Out of Africa, well almost

by Sokari on July 17, 2006

in Racism

It is easy to get stuck in one’s own blogosphere and forget there is a whole world of bloggers out there. Here are a few from this weekend’s surfing.

Blac (k)ademic – Call for solidarity for Nubian for the continued unrelentless attacks by white racists liberal women in the blogoshpere.

you can continue writing those silly little postings, but i won’t continue to respond to them. i have allowed you to take over my blog, i have allowed my blog to become an unsafe space for my readers and for myself. i despise logging on to check comments or even write a posting, in fear of the next link to my post which negates my experiences, my life as a black lesbian, my intelligence, my hopes and my dreams……………..
i am more powerful than you can even imagine, too bad you don’t recognize it. too bad your blogging thrives on pointing out the “racisms” of “black academic” and other women of color. too bad your goals in blogging are to hunt down the people who challenge you because you feel threatened. your whole way of thinking is challenged because of a blog posting some girl in the midwest wrote one fine morning

Pickled Politics – A progressive group of young British Asians challenging racism and islamaphobia

….In a more organised and planned manner, we need to highlight and discuss what needs to be changed and we need to thrash out how to go down that path. We need to forge a new way of thinking and record it into articles, campaigns and essays that can be used to document this revolution. We need to be unafraid of criticism, be open to learning and not be plagued by a victim mentality that holds back meaningful self-criticism.


J’s Theatre
– on the cancellation in New York of a LifeBeat concert that included Beanie Man and T.O.K “whose songs have featured violently anti-LGBT lyrics”.

the nonprofit has decided neither to drop the problematic performers nor engage in a dialogue with them on the relationship between their songs and violence against LGBT people and HIV/AIDS transmission, but to cancel the concert altogether.

Jamal’s Propganda Site – uses his blog to write his personal diary on the bombing of Lebanon by Israel – an act of collective punishment out of all proportion – “Angry Olmert Day…”

Olmert’s bet on a sectarian uprising or infighting breaking out and taking care of Hezbollah for them seems less likely to materialize with each passing air raid. We’re divided and we hate each other, but one thing that brings all together is the Israeli war machine. Most of us have felt their crimes first hand and memories die hard. Others still hold grudges against Israel for using them and then leaving them out to dry. Hezbollah will have to answer a few questions when all is said and done, but we will not do Israel’s dirty work. We’re not that dumb.

Meanwhile in Gaza
Raising Yousuf:
diary of a mother under occupation –

Of course, what’s happening in Lebanon provides some uncertain relief for Gaza residents, where 82 Palestinians have been killed in the past 12 days, 22 of them children

thefreeslave on why he hates “white folks with dreadlocks”. 4 days and the discussion is still going on – stuck on “essentialist meaning” and performing whiteness.

Granny’s Vibrator – on cultural appropriation

The point of discussing cultural appropriation isn’t to have a bunch of ‘welcome’ and ‘no trespassing’ signs that reflect the unified opinion of the entire minority culture in question – it’s to make sure that outsiders get practice in assessing what’s appropriate given each situation. It’s about recognizing that, for those of us in priveleged positions, we’re not entitled to full access at all times. Nor are we entitled to a guided tour of the culture, nor a roadmap to ‘accepted’ elements.

Letter from China – comments on the release of Wu Hao and asks

But wait. What have Wu Hao’s compatriots, including LfC, done?

Literally nothing.

Search “吴皓” (Wu’s Chinese name) with Technorati or Google Blog Search is fruitless: the Chinese blogosphere is silent on the detention. As a matter of impression the Hong Kong press has never covered the story (not to mention the mainland Chinese media outlets).

Blogswana – a one year HIV/AIDS pilot project to blog on behalf of others has just received another rejection letter from one of their grant proposals. Blogswana based in Botswana need all the support they can get!

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

soul July 17, 2006 at 19:22

ahhh Kortney from blackademic..
I swear that woman is the epitome of intelligence, articulated orator and spunk all rolled into one.

There is not a week that goes by where I do not pop by Blac(k)ademic and read what she has to say.
I find it hilarious that many white feminist dislike her immensely just becuase she won’t bow and kowtow to them.
And it is when they satrt to insult her and stamp their little feet because they don’t ;get it’ that their racism comes pouring out.
Yet! they find ways to defend it.

They say all manner of outrageous stuff, they complete pull stuff out of their behinds, they will twist words, say things she didn’t say, poinbt fingers and then say ‘oh my she’s being aggressive, yet they still come back, and quote her.
Many a time it’s so that they can receive traffic…

Kortney rocks!

Reply

Sokari July 17, 2006 at 20:05

The woman is truly amazing – you are right on all counts. I believe they dislike her because she gets to their core and exposes them for their racism which they try to hide.

Reply

Aba Boy July 18, 2006 at 12:09

Some excellent blogs. Thanks Sokari

Reply

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