Comments on: Black On Both Sides http://isgreaterthan.net/2008/04/09/black-on-both-sides/ An eclectic journal exploring the intersections of culture and politics, art and the free market, technology and science Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:24:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Gayle http://isgreaterthan.net/2008/04/09/black-on-both-sides/#comment-1651 Gayle Sat, 17 May 2008 02:58:14 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/?p=831#comment-1651 Thanks for this piece. It is a nicely weighted brush on the reality of racism in Canada in particular but North America in general. Years ago I read a book about racism in Canadian schools, Under the Gaze - Learning to be Black in a White Society, that changed my romanticized view of Canada's race relations. So the work continues. I am grateful for your take on things. Gayle Thanks for this piece. It is a nicely weighted brush on the reality of racism in Canada in particular but North America in general.

Years ago I read a book about racism in Canadian schools, Under the Gaze - Learning to be Black in a White Society, that changed my romanticized view of Canada’s race relations.

So the work continues. I am grateful for your take on things. Gayle

]]> By: Michael Bishop http://isgreaterthan.net/2008/04/09/black-on-both-sides/#comment-1505 Michael Bishop Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:13:17 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/?p=831#comment-1505 other thoughts (not mine) on racism: http://scatter.wordpress.com/2008/04/14/the-r-word/#comment-3351 other thoughts (not mine) on racism: http://scatter.wordpress.com/2008/04/14/the-r-word/#comment-3351

]]> By: Michael Bishop http://isgreaterthan.net/2008/04/09/black-on-both-sides/#comment-1476 Michael Bishop Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:41:18 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/?p=831#comment-1476 I'm not sure what response I expected. You needn't feel obliged to provide "The Answer." I guess my second paragraph is just me crying out, I wish I had a better idea of what it is I don't know about race (for the sake of knowledge and so that I can avoid being an ass.) I probably shouldn't worry much about what's not being represented by intellectuals/activists because I haven't made the effort to learn too much about what is. But to give an analogy... I was just reading a series of essays about the discipline of sociology, by sociologists. Something to keep in mind while reading these essays is: the voices of some sociologists and non-sociologists are left out for particular reasons. My question in the first paragraph is me crying out, "what should politicians and/or regular people do to reduce racism and racial inequality?" Does all my uncertainty make me a useless intellectual even if my heart is in the right place? (Don't answer) I’m not sure what response I expected. You needn’t feel obliged to provide “The Answer.”

I guess my second paragraph is just me crying out, I wish I had a better idea of what it is I don’t know about race (for the sake of knowledge and so that I can avoid being an ass.) I probably shouldn’t worry much about what’s not being represented by intellectuals/activists because I haven’t made the effort to learn too much about what is. But to give an analogy… I was just reading a series of essays about the discipline of sociology, by sociologists. Something to keep in mind while reading these essays is: the voices of some sociologists and non-sociologists are left out for particular reasons.

My question in the first paragraph is me crying out, “what should politicians and/or regular people do to reduce racism and racial inequality?”

Does all my uncertainty make me a useless intellectual even if my heart is in the right place? (Don’t answer)

]]> By: Chanda http://isgreaterthan.net/2008/04/09/black-on-both-sides/#comment-1465 Chanda Fri, 11 Apr 2008 02:07:45 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/?p=831#comment-1465 Michael -- I can make a lot of assumptions about what you meant, but instead I will just say I am not sure what you mean by the range of experience that isn't represented. Represented where? And what experiences? I am just interested in what you mean. Michael — I can make a lot of assumptions about what you meant, but instead I will just say I am not sure what you mean by the range of experience that isn’t represented. Represented where? And what experiences? I am just interested in what you mean.

]]> By: Michael Bishop http://isgreaterthan.net/2008/04/09/black-on-both-sides/#comment-1462 Michael Bishop Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:34:49 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/?p=831#comment-1462 Obama called for a national conversation about race. This sounds like a good idea - it sounds almost impossible to oppose - yet, I don't really know who should be talking to who, what institutions should be involved, etc. Put societies problems aside, I don't even know how to overcome gaps in my own understanding of race. I can read what intellectuals and activists have written, but I really want to know the whole complex range of experience and of regular people which I feel is not represented. Obama called for a national conversation about race. This sounds like a good idea - it sounds almost impossible to oppose - yet, I don’t really know who should be talking to who, what institutions should be involved, etc.

Put societies problems aside, I don’t even know how to overcome gaps in my own understanding of race. I can read what intellectuals and activists have written, but I really want to know the whole complex range of experience and of regular people which I feel is not represented.

]]> By: Chanda http://isgreaterthan.net/2008/04/09/black-on-both-sides/#comment-1451 Chanda Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:47:40 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/?p=831#comment-1451 Slight addendum: I want to make sure to note the work of poet and historian Dr. Afua Cooper. She is a West Indian immigrant who has made telling the story of Canada part of her life's work. Her book _The Hanging of Angelique_ was a finalist for the prestigious Governor General's Award for Non-Fiction. It tells the story of the trial and torture of Angelique, a Black slave accused in the 18th century of starting the fire that burned much of Montreal. The story is timely as we explore Black Canadian history and what it means to extraction confessions from so-called terrorists. Slight addendum: I want to make sure to note the work of poet and historian Dr. Afua Cooper. She is a West Indian immigrant who has made telling the story of Canada part of her life’s work. Her book _The Hanging of Angelique_ was a finalist for the prestigious Governor General’s Award for Non-Fiction. It tells the story of the trial and torture of Angelique, a Black slave accused in the 18th century of starting the fire that burned much of Montreal. The story is timely as we explore Black Canadian history and what it means to extraction confessions from so-called terrorists.

]]> By: Chanda http://isgreaterthan.net/2008/04/09/black-on-both-sides/#comment-1450 Chanda Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:41:51 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/?p=831#comment-1450 Slight addendum: I want to make sure that the work of poet and historian Dr. Afua Cooper is mentioned as well. Her book The Hanging of Angelique (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060127.bkchp0128/BNStory/SpecialEvents/) was short-listed for Governor General's Award for non-fiction in 2006. The story is a timely one: Angelique, a Black slave in Montreal, was accused to setting a fired that burned a lot of Montreal down. She refused to confess, so she was tortured, repeatedly. Cooper is yet another example of a talented writer who is trying to ensure the story of Black Canada is told. Slight addendum: I want to make sure that the work of poet and historian Dr. Afua Cooper is mentioned as well. Her book The Hanging of Angelique (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060127.bkchp0128/BNStory/SpecialEvents/) was short-listed for Governor General’s Award for non-fiction in 2006. The story is a timely one: Angelique, a Black slave in Montreal, was accused to setting a fired that burned a lot of Montreal down. She refused to confess, so she was tortured, repeatedly. Cooper is yet another example of a talented writer who is trying to ensure the story of Black Canada is told.

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