Punishing Pregnant Women

I learned from an activist alert from Sister Song, a reproductive justice collective for women of color, that a horrifying decision was made concerning shackling in the 8th Circuit. The decision upholds that it is not unconstitutional for policies to exist that allow law enforcement institutions to shackle pregnant women during labor. Arkansas resident and appellee Shawanna Nelson's lawyer is petitioning for a rehearing and is receiving assistance from the ACLU. I am hopeful that this petition is successful, in addition to the work National Advocates for Pregnant Women and the Rebecca Project for Human Rights are doing to ensure that this petition is reheard by the 8th Circuit. It is outrageous that women in America are being denied their basic human and civil rights during the process of active labor and delivery. This act of brutality and human degradation is often ignored by the mainstream media because of the racialized subjects who are the majority of the women who experience this indignity.

NYU is #15 in latest ranking...

Stuff White People Like: Facebook Application

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/

"The Girls of Olive Garden"

Today the news ticker on my AOL home page advertised "The Girls of Olive Garden on Playboy.com". I thought it must be a joke; however it is [sadly] a true Playboy feature.

This trinity of capitalism, objectification, and literal exploitation of female labor astounds me. I am not passing judgment on the people posing; however I’m expressing my belief that it is outrageous that this magazine is devoting an entire spread to showcasing the "Women of Olive Garden" naked.

The Playboy Corporation is marketing young female flesh while they attempt to traffic breadsticks and endless pasta. The most sickening part of this spectacle is not even centered simply on the basis that these women are being objectified in this publication. The real disturbing part of this “Olive Garden” feature is more about the unfair dynamics of the economic exchange and transfer that comes from this sort of exploitation. I am sure it was no problem for the magazine to find female employees of the Olive Garden between the ages of 18 and 28 who could use extra money to make ends meet. “Hef” and company never cease to amaze me. I wonder what sort of buffoons are actually spending their hard earned money to pay the $19.95 it costs to "see them naked... even better than the endless salad and breadsticks" as advertised on their website.

This is a sign of the times, and it remains totally ridiculous. It is too bad the movie Idiocracy came out before this existed, because this would have fit perfectly in the script.

"Tasteless and Offensive"

According to Politico.com, Obama's campaign released a statement condemning New Yorker magazine's recent cover featuring Obama in a caricature of Islamic dress and his wife adorned in a racist caricature of black femininity. The cover depicts Obama and his wife giving each other the now famous "fist bump". In the image, Michelle Obama is lampooned as a so-called militant with ammunition, a machine gun, and a large afro. Behind the exaggerated caricatures of the candidate and his wife is a fireplace with an American flag burning in the background. The image is so offensive that even McCain's campaign (who cannot be celebrated as champions of diversity and social justice by any means) agree stating, "We completely agree with the Obama campaign, it’s tasteless and offensive."

Even though I believe in free speech, I agree with the campaign's stance. The cover is gaining the attention and controversy that its creators certainly hoped to garner with this bold visual representation. My concern is that this presentation of stereotypes will reify and validate much of the hate mongering ugliness that is already infecting the national conversation about Obama,Michelle Obama, foreign policy, and race relations in general.

Moreover, as a black woman with natural hair in general, I find it interesting that the New Yorker's illustrators styled Michelle Obama in a huge afro in order to depict Obama's wife as "militant", "angry" and "unpatriotic". As if a black woman wearing her hair in its most natural state is synonymous with flag burning and militarism.

Between this recent incendiary incident and McLaughlin's reckless name-calling (when he dissed Obama by labelling him an "oreo", it has become apparent that the centuries old stain of racism is firmly embedded into our national fabric and will not be washed way even if Obama wins. If anything, this campaign confirms and exposes for those who were in denial, that racism is alive and prospering within American hearts and minds on both sides of the aisle. It is up to us to unlearn the internalized racism and oppression that has become as quotidian and American as apple pie.

"Plan Seeks More Access for Disabled"

Especially being in this particularly inaccessible city, I have been thinking a lot about accessibility and what I don't recognize isn't there or what I personally don't need but the lack of/current structure is making someone else's life pretty difficult.

On a regular basis I fail to consciously recognize how I personally (as a person who is temp. able-bodied) benefit from ADA based changes/ additions to the public sphere, but upon reflection realize I benefit a lot and typically they are things that I take for granted (ie: sidewalk ramps, elevator access, closed-captioning, variation in signage, shifts in thinking etc)....

This June 16, 08 article in the NY Times: Plan Seeks More Access for Disabled discusses some potentially mandated improvements in accessibility for individuals with disabilities/who are differently-abled, which are currently going through the White House. It elaborates/ expands on the 1990 ADA laws signed by G.H.W.Bush and has been under development for the last four years.

While some criticize potential costs in implementing changes/updates, others feel it is not strong enough.

At the very least, I am glad that some definition is being given to the 1990 ADA law so that we don't go another 18 years without being held too accountable as a public to continue to move fwd in improving access... "within reasonable accommodation?"

AAIFF 2008

View Website by Clicking here: AAIFF


The Asian American International Film Festival is taking place this week (07.10 - 07.19)

Consider checking it out :)

Oh Tyra....

Tyra tries to have shows with "deeper" themes to them (they usually involve her or someone else going under cover) and they always seems to fall short of being constructive.... should we just be glad the topics are being discussed in the first place or does this exploit people's prejudices/ ignorance in a way that does it do "more harm than good?"

...it is especially a concern that airtime was wasted with a conversation focused on which race has it the worst... (ie: oppression olympics)

Just Another Silly Japanese Creation?

So I've seen (courtesy mostly of YouTube) some pretty stupid, creative, funny, innovative, etc. tv shows, experiences, inventions come out of Japan. Mostly I just write them off as silly and often they are just like many of the ridiculous things that come out of the US, just different.

However,I'm disturbed by this latest short clip on CNN that my friend just passed along. In it, CNN interviews a cafe in Shibuya, Japan where the premise is that the waiters are "westerners" / white (men) and Japanese women can come here to be spoiled like princesses.

"Western Cafe"

The most disturbing part is CNN's quality of reporting. They continuously refer to the men in the cafe as "westerners" as an equivalent to being "white." They don't talk about how many people actually go to this cafe. (It's practically empty in the clip) but they make it seem like it's the new "It" thing to do and that this is indicative of how all Japanese / Asian women feel. Also, they bash the Japanese men for not taking care of their women so as a result, the women have to go to this cafe to "escape" the realities of their life. Once again; white men to the rescue.