Paula Deen and the Myth of the Happy South

WARNING: OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE The most damning moment about race in the Paula Deen transcript took place during a long discussion about her brother’s wedding plans. Deen had been to a restaurant in “Tennessee or North Carolina or somewhere” that had an extremely professional wait-staff of middle-aged black men, dressed in white jackets, black trousers, and … Continue ReadingPaula Deen and the Myth of the Happy South

Iconographical Warfare – Alive and Well

From Slovakia (and the NYTimes)  Late last year, the National Bank of Slovakia announced that the European Commission, the union’s executive arm, had ordered it to remove halos and crosses from special commemorative euro coins due to be minted this summer The coins, designed by a local artist, were intended to celebrate the 1,150th anniversary … Continue ReadingIconographical Warfare – Alive and Well

1947 – Dorothy Sayers, “The Human-Not-Quite-Human”:

Several people (including my mother) have noted that (kindly) there was nothing new in my piece on CNN. Feminists have known these things for a long time. And sure, the neuroscience is more specific now, but what I was doing was illustrating a specific, recent, form of a long-recognized problem. I absolutely agree. What’s startling … Continue Reading1947 – Dorothy Sayers, “The Human-Not-Quite-Human”:

Record keeping

Here’s a link to my radio interview with KKSF Talk 910 AM San Francisco. My segment starts around 14:10. Coming soon: Book review of In This Together’s “great books for real girls.” Spoiler, I can’t tell you about the soccer book because my 10-year-old niece took it away and started reading. Essay on Turkey and … Continue ReadingRecord keeping

The Discourse of Police Brutality – 14-year-old attacked for a “dehumanizing stare.”

In a few weeks (date not yet set), I will be publishing an essay on police brutality and disability. As a result of my work on this (really upsetting) topic, I’ve been tracking the ways that police explain their actions. The use of language, even more than the specifics of any given case, shows the … Continue ReadingThe Discourse of Police Brutality – 14-year-old attacked for a “dehumanizing stare.”