Leftist. Progressive. Liberal. Whatever moniker we on the left use to label ourselves (and if I haven't included yours please add it to the comments section), we have a problem. I can only summarize it is that we continue to fail because we bring facts to a gun fight. We delude ourselves into believing that … Continue reading A Problem
Resist
Antiracist
Do you want to be antiracist? Then consider this: you need to listen to Black people. And you need to talk to white people. What needs to be done is hard. Where to start is not. Be the Pebble Act
It Couldn’t Happen Here
I live in Massachusetts. It's easy to say that it couldn't happen, it won't happen here if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. After all, we have strong legislation on our books protecting a woman's right to choose. So it can't happen here, right? Nor in California nor the other states that have worked … Continue reading It Couldn’t Happen Here
The Past?
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. – George Santayana Buffalo makes clear that too many of us can't seem to remember anything. Be the Pebble Act
Identity Politics / Intersectionalism
We often hear the term "identity politics", often from right wing critics on places like Fox News. Their definition, for purposes of their complaints, is that we on the left, and in the Democratic Party, have different and individual platforms for various groups. They pretty much mean a sliced and diced set of ideas rather … Continue reading Identity Politics / Intersectionalism
Outraged
Are you outraged? If you aren't you should be. Perhaps you will be after reading this post. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said that abortion isn't in the Constitution. He's right. It's not. Ask yourself: why would it be? The Constitution was written by men, white men to be exact. Let's be more precise, they … Continue reading Outraged
Putin’s War
I've written before that words have power. I will no longer be calling it the war in Ukraine or the war against Ukraine. It's "Putin's War". It is true that the war is being executed by the Russian military, but it's at Putin's direction. It is Putin's pilots who are bombing Ukraine and Putin's military … Continue reading Putin’s War
Malcolm X
“The first thing I tell them is that at least where my own particular Black Nationalist organization, the Organization of Afro-American Unity, is concerned, they can’t join us. I have these very deep feelings that white people who want to join black organizations are really just taking the escapist way to salve their consciences. By … Continue reading Malcolm X
I Will Not Turn the Other Cheek
For more than 150 years, first Negroes, then Blacks, then African Americans have been told the same thing: just wait, it will get better. The Massachusetts 54th, the first African American regiment, fought not just to end slavery, but also for the promise of a better life. Freed slaves were promised "40 acres and a … Continue reading I Will Not Turn the Other Cheek
An Update re: David
I posted the words below as an update on Facebook. As a preface, if I believed that any of you would be offended, well, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be a subscriber! I live in Melrose, MA. Friday I stood out with a sign that said "I Can't Breathe #BLM". Today I held "Racism is … Continue reading An Update re: David