Recommentunde: Bargain Basement Blackness | 28 July 2020
it's the latest edition of
The Recommentunde Newsletter
Sent on 28 July 2020 Edition
Hi you,
It’s me.
COVID came from bats. I knew I didn’t like Batman for a good reason.
The Feds are going full gestapo in Portland. Maybe they don’t understand that people are shooting fireworks at federal buildings to celebrate America and all the winning.
The president shared a video of a black woman who— Oh, I’m not even going to waste the character count on that one.
Tomorrow I’m starting production on my podcast, How To Citizen with Baratunde, in earnest. The best part: we are recording most of the show with you! If you’ve come to Live On Lockdown, this will feel familiar. In the opening of the series, we will take on the true meaning of the word “citizen.” I’ve just interviewed Valarie Kaur, and with you, I’ll sit with Eric Liu, the CEO of Citizen University.
Show up with your own ideas, thoughts, and questions for me and Eric. Register here. We tape at 3pm Pacific Time Wednesday July 29, 2020
And now, for your regularly scheduled programming:
I'm experimenting and put my opening remarks from this email on my instagram. If you IG, please check it out there and share it.
Blood-boiling investigation by ProPublica
Thanks Elizabeth for sharing this and the appropriate rage along with it. Many people who argue for “small government” are liars. For decades they have hollowed out the government and replaced it with overpaid McKinsey consultants who do a worse job at higher cost and tell them the government should be hollowed out. Another name for this activity: looting.
Another one from ProPublica
If these Portlanders were protesting for the right to get a haircut, we would have a different federal response. This is not a drill, and yet this is not new. Read. Get mad. Get active.
American exceptionalism was our preexisting condition
Article in The Washington Post
Everything about this article. Everything. I can’t remember who shared it with me, so I’m going to say it was Suri from Wakanda.
Twitter link
By the time you read this it could be out on Spotify. I know the producers so basically I know Michelle Obama!
A Rush to Use Black Art Leaves the Artists Feeling Used
Article in The New York Times
Every company thinking of saying something woke about race or bringing in an artist or speaker (like me), should keep a few things in mind. Look inside first. How do your own employees feel about working there? What do your products and the way you market them say about whether you behave as if Black Lives Matter? Operationally are you committed to old school exploitation — where do you bank? Who are your vendors? I will gladly take your money to give a pretty talk, but then I’m gonna say all this to your face too. And in this moment for companies to be bargain basement shopping for black talent is doing it all wrong. Before you reach out to some “marginalized” person trying to get a piece of their talent, say the following to yourself: I’m going to treat this person like I would treat Bill Gates. We could avoid a lot of wasted energy if you just treated everyone like a straight, white, male billionaire.
DNA Study from 23andMe Traces Violent History of American Slavery
Article in the New York Times
Science proves it: slavery happened, and it was real bad… now with haplogroups! But seriously, this is a novel use of scientific data.
How to person woman man camera tv
Video on YouTube
Thank you, Sarah Cooper.
Texas parents consider learning pods, tutors as reopening plans falter
Article in The Texas Tribune
Really thoughtful piece about a growing trend that has not easy answers. I also recommend this Twitter thread from a parent able to pull off one of these pods yet cognizant of what that means for he wider society. In a truly responsive environment, school districts themselves would facilitate these pods and ensure more equal access to learning during this difficult time. Maybe McKinsey can overcharge a district to tell them that.
Remembering the roots of Challenge Accepted.
Instagram post by Sophia Bush
You’ve seen those “challenge accepted” Instagram posts and may have posted one yourself. Did you know the origin of the meme was inspired by massive rates of violence against women in Turkey and attempts in that country to make it easier to kill women? I didn’t. Now I know. Now you know.
A Socially Distanced Conversation: President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden
Video on YouTube
Refreshing to see these two.
BLACK PEOPLE WATCH HAMILTON(ACT 1)
Video on YouTube
You deserve this. We all do.
SIGNING OFF
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Peace and Love.
