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 Justice site:
Mykal Bell has just been found guilty of aggravated second degree battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated second degree battery. This verdict became a foregone conclusion the moment defense attorney Blane Williams wrapped up …

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 you don’t turn your back on family and I will not give up on the genre in its entirety. These days, I find much of the new stuff being played on the radio to be …

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 welcome Carole and her column Faith in Color to Allaboutrace.com.This is her post.
I belong to several churches; the usual Evangelical story. I was raised and married in one denomination (Anglican/Episcopalian) but felt led to go …

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 as on Carlos Santana’s recent DVD release “Montreux Blues Summit”. His point of view adds plenty to our discussion, so I welcome Andrew and his column The Topsoil to Allaboutrace.com. As Andrew says, “You gotta …

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 that race had nothing to do with this assault. Unfortunately, I think this murder has much to do with race, anger and bigotry. It is time for black and Latino people to have candid dialogue …

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 poetry workshops and readings. He lives in Lodi, New Jersey, with Sharon, the love of his life. This is his post.
Italian American gangsters of the past, like Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, Albert Anastasia, and even …

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 attempts to explain this two and a half year delay in the receipt of this important news have yielded several versions that have been handed down through the years. Often told is the story of …

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 the 24 hour truck tire repair and fried chicken joint (not a joke) could give me a hand. When I walked into the shop, this gaunt old man was sitting in the corner pounding …

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 welcome Carole and her column Faith in Color to Allaboutrace.com.This is her post.
Many Americans would be surprised to know that most Christians are not white. Evangelical and pentecostal Christianity is the fastest growing branch of …

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 because the fact that this black man is running for President of the United States of America is moving us forward in our discussion of race and possibility in ways that a thousand episodes of …

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 as on Carlos Santana’s recent DVD release “Montreux Blues Summit”. His point of view adds plenty to our discussion, so I welcome Andrew and his column The Topsoil to Allaboutrace.com. As Andrew says, “You gotta …

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 is a fitting tribute to Emancipation. My question is this, does the RAG really think we are that stupid or are they just that out of touch with history and contemporary reality?

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 to pretend they are enlightened. But everyone isn’t enlightened. Our own personal laziness or inability to research history has closed our minds. And the media of course – with its erroneous viewpoints– does a fine …