Between The World and Me, is one of the most important books to be published this decade, surely, possibly even this young century. In context of the long list of tragic events of the past few years (from Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, and Sandra Bland, to Ferguson, Baltimore, and Charleston), it is timely, but that’s the easy part. It’s the combination of Coates’ framing (a letter to his son) and his raw, unapologetic tone (no white gaze-y appeasement here) that makes it stand out as a singular work that has drawn deserved comparisons to James Baldwin.
Tag: Racism
Asian = Fortune Cookies, and other American Blindspots
Having our own kids growing up around a relatively diverse group of kids was an important factor for us when we left the Bronx nearly four years ago, and while we technically found what we were looking for, what we didn’t account for was the overwhelmingly white staff that would be teaching them.
Here Comes the [Black] Spider-Man?
In light of Marvel and DC’s continued inability to introduce new superheroes with diverse backgrounds, a full generation after everyone wanted to “be like Mike” and Will Smith became a bankable leading man, what does the furor over Morales say about the state of comics and their place within pop culture?
Outrage, Humor, Context
David Brothers was one of the smartest comics bloggers on the scene a few years back when I was at…
A Beautiful Day
This morning’s sustained exhilaration has been tempered somewhat by the remnants of intolerance as it appears California has narrowly passed…
Apology Unnecessary
There’s a bit of a tempest in a teapot happening over at Montclair State University thanks to a “controversial” episode…
The Most Fantastic Genre
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZGqSRtDbEw] PopCultureShock posted this great little clip about the new Blue Beetle — Mexican-American Jaime Reyes — and Junot Diaz’…