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 by Juno Books, is Carole’s first novel. Her voice adds plenty to our discussion, so I welcome Carole and her column Faith in Color to Allaboutrace.com.
On top of my toilet is a book by Deborah Tannen called “That’s not what I meant.” It’s not a particular favorite but it’s a book I resort to every …

This is really ugly. Reed Walters’ racism and ignorance of history glistens like a pus covered carcass in midday desert sun. His reaction to the proud and peaceful demonstration last week?
“I firmly believe that had it not been for the direct intervention of the Lord Jesus Christ last Thursday, a disaster would have happened,” LaSalle Parish District Atty. Reed Walters told a nationally televised press conference.
When a black Jena pastor attending the press conference called it a “shame” that the prosecutor was crediting divine intervention for the orderly behavior of …

The New York Times and other news outlets of record refused to cover the story of nooses, unequal justice, unequal protection under the law and the beating of a high school student until these events sparked a protest so massive that they simply could not ignore it.
Now, the New York Times has given Jena district attorney Reed Walters a global platform to make his case without the slightest challenge. And while on this platform, Walters ignores some very important facts about this situation:
People are learning that the LaSalle Parish School …

Click here to Download MOZILLA FIREFOX2
We’re working on it.
The scrolling function works on Firefox (which I highly recommend) but not Internet Explorer 7. We are working to fix the problem.
If you have experience with this sort of thing your insight would be appreciated.
In advance, thank you.

So today we’ll be upgrading to the latest version of Wordpress. I’ll be spending time working out kinks with the new version of this platform.
And, honestly, I need until tomorrow to rest up a little from last week and its aftermath.
Do you know about the Newark 7? I didn’t really either. More tomorrow.

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 by Juno Books, is Carole’s first novel. Her voice adds plenty to our discussion, so I welcome Carole and her column Faith in Color to Allaboutrace.com.
Okay, I’ll admit it: I hate being disagreed with. I’m a good actress and all, so I can pretend to be easygoing when criticism or disagreement comes my way. Water …

Keep in mind, Bell is being denied bail on what will now be a JUVENILE charge. And Bell was convicted on a charge that, according to an appellate court, should never have been brought. He has been in jail since DECEMBER 2006.
JENA — Bail was denied today for Mychal Bell, a defendant in the “Jena Six” case that has drawn national attention, according to Bell’s father.
A CLOSED-COURT bond hearing was held today in the LaSalle Parish Courthouse to determine whether bail would be set for Bell, who has been …

Conyers Announces Forum, Hearings on “Jena Six”
(Washington, DC)- Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) told a crowd gathered on the Capitol grounds that he is holding a forum next week and plans to hold hearings to address the case of six teenagers in Jena, Louisiana who were charged with attempted murder for a schoolyard fight. Conyers spoke during a rally of support for the students, now being called the “Jena Six,” in Washington, in coordination with rallies in Jena and other U.S. cities.
“I want to hold a …

Head on over to UltraVioletUnderground to see many more virtual marchers…check out photos of your favorite bloggers!

Watching the President’s press conference, right now. Following a question from CNN reporter about the Jena 6, Bush answers (paraphrase) “…we have our attorneys at the Justice Department and the FBI observing what’s going on…”
Will get exact transcript as soon as it is available.
UPDATE – Here’s the full quote:
“The events in Louisiana have saddened me,” the president said. “And I understand the emotions. The Justice Department and the FBI are monitoring the situation down there. And all of us in America want there to be, you know, fairness when …

Mychal Bell still sits in jail approaching a week after an appellate court overturned his conviction. The D.A. and Judge chose to ignore his bail hearing on Monday and simply did not show up.
The black teen at the center of a furor over legal racism remained behind bars – though charges against him were thrown out Friday – because the judge and prosecutor didn’t come to a bail hearing yesterday, his lawyer said.
“We showed up. There was nobody there,” said Bob Noel, lawyer for 17-year-old Mychal Bell of Jena, La. …

Contributor Andrew Padula has been in situations throughout his life where he has felt compelled to address racial issues from his unusual perspective. Andrew is a white, politically conservative, 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 …

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 by Juno Books, is Carole’s first novel. Her voice adds plenty to our discussion, so I welcome Carole and her column Faith in Color to Allaboutrace.com.
For a forty-seven year old reclusive speculative fiction writer, I’m pretty much in the loop. Actually, I’m in a lotta loops. I hear news whether I wish to hear …

People, our voices count. When we speak tirelessly and in unison, injustice cannot thrive in the dark.
From Howard Witt, Chicago Tribune
With the prospect of a major national civil rights protest looming next week in the central Louisiana town of Jena, a state appeals court on Friday abruptly vacated the felony conviction of a black teenager accused of beating a white student in a case fraught with racial tensions.
Louisiana’s Third Circuit Court of Appeals, acting on an emergency defense appeal, reversed the aggravated second-degree battery conviction of Mychal Bell, …

Precious left this as a comment in the Open Thread and I think her story provides an interesting look at race as experienced by a biracial South African/Austrian.
Hi Carmen
I am a young woman living in Vienna, Austria now for 15 years. I thought I would like to share some thoughts with you, maybe it would help. I have also being laughed at a few times with no explanation, starred at insulted and have received a few nice compliments too.
I am actually mixed, my father is white and my mother …