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Category: Social Justice February

This quote from Ijeoma Oluo reads, “Even the most virulent American racist has to wrestle with the fact that the United States would not exist were it not for people of color.”
What Black History Month means to me

What Black History Month means to me

At the coldest, bleakest time of each year in the United States, we observe first Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in late January, and then Black History Month in February. I know there are non-racist reasons for this scheduling. Dr. King’s birthday is January 15. February was chosen by a Black historian for Black History Month (originally Black History Week) because Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass both were born in February (Feb. 12 and 14, respectively). But I sometimes feel…

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Signs and signals of Jim Crow

Signs and signals of Jim Crow

The Artdog Image(s) of Interest All too many Americans can remember a time–not so long ago, and not so far away as to give us any comfort–when signs like these were posted to keep them out.  When public spaces like these were all too common. When people accepted this as “normal.” Even as “right.”  We live today in an era of rising white supremacy groups. They would tear down the all-too-fragile gains we’ve made for equity, civil rights, and justice for all.  We must be vigilant. We must call out…

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Interpretations of greatness

Interpretations of greatness

The Artdog Quote(s) of the Week One of the recurring themes in white supremacist rhetoric (of which we’ve heard far too much since the start of the Trump Administration) is that white people are somehow “superior” to other races. Presumably, that would extend to the depth of their thoughts. I wondered if it might be interesting to compare observations written by leaders of the Confederate States of America with the thoughts of people who had experience on the “receiving end” of slavery.* I’ll leave it to you, to determine whose thoughts…

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The effects of slavery

The effects of slavery

The Artdog Quote(s) of the Week One of the recurring themes in white supremacist rhetoric (of which we’ve heard far too much since the start of the Trump Administration) is that white people are somehow “superior” to other races. Presumably, that would extend to the depth of their thoughts. I wondered if it might be interesting to compare observations written by leaders of the Confederate States of America with the thoughts of people who had experience on the “receiving end” of slavery. Bonus quote; I couldn’t resist. I’ll leave it…

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Of morality and Dreams

Of morality and Dreams

The Artdog Quotes of the Week One of the recurring themes in white supremacist rhetoric (of which we’ve heard far too much since the start of the Trump Administration) is that white people are somehow “superior” to other races. Presumably, that would extend to the depth of their thoughts. I wondered if it might be interesting to compare observations written by leaders of the Confederate States of America with the thoughts of people who had experience on the “receiving end” of slavery. I’ll leave it to you, to determine whose thoughts resonate with the greater depth. IMAGES:…

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Is justice colorblind?

Is justice colorblind?

The Artdog Image of Interest Normally, it’s not a good thing to be “colorblind” where race is concerned. That can make it too easy to pass over injustices and put-downs (both “microaggressions” and the more macro sort).  But, as with so-called “blind auditions,” sometimes it’s only justice, if it IS colorblind, so everyone is treated equally.  IMAGE: Many thanks to Duke University and Tamberly Ferguson, via the A2L website, for today’s infographic.

Subordination v. Freedom

Subordination v. Freedom

The Artdog Quotes of the Week One of the recurring themes in white supremacist rhetoric (of which we’ve heard far too much since the start of the Trump Administration) is that white people are somehow “superior” to other races. Presumably, that would extend to the depth of their thoughts. I wondered if it might be interesting to compare observations written by leaders of the Confederate States of America with the thoughts of people who had experience on the “receiving end”…

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Making progress . . .

Making progress . . .

The Artdog Image of Interest Have we made progress? Some. Could we improve more? Undoubtedly. From Visually. In matters of equity and social justice, no picture is ever static, and progress is always relative. This infographic was created in 2014, so the data is already 5 years old or older. But this is a moderately recent snapshot of where we stand.  I normally celebrate February as “Social Justice February” in a nod to Black History Month. But remember that–as with feminism–greater social justice…

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Challenge to a deeper dive

Challenge to a deeper dive

The Artdog Quote of the Week Are you aware of your unconscious biases? Of course not–they’re unconscious! But unconscious bias is abroad in the land, no matter where you live or who you are. The results of such biases for or against others based on gender, ethnicity, culture, appearance, and in many other areas have been observed and documented. And we all have them. It’s a result of how we humans are “wired.” Becoming aware of our unconscious or implicit biases is not usually…

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Stronger than one building

Stronger than one building

The Artdog Image(s) of Interest  Shotgun, Third Ward #1, 1966, by John T. Biggers. John T. Biggers painted this image, Shotgun, Third Ward #1, in 1966–yet to me it hauntingly resonates with recent headlines. Likely inspired by a rash of arsons in black churches during the early-to-mid-1960s, Biggers chose to focus on the community, rather than the sensationalism of the fire. Then as now, the church is more than just a building, although churches were a central gathering place for the African American community during the Civil…

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