Tag Archives: slavery

Notes on: Students, Houston, and Sex Trafficking

Conversation today in my Introduction to Women’s Studies class ended up going to the topic of Houston being one of the number one places in the United States for sex trafficking, which I knew about. What I did not know was the extent of the problem and how it touches their everyday life. I hadContinue reading “Notes on: Students, Houston, and Sex Trafficking”

Social Disruption and Historical Perspectives

I think that we’ve got to see that a riot is the language of the unheard.  In recent years especially, a few of those who protest sometimes resort to blocking highways or even to violence. Blocking roads is a more common strategy than violence, but, especially, when we see displays of violence (or destruction ofContinue reading “Social Disruption and Historical Perspectives”

AJP’s take on Nate Parker’s “The Birth of a Nation” (2016)

I just finished watching The Birth of a Nation (2016), which was released for home viewing today. While there has been a great deal of excitement, frustration and disappointment surrounding this film, I was surprisingly pleased. Below I provide some immediate, working thoughts. Certainly, The Birth of a Nation ignores the role of Black women as active agentsContinue reading “AJP’s take on Nate Parker’s “The Birth of a Nation” (2016)”

The Development of and Perpetuation of Racism 2.0 – a few comments

What I call Racism 2.0 (and Sexism 2.0, Nationalism 2.0, etc.) is manifestations of this ideology and pattern of discrimination on the Internet, especially through social media. Memes can be very powerful, useful, and accurate. They have a poetic quality of sometimes conveying complex ideas in simple, yet significant ways. However, a large number of memes embodyContinue reading “The Development of and Perpetuation of Racism 2.0 – a few comments”

Wednesdays, Swimming Pools, Philosophy, and More – What I’m Reading Series, #3

Recently I have read several books, and I wanted to share a few details about some of these.  Contested Waters: A Social History of Swimming Pools in America focuses on the North and explains the evolution of swimming pools in United States history. This book argues that swimming pools are an important mirror and an important microcosmContinue reading “Wednesdays, Swimming Pools, Philosophy, and More – What I’m Reading Series, #3”

Multi Edge Swords–Ritualized Violence Against Blacks

We absolutely need to keep talking about #BlackLivesMatter. We must. We absolutely need steady, on-going attention to keep the conversation going. We must. We absolutely need all of the videos as proof of abuse directed at Black bodies. However, all of this is dangerous. And we must use caution and remember to also share imagesContinue reading “Multi Edge Swords–Ritualized Violence Against Blacks”

Important Conversations: What Does it Mean to Come to Terms With the History of Slavery?

This blog is intended as a reply to my friend and fellow historian Nick Sacco and his blog, “What Does it Mean to Come to Terms With the History of American Slavery?” I encourage others to reply, too!  As Nick said, with this question “the tenuous intersections between past, present, objectivity, and activism all cameContinue reading “Important Conversations: What Does it Mean to Come to Terms With the History of Slavery?”