February 19 - 25, 2021

On June 19, 2020, I made a commitment to educate myself on the lingering effects of racism, discrimination, and bias in America. Every day through June 18, 2021, I will read an article or book chapter, listen to a podcast, watch a movie or documentary, view a webinar, or do something substantive to educate myself in these areas. As part of that commitment, I will post to this blog each Friday with a list of what I've done over the past week as well as any pertinent thoughts or reflections.

Today's post covers the week of February 19-25, 2021.

 

Already Hit Hard by the Pandemic, Black and Hispanic Communities Suffer the Blows of an Unforgiving Winter Storm 

Alexa Ura and Juan Pablo Garnham cover the effects of last week's winter storm on communities of color for the Texas Tribune. The pandemic has already disproportionately harmed Black and brown neighborhoods with higher infection rates and more fatalities. The storm only added to the suffering of low income Texans, as older homes tend not to have adequate insulation to keep temperatures above freezing. Jill Ramirez, CEO of the Latino HealthCare Forum, put it this way. "When you didn’t invest in the whole community equally, then you're going to see the disparity when we get into situations like this. Everything is hooked up to the same inequity." 

 

A Look Inside the Green Book, Which Guided Black Travelers Through a Segregated and Hostile America 

The history of the Green Book, a travel guide for African-Americans published from 1937-1966, is detailed in this piece from USA Today. Victor Green, a Harlem postal worker and talent manager, began publishing the book at a way to help Black musicians navigate New York City. Over time, the book served as a guide to hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and other services across the U.S. that were Black-friendly. The book was particularly helpful during the first and second Great Migrations of Black Americans from the South to the North and West.

 

Fannie Lou Hamer: Stand Up 

PBS recalls the story of Civil Rights Activist and sharecropper Fannie Lou Hamer. Hamer first attempted to register to vote in 1962 and was arrested and beaten. She later helped found the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and challenged the legitimacy of the Democratic Party delegation at its 1964 convention. Hamer, who died in 1977, spent the rest of her life in service to others and founded the Freedom Farm Cooperative, which was designed to meet the nutritional needs of Black Mississipians.

 

NCAA Social Series: Celebrating HBCUs, Part II  

Andy Katz interviews SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland and SIAC Commissioner Gregory Moore in this episode of the NCAA Social Series. Both men lead conferences that are over 100 years old - the SWAC is a Division I league of HBCU institutions; the SIAC is a Division II league of mostly HBCUs. Both commissioners talk about the legacy of their league, the service they provide to their communities, and the pride they have in the way their student-athletes have engaged in social justice initiatives this year.

Inside a Battle Over Race, Class, and Power at Smith College

Michael Powell reports for the New York Times about a 2018 incident between a student, a cafeteria worker, a custodian, and campus security at Smith College. The student, who was kicked out of a closed dorm lounge while eating lunch, took to social media to express her frustration with living while Black at Smith. "It’s outrageous that some people question my being at Smith College, and my existence overall as a woman of color." An independent investigation determined no discrimination had taken place in this particular incident, which led others to question the support given to college's front line workers, one of whom was immediately put on paid leave the day of the encounter.

 

Google's Program for Black College Students Suffered Disorganization and Culture Clashes, Former Participants Say 

Jennifer Elias writes for CNBC about the "Howard West" Tech Exchange program at Google. While initially launched in 2017 to improve the pipeline of Black employees in the tech industry, the program morphed into an all-encompassing diversity initiative that, according to several former participants, lacked organization and direction. Several interns also mentioned experiences with microaggressions and food insecurity, while others noted their expectations of future employment went unfulfilled. Both Google and Howard say they are proud of the program and are committed to making improvements in the future.

 

How TV Shows Can Reduce Prejudice 

Sohad Murrar, a researcher and psychologist from Governors State University, studied the effects the entertainment industry can have on Americans' perceptions of Muslims. Using sitcoms and music videos, she found that people who watch positive portrayals of Muslim Americans are less likely exhibit bias toward them, and that these effects hold over time. The findings support intergroup contact theory, which posits that positive exposure to out-groups can reduce tensions and increase tolerance.