Racism 101: Are you a Racist?

Over the past few days, I’ve been catching up on posts I’ve missed while I was gone, setting up future post and arguing with bigots. In this time, several things have come up that I want and need to address. (Warning: Long ass post is long)

Two days in a row, two separate bigots that I was conversing/arguing/debating with, received messages encouraging them to kill themselves. In the first instance, it was said that it was somehow my fault because I “Told them to go there.” While in the second, the person receiving the message on Anon, credited the message to me. In the first instance, I personally never saw the message. I was only accredited for “Sending” people to write it. In the second, I was furious because well, it wasn’t me but more importantly, it wouldn’t have been me. (Not to mention, it was attributed to me ONLY because I was the person the bigot was replying to at the time. Which I find to be a dick move) I will say that I take suicide, suicide threats and calls for suicide very seriously. I wouldn’t say something like that. Not even through rage. The problem that I am now faced with is that, other than previously stating that I personally wouldn’t do something like that, I have never really discouraged it.

I discourage it. I do not condone it. I do not encourage it. I do not think it cute, funny or helpful. 

You are angry? Good. You should be. RAGE. Fucking rage. You should rage against this kind of ignorance and bigotry. You can do it without death threats or calls for death. You can. I promise you.

This leads me to my next issue. There is an ongoing discussion/disagreement on how to handle things. Angry or patient. Yell or speak softly. Rage or happily dance. As far as I am concerned, they are both valid and needed. I repeat, they are BOTH valid and NEEDED. 

For many, it takes anger, rage, a raised voice and the sound of a fist pounding on a table to get their attention. For them to hear you. For them to stop what they are doing, what they are saying and listen. REALLY listen. For other’s, you can absolutely hold their hand, sit and talk while you explain each and every detail of why they are wrong. 

THESE PEOPLE DO NOT WEAR BUTTONS TO DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES.

When someone says or does something bigoted, this is NOT the time for you to decide how OTHER people react. You don’t like the way someone is talking to the bigot? Okay, that is perfectly fine. HOW-the fuck-EVER, you should be concerned with how YOU are talking to the bigot. You don’t like the yelling and angry wording? Okay, well why aren’t YOU choosing a gentler path? Your “Gentler” path might work. It might not. The problem is that while you are “Telling someone off” for how they told someone else off, you have said NOTHING to the bigot. Your silence is acceptance. Now, if you truly believe that there is a better way to handle the situation, that’s great. Maybe you can help. Don’t sit there and pout. Step up. Say things YOUR WAY and maybe you can get through. Give it a try. Seriously, HELP OUT. Be whatever kind of voice you think will work. Don’t sit and write posts about how this one time you were sweet and kind and it totes mcgotes worked. If that is true, fantastic! The question is, why were you writing poetic love letter to your greatness while everyone else was trying to make a bigot stop being cruel? Seriously, I don’t care WHICH route you choose. I care that you GET ON THE DAMN ROAD!

Riley: When did Riley become the GOD in your prayers? I seem to have missed a meeting or something. In the time I’ve been gone, there have been multiple blogs created for the SOLE PURPOSE of reblogging and discussing Riley in the most negative ways possible. Normally, I would say, to each their own. The problem I am having with these situations are that 1-Damn, there sure are a number of them and 2-What is with the hate fandom? It’s creepy and it’s evil. More than that though, it’s pathetic. Riley isn’t for everyone. You know what? That’s okay. It really is. We don’t have to sit in a drum circle and link arms with each other. Why the targeting though? I mean, I could sit here and go into why this is so disturbing from an onlooker’s point of view. But…I kind of want to know what happened in the lives of the people doing this. Okay, so you don’t like someone? Okay, no problem there. Why would actually START and DEDICATE A BLOG TO THEM? Yes, this is upsetting. Yes, this is the act of a stalker. Yes, this is sick. But…WHY? When I don’t like someone, my instinct is to avoid them, not build a shrine. Why would you build a shrine to someone you loathe? I don’t understand the dedication to someone you…”Hate?”

Sex Workers: Um, this has been under my skin for a while now so let me be as clear as humanly possible. If you are against sex workers, you are against me. If you do not see the difference between a “Sex worker” and a person who is part of “Sex trafficking” you need to say NOTHING at all. Contrary to many ignorant opinions, sex workers are not only human, they are decent, they are upstanding and they are doing a job that they want to do and a job…for many, this next part is going to shock you…they LIKE to do. They don’t need to be “Saved” or “fixed.” Perhaps it is YOU who need to be “fixed.” 

Women are women: The other day, I got into a heated discussion, no fuck that, I got into an argument with an anti-woman, self described, “Radical Feminist.” After re-reading my replies, I realized just how angry I was while I wrote. For those of you that have seen me argue before, you can normally see exactly where my anger grows. Unfortunately, with a certain amount of anger, there often comes a point where I start repeating myself and even talking in circles. Now, even though much of what I wrote was…goodness, a LOT! I stand by the sentiment. For those of you who weren’t able to keep up with all of it, I’d like to clarify my feelings on the subject now. Women are Women. I will never feel differently. I don’t care what “Descriptor” you or anyone else puts in front of the “Woman” part. If you identify as a woman, you are my sister. There is nothing more to discuss. With that said, in every positive group or movement, there is always a subset of people within that group who believe themselves better, different or “More” than others within that same group. I consider myself extremely pro-woman. The problem here is that there are some who confuse “Pro-Woman” with “Side with ANY woman no matter what.” This is not and will not ever be me. To say that certain women are not women in a “Blah blah blah” way, is to say that you believe YOUR womankind is THE womankind. You are not my sister. I make no bones about it. I don’t care how it sounds, looks or makes you feel. To separate my sister from me is to separate you from forward movement. I do not apologize. I do not sit in silence and I do not bend to the whims of those that believe themselves the “True” woman. Also, FUCK YOU for that notion in the first place. (I know, I know. It sounds like I contradicted myself there, right? The “If you identify as a woman you are my sister” and then the “If you believe YOUR womankind is THE womankind you are not my sister” part. Okay, here’s the thing. I stand by this wording. Here’s why: When a person in a group that I either personally belong to or am personally fighting with/for does something to hurt that group, they are anti-that group. Yes, even when they themselves are PART of that group. You are a woman who doesn’t believe women should have equal pay, birth control or laws that protect us from violence? You are anti-woman in my eyes and therefore, not my sister. Equally, if you believe there is a certain TYPE of woman that IS “Woman” while other women are not, you are not my sister.)

In this same argument, there came discussions of “Safe Places.” I would also like to clarify my position on that. I believe in them whole heartily. Everyone not only needs a safe place but deserves a safe place. My issue with the “Safe place” the RadFem was calling for was NOT the need or even the want of it. It was the REASON for it. For many of us, the “Safe Place” is a place needed for protection, to have our voices heard and not be talked over. To have issues that we face (which are often overlooked completely) brought to the forefront. THIS IS NECESSARY. My issue with the RadFem’s call for this “VERY SPECIFIC” type of “Safe place” was that it was NOT about these things. It was not even about having their voices heard. As a matter of fact, each person that added something in favor of this disturbing “Safe place” was a white cis woman. Why does this matter? Well, out of EVERY kind of woman there is, (at least in the US) these are the very women who DO get their voices heard, are protected (as much as women are in this country anyway) and get issues that are more specific to them brought to the forefront. In addition, (and this is REALLY where my problems lay) the use of “Safe place” was actually being used as a bullying mechanism. It was not being used to protect and include those that don’t otherwise have safe places. It was (and is) being actively used to tell people that they didn’t belong. Not just in this “Place” but in this fight. In this community. She told one woman she should see it as an “Honor” to not be included. (This shit REALLY happened) Safe places are NOT for bullying. THEY ARE FOR BEING SAFE AND HAVING YOUR VOICE HEARD. Why would anyone ever have to say (type) this out loud?

Finally, I love tattoos, pasta, sitting on the back porch while it rains, comedy, long rides to nowhere and being read to in bed! That about covers it!

PEOPLE  MAGAZINE   described him as one of the hottest cartoonists in America. His comic strip is the most widely syndicated daily strip by an African American in history. He is also in increasing demand as a motivational speaker. Most recently he has addressed TEDxDrexel University, and  The Groton School in Massachusetts. Other recent venues include The Shipley School, The Buckley School, Syracuse University, and The Smithsonian Institute.

Log onto GoComics.com to read his latest work or read it in hundreds of newspapers, including The Los Angeles Times, The New York Daily News or The Philadelphia Inquirer.

On May 19th 2012, Robb Armstrong  received an honorary “Doctor of Humane Letters” ,Honoris causa degree from Holy Family University in Pennsylvania.

racismschool:

Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African American Portraits by Deborah Willis

Book Description: (Copied from Amazon.com) This stunning collection of photographic portraits traces US history through the lives of well-known abolitionists, artists, scientists, writers, statesman, entertainers, and sports figures. Drawing on the photographic collections of the National Portrait Gallery, author Deborah Willis explores how these images—many by famous photographers—reveal the nation’s history through an African American lens and challenge us all to uphold America’s highest ideals and promises. Let Your Motto Be Resistance is the inaugural publication of the Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Opinion on this book: I picked this for the non-readers. There are a few essays and tidbits about the people in the portraits but for the most part, it’s just something to look at. At least, that was what I thought. I borrowed this book from the library and I can say for sure that it is now on my “To buy” list. I thought it would be an easy book to look through and enjoy. It was. However, I also found myself overwhelmed with emotion over and over again. The portraits ranged from heart breaking, to inspirational, to loving, to pure happiness. It is a beautiful book. One that may seem like nothing more than a simple picture book but turns out to be a photographic history. It’s truly lovely. 

Favorite Part: This kept changing. I looked through this book several times. I’m still looking through it. My favorite portrait keeps changing. First it was a portrait of Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis. I have a special place in my heart for these two. Then, a fantastic portrait of Gregory Hines dancing bare foot. I don’t know why but this one seemed pretty wonderful to me. Then a portrait of Richard Pryor was my favorite. This happened more times than I can count. Every page had a different character. A different reason to fall in love. I became emotional when looking at images of Martin, Malcolm, Stokely and James. However, it was the musicians that made me tear up. Made me wish I could have been there when the picture was taken. There is a beautiful photo of Cab Calloway from 1933 that I may have spent to much time looking at! Right now though, as I write this, my favorite is Willie “The Lion” Smith. He is playing a piano with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. It’s a smoky bar but he (and the photographer) are the only one’s there. You can see much of the empty bar. It’s haunting. It’s beautiful and right now, it’s my favorite. 

Recommend it? Yes! Not just to look at and read though. This is one I encourage you to buy for yourself. It’s something I think everyone who owns it will go back to time and time again.

racismschool:

What Fashion blog should we all be following? Add the name of your favorite Fashionable Person run blog or your favorite blog that is dedicated specifically to Fashionable people/topics. It’s up to you! 

I’ll start us off:

• thelingerieaddict
• dkdahypemanpictures (This one isn’t a fashion blog but I love the look)

What Fashion blog should we all be following? Add the name of your favorite Fashionable Person run blog or your favorite blog that is dedicated specifically to Fashionable people/topics. It’s up to you! 

• thelingerieaddict
• dkdahypemanpictures (This one isn’t a fashion blog but I love the look)
• handsomecabinboy
• bostonstreetstyle
• putthison
• urbaneclub
• dapperedasshit
• wmagazine
• tetinotete
• serenascello
• models-go-see
• yumeninja
• passionofashion
• honestly-wtf
• aliciahannahnaomi
• xsavagebeautyx

Designers: 

• steampunkcouture
• byvillette
• szmoon

Androgyny/Genderfuck:

• switchteams
• genderanarchy
• hisblackdress
• fyandrogyny

Other:

• fashiontipsfromcomicstrips
• oldrags

Book Description: (Copied from Amazon.com) This stunning collection of photographic portraits traces US history through the lives of well-known abolitionists, artists, scientists, writers, statesman, entertainers, and sports figures. Drawing on the photographic collections of the National Portrait Gallery, author Deborah Willis explores how these images—many by famous photographers—reveal the nation’s history through an African American lens and challenge us all to uphold America’s highest ideals and promises. Let Your Motto Be Resistance is the inaugural publication of the Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Opinion on this book: I picked this for the non-readers. There are a few essays and tidbits about the people in the portraits but for the most part, it’s just something to look at. At least, that was what I thought. I borrowed this book from the library and I can say for sure that it is now on my “To buy” list. I thought it would be an easy book to look through and enjoy. It was. However, I also found myself overwhelmed with emotion over and over again. The portraits ranged from heart breaking, to inspirational, to loving, to pure happiness. It is a beautiful book. One that may seem like nothing more than a simple picture book but turns out to be a photographic history. It’s truly lovely. 

Favorite Part: This kept changing. I looked through this book several times. I’m still looking through it. My favorite portrait keeps changing. First it was a portrait of Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis. I have a special place in my heart for these two. Then, a fantastic portrait of Gregory Hines dancing bare foot. I don’t know why but this one seemed pretty wonderful to me. Then a portrait of Richard Pryor was my favorite. This happened more times than I can count. Every page had a different character. A different reason to fall in love. I became emotional when looking at images of Martin, Malcolm, Stokely and James. However, it was the musicians that made me tear up. Made me wish I could have been there when the picture was taken. There is a beautiful photo of Cab Calloway from 1933 that I may have spent to much time looking at! Right now though, as I write this, my favorite is Willie “The Lion” Smith. He is playing a piano with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. It’s a smoky bar but he (and the photographer) are the only one’s there. You can see much of the empty bar. It’s haunting. It’s beautiful and right now, it’s my favorite. 

Recommend it? Yes! Not just to look at and read though. This is one I encourage you to buy for yourself. It’s something I think everyone who owns it will go back to time and time again.

Louis CK was on The Jimmy Kimmel Show last night. I am a big fan of Louis CK personally but that isn’t why I am writing this now. On last night’s Kimmel show, Jimmy mentioned that he’d gotten to see a few of the episodes from this season’s Louie show. He talked about how different reoccurring characters have actually been played by multiple actors/actresses. This lead to the point Jimmy was getting to.

In this season of Louie, his ex-wife is played by a Black woman. They talk about how the children on the show are obviously white. (Which honestly made me roll my eyes) When asked about the change, Louis said “She was good enough to play the person and I didn’t care.”(Starts at the 25:53 mark) Then, he stated that “If a character works for the show then I don’t care about the racial (background)”

Don’t misunderstand this and think that I believe Louis CK to be totally non-problematic. He definitely has faults. Plus, I have a strong suspicion that the woman playing his ex-wife will have at least a little of the “Sapphire Syndrome.” Which is not okay.

With all that said, I can’t help but be excited to see them play opposite each other. I can’t help but to be happy that someone who was in charge of hiring cast members didn’t have a “white only” policy. (THAT IS EXTREMELY RARE) I also can’t help but to be excited about the fact that he is talking about this on national television. 

I’m sure (and saddened) that there will be people who make comments about how his children are white so their Mother couldn’t possibly be Black. Ignoring the millions of possibilities in the way DNA actually works. There will also be people who make comments about how this is not reflective of his “Real life” situation. To them I say, it’s only a TV show! Isn’t that what you say when a character of color is replaced with a white character? 

I was already excited about the new season because I am a Louis CK fan. Hearing him say that he doesn’t care as long as the person can do the job, makes me even more excited!

First show of the season comes on tonight on the FX Network!

Named among the 100 Most Important People in Photography by American Photography Magazine, Dr. Deborah Willis is Chair and Professor of Photography and Imaging at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, where she also has an affiliated appointment with the College of Arts and Sciences, Africana Studies.

A 2005 Guggenheim and Fletcher Fellow, a 2000 MacArthur Fellow, 1996 Recipient of the Anonymous Was a Woman Foundation Award, and now an artist, she is one of the nation’s leading historians of African American photography and curator of African American culture.

Among her notable projects are Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers - 1840 to the Present, A Small Nation of People: W.E.B. DuBois and African American Portraits of Progress, The Black Female Body in Photography, Let Your Motto be Resistance, and Obama: the Historic Campaign in Photographs. This fall, Dr. Willis curated the traveling exhibition Posing Beauty in African American Culture, which was based on her book Posing Beauty: African American Images from the 1890’s to the Present. A more recent work, Michelle Obama, The First Lady in Photographs, was published and released in November. She lives in New York.

Republican Propaganda THEN:

Republican Propaganda NOW:

But Wait! There’s More…

Remember the guy who was a communist, anti-Christian, Anti-Law and Anti-American at the top of this post? Well, now they want you to know…

No, no! There is even more. Okay, so you know how BOTH of these guys, during their time, were/are considered anti-American Communists? Welp! Guess what! Republicans totes love MLK now! As a matter of fact…

Inspired by his father, who was an amateur photographer, and his grandmother, who was the keeper of the family scrapbook, Earlie Hudnall Jr. began photographing in the 1960s while in the Marine Corps. He later studied art at Texas Southern University in Houston under department head John Biggers. Hudnall recalled that Biggers told his students that “art is life” and explained that artists must draw upon their experiences with family, community, and life in making their work. Hudnall took this advice seriously and created an extraordinary record of African American life, mainly in Texas, Mississippi, and Georgia. Hudnall wrote, “I chose to use the camera as a tool to document different aspects of life—who we are, what we are, how we live, and what our communities look like …. What is important is the ability to transform … a moment, into a meaningful, expressive, and profound statement.”

Read more about Earlie Hudnall Jr’s Story here.

See photos from Earlie Hudnalls Jr here. 

There have been post after post written about those that feel entitled to interject with “Not ALL blah blah people.” In this post, I’d really just like to know what your purpose is. What were you hoping to accomplish? Why did you feel the need to say it? What did you think was going to happen? The two most common versions that cross my dash are “Not ALL white people” and “Not ALL cis people.” 

Okay, so not “ALL.” Now that you’ve said that, what would you like to happen? Many of you go into these ridiculous diatribes about how you want the word “Some” placed into these comments and arguments. Here’s the problem, your argument of “All” is rarely ever stated. 

Personally, I’ve seen “All” stated exactly three times. Two of the three times, it was said in jest. On both occasions, it came from Black people who both stated that “ALL white people blah blah blah.” The reason was because, in both instances, they’d both been bombarded with “Not ALL white people” even though they’d never said the word “ALL.” The third was in reference to “ALL cis people.” It was a list of things cis people should and shouldn’t do when talking to non-cis people. 

I realize that this may vary from person to person but after you read this, start paying attention to when the “Not ALL” cries appear and what was said to bring them on. You’ll notice that rarely (if ever) is the word “ALL” used.

Now, the question is, since “ALL” is rarely used in the first place, why would the addition of “Some” suddenly make you feel better? Even if the word “Some” was added, what exactly were you hoping to accomplish? Okay, instead of saying “White people” I say “Some white people?” You interrupted the conversation to say “NOT ME” so that you could force me to add the word “Some” where an “ALL” NEVER EXISTED? On top of this, you can’t understand, for the life of you, why everyone is now upset with you? Again I ask, what did you think was going to happen?

Did you think that you would simply add your cries of “Not me” and suddenly the entire conversation would turn to the greatness of the “Not you” that is you? Did you expect a parade? Did you expect everyone to stop their conversation and say, “Thank you white person for not being like THAT” or “Thank you cis person for not being like THAT.” Is that what you were hoping for?

No? It was JUST so you could demand the addition of the word “Some?” 

REALLY?

Yet…no understanding at all as to why folks are mad at you now, huh? WOW! 

If there is no “ALL” isn’t the “Some” implied? 

Visual artist Marilyn Nance has produced exceptional photographs of unique moments in the cultural history of the United States and the African Diaspora, and possesses an archive of images of late 20th century African American life.

A two-time finalist for the W. Eugene Smith Award in Humanistic Photography for her body of work on African American spiritual culture in America, Nance has photographed the Black Indians of New Orleans, an African village in South Carolina, churches in Brooklyn, and the first Black church in America. She is recognized by the Smithsonian Institution Center for Folklore Programs & Cultural Studies as a community folklore scholar, an individual who has shown a significant contribution to the collection, preservation and presentation of traditional culture in a community or region. Her work can be found in the collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and the Library of Congress.

Nance’s photographs have been published in The World History of Photography, History of Women in Photography, and The Black Photographers Annual. Her writing, which often accompanies her photographs, has been published by Aperture, The New York Foundation for the Arts, and the Friends of Photography. She is the recipient of the New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowships in Photography (2000 and 1989), Nonfiction Literature (1993), and the New York State Council of the Arts Individual Artists Grant (1987).

A graduate of New York University’s Interactive Telecommunications Program (Tisch School of the Arts), Nance is an African American digital pioneer; she created her “Soulsista” website in 1994, was one of the Internet’s first radio disc jockeys in 1996, and in 1998 produced an interactive web site based on an African divination system. Nance served as the Curator of Photography for the Digital Schomburg Web Project, selecting for Internet publication, over 500 images of 19th century African Americans, from collections of the research libraries of the New York Public Library. Additionally, Nance holds a B.F.A. in Communications Graphic Design from Pratt Institute, and an M.F.A. in Photography from the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Nance is a technology evangelist who encourages people of all ages to see themselves as designers, producers, and owners of information. She is currently sharing her experiences with other artists, organizing and protecting her archive, and exploring digital assets management. She is part of the intergenerational, interdisciplinary art collective, The Santana Group that creates and exhibits lenticular images from Nance’s archive.

Follow Marilyn Nance on Facebook. 

If your logical argument to justify your racism only works in conversations about racism, you are just a racist. There is this invisible list that every racist seems to pull from. It’s the racist logic list. The most amazing thing about this list isn’t that it’s invisible. It’s not that every racist, no matter where they live, what their upbringing or even what their financial situation is, seems to read directly from it. No, the most amazing thing about this list is that the “Logic” of it is deemed acceptable. Rarely is this logic questioned. Rarely is this logic thought about or made to seem unreasonable. When this logic is held up to situations other than racism, you’ll see how not only absurd the thinking is but you may even begin to question why so many people get away with it in the first place.

“Pointing out racism is what keeps it going.”

• Pointing out cancer is what keeps it going.
• Pointing out grass is what keeps it going.
• Pointing out cartoons is what keeps it going.

“I didn’t mean it in a racist way.”

• I didn’t mean it in a murderous way. (After hitting someone with your car)
• I didn’t mean it in a thieving way. (After eating someone else’s lunch at work)
• I didn’t mean it in a animal hating way. (After kicking a dog)

“Everyone is a little bit racist.”

• Everyone is a little bit of a NASCAR driver.
• Everyone is a little bit HIV positive.
• Everyone is a little bit in love with Kim Kardashian.

“Calling me a racist is a racist act.”

• Calling me fat is a fat act.
• Calling me rich is a rich act.
• Calling me tall is a tall act.

“If Black people can say it, everyone should be able to say it.”

• If people with milk in their breast can breast feed, everyone should be able to do it.
• If people who are unable to walk on their own can have wheelchairs, everyone should be able to have one.
• If blue eyed people get to have a recessive gene, everyone should be able to have it.

“If there were a White History Month it would be called racist” 

• If there was a nursery for old people, it would be called age-ist.
• If there were parking spaces specifically designated for larger vehicles, it would be called large car-ist.
• If there were hairless cats, it would be called fur-ist. 

Tony Gleaton’s ancestry is African and European, and with fair skin and hazel green eyes he could easily fit a variety of ethnic descriptions. Born in Detroit and growing up in Los Angeles in the 1950s as an African American who didn’t always fit in, he easily gravitated to investigating how black people can become forgotten when they don’t fit into neat historical categories.

See Tony Gleaton’s Photography here.

How To Be Black by Baratunde Thurston

Book Description: (Copied from Amazon.com) If You Don’t Buy This Book, You’re a Racist. Have you ever been called “too black” or “not black enough”? Have you ever befriended or worked with a black person? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this book is for you. Raised by a pro-black, Pan-Afrikan single mother during the crack years of 1980s Washington, DC, and educated at Sidwell Friends School and Harvard University, Baratunde Thurston has over thirty years’ experience being black. Now, through stories of his politically inspired Nigerian name, the heroics of his hippie mother, the murder of his drug-abusing father, and other revelatory black details, he shares with readers of all colors his wisdom and expertise in how to be black. Beyond memoir, this guidebook offers practical advice on everything from “How to Be The Black Friend” to “How to Be The (Next) Black President” to “How to Celebrate Black History Month.” To provide additional perspective, Baratunde assembled an award-winning Black Panel—three black women, three black men, and one white man (Christian Lander of Stuff White People Like)—and asked them such revealing questions as: ”When Did You First Realize You Were Black?” ”How Black Are You?” ”Can You Swim?” The result is a humorous, intelligent, and audacious guide that challenges and satirizes the so-called experts, purists, and racists who purport to speak for all black people. With honest storytelling and biting wit, Baratunde plots a path not just to blackness, but one open to anyone interested in simply “how to be.”

Opinion on this book: This book made me laugh in a “You ain’t shit” kind of way! It toggles fairly equally between satire, self discovery and the “Black experience.” If you read this and you’re Black, you will likely hear something affirming and amusing. If you are non-Black and read this, you will likely learn something new and (if you understand sarcasm) also find it amusing. I listened to the Audio Book version. I strongly suggest it. I don’t want to say it’s better than a hard copy (or e-book) version of the book but…I imagine that it is in fact better! The Author reads the book and offers great inflection, accents (when needed) and emotion. In addition, you also get to hear the voices of those on his panel that he interviewed for this book. It’s pretty fantastic.

Favorite Part: This is actually tough to say. I knew that I was going to be reviewing this book so I listened to it with that in mind. I knew I would need a “Favorite part.” I don’t have one. No, that sounds negative. I don’t have one! Okay, repeating that joyfully doesn’t really work in type, huh? What I mean is, I have a lot of them. As in not just one. In the very beginning, there is a list of things to do if you are non-Black during Black History Month. Most of you, I am confident, will understand this as satire. Some of you though, some of you have a real problem with both nuance and sarcasm so let me whisper something to you-He is just kidding. Then, the problems he had with his name were all to familiar. Next, the stories of when people knew they were Black. And this was just the first 20 minutes of listening to the book! What I’m trying to say is, I loved this book.  

Recommend it? Yes! Yes! A million times YES! 

This week I would like to do something a little different. I am overwhelmed by the amount of support for the Offspring Project so I wanted to give thanks in return to those that have supported RacsimSchool. I started to make a list. There have been so many people that have been amazing to me and supported me completely but there was one in particular that has a special place in my heart. I could (and eventually will) make a long list of people who’ve had my back. For now, I want to tell you about one single person. This person has been here since the second day this page started. It isn’t just about the time he’s been here, it’s about the fact that from early on, he would send supportive notes and even encourage me to let things go when they so obviously bothered me. We don’t often get a chance to tell people how grateful we are to them. We often don’t let people know of the positive impact they’ve had on our lives. Today, I would like to say thank you to thechocolatedandy and say that if you are looking for a great person to follow, here he is!

Now, it’s your turn. Add the names of people who have been supportive to you and that you think would be great for us all to follow…

Black Children’s Book Author Award

• 2011 - One Crazy Summer, by Rita Williams-Garcia
• 2010 - Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal, by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
• 2009 - We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, Kadir Nelson
• 2008 - Elijah of Buxton, Christopher Paul Curtis
• 2007 - Copper Sun, Sharon Draper
• 2006 - Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue, Julius Lester
• 2005 - Remember: The Journey to School Integration, Toni Morrison
• 2004 - The First Part Last, Angela Johnson
• 2003 - Bronx Masquerade, Nikki Grimes
• 2002 - The Land, Mildred Taylor
• 2001 - Miracle’s Boys, Jacqueline Woodson
• 2000 - Bud, Not Buddy, Christopher Paul Curtis
• 1999 - Heaven, Angela Johnson
• 1998 - Forged by Fire, Sharon M. Draper
• 1997 - Slam, Walter Dean Myers
• 1996 - Her Stories, Virginia Hamilton
• 1995 - Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters, Patricia C. & Frederick L. McKissack
• 1994 - Toning the Sweep, Angela Johnson
• 1993 - Dark Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural, Patricia A. McKissack 
• 1992 - Now is Your Time: the African American Struggle for Freedom, Walter Dean Myers
• 1991 - The Road to Memphis, Mildred D. Taylor
• 1990 - A Long Hard Journey: the Story of the Pullman Porter, Patricia C. & Frederick L. McKissack

Black Children’s Book Illustrator Award

• 2011 - Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave, illustrated by Bryan Collier (written by Laban Carrick Hill)

• 2010 - My People, illustrated by Charles R. Smith Jr. (written by Langston Hughes)
• 2009 - We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, illustrated (and written) by Kadir Nelson
• 2008 - Let it Shine by Ashley Bryan
• 2007 - Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom, Kadir Nelson
• 2006 - Rosa by Nikki Giovanni, Bryan Collier
• 2005 - Ellington Was Not a Street, Illustration by Kadir A. Nelson, text by Ntozake Shange
• 2004 - Beautiful Blackbird, by Ashley Bryan
• 2003 - Talkin’ About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman, illustrated by E. B. Lewis
• 2002 - Goin’ Someplace Special, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney; text by Patricia McKissack
• 2001 - Uptown, by Bryan Collier
• 2000 - In the Time of the Drums, ill. by Brian Pinkney; text by Kim L. Siegelson
• 1999 - i see the rhythm, ill. by Michele Wood; text by Toyomi Igus
• 1998 - In Daddy’s Arms I am Tall: African Americans Celebrating Fathers, ill. by Javaka Steptoe; text by Alan Schroeder
• 1997 - Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman, ill. by Jerry Pinkney; text by Alan Schroeder
• 1996 - The Middle Passage: White Ships Black Cargo, by Tom Feelings
• 1995 - The Creation, ill. by James Ransome; text by James Weldon Johnson
• 1994 - Soul Looks Back in Wonder, ill. by Tom Feelings; text ed. by Phyllis Fogelman
• 1993 - The Origin of Life on Earth: an African Creation Myth, ill. by Kathleen Atkins Wilson; retold by David A. Anderson/SANKOFA
• 1992 - Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold
• 1991 - Aida, ill. by Leo and Diane Dillon; text by Leontyne Price

• 1990 - Nathaniel Talking, ill. by Jan Spivey Gilchrist; text by Eloise Greenfield