May 2009
May 21st, 2009
Written by David Wolfford in Race & Politics with 0 Comments
In early 1965, President Lyndon Johnson addressed the nation on live television to announce his proposal for a voting rights bill. He ended his speech with, “We Shall Overcome.” This conclusion reassured civil rights leaders that he was fully on board and more federal protection against voting infringement was coming. Congress passed the Voting Rights Act by August of that year. Among other...
May 21st, 2009
Written by Dawn Shurmaitis in Cover Stories with 0 Comments
A ten-minute drive through Hazleton, Pa., reveals as much about the history of immigration and ethnic diversity, as it does the gastronomical tastes of a changing population, with menus boasting pierogies and pizza alongside eateries dishing up tamales and tostones.Like polka dots on an all-white background, Hispanic businesses like La Mexican Grocery and Crystal Barbeque compete along the same...
May 6th, 2009
Written by Stacy Nguyen in Stereotypes & Labels with 0 Comments
On July 1, 2002, the word “Oriental” (as it refers to race) was stricken from all government documents in the state of Washington thanks to the efforts of state Senator Paul Shin. Unfortunately, it hasn’t yet disappeared entirely from use.
Though, to most Americans, the O-word doesn’t carry the same historical and emotional baggage as the N-word, however, for Americans of Asian descent it is a...
May 6th, 2009
Written by Janice S. Ellis... in Our Daily Walk with 0 Comments
Color in all of its richness seems to be welcomed in many, if not every, aspect of our lives except when it comes to other human beings—of color, that is. When it comes to people, suddenly different colors and shades provoke closed mindedness rather than openness, fear rather than friendliness, oppression rather than freedom, and the baseness within us rather than the beautiful. Many down through...
May 6th, 2009
Written by David Wolfford in Race & Politics with 0 Comments
Barack Obama’s inauguration has overshadowed another political milestone for 2009. Michael Steele became the first African American to serve as Republican Party chairman in early February, and only the second to lead a major political party (Ron Brown was elected DNC chair in 1989). A native of Maryland, Steele attended Johns Hopkins University, and after considering the priesthood instead chose...