Awhile back, while attending a lecture by Immortal Technique, someone in the audience asked him about the Seattle WTO protests and what his thoughts were on the necessity of violent tactics in demonstrations. I’ll never forget his response. To paraphrase, he said that anyone can go out in a blaze of glory. What is truly …
No week goes by without someone talking about how negative rap music is destroying the Black community. Apparently, not just are these ignorant rappers not “real,” but they are killing our children’s minds. This line of thought always bothered me. I’d be lying if I said emcees don’t have an influence, especially on impressionable young …
Believe it or Not, Your Least Favorite Artist Really Isn’t Destroying the Community Read More »
Every time I hear the latest story of a woman being sexually abused, harassed or simply having some creeper at the bus stop shamelessly undressing her with his eyes, I want to start National Punch a Sexist Asshole in the Face Day. It would be a 24/7 365 holiday. The fact is, there is …
This past Sunday I was the guest for an hour on Oregon Voter’s Digest, hosted by Bruce Broussard. I discussed cultural ignorance in education and the role of parenting in helping students thrive in school. Check it out here.
When I wrote a personal essay about racist tweets among students at Lake Oswego High School (“Lake Oswego’s worst-kept secret,” published March 17 in The Oregonian), I never expected such an outpouring of responses. The nickname “Lake No Negro” is known in many circles, and yet many people were shocked and frustrated to learn institutional …
My turn: Essay on racism in Lake Oswego prompts wide-ranging response Read More »
As a concerned citizen, I’m calling for a moratorium on people of color snitching on ourselves. If social media has done anything, it has revolutionized the art of snitching. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc., people have found new and creative ways to save police and employers hours of detective work. Perhaps the most concentrated …
While the world, or at least the social media universe, was fixated on Coachella and the Tupac hologram, I spent the early hours glued to the Anders Breivik trial. If there is anything that represents the “Face of evil”, it’s Breivik. Last year he went on a shooting spree in Norway, killing 77 people and …
By now you’ve probably seen the Trayvon Martin killing analyzed from every possible angle. Instead of offering up another piece comparing my own experiences in a gated community or stating the all too obvious reasons why George Zimmerman should be arrested and Chief Bill Lee should be fired, here are a series of raw, frustrated …
Check out my interview on KBOO, discussing my essay “Lake Oswego: Racist Tweets are Only Tip of the Iceberg”.
Check out my new commentary on growing up in the Lake Oswego school system. My story is far from unique and in fact, compared to others I consider myself lucky. This is happening to students of color all throughout Lake Oswego schools and institutions everywhere; in the case of low-income schools, at a warehousing level. …
New Article: Lake Oswego High: Racist Tweets are Only Tip of the Iceberg Read More »