Colorlines.com created an amazing infographic to detail Hurricane Katrina a decade later. Take a good look at it. How does this article and image make you feel? How does it inspire you to take action?
Here are some images from the infograhic, but check out the entire article and illustration because it is fantastic!
It is difficult to dispute that majority of our media is not objective and does not report the news. It is skewed, often has an agenda or is just commentary about what other commentators are saying about the “news”. Someone who we enjoy though is Chris Hayes. Some time ago, he shared a satirical story about white mob crime in efforts to demonstrate how different black and white people are portrayed in the media. Then, one of Project Kinect’s favorite voices, Franchesca Ramsey, wrote an article about it on UpWorthy. Please check out her article. This link will provide a bit more about her if you would like to check it out.
Yesterday, March 16th, Starbucks announced that they have invited their partners (employees) to begin inviting customers to have conversations about race. We think this is awesome and is a fantastic step towards getting our entire country to actually identify that an inequity and prejudice exists in America between races. We must discuss these issues if we are to overcome them and become a better society. We here at Project Kinect could continue to discuss this historical decision by Starbucks, but everyone else already is.
Below are some great references if you want to know more about exactly what Starbucks is doing:
First, check out the Starbucks Website:
Think Progress put it most perfectly:
A few weeks ago, the award winning Nigerian writer and activist, Spectra, wrote an article, Dear White People: Stop Unfriending Other White People Over Ferguson. At first, it is unclear how this article is going to frame the situation, but quickly we it is only with love that describes the unique position white people have. These posts are an opportunity to create dialogue and become better allies by effectively communicating the facts to those who see the situation differently. Spectra says it better:
Spectra’s Blog has a lot more to read. Take some time to get to know her. She aims to do activism differently, to awaken within herself and others, the courage, vulnerability, empathy, self-awareness, and unrelenting commitment to personal growth required to heal and transform each other- and the world- for the better.
You can also follow her on Facebook.
Early this month, Cynthia Sylva Parker gave a Tedx Talk titled Racism–What Will It Take To End It? It is an extraordinary twelve minutes looking at racism objectively and giving every person ideas to how they can work on themselves and their own pre-wired brains.
Cynthia Sylva Parker is a Senior Associate at the Interaction Institute for Social Change. The institute is also an organization we love, but that is another time. This post is all about Cynthia and her voice (Click here for the post on IISC). We love you and please keep spreading the word. Project Kinect is here to help!
If you don’t know who Justin Simien is, then you may be familiar with his newest film, Dear White People. The movie is a satire about real issues of race that are very much present in our society. The movie only grazes the issues, but presents it in a humorous and tasteful way. Presenting these issues in such a way sets an atmosphere that will hopefully bring a more inclusive group to theater. Calandra Davis, an activist and soon-to-be contributor posted, “It felt good to a watch a movie that explored real issues and contained complex Black characters.”
Community mobilizing tool: Sometimes the issues need to be dealt with delicately in order to gain other important and invested allies.
Project Kinect loves this film for many reasons. First, it was crowd-funded. This genuine film was created by a community of supporters who wanted to see such a satire made. Second, and it is important to state this again; The film presents the issues in a way to bring more eyes to theaters. Most importantly, this film has been released at a time in our history when we must start having real, constructive conversations about racial tensions, modern racism, and white privilege. If these conversations are not had, then we are doomed as a society and will not continue moving forward as a global leader. The possible actions and reactions if these issues are not discussed and worked on will be disastrous and we will look foolish to the rest of the world. But for now, go see the film.
**Photo credit goes to the Houston Chronicle. Project Kinect loved the picture. Click here to find the whole Houston Chronicle article.
