The document shown below has been accessed from the archive of the WACANupdate. The WACANupdate was an e-newsletter published by the White Anti-racist Community Action Network (www.wacan.org) from 2004 through 2009.

 

WACANupdate

News and opinion of interest to
the white anti-racist community


April 30, 2008


Contributing to this issue: Elizabeth Gordon

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Hello reader


Voting begins for Hall

One person has been nominated for the 2008 Hall of Remembrance & Commemoration. Who is it? Should they get in? Check it out at WACAN.org, and cast your vote. CLICK HERE


Letters to the Editor

One letter since the last WACANupdate. CLICK HERE


Send comments



 

WACANupdate EXCLUSIVE!

The posssibility in my son's blue eyes

Elizabeth Gordon interviews aspiring, and inspiring, white rapper Ariel Luckey. CLICK HERE

 

 

NEWS ITEMS


Racism and response

Several reports of racist activities and situations appeared this WACANupdate news cycle. The North Carolina Republican Party follows an old and racist tradition. Chicago law firms lack diversity, as do New York City advertising firms. Maryland NAACP seeks probe into sludge spreading in black communities. Black pro-life group decries racism in Planned Parenthood. Canadian activist claims to uncover history of undocumented child deaths in residential schools. Canadian police accused by Vancouver-area Filipino community of racist practices. Sixty staff of a Toronto prison walk out over racist firing. Sheriff's anti-immigrant raids draw mainstream opposition. Sandusky, Ohio, NAACP calls for firing of state troopers posing as KKK and Governor Strickland agrees. Jackson-Madison County, Tennessee, NAACP calls racist graffiti a hate crime. Finally, a Texas judge is falsely accused of racist speech.


Community programs

York County (PA) Community Against Racism sponsors workshops by Eddie Moore, Jr. and Tim Wise. Seattle non-profit Museum Without Walls brings together 10 suburban and 10 inner-city students. Minneapolis Public Schools plans race talk. YWCA of Baton Rouge (LA) hosts dialogue on race. Hmong outdoor club in Wisconsin aims to ease racial tension.


Medical news

ScienceDaily reports many African Americans have genetic resistance to heart disease. But black people have a higher rate of amputations, a Chicago-area study finds.


Education

Black-white gap widens faster for high achievers. Arizona measure backs 'American values' in state schools.


Rants, ravings and ratings

Rush Limbaugh calls for riots at Democratic National Convention in Denver.


White supremacy

Aryan Guard marches in streets of Calgary. A local resident objects. McCain & Stephanopoulos spread white supremacist talking points about Obama. White supremacist activity discussed in Billings, Montana. White supremacist arrested for pointing guns at people.


International News

White people and racism have a continued impact in South Africa. Four university students who made a racist video are now stonewalling a police probe. Many South African whites take issue with recent firing of columnist. A black South African columnist points out why the white columnist was fired. Another columnist discusses structural concerns in creating a non-racial state. A third columnist says "We need visible action from the white community, perhaps a march against racism organised and led by white people." Racial tensions run high on a Johannesburg campus (Article 1, Article 2). In the midst of this, a whites-only resort tries to hold on. A young white man calls for his people to get their stuff together. The leader of the ANC, South Africa's dominant political party, visits a poor white shantytown.

In England, a judge enforces a sentence on a man for racist behavior. A taxi driver is assaulted in a racist attack. A woman in Wales is fined for screaming racial abuse. Darlington soccer fans act racist, claims visitor. Humberside policeman is target of racist prank. British Airways pilot reveals how racist talk is common in the cockpit. Prisoners in Leeds win claim of racist treatment by authorities. Welsh insider to the British National Party describes racially charged atmosphere. Editorial cites history of racism among London police. Scottish authorities consider prosecuting teen with Downs Syndrome and 5-year-old intellect for "racist" assault, prompting many to think matters had gone too far.

Group says racism to blame for Aboriginal health problems. Educator critiques view that Aboriginal children should only receive one cultural perspective. Bulgarian tourist claims her tour guide compared Aborigines to apes.

Campus Watch

University of Washington students protest US troops in South Korea. Racist flyer found on Orlando college campus. Sonomo State students hold anti-hate rally. Locally written play featuring Anglo-Latino romance premiers at Arizona State University. A presumably white student at UC Berkeley claims to have no culture. A San Diego State student used to feel that way, but found the blog, Stuff White People Like. A Savannah college student explains why she uses a characteristically black vernacular. The white studies course at Portland State is worthwhile, student finds.

 

 

 

RESOURCES

 

Circle of Privilege: An experiential exercise on the impact of privilege, with facilitator's guide.

 

 

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

 

Halle Berry to play white racist character in new movie. "The Visitor" is a film worth seeing. London stage features play about poor whites in Africa. Hollywood slow to embrace Chinese.

 

 

SPORTS

 

A racist t-shirt has been placed on sale near Wrigley Field, Chicago, apparently in reaction to the Cubs' new player, Kosuke Fukudome. Sale of the t-shirt has been stopped by the Cubs.

Black boxer who claimed no "white boy" would beat him falls to Welshman.

 

 

OPINION & ANALYSIS

 

"Five reasons to be bitter," by Tami. What Tami Said, April 16, 2008.

"Minutemen and racism," by Barry Weaver. Santa Maria Times, April 20, 2008.

"A preference for deception," by Kimberle Crenshaw. Ms. Magazine, Winter, 2008.

"9 things never to say to white colleagues," by Yoji Cole. DiversityInc.com, April 2008.

"Is dressing like a CEO the same as 'dressing white'?," by Luke Visconti. AlterNet, April 2, 2008.

"Bananas, Oreos and coconuts: Would you identify as white on the inside?," by Nadra Kareem. Racialicious, April 2008.

 

 

 

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EVENTS

How to submit an event
CLICK May 27 Plainfield, NJ "WACAN-NJ meeting" Monthly meeting of white anti-racist group WACAN