I hope you enjoyed this season of the WACANupdate. We run from October into June, and now the time has come for our summer hiatus. Summer at WACAN is a time for behind the scene programming and system work that cannot be done during the regular season. And frankly, it's a time to rest and reflect as well. The WACANupdate is proving to be a popular project. We anticipate some changes by early fall when we open our new season, but our basic format as a news aggregator covering news of interest to the white anti-racist community will remain. Enjoy your summer.

Our Spring Appeal is officially over tomorrow and we have collected $986 toward our goal of $1,500. Times are hard, but please consider making a donation.

It's rare for the media to make any mention of white anti-racists, so it was refreshing to see this report. WACAN is an outcome of the same 2002 New Orleans meeting identified in the story.

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Maybe it's not news in the US anymore. A story released by Human Rights Watch on the massive number of people imprisoned in the US and the racial disparities involved got little attention in the domestic press, but was picked up by Reuters and published in India, Pakistan, Iran and Australia.

United Nations Special Rapporteur Doudou Diene has toured Harlem, Los Angeles, issued a statement in Washington, DC, and appeared on National Public Radio. Two interesting facts: like all UN Special Rapporteurs, he is a volunteer, and he can only travel to countries that have issued an invitation. Someone in the Bush administration must not have been looking. Meanwhile, planning proceeds on the next UN WCAR amidst concerns about controversy.

Columbus, OH, police launch an unprovoked attack on peaceful "Longest Walk 2" procession. In Denver, protesters from the 2007 Columbus Day Parade event were put on trial, and some convicted. [NOTE: WACAN will open next season, as usual, with our anti-Columbus Day coverage as part of our participation in the Transforming Columbus Day coalition.] Canada has established a truth and reconciliation commission to hear testimony on decades-long boarding school atrocities (Article 1, Article 2). Ojibwe youth in British Columbia critique Indian Act, asking what if it read, instead, "All Whites must carry a card identifying that they are white."

A Florida town ponders the effects of local immigrations raids. Los Angeles is targeted by Federal officials. A Phoenix, AZ sheriff continues to have popular, though not political, support for profiling immigrants. Often the children are traumatized by all this. The prison industry, no longer content to lock up black people on drug offences, finds a whole new market and a Texas county gets 200 jobs and a million dollars per year.

Props to the blog, resistracism, for pointing to Dillard's department stores. Dillard's security have killed 6 people (5 people of color and 1 white) in separate incidents over time. In other incidents, a suit against Dillard's was settled this week. Additional suits were launched in 2006 and 2007.

The credit crunch hits people of color hardest. Secret Service foot dragging may lead to default judgment in racial discrimination suit. Congressman accuses Clinton campaign of racist strategy pitting Jews against African Americans. Geology textbooks excessively portray white men as scientists, study says. Six Flags character held to be intentionally racist. Boise, ID, is surprisingly racist. South Carolina woman receives threatening "KKK" messages on phone, while an Oregon family has "KKK" burned into their lawn.

"The Political Cesspool," a white nationalist radio show, has been flushed. In New York, a white supremacist kills his wife, then himself. A California white supremacist goes back to prison. Two Santa Ana, CA, youth, one a white supremacist, sentenced for murder.

Father Phleger issues a heartfelt apology and then is placed on leave by Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago. In New York City, adjustments are made as white males lose seniority in discrimination settlement. A Richmond, VA, sheriff shows pattern of negative actions toward white employees. Do whites need training before parenting black children? Yes, it would help.

A Florida town finally integrates its Little League. Syracuse, NY, holds cute event to raise awareness of racism. Talks in Portland, OR, about gentrification raise white awareness but may not help people of color. San Francisco schools take a serious look at racial disparities. Indianapolis schools promise to work on cultural competence. New York City agrees to address discrimination in public housing and New York State legislates in response to the Sean Bell shooting. Christians in Youngstown, OH, dialogue on racism. Sacramento, CA, removes name of white supremacist from park.

Australia celebrates "National Sorry Day," really. New Zealand white supremacist sentenced. Racist violence on rise in Russia. In Cyprus, youth on racist rampage. Brigitte Bardot, 1960s sex symbol, convicted fifth time of racist speech (Article 1, Article 2, Article 3). Paris soccer fans partake in racist violence.

An English mail carrier caught after 4-year hate campaign. The Confederation of British Industries (CBI) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) launch a new report Talent Not Tokenism, that outlines the benefits of diversity in the workplace. A Brighton club is accused of racist abuse. Asian woman in Manchester burned on lip during racist attack. Indian family restaurant attacked in Carlisle. Entertainer, Estelle, claims London mayor is racist.

South Africa still chasing the rainbow. South African dorm closed over urine stew video. Western Cape Premier accused of racism. UN Special Rapporteur Doudou Diene condemns xenophobic violence in South Africa.

Seattle mom draws white families back to school.

In Utah, white people unsure how to interact with black people.

Racial preferences in the dating world.

Amy Winehouse videotaped singing a racist ditty, while British Big Brother contestant Emily Parr ashamed of using "n-word."

The summer of brownface.

Cheney's joke about poor white people reprises a long history.

Two books tell story of Colfax Massacre.

America's racist Left.

Tips for a brother: Ways for Barrack Obama to make that elusive white voter like him and believe he is just like one of them.

"On 'choosing' whiteness," by Daniel B. Holzman-Tweed. debunkingwhite, May 17, 2008.

"Obama and the myth of racial transcendence," by Ralph Remington. Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, May 28, 2008.

"'Blackness' as spiritual perfection," by Joseph A. Bailey, II, MD. Black Voice News Online, May 28, 2008.

"Whites, blacks and illicit drugs," by Algernon Austin. thedailyvoice, May 29, 2008.

"Vet Obama? How about (white) America vet itself," by Mark Anthony Neal. Vibe.com, May 30, 2008.

"Don't weasel out of racial truth," by Leonard Pitts, Jr. Detroit Free Press, May 31, 2008.

"The black conundrum," by Carl Moore. Trinidad and Tobago Express, June 3, 2008.

"Why the emphasis on white-skin privilege is white chauvinist," by Fred Ho. illvox.org, June 5, 2008.

"Your whiteness is showing: An open letter to certain white women who are threatening to withhold support from Barrack Obama in November," by Tim Wise. lipmagazine.org, June 5, 2008.

"Psychological warfare on the notion of a black president: Playing on black fear and white lunacy," by Dr. Anthony Asadullah Samad, Ph.D. The Black Commentator, June 5, 2008.

"Asking the white guys: Don't try this at home," by Luke Visconti. divesityinc.com, June 5, 2008.

"White guys - and others - react to 'Don't try this at home.'," by Luke Visconti. diversityinc.com, n.d.

"What's wrong with 'Asking the white guys'? - The debate continues," by Luke Visconti. diversityinc.com, n.d.

"Calling Obama black is an insult to his mother," by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown. Independent.co.uk, June 9, 2008.

We have raised $986 toward our goal of $1500 for our 2008 Spring Appeal.

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