ELAHEH FARMAND Once a year on our immigration anniversary, my mother and I reflect on our journey from Iran to the United States. In the past, we would celebrate the freedoms we were given in America, embrace the struggles we endured as immigrants to settle in a new home, and learn not only a new language, but also a new way of living, a new culture, a new dream. But if … [Read more...] about We Must Fight the System, Not Each Other
racism
Whiteness
ROBERT JENSEN Is the United States making progress in the quest to transcend its White-supremacist history? After the end of Jim Crow and legal racial segregation, the debate was over how and to what degree racism endured in less visible ways, with some arguing that the United States had become a “post-racial” society? That debate evaporated with the re-emergence in the … [Read more...] about Whiteness
Do You Belong Here?
Miranda Davis Miranda is a Graphic Design/Illustration student at East Stroudsburg University. She describes her work as “a love letter to the black community and an acknowledgment of the trials found within and how the absolute comfort of the privileged majority prevents a seat at the table for minorities”. Return to spring 2021 Table of Contents … [Read more...] about Do You Belong Here?
Unlearning What We’re Taught in School
Clare Meehan As a third grader, I remember re-creating the first Thanksgiving, making teepee and wigwam structures. It was fun and lighthearted. We even had a special day for us to excitedly share our creations with our parents. In sixth grade, I participated in ‘Latin American Day’, where the whole grade dedicated a day to holding a market. Students brought in … [Read more...] about Unlearning What We’re Taught in School
1st 100 Days—Portland
I have a friend—some-time bandmate—Daily…Whining, wringing his hands.Distressed and depressed—anxious and agitated—heKnows nuclear war andArmageddon are on theagenda if Boss Tweet’sBack—big lies, gas-lightinganother four years… My meditation and its compassionkeep me from screaming,“Come on out of thatcannabis cloud, read writing on other walls—smell … [Read more...] about 1st 100 Days—Portland
Against Hierarchy
ROBERT JENSEN It’s getting harder for people in the United States to turn away from the sexism, racism, and inequality that is woven into the fabric of society. From the women’s march of 2017, to the ongoing protests against white supremacy in policing and other institutions, to the wider attention being paid to extreme disparities in wealth — the demand for justice … [Read more...] about Against Hierarchy
A Reflection on Recent Events in Palmerton
by Maison Allen On July 18, in the small town of Palmerton, Pennsylvania, a non-violent protest in support of Black Lives Matter turned aggressive and dangerous as protesters were confronted by armed and hostile counter-protesters. My good friend, Sierra Hahn and I, both Palmerton natives, organized the original protest to raise awareness and help people understand racism … [Read more...] about A Reflection on Recent Events in Palmerton
Please, I Can’t Breathe
by Johnny Wilk Originally from Palmerton, Johnny has been a Lehigh Valley resident for most of his life. … [Read more...] about Please, I Can’t Breathe
Connecting the Dots (2)
PBS recently republished a column by Rusul Airubail titled 'Why educators still need to talk about 9/11 — and Islamophobia'. I think this applies equally to adults and is actually very closely related to current experiences of racism and violence. It is still critical to provide safe spaces for children and adults to discuss the wave of Islamophobia that swept the US, with … [Read more...] about Connecting the Dots (2)
60+ Years of Assault on POC
As we consider the events in Minneapolis and Kenosha, let's take a minute to consider that these events are part of a pattern that's gone on for many years. It's not just a case of the disproportionate killing of Black people by the police, it's also white supremacy showing itself in many other ways, some of them quite obvious. We could go all the way back to the Black … [Read more...] about 60+ Years of Assault on POC