NPR Audio Link

NPR Audio Link

While I was a producer for ABC News, I had the great fortune to travel around the country and sit in countless living rooms in small towns and in big ones. I’ve had people use the word n—er to my face in conversation just as their biracial, clearly adored grandchild ran into the house. Running [...]

Well it’s proved true again. Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it. I’ve never backed away from any opportunity to inspire or engage in dynamic often uncomfortable discussions about race in America. Obviously, that’s why I started this blog more than a year ago. Rev. Jeremiah Wright is now catapulted [...]

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Keep On
D Train
“The sky is the limit and you know that you can have what you want
Be what you want.”

In his interview with Bill Moyers, Jeremiah Wright delivers an uppercut to Barack Obama’s character and in turn his presidential candidacy. I was so wrong about this one. I’d figured that the Obama campaign would benefit from Wright emerging from his self-imposed quiet period and re-framing his big blast sermons in more easily digestible terms. [...]

Colson Whitehead wrote an insightful and droll Op-Ed for the “New York Times.” Here’s an excerpt:
Geraldine Ferraro and Bob Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, have been complaining that Barack Obama is leading in the Democratic presidential campaign only because of his skin color. Multimillionaire TV pundits are lecturing “the common man” on how [...]

As an Obama supporter, I am disappointed by the results in Pennsylvania. But unlike many others, I don’t think Clinton’s campaign was in any way surprising or out of line with its vitriol. Politics is indeed a contact sport, not for the faint or fuzzy of heart. I watched Hillary Clinton in an interview with [...]

From The United Church of Christ website:
Jeremiah Wright to be interviewed by Bill Moyers
In what will be his first interview since snippets of his preaching became a central issue in the U.S. presidential campaign, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. will speak publicly to veteran journalist and fellow UCC member [...]

My tummy is in knots about tomorrow’s primary. So…I figured we could use a good laugh.
Enjoy. Back to Rushing Water tomorrow.

For YOU, what’s the hardest aspect of talking about race?
With friends? Acquaintances? Co-workers?
On a blog?
For me it’s staying in touch with my patient self and keeping in mind that what I want most is to build bridges between us.
Please have your say on this thread, be candid. Use your name or make up one. [...]

“Around the way girl”
LL Cool J
“Honey coated complexion using Camay. Let’s hear it for the girls from around the way.”

Congress is poised to take 16 million books out of the hands of 4.6 million poor children. We must stop them from doing that.
For the past two years I have had the privilege of giving out new books to some of the poorest children in the most blighted communities in Los Angeles at Christmastime. [...]

Once again there’s a fuss about words. Last week the words were “bitter” and “clinging.” Truth is, some people are bitter and some people use their religion to amplify and justify self-righteous attitudes about “others.” I think it’s dangerous to see any group of people, ie small town folks, as of one mindset. Anytime we [...]

In the winter of 2004, a source first told me that the Federal government had sanctioned testing an AIDS vaccine on mostly black and Latino foster children ages 1 month to late teens. I did not believe it. When finally convinced that it was true, I sobbed openly as we walked through the park. I [...]