Community Theatre Teaches ICE Raid Survival Skills

Editor’s Note: A group of college students in San Jose, Calif., is using interactive theatre to teach immigrants what to do to avoid being arrested by immigration agents. Clarisse Céspedes reports for Spanish-language newspaper El Mensajero in San Francisco.

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DONATE TO THE NATIONAL IMMIGRANT BOND FUND

“The National Immigrant Bond Fund seeks to reaffirm the values of dignity and due process by assisting immigrants swept up in immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions to post bond quickly in order to secure a fair hearing in America’s courts.”

More information

Southall Black Sisters Demonstration (UK)

Southall Black Sisters

 

Demonstration 17^th and 18^th July 2008

 

Many of you are already aware that SBS has been locked in struggle against Ealing Council with regard to its decision to withdraw funding for our domestic violence services for black and minority women. On 17^th and 18^th July 2008, the High Court will hear a challenge brought by our users against Ealing Council for its failure to have proper regard to existing equality legislation, especially the Race Relations Act, in reaching its decision on our funding. The Council will seek to justify its decision on the grounds that a generic domestic violence service will be better placed to meet requirements of the equality legislation and the so called ‘cohesion’ agenda.

 

Equality, Cohesion and the Right to Self Organisation

 

This is no longer simply about the funding of SBS. The case represents a key moment for the third sector. In one of the first challenges of its kind, the Council will be required to account for the way in which the confused and contradictory ‘cohesion’ agenda is being cynically used to cut essential life saving services to black and minority women in particular. Specialist services likes ours are needed, not only for reasons to do with language difficulties and culture pressures, but also because we have considerable experience in providing advice and advocacy in complex circumstances where legal aid is no longer easily available and where immigration and asylum difficulties make some women much more vulnerable than others. In addition, we will seek to challenge the Council for its failure to take account of how and why groups like SBS, were set up in the first place: to challenge racism and gender inequality as well as religious, caste and ethnic divisions within our communities.

 

The Council has made much of the need to reflect the racial diversity of Ealing (meaning the white majority population) in the interests of ‘cohesion’. In the process it seeks to argue that the very existence of specialist groups like SBS is unlawful under the Race Relations Act! Ealing Council has also withdrawn funding for key refugee and race equality projects in Ealing. This approach is not unique to Ealing. Evidence from around the UK suggests that organisations in the firing line tend to be the more progressive black and minority and feminist projects. At the same time, reactionary, sometimes fundamentalist religious organisations are being given financial support to provide ‘welfare services’, even at the risk of undermining the human rights of the most vulnerable in our communities. The subcontracting of third sector services is also contributing to the decimation of groups like SBS. What this demonstrates is a political attack on the notion of positive action and on the right to self organisation underpinned by secular, anti-racist and progressive values.

 

Our Tradition: Struggle not Submission

 

These are immensely worrying developments for all those concerned about the threat to progressive notions of equality and justice. We therefore urge you to join our demonstration on the 17^th and 18^th July at the High Court on the Strand. Nearest Tube Holborn (Circle & Piccadilly Line) or Temple (District & Circle Line). Please bring musical instruments, whistles and banners.

 

For further details contact SBS 0208 571 9595

Email: Southallblacksisters@btconnect.com

“A Bitch Project” Recap

On Sunday, May 4, I took part in “A Bitch Project,” a participatory discussion about how—and whether—feminism can become a transformative movement for social change. The discussion was held at the community collective Trumbullplex in Detroit; it was initiated by Bitch Magazine publisher Debbie Rasmussen,* and co-organized by myself, fellow Detroit Feminist organizer Andrea Lavigne and local Detroiter Jess Hauser.

 

 

The discussion was part of a small tour Debbie put together after reading an article by Jessica Hoffman (of make/shift magazine) titled “On Prisons, Borders, Safety, and Privilege: An Open Letter to White Feminists.”** As preparation for the discussion, Debbie encouraged all participants to read Hoffman’s piece. Below are excerpts from her invitation, and the questions to be addressed:

 

 

A Bitch Project

Feminism In/Action: What is your feminism for and why does it matter?

 

·     How can we drive attention to the power, privilege, and marginal­ization that continue to play out in feminist communities and how can those of us with power and privilege become effective, genuine allies to those without it?

·     How can we collectively create an independent feminist media-justice movement that doesn’t rely on white supremacy, class privilege, and economic exploitation?

·     Can the idea of “feminism” shift to foreground an uncompromising, transformative commitment to systemic social change, or is it time to evolve to new language

 

 

When Debbie got in touch with me and Detroit Feminists to help facilitate this discussion, I thought it was a great idea, and immediately wanted to be involved. I did so with some trepidation, however, because I understand how difficult it can be to open up a discussion about diversity, social change and inclusive language in the feminist movement, and how hard it is for some to talk about one’s privilege. It’s easy to get off topic, and even easier for tensions to run high very quickly. But I welcomed the opportunity, and was pleased that Debbie had decided to take this first step.

 

 

The morning of the 4th, I was nervous. Diversity is sometimes touched upon within the feminist movement in Metro Detroit, and written about periodically, but usually it seems restricted to rhetoric, which allows feminists to maintain a distance from taking steps toward real change, or actually committing to being inclusive.

 

 

In my own personal interactions, I’ve offended more than a few people trying to address this issue. Others have decided they don’t like me personally, and therefore we are not on the same “feminist” page, and have little to talk about. Many simply go cold when faced with the issue. So opening this up to a full room where I had to help lead the discussion felt a bit daunting. Yet, if I was expecting others to show up and be open and vulnerable, I had to do the same.

 

 

We were pleased with the turnout, which was bigger than we thought it would be; approximately 25 - 30 people showed up. The conversation began with introductions, which were a little uncomfortable given that most people didn’t know each other, and the underlying nervousness about the discussion to come was obvious. Then again, how do you avoid that? You just keep going.

 

 

Then we asked the first question: what is your feminism, and why does it matter? What was most apparent from these first interactions was most of us felt some disillusionment with feminism, and thought something was missing from the movement, but we lacked a general consensus on what it was. Yet everyone there still felt invested in feminism, and wanted to see it evolve in a positive way.

 

 

Often we couldn’t get to a place where we were talking about just one thing; it seemed like we had too many different issues we were each focused on.

 

 

Some thought motherhood was never really highlighted or considered important enough in feminist discourse. While abortion and reproductive rights are highlighted, motherhood is often at the bottom of the list.

 

 

Others felt feminism has become too intellectualized; it has shifted from a mass movement to a field of elite study. It doesn’t leave much room for those who haven’t taken women’s studies courses, and don’t plan to. The working class and the working poor, and the issues important to them, are generally disregarded. Since it’s evolved this way, it loses mass appeal.

 

 

The men in the room – while receptive to the conventional goals of feminism – expressed that they had no real sense of what feminism was, other than angry, man-hating women. They understood this view is continuously perpetuated, and wanted to learn how they might identify as feminists without being the butt of someone’s joke. In general, they expressed an interest in understanding feminism, but also a sense of frustration at not being able to comprehend what it means.

 

 

Over the course of the discussion, we kept circling back around to the idea of diversity, people of color as leaders of the feminist movement, and examining our privilege. While the group was receptive and open to discussing diversity and privilege, it still didn’t seem to be the topic most people wanted to, or even could, focus on. The main question that came out of this was how do we create diversity and also make people of color leaders in the movement without them being tokens, or perceived as tokens? There was also a concern about white people trying to learn about issues important to women of color; how do they ask without being offensive or treating people of color as subjects of learning, or demanding that people of color “teach” white people about their culture and concerns?

 

Another related issue was the tendency of white women to offer solutions for how women of color should participate in the movement, and how white women might help them solve their problems. It’s become a conversation between therapist (white) and victim (woc) instead of a conversation between equals.

 

This question and the related questions were never answered. Still, I think it was a great beginning. With introductions and first discussions like this, we can get over our initial discomfort. And if we can create a safe space, we can address these issues openly and productively. While we had many more questions than we had solutions or movement toward change, the introduction is an important starting point.

 

 

We are now planning part two of this discussion to get back to the original topic as Debbie first proposed. Here’s the information:

Thursday, June 5, 7:30-9:30pm

Trumbullplex

4210 Trumbull, Detroit

• Everyone is welcome (it takes a community!), even if you missed the initial conversation.
• In preparation for the discussion, we aks that everyone read On Prisons, Borders, Safety, and Privilege: An Open Letter to White Feminists, by Jessica Hoffman. The article is available in the current issue of make/shift magazine or online.

  

One of my concerns as we move forward is that the people who are open to these kinds of discussions and are willing to put themselves in uncomfortable positions are often the same people we’re likely to continue seeing. How do we open it up to new people, and/or to a much broader segment of the movement?

 

This is an ongoing struggle that most movements deal with, and we’ll continue to struggle with it. We have to; the alternative is the self-destruction of the movement.

 

Finally, I want to thank Debbie and Bitch Magazine for including Detroit in this tour. We look forward to having you back at the end of June for A Bitch Project Listening Party!

 

*Debbie has a great recap on her blog at Bitch Magazine; she’s also looking for feedback, so feel free to head over there and comment (there’s even a cute picture of me - ha!)

Estrogen Fest II (Commerce, MI)

 

Estrogen Fest II is a three day event, scheduled July 25-27 at the Proud Lake Recreation Area, in Commerce, Michigan.

The event is centered on women empowering women through music, the arts, workshops, networking, and a common cause. We are hoping to raise funds thought ticket sales, raffles, food service, sponsorship, donations, and keep the costs of the event low, with hopes of raising enough money to build a playground for kids that really need one.

The Godmothers are seeking support in a variety of ways. Sponsor the event; we are seeking sponsors that range from $500 - $5,000. Sponsorship is a great way to advertise. Donations for the event are also needed, such as dessert trays, baked goods to sell or raffle, or gift certificates, and donations. A donation, in any amount $$$ would be greatly appreciated, and in turn we will recognize you at this year’s event, in our literature, and on our web-site.

• Expected Number of Attendees for Estrogen II: Over 2000
• Demographics: Women 21 and up out to have fun and network, vendors, numerous volunteers and of course, the Godmothers!
• Event: This is a three-day festival event set in the beautiful, natural recreational area of northern Oakland County, Michigan, only a 35 minute drive from Detroit and surrounding suburbs.
• KICK-OFF PARTY: Friday Gates open at 5p.m.
  V.I.P MINGLER PARTY STARTING AT 7 P.M.
  in the Conference Center. WINE. FOOD. MUSIC.
  Everyone is welcome! The roster will be posted in the coming weeks! This event promises to have something for everyone! Music. Art. Workshops. Special Guest Appearances from top musicians and DJs. Comedians, poets, crafts, vendors, gourmet foods sure to please anyone’s pallet. This event you won’t want to miss, they will be talking about it for years to come!
• SATURDAY & SUNDAY: Musical performances will begin at noon and carry on into the evening with local and national headliners, recording artists and bands. Sunday will include leisure activities, “Old School” reunions, live D.J.’s from past and present, more contests wrapping up the weekend with an Afternoon Tea Dance.

Bio of Entertainers: By request as acts are signed.

Primary Contact: Vicky Lewis
Email: vicky@thegodmothers.org
Phone 248-346-8960

WEBSITE

 

Conferences and Events: Outside of Michigan (with one exception)

 

THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2008 - BOSTON

PARA NOSOTRAS: The first LATINA PRIDE PARTY from Queer Women of Color and Friends

You are invited to join Queer Women of Color and Friends (QWOC) to show love and support for our Latina sisters during Latino Pride week!

@Club Choices, 379 Somerville Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143

FREE Social 7:30 - 9 p.m., FIESTA 9 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Dance lessons available from MIT’s Casino Rueda Dance Troupe!

La Rueda de Casion originally began in Cuba in the 1950’s, and consisted of couples dancing salsa in a circle, following the moves called by the caller, who set the pace of the dance. The calls ranged from thos known by everyone from Cuba to San Francisco to more unique moves that people invented on their own.

Featuring Informal Latin Dance Lessons From Volunteers, Appetizers, Mingling, Flirting and so on…

Featuring DJ Shorty spinning Hiphop, Reggaeton, Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, and Top 40

Click here to get your tickets! $5 Online ($10 at the door)

Official Site

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JUNE 6-8, 2008 - MINNEAPOLIS

National Conference for Media Reform

Join fellow activists, media makers, educators, jounalists, policymakers and concerned citizens in calling real and lasting changes to our nation’s media system.

2008 provides us with a great opportunity to put the issue of media reform in the national spotlight. Join us in Minneapolis and help us build this critical movement.

Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 South Second Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Event website

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JUNE 20 -22, 2008 - DETROIT

ALLIED MEDIA CONFERENCE

The Allied Media Conference cultivates media strategies for a more just and creative world. It is the primary point of intersection in the U.S. for alternative media makers and committed social justice activists. In June, we will come together on the campus of Wayne State University to share tools and tactics for transforming our communities through media-based organizing. Learn more about AMC

Get these women of color to the AMC! Visit their websites and donate to their travel funds!

SPEAK Women of Color Media Collective and members of the Radical Women of Color blog ring have kicked off a fundraising campaign to cover their travel expenses to Detroit. You can donate by clicking the links, following the instructions and clicking the PayPal donate button.

Every donation makes a difference, and your support is greatly appreciated.

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JULY 18- 20, 2008 - SAN FRANCISCO

BLOGHER CONFERENCE

Adele will be participating in a panel discussion on “Race and Gender: What are the lessons of 2008. No this actually isn’t a re-hash of the Obama vs. Hillary debate. But certainly Election 2008 has made us look at our own (and society’s, and the medias, etc.) attitudes about race and gender. BlogHers proved that you can indeed discuss these incredibly sensitive topics without it descending into anarchy or hate speech, bit it’s tough. Pleas join Maria Nile, Jill Miller Zimon, Adele Nieves and others as we discuss what we’ve learned about ourselves…and about others so far in 2008.

BlogHer’s annual conference is like no other — it is the thrilling diversity of the blogosphere come to life!

Featuring techincal labs, educational workshops, intense discussion sessions, relevant sponsors, speakers from every corner of the blogosphere, established and new, and plent of opportunities to network and socialize.

Appropriate for anyone and everyone who is interested in any kind of blogging, from the personal to the professional to the political.

Full overview, Agenda

 

Michigan Events and Announcements

 

The Art of Healing - Explorations of Women’s Health

Artists speak out about women’s health care in The Art of Healing: Explorations of Women’s Health, presented by the Feminist Art Project in partnership with the Women’s Caucus for Art-Michigan, and The Therapy Center of Ann Arbor. The artwork includes both patient and care-taker perspectives as well as responses to social, political and historical health issues.

The exhibit will run May 2-16, 2008

Hours: M-F, noon - 6 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m.

Venue: Duderstadt Center (University of Michigan)

Price Range: Free

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SPREAD THE WORD!

Friends of Michigan Midwives

Purpose: To help Michigan Midwives Association with any jobs, manning booths at events, and spreading the word/celebrating the Midwifery Model of Care in all evironments.

Yahoo Group (website coming soon)

Any help you can offer in spreading the word to clients and other interested folks, or if you are able to participate on any level that would be amazing!

We have brochures to display, lots of little jobs and we would appreciate any information about upcoming events in your area in which we could participate. We can also arrange to have a speaker present on the Midwifery Model of Care, or hlep host presentations.

Another very important part of our work is to be fully prepared in the event of any litigation brought about that effects a woman’s right to choose her provider and location for birth. We need to develop a supportive large group that can respond quickly with letter writing, knowledge of who our friendly representatives are, and working proactively to let them know just how many families cherish their midwives.

Heather Hall, Events Coordinator

Friends of Michigan Midwives Board of Directors

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THINK GIRL

Detroit Race for the Cure

Think Girl is doing the Detroit Race For The Cure again this year, join them or help donate to the cause. Link

And

Girls Rock! Movie at the DIA (Detroit Institue of Arts), June 27, 2008

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Summer Arts and Leadership Institute

30 Detroit area underprivileged youth are coming to the University of Michigan to participate in the Summer Arts and Leadership Institute, put on by the Residential College Community Theater Collaborative (RCCTC).

These talented youth face a variety of challenges in their lives, as most come from homeless families, are runaways, or battle with poverty. From June 13 to 15, they will get a chance to experience the arts at the University of Michigan. Youth will stay in a residence hall, participate in arts workshops led by U of M Professors, and have a chance to become more comfortable with the people and places associated with college.

Based in the University of Michigan’s Residential College, the RCCTC serves the university and the community by training college students to use the arts for socail justice, by using arts to expand university knowlege from the community and encouraging arts-based learning for college students of today and tomorrow.

For more information, please contact Craig VanKempen at 734.615.2491 or craigvk@gmail.com

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DETROIT HEALING WALK

Youth of all ages and every race, religion and description will be walking, singing, talking and praying on the Detroit Healing Walk, Saturday, June 7, 2008.

Everyone will gather at the American Indian, 9:30am at the American Indian Health and Family Services (AIHFS), located at 4880 Lawndale south of Michigan Avenue and make a round trip to Fort Wayne for ceremonies by the Detroit River. Transportation will be provided for those unable to walk the distance.

For more information, or to register for the Detroit Healing Walk, contact Nickole Fox or Martha Hinojosa at AIHFS, 313.846.3718 ext. 1113

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Detroit Water Forum: Focus on Water Rate Increases, Sewage Overflows & Aging Water Infrastructure

The high cost of upgrading and expanding Detroit’s aging water and sewage system, among other things, has forces the Detroit Water and Sewage Department to raise its water rates earlier this week. Water—a basic human right—has become unaffordable to many residents and many, as a result, have had their water shut off because of a failure to pay their bills.

All Great Lake Cities need an up-to-date water and sewage infrastructure system. This forum will begin the conversation on how to fix Detroit’s aging infrastructure while making sure all residents have the right to clean and affordable water.

WHAT: Water Community Forum

WHO: Chuck Hersey, Southeast Michigan Council of Goverments, Mary Blackmon, Detroit Water and Sewage Board, Joanne Watson, Detroit City Councilwoman, Maureen Taylor, Michigan Welfare Rights, Detroit Resident that has experienced a water shutoff

WHEN: Monday, May 12, 2008, 5:30pm reception begins, 6pm panel beginis

WHERE: Wayne County Community College - Community Roomn 236 (1001 West Fort Street, Detroit)

Hosted by the Sierra Club

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Activist Mike Farrell’s book signing

Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist, with a new introduction by Martin Sheen

A rare celebrity who makes headlines for the right reasons. Mike will drive himself across the country and back, and will be networking with the human right organizations that will be sponsoring each event along the way…

He’ll be speaking off the cuff, from memories of M*A*S*H and Providence - to heated debates on the death penalty, environmental causes, international human rights abuses, gay rights and election politics.

Thursday, May 29, 2008, 7:00pm

Barnes & Noble, 3235 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor

Notes on teaching racism (teleconference)

Tonight Las Comardes held a teleconference to discuss “when and how children should be taught about racism.”

The conference featured the authors of the book That’s Not Fair!: Emma Tenayuca’s Struggle for Justice /¡No es Justo!:La Lucha de Emma Tenayuca por la Justicia
(Wings Press, 2008. Illustrated by Terry Ybañez) and focused on the issues it raised:

This is the first book ever published about the significant Latina civil rights leader (Emma Tenayuca) from the 1930s, who at the tender age of 22, organized twelve thousand pecan shellers in a strike that was to become the first successful action in the Mexican American struggle for political and economic justice. Aimed at readers 6 and up, That’s Not Fair is the April 2008 national Las Comadres Book Selection.

Notes

I came in on the call a little late, therefore my notes are 10 minutes into the conversation. Also, these are not direct quotes, but my best attempt at paraphrasing:

Author Carmen Tafolla/ Sharyll Tenayuca (not sure): When you ask children about the election, do they feel Latinos or women can be president, they are very attuned to what’s going on around them. You get answers like: no, because women are weaker, or it’s illegal for Latinos to be president.

Dr. Rebecca Bigler, UT Professor of Psychology, mentions how white parents are usually very reluctant to talk to their children about racism and racial injustice.

Interviewer Adriana Dominguez asks how we can best introduce the topic of racism and social inequalities to children?

Bigler: We don’t have quite enough research to know. What we do know is you start by introducing topics slowly, without violence, so they aren’t as troubling. Start with cases like Emma’s (good evidence of important change and good outcomes), in a fair and compassionate way, that teaches children about history and also gives them hope.

Bigler: Research shows children do have an awareness for justice at an early age, and you need to be encouraging them to develop attitudes towards social justice. Encourage love of reading, writing and courageousness.

Dominguez: How is the book received among Latino/a families as well as non -Latino/a families?

Tafolla: Very well, with Latino/a children there is a little extra excitement. They ask, “she (Emma Tenayuca) really existed, this is really her picture on the back of the book?”

Bigler: White children who heard the story about racial discrimination often demonstrated a level of guilt; they felt bad about their privileged status. Because of this, I have received hate mail asking, “how dare you make children feel bad about their privilege”

But feeling racial guilt wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. What we found was the initial guilt lead to them feeling connected (to some degree), and toward caring about social justice. Some of the stories might be sad and troubling for children, but what we need to learn is how can we tell these stories in a way where we have good outcomes, and make them feel like there is hope.

Dominquez: What would you like Emma’s legacy to be?

Tafolla: Everyone can make a difference in this world. That’s very reflective of Emma’s voice. Make use of everyone who wants to help. “You can make a difference in your world”

Bigler: Emma’s story shows that heroes are people who see, acknowledge and fight social justice, and those heroes come in all shapes and sizes and genders. It shows that children can be on the look-out for social injustice, and when they see it, they can name it and fight it.

Announcement: The full teleconference will be available on the website in a couple of weeks.

Las Comadres is also starting a book club, which should begin sometime in May. Learning through reading, and practicing what we learn. Hasta luego!

Side Note from Las Comadres:

We ask that you purchase a book and give it to an elementary school of your choice.

In Austin you may purchase the book at the Resistancia Book Store. If you purchase at Resistancia you can give the book in memory of Raul Salinas, our activist compadre who recently passed, and whose life was devoted to issues of justice and fairness.

Resistancia Book Store
1801-A South First St.
Austin, TX 78704
Phone: (512) 416-8885
Email: revolu@swbell.net 

Teleconference on teaching racism

Queridas comadres…it’s TELECONFERENCE TIME!

We ask that you consider purchasing the children’s book we selected for April and donating it to an elementary school in your area. In celebration of El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day)on April 30, we are combining an interview with authors of a children’s bilingual book on activism with a university professor studying when and how children should be taught about racism. This is a different format just for the month of April. In May we’ll be starting our partnership with the American Association of Publishers and Borders, Inc. Reading With Las Comadres where we interview Latina authors about their newly published book and their work.

*

TELECONFERENCE DATE AND TIMES:
DATE: April 24, 2008 / duration approximately 1 hour
TIME: 5:00 PM PST
6:00 PM MST
7:00 PM CST
8:00 PM EST

*

Call in number (long distance charges will apply)
1-712-432-2323 / Access Code: 162718#

That’s Not Fair! / ¡No Es Justo!
by Carmen Tafolla and Sharyll Teneyuca

Illustrated by Terry Ybáñez, Spanish translation by
Carmen Tafolla, Translation editors: Celina Marroquín and Amalia Mondríguez, Ph.D.

http://www.wingspress.com/book.cfm?book_ID=26

*

THE STORY
In the 1920s and 1930s, the pecan shellers of San Antonio, Texas, were some of the lowest-paid workers in the nation. They were all Mexican-Americans, who had fled the revolution in their home country. Pecan shellers worked twelve hours a day, seven days a week, for as little as six cents a pound. In addition, they had to work in dusty, closed rooms. This made many of them ill. And then, in 1938, their wages were cut in half. They needed someone to be a voice for them, someone both brave and caring. They needed a hero. A young woman, barely twenty-one, answered their call. Her name was Emma.

But Emma Tenayuca was not born a hero of the poor. That’s Not Fair! / ¡No Es Justo! tells how the seeds of Emma’s awareness and activism were sown when she was very young. This story of courage and compassion shows how each of us, no matter how young, can help to make the world more fair for everyone.

*

SOME PERTINENT RESEARCH ON THE TOPIC

White Children More Positive Toward Blacks After Learning About Racism, Study Shows

Challenging the idea that racism education could be harmful to students, a new study from The University of Texas at Austin found the results of learning about historical racism are primarily positive. The study appears in the November/December issue of the journal Child Development.

“There is considerable debate about when and how children should be taught about racism,” says Bigler, director of the university’s Gender and Racial Attitudes Lab. “But little research has examined
elementary-school-aged children’s cognitive and emotional reactions to such lessons.”

TELECONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS

Carmen Tafolla is one of the most anthologized of all Latina writers with work for both adults and children appearing in more than two hundred anthologies. With work translated into Spanish, German, and Bengali, Tafolla has been published in a great variety of genres. Carmen Tafolla has also published five adult poetry books, seven children’s television screenplays, and numerous short stories and articles.

Sharyll Tenayuca is an attorney in San Antonio and the niece of Emma Tenayuca.

UT Professor of Psychology Dr. Rebecca Bigler, director of the University of Texas at Austin , Gender and Racial Attitudes Lab

Interviewed by: Adriana Dominguez is the Executive Editor who manages the children’s division of HarperCollins’ Latino imprint, Rayo. Before joining Harper, she was Críticas magazine’s Children’s Review Editor. She has many years of publishing experience in the children’s market, and has worked for most major publishers: WEBSITE

WAM! Recap - finally!

 

By now you’ve probably read enough WAM! recaps in the past week, and might not be interested in another. But I want to write about it, so …

I heard about WAM! through the blogosphere. I was drawn to the conference, as I said in my interview with Jill Zimon, because of the diversity of presentations and workshops, and because a number of women I met last year at the Allied Media Conference were presenting.

 

When I arrived, I felt somewhat alienated and alone, which I chalked up to my not knowing many of the attendees. Yet the first invitation I received was a text message from Nadia of No Snow Here, hoping I’d arrived and inviting me to join them (WOC) at the conference. Although I don’t know them as well as they know each other, nor for as long, they welcomed me instantly and warmly. 

 

I assumed, or hoped, that the rest of the attendees at the conference would welcome everyone in the same spirit. That same day, however, I was proven wrong. At a conference as large as this, I didn’t expect everyone would take the time to introduce themselves and make themselves available to everyone else - the conference was only so long, after all - but I sensed a clear distinction between women of color and white feminists in their interaction with others. As the conference moved from the networking event to the reception and keynote speaker Helen Thomas, the divide grew more stark, with WOC sitting together in a sea of white feminists. That was unfortunately a mark of how the rest of the weekend evolved.

 

I attended several workshops, including “Here We Go Again: Bad Stories About Women that Never Die,” “Raising Women’s Voices/Building Women’s Power: Collaborative Approaches to Strategic Communications for Social Justice,” and the film “Silent Choices” on reproductive rights. While these were informative, two presentations stuck with me more than others: “Immigration in the U.S.: The Women’s Rights Crisis Feminists Aren’t Talking About” and “We B(e)lo(n)g: Womyn of Color and Online Feminism.” The panel on immigration was exceptional because finally someone was talking about the New Bedford Raids in MA, where police apprehended 361 people, mostly immigrant women who suffered physical and emotional abuse at the hands of their captors. The presentation highlighted the cruelty of immigration enforcement directed towards human beings regarded as defenseless and invisible; it focused on an inhumanity that is rarely discussed, and the need for action. At one point during the film clip about the raid I became so distraught at watching these women suffer - women who could be my mother, my grandmother, or my sister - I had to leave the room so I could break down in private. I knew my tears were a poor excuse for action, but I was simply overcome with emotion.

 

The panel “”We B(e)lo(n)g: Womyn of Color and Online Feminism” was by far the high point of the conference. It began with introductions, a short film clip by Sudy on WOC in the blogosphere, and then each panelist read a “wish” poem she’d written. Rather than sit at the tables in the front, they instead came to the side of the room with the attendees, and asked each of us to give our wish. They did not talk at us, but with us; it created a safe, loving space for everyone. My wish was that there would be a space like this wherever I went.  

 

The panel on immigration was a mixed group, although I wondered if the title had contained the phrase “women of color” and all the panelists were WOC would the participation have been as diverse - especially since “We B(e)lo(n)g” was almost completely WOC. A lot of white feminists seemed to regard presentations or workshops about women of color as exclusive to women of color, and wanted to “respect” that space. They might have considered taking part, but apparently didn’t want to intrude. This assumption has now become the escape route for white feminists to not participate, to not open themselves up to be in a new and potentially uncomfortable space. Not one person did what any normal human being would do, ask “May I participate, or is this only for women of color?” Therein lies the real problem. My roommate (Metha) at the conference, and Black Amazon’s Wifey, both white women, joined us everywhere we went, including the Queer Women of Color and Friends reception/party. They didn’t assume they couldn’t take part; they just came along. If you don’t make it a big deal, then it isn’t!

 

Metha says she trying to envision ways in which WAM!, or other conferences, could better create spaces for dialogue with people from different backgrounds. Along with a panel on women of color, for example, have a panel of women from a wide range of backgrounds to discuss and debate the same issue, but from a variety of perspectives.

 

The rest of the conference felt like us trying to hold onto the love we created in the “We B(e)lo(n)g” workshop, instead of being able to share it with everyone outside. The divide was still there. I got the distinct impression that we had been given permission to participate in a small way, but not as equals, not as leaders of the same movement.

 

I’m not the first person to say this, and since the conference there has been an outpouring of reaction as a result. Some have dismissed our reactions as negative or angry; suggesting if we aren’t part of the solution (as they define it) then we’re part of the problem. Sounds like Bush: “Yer either with us or agin’ us!”

But isn’t that what the feminist movement was supposed to be about? Standing up for your rights, for equality, using that anger as a force for change? If we are now only defining that as reactions of women of color, as abnormal or damaging, then the feminist movement has ceased to exist, or can no longer define itself in the terms it once could. If women of color (POC) are the only people willing to express our anger and act on it, then it’s with us that you will find real change!

 

For a much more profound and detailed critique on the feminist divide, read Jessica Hoffman’s OpEd: On Prisons, Borders, Safety, and Privilege: An Open Letter to White Feminists (AlterNet, April 4, 200  

*Correction: Jill from Feministe did make a point of asking if the We B(e)lo(n)g session was for WOC only.

Adele Nieves on Blog Talk Radio this weekend

Join us for Come Together: The official live discussion of the Women’s History Month blog carnival

 

Join Heart of Women’s Space and What Tami Said as we conclude our Women’s History Month blog carnival with an hour-long live discussion on Blog Talk Radio, 6 p.m. EDT, Saturday, March 29. We will review our favorite submissions to the blog carnival; discuss issues raised by the carnival, including race and feminism and their roles in the 2008 presidential election; discuss the state of feminism today; and talk about the most effective ways for women to work together towards equality.

We will be joined by panelists including:

Adele Nieves, a writer, journalist, and speaker, focusing on politics, women’s issues and race.

Shecodes, an entrepreneur and activist dedicated to the uplift of black women. Shecodes runs the blog Black Women Vote, described in its inaugural post as “a war cry to all Black women who are fed up, pissed off, and mad as heck about the present conditions of Black womanhood in America, and are ready to do something about it. Make no mistake… we’re about to change some stuff up in this piece! We have the social, economic, political tools to compel America to become more hospitable for ourselves, and for our daughters.”

We also want to hear from YOU. Tune in and call in! Listen live by clicking this link and let your voice be heard by calling (347) 205-9125 during the show.

Watch Women’s Space and What Tami Said for programming updates, including panelist additions.

 Read more at Blog Talk Radio.

Detroit Feminists Against the War!

 

Detroit feminist and former military soldier, Audrey Mantey speaks at the Wayne State University Students for a Democratic Society Peace Rally and March, February 2008.

Part I

 Part II

GET INVOLVED, JOIN THE CONVERSATION!

Upcoming moratorium, with guest speaker Audrey Mantey:

Friday, March 21, 2008, 7:30pm

First United Methodist Church, 320 W. 7th Street (corner of Washington and 7th), Royal Oak, MI

An open Letter and discriminatory attacks

An open Letter to All Feminists: Statement of Solidarity with Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim Women Facing War and Occupation…

By Piya Chatterjee and Sunaina Maira

_________________________________________________

Dear colleagues,  

I need to write to you about a set of very serious racist and discriminatory attacks against Professor Thomas Abowd in his dispute with the Wayne State University administration and right-wing Zionist elements on campus. These circumstances are but a few of several offensive, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim happenings on this campus over the last few years, coming both before and after the attacks against Law Professor Wadie Said who applied for a job at WSU. The specific attacks against Professor Abowd are particularly troubling because, in this case, a WSU official has used racist and offensive language against Professor Abowd in the course of an official university investigation. 

Included below is a short description of the line of questioning engaged in by officials of Wayne State University, particularly one Ms. Amy Stirling during her December 2007 investigation of Professor Thomas Abowd for several baseless and fabricated charges of “anti-semitism.” (charges eventually all dropped for lack of evidence). A Union representative was present during this meeting with Ms. Stirling, and witnessed the racist language directed at Abowd. The Union representative took notes during the more than 2 hour conversation. It is clear to many that Stirling’s line of questioning (as well as her generally hostile demeanor) was extremely inappropriate and had anti-Arab implications. 

Ms. Stirling began her questioning of Abowd in a ridiculous set of false accusations made against him by avowed supporters of the well-known anti-Arab and anit-Mulism racist, Daniel Pipes. Members of this organization have been following Abowd around to talks on this and other campuses for the last few years. Pipes was speaking at Wayne State in October, 2007 and Professor Abowd took part in a non-violent demonstration against the founder of “Campus Watch” one hour before his event. After this demonstration, two right-wing Pipes-apologists who had been video taping and taking pictures of Abowd and who later attended the Pipes lecture, accosted Thomas after his speech and demanded to know why he said “slaughter the Jews.” Such words were never uttered, by Abowd or anyone else at the demonstration. Abowd told these individuals that this claim was completely slanderous and to get away from him.  

Perhaps anticipating Abowd filing a complaint against them for harassment, the two individuals who accosted him then went and filed bogus charges of “anti-Semitism” against Professor Abowd with the Wayne State Office of Equal Opportunity. The University then decided to launch an investigation into these false accusations, without a shred of evidence that Thomas had engaged in any wrongdoing. The investigation, many on campus believe, was done as part of a disturbing pattern at Wayne State of silencing criticism of Israel and those who fight for Palestinian rights. The university official who investigated these charges (who many familiar with the case believe is anti-Palestinian) questioned Abowd for a few hours and eventually concluded, a few weeks later, that the charges made against Thomas were totally baseless and unsubstantiated. 

But, in the course of questioning him, the investigator, Amy Stirling, engaged in hostile and racist language toward Abowd, an Arab-American. Again, this was witnessed by a Union representative who Abowd insisted be present and who took notes during the entire conversation.

Most disturbing were her efforts to badger Professor Abowd to “discover” his ethnic/racial/religious identity and to inject race, ethnicity, and the subject of Islam into her investigation. Stirling repeatedly asked Abowd and demanded answers, on at least 5 occasions, to questions about Thomas’ race, ethnicity, and religion. Here are some of the more troubling exchanges during what was at times more a hostile interrogation than a professionally conducted interview. 

Stirling began her line of questioning by repeatedly and pointedly demanding an answer to the question: “What is your ethnic or racial identity.” This was, in fact, the first question she directed at him. Abowd objected to the query, citing its non-relevance and racist implications. Abowd told Stirling twice that he would not answer the question because it was wholly inappropriate but she persisted in an aggressive way, remarking that the question was relevant, that she did have a right to ask it, that she wanted an answer to it, and then proceeded to ask him the same question two more times. He still refused to answer and told her to move on. 

About 45 minutes later, in the course of her questioning, Stirling asked Abowd, very directly 2 or 3 times and in an antagonistic manner:  “Are you a Muslim?” Once again, she was told that this was completely inappropriate, as offensive as it was irrelevant to the discussion. Professor Abowd mentioned that he was not only disgusted by this line of questioning but that he considered it a violation of his privacy and the principle of non-discrimination. He and many others familiar with the case believe that this line of questioning was part of an effort to build the case that Abowd was more likely to harass the Jewish individuals in question because he might be a Muslim or Arab: a truly bigoted idea. 

In trying to explain why he and the Union representative thought this was an inappropriate set of questions, Abowd began by stating that “If I were white and the person who I was accused of making race-based comments to was white…” Stirling interrupted him and forcefully stated: “You are white.” Abowd then responded that she did not have the right to tell him what he was or declare his ethnic or racial assignment, which she could not possibly know and which was none of her business.  

Stirling’s line of questioning was clearly troubling for a number of reasons. If a member of another community, say a Jew or an African-American, were asked such a question in this context it would, quite rightly, be regarded as being totally inappropriate.  How, after all, could anyone make a determination about whether anyone did or did not engage in intimidation based on whether she/he was Arab or Muslim or Jewish or atheist? One can only imagine if the tables were turned, what the response would be if an administrator repeatedly demanded an answer to the question “Are you a Jew? Are you a Jew?” Even after an individual had made clear that she/he would not answer such a question. 

As with the problems made for law professor Wadie Said during his job search at Wayne State in 2006 and other Arab faculty and would-be faculty and students on campus by the administration in recent years, Abowd’s case is connected to a disturbing sentiment among the Wayne State administration that has become deeply hostile to criticisms of Israeli human rights abuses and military occupation among faculty and students. There are several administrators and Board of Governors on WSU’s campus that are avowed apologists for Israeli military occupation and human rights abuses. When you combine these realities with the fact that Wayne State (where 15-20% of the student body is Arab) has done a horrible job of hiring and retaining Arab faculty, one sees a troubling pattern in the abuse leveled at Professor Abowd, an Arab-American, an award-winning teacher, and one of the few Arab/Arab-American faculty in WSU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. 

In addition to these acts of racism directed at Abowd, Wayne State University has also violated Thomas’ constitutional and contractual rights on several occasions during his four years at the university, most recently around this latest incident of racism. In the case of this investigation, he was told three times in writing by Amy Stirling that he was not permitted to have a Union witness present at the investigation, in direct violation of the law and Supreme Court rulings (in fact, a judge ruled in Abowd and the Union’s favor several weeks ago stating clearly that WSU could not deny union members representation in such a context). Despite their violations of the law and the union contract, the University has reprimanded Abowd, as well, without due process. Abowd has also had his lecture on Jimmy Carter’s recent book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid that he was to give to the WSU Alumni Association, cancelled for unexplained reasons and not rescheduled. This decision also came directly from the administration. 

Please send emails, letters, and phone calls immediately to the following persons responsible for this campaign against award-winning teacher and community activist, Professor Thomas Abowd. Many of his colleagues and fellow activists are concerned that Wayne State University may try to terminate him for political reasons! 
 

Ms. Amy Stirling, Acting Director of Wayne State University’s Office of Equal Opportunity

Email: ak6239@wayne.edu

Phone Number: (313) 577-2280

Address:  Attn. Ms. Amy Sirling  Office of Equal Opportunity, 5700 Cass Ave, Suite 3660 AA Bldg., Detroit, Michigan 48202   
 

Robert Thomas, Dean of College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Email: robert_thomas@wayne.edu

Phone Number: (313) 577-2519

Address:  Attn: Dean Robert Thomas
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES
Wayne State University 4841 Cass Ave., 2155 Old Main, Detroit, MI 48201 
 

Nancy Barrett, Provost

Email: nancy.barrett@wayne.edu

Phone Number: (313) 577-2200/ 313-577-2433(Diane)

Address: 656 W. Kirby Room #4092, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202 
 

Andrea Dickson, Executive Vice President

Email: bb4792@wayne.edu

Phone Number: (313) 577-2389

Address: 656 W. Kirby, Room #4165 FAB Bldg, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202

Professor Andrea Sankar, Chair of the Anthropology Department,

Email: asankar@wayne.edu

Phone Number: (313) 577-6961

Address: 147 Manoogian Hall 906 W. Warren Detroit, MI  48202