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by Jeff Hitchcock
It's time to kick back and enjoy it. The long election season is behind us, and the conservative era is passing. That era have a few moments left to it, but the promise of an Obama presidency is sweet.
It's not that Obama is a great doer of deeds and savior of the liberal nation. Indeed, there is much speculation about what Obama will actually do once he is in office. Nor is it the historical importance of Obama's status as a black American, although there is much to enjoy in his accomplishment.
It's simply a feeling that there is someone in charge now who is not unrelentingly hostile to an anti-racist analysis. He may have his hands tied with running the country. He may never use the word "anti-racism" in a speech. But something essential has changed in the grand scheme of governance and there is one less point of resistance to overcome.
This year promises to be the year of Lincoln, as well as Obama. It's fitting that Obama, who admits to studying Lincoln's writings during the transition, begins his term in the same year as the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth. How does the nation greet a new president? Here is how one anti-slavery activist, Frederick Douglass, felt about the new president Lincoln in 1861.
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One letter since the last WACANupdate.
CLICK HERE
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Send letters
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We have now collected $1,833 towards our goal of $2000. Today is our final day. Help us go over the top with your donation.
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This Friday, January 9, 2009, a ceremony will be held at the graveside of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X) to mark his induction into WACAN's Hall of Remembrance and Commemoration.
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CALL FOR ACTION
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A grassroots effort in Massachusetts asks people of European descent to join in an apology for slavery by January 20.
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NEWS ITEMS
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An significant opponent of apartheid in South Africa, called by many a "lonely voice of reason," Helen Suzman passed away on New Year's Day. Her passing was reported in several papers (Article 1, Article 2, Article 3, Article 4, Article 5, Article 6)
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Chip Saltsman, candidate for RNC national chair, sent out a CD of songs, including one about "Barack the Magic Negro" (Article 1, Article 2). The move was condemned by many (Article 1, Article 2), and led to some broader analyses of entrenched Republican racism (Article 1, Article 2). One view turned the critique back on liberals. Fox News managed to get caught up in the fray. In South Carolina, the GOP has its local version of the problem.
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Chronic sender of racist jokes still on the job in Ohio. A California preschool marred by swastikas, again. Another Texas dragging death leads to indictments. He must have been white; man yells racist remarks and shoots up neighbor's house. White supremacists go on high speed chase in Texas. A Canadian mother loses a third child, this time after altercation with white supremacist youths. White supremacists are using martinlutherking.org to trash the great civil rights leader. White nationalists are planning their political stand against the Obama presidency.
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Galveston police batter and arrest 12 year-old black girl in her front yard for wearing tight shorts. She's going to sue. When a Sikh family in the Houston area reported a break-in the police came and arrested the family.
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Cries of "racism" meet skeptical ears in Maine and Florida. A California town struggles when black renters move in. Course on "whiteness and racism" makes right-wing list of "most dangerous college courses." Minutes of meeting in Kansas City reveal sharp exchange over racism. A black man in Mississippi works across racial lines, decries separatism. Immigration laws support crackdowns, while in Flagstaff, Arizona, a local organization fights back.
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Race relations have improved in New Zealand. Australians oppose their government's support of "racist" US law. A letter writer in Japan ponders racial slurs. Fiji will soon hear radio play on racism. Saudis cautioned against racism toward foreigh workers. How to work the whites in South Africa.
A British study finds white working class feels ignored over immigration (Article 1, Article 2). It's poverty, not race, a professor claims. In Birmingham, white Britons find they are not welcome in some neighborhoods. Town residents who oppose "traveller camps" called racist by town council. Man sentenced for racist knife attack in Derby. Sunderland established pioneering racism reporting system. Mixed couple in Northern Ireland leaves home after arson attack, while a local politician rises to their defense. Nepalese youth attacked in Basingstoke. No joke: man receives racist jokes from internet humor service. BBC gets color wrong on doll figure.
Early last month The Wall Street Journal chimed in on Durban II. The DC Examiner added a piece more recently.
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ARTS, FASHION & ENTERTAINMENT
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Movies take mixed-race couples in stride, but still use worn out themes of race.
French film industry bars black actors from dubbing white stars.
Hip Hop grows in mostly white Portland, Oregon.
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PEOPLE & LIFESTYLE
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What I've learned from being called a racist.
Growing up white in Santa Cruz.
White people with wreaths around their faces.
Crystal clear: Student now sees her Latina self.
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HISTORY, HERITAGE & TRANSFORMATION
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When the 1958 University of Buffalo football team earned a bowl bid, would they let a little racism get in the way?
Prince Madoc and the legend of white Indians.
New books on the history of race in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and during Reconstruction.
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OPINION & ANALYSIS
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"We should teach both English and multiculturalism," by Melissa Bebout. South Bend Tribune, January 2, 2009.
"Bigger than Bush," by Paul Krugman. The New York Times, January 2, 2009.
"Marriage and racism and queers, oh my!" by Ultra Violet. www.indybay.org, January 1, 2009.
"Five things white activists should never say," by freelark. debunkingwhite, December 29, 2008.
"Yes, we can overcome racial barriers," by Annette Gordon-Reed. CNN.com, December 29, 2008.
"Bicycles, Critical Mass and white privilege," by CoatHangrrrr. debunkingwhite, December 22, 2008.
"Does color fucking matter?" by Marlena Gangi. Mostly Water, December 20, 2008.
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EVENTS
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| How to submit an event |
| CLICK |
January 9, 2009 |
Hartsdale, NY |
"Remembering and celebrating Malcolm X" |
Commemoration ceremony |
WACAN |
| CLICK |
January 27, 2009 |
Plainfield, NJ |
"WACAN-NJ meeting" |
Monthly meeting of white anti-racist group |
WACAN |
| CLICK |
March 31, 2009 |
San Francisco, CA |
"The Anne Braden Anti-Racist Training Program For White Social Justice Activists" |
Applications due |
Catalyst Project |
| CLICK |
April 1-4, 2009 |
Memphis, TN |
"WPC10" |
Conference |
White Privilege Conference |
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Your donation counts!
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We have raised $1,833 toward our goal of $2,000 for our 2008-09 Annual Appeal.
View progress report - final day
Why donate?
HOW TO DONATE
CREDIT CARD
PAYPAL
CHECK OR MONEY ORDER
Send a check payable to "Center for Study"
245 West 4th Avenue
Roselle, NJ 07203
(print this form)
PREMIUM OFFER
If you donate $75 or more, you may select one of the following:
BOOKS
•The Anti-Racist Cookbook
•Lifting the White Veil
DISCUSSION GUIDE
•The Racial Awareness Quiz
Or, if you donate $100 or more, select our newest release:
BOOK
•Walk with Us
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Your donation is tax-exempt. All donations acknowledged with receipt.
For more information about the Center for The Study of White American Culture, see www.euroamerican.org
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