Generally I try to theme the digest around either current events or "this day in history," but today's digest is different, owing largely to a bizarre and unique this day in history. Rather, today's digest will focus on the biggest, most painfully obvious but awkward elephants in the room: race. Race shouldn't really mean anything, but in our world, it still means almost everything. The conversation is so broad that the question becomes: where to start?
As always, happy Wednesday and happy reading.
This Day in History
1942 - Thailand declares war on the US and England, entering WWII on the side of Japan. Honestly, I had no idea. I thought parts of Thailand were part of French-Indochina, the French colony in southeast Asia. I don't imagine Thailand's entry into the war was anything but symbolic, but this is a fun historical trivia fact. Who knew!?
The Benefit of Being White
It's no secret that African-Americans, particularly men, are far more likely to be victims of unjustified police violence than white men. This discrepancy is even starker when one considers how society treats innocent black men compared to guilty white ones (from New York Mag). Our racial legacy is so heavy that we are subconsciously taught to recognize that certain behaviors can be explained away in some people, but are inherent flaws in others.
Perhaps there is a reason the lone wolf white shooter is unstable. It's certainly not because he is white. His guilt is certain, but also of little importance. What matters is that we can somehow excuse his behavior. Because I, as a white man, would never do that, so whatever caused him to do it must not be connected to race. Meanwhile black men seem dangerous if they wear hoodies. This is a systemic and overwhelming problem.
Face of a Movement
DeRay became something of a household name in 2015 during the protests in Ferguson, MO following the murder of Mike Brown. But although many know his name and his cause, few know him, even after his campaign for mayor of Baltimore. So who is DeRay (from New York Mag)? And what is he trying to achieve (from the Guardian)?
Given America's inability - or refusal - to address our sordid racial history, it is likely that DeRay will only become a more important leader as we seek to acknowledge and rectify the sins of the past.
Even the Machines
Systemic bias is so built into our society that even the algorithms are discriminatory (from ProPublica). Yes, that's right, even the machines are biased, incorrectly, against African-Americans, rating them more at risk of being repeat offenders. At some point, one wonders what else there is to say. The software is racist...there's really a lot to fix.
When Cultures Meet
As real and widespread as racism is, there are times when we focus on the negative aspect of things rather than the positive. For example, when is cultural appropriation an oppressive thing, and when is it a natural and positive phenomenon (from NYTimes Magazine)? As humans we all share common urges and instincts, a trend we can see manifested as the creation of art, music, etc. It is only natural that when exposed to new cultural expressions that stimulate us like our own that we should adopt some of them. A candid discussion on race must being with white Americans admitting to an ugly past and an unacceptable present, but we must also see the positive blend of cultures that has taken place within that context.
Hello Hobbes
Hello Hobbes! Residing here in the nation's capital, Hobbes has gotten used to the snowy weather, and he doesn't let him slow him down. Even when it's cold out, he drags his human Brian outside for a few games of fetch. Even though he enjoys a good run, Hobbes is also happy to pose, especially after a nice workout. Big thanks to Brian for sharing Hobbes!
Will's Weekly Trivia - Spread the Word!
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Last Week:
1. Which future leader of North Vietnam came to Versailles to plead for independence for Vietnam from France, but was turned away resulting in ongoing colonization of French Indochina that predated the Vietnam War? TWO POINTS
2. What is the capital of Hungary? ONE POINT
3. The original Big Three consisted of FDR, Winston Churchill, and whom? ONE POINT
Answers:
1. As a young man, Ho Chi Minh came to the Versailles Peace Conference to advocate for an independent Vietnam.
2. The capital of Hungary is Budapest.
3. Stalin was the third member of the original Big Three.
This Week:
1. Who were the two co-founders of the Black Panthers? ONE POINT APIECE
2. In which city was MLK born? ONE POINT
3. What does the acronym SNCC stand for? ONE POINT LEADER BOARD Check out the Leader Board! Is your name on it!?
