy discrimination may surface in the form of promotion denial, assigning of jobs that depict underperformance – mostly undesirable functions, training denial, demotion, etc.
THIS NEW RACISM TURNS TO FIRE
Another warning that those pushing the new racism are – literally – playing with fire:
Vision has emerged of the Commonwealth Games surfboard countdown clock being set alight by protesters, over arrests made on the Gold Coast this week.
The footage shows the timer, which is located along Brisbane Streets Beach at South Back, being lit on fire with an accelerant.
The message attached to the video declares the fire was lit in support of the Stolenwealth Games protesters, who were detained by police in the past week.
Then there’s the false suggestion that police actually hurt Dylan Voller, the hero-victim of the ABC. This actually trades on the myth that Aboriginal prisoners face a higher rate of deaths in custody than do white prisoners, thanks to racism:
“Yesterday in Meanjin (Brisbane, so called Australia) we watched on social media as the police brutalised and arrested peaceful Stolenwealth Games protesters on the Gold Coast,” the message reads.
They used excessive force on young people, people with disabilities, and elders. The police also tried to claim one young person self harmed while in their custody.
“Our action is in no way endorsed by Stolenwealth Games organisers and protesters (who have no knowledge of it), but they have our solidarity through this and more practical acts.”
