Purple

YAAAAAAAAAAAAYY!!!

2009-05-30T18:42:00.001-07:00

I'M GONNA BE AN AUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tell It WOC Speak

2009-02-19T14:47:00.000-08:00

Woo-Hoo! First Carnival!

Also, I know I've really been neglecting this blog. Right now, I'm just not sure about what to do with it. My brain goes in 10,000 different directions and I barely blog on my main blog as it is. I still really believe that forums like this exist, but I'm just not sure where to proceed. Any suggestions would be freakin' awesome.

Please forgive my rambling. It's been a wonky day.

Help Wanted!

2008-10-24T09:11:00.001-07:00

I'm working on a series of posts dealing with definitions and real-world realities. I'm relatively new to the Progressive movement, and there's a lot of things I'm still learning. Something I have learned is that dictionary definitions often don't work in the real world. This series will analyze that, while offering my own thoughts on the different subjects. The series will concentrate on 4 areas: Race, Sex, Religion, Politics. I would love to get different points of view, especially in the areas in which I'm still very much a n00b. ;) If you would like to help me out, please e-mail me at malaika924 at yahoo dotcom.

Mauricia Grant

2008-06-15T18:28:00.001-07:00

Let me get this out of the way first and foremost: I know diddly-squat about NASCAR and racing cars in general.

And, if the following comments are any indication of the "NASCAR community", then I would rather not have anything to do with it:

I am tired of black people holding up white people for thier hard earned money....either with a gun or a lawyer....its the same crime...this "get a check for racism" game is old....I like the facts...you should to....but you dont....and its all because "whitey" is a racisist and "de holdin me down"....and the attitude is commonly ghetto black....."they owe me" so I have a right to rob them.......or steal from them....or sue them....they are cowards with no personal fortitude or motivation.....unless it is to get a check....for not working...

Yea the Blacks in America are soooo repressed, That is why a black woman gets a job over a black man who gets the job over a white woman who gets the job over a white man. Oh yea the college funds and government programs that apply easier to some than others I am NOT racist this is fact.

Blacks are given more opportunites that whites in todays world. There are scholarships specifically for african/americans; grant programs for african/americans to get technical schooling free; a Miss Black America (do we have a Ms White America? no we don't cause that would be racist); welfare programs; food stamps; free housing; I could go on an on. If I wanted my kids to go to college, guess who had to pay for it.

The reverse racism is unbelievable. Blacks have the NAACP, Rainbow Coalition, BET, Jesse and Al, UNCF, etc. and none of those are racist organizations, however, any KKK member is racist because he believes in the protection of "white rights." This country remains divided because of the minorities who get the majority of welfare, college scholarships, oh and prison time.

as far as the n word, there is this thing called freedom of speech, people can say what they want no matter if it hurts feelings

I could go on, but there's an ever-increasing urge to punch my computer monitor...I like my monitor. ^_^

Not that these assholes need an excuse to be racist, but the reason they've "got their ire up" this time is the pending $225 Million lawsuit against NASCAR for racial and sexual discrimination filed by Mauricia Grant.

Ms. Grant, the first Black woman official at NASCAR, attended Spelman College and received a degree in sociology from SUNY-Stony Brook on Long Island.

Mo quickly tired of her desk job and adopted her stepfather's passion for working with tools. She was accepted in the Los Angeles Urban League Automotive Training Center and began an internship at Irwindale Speedway.

And she did it the hard way.

"When I started working at Irwindale Speedway, it was because of my own interest," Grant said. "I volunteered to work for free at the Dodge Weekly Racing (Series). It was something that I wanted to do. I was a L.A. girl and there was a short track close by — 30 miles from L.A. It had nothing to do with me wanting to help NASCAR diversify its sport.

"Once I was working at Irwindale and I got real great reviews from my bosses, Magic Johnson heard about me because Shav Glick wrote a story about me that appeared in the L.A. Times. Magic read it and invited me to speak on behalf of NASCAR at an event to celebrate John Mack, the former president of the L.A. Urban League."

When the late Shav Glick of the Times interviewed Irwindale Speedway principals, the reviews of Grant could not have been more admirable.

"Mauricia is a great asset to our officiating crew and to the track in general," track VP Bob DeFazio told the Times. "Her enthusiasm seems perfectly matched by her ability to learn. We've asked the people at the Automotive Training Center to please send us more like her."

"The best word to describe Mo is sharp," Director of Racing, Lester Boyer told the Times. "She's not only one of the hardest-working track officials, she's the most friendly. Tech inspection is always an us-vs.-them deal, like we're trying to find something wrong with someone's race car. In reality, that couldn't be further from the truth. We just love it when a car sails through the safety and rules compliance inspection. Mo's smile and the way she does this important job just puts everyone at ease.

According to Section 21 of the lawsuit:

Defendant NASCAR hired Plaintiff MAURICIA GRANT not only because of her skills and qualifications as a racing Official, but also as a symbol of NASCAR’s newfound, purported commitment to diversity. Indeed, throughout her employment, Defendant NASCAR repeatedly featured Plaintiff MAURICA GRANT at public out-reach programs designed to convince the media, corporate sponsors and others of the company’s diversity. At the same time, within Defendant NASCAR’s corporate headquarters and on its racetracks throughout the country, there was and remains a permissive and encouraging environment for racial and sexual discrimination and harassment among directors, managers, supervisors, officials and employees of the company against African-American and female employees.

Examples of the "permissive and encouraging environment for racial and sexual discrimination", were name calling ("Mohammed, "Nappy Headed Mo", "Queen Sheba", "Al Qaeda", "Black Sisters Revenge", "Mo from the Block", "Molicious", "bitch," "nigger", "Simpleton"), ignorant comments and questions ("How do you fix that hair?", "How come the palms of your hands are white?", "She's on Colored People Time", "It must be National Minority Day", "You can't possibly sunburn..", "What up, my nigga?"), and unwanted sexual propositioning ("Let me see your tits", "Do you wanna see my dick?"). There are too many allegations to post, but the lawsuit lists everything in excruciating detail. (***TRIGGER WARNING) The lawsuit also states:

123. Throughout her employment at Defendant NASCAR, Plaintiff MAURICIA
GRANT received positive performance evaluations, including from her direct supervisor, Public Relations Manager Doub Hanshaw. On numerous occasions, Plaintiff TRACEY WRIGHT was praised by her Supervisors for her natural aptitude in and enthusiasm for Public Relations, as well as for the excellent feedback Free People received from its media contacts concerning Plaintiff’s professionalism, responsiveness and demeanor.

124. Unfortunately, after Plaintiff MAURICIA GRANT complained of racial discrimination and harassment, she was subjected to heightened scrutiny, unwarranted disciplinary action, degrading treatment and continued harassment culminating in her unlawful termination, in direct retaliation for her complaints.

Ms. Grant was terminated from her job on October 27, 2007 for "poor work performance".

The bullshit...it is strong...

NASCAR CEO Brian France claims he knew nothing about these allegations before the lawsuit.

"If any of those claims turn out to be accurate and have substance, we would have liked to have known about that two years ago, so that we could react and have done something about it because it's inconsistent with anything ... from a policy standpoint about how a work environment for our officials should be," France said.

First of all, I call bullshit. Secondly, given the circumstances, I could see why someone would be hesitant to approach their supervisors (emphasis mine):

40. Throughout her employment from approximately January 2005 through her
wrongful termination on or about October 27, 2007, Plaintiff MAURICIA GRANT was one of approximately 30 Officials employed by Defendant NASCAR for its Busch Series. In 2005, only approximately five of those 30 Officials (or 17%), including Plaintiff, were women. In 2006, the number of female Officials decreased to four when one of the women was fired after she complained about the sexually hostile work environment. In 2007, Plaintiff MAURICIA GRANT was one of only three women employed as Officials in the NASCAR Busch Series.

41. Throughout her employment with Defendant NASCAR from approximately
January 2005 through her wrongful termination on or about October 27, 2007, Plaintiff MAURICIA GRANT was the only Black Official employed in the NASCAR Busch Series.

42. Throughout her employment with Defendant NASCAR from approximately
January 2005 through her wrongful termination on or about October 27, 2007, Plaintiff MAURICIA GRANT was the only Black female Official employed by Defendant NASCAR out of some 75 Officials employed for all its racing competitions.

As long she remained the "poster-girl" for NASCAR's Drive for Diversity initiative and kept for mouth shut, there wasn't any problem. Now that she's asserted herself and is fighting against a racist corporation, "She chose to make this about money and about a lawsuit."

I wanted to get into all of the bigotry surrounding this sport, but I just don't have the strength right now. (I'm sure there'll be quite a few NASCAR trolls knocking on my door as soon as I hit "Publish".) I'm tired. I'm frustrated. And I'm mad.

I think I'll just end (for now) with Bill Center:

“NASCAR races are different for me,” [Milton Hines, the program and operations director for ESPN Radio 800] said. “From officials to fans, I do get looks. I find myself keeping my hands in my pockets. I love the sport, but there are a lot of places I wouldn't go. I'm sorry, but it's just a fact"...

...

I do know that I've heard racist comments like the ones she puts forward in NASCAR settings. And I do know that when Milton Hines walks through the garages at Fontana, he gets strange looks. I've been there. I've seen it.

Why Seal Press Sucks, Part Deux

2008-05-07T08:07:00.001-07:00

It's only a week since Seal Press issued a public apology for the racist imagery in Amanda Marcotte's new book, and the publishers are introducing a new book from two expat [White] Americans entitled (grab your barf bags), Tales from the Expat Harem.

Commenters rightfully pointed out the hypocrisy. Only to receive the following responses:

From one of the authors...

I suggest you read before condemning to understand exactly why that word and metaphor were specifically chosen.

From the publishers...

Tales from the Expat Harem is neither a sexist nor a racist title. Please, let's not look for the racially embedded wrong in every one of our books.

I heart Susie:

"Please, let's not look for the racially embedded wrong in every one of our books."

Because if it's there, you really don't want to know about it. You couldn't be making that clearer. Less than a week after your heartfelt apology, you're given the opportunity to listen to women of color trying to tell you something, and you dismiss them out of hand once again, informing them that you know far better than they do what is and isn't racist. You don't say, "Well, I can see why you'd be concerned about that, but we definitely considered that as an issue and here's why we feel it's not inappropriate." No, you just shut down discussion, and you shut it down by saying explicitly that you aren't willing to accept any consequences, like heightened scrutiny, for the wrong you admit you've done and for which you are supposedly so deeply penitent.

I'm really gobsmacked by this. You'd think common sense would keep you from being this openly arrogant and condescending, if a sense of decency doesn't.

Update:

From the publishers:

We apologized for the images in the first printing of It's A Jungle Out There. We made a mistake, we've owned up to it, we're doing everything we can to make things right for the book, for the author, and for our readers. We are working to do better.

"Now where's our damn cookie?!"

Seal has been around for more than 30 years. We've published a lot of great titles. We've informed a lot of women's lives.

Their new slogan: Seal Press...Racially-Igorant for Over 30 Years

In the two years since we published Tales from the Expat Harem, we have not heard that this book is pissing people off, let alone that it is racist. Quite the opposite. This travel literature title has received great reviews, has given travelers and arm-chair travelers alike a peek into Turkish culture from non-Turkish women's perspectives. Initially, we questioned the title too, but the editors of this anthology, both accomplished women we respect, helped us to see that from our narrow Westerner lense, the title which made us uncomfortable, was actually, an appropriate way to clarify the female powerbase aspect of a harem.

"The two White ladies who published this book assured us it wasn't racist."

This doesn't take away our mistakes. We realize that. Pushing the envelope is difficult, and we will continue to make mistakes along the way. It's never our intention to offend our audience, but we know that causing a stir, shaking people up, getting people to discuss things that push their boundaries and are challenging is part of our important job. And we take it seriously.

"It meaning making money. To hell with racism!"

Before you accuse us of publishing racist books, I do hope you'll read them, so we can have more informed discussions that we and our authors can participate in.

Anyone else get the warm-'n-fuzzies from this "apology"?

Nah. Me neither.

Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!

2008-04-26T15:36:00.000-07:00

First Brownfemipower...

Now Blackamazon...

...dammit.

The Article

2008-04-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

**sigh...

What the fuck, people?

What the fuck?

**speechless...but not surprised...

What Not To Do When Talking About Racism

2008-04-02T14:17:00.000-07:00

Ever since the Obama/Rev. Wright incident, people have been talking about ways to initiate a conversation about race and racism. One of the commenters on Karnythia's post at the Angry Black Woman, A. (I'm not censuring; that's her/his handle! ^_^), suggests:

And, strangely, this topic title [How to Derail a Conversation About Race] is so
appropriate. This should be put in a list of “What not to do when talking about
racism.”

Meme time!!

Title: "What Not to Do When Talking About Racism"

Rules:

Be constructive: This will not become "The Angry White People Show". Only reply if you are genuine, and not looking for a place to air your grievance about what pisses you off about other races. This goes for POCs, too. Leave the stereotypes at home.
Be sympathic: Guess what? Just because your life is all "buttercups and daisies", doesn't mean it's that way for everyone. Please, conscious and considerate of that fact.
Be open-minded: ^^^See above.
And above all, THINK BEFORE YOU POST!

Tag: YOU!!!

**Note: I've gotta run, but I'll post my own list and update as soon as I can! ^_~

I'm gonna miss you! :-(

2008-02-29T18:25:00.000-08:00

I won't be able to do a big "link dump" this weekend because I'm moving to my new apartment! [Yay! :-D]

But I don't have internet access. [Boo! :-( ]

Or my own computer. [Aww! :-( ]

I do hope to update soon...That is, if my dad doesn't change the locks so I can get to the computer...[Oy!]

Sigh...

2008-02-29T14:52:00.000-08:00

Why do I even bother with "Feministing"? I wouldn't call myself a masochist, but every time I go over there it's like getting punched in the gut over and over and over.

Idaho Planned Parenthood Agreed to Racist Donation
Tidbits from the comments section:

...I want to give the PP woman the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they edited it to make it sound/look like she was agreeing with the entrapment dude.

I'm grapsing at straws, aren't I?

Yes. Yes, you are.

What I am most appalled about is the fact that this was a SET-UP!!

What was the employee supposed to say? "We don't accept donations from racists!?" They need the money! She was trying to be politebut she was obviously uncomfortable. I probably would have reacted the same way - shocked, but eager to complete the transaction.

The set-up is what upsets her the most. Not the fact that the woman claimed she was "excited" about accepting the person's donation. Y'see how much - or how little - logic plays into this situation?

Before sending hate mail to the poor woman who is now at the center of this unfortunate anti-choice hate-driven cyclone... take a minute to experience being
her...

...Give PP of Idaho a break. Everyone here knows that PP is about as non-racist as you can get...

That "poor woman" put herself at the center of that "hate-driven cyclone" when she opened her mouth and out came stupid.

And how am I, and other Women of Color supposed to take anybody's word that the organization is non-racist when shit like this hits the fan?

But the money would not have gone towards eliminating black babies...I'm sorry, I just don't see why we can't accept donations from racists who don't understand our mission. Boohoo on the racists.

No, "boohoo" on the next Black woman who wishes to use PP of Idaho's services, only to find out that they will willingly take money from people who are eager to see her abort because of the color of her skin.

What's wrong with taking donations from racists?

The less money racists have the better.

*sigh...There are - of course - many, many of these kinds of comments. way to many to highlight them all.

This post from ratcity pretty much sums it up for me:

The defense of this woman & her actions is over the top. This mistake is being compounded here. This thread justifies the criticisms of mainstream feminism by people of color.

The defense here sounds too much like: a racist feminist? That's unpossible!

I too can see the possibility that a good person made an uncharacteric mistake. But that's not really the only way to look at. What she said was offensive & many people won't be as quick to assume it's meaningless. Many people won't be as quick to assume that the most important thing here is to deal with the anti-choicers rather than the racist actions by PP...

And sure, this shouldn't be used to justify unfair statements about PP. But minimizing the racism of the employee is minimizing the issues of people of color to support feminism in general. There couldn't be a more clear example of this sort of thing.

Some of you sound so sympathetic towards this woman. What if she'd said something offensive about something you cared about?

"Ain't I a Woman?"

2008-02-24T19:02:00.000-08:00

That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, to over mud puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman?
~ Sojourner Truth (ht to Racialicious)

Willow asks,
"What The Fuck Is Up With This Picture?"

"Who is that behind Wonder Woman?...last I checked, Vixen was not a white woman."

Plain(s)feminist discusses,
"Racism, Feminism, and The Issue of FGE"

It used to be that we - "we" being Western feminists - used the tern FGM (Female Genital Mutilation)...Only - surprise! - African women don't like being told they have mutilated genitals. And, too, they didn't appreciate the Western imperialist approach that cast their societies as backward and evil...

...and debates
"The thing about 'barbaric'"

In the discussion on FGE that I mentioned, one angry woman, who didn't understand why Western women's opposition to the practice was perceived as imperialist, challenged someone else's comment that barbaric was an offensive term. Why, she asked, did we consider "barbaric" to be imperialist and offensive?

Shark Fu memorializes,
"Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees..."

I am sick and tired of people casually discussing lynching another person.

Jenn announces,
"War on Asians Leads to Diversity Training"

...Karson is not merely waxing philosophical on race in America; he is inciting his readers to violence, be it rape against women or a modern-day lynching against Asian Americans. At what point does the university step in and acknowledge that while speech should be free at an academic institution in Boulder, the university has a responsibility to protect female and minority students from threats of physical violence?

Belledame222 tells us to,
"read it and weep"

...Sanesha Stewart, a young trans woman of color, was stabbed to death on Saturday. An alleged sex worker, which, if true, would of course mean she had it coming even more than she already did.

And, to end the weekend on a positive note:

Sudy declares,
"Top 10 Things on Being Filipino"

Being Pinay, a Filipino American womyn, is a secret treasure that not many people know much about. Often, Pinays get thrown in under the Asian American umbrella, as if China, Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, Korea, Sri Lanka, India, and other fine countries can be swiftly help together with one flimsy string.

...and Angry Asian Man introduces,
"the real fifth beetle"

Good Stuff!

2008-02-18T20:03:00.000-08:00

I know! I know! I'm late. But I did find some really good stuff! Check it out:

Sudy,
"Demolishing the OneRace = HumanRace Argument"

Naamen Gobert Tilahun guest-blogging on The Angry Black Woman,
"The Privilege of Politeness"

Blackamazon,
"If you think it's about you it probably is"

via Automatic Preference,
Indigenist Intelligence Review, "Saying Sorry is a Symbolic Sham"

Kathryn Joyce (TheNation),
"Missing :The 'Right' Babies"

It's "the baby bust," "the birth dearth," "the graying of the continent": modern euphemisms for old-fashioned race panic as low fertility among white "Western" couples coincides with an increasingly visible immigrant population across Europe. The real root of racial tensions in the Netherlands and France, America's culture warriors tell anxious Europeans, isn't ineffective methods of assimilating new citizens but, rather, decades of "antifamily" permissiveness--contraception, abortion, divorce, population control, women's liberation and careers, "selfish" secularism and gay rights--enabling "decadent" white couples to neglect their reproductive duties.

Anne Bratskeir, Newsday.com
"Diversity may be Fashion Week's latest victim"

"Some shows had just one black model," [Nigel Barker, the photographer and judge on TV's "America's Next Top Model"] says, adding that he found the shows monotonous, visually unexciting and depressing. "Fashion is about fantasy, and everybody's fantasy is not to be 6 feet and white."

via La Chola, (ht to Joan Kelly's Weblog)

New Website to support the New Jersey 4:

Justice 4 New Jersey 4
http://www.amyewinter.net/nj4/

via Alas, a Blog,
"MLK Talked Nichelle Nichols out of quitting 'Star Trek'"

via Vox Ex Machina,
"Friday Night Dance Party: Hip-hop meets tinikling"

Also:
Tyra Banks tends to grate on my nerves but I love Alek Wek!

Welcome!

2008-02-10T14:10:00.000-08:00

The spark for this blog came after reading a post by Shark-Fu at The Angry Black Woman:

Just imagine how much better we’d understand the issues important to women if women of color were included in the analysis of “the women vote” rather than lumped into the 18 – 70+ broad as hell and insultingly generic “Black vote” or “Hispanic vote”.

Have you ever clicked on a link to the comment section of a site and thought, "I know this gonna piss me off"?

Have you typed until your fingers were sore because you tried to beat a little knowledge into someone who refuses to pull his/her head out of his/her ass long enough to see clearly past their shit-covered noses?

Are you tied of listening to the media refer to "the female population" and "the minority community" as if they were two completely different things?

Whether you're a feminist, womanist, or undecided; whether you're a "breeder" or LGBT; whether you're religious, agnostic, or none of the above; the voices of Women of Color will not be silenced here!

**Pass along ideas and links to great blogs, articles, stories, artwork, etc. by Women of Color and allies!