[In the following post about allies, I am confining my discussion to anti-racism and feminism because those are the movements with which I am most familiar. I hope, though, that these ideas have broader application.]   Allies are important to any equality movement. It does not help people of color if we are the only ones who understand racism and how it still exists in society. It does not help women if we are the only ones that believe we deserve equal treatment. This is especially true con... Read Full Story

[This post was originally published on Jan. 8, 2008.]Today's New York Times includes a review of comedian Chris Rock's New Year's Eve stand-up performance at Madison Square Garden. the review alleges that while Rock is still edgy and, most importantly, funny, the comedian has shifted his approach to racial comedy over the years. Kelefah Sanneh writes:Where once he held forth conspiratorially, flattering fans by sharing taboo insights with them, now he is more likely to hold forth confrontatio... Read Full Story

I've been thinking about Max Reddick's post, "Oh, the places we could go...," which we crossposted last week on Love Isn't Enough:A couple of months or so ago at the end of the summer, my wife and I planned a trip with a few other African American couples we know just to have one last bit of fun before summer ended. When we first conceived of the idea, we bandied about several suggestions, but all of them seemed so absolutely done.Someone suggested a cookout at the beach, but I was beached ou... Read Full Story

[Since I'm on the road, I thought I'd drag something a little different from "the vault." This post originally appeared in August 2008.My name is Tami and I am a knitter. I have been for two years now, ever since a co-worker let me borrow a kids knitting how-to book over the weekend and I sat down with two giant needles and a ball of Wal-Mart yarn to make myself a scarf. Yeah, that's right. I like to indulge in traditional "womanly" arts. Does that put my feminist bonafides into question? Som... Read Full Story

I'm still around folks, but posting will be slow until Thursday. I'm visiting Washington D.C. for three days and my schedule is punishing. I'll be back in the saddle soon. Meanwhile, in my head, I'm pondering a post about the things racial fear keeps us from doing. Read Full Story

A few weeks ago, Dr. Jim Taylor tackled the subject of Relationships 2.0 in The Huffington Post. He wrote:   Of all the areas of life that computer and communications technology seems to be impacting the most is its influence on relationships. Mobile phones, texting, facebook, and Twitter are just a few of the ways in which relationships are being redefined, established, and maintained by technology. We have entered a new era of Relationships 2.0. Read more...   That my two-year involvement... Read Full Story

[Here is a post from November 2007. As I read it this morning, it occurred to me that the problem I described two years ago has only gotten worse, though I do think there is a greater diversity of voices talking about race in the mainstream, which is good news.]Why was Don Imus vilified and fired for calling a group of young, black athletes "nappy headed hoes," but able to return to the airwaves months later provoking barely a stir? Why is Michael Richards' racist tirade in a Los Angeles nigh... Read Full Story

I was going to begin this post be talking about Mohandas Gandhi. I was going to chastise Bernice King, daughter of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., and new leader of the civil rights organization Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), for her hateful pronouncement, recounted in The Guardian: "I know down in my sanctified soul that [MLK] did not take a bullet for samesex unions."I was going to point out that Gandhi, who is said to have inspired MLK, did not take a b... Read Full Story

Today on Newsweek's "Human Condition," bloggers (including moi) were invited to share their thoughts on Allison Samuels' recent criticism of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's alleged neglect of their daughter, Zahara's, hair. My entry is an edited version of the post below. Also weighing in were Roslyn Hardy Holcomb and Nichelle Gainer. Visit the site and share your comments. Read Full Story

I once wrote about my natural hair:My hair is nappy. It is coarse and thick. It grows in pencil-sized spirals and tiny crinkles. My hair grows out, not down. It springs from my head like a corona. My hair is like wool. You can't run your fingers through it, nor a comb. It is impenetrable. My hair is rebellious. It resists being smoothed into a neat bun or pony tail. It puffs. Strands escape; they won't be tamed. My hair is nappy. And I love it. Read more...I may love my hair. But common wisdo... Read Full Story