Because A Face Isn't Just A Face: Don't Believe The Hype

In a lot of ways, after I was done reading the article Do Americans Expect Their Business Leaders to Be White? Study Says Yes - I just thought to myself "Tell me something I don't already know", and while it's just a small sample of people that they talked with in the interviews - if you just look at everything around us - you know that thought is prevalent in today's society - and I have to wonder if the time creating studies like this (which are apparent to anyone who's not white) would better be spent on asking people how to combat the problem versus saying what we already know:

In experiments where the leader’s race was identified, white leaders were held to be a "better match" with "traditional leader expectations" than were minorities, even when the levels of achievement was the same for both. As an indication that subconscious bias can cross racial lines, the participants who identified themselves as racial minorities over-guessed whiteness as often as the Caucasian participants.

Like the title of this post says - and this goes double for my brown peeps - don't believe the hype.

EEOC News

It's been a while since I checked in with the EEOC to see what companies have landed themselves in hot water - and have had to pay up for it as well - so here's a few stories from the last couple of months:

Tavern On The Green To Pay $2.2 Million For Harassment Of Females, Blacks, Hispanics

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced the settlement of a harassment and retaliation lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act against Tavern on the Green, a landmark restaurant located in Central Park in New York City, for $2.2 million and significant remedial relief.

The EEOC charged in the case that Tavern on the Green engaged in severe and pervasive sexual, racial, and national origin harassment of female, black, and Hispanic employees. The sexual harassment included graphic comments and demands for various sex acts, as well as groping of women’s buttocks and breasts. The racial and national origin harassment included epithets toward black and Hispanic employees and ridiculing Hispanics for their accents. The restaurant also retaliated against employees for refusing to consent to and/or objecting to the harassment, according to the EEOC.

EEOC Settles Sex Bias Case With State Corrections Department For Almost $1 Million

The New York State Department of Correctional Services will pay nearly $1 million to settle a sex discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the two offices announced today. The EEOC and the United States had charged the Corrections Department with violating federal law by providing inferior benefits to female employees on maternity leave.

EEOC Settles Case Involving Discharge Of Seven Middle Eastern Crew Members From The Cruise Ship Pride Of Aloha

In its lawsuit, filed in 2006 under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the EEOC alleged that NCL America discharged seven Middle Eastern crew members from various positions on the cruise ship “Pride of Aloha.” NCL America denied that it had acted improperly against these crew members in agreeing to resolve the lawsuit.

As part of the two year consent decree resolving the case, NCL America agrees to pay the crew members $485,000. With respect to the injunctive relief, NCL America further agrees, among other things, to revise its policies to ensure a workplace that promotes equal employment opportunity, to hire an EEO consultant, and to provide training to its managers and employees on the company’s equal employment policy and complaint procedure.

You Need Transparency

I was reading the article Feds investigate Rochester teacher's allegedly racist actions, and I have to wonder how people get away without having the transparency needed in the educational system - especially in a case where the teacher was alleged to have called her black students "monkeys" and spray them with water:

The teacher, Wendy Kaiser, was removed from the school in January and quietly reassigned to the School of Imaging and Information Technology at Edison in a shuffle that enraged Wilson parents and caught school board members off guard when they learned of it months later.

"No one knows the outcome of that investigation," Johnson said. "Was it founded? Was it unfounded? What was the protocol of the investigation? The school district hasn't told anybody anything."

Teachers have rights - and they have what can sometimes be thankless jobs where they're subject to sometimes false accusations - but in cases like this, it just behooves everyone to know what's going on.

Updated 2:50 PM - Because I had a grammar malfunction...

Race Roundup

Pat Buchanan Promotes New Book on Racist Radio Show

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL: 2.93, +0.03, +1.03%) today said conservative political commentator Pat Buchanan "stooped into the cesspool of extremism" by appearing on a radio show run by a well-known white supremacist. On June 29, Buchanan appeared on "Political Cesspool," a Tennessee-based AM radio show run by white supremacist James Edwards, to promote his book, Churchill, Hitler, and the Unnecessary War: How Britain Lost Its Empire and the West Lost the World. "While parading himself as a moderate, to sell his book Pat Buchanan has stooped into the cesspool of extremism," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.

Racist groups may exaggerate their reach

Racists (sometimes one person with a computer) and organizations that monitor them say the possibility of Obama winning the White House has caused increased traffic at Web sites run by Neo-Nazis, skinheads and others of their ilk. What’s unknown is just how much traffic increased, how many actual members are recruited, and how fervent their activity is.

Harris Co. sheriff apologizes for racist e-mails

Harris County Sheriff Tommy Thomas apologized to a local Muslim group Monday for e-mails containing derogatory jokes about Muslims that were circulated by members of his staff. Thomas also plans to suspend the commander, Chief Deputy Mike Smith, who heads the office's detention command, the Houston Chronicle reported Monday. The newspaper said Thomas did not know when that suspension would begin or whether other staff members would also be suspended.

Racist Threats in US Baseball

US authorities have planned tight security measures for Monday night game in Florida after Latin and black players with the Boston Red Sox received racist threats. WCVB TV channel said Monday the team received a threat mailed from the Memphis, Tenn., area targeting the players and citing at least two by name.

Obama-Clinton contest revealed limits of racism, sexism

To hear some of Hillary Clinton's disappointed supporters tell it, half of America just told her to "Iron my shirt." In fact, two guys did, at a Clinton rally in New Hampshire in January, in what seems to have been a prank to draw attention to their radio show.

Model's 18th birthday party ends in a 'football riot after her millionaire father made racist comments'

The businessman, who has carpet showrooms in London, then continued to make racist comments over the microphone, Guildford Crown Court was told. Moments later a mass brawl resembling a 'football riot' broke out after guests confronted Mr Chopping on the dance floor. As the fighting spilled out on to the drive, a mob of partygoers attacked an Asian caterer.

At The Movies: Real Asian Versus Fake Asian

Real Asian



Real Asian helps nab the #1 spot at the box office securing about $40 million dollars - already half way to reaching profitability in its first week. With DVD sales added in later on, we'll probably see a lot more of Real Asian in a sequel.

Fake Asian



Fake Asian gets #4 slot, bombs like the Yellow Faced Disgrace it is, barely makes $14 million, and even with DVD sales will probably fall short of making half its $64 million dollar budget back. Fake Asian sees the writing on the wall and decides he should adopt a white baby and paint it yellow so he can look more fashionable in public.

1/2 A Man: Charlie Sheen Goes On A Racist Rant

Dear Charlie,

I think your time is done now. In a way it's too bad because I actually liked that show you were on, and while I could only hope they would replace you with someone else who doesn't go into racist rants, they probably won't, and might just ride it out or cancel the show altogether - either which way - you'll be off the air soon enough as you should.

At the same time, I wanted to thank you as well, because you're just another shining example that no matter how many people of color someone may have in their life - and ones that they probably point to so they can say "Look at my friends" to prove they don't have a racist bone in their body - that they can still go off on racist rants.

Slanty

I Guess It All Can't Be Like Grey's Anatomy

I have to admit that out of all the professions out there, nursing is one area where I just don't think about racism as much, and I guess in some ways you can chalk it up to the human element - the "do-gooder" piece of the job that should trump anything having to do with racism - that human interaction - but like everything else, there's the side we sometimes don't see.

Check out some of the snippets from an article up at nurse.com:

... Smith Williams has heard professors voice assumptions that black nursing students could not conceptualize or formulate abstract thoughts from their learning and experiences ...

... For example, nurses and physicians [from other units] seek out Caucasian RNs when looking for the person in charge ...

... There's a long history of some institutions treating Filipino and other foreign-educated nurses differently ...

... To admit to the presence of racism in health care is something that most in nursing do reluctantly ...

I don't know about you, but I'm thinking they have some work to do sooner rather than later.

Blogo Newsbytes

Some news from blogosphere and beyond from the last few days or so:

Where Obama’s Nomination Fits into the Larger Racial Context

As I’m sure all of you already know, last week Barack Obama officially secured the Democratic Party’s nomination to be the next President of the United States. As many commentators, journalists, and bloggers have been saying, his status as the first non-White Presidential nominee of a major political party is truly historic in many ways.

I would like to place his historic accomplishment in a sociological context and specifically, how it fits into the larger landscape of American race relations.

Shuffled! Michael Kang

Michael Kang is a Korean American filmmaker trying to get comfortable with the idea that he is based in Los Angeles. His feature film directorial debut “The Motel” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is currently on DVD through Palm Pictures. “The Motel” is the recipient of the Humanitas Prize as well as the top jury prizes from numerous festivals.

Summer Has Just Gotten Sweeter

And now, NBC is bringing the show back, but in an infinitely superior form: "Celebrity Family Feud". It starts July 1 and features four celebrity families duking it out per episode. Episode 1 features Margaret Cho and family v. Corbin Bernsen and family.

When to Confront a Stranger: A Question of Authority

The odd thing about the word “n***er” for me is that as much debate as I’ve heard about the term, my exposure to it in adulthood is fairly limited. I grew up in the Chicago area in a mostly African American family, but a few of my black relatives, all transplants from the South, insisted on complaining about “no-good n****rs” and such, despite the fact that I took issue with their use of the word

Only Time Will Tell

2008. Reality star Tila Tequila takes credit for the good news in California: "“It is because of me. I definitely think (my show) has helped the movement..."

happy (belated) birthday, jin

Rapper Jin recently celebrated his 26th birthday... and seven years in the music business. All growns up. The former RuffRyders recording artist and world reknown freestyle battle veteran has come a long way since those seven straight victories on BET's Freestyle Friday.

Newsbytes

Some news from around the way:

U.S. Widens Princeton Bias Probe

Princeton University said the Education Department broadened its investigation of possible discrimination against Asian-American applicants.

In 2006, federal officials began investigating a claim from a student that Princeton rejected him because of his race and national origin. The student, 19-year-old Jian Li, initially enrolled at Yale University and is now at Harvard. Princeton says it didn't discriminate against Mr. Li.

History in the making in Eastern District of New York

It has been a long American journey for George Matsumoto, from Japanese Internment Camp Three in Arizona during World War II to Room 226 in the Dirksen Senate Office Building here yesterday.

But Matsumoto seemed to take satisfaction in where that journey has taken him and his family after he watched Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) chair a brief hearing here that virtually assures Senate confirmation of his daughter Kiyo Ann Matsumoto as a lifetime U.S. District Judge in Brooklyn.

Report Takes Aim at "Model Minority Stereotype of Asian-American Students says NYT

The report quotes the opening to W. E. B. Du Bois’s 1903 classic "The Souls of Black Folk" — "How does it feel to be a problem?" — and says that for Asian-Americans, seen as the "good minority that seeks advancement through quiet diligence in study and work and by not making waves," the question is, "How does it feel to be a solution?"

That question, too, is problematic, the report said, because it diverts attention from systemic failings of K-to-12 schools, shifting responsibility for educational success to individual students. In addition, it said, lumping together all Asian groups masks the poverty and academic difficulties of some subgroups.

A Good Day for Priscilla Ahn

Very few Asian American women foray into Pop Music - let alone making big in the world of music. This time around, singer and songwriter Priscilla Ahn has made the break-through.

Cracked Up Amy Winehouse Gets Racist

Dear Amy:

I can't believe I actually got sucked into your music for a while like the rest of the population who held you up as a soulful singer. Sure, maybe I have an excuse because of that 2007 SXSW performance, but I still can't help and feel shamed, because I pride myself on being able to spot a racist from a mile away - and somehow I missed you.

While I could go into it more, like how you especially seem to really like pissing all over me and my Asian people, there's really not much left to say except that I hope you find your way to the bottom where you deserve.

From News Of The World:

In a sequence shot around May 2007—weeks after the couple eloped to wed in Miami—they are in a dingy crack den with Delboy-style bamboo patterned wallpaper.

Amy, 24, and a pal called Sarah giggle as they sing a string of racist lines set to the tune of kiddies' favourite ‘Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes'.

Blake pretends NOT to record the unfolding events and eggs them on, saying: "Can we have a singsong of it?"

Sarah is at first reluctant but soon warms to the action as Amy enthusiastically sings:

"Blacks, Pakis, Gooks and Nips, Gooks and Nips!

"And deaf and dumb and blind and gay!"
She repeats the first line over again and on the word "Nips" Amy pulls her eyes into slits then pushes her boobs up in a gesture to her nipples.

View Amy's racist new single here and here.

Race Roundup

East Texas Dragging Death Remembered 10 Years Later (FOX)

National tributes are scheduled to take place to remember the life of James Byrd Jr., who was dragged to death from a truck in 1998 by three racist Caucasian men in the small east Texas town of Jasper.

U.N. Official: Mixed Racism Picture in U.S (NPR)

Barack Obama's presidential candidacy is evidence that the United States has made significant strides in race relations, according to Doudou Diene, a U.N. official who reports on contemporary forms of racism. But Diene tells Scott Simon that the resegregation of American cities and the poor state of public education remain key areas of concern.

The Civil Rights Movement Needs to Overcome Its Fears (Washington Post)

For some civil rights loyalists, myself very much included, it's hard not to feel a spine-tingling thrill. But for a surprising number of others, the overwhelming feeling last week was apprehension. "I knew the real war was on," one friend told me. "Obama had crossed the point of no return. It was like when Jackie Robinson finally made it to the major leagues. . . . Now the gloves would come off, and failure [in November], I knew, would feel like we all had lost it -- all of black America."

Racism not dead, but socioeconomics is bigger issue (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Condoleezza Rice has more in common with Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, than she has with a never-married mother of several living in the 'hood. Colin Powell would be more comfortable associating with other high-achieving public figures, regardless of race, than with the average black high school dropout.

Don't Duck Racism (WTVH)

Hundreds of people were at the Inner Harbor in Syracuse Saturday to bring attention to the problem of racism. Syracuse and Onondaga County leaders declared today "Don't Duck Racism" Day on the 6th annual Duck Race to End Racism.

Open-Mic: Racism in Hockey (Bleacher Report)

His name is Willy O'Ree.

On January 18th, 2008, the Boston Bruins held a ceremony at the TD Bank North Garden to honor the 50th anniversary of his NHL debut as the first black man to play in the League.

However, the history between Black players and the sport of Hockey hasn't always been bright.

CNN Reports Obama Wins Democratic Nominee

This is definitely a defining moment in our history, and in so many ways I just can't believe that I'm here to witness it - to actually see something so monumental happen in my lifetime.

Sen. Barack Obama on Tuesday became the first African-American to head the ticket of a major political party.

Sen. Barack Obama on Tuesday told supporters he will be the Democratic nominee.

Obama's steady stream of superdelegate endorsements, combined with the delegates he received from Tuesday's primaries, put him past the 2,118 threshold, CNN projects.

"Tonight we mark the end of one historic journey with the beginning of another -- a journey that will bring a new and better day to America," he said.

"Tonight, I can stand before you and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States."

Read more coverage at CNN and view a piece of his victory speech below:

Geraldine, The Race Card, and Clueless White People

While I can't discount some of what Geraldine Ferraro had to say in her recent Boston Op-Ed concerning aspects of sexism in the current Democratic Primary -- because all you have to do is look at every president we've ever had in our history, as well as the candidates who've run, to know that sex has mattered and continues to matter in who as nation we elect -- I just can't believe she's talking about race and racism again after she went completely batshit in March and then got her ass canned from the Clinton campaign.

I mean did Geraldine feel that demoralized (as she should have) from being called a racist that she now has to take up for clueless white people who think Obama is playing the race card, and are worried about "reverse racism" because she thinks it's going to vindicate her?

Apparently so.

The Race Card

I'm not saying the race card doesn't exist. Because it does.

It's nothing more than an ad hominem argument when a person is on the side of a losing battle, and even though there's absolutely no legitimacy to the claim of racism whatsoever, it's used so they can slither their way out alive.

But let's get it straight in saying that when people usually say someone is "playing the race card", that when the majority of pundits use that term, it's simply done because they can't see or won't admit to the real and legitimate part that racism has and still plays in our society; that many times it's people's own racism, indifference to racism, or simply a defense mechanism (because it's too hard to look at themselves) that makes them use that term in the first place.

It's an easy bandwagon for people to jump onto, and one that Ferraro seems intent on fueling.

The fact that she wants to be talking for the people who think Obama has been playing the race card throughout the campaign, and are frightened because no one's "calling him on it" is just mind-boggling, because Obama has every right to talk about race and racism in this country and how it can also affect his bid to be the Democratic candidate and President of the United States.

Just look at the white only club, good or bad, that has taken office, or the history of racism and equality for some that has permeated our nation, or simply a recent Washington Post article about the racism that his street teams have encountered.

Saying that Obama is playing the race card is like saying Sharon Stone really had something important to say when she said maybe it was karma that killed all the innocent people in China during the recent earthquake.

It's just fucked up.

I've heard that before

Ferraro also claims she and her new found supporters aren't racist but they just have "racial resentment", and that their fears of "reverse racism" are justified because Obama said "Our Time Has Come" and because essentially they're white and he's black, and because white people can't open up their mouths without being labeled a racist.

Are you kidding me?

Racial resentment is just a nice white way of trying to cover up being a racist.

Being afraid of Obama without any justification simply because he's black and their white is like trying to justify the lynchings of black men because they dared to look at a white woman.

You can't.

It's rhetoric like this that also gives power to the notion that if a person of color is prejudice against someone who's white (wrong as this is), that this in some way is the same as the systematic racism that's been going on for hundreds of years when clearly the two aren't even close, even though we like to throw around the term "reverse racism" as if they were; in effect minimizing institutionalized racism.

At the same time, Ferraro tries to lump the segment of the white community who's educated themselves about race, and who aren't afraid to have real and courageous conversations about something like white privilege and who work to help end racism in this country, into the same boat as the people she's speaking for and supporting, even though each are at opposite ends of the racial awareness spectrum.

Put it all together and it's the same type of fear and hate mongering and obfuscation of truth that has been going on for years, and that's been the foundation for every piece of oppressive legislation against people of color since our inception as a country.

Did Geraldine think people really wouldn't notice that?

James Hong Interview

Last week there was a good article and interview on veteran actor James Hong who talked about how he got into acting, the frustration of being an Asian American actor, and his push for diversity. Here's a quick snippet:

Hong has been active in fighting discrimination in the film industry since his early days as an actor. When the 1962 film Confessions of an Opium Eater was going into production, he organized a group of concerned actors to speak to producer Albert Zugsmith.

"The film was full of those Fu Manchu types, sneaking around, eating opium," Hong recalls. "So we went in to see Albert, who didn't like me leading that protest. In essence, he warned me I might not work again."

Asked if he feels the roles have gotten better for Asian actors today, Hong pauses.

Read the full article here.

That was unexpected: Part 2 of Bill Hudson, CBS affiliate WCCO, Neiggerhood, and now News Director Scott Libin

WCCO News Director Scott Libin

I had sent out an e-mail to CBS affiliate WCCO in MN about this past post regarding their news anchor Bill Hudson and his use of the word "Neiggerhood" about a community of color, and if he would have to undergo any special training or sensitivity classes on race or racism, or if he would be penalized (suspended or fired) for his "gaffe", and interestingly enough, I received a response that was more than your typical PR response - which to be honest, I wasn't expecting.

Check out the quotes and the condescension in News Director Scott Libin's e-mail (I've bolded some of the more interesting parts):

To answer your questions:

No, Bill Hudson will not "have to undergo training" as a result of his on-air stumble last week, although our anchors all participate in continuing performance coaching that focuses on their on-air delivery.

No, he will certainly not be fired for innocently and accidentally mispronouncing a word live on the air. There is not an anchor in television who has not done so. Bill was exceptionally unfortunate that what came out of his mouth sounded so much like such an offensive term. However, to punish him for the incident would imply that the mistake somehow indicated anything about his intent, his values or his beliefs about communities of color -- and that would be simply untrue.

Bill apologized on the air the day after the incident. That apology has been online since then. You can find it at http://wcco.com/video/?id=41057@wcco.dayport.com.

So here are a few things that I love about this response:

1. I liked how Libin used the quotes in "have to undergo training", as if the idea of Bill Hudson needing to take a racial sensitivity class or multicultural training - after calling a neighborhood which is predominately of color a "Neiggerhood" - was completely out of the question; that you would have to be a complete idiot to ask that question. I don't know about you, but at least from a PR standpoint of a news organization, I'd think having someone do a refresher on racial sensitivity and multiculturalism might be a good thing after something like this happened. In fact, I'd think that a news company would be doing this regardless of any sort of incidents on a regular basis because they have to work with a diverse public - because education is key in a multicultural society.

Obviously though, the folks down at WCCO must be above learning about racial sensitivity and multiculturalism. And really, I must be a complete idiot to think that ongoing education about race and racism is important in the workforce, especially after something like that, and especially for people that deal with the public on a day to day basis. I guess instead of taking loans out for college I should have borrowed the money to stock up on zuclopenthioxol instead.

It is nice to know though that the CBS backed WCCO affiliate news anchors are still getting "performance coaching" in lieu of getting ongoing education about multiculturalism.

2. I don't know about Scott, but while I've heard news anchors make a spoonerism or two at times, this isn't even close to being in the same league - but it's funny how he put those two in the same category, which only serves to try and minimize the effect of what actually took place.

I'd give Scott Libin a challenge. Show me the anchors - give me at least 15 anchors in different markets who've had the same "exceptionally unfortunate" accident, because according to Scott, this happens all the time. According to Scott, there's not one news anchor who hasn't made a mistake like this. And sure, you could say that this isn't what Scott was saying, that he was just alluding to anchors making gaffes, but then you too would be admitting that someone saying "Neiggerhood" versus "Neighborhood" about a community of color is the same as someone saying "A lack of pies" versus "A pack of lies" in a general conversation, when clearly, the two aren't even in the same league.

The bottom line is simple.

When you use the word "Neiggerhood" versus "Neighborhood" about a community of color, you should, at the very least, have to undergo some type of racial sensitivity classes and education, because it begs the question of your inherent and subtle racism - like grabbing your bag when you see someone of color walking down the street even though you may not even realize that you're doing it, or how you may perceive a group of young black kids to be more threatening than a group of young white kids, or how you may automatically think that a Black or Asian or Hispanic/Latino co-worker isn't up to par like someone who has white skin, or how when you see an Asian American you automatically think they can't speak English.

Do you see what I'm saying? Is this really that tough to understand?

Libin says that punishing Bill Hudson for the incident would imply that the mistake somehow indicated anything about his intent, his values or his beliefs about communities of color. So what does not doing anything about it imply? What does it say about CBS backed WCCO that Bill Hudson simply offered up an apology and there was absolutely no follow-up whatsoever from the company that employs him?

As a person of color, as an Asian American, it tells me that they won't even acknowledge that there could be inherent racism in the "exceptionally unfortunate" accident. It tells me that they think Bill Hudson, with years and years of living with White Privilege, unequivocally, must not have one prejudice bone in his body whatsoever, even if he doesn't know. It tells me that even if they thought he could - that in the end - they really don't care.

I'm not really sure why WCCO News Director Scott Libin sent me the response that he did versus a canned WCCO is extremely sorry about the situation, however we feel... type of response, because he had to have known that I'd tear it apart (and really, is that the type of response you want coming from a major metropolitan news organization).

But am sure of this.

His response smells of redlining and conversations in back rooms that people don't want to admit too and the Old White Boy's Club that has dominated our society for as long as I can remember.

Conectiv has to pay out $1.65 million for Racial Harassment

On one hand I just get sick of reading things like this - on the other - I'm glad companies like Conectiv and their sub-contractors, which include Matrix Services Industrial Contractors, Steel Suppliers Erectors, Inc. and A.C. Dellovade, Inc. have to pay out close to 2 million for their threatening racist acts.

From the EEOC:

Conectiv was the general contractor and property owner on a project to build a new energy power plant on the site of a defunct steel plant. Construction on the project began in January 2002 and the plant was operating by the end of October 2003. The EEOC charged in the lawsuit that the defendants, acting as joint employers, subjected a class of African American employees to racial slurs and graffiti as well as threats by hangman’s nooses.

The EEOC said that harassment included a life size noose made of heavy rope hung from a beam in a class member’s work area for at least 10 days before it was removed; the regular use of the "N-word"; racially offensive comments made to black individuals, including "I think everybody should own one"; "Black people are no good and you can't trust them"; and "Black people can't read or write." Additionally, racist graffiti was present written in portable toilets, with terms such as "coon"; "If u not white u not right"; "White power"; "KKK"; and "I love the Ku Klux Klan."

That's just sad.

Here's to hoping the employees who were involved take some of that money, start up their own construction business and put Conectiv and their subcontractors out on the street.

Obama, Raw Racism, And Getting A Clue

Washington Post

While I'll have to BushWhack Clinton if she drops out of the race - because you don't go this far to drop out when there hasn't been a winner - nothing gets to me more than good people working on a good campaign who have to put up with dumbasses.

Here's a snippet from the Washington Post article Racist Incidents Give Some Obama Campaigners Pause:

In Muncie, a factory town in the east-central part of Indiana, Ross and her cohorts were soliciting support for Obama at malls, on street corners and in a Wal-Mart parking lot, and they ran into "a horrible response," as Ross put it, a level of anti-black sentiment that none of them had anticipated.

"The first person I encountered was like, 'I'll never vote for a black person,' " recalled Ross, who is white and just turned 20. "People just weren't receptive."

For all the hope and excitement Obama's candidacy is generating, some of his field workers, phone-bank volunteers and campaign surrogates are encountering a raw racism and hostility that have gone largely unnoticed -- and unreported -- this election season. Doors have been slammed in their faces. They've been called racially derogatory names (including the white volunteers). And they've endured malicious rants and ugly stereotyping from people who can't fathom that the senator from Illinois could become the first African American president.

Get a clue people.

Bill Hudson, CBS, WCCO, Minneapolis and Neiggerhood?

Make sure to also see That was unexpected: Part 2 of Bill Hudson, CBS affiliate WCCO, Neiggerhood, and now News Director Scott Libin.

Yeah - you heard me right - apparently another white guy - a white news anchor named Bill Hudson (from television station WCCO a CBS affiliate) - showing his true colors when talking about a neighborhood in Minneapolis where the majority of people living in the neighborhood are predominantly black and Hispanic.

Instead of saying the word "neighborhood" he came out with "neiggerhood".

Yeah - I know - that's just fucked up - and no - there really isn't any other phrase to use to describe how actually fucked up that is because in all reality you don't get that from a mistake - that comes from your hoard of White friends (maybe White Hooded?), and your White racism, and the little jokes Bill and his friends must have made prior to that little slip for sometime.

What? Don't believe me?

C'mon - you honestly think that just rolls off your tongue like that as a "mistake"?

Sorry - just doesn't happen like that - I know - I've met my fair share of racists in my lifetime and that comes from being - well - it comes from being a racist.

Read more here.

They really named you dumbass?

No seriously - I think someone really must have named him dumbass.

Somehow I came across this and from the first paragraph you already knew what it was going to be:

Asians - those smart, hard-working people you've always been told believe in merit and would never act like the NAACP or La Raza - have joined the racial spoils system.

I wonder if dumbass means the same racial spoils system white people have been running, or if he means another racial spoils system.

It gets tough telling the two apart.

Lebron, King Kong, and Eva Longoria's used panties

Are you people completely on acid tripping the light fantastic and then double dipping again with a side of meth and a complete shot of idiocy? I mean seriously - if you think for one instant that one media image on effing Vogue is something to complain about - that it's racially insensitive - I got some news for you - it's not even close.

But let me try and get this straight for a second. You think Lebron looks like a gorilla (that's telling)? You think it's representative of the stereotypical dangerous black man image that perpetuates the media? Either you haven't met enough of the African American population or your media watchdog hat is on a little too tight.

You know what's representative of the steroetypical dangerous black man image syndrome? It's your local news media which only pictures black suspects - or rather should I say - chooses to not depict white ones (or the Asian ones, or the Hispanic and Latino ones). It's the news media who puts out descriptions of suspects to simply race bait - deft descriptions fit for a blind man like "5'6 African American man with mustache and cap" - you know those great sketches you see - ones that simply say "Stay away from every black man because they're all criminals."

Yeah - I just love those.

Lebron James - he was worth 100 million before he even signed a contract with an NBA team. He's a young cat who's got the world at his fingertips and gets invited to every single star studded gala that there is - he's a franchise player - he's the second coming - he's King James. If Lebron and his game face image are indicative of the every day black man who gets smacked by the system, than I'm the pope dressed in Eva Longoria's used panties which I got second-hand off Ebay courtesy of Tim Duncan.

P.S. to magazine analyst Samir Husni who's been quoted as saying "So when you have a cover that reminds people of King Kong and brings those stereotypes to the front, black man wanting white woman, it's not innocent." - I don't know about you Samir - but black men and white women - black men with any woman of any color - seems quite innocent to me. But then again maybe I just think that because I have opposable thumbs.