Posts Tagged: human rights
Betty Shelby & the Sacrificial Lamb
I usually start my day off by avoiding breaking news that reflects how far our nation still has to go on the road for social justice. Unlike white Americans, I don’t have the privilege of ignoring a threat to my human rights, since I have the dual jeopardy of being black and a woman. Whenever I scroll down my Facebook timeline, I see images of the black body either being dehumanized by being shot “on the spot” or, quite simply, criminalized for doing things that any normal person would do. A few days ago, my social media timelines erupted as news outlets reported that Terence Crutcher, a forty-year old black man who was waiting for roadside assistance, was shot and killed by a Tulsa police officer. A few days later, Betty Shelby’s name… Read more »
Is This My Land Too?
Body language. Facial expressions. Volume. All are irrefutable evidence of what makes respectability politics a core element demanded of black people. “Is this my land too?” periodically comes up in many conversations surrounding racial and civil liberties. We are constantly bombarded with scenarios that illustrate the hazards of being black and demanding basic human rights across America. Recently, Solange Knowles attended a concert in New Orleans called Kraftwerk, a German electronic and pop music band, to expose her eleven-year old son to new experiences. When her favorite song came on, she stood up to dance like any other person would whenever their song comes on at a music concert. However, her movement and passion in the atmosphere upset a group of white women who yelled and threw half-eaten limes at her…. Read more »
