Racism.

A good friend of mine posted this article to Facebook today. The article lists quotes about RACISM for people who "don't see color". One quote from Nayyirah Waheed says "never trust anyone who says they do not see color. this means to them, you are invisible."

My favorite of them all is this quote from Scott Woods, an African-American poet, writer and musician. 

"The problem is that white people see racism as conscious hate, when racism is bigger than that. Racism is a complex system of social and political levers and pulleys set up generations ago to continue working on the behalf of whites at other people’s expense, whether whites know/like it or not. Racism is an insidious cultural disease. It is so insidious that it doesn’t care if you are a white person who likes black people; it’s still going to find a way to infect how you deal with people who don’t look like you. Yes, racism looks like hate, but hate is just one manifestation. Privilege is another. Access is another. Ignorance is another. Apathy is another. And so on. So while I agree with people who say no one is born racist, it remains a powerful system that we’re immediately born into. It’s like being born into air: you take it in as soon as you breathe. It’s not a cold that you can get over. There is no anti-racist certification class. It’s a set of socioeconomic traps and cultural values that are fired up every time we interact with the world. It is a thing you have to keep scooping out of the boat of your life to keep from drowning in it. I know it’s hard work, but it’s the price you pay for owning everything." 

- Scott Woods

Does this quote resonate with you at all? Do you feel that everyone is born racist, as the quote suggests?

The Skimm

If you're anything like me, you like to be informed about current events, sports, and world news. I personally don't have time to peel through The Washington Post every morning or read CNN throughout the day. I don't even have time to watch the evening news anymore! I need my news in quick, short bursts.

Enter, The Skimm.

My friends Kurt and Michelle informed me about this daily email digest called The Skimm. It's very brief, and gives you a lot of information all in one email. The writers--called Skimmers-- read all of the news stories for you (so you don't have to), and they write up the stories in language that I can actually understand. Not only that, they also fill you in on important details of major news stories that you might have missed initially.

Each Skimm always starts with a "Quote of the Day" and ends with a "Thing to Know". Today, I learned about Game of Thrones, Lebron James, fighting in Israel, NSA intelligence leaks, German spies, and the economy. All within a few short paragraphs!

It's great for making small talk. For example: I don't like watching soccer at all. I think it's a horribly boring sport to watch and play. HOWEVER, I work in an office where there are a few soccer fans and they are avidly keeping up with the World Cup. Every morning, I get my daily dose of The Skimm to know which team beat who and that gives me something intelligent to say to my coworkers about the sport they love so much.

The Skimm has been beneficial for me. I feel so much more informed about the world around me.

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[Music] Somewhere Only We Know

Usually I don't watch America's Got Talent, but I found myself turning to this channel the other day. This group, Sons of Serendip, really got my attention. I love how they are a group of young, black men who play instruments. Most people on these talent-search shows play typical instruments like guitar or piano. It was refreshing to see a band with a cellist, harpist, pianist and vocalist. These guys are so amazingly talented, and I'm glad they got through to the next round.

Check out their video!