WACANupdate A fortnightly e-magazine, circulation 1,390 News and opinion of interest to the white anti-racist community May 27, 2009 Contact: news@wacan.org Publication schedule Letters to the editor Submission guidelines Privacy Advertising About WACAN   Lots of news by Jeff Hitchcock Many stories have come our way in the last two weeks. I hope you find this issue of the WACANupdate useful and informative. In two weeks we will publish our final issue of the WACANupdate for the current season.   Letters to the Editor One letter since the last WACANupdate. CLICK HERE Send us a letter Spring fund drive under way through June 10 We are in the midst of WACAN’s Spring 2009 Appeal and we have raised $460 toward our goal of $1,500. Please consider making a donation to WACAN today.   NEWS ITEMS White anti-racist activity The Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites in Seattle received local coverage of their fundraising efforts on behalf of a community organization led by people of color. Sean Novak, a WACANupdate subscriber, helps organize local efforts for "Wellbriety Journey for Forgiveness: Healing the legacy of the boarding schools 1879-2009," directed to the experience of Native Americans. General News Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, feels she measures up to and beyond white men. What does it mean when Federal border police and their local colleagues start beating the crap out of innocent white Baptist preachers? It’s happening. A Florida town struggles over the display of the Confederate flag. Jesse Ventura calls torture by the US a racist practice. Black woman fired for backing white candidate. ‘White African-American’ suing N.J. med school for discrimination. Taco trucks are feeling the crunch across the U.S. Eye-opening discovery on Asian eyelid surgery. Brown-black conflict The authorities in southern California have rounded up several dozen Latinos and accused them of terrorizing black residents of Hawaiian Gardens, the small city they now share. The Southern Poverty Law Center picked up the story. It’s not as simple as it seems says one commentator. Obama and the Confederates Scholars petitioned President Obama to snub the Confederate veterans by not sending them a wreath on Memorial Day as presidents have always done in the past. Seeing the dilemma, a commentator explores Obama’s options. The president did the usual things on Memorial Day, and sent a wreath to the Confederate veterans. He also sent a wreath to African American veterans of the Civil War. Black "firsts" A bevy of black "firsts" took place recently. The first black woman to head a Fortune 500 company will take over at Xerox. The first black female Rabbi in the U.S. will be ordained in June. Philadelphia, Mississippi has its first black mayor, and York, Pennsylvania, another small town that experienced racist violence in the 1960s, will likely have its first black mayor this fall. Good things Memphis teen wins Princeton Prize in Race Relations. Thunder Bay, Ontario, city council receives report on program to address concerns about racism. Lapeer County, Michigan plans to screen "Anatomy of Hate" about white supremacy. Oshkosh, Wisconsin residents share views and experiences of race. Rockford, Illinois YWCA holds monthly discussions about race. Group working to promote race relations in Dothan, Alabama has its 38th annual meeting. Law and order Congress looks at racial disparities in crack/cocaine penalties. Bill proposed to boost number of minorities in construction. California Assembly moves to take racist language out of deeds. North Carolina ties to address racial justice and promote executions in a single, bizarre, and confusing process. Holder’s comments on race prompt requests for legal help. Florida governor pushes for diversity in state courts. Redskins pro football team gets to keep their racist name. Court fines San Diego Minuteman leader $135,000. Milwaukee police asked if race blinded them to serial killings. Local cops don’t want to be immigration enforcers. Racism and resistance Anti-racist struggle continues in Powhatan, Virginia. Somerset County, Maryland, runs from the obvious fact it fails to hire black people (Article 1, Article 2). New report finds racism flourishing online. Black family in Duarte, California driven from home vandalized in racist attack. The FBI is investigating. Black family in Pleasant Hill, Missouri faces history of racist vandalism to their property. Racial posts no surprise, says First Nation leader. Nez Perce tribal leaders hear concern about racism. Alec Baldwin’s idiotic "Filipino mail-order bride" joke, and his apology. Houston, Texas firefighters used racist language with mike open. Employees of security contractor Blackwater complain about racial harassment. White supremacists Massachusetts spree killer wears swastika to court. Three members of white supremacist gang charged in home invasion in Midvale, Utah. Warren, Michigan interracial couple gets KKK letter. Augusta County, Virginia residents receive white supremacist newspaper. Custody trial set for accused white supremacist parents in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They taught their daughter to hate. The Klan celebrates in Kentucky. Campus watch Racial privileges focus of exhibit at Seattle Pacific University. Racial harassment costs New York school district $400K. Police investigate racial threat at Wisconsin high school. Manhattan, New York high school once touted diversity and now is losing it. International Australia changes its management of Aboriginal relations in the Northern Territory. Perth, Australia, now home for KKK. Greek soccer fest puts focus on anti-racism. Immigrants march in Athens in response to new incident of police anti-Muslim racism. Thousands attend anti-racism rally in Hungary. Daily Mirror in United Kingdom launches "Hope not Hate" anti-racism campaign. They make a stop in Leicester. West Yorkshire police accused of racism. Brazil fashion show agrees to black model quota. Columbia launches first national anti-racism campaign.         HUMOR   The Jon Steward show explores a concern for white youth. Asian helper is made from Asians! Racist Camera! No, I did not blink…I’m just Asian!     RESOURCES   Race and Recession. A new report from the Applied Research Center. Straight talk on race: Challenging the stereotypes in kid’s books.     PEOPLE & LIFESTYLE   What can white women do? A prom divided. In Florida, it’s OK to be crazy about ‘Crackers’     ARTS, FASHION & ENTERTAINMENT   Diversity consultant runs down how video games reflect white culture and ignore culture of color. A striking example of whitening. Is Seal and Heidi Klum’s "white trash"-themed vow renewal ceremony racist? Ode to a white rapper. The lynching of Eninem.     OPINION & ANALYSIS   "Is color blindness a matter of color perception?" by Arturo Nunez. The Berkeley Daily Planet, May 21, 2009. "UBC employment study shows white supremacy still exists in Canada," by Charlie Smith. straight.com, May 21, 2009. "Limbaugh’s coded racial paranoia," by Melissa Harris-Lacewell. philly.com, May 14, 2009. "What we can learn about racism from the swine flu scare: Analysis," by Catesby Holmes. Huffingtonpost.com, May 14, 2009. "Why don’t people get angry about legacy admissions?" by Adam Serwer. The American Prospect, May 12, 2009. "Hey dude, where’s my privilege? Race and lawbreaking in black and white," by Tim Wise. Red Room, May 11, 2009.     EVENTS How to submit an event CLICK June 7-8; 9-10, 2009 Richfield, MN "Seeing the face of God in each other: Province VI anti-racism training for The Episcopal Church" Workshop Province VI Anti-Racism Network and the Advocacy Center at The Episcopal Church Center in New York CLICK July 7-12, 2009 Lyons, MN "Doing our own work. A seminar for anti-racist white people" Seminar Allies for Change CLICK July 23-26, 2009 Los Angeles, CA "Unmasking Whiteness Institute" Institute AWARE-LA       Your donation counts!   We have raised $460 toward our goal of $1500 for our 2009 Spring Appeal. Fax or USmail: (print this form) Phone: (click) 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 Our online credit card donations are processed by Groundspring.org, a reputable partner to many activist organizations. 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