Issue: 171
February 16, 2006
Commentary
Freedom Rider: Halliburton Detention Centers
Guest Commentator
Now is the time for all good people to come to the aid of their country and become unapologetically paranoid. Paranoia should now be the normal state of mind for thinking people. Sneers and dismissive remarks about “conspiracy theorists” must be ignored. We don’t want to end up like the proverbial frog who boils to…
Now is the time for all good people to come to the aid of their country and become unapologetically paranoid. Paranoia should now be the normal…
Continue reading 5 min
Commentary
Bruce’s Beat
Editor
Early 20th Century America had its minstrel shows and other depictions of grinning, red-lipped watermelon-eating pickaninnies; its Topsy and Sambo figures in print, advertising and elsewhere. They lent comforting affirmation to white supremacist fantasies of black degradation. At the dawn of the 21st century, we have another cohort of black public figures eager to please…
Early 20th Century America had its minstrel shows and other depictions of grinning, red-lipped watermelon-eating pickaninnies; its Topsy and Sambo figures in print, advertising and elsewhere.…
Continue reading 11 min
Commentary
Radio BC: Uncle Sam’s Haiti Thugocracy
Guest Commentator
There can be no more heroic people on the globe than the citizens of Haiti, who have once again made known their choice for president. He is Rene Preval, the man who served as prime minister in Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s first government in 1990, which was cut short by a U.S.-backed military coup, who went into…
There can be no more heroic people on the globe than the citizens of Haiti, who have once again made known their choice for president. He…
Continue reading 1 min
Commentary
Haitian Election Sends World a Message
This article originally appeared in the Jamaica Observer. If you really want to know what’s wrong with Haiti consider this: Last Thursday night, when it was clear that Rene Preval was getting something over 60% of the votes in the UN organized Haitian election, one of his opponents, the man coming second with about 12%…
This article originally appeared in the Jamaica Observer. If you really want to know what's wrong with Haiti consider this: Last Thursday night, when it was…
Continue reading 9 min
Guest Commentary
Coretta Scott King Goes Home
Guest Commentator
Like millions around the world, I watched the funeral of Coretta Scott King with fond remembrances and pain. When I was a struggling doctoral student, Mrs. King and Dr. Martin Luther, King, Jr. were very kind to me as I did my research and wrote my dissertation, “Martin Luther King, Jr.: Rhetorician of Revolt.” My…
Like millions around the world, I watched the funeral of Coretta Scott King with fond remembrances and pain. When I was a struggling doctoral student, Mrs.…
Continue reading 10 min
Commentary
Why Cynthia McKinney Lost Her Seniority and Didn’t Get It Back
This article originally appeared in SFBayView.com. You might call it a “tale of two women” or “why Cynthia McKinney lost her seniority and didn’t get it back.” Both women are members of Congress and both are Democrats, but that’s where the comparisons end. McKinney, from Atlanta, Georgia, is an African-American warrior for justice and peace…
This article originally appeared in SFBayView.com. You might call it a "tale of two women" or "why Cynthia McKinney lost her seniority and didn't get it…
Continue reading 10 min
Commentary
Think Piece: Glory Road, A Miscarriage of Glory
It is a traditional belief that sport fosters democracy and equality and the notion is mythical as it concerns race. According to sports pundits like ESPN’s Bert Sugar, the accomplishments of black athletes like Joe Louis did more to advance blacks in this country than all legislation, organizations and movements combined. Their victories, according to…
It is a traditional belief that sport fosters democracy and equality and the notion is mythical as it concerns race. According to sports pundits like ESPN’s…
Continue reading 10 min
Cover Story
A ‘Movement’ Against Wal-Mart?
Guest Commentator
How does one describe – much less defeat – the phenomenon that is Wal-Mart? A “Death Star” that destroys all other economic activity in its path? A tsunami that permanently alters the social and physical landscape of every region it washes upon? The lead horseman in an apocalyptic worldwide Race to the Bottom? Wal-Mart is…
How does one describe - much less defeat - the phenomenon that is Wal-Mart? A "Death Star" that destroys all other economic activity in its path?…
Continue reading 22 min