WACANupdate A fortnightly e-magazine, circulation 1,340 News and opinion of interest to the white anti-racist community April 1, 2009 Contributing to this issue: Cal Williams Carpenter, Lynne Winfield Contact: news@wacan.org Publication schedule Letters to the editor Submission guidelines Privacy Advertising About WACAN   Congrats to WPC10 by Jeff Hitchcock This has to be brief. By the time you read this, I'll be at the 10th Annual White Privilege Conference. Many thanks to Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr. and his crew on holding this always challenging and invigorating conference. Looking forward to meeting folks there. It is still possible to attend the White Anti-racist Summit on Saturday by registering in person at WPC.   An apology Some readers have received illegible versions of the WACANupdate for the past 3 issues. Black text would appear on a black background. This was due to a technical problem, which has now been resolved. Some email programs were not reading our formatting instructions. We have found a different approach that should work well.   Letters to the Editor Three letters since the last WACANupdate. CLICK HERE Send us a letter   NEWS ITEMS White anti-racist action A national conference coming to Memphis this week casts light on an elusive issue that is generally sidestepped: unearned benefits for the ‘dominant group’. Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda (CURB) is calling for an official apology to blacks from the white community. Anonymous student protestors at the University of Minnesota hold six-week action in dance program building challenging privilege and prejudice. Here’s what they say. General news Obama asked about “colorblindness" at press conference. Here’s the transcript. A native American offers perspective to the Carpinteria, CA school board concerning Indian mascots. Long Island, NY social agencies ask county governments to not balance budgets using approaches that harm blacks and Hispanics. Hard times also threaten whites and may lead some to hate groups. Racial inequality remains at patently unjust levels according to a recent report by the Urban League. In Jena, a white supremacist organization wins attorney fees. March 21 – International Day for Elimination of Racism This year proved very interesting. The AFL-CIO celebrated the day. The UN chief had a message to all. CommonDreams.org released a report documenting racist violence growing worldwide. White supremacists have been reaching out to Calgary teens. On March 21 they held a demonstration in Calgary. Principle organizers were from out of town. Calgary police are accused of overreaction. And in Washington DC, the “Smack a white boy" project unfolded. Anarchist people of color block a planned march by ANSWER (Article 1, Article 2, Article 3). Men of color face overreactions A black municipal judge in Dallas talks about “black folks … cleaning up white folks’ messes" and resigns from writing his newspaper column. Brazilian president blames world economic collapse on blue-eyed white people. The New York Times found it amusing. A white cop in Dallas toys with black family on way to bedside of dying mother, leading higher ups to later express disappointment and apologize. Programs and positive developments Edmonton; Valparaiso, CA; Rocky Mount, NC; Stark County, OH; each have programs of racial dialog. Montreal mayor first to sign anti-racism pledge. Canada rewards students for anti-racism videos. Canadian policing and security agencies urged to collect data to address racial profiling. Canadian teachers-in-training need anti-racism education and aboriginal history B.C. Teachers’ Federation announces. Racist New York drug laws coming closer to repeal. Bemidji, MN has ambitions to improve race relations, but their own survey shows there is much to do. Racism Oquawka, IL property owner flies “KKK" flag. University of Oklahoma police investigate racist flyers. Resist racism points to questionable advertising. Staten Island, NY man charged with hate crime. Revere, MA man threatens Obama. ATF investigation leads to arrest of white supremacy group. Questions about favoritism, racism raised in arrest of mayor’s son. Spokane, WA police officer cleared in shooting of young Indian man. There’s not often press reports of police shootings of young white men, but here is one. Fitness workers sue, claiming bias. Fire chief charged by union with racist behavior. The Spirit of America: What were they thinking? Patient statement: Racism and elitism. Jail without Justice: Report slams U.S. immigration gulags. Joe Turner, white supremacist, hired by San Bernardino Sup. Derry. Studies show… When races mix, bias declines. Colorblindness has negative effect on employees. Plantation tours downplay slavery. New study refutes bulimia as “rich, white girl’s disease." International UN conference planners have been reworking the documents at the behest of the U.S. and Europe. Israel was edited out. The “defamation of religion" language was removed. Hungary took interest in the process. The UN felt encouraged. Obama remains undecided on course for U.S. White supremacists drive family from home in New Zealand. Israeli soldiers’ shirts joke about killing Arabs. Racist attacks against Arabs increase tenfold in Israel. South African anti-racism conference cancelled. German right-wing party members on trial for racist campaign against soccer star. German speakers in Switzerland are facing increasing prejudice. French plan to break taboo on ethnic data causes uproar. Three UK teens jailed for killing Indian in racist attack. Campus watch Baylor hosts third annual Multicultural Leadership Summit. Kalamazoo Valley Community College hosts diversity conference. New University of California admissions policy gives white students a better chance, angers Asian-American community. Virginia Tech needs to catch up on diversity. A white student in Washington, DC public school is aware of white privilege.         ARTS, FASHION & ENTERTAINMENT   stuff white people do points to Louis CK as a white man doing comedy about white privilege—maybe the only one. No endorsement implied. Here is another, longer, view of Louis CK. Rappers AR-15 get a review. Ho-Chunk photographer Tom Jones subverts Wisconsin Dells tourist kitsch. New movie explores racism on a quiet campus, and raises compelling questions.     BOOKS   New books by Tim Wise and William Julius Wilson. Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement Author discusses racism faced by Asian-Americans.     PEOPLE & LIFESTYLE   Two men, black and white, speak across racial lines. First Lady Michelle Obama reflects on talking ‘like a white girl’. An encounter with whiteness, as told by recently passed historian, John Hope Franklin. Stuff white people like – Seattle verson. Hmmm…The Chopsticks Aid turns chopsticks into forks for lousy white people.     OPINION & ANALYSIS   “We don’t need another anti-racism 101," by guerrilla mama medicine. guerrilla mama medicine , March 17, 2009. “A bound man," by A. Serwer. TAPPED, March 17, 2009. “When exceptions prove the rule: Poverty, whiteness and privilege," by Tim Wise. Red Room, March 18, 2009. “White collar criminals, the new ‘Illegals’," by XicanoPwr. Para Justicia y Libertad, March 20, 2009. "Zimbabwe: Constructive engagement," by Femi Akomolafe. Swans Commentary, March 23, 2009. “What do we know about white people???," by CBMurray. ElectionDissection.com, March 24, 2009 “Why Michelle Obama is a punching bag for racists," by Tolu Olorunda. The Daily Voice, March 27, 2009. Not ready for the multiracial society “Buchanan to Obama," by Patrick J. Buchanan. The Westside Gazette, March 28, 2009.     EVENTS How to submit an event CLICK April 1-4, 2009 Memphis, TN “WPC10" Conference White Privilege Conference CLICK April 4, 2009 Memphis, TN “White Anti-racist Summit" Summit event Summit Coordinating Committee CLICK April 7, 2009 Cambridge, MA “White People Challenging Racism: Moving from Talk to Action" Adult education class Cambridge Center for Adult Education CLICK July 23-26, 2009 Los Angeles, CA “Unmasking Whiteness Institute" Institute AWARE-LA