Tag Archives: racism

Sept. 11: One of those Never Forget days

Posted on by September 12, 2017

September 11th. It’s still strange to me that many younger people don’t have much of a reaction to that date.

I’m guessing it was the same for the Baby Boomers when I wouldn’t flinch at the mention of Nov. 22, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated or of April 4, 1968, when the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed.

The Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. Photo by YU-bin

For me Sept. 11, 2001 is one of those Never-Forget days. It was … Read more ...

In the wake of Trump, Norwegians still give me their condolences

Posted on by December 12, 2016

Unlike my friends in the US, it’s easy for me to watch the news and not be bombarded with Donald Trump, his political appointments and latest shenanigans. Living in Norway, I still follow it all closely online, but I’m not overwhelmed by it on TV, social media, or in cafes and shops.

It wasn’t always like that. Right after the elections, even across the pond, I felt overwhelmed by the incessant chatter: How did Trump win? Was it a mistake? What were Americans thinking!?!?

And … Read more ...

MLK Day: A perfect day to examine our “isms” racism, sexism, genderism

Posted on by January 19, 2016

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is usually a day where we look back on the life of a vaunted man, one who had dreams of multicultural harmony in the land of the red, white and blue.

But looking back, how far has the U.S. really come in its race relations? Yes, there’s clearly been huge strides. We have a black president, the number of African Americans graduating from high school and college is growing and so is the black middle class. But what about the … Read more ...

Mizzou Shakeup: My alma mater finally addresses its age-old issue

Posted on by November 10, 2015

It’s a good day to be a Missouri Tiger.

I’ve been closely watching the racial unrest at my alma mater, the University of Missouri, where Tim Wolfe stepped down Monday as president amid criticism of his handling of social injustice issues on campus. Hours later, Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin announced he is leaving his post at the end of the year.

The campus movement started small with a handful of students, then a hunger strike, and finally, along came big Missouri football.

Missouri's football team, coaches and staff show solidarity amid racial unrest on campus. Photo from Pinkel's Twitter feed.

Missouri’s football team,

… Read more ...

Ferguson One Year Later: What’s truly changed?

Posted on by August 10, 2015

What were you doing this time last year? In Ferguson, Missouri a 279-pound, 18-year-old college student lay dead in the street. His black body had been shot at least six times and his death became a reawakening to what many black Americans have been saying for generations.

Police brutality is more prevalent in communities of color, and sometimes it’s deadly.

This old adage caught renewed life in the past year since Michael Brown was killed. I don’t know if it’s because technology has allowed us … Read more ...