News Roundup Thursday 7/22

Hello all, lately it just seems like there's TOO MUCH news to follow. Or maybe that's just me. Just in case you feel this way too, I'm going to try out a new format for some of my posting. Every day or two, look for a News Roundup (better name forthcoming) that will tell you the 3 or 4 things you should know from the daily news.

1. Shirley Sherrod and race today: Shirley Sherrod was fired from her Dept. of Agriculture job earlier this week after a video of her speaking at an NAACP conference was released. The segment that everyone initially focused on has Sherrod saying that many many years ago she helped a white farmer less than she could have because he was acting "superior" to her. She got fired, the NAACP and the White House, among others, condemned her actions, and then...OMG, someone watched the whole tape. Her speech goes on to say that she learned from her relationship with the white farmer. They apparently worked out their differences (he went on record yesterday vouching for Sherrod's excellent work to support his farm) and she wrapped her story by saying "That's when it was revealed to me that the job is about poor, versus those who have. And not so much about white -- it is about white and black, but it's not -- you know, it opened my eyes." The NAACP, the White House, and others then apologized/backpedaled, and as of today Sherrod has been offered a new Dept. of Ag. job but reportedly "is not sure" about taking it. In the meantime, the whole issue is spurring lots of talk about race and the issues around even mentioning race in the political arena.

2. Financial Reform = Law. Yesterday President Obama signed the Financial Reform bill into law. The bill, which of course is weaker than most Progressives would have liked, is still a huge and historic step toward re-regulating Wall Street. Among other things, it:

• established a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to get your back against abusive mortgage and credit card practices.
• created a new council of regulators that will require banks to prepare for and prevent financial crises better in the future.
• limits Wall Street "betting" on hedge funds.
• forces derivatives trading (one of the main factors in the 08-09 meltdown) to be more open and regulated.

3. AZ Anti-Immigrant Law Challenged. Today, an Arizona judge will hear two cases against SB 1070, the recently-passed law that requires the police to racially profile people in Arizona in an effort to catch "illegal" "immigrants." The big one being heard today is U.S. v. Arizona, being brought by the U.S. Justice Department, which calls the law unconstitutional on the grounds that only the Federal government has power over naturalization of citizens. This is going to be one to watch for sure.

Required Reading, Required Thinking

To my faithful (and few, and treasured) readers, I apologize for the long gap in posts this week. I have two good reasons. 1: I have been at my parents' house in the mountains since last Friday, and I am consciously taking a break from my normal non-stop internet-bound life. 2: I am deeply absorbed in reading a book that I hope all of you will seriously consider reading, Autobiography of a Blue-Eyed Devil: My Life and Times in a Racist, Imperialist Society by Inga Muscio (who also penned another book that has changed my life and worldview, Cunt: A Declaration of Independence). It is hereby placed on the Cara Politica Required Reading list, with an asterisk especially for my dear White readers.



I am only on page 16 of the hefty little book, and it has already made me think more about things that really matter than anything I've read this year. I am in the process of grieving (more) for the deeply hurtful racist history of the United States and re-learning the cultural storylines that make up my White identity. I am feeling inspired to push harder and do things differently. I haven't gotten to process it all yet, but you'll hear from me when I do. In the meantime, I'll say it again, please read this book! Thank you so much to Rachel V. for reminding me to read it now.

It's out of print (crime against humanity), so I ordered my copy from Biblio.com, an Asheville-based bookseller and great alternative to Amazon and other far-away shippers for new and used books. Holler at me if you want to discuss further and/or borrow my copy when I'm done!