from the week of January 28 2007

Paula Zahn is really covering the issue of racism and prejudice these days on her CNN show. It was just last week when she covered the Chicago shootings of six black gay men at a holiday house party. But that wasn't the end of her coverage.

Last night I was a guest with Lauren Lake and conservative commentator Steve Malzberg as we talked about three new issues. (See the video.)

First we talked about banning the n-word after watching a story about a Texas mayor who wanted to impose $500 fines for anybody in his town who used the offensive term. I slipped and actually used the "n-word" during the broadcast when we were discussing it. Turns out it's hard to talk about the "n-word" over and over again without actually mentioning the word.

Then we talked about banning the "f-word" in the wake of the incident in which actor Isaiah Washington reportedly called one of his Grey's Anatomy cast mates a "faggot."

And finally we talked about a case in Richmond, California where black police officers have filed a complaint against a white police chief for racial harrassment.

To follow up on that, Paula plans another segment tonight to talk about white college students who are hosting parties where they dress up and pretend to be blacks, in very stereotypical fashion.

Jasmyne Cannick, who has been covering the issue on her site, is scheduled to be a guest.

Posted on January 30 2007, 1:20PM | Permalink

I don't really have a "photo of the week" category, but if I did these two pictures would be in the running.

The first picture shows our military's commander-in-chief sitting atop a caterpillar tractor in East Peoria, Illinois during a visit to the Caterpillar factory yesterday.

Given the way the rest of the world views America and George Bush right now, I don't think it's a good idea to show him sitting atop what looks like a bulldozer.

If the first picture represents the dying old world order, the second picture represents the new world order. It's a photo of the first all-female peacekeeping force deployed by the United Nations. The 103 Indian paramilitary policewomen are to be stationed in Liberia.

As usual, click on either photo to see a larger image.

Posted on January 31 2007, 1:09PM | Permalink

I've been under the weather the past few days and I haven't been staying on top of everything that's going on in the world.

I guess that explains why I didn't know that the Human Rights Campaign had chosen my own partner, Nathan Hale Williams, to kick off its Black History Month celebration on its web site.

Last February, the National Black Justice Coalition put out a daily list of black LGBT history makers on its web site. This year, HRC seems to be following suit by "honoring a diverse group of African-American individuals who are leading the charge for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality."

"Award-winning film and television producer Nathan Hale Williams, HRC Religion Council member Bishop John Selders and UCLA Professor Mignon R. Moore are just three of the many leaders in their communities who are writing new chapters in American history by telling the stories of black GLBT Americans and empowering black GBLT individuals to live openly and honestly," according to the web site.

Congratulations to Nathan, Mignon and John, and to many others who deserve recognition.

Posted on February 2 2007, 1:18AM | Permalink