Kirwan Update November/December 2009

The “Post-Racial” Mainstream Media and the New American Executive Jared Gardner, Associate Professor of English Notes john a. powell, The first nine months of Barack Obama’s presidency have witnessed accomplishments Executive Director (pulling the economy back from the brink) and disappointments (the broken promises to the gay and lesbian community). If you are of a certain age, you have seen this strange President Obama’s first and often dispiriting first-year blend of callousness, courage, and concession before, and summer saw the coun- it is too soon to know how this story will be told two or three years from now. try embroiled in intense But there is one story that can be told right now. This is the story of the resurgence debates on issues ranging of mainstream, Main Street racism in the wake of Obama’s election. For a surprising from health care, to the number of people in America, the election of the first African American president has environment, to concerns Professor become a license to print (and speak and circulate) hate. The testing of the new rules about “big government.” john a. powell began slowly at first: in February, a mayor in California sent an e-mail representing the Many protested health White House as surrounded by a watermelon farm (“No Easter Egg Hunt this year”); care reform by alleging President Obama in May, a Republican staffer in Tennessee circulated a “Historical Keepsake Photo” dig- is not a real American, his birth certificate nifying all the U.S. Presidents with official portraits or photographs—save for Barack is phony, and that he is a closet Muslim. Obama, who is represented by a field of black with two bug-eyes staring bewildered Others claimed that the White House from the shadows. Then, as the “tea party movement” heated up this summer, the wanted to kill the elderly or that health hate came spilling out onto the street: a litany of signs decrying President Obama as care reform was a way of giving repara- a “Lyin’ African,” the endless parade of “birther” signs suggesting that Obama “go back tions to black Americans. Talk show hosts to Kenya,” all taking their cues from the movement’s leadership—men like Dr. David called then Supreme Court Justice nominee McKalip who forwarded to his fellow “activists” a Photoshopped image of Obama as a Sonia Sotomayor a racist and said President bone-in-nose-wearing witch-doctor. “Funny stuff,” McKalip wrote to his correspondents. Obama did not like white people after he challenged the arrest of Professor Henry These “jokes,” all of them, are straight out of a long line of racist imagery going back to Louis Gates Jr. The tone and content of the the origins of the form, cartoons portraying uppity people of color mimicking the white- debates were far-fetched and hardly made folk—and making a travesty of everything in the process. Illustrated magazines in the any sense, but they were informed by deep 19th century (Harper’s Weekly, Life) ran these cartoons regularly, and I have for years emotions rather than facts. used them as a historical lesson in my classes on the power of racist imagery. Apparently, however, the election of the first black president, far from making these jokes unintel- Two main positions seek to explain what ligible or intolerable relics from a by-gone age, has made them newly (and newly accept- triggered this response. The first position, able) “funny stuff” for a growing number of people. held by former President Jimmy Carter among others, holds that racism is driving Of course, these jokes never went out of fashion—they just left the mainstream media the intensity of the debate. This position and buried themselves deep inside the institutions that govern society. It is this “joke” understands racism as intentional conscious that underwrites the violence directed at young African Americans guilty of the travesty racial animus and leads to questions about of driving while black, or the arrest of an African American man in his own home guilty whether Joe Wilson or the birthers are racist. of being an irate homeowner in a “nice” neighborhood. And it is the “joke” that empow- Not surprisingly, this is strongly resisted and ers a backbencher from South Carolina to call the President a liar in a congressional those who make such claims are accused of address. playing the race card. So, there is nothing surprising about seeing the resurgence of this brand of racism based (continued on page 2) on the “joke” (always a mask for the humorist’s deepest fears of a Black Planet) now that a black man is in the white (man’s) house. Nor is there anything surprising in the new media that has been used to disseminate them; all of these incidents began as “funny” (continued on page 3)

INSIDE: Feature Articles • International Perspectives • Kirwan Institute Blog • GIS Update • Talking about Race • More Than Just Race • Call for Papers • Kirwan in the News • New Media Update • Events • Obama Reflections • New Faculty/Staff Executive Notes (continued from page 1) ABOUT THE INSTITUTE The second position, taken by NY Times columnist David Brooks for example, accepts that The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race a nerve may have been hit, but rejects the role of race. Rather, it is simply that a large num- and Ethnicity is a university-wide inter- ber of Americans embrace the Jeffersonian or Jacksonian wariness toward federal govern- disciplinary research institute. Its goal is ment and desire for local control. to deepen our understanding of the causes A third viewpoint asserts that racial anxiety is likely part of the intense reaction dur- of and solutions to racial and ethnic dis- ing the summer, but this need not be conscious or racist. It emphasizes that cultural and parities and hierarchies. This includes an institutional norms in our society, such as local or state control, carry racial associa- explicit focus not only on Ohio and the , but also on the Americas tions. In addition, this position holds that the country’s mistrust of federal government is and our larger global community. Our pri- inherited from the fight over , race, and the North/South division. This is not to say mary focus is to increase general under- that all opposition to big government is about race, but that there is a connection in our standing that, despite many differences, nation’s culture between race and anti-federal government, states’ rights, and local control human destinies are intertwined. Thus, attitudes. the institute explores and illustrates both A closer look reveals that these claims are supported by a growing body of research. Over our and common humanity in 90% of our emotional and cognitive processes are not directly accessible to us. On mat- real terms. ters of race, we have unconscious or implicit attitudes and . These biases have strong The institute brings together a diverse and associations with ideas that are not explicitly about race. There are concrete ways of mea- creative group of scholars and research- suring our hidden associations, and this insight is not limited just to race, but impacts ers from various disciplines to focus on every aspect of our lives. the histories, present conditions, and the future prospects of racially and ethnically We can expose biases to our conscious mind and shift to make certain biases less domi- marginalized people. Informed by real- nant. However, not talking about race or focusing only on the conscious two percent is world needs, its work strives to meaning- not effective. Understanding race requires looking at the work of structures, institutions, fully influence policies and practices. and also our unconscious associations. The goal should be to become more skillful in con- The institute also focuses on the interre- structively talking about and engaging with race. latedness of race and ethnicity with other factors, such as gender, class, and culture, and how these are embedded in structures and systems. Collaboration with other john a. powell, Executive Director institutions and organizations around the world and ongoing relationships with real people, real communities, and real issues For more information: are a vital part of its work. Americans for American Values (americansforamericanvalues.org) The institute employs many approaches Harvard Implicit Association Test: (implicit.harvard.edu/implicit) to fulfilling its mission: original research, publications, comparative analyses, sur- veys, convenings, and conferences. It is part of a rich intellectual community and draws upon the insight and energy of the faculty and students at Ohio State. The Kirwan Update is produced by the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at The Ohio State University, 433 Mendenhall Lab, 125 South Oval Mall, Columbus, OH 43210. While the institute focuses on margin- alized racial and ethnic communities, it For questions or comments about this publication, please contact understands that these communities exist Kirwan Update editor Angela Stanley at (614) 247-6329 or [email protected]. in relation to other communities and that fostering these relationships deepens the Contributing Staff Editors possibility of change. It is the sincere hope Kathy Baird, Director of Communications and goal of all of us that the institute gives Philip Kim, Assistant Editor transformative meaning to both our diver- Rajeev Ravisankar, Research Assistant sity and our common humanity. kirwaninstitute.org

2 Feature

The “Post-Racial” Mainstream Media (continued from page 1) e-mails forwarded to friends or listserv blogs, both delighted and outraged by the logic of “post-racial” racism in his own groups—but specifically designed (like messages. And increasingly they are bub- comic, “This Modern World” (9/22/09), con- racism itself) “to go viral.” bling back up into the accepted daily dis- cluding with a panel showing two Klansmen course of American life. complaining, “It’s getting so a fella can’t What has surprised me, although it even wear a pointy hood and burn a cross— shouldn’t, has been the role (at once pas- Meanwhile the mainstream media sit off at without being accused of racism!” sive and deeply cynical) in all of this played the sideline, discussing the birther move- by mainstream media. No longer able to ment with its back-to-Africa chants as if No, Virginia (or any of the states on depend on big media (like Harper’s in the there are legitimate concerns here that have the “Tea Party Express II: Countdown to 19th century) to spread the message, those nothing to do with racism. And when Joe Judgment Day Tour”), dissent and opposi- with an investment in propagating racism Wilson calls the President a liar on global tion is not racism: it is healthy and neces- have increasingly turned to new digital television, and folks sary to any democracy. media to spread their message—new media who know a thing or However, , that are in the very process, we are told, of two about racism— The media can stare at cross-burning, or por- ringing the death knell for the news indus- from Jimmy Carter their own monitors in traying the President try. Racism has of course long played a vital to Spike Lee—state innocent bewilderment: as an “African witch role in the popularization and legitimiza- unequivocally that “Where? I don’t see doctor” is racism, and, tion of emerging media in the United States. race has a whole lot of as both Knight and any racism. Do you?” (As Michael Rogin pointed out, for example, something to do with Tomorrow insist, we “the founding Hollywood movie, The Birth this unprecedented cannot allow that of a Nation, celebrates the Ku Klux Klan. speech act, the media distinction to be The first talking picture, The Jazz Singer, can stare at their own monitors in innocent lost. We cannot allow acts of racism to be was a blackface film.”) One might, therefore, bewilderment: “Where? I don’t see any tolerated or winked at, even for an instant. imagine a role for the now “old” media racism. Do you?” When protests erupt at the prospect of the of television and daily newspapers in coun- President talking with school kids “alone” And they don’t, and you won’t, at least not teracting the renewed mass circulation (as one radio talkshow host wailed), one on your television news or in your city’s of racist humor on the Internet, perhaps doesn’t have to look very hard to see the daily paper. The images of the tea party deploying some of that investigative report- racist fear of “predatory black men” behind protests on broadcast television were devoid ing, editorial perspective, or, at the very the hysterical tears. of any of the images and signs decrying least, basic coverage they have been going the President as an “African” out to cre- Only the most idealistic imagined that on about while lamenting their imminent ate a system of “White Slavery”—just as the election of the nation’s first African doom. Instead, mainstream media have the media have for the most part turned a American president would dissipate the found a role to play that relies entirely on blind eye to the “jokes” that are circulating deep legacy of American racism. But only their decorous, even righteous, silence. through their computers as surely as they the most hardbitten cynic could have There was not one mainstream account, are through ours. In their deliberate silence anticipated the paradox resulting from this for example, of a May e-mail sent by a on the racism they see openly articulated historical event, in which we are told by Republican official decrying “the black when they visit the rallies or read their audi- old media that our election of an African house and its minions” (well, none in the ence’s e-mails, the mainstream media make American president has magically inocu- U.S. media, anyway; it was covered in the racism as invisible—and therefore as lated the nation from racism, while the London papers and called by its proper natural—as air. And even as we see the open racism circulates with unparalleled feroc- name). The Los Alamitos mayor’s water- articulation of racism directed against the ity via new media. In their stalwart refusal melon White House postcard elicited some President moving closer and closer to the to acknowledge the ways that race is very media coverage, but only after the mayor center of political discourse, mainstream much in the limelight of opposition to our resigned (retaining his council seat), and media now present themselves as innocent current president, the mainstream media mostly highlighting the obvious absurdity and pure and thus perpetuate perhaps the make all-too plausible the seemingly out- of the former mayor’s statement that “he most insidious myth of all: the notion that landish scenarios imagined by Knight and was unaware of any racial asso- race has nothing to do with it. Tomorrow. This last month saw a Facebook ciated with watermelons.” Sherri Goforth’s poll asking for people’s opinions about Keith Knight, in a recent installment of “Historical Keepsake” elicited virtually no killing the President. Tragically, we also his comic “The K Chronicles” (9/21/09), mainstream news response whatsoever. learned of the lynching of a part-time cen- began with a panel portraying an African sus worker in Kentucky, whose bound-and- This doesn’t mean people aren’t seeing these American man in the process of being gagged body was found with the word “FED” images, reading these words. They likely lynched by a mob of white men. “You’re scrawled on his chest. As violent resistance reside somewhere right now in your com- doing this because I’m black, aren’t you?” against the Federal government increasingly puter’s browser cache or archived e-mail. “See?” one of the mob complains, exasper- becomes intertwined with racist fears and They certainly reside for the foreseeable ated. “There you go again!! Pulling the race fantasies, I fear we may already be there. future on the Internet itself in countless card.” Tom Tomorrow tackled the absurd

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Obama’s Denial Should Put Race on Trial Robert A. Bennett III Graduate Administrative Associate with the Bell Resource Center

As debates across the United States continue believed racism was a factor in the treat- would argue that many Americans who are around the issue of universal health care ment President Obama had received. Carter against the proposed plan do not have a full coverage, the issue of race lurks. There has believed that a great deal of the hostile understanding of the President’s agenda, been great hostility among American citi- demonstrations directed against Obama and rather the disdain they feel is directed zens, particularly Whites, directed towards were because he was African American. towards his race. Many Whites refuse to President Barack Obama’s health care plan. However, Obama does not share Carter’s deal with the fact that the President of the One of the President’s objectives is to pro- belief that the public protests are a conse- United States is Black. vide coverage for an estimated 50 million quence of his ethnic makeup. He argues During his campaign, Obama addressed Americans who are without insurance. that his opponents have disdain towards his the issue of race on March 18, 2008, in proposal for political reasons and not on the Many have argued that Obama’s plan will a speech titled “A More Perfect Union.” basis of race. enact death panels where the federal govern- He mentioned that the racial problem in ment would determine whether a person Anyone doubting that there is a racial America needed to be resolved for the could receive life-saving care. American component to recent protests should view nation to be unified in order to deal with citizens also fear longer waiting periods to the documentary Right America: Feeling the economic issues the country was facing. receive the help needed, which has been Wronged—Some Voices from the Campaign Obama stated he believed solidarity would attributed to nations that have nationalized Trail. During the 2008 presidential cam- happen because of his “unyielding faith in their care. Additionally, there is anxiety paign, filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi inter- the decency and generosity of the American over whether Americans will have to change viewed voters throughout the United States people.” However, the recent backlash that their coverage for one that is government who voted for John McCain for president. ensued has prevented any concerted effort of sanctioned, which will not cover medi- Some of the reasons interviewees gave for Americans coming together to solve issues cal issues that their current plans insure. not voting for Obama were because they around health care. Obama has stated that Americans who have believed he was not a citizen of America, The current administration must continue health care plans they are satisfied with may was a socialist who sought to prevent them to find ways to address issues regarding race stay with their present providers. from earning a living, and worked with ter- in this country. Earlier this year, shortly rorists. One person candidly said he “is the However, misinformation has been pro- after Obama’s inauguration, Attorney wrong color,” while another mentioned that moted with racist undertones as seen in the General Eric Holder called America “a he was not “voting for no nigger.” comparisons of Obama to Adolf Hitler and nation of cowards” regarding racial matters. Nazism. This has created an environment The reality of the presidential campaign He endured a backlash for his comments. in which many have opposed the current was that a fair number of people voted No matter how controversial the comments, administration without having an under- based on color alone, and failed to under- Americans have failed to deal with issues standing of its objectives. Fox News spon- stand the particular platforms of those of racism. Hence a fruitful understanding sored “Tea Bag Parties” across the nation running for elected office. The same is true regarding health care probably will not with the intent of undermining the current regarding Obama’s health care reform. I come to fruition, because of Obama’s race. administration. Participants at Federal leaders should ensure that these events argued that Obama is they not uphold the cowardice not a citizen of the United States, Holder believed plagued the nation. is a socialist seeking to overthrow That will help prevent people from American capitalism, and is a - using racist and xenophobic attacks destine Muslim linked to Islamic as an attempt to refrain from any terrorists due to the phonetic simi- productive conversations about the larity of Obama and Osama (bin issues concerning this nation. Laden, the supposed mastermind of 1 National Coalition on Health Care the 9/11 attacks). web site. http://www.nchc.org/facts/ On September 16, former U.S. coverage.shtml. Janet Mayer, PR Photos President Jimmy Carter addressed 2 Jim Rutenberg and Jackie Calmes, the outcries against Obama at the “False ‘Death Panel’ Rumor Has Twenty-eighth Annual Town Hall Some Familiar Roots,” New York Meeting at Emory University in Times, August 14, 2009, New York Atlanta, Georgia. He stated that he Edition, A1.

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“Ghetto Tennis Chicks” A Critical Analysis of the Serena Williams Meltdown Kamara Jones, Graduate Research Associate

After a lineswoman made a questionable foot In the book Getting Played: African fault call against Serena Williams during the American Girls, Urban Inequality, and semifinals of the recent women’s U.S. Open Gendered Violence, scholar Jodi Miller Championship, the tennis superstar snapped. notes that Black girls, especially those from urban areas like Williams, are not often “You better [expletive] be right,” Williams thought of as victims. “They don’t garner told the lineswoman. “I swear to God I’m public sympathy,” Miller wrote. “The roots [expletive] going to take this [expletive] ball of these ideologies are as old as the legacy and shove it down your [expletive] throat. of slavery.” Although Miller was primarily You hear that?”1 referring to sexual violence, her assess- As a result of her outburst, Williams rightly ment can be applied to other circumstances. www.flickr.com/photos/toughlove/ received a point penalty for unsportsman- Consequently, even if Williams would have like conduct, which ended the match and berated an official in a situation where she allowed Kim Clijsters, her opponent, to the fact that the questionable call was made was egregiously wronged, the amount of advance to the final round. Williams also at the most inopportune moment or that sympathy she would have received would received a $10,500 fine. But that, of course, she was angry at herself for playing poorly, have most likely paled in comparison to wasn’t enough for some critics. Williams’ but, instead, on the fact that she is from her White female counterparts in a similar outburst deserved more scorn. the “ghetto.” And “ghetto,” in reference to circumstance. Williams’ outburst, is not merely a classist According to Sports Illustrated writer S.L. This is not the first time Williams has been a statement; it is a racially charged statement. Price, Williams, who has won 11 grand slam victim of racially tinged criticism. As author “Ghetto,” like “urban” and “inner city,” has titles, blew her chance to be considered in Jacqueline Edmondson details in Venus and become a code word for “minority,” in gen- “historical terms.” “Certainly, she’s a great Serena: A Biography, when she arrived on eral, and “Black” specifically—a code word player, but this is going to be a great blight on the national tennis scene, sports commenta- in an American society that has, since the her career,” he wrote. “No question about it.” tors criticized her, and her sister’s, beaded, civil rights movement, adhered to scholar French braided tresses for being “noisy and Others haven’t been as “nice” as Price. Tali Mendelberg’s “norm of racial equal- disruptive.” One sports commentator stated ity,” and condemned, on the surface at least, “Bottom line is, you can take the girl out of that he was “tired of the beads.” In addition, overt racism. the ghetto but you can’t take the ghetto out sports commentators have also criticized of the girl,” wrote web surfer “wowurcrazy” Overreaction to Williams’ outburst was Williams for being overweight. Although on the pop culture blog Rickey. “Ron in Cal,” exacerbated by the media’s not-so-subtle these criticisms are related to Williams’ a web surfer on the The Fox Nation web site, juxtaposition of Williams and Clijsters. occasional failure to properly train for made a similar comment. According to him, Williams became the immature, smart- major tournaments, they are also related Serena’s outburst was influenced by “some aleck, Black, single, overly driven bully to the fact that Williams’ Black voluptuous residual traits” from the “ghetto.” while Clijsters, the ultimate foil, became body is unlike the bodies of her opponents. the poised, docile, White, motherly, selfless During the 2007 Australian open, criticisms The overreaction to Williams’ outburst, underdog. In the New York Times article about Williams’ weight increased. And even despite overwhelming evidence that she is “Clijsters Shows Maturity in Championship though she won the tournament, she was not the only tennis player to berate an offi- Comeback,” journalist George Vecsey char- forced to address the fact that she was, as the cial, is related to race. acterized Williams’ voice as “weirdly disas- New York Times article “After Times of Grief Black anger is never taken lightly, mostly sociated, the one she uses to hold people and Doubt, a Tennis Ace is Hungry Again,” because Black people, in general, are feared off.” Conversely, readers were constantly by journalist Christopher Clarey revealed, by dominant society. Consequently, when a reminded by media outlets like ESPN.com “carrying more weight than she did at the Black person expresses anger, it is deemed an that Clijsters, who “took time off” to have a peak of her tennis career in 2003.” expected behavior, part of his or her cultural child, was the first mom since 1980 to win “I think no matter if I were not to eat for two disposition, even when the Black person’s a major championship. In addition, her win years, I still wouldn’t be a Size 2, because no anger is justified and/or uncharacteristic of was framed in the AFP article “Super mom matter how slim I am, I always have this and his or her normal personality. In addition, Clijsters comes back with a big win” by Jim that,” she told Clarey, pointing to her butt dominant society has placed Black women Slater as an unlikely victory for “working and breasts. “We are living in a [Mary] Kate outside of traditional American female moms everywhere.” Even Clijsters distin- Olsen world; I’m just not built that way.” norms and stereotyped them as unsophis- guished herself from her angry, Black oppo- ticated, overbearing, and loud-mouthed. So, nent. When asked about her struggle to get Williams is on display in a professional ten- although Williams, who was characterized in shape after a series of injuries and child- nis freak show. And she isn’t the freak. as a “mentally strong player” by Price, had birth, she admitted in an interview with 1 Mark Sappenfield, “Serena Williams foot previously never bad-mouthed an official, the Associated Press that “a lot of swearing fault: What did she say and why?” her unusual outburst was not blamed on at home” was involved. But, she said, “No Christian Science Monitor swear words like Serena yesterday.” 5 International Perspectives Even at this hour of unprecedented crisis, the “developed” countries try to entrench their “way of life” by turning this into a trading opportunity. Instead of engaging in some soul searching, recant- Climate Change and Environmental Racism ing their “development” paradigm, and reducing their carbon emissions, they propose international emissions trading as a way By S.P. Udayakumar, Research Fellow for the of achieving cost-effective emissions reductions. The Western Kirwan Institute International Program “development” paradigm fixes monetary value on land, water, for- ests, hills, and everything else overriding the non-Western ways he right place to start thinking about climate change and of respecting and protecting the natural resources. Even after they environmental racism is the very language that we all use have hit the wall and their model brings doom to the whole globe, to talk about these issues. Just as the intrusion and invasion they still insist there is nothing to learn from the traditional peoples Tinto the native people’s territory by Christopher Columbus and and they only have to trade-in pollution privileges. This is a racist other Western voyagers are termed “discovery” and the colonial premise. occupation and domination are innocuously termed “first contact,” the predominantly Western destruction of the delicate global cli- Everything is up for sale in the capitalist scheme, even the climate! mate system is innovatively called “climate change.” Consider the Instead of problematizing the existing paradigms of development language and rhetoric used in Western political and diplomatic and the unquenchable thirst for fossil fuels, the disaster is being circles and media to talk about terrorism, im/migration, Muslims, turned into a corporate-style business of carbon trading. Instead Africans, and some “Third World” countries and their leaders, and of addressing the root causes of the problem, the West is try- contrast that with the language and rhetoric they use to talk about ing to move ahead with its corporatized “trading” mechanisms “globalization,” “development,” “security,” and “climate change.” and thereby continue the destruction of local communities and The difference should be obvious. ecosystems. Climate change? The word “change” does not usually prompt tough Take the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). This is an questions about the “change” that has happened, who changed it, arrangement under the Kyoto Protocol that allows “developed” how they changed it, and so forth. Change sounds rather benign. countries with greenhouse gas reduction commitment to invest in If you call the spade a spade, it should be “climate destruction” as projects that reduce emissions in developing countries as an alterna- Kamla Bhasin, an Indian feminist, said in one of her recent talks. tive to more expensive emission reductions in their own countries. Say it loud: CLIMATE DESTRUCTION! Destroying anything is a Instead of eliminating emissions altogether, they are shifting to poor crime. Automatically, “climate destruction” triggers startling ques- countries. In other words, the reasoning seems to be that we will tions: who destroyed it, and how did they destroy, etc. Westerners do it somewhere else where human life and natural resources are destroyed it! With their industrialization, globalization, develop- cheaper. ment, and “pursuit of happiness” and what they fondly call “our way Curtailing organic indigenous growth by colonial and of life”! imperialistic domination, it is presumptuous to impose CDM’s quo- Come to think of it, it’s neither “climate change” nor “climate chal- tas of carbon emissions and engaging in carbon trading. Instead of lenge,” but “climate carnage,” a racist carnage of the indigenous admitting that their reckless industrialization and capitalistic mode people and the people of color all over the world. For instance, of development have irretrievably damaged the Earth and seeking most parts of West Africa have witnessed a sharp decline in rainfall an ecological remedy, the powerful countries are trying to couch since 1970 and successive droughts. There has been 20% decrease in their criminal destruction in innocent terms and to turn the table annual rainfall, and 40% to 60% decrease in river water level. The against the victims. interior delta of river Niger has almost halved, from 37,000 sq km in Industrial development has disproportionately benefited the West 1950 to 15,000 sq km now. Temperature in water bodies in Mali has and unduly affected the rest. Just as the capitalistic buyer decides risen, leading to increase in invading plant species. Fishing, naviga- the terms of trade in the international market today, the violator tion, and irrigation have all become difficult with serious impact on manages the whole climate show. The Western-dominated climate the agro-economy. Additionally, the conditions have forced people negotiations with little transparency and popular participation to flee, rendering them victims of a crime that they did not have any will in fact worsen conditions for the indigenous peoples and part in!1 people of color. It is quite racist to make it sound like “climate change” somehow There is a Tamil proverb that says, “Someone commits the crime descended on us and it is a common problem of humanity without and another gets the punishment.” Indigenous people and people acknowledging the explicit role of the “developed” “First World.” It of color are hardest hit by the climate destruction, but have far is even more racist to indicate or insist that the “developing” “Third fewer resources to cope with this destruction. Rich countries are World” should not engage in the same kind of carbon producing “spending billions of dollars to limit their own risks from its worst and polluting “development.” Now this is not to argue that the consequences, like drought and rising seas” but “despite longstand- “developing” world should also have an equal opportunity to repeat ing treaty commitments to help poor countries deal with warming, the same mistake of the West; but it is only fair to admit that the these industrial powers are spending just tens of millions of dollars indigenous growth models and practices of the non-Western societ- on ways to limit climate and coastal hazards in the world’s most ies were meddled with by colonialism, imperialism, developmental- vulnerable regions — most of them close to the equator and over- ism, and, more recently, globalism. Not giving that space or credit to whelmingly poor.”2 victimized societies, not admitting one’s own crimes, unwillingness to mend one’s ways, and attempting to make the whole issue a com- Turning a tragedy such as climate destruction into a profit-making mon problem of humanity is nothing but racism. endeavor is the pinnacle of environmental racism. While the United

6 States has not set up a new nuclear power plant in the past 32 years, In the climate divide, wealthy nations far from the equator not only it is selling reactors to countries such as India under the pretext of experience fewer effects but are also better able to withstand them. generating clean and green energy. Professor Howard Richards says: “I have calculated that the number of people possessing private automobiles in the world is approxi- Two-thirds of the atmospheric buildup of carbon dioxide, a heat- mately the same as the number of people living in poverty, although trapping greenhouse gas that can persist in the air for centuries, one might of course dispute this conclusion by defining poverty in has come in nearly equal proportions from the United States and a way that brings into that category a number of people exceeding Western European countries. Africa accounts for less than 3 percent the number of car-drivers.” It is high time the privileged gave up of the global emissions of carbon dioxide from fuel burning since their racist precepts and practices, and start living simply so that the 1900, yet its 840 million people face some of the biggest risks from underprivileged can simply live. drought and disrupted water supplies, according to new scientific assessments. As the oceans swell with water from melting ice sheets, 1 Jayashree Nandi, “Climate change impact leaves Mali villagers high it is the crowded river deltas in southern Asia and Egypt along with and dry,” Sunday Times of India, September 20, 2009. small island nations that are most at risk. “Like the sinking of the 2 Andrew C. Revkin, “Poor Nations to Bear Brunt as World Warms,” Titanic, catastrophes are not democratic,” said Henry I. Miller, a The New York Times, April 1, 2007. fellow with the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. “A much 3 Op Cit., Note 2. higher fraction of passengers from the cheaper decks were lost. We’ll see the same phenomenon with global warming.”3

Kirwan Institute Blog (kirwaninstitute.blogspot.com) This blog is devoted to stimulate and sustain dialogue around issues of race, ethnicity, social hierarchy, democratic principles, and other intersections of MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2009 social justice. To initiate a new discussion… Things That Make e-mail [email protected]. You Go Hmmm… By Angela Stanley, Research Associate at the Kirwan Institute

I’ve recently been thinking about concepts like priorities, is through his upcoming documentary Good Hair. From a standards, representation, and fairness—not in any in-depth business standpoint, I suppose playing both ends is the most kind of way, rather anecdotally and informally. The whole profitable way to go, but it’s interesting that there have been Roman Polanski situation, and all of his supporters, has really several documentaries done on this issue, mostly by Black left me scratching my head or donning a furrowed brow or women, yet Chris Rock is the one who gets the credit and whatever the move is that makes you look like you’re deep in attention…and the Oprah couch time. thought. Tyler Perry who, although successful, has questionable writ- I find it interesting that there seems to be more public outcry ing and directing skills and regularly portrays Black women and scorn for Michael Vick over animal cruelty and Michael in the most stereotypical of ways, has somehow managed to Jackson (RIP) for the acquittal of child molestation charges score the rights to Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls Who than for Polanski who admittedly had sex with a minor and Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf, and will R. Kelly who has a documented history of his “relationships” be bringing it to the big screen in the near future. Really? with underage Black girls. (PS: Is anyone really surprised that Tyler Perry is the best person for the job? Really? Woody Allen is on Team Roman Polanski?) Anyway, I’m sure this list could go on and on, but I’ve said all Serena Williams recently got quite upset about a bad call dur- of this to say that there’s something going on with people’s ing a tennis match and it was somehow attributed by many standards, what their priorities are, what they value, and how to her Black girl Compton upbringing. Meanwhile, John they are being represented (or misrepresented). Through the McEnroe was notorious for his routine temper tantrums dur- murkiness of it all, some people just aren’t emerging with a ing tennis matches and rarely had them boiled down to his fair shake and it makes me wonder if I’m the only one who’s race, gender, and/or childhood residence. seeing it and going “hmmm…” My oh-so-favorite comedian Chris Rock, all sarcasm intended, can profit comedically at the expense of Black Coming December 1, our new blog: women and making fun of issues that are pretty personal and yet be praised for capitalizing on those very same issues under www.race-talk.org the guise of wanting his daughter to feel beautiful just as she

This is a sample of an entry on the Kirwan Institute blog. Please visit our web site at kirwaninstitute.org to view and comment on current postings. 7 Recession, Recovery, Equity, and the State of Opportunity in Florida Miami Workers Center is partnering with the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at The Ohio State University and the Research Institute for Social and Economic Policy (RISEP) at Florida International University to analyze the impact of economic recovery dollars on marginalized communi- ties throughout Florida. The two-year study, advocacy, and orga- nizing campaign will include quantitative tracking of stimulus dollars in four Florida metropolitan areas through a lens of racial equity, and a qualitative look at affected communities’ experiences with stimulus spending. The study will be used to create policy recommendations on how federal and state spend- ing can lead to a long-term recovery based on the principles of racial and economic equity. The following maps display hard hit populations and communi- ties in four major metropolitan areas of Florida, identifying the Development barriers to opportunity facing these communities prior to the economic crisis in order to better understand the direct impact The work of the Kirwan Institute is made possible by the from the economic crisis and the substantial federal and state generous support of numerous people and organizations. responses to foster recovery. The maps and report look at the External funding includes the following: “opportunity divide” in Florida, both prior to the crisis and afterward, and analyze currently available data on contracts, W.K. Kellogg Foundation grants, and proposed projects intended to stimulate Florida’s The African American Male Project economic recovery. Our analysis focuses on ARRA, with an Advanced Racial Equity Planning Project examination of proposed projects and existing expended funds The Ford Foundation in Florida. General Operations The Diversity Advancement Project The Integration Initiative Jacksonville Race and Opportunity

Public Interest Projects Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, HUD User, Florida Dept. of Education, Environmental Protection Agency Fulfilling the Dream Fund (National Fund) MSA Boundaries 25 Interstate “A New Paradigm for : Targeting Within US Route National Park or Forest 1 Universalism” State Park or Forest Ocean, Gulf, Lake, River 17 Race The Tides Foundation 1 Dot = 250 NON_WHT Access to Opportunity Core Operating Support Very Low Low Moderate 95 The Open Society Institute High Very High Atlantic Ocean School Desegregation Project Counties (Not in Study) Core Operating Support 17 Framing Racial Justice through Emotive Strategies The Atlantic Philanthropies, Inc. 200 1 1 90 21 17 10 “Designing and Advocating for a Just and Equitable 90 90 295 Economic Recovery” (Fair Recovery) 202

1 For more information on making a commitment to excel- 115 lence with a donation to the institute, please contact: Union

Heather A. Schwenker 301 Director of Development 17 Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity (614) 688-5429 Bradford [email protected]

0 3 6 9 12 Alachua Miles Putnam

8 Miami Recovery Investment and Opportunity Orlando Subsidized Housing and Opportunity Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, HUD User, Florida Dept. of Education, Environmental Protection Agency, Florida Dept. of Transportation Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, HUD User, Florida Dept. of Education, Environmental Protection Agency Marion ARRA Transportation Projects 1 Interstate US Route 810 Volusia 869 National Park or Forest State Park or Forest 441

Ocean, Gulf, Lake, River 441 Access to Opportunity 27 19 869 Very Low Low Moderate High 75 91 4 Very High 434 417

595 91 736

84 862 17 91 423 426 Atlantic Ocean 417 50 820 417 441 50 408 50 408 4080 15 852

95 821 92

826 528

5 7 91 417

112 195 821 530

836 417 878 Interstate 985 41 192 41 US Route 1 National Park or Forest State Park or Forest 985 826 Ocean, Gulf, Lake, River 17 Subsidized Housing (2000) 27 874 Access to Opportunity Very Low Polk 192 Low Moderate 821 High Very High 0 2.5 5 7.5 10 821 Counties (Not in Study) 0 3 6 9 12 Miles 91 Miles

Miami Comprehensive Opportunity Mapping Tampa Foreclosure and Opportunity

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, HUD User, Florida Dept. of Education, Environmental Protection Agency Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, HUD User, Florida Dept. of Education, Environmental Protection Agency

Parkland 845 301 Interstate Interstate Deerfield Beach Hillsboro Beach US Route National Park or Forest US Route Coconut Creek Lighthouse Point 301 State Park or Forest National Park or Forest Coral Springs 441 Ocean, Gulf, Lake, River State Park or Forest Foreclosure Rate Margate Pompano Beach Ocean, Gulf, Lake, River 0% - 6% 98 869 6.1% - 8.6% Access to Opportunity North Lauderdale 8.7% - 11.4% 27 Tamarac Sea Ranch Lakes Very Low 11.5% - 18.2% 98 Lauderdale-by-the-Sea 98 Low 19 Access to Opportunity Oakland Park Moderate Sunrise Lauderdale Lakes Very High Lauderhill Wilton Manors High High 75 Gulf of Mexico Moderate 91 Very High 41 Fort Lauderdale Low Plantation Very Low 1 0 2 4 6 8 595 91 736 MWeilsetosn 54 Davie 84 862 301

Dania Beach Southwest Ranches Cooper City 1 Atlantic Ocean

Hollywood Pembroke Pines 441 Pembroke Park West Park Hallandale Beach Miramar 852 582 Golden Beach 95 Aventura Miami Gardens Sunny Isles Beach 580 92 821 595 4 574 826 North Miami Beach 600 92 600 7 Miami Lakes 589 569 19 Opa-locka North Miami 275 Bal Harbour 60 618 Hialeah Gardens Biscayne Park Surfside Miami Shores Medley Hialeah El Portal 688 North Bay Village

821 75 Miami Springs Miami Beach 686 Doral 112 195 Virginia Gardens

693 836 836 878 Miami 92 41 41 595 Sweetwater 997 41 West Miami 92 301 175 826 985 1 South Miami 874 0 3 6 9 12 Coral Gables Key Biscayne Miles 41 Pinecrest

9 Talking about Race

Some Thoughts on Ragtime Music press and pulpit.” It was ragtime’s connection with cakewalking Leslie Shortlidge, Managing Editor that made it less than respectable. The cakewalk was an exhibi- tion dance performed in an exaggerated and comically formal I’ve been thinking about and listening to ragtime music lately, fashion by African American couples, perhaps mimicking and and also doing some reading. I realized I liked ragtime in 1973, poking fun at white couples—except that white people didn’t get after I saw the movie The Sting and then bought the the joke and thought the black people were naturally soundtrack. Though the movie takes place in the buffoonish. The cakewalk may have its origins in a 1930s, during the height of the Great Depression, the competition performed on plantations for the enter- score hearkened back to the music of an even earlier tainment of white slaveholders (Caution: My descrip- generation, as if recalling the good old days for the tions of the origins of the cakewalk are based on fast movie’s characters. research. Please talk to your local scholar for a more detailed picture.) So, anyway, according to the domi- Something about the music made me want to know nant society, there was no room on the planet for mere a bit more about it, so after I bought The Sting cakewalking and ragtime as long as classical music soundtrack, I bought an album of Scott Joplin was around—or maybe a little room for ragtime but music—pure, unadorned piano numbers—played by Scott Joplin, ragtime composer only along the margins of society. composer, conductor, musician, and arranger Joshua Rifkin. The album is easy to find at the Nonesuch site (if you’re Except that Scott Joplin, composer of “The Maple Leaf Rag,” interested, nonesuch.com) and is called, quite simply, Scott was a classical composer. Wald then suggests that the history Joplin: Piano Rags. Joshua Rifkin, Piano. The pic- of Joplin’s music would be quite different had it ture on the album is a far cry from the cover art- been “introduced by Antonin Dvořák and titled work for The Sting, which depicts actors Robert ‘Étude in Syncopation.’” According to the Library Redford and Paul Newman as gleeful con-men in of Congress online Performing Arts Encyclopedia, a Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post cover Joplin held firm ideas about the performance of style. The picture on the Nonesuch album is a ragtime: “[Joplin] warned that not all syncopated re-rendering of Joplin’s portrait. Sober, serious, music ‘that masqueraded under the name of alone, and dedicated to his craft, Joplin sits at a ragtime’ was genuine. Only by giving each note piano, composing and playing by candlelight. its proper value and by ‘scrupulously observing’ the music’s markings could a pianist achieve the If ever something seems safely tucked away as a correct effect. Above all, he cautioned, ‘never play cultural signifier or marker, it is ragtime music. ragtime fast at any time.’ ‘Joplin ragtime,’ as he Perfected by Scott Joplin and resurrected by termed his style, would be destroyed by careless Marvin Hamlisch for The Sting, ragtime’s synco- interpretation.” Indeed, if you listen to Rifkin’s pated rhythms now sound charming and quaint, version of the rags, you will be struck by the like something you’d hear at a Disney theme park bright yet dignified tone of the music, as proper at ye olde-timey soda parlor, maybe issuing forth from yester- as you please while still providing entertainment and carrying day’s hi-fi, the player piano. Of course, during the first wave of the promise of a good time. ragtime, in about 1898 or so, it was anything but fit for family entertainment. Marvin Hamlisch perhaps violated Joplin’s admonition that ragtime should never be played fast, but the popularity of The According to Elijah Wald in his book How the Beatles Destroyed Sting, due in no small part to the musical score, re-introduced Rock n’ Roll (Oxford 2009),“Ragtime was the first pop genre.” the great composer to the general population. I have to assume It was also highly suspect as dance music, just as the waltz that Hamlisch, who won the Academy Award for the score, may had been in its time due to the proximity of the dancers to one have been familiar with Rifkin’s 1971 album, which was nomi- another (very, very close). Wald goes on to quote a writer from nated for a Grammy. A careful stylist and a musical perfectionist, an 1899 periodical: “A wave of vulgar, filthy and suggestive Joplin died in 1917, before he turned 50, in the Manhattan State music has inundated the land. Nothing but ragtime prevails and Hospital, and to the best of my research, didn’t win anything. the cakewalk with its obscene posturing, its lewd gestures. It is artistically and morally depressing, and should be suppressed by

10 Book Review

More Than Just Race—Being Black and Poor in the Inner City Reviewed by Tom Rudd, Senior Researcher Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity

In his newest book, More Than Just Race—Being Black and Poor in the Inner City, William Julius Wilson, Harvard Professor and social scientist, continues to illuminate the economic plight of African Americans living in low-opportunity inner cities and, perhaps most importantly, he creates a bridge between the often disparate notions Harvard University professor William Julius Wilson visited The Ohio State of structure and culture that energize our understanding of why so University campus October 15–16, where he made two presentations on many African Americans live in concentrated poverty in the U.S. the topic “Structure and Culture: Framing the Dialogue for Combating Racial Inequality in the U.S.” and was involved in several additional One of Professor Wilson’s greatest achievements in this book is the discussions with faculty and students. The Kirwan Institute hosted development of a new frame for talking about and thinking about Wilson’s visit, with co-sponsors the Department of Sociology and the social and economic dynamics that create and perpetuate racial- the Office of Minority Affairs. More information is available at ized disparities for poor isolated African American communities. kirwaninstitute.org. To fully appreciate why Professor Wilson’s argument in More Than Just Race… is so critically important to the growing debate about the causes and consequences of racialized barriers to opportunity because they feel those jobs are undignified or beneath them”) is and how we can deal with these barriers, we must understand how mixed at best. most Americans—most people—think about issues involving race. More Than Just Race… provides social science research that assists Research tells us that the degree to which most people are emotion- us in understanding how cumulative racialized structural disad- ally invested in a social problem and the degree to which they are vantage creates both structural barriers to opportunity—under- willing to invest and channel resources and support into solutions performing schools, for example—and cultural barriers to oppor- that can ameliorate the problem at any level, depend on how the tunity—“cool-pose culture” for example. However, the challenge problem is contextualized—how it is “framed.” of shifting the focus away from cultural explanations of economic The way that we perceive reality is profoundly influenced by sym- disadvantage is formidable. National survey data cited by Professor bolic attitudes—implicit biases—that develop in our unconscious Wilson points out that individualistic explanations for poverty mind over many years. Typically, we respond favorably to informa- (e.g., lack of effort or ability, poor moral character) are favored tion that supports these subconscious attitudes and we reject infor- over structural explanations (e.g., lack of adequate schooling, low mation that conflicts with these attitudes. In our quest for order and wages, lack of jobs). A 2007 survey conducted by the Pew Research meaning, we are prone to create “false dichotomies” that compart- Center shows that two-thirds of all Americans believe personal fac- mentalize all information into two boxes—good/bad, rich/poor, tors, rather than racial , explain why many African black/white, conservative/liberal, structure/culture, etc. Because Americans have difficulty getting ahead in life. Surprisingly (or of the way that race has been framed in our national discourse, perhaps not), a 2007 survey of 27 European Union member states most White Americans—even progressives—harbor some implicit shows that only one in five European Union citizens supports the antipathy toward people of color. Too often, this leads to the idea that people live in poverty because of “laziness or lack of will conclusion that people of color living in concentrated poverty are power.” (45) just getting what they deserve. Arguments that illuminate historic In the current environment of “post-racialism” in the United States racial inequality are often rejected because they do not fit the pre- where a growing number of Americans believe that race is not a vailing race frame. relevant factor in achieving the American dream, reframing the In More Than Just Race…, Professor Wilson gives us an analysis debate about the causes and consequences of racialized economic that not only debunks the structure/culture dichotomy, but also and social disadvantage will be increasingly difficult. Conversations illuminates the interaction of structural forces and cultural norms of the kind found in More Than Just Race… assist tremendously in that operate in many African American communities. He posits, this process. However, it seems fair to posit that until all Americans for example, that over many decades federal policies have facili- embrace a deep sense of our “linked fate”—the realization that what tated the migration of jobs out of inner-city neighborhoods creat- affects the miner’s canary affects everyone in the mine—we are not ing communities of concentrated poverty and that cultural traits likely to see much progress on this project. Even if we are able to identified with these communities are often a response to long-term convince everyone that racial barriers to opportunity are created “economic and racial subordination.” He also cautions us to ques- and perpetuated primarily by structural forces, and explain what tion and reexamine many of the common cultural assumptions that that means, we are not likely to see increased support for programs inform our understanding of the choices made by young African and policies that can remedy these inequalities as long as Americans American males living in concentrated poverty. For example, he frame their reality around what is best for the individual and the points out that empirical evidence for a “subculture of defeatism” individual’s “in-group.” As Kirwan Institute executive director john (in which “individuals give up looking for work because they feel powell has suggested, what we need is a resounding “yes” when the odds are stacked against them”), and a “subculture of resistance” asked, “Am I my brothers’ and my sisters’ keeper?” and more impor- (in which “individuals reject working in low-skilled and menial jobs tantly, “Are they indeed my brothers and my sisters?” 11 Call for Papers Race/Ethnicity: Multidisciplinary Global Contexts raceethnicity.org

Volume 4, Number 1 (Autumn 2010) Topics of inquiry may include, but are not limited to, the following: “Intersections of Race and Gender” • How do race and gender intersect with each other to mediate access The editorial staff of Race/Ethnicity: Multidisciplinary Global Contexts to social opportunity? invites submissions for the first issue of its fourth volume focusing on • What is the relationship between gender and ? “Intersections of Race and Gender.” Race/Ethnicity uses a classic piece Is gender discrimination likely to be most severe in places where as a point of departure for treatments of critical issues within the field racial discrimination is also severe, or are the two largely indepen- of race and ethnic studies. While the classic piece establishes the the- dent phenomena? Why is that the case? matic parameters of each issue, authors are under no obligation to actively engage the arguments posed by that work. • By what means does the intersection of “women” and racial/ethnic “other” as identities so often result in the creation of a subclass con- The first issue of Volume 4 explores the multiple points where race and sidered expendable and exploited? gender intersect across the globe, the range of consequences that meets those intersections, and the dynamics that occur at those intersec- • More generally, what are the consequences of discriminatory behav- tions. The issue opens with “Movimientos de rebeldi y las culturas que iors, institutions, and structures acting at the intersection of race traicionan,” from Gloria Anzuldúa’s Borderlands/La Frontera: The New and gender? Mestiza, in which the author traces her personal experiences of being • What can be done? How might intersections or race and gender be caught between two cultures and yet an alien in both, with the under- celebrated? standing that the work of the 21st century will be about the coming together of diverse cultures. Please contact Leslie Shortlidge for submission deadlines and infor- Our focus on race and gender recognizes that there are numerous ways mation ([email protected]). See Style Guidelines (raceethnicity. in which racialized and gendered identities intersect and that their org/styleguide.html) to prepare your document in accordance with intersection is often influenced by a variety of other cultural factors. We the style guidelines of Race/Ethnicity. welcome essays that explore intersections and impacts from perspec- tives across the world. We also welcome the viewpoints of activists, Submission of artwork for the cover that relates to the theme of the advocates, researchers, and other practitioners working in the field. issue is welcome. See raceethnicity.org/coverart.html for submis- sion guidelines.

Kirwan in the News New Media Update Media Feature Kirwan Experts Kirwan Attracts Facebook Fans and Twitter Followers Leading media featured the Kirwan Institute’s expertise on several The Kirwan Institute has long had a strong network of partners key topics during the months of June through September. and advocates; now we have “fans.” That’s right—Kirwan is now • Kirwan’s “Opportunity Mapping” work was featured in The on Facebook, and in the first week had already enlisted nearly 100 Economist and Poverty & Race. Facebook fans. Kirwan is also on Twitter, posting regular updates for interested followers. • Kirwan Institute leaders’ discussion of racial profiling and the Henry Louis Gates case was featured by USA Today, Linking into this latest technology will allow us to share our news, USA Today.com, CNN.com, American Urban Radio, and activities, and research results with you faster while reaching a two Columbus, Ohio, TV stations. broader audience interested in our work. On Facebook, you’ll find announcements about our upcoming presentations and events, links • Kirwan leaders’ insight on the impact of the economic crisis and to research summaries, Kirwan commentary on current events, government stimulus spending on people of color was carried multimedia, stories on the impact of Kirwan’s work in the commu- by Harper’s Magazine, Essence.com,The Guardian in the United nity, and links to news articles featuring Kirwan staff. Kingdom, and radio talk shows in Orlando and Cleveland. Executive director john powell was also interviewed about Connecting to Twitter, a micro-blogging service, allows us to share Florida-based work on recovery spending currently underway information and stay in touch with our community partners and with Miami Workers Center, in comments carried by the Miami friends. We deliver news about Kirwan and share updates of those Herald, a Miami radio station, and AM Talk Radio News Service. whom we are following, such as PolicyLink, Opportunity Agenda, and Applied Research Center. The ability for Twitter followers to • Associate Professor Hasan Jeffries’ new book, Bloody Lowndes: “re-tweet” our messages to their own networks allows word of Civil Rights and Black Power in Alabama’s Black Belt, was fea- Kirwan’s work to travel quickly and build incrementally, as it is tured by Book TV, WOSU Radio’s Open Line, The Montgomery repeatedly passed along. Advertiser, and Free Speech TV, among other media. Kirwan is working to build a diverse network of fans and followers Among a variety of other media mentions, these were just a few from its already strong network of community collaborators and of Kirwan’s recent opportunities to speak out on key issues related friends. Please join us! to race. Facebook: facebook.com/KirwanInstitute

12 Twitter: twitter.com/KirwanInstitute Kirwan Institute Events

Upcoming Events

Transforming Race: Crisis and Opportunity in the Age of Obama The Kirwan Institute will host its second semiannual conference, Transforming Race: Crisis and Opportunity in the Age of Obama, on March 11–13, 2010. Offering 40-plus plenary sessions, work- shops, panels, roundtables, and performances, the conference will feature the following three thematic tracks: • Racial Dynamics and Systems Thinking. Systems dynamics are • Explore the effects of President Obama’s election on our very much at work in relation to race and opportunity, and in national dialogue around race; order to ensure all have access to opportunity we need to focus on identifying successful leverage points for social reform. • Illuminate ways systems thinking principles have been applied This track will explore the application of systems thinking to to complex social issues; social and racial justice as a tool to create a more sustainable, • Trace the racialized roots of the economic and housing crises; equitable society. • Present empirical results of research on forms of racial dia- • Race Talk. With the election of our first African American logue on higher education campuses; President there is no better time to explore racialized attitudes • Examine the stakes implicated in the conduct of the 2010 and racialized institutional and systemic processes or to exam- Census; ine how best to engage policymakers, advocates, and the public effectively on these issues. • Explore the role of new media formats in mediating racial understandings in the Age of Obama; • Race, Recession, and Recovery. Times of crisis can also be times of great opportunity. In the face of the current economic • Look at the Obama Administration’s engagement with civil downturn, marginalized groups, including people of color, rights issues in its first year; have been disproportionately negatively impacted. This track • Anticipate the course of policy and advocacy around national will focus on what happened, how it happened, and the types health care in the United States. of policy reforms needed to ensure a more equitable distribu- Participants will also enjoy film, cultural performances, and other tion of benefits and burdens. activities designed to stretch our understanding of these issues. Join more than 500 race scholars, social justice workers, students, More information about the conference and registration can be practitioners, and a range of luminaries as we explore the chal- found at: transforming-race.org. lenges and opportunities provided by race in our “Age of Obama” through panels and sessions that:

Recent Events Fair credit and fair housing policy discussions Reaffirming the Role of School Integration in K-12 Public Education Policy: A Conversation among Policymakers, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity has Advocates, and Educators launched an initiative to explore the subprime loan and foreclosure crisis as part of a long history of discriminatory credit, banking, The Kirwan Institute was among co-sponsors of a conference and consumer protection practices. on school integration on Friday, November 13, at the Howard University School of Law in Washington, DC. The conference As part of the initiative, Kirwan has sponsored small policy discus- brought together government officials with educators, civil rights sions with partner organizations in Hartford, CT (Connecticut advocates, and scholars who support racially and economically Housing Coalition, Oct. 7); Seattle, WA (Northwest Justice Project, integrated K-12 public schools. Racial and socioeconomic integra- Oct. 30); Austin, TX (Green Doors, Nov. 6) Detroit, MI (Michigan tion incentives in current and proposed federal policies, regula- Roundtable, Nov. 10); Washington, DC (PRRAC, La Raza, NFHA, tions, and spending programs were discussed. More informa- CRL, NCRC, Nov. 18); New Orleans, LA (Dec. 11); and Oakland, tion is available at: charleshamiltonhouston.org/Events/Event. CA (Dec. 18). For more information on the initiative, please contact aspx?id=100099. Christy Rogers of the Kirwan Institute at [email protected].

13 Recent Events continued

Harvard University Professor William Julius Wilson conclusions. “Reading Between the Lines: Uncovering Unconscious Professor William Julius Wilson visited The Ohio State University Bias” was co-presented by the Kirwan Institute, the Writers Guild campus October 15–16. A review of his most recent book, More of America West, the Screen Actors Guild, Americans for American Than Just Race—Being Black and Poor in the Inner City, is featured Values, and Equal Justice Society. A reception following the panel on page 11 in this issue of the Kirwan Update. More information is was introduced by TV and film producer and political and social available at: kirwaninstitute.org. activist Norman Lear.

Racial Equity and Systems Thinking Building One America Summit The Kirwan Institute hosted a fall gathering, Racial Equity and The Kirwan Institute was a co-sponsor of the Building One Systems Thinking, for a small group of systems experts and racial America Summit held September 17–18 in Washington, DC, to justice advocates. Drawing on the experience of experts who have advocate innovative regional and metropolitan strategies to address applied systems approaches in other fields, the group worked to some of our nation’s most pressing problems. define how the racial justice community can best apply systems thinking and approaches to race work. Tides Momentum Leadership Conference Kirwan Institute executive director john powell spoke at the Tides Reading Between the Lines: Uncovering Unconscious Bias Momentum Leadership Conference September 7-9 in San Francisco. Kirwan Institute executive director john powell addressed the His presentation, “Race to the Center: Race and the Progressive Writers’ Guild and Screen Actors’ Guild during a September 30 Movement,” examined how to ensure that the progressive move- panel discussion on unconscious bias at the Writers’ Guild of ment is inclusive and moving the issue of race from the margin to Los Angeles. Panelists explored how the brain processes infor- the center. The presentation can be viewed at: fora.tv/2009/09/07/ mation and how the need for quick decision often leads to faulty POWER_John_A_Powell_on_Opportunity_and_Race.

New Publication Obama Reflections Book Available for Online Orders

To commemorate the one-year anniversary of President Obama’s election this November, the Kirwan Institute has published Obama Reflections, a book of commentary from social justice thought leaders. The book assesses the impact of Barack Obama’s election and presi- dency on race in the United States and the world. It includes 25 personal essays from authors from the U.S. and abroad, including contribu- tions from well-known academics and social justice thought leaders. “The defined impact of the Obama presidential campaign is about more than the man; it is about the country, our history, and, perhaps more importantly, our emerging and projected future,” says john powell, executive director of the Kirwan Institute, in his commentary. “I believe it is too soon to know how the Obama presidency will affect how we practice and address issues of race. We are certainly in a new terrain with new possibilities... The true impact…will be judged only after much time and effort: when we wait for young Americans to grow up; when we assess how our institutions function; and when we become attentive

OBAMA to racial perspectives hidden in the less conscious recesses of our minds.” Among others, contributing authors include: Angela Glover Blackwell, founder and chief REFLECTIONS executive officer of PolicyLink; Reverend Dr. Eugene Callender, Presbyterian clergyman, From Election Day to Presidency: Social Justice Thought Leaders Speak Out lecturer, and urban strategist; Guillermina Hernandez-Gallegos, senior program officer at the Fetzer Institute; Laura Harris, executive director of Americans for Indian Opportunity; Alan Jenkins, executive director of The Opportunity Agenda; Anne Kubisch, director, and Keith Lawrence, research associate, both at The Aspen Institute Roundtable on Community Change; Firoze Manji, founding executive director of Fahamu and editor-in-chief of Pambazuka News; Michael Omi, professor of ethnic studies, and Taeku Lee, professor of political science and law, both at the University of California, Berkeley; and William Taylor, lawyer, teacher, and writer. A limited number of copies of the book are available for purchase at cost, and further information is available on the Kirwan Institute web site at: kirwaninstitute.org/ publicationspresentations/publications/obama-reflections.php.

14 New Faculty/Staff

Charisma Acey Eric Stiens Defense Fund and Community Research Partners in Assistant Professor of City and Regional Planning Research Associate Columbus. He holds bachelor’s degrees in political Joint Appointment Eric Stiens returns to the Kirwan Institute from science and sociology, also from Ohio State. Charisma Acey is an assistant professor of City St. Louis. He worked for the Kirwan Institute and Regional Planning in the Austin E. Knowlton from its opening in 2003 until 2005 and, prior Caitlin Watt School of Architecture and holds a joint appoint- to that, at the Institute on Race and Poverty in Legal Research Associate ment with the Kirwan Institute. Charisma’s back- Minneapolis. He has a master’s degree in social Caitlin is a legal research associate who joined the ground includes extensive work, research, and travel work from Washington University in St. Louis staff at Kirwan as an intern during her second year to countries in West Africa, southern Africa, and where he focused on community development. of law school in 2008. Before working at Kirwan, Central America. Her research focuses on interna- For the past two years, he has lived and worked Caitlin worked as a political organizer for the tional community development, poverty alleviation, at a community center in inner-city St. Louis as a Michigan Democratic Party in the 2004 election, and human-environment interactions at multiple program and development coordinator and has also as an assistant to the state and local policy direc- scales in urban areas of developing countries. Most taught science to at-risk high school students in an tor at the AFL-CIO, and assisted with the United recently, she completed an article for publication experiential-based learning program at the St. Louis Auto Workers’ organization of the Foxwood Casino (forthcoming) in Gender and Development, “Gender Science Center. He was the lead researcher on the dealers. She received her BA from the University and Community Mobilization for Urban Water article “Dreaming of a Self Beyond Whiteness and of Michigan and her JD from Ohio State’s Moritz Infrastructure Investment in Southern Nigeria,” Isolation,” and a coauthor with others at the Kirwan College of Law, focusing her studies on civil rights, and is working to publish the findings from her Institute on a book chapter on the aftermath of criminal defense, and employment law. doctoral dissertation, which investigated inequity Hurricane Katrina, “Towards a Transformative in household access to potable water in rapidly View of Race: The Crisis and Opportunity of urbanizing areas of Nigeria. Charisma teaches Katrina.” He is particularly excited to be working on classes in international development, GIS, and projects surrounding the systems thinking initiative social equity. She earned her BA in English and Pan at the Kirwan Institute, as well as the research and African Studies from California State University, organizing around ongoing Kirwan projects. His Northridge, and went on to earn both a master’s research interests include systems science and racial degree in public policy and PhD in urban planning disparities, , program design/evalua- from the School of Public Affairs at the University tion, and research design. of California, Los Angeles. Angela Stuesse Keischa Irons Postdoctoral Researcher Charisma Acey Keischa Irons Graduate Research Associate Angela holds a postdoctoral research fellowship Keischa Irons works as a graduate research associate at the Kirwan Institute. She has studied issues of with the Kirwan Institute. She received a bachelor of migration, identity, rights, and power in the U.S. arts degree in Africana Studies at the University of south and southwest, Mexico, Central America, Cincinnati in 2008 and is currently pursuing a mas- and Central West Africa. While at Kirwan she is ter’s degree in city and regional planning at Ohio working on projects related to the institute’s African State. Her academic interests include cultural plan- American-Immigrant Alliances initiative. She ning, economic development, and community plan- is also writing a book, Globalization “Southern ning. Keischa previously served with AmeriCorps of Style,” based on her research on Latino migra- Ohio at the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative provid- tion to rural Mississippi, the poultry industry, and ing research in the mentoring department. cross-racial worker organizing there. Her work has been supported by the Ford Foundation, the Social Sarah Solarik Abigail St. Peter Sarah Solarik Science Research Council, the Woodrow Wilson Administrative and Development Assistant Foundation, and the School for Advanced Research Sarah Solarik joined the Kirwan staff as an (SAR), among others. Her publications include administrative and development assistant in articles in Human Organization, Latino Studies, and September 2009. Sarah was with Kirwan prior to Estudios Migratorios Latinoamericanos, a chapter in that as a student assistant for the fiscal and human the 2009 edited volume, Latino Immigrants and the resources manager and also worked for Ohio Public Transformation of the U.S. South, and a handful of Employees Retirement Systems. Her main focus in more popular articles. Prior to coming to Kirwan, Kirwan will be human resources, but she will also Angela was a postdoctoral fellow at UCLA’s Institute be assisting with fiscal processing and assisting the for Research on Labor and Employment. She was director of development. Sarah is a 2009 graduate of also a co-founder of MPOWER, a workers’ center in The Ohio State University, graduating with a bache- Mississippi. She received her PhD in anthropology Eric Stiens Angela Stuesse lor’s degree in business administration, specializing and her MA in Latin American studies from the in labor and human resources. University of Texas at Austin, and her BA in anthro- pology from the University of Florida. Abigail St. Peter Graduate Research Associate Carlos Teel Abigail St. Peter works as a graduate research Graduate Research Associate associate with the Kirwan Institute. She received Carlos Teel is a graduate research associate at a bachelor of arts degree in urban and community the Kirwan Institute. He is currently a second- studies from the University of Connecticut in 2009 year graduate student in the Master’s of Public and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in city Administration Program at the John Glenn School and regional planning at Ohio State. Her academic of Public Affairs at Ohio State. Carlos previously interests include sustainable development and worked with the Kirwan Institute as a volunteer, Carlos Teel Caitlin Watt neighborhood revitalization. performing research for the African American Male Initiative. He has interned with both the Children’s 15

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