See Photos of Jena Trial - WhileSeated - Flickr
UPDATE: Mychal Bell has been found guilty of aggravated second degree battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated second degree battery. His lawyer declined to call a single defense witness because “a white jury would question the veracity of a black high school student.”
From the Friends of [...]

A young, white journalist’s candid admission to having become racist, has triggered an intriguing discussion in Florida and across the blogosphere about what constitutes racism and how to heal the pain that often preceeds and always follows it. Cathy Salustri claims that living in a predominately, poor, black neighborhood has made her a racist.

Hip hop has been on my mind a lot lately. It always is, really. Rap and I sort of came of age together in the early 80’s, it’s my internal soundtrack. I know the hammer has finally dropped on the degrading and misogynistic language in much of what passes for hip hop these days, but [...]

Contributor Carole McDonnell’s short stories and essays appear online and in print, in speculative fiction, ethnic, and Christian publications. She lives in New York with her husband, two sons, and their pets. Wind Follower, published this month by Juno Books, is Carole’s first novel. Her point of view adds plenty to our discussion, so I [...]

Contributor Andrew Padula has been in situations throughout his life where he has felt compelled to deal with racial issues from unusual perspectives. Andrew is a blues musician who has been teaching and touring the U.S. and Europe since 1993. He can be seen with blues legend Bobby Parker on B.E.T. Jazz Central as well [...]

On Tuesday, June 19th, David Rivas Morales was beaten to death in a parking lot by an unknown number of men. You can read the details here. The alleged assailants are black and the victim is Latino. The local authorities and community groups are bending over backwards and twisting sideways to reinforce the idea [...]

Poems, letters, and stories of Guest Contributor Salvatore Buttaci have been published in The New York Times, Newsday, U.S.A. Today, The Writer, Cats Magazine, and widely elsewhere in America and overseas. His newest book, A Dusting of Star Fall: Love Poems, is currently available directly from the author. Buttaci lectures on Sicilian American pride, conducts [...]

On June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and those who had been slaves were now free. There are a number of accounts as to why freedom took so long to arrive in Texas:
Later [...]

I was riding my little pit bike in the desert and got a flat. I was attempting the repair myself but the cheap Chinese tools I had just bought in case of an emergency broke. I decided to toss the bike into the truck and take it into town. I was hoping the guy at [...]

Contributor Carole McDonnell’s short stories and essays appear online and in print, in speculative fiction, ethnic, and Christian publications. She lives in New York with her husband, two sons, and their pets. Wind Follower, published this month by Juno Books, is Carole’s first novel. Her point of view adds plenty to our discussion, so I [...]

I am practicing my own affirmative action when it comes to Barack Obama. I affirmatively went to his campaign website and actively hit the donate button and made a campaign contribution. Despite being a registered Republican, I did this because his speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention moves me still. I did it [...]

Something magical is happening over at my friend Nezua’s blog. He has written a raw, honest, revealing and inspiring post. The comment thread is extraordinary.
Treat yourself. Open your eyes and your heart and go there.
Read - Where is the kindness? [Let's have Nexus II]

Contributor Andrew Padula has been in situations throughout his life where he has felt compelled to deal with racial issues from unusual perspectives. Andrew is a blues musician who has been teaching and touring the U.S. and Europe since 1993. He can be seen with blues legend Bobby Parker on B.E.T. Jazz Central as well [...]

The Riverdale Assembly of God took down their site and sent anonymous self-righteous comments to the blog of Tate Hill; the man who first posted photographic proof of their ignorant and racist school celebration. Supporters of The Riverdale Assembly of God claim they actually believe that boys wearing blackface make-up and dressing in mammy costumes [...]

ColumnistCarole McDonnell’s short stories and essays appear online and in print, in speculative fiction, ethnic, and Christian publications. She lives in New York with her husband, two sons, and their pets. Wind Follower, published this month by Juno Books, is Carole’s first novel. This is her post.
Because we live in the 21st century, everyone wants [...]