Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 299

Black Representation In Politics Is Poor Nationwide, Except In State Houses

'Eighty-nine percent of elected office holders nationwide are white. But a new analysis of elected office holders shows that Black representation is close to parity in one place.'

Self Care as Selfless Act: Mental Health at the Root of Activism

'Activists in the Latinx immigrant community of Los Angeles share what they do to take care of their mental health. The issues these activists work on often impact their personal lives, and people who work in the service of others are particularly at risk of burnout and compassion fatigue. Self-care becomes a “selfless act” when it allows activists to stay healthy and do their work in a sustainable way.' -- Making Contact 
Making Contact · Self Care as Selfless Act: Mental Health at the Root of Activism

New Generation of Writers of Color Reckon with H.P. Lovecraft's Racism

'Based on a book by Matt Ruff, the Lovecraft Country is set during the Jim Crow South, and combines the actual terrors of racism with the fantastical horror of author H.P. Lovecraft, who wrote most of his work in the early 20th century. In real life, Lovecraft was extremely racist, and his personal letters reveal his opposition to interracial relationships, as well as his support of Adolf Hitler. While his influence has been felt in fantasy and horror for decades, a new generation of writers, particularly writers of color, have recently begun to reckon with his bigoted views in their own fiction. The Takeaway speaks with two of the acclaimed authors who have worked to reclaim Lovecraft’s work for women and people of color, Victor LaValle is the author of The Changeling, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the author of Mexican Gothic.'

The Future of Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

'As workplaces begin to re-open, many workers of color and women workers will be returning to a daily grind of microagressions, tokenism and obstacles to advancement, forcing some to ask if re-opening will be a true reset on inequity in the workplace. Joining us is diversity strategist and researcher Lenora Billings-Harris , president and CEO of UbuntuGlobal and co-author of Trailblazers: How Top Business Leaders are Accelerating Results through Inclusion and Diversity. She'll talk about how to make workplaces more equitable, and advise callers on how to deal with some of these problems.'  -- All Of It
         
        

Hip-Hop That Made The Grown-Ups Uncomfortable: The 'Controversy' Around 'WAP'

'NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with cultural critic Taylor Crumpton about Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's new song, "WAP," which celebrates women's sexual pleasure.' -- All Things Considered

HBO's 'Lovecraft Country' Brings Viewers To A World Of Monsters, Magic and Racism

'HBO's new drama Lovecraft Country is about a Black military veteran and his family who are plunged into a world of magic and monsters. That world is only slightly more horrifying than the real world they live in, Jim Crow-era America. The series is out on Sunday. And NPR TV critic Eric Deggans says it's a masterpiece.'

On Evictions, Police Brutality and the Violence of Class War in South Africa.

'Writer William Shoki examines the cyclical, class nature of evictions and police brutality against poor and working class South Africans - as the nation's political economy operates for domestic and global capital, the social relations of apartheid and colonialism persist long after their apparent, historical demise. Shoki wrote the articles "The existing order of things" and "The class character of police violence for Africa is a Country". -- This is Hell! 
This is Hell! · On evictions, police brutality and the violence of class war in South Africa.

The Black Women Behind the Ongoing Fight for Suffrage

'The 19th Amendment which was ratified on August 18th, 1920 and then certified eight days later. The 19th Amendment inked women’s suffrage into American history, a culminating moment in an effort to win political power. But the ordained heroes of women’s suffrage – like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and later Alice Paul – often tossed out the leadership and movement-building of Black women. The absence of those voices from the popular historical record has obscured the centuries-long role that Black women have played in expanding voting rights. And, of course, we’re releasing this episode just days after presidential candidate Joe Biden announced Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate, which marks the first time a woman of color is on a major party ticket. Joining At Liberty to discuss how the history of voting rights has led us to this moment is Martha S. Jones, the Society of Black Alumni Presidential Professor, and professor of History at Johns Hopkins University. She is also the author of a new book called Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for All.'
At Liberty · The Black Women Behind the Ongoing Fight for Suffrage

Black Women in Resistance: Two Poems by Lamont Lilly

Black Women in Resistance: Two Poems by Lamont Lilly

assata: general shakur
they would like us  to forget  the likes of her sacrifices  one dark woman  well-dressed  in plaid shadows  called afro-freedom 
fighting yelling teaching staying alive  on the frontline  imprisoned exiled wounded  still living loving her people  from the outer edges 






etched within our hearts  tucked safely  within our minds  one dark woman  well-dressed  in plaid shadows  called afro-freedom
clawing scratching scraping  staying alive  on the frontline  wow what a warrior  wow what a woman what a wonderful general she's been


the hunted [In honor of Korryn Gaines]
you're in the house  with your three children  dinner and homework 
minutes later  u.s. marshalls  come running in  with assault rifles  teargas and bulletproof vest 
i think it's best  at that point  that you freeze my sister 







put your rifle  and the kids down  so you can be around  tomorrow 
those little ones need you alive sis  so you can be around  tomorrow 
and the people? we need you strong my sister healthy alive  so you can lead the troops
■■■ Lamont Lilly is an independent journalist, Black radical activist, poet and community organizer based in Durham, North Carolina. In 2016, he was the Workers World Party U.S. vice-presidential candidate. Follow him on Twitter @LamontLilly<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:8.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:11.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:8.0pt; line-height:107%;}size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}</style>

Tef Poe x Rebel Diaz: "Ghetto Pueblo"

Lyric video for "Ghetto Pueblo" from MULTIPLY, Vol. 1. featuring Tef Poe and Rebel Diaz.