I think we can all agree that yesterday we witnessed an historic election. For the first time in our nation’s democracy we overcame questions of gender and race in our presidential candidates. In 1992, neoconservative philosopher and economist Francis Fukuyama gained notoriety with his essay, “The End of History,” and later book THE END OF HISTORY AND THE LAST MAN, where he carried forward Hegel and Marx’s idea that history was the progression of political struggle. Fukuyama posited that Western liberal democracy marked the utopia of political thought and signaled the end of this progression and thus the end of history.
When teaching the history of minority groups, and especially African Americans, it’s often said that the words Thomas Jefferson put to velum in the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” was not something set in stone, but a goal. At the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr., said he dreamed that “one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed”. So, to borrow from Fukuyama’s scaffolding, I’d like to ask what the election of Barack Obama will mean to the future of African American history. If African American history has told of the struggle to achieve equity in American society, did we reach that point in yesterday’s election?
Will the election change the way our students think about African-American history? Will it change how we teach the subject? Does this mean that we’ve moved past the multicultural into a fully post-ethnic society, or perhaps that we’ve even transcended the post-ethnic? Or is race even the issue? Did Americans turn out to elect the “first African American” president, or was this a rejection of the Reagan-era supply-side conservative Republicanism that George W. Bush claimed as his political heritage? Or was it a reaction against the economic downturn that is affecting the nation? If voters flocked to Obama because he is black that is one thing, but it says something completely different if he won because he was the Democratic nominee. Was his nomination and election a result of the “novelty” of an African-American candidate?
As I watched Obama’s election celebration last night, and saw John Lewis, Jesse Jackson, and heard about 106 year-old Ann Nixon Cooper, I thought of the changes African Americans have seen in the past century, the past 50 years, and the past decade. I remember watching public service announcements for the United Negro College Fund on television emphasize the phrase, “The mind is a terrible thing to waste.” I was especially moved by a grandfather putting his grandson on a school bus. The older man encouraged the younger boy to study and do well in school and one day he might become a doctor. The young boy looked up at his grandfather and asked why he didn’t go to college. Of course, the unspoken message was that race and poverty prevented the grandfather from realizing his dreams. Will Obama’s election affect the question of the future of Affirmative Action? Does his election mean that we’ve moved beyond race as a determining issue, much as we look to John Kennedy’s election as Americans’ willingness to overlook his Catholicism? Have we now moved beyond race as an issue? How will students consider race relations in American history from now on? One African American woman said last night that she went to the polls with her grandchildren and could now honestly tell them that anyone of them could grow up to be president. Did the election make manifest the goals of MLK’s Dream, and the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement?
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Obama Wins!!!!
I'm ecstatic! I could not believe that Americans turned out in such force to vote for Barack Obama, the first time in our history that we've transcended our centuries of racism and prejudice and elected an African American. This has been one of the LONGEST campaigns ever! I'm relieved and happy with the results and the simple fact that this is over. Are we finally realizing the Dream that Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of ? I certainly don't know that we've achieved that dream, but it is certainly closer than I thought we would have been at a year ago...or even 6 months ago.
Barack is about to accept. McCain gave a fantastic concession speech.
Barack is onstage and is about to speak.
Barack is about to accept. McCain gave a fantastic concession speech.
Barack is onstage and is about to speak.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Reflections on Hurrican Ike
We did fine through the storm, and had no damage. We were fortunate. Many around the city were not so fortunate, not to mention those along the coast, north from Galveston to Sabine Pass, then up through the rural areas.
Mari and I hunkered down through Hurricane Ike. We don't live in downtown Houston, but were within the "eyewall" of the storm as it passed north. We got some strong winds, sustained winds were about 60mph. The storm came ashore sometime at Galveston between midnight and 2 am. The eye of the storm was pretty large, so some said midnight, some said 2 am (which I think was the "official" landfall)
To tell you the truth, we didn't really notice the storm inside our house, other than the sound of pine cones and branches hitting our roof. It kind of reminded me of the flood in New Braunfels. I mean the 72 flood, since now we have to specify--not the flooding of 2000 or 2001, or when the last two floods happened. My dad worked the late shift for Mission Valley Mills and couldn't make it home that evening. Mom and I waited in the dark, and would go outside and listen to what we thought might be a tornado. It wasn't until the morning that I learned what happened, maybe my mom listened to the radio, but I wasn't aware of it.
I was reminded of that event when Mari and I went outside to watch the wind blow, and although there was plenty of rain, we didn't notice so much because the wind blew it into a fine mist, although we could see it flying overhead. We got a bunch of debris in our yard, and the real fear was a tree falling. She grew up in West Texas and sustained 70 mph winds are a fact of life out there. Of course, that's usually accompanied by fine red dust. Tornadoes are very common during the spring, so bad weather as a whole is de rigueur.
We had power until 6am Saturday, then lost it. We're on a short line, only about 5 houses in our neighborhood, but the convenience store around the corner lost its roof which blew straight back on our powerlines. We also had very little water pressure as there were some power losses to pumping stations around the city.
Sunday morning we left. Our house alarm's batter died, we had no power for over a day, and little water pressure. We decided we didn't like living Medieval: hot, dark, and dirty. I admire those who can live that way, but not worth it if you don't have to. I say this, and I have colleagues and students who still don't have power.
We went to Mari's brother's house in Fort Worth until Friday, which was also interesting. We've got older two dogs (10 & 11) and a cat (12), but they have a little Basenji who is 17. When we got there her brother told us they were on dog hospice watch. It was odd. Half the time I kept a close eye on the dog because I thought she was about to fall over and die. Then the next moment, she would jump up and run about the house like a mad person. She is blind and deaf, but always hungry and thirsty.
When we left, we went down to Waco, then to College Station and into Houston as we live not too far from 290. We feared that there would be a food and gasoline shortage, so we stocked up a bit in Fort Worth, then stopped at a gas station in Hempstead. Gas was $3.90, and had a limit of 10 gallons. Yet, when we made it back home, the HEB and Walmart had gas for $3.39 and there were no shopping lines!
Our neighbors had called us on Monday the 15th and told us power was restored, but only on our side of the street. Many of our neighbors are still without electricity. There was a bunch of broken trees, scattered limbs, blown transformers and just a general mess after the storm. Our electric company is working 24/7 to fix stuff, and it's been amazing to see how fast they, and the 7,000 contractors they brought in are restoring power, but there are still plenty without. I think by Thursday, the 24th, some 500,000 are without power still....that's the population of Alaska!
Street lights are out and may are on flash. Although there have been other problems, looting seems to have been a minimum. The real problem is Galveston and the rural beach areas. Some of my college students and many of Mari's high school kids are without power still, and some have had significant damage to their houses.
But, again, thankfully, we're ok.
Mari and I hunkered down through Hurricane Ike. We don't live in downtown Houston, but were within the "eyewall" of the storm as it passed north. We got some strong winds, sustained winds were about 60mph. The storm came ashore sometime at Galveston between midnight and 2 am. The eye of the storm was pretty large, so some said midnight, some said 2 am (which I think was the "official" landfall)
To tell you the truth, we didn't really notice the storm inside our house, other than the sound of pine cones and branches hitting our roof. It kind of reminded me of the flood in New Braunfels. I mean the 72 flood, since now we have to specify--not the flooding of 2000 or 2001, or when the last two floods happened. My dad worked the late shift for Mission Valley Mills and couldn't make it home that evening. Mom and I waited in the dark, and would go outside and listen to what we thought might be a tornado. It wasn't until the morning that I learned what happened, maybe my mom listened to the radio, but I wasn't aware of it.
I was reminded of that event when Mari and I went outside to watch the wind blow, and although there was plenty of rain, we didn't notice so much because the wind blew it into a fine mist, although we could see it flying overhead. We got a bunch of debris in our yard, and the real fear was a tree falling. She grew up in West Texas and sustained 70 mph winds are a fact of life out there. Of course, that's usually accompanied by fine red dust. Tornadoes are very common during the spring, so bad weather as a whole is de rigueur.
We had power until 6am Saturday, then lost it. We're on a short line, only about 5 houses in our neighborhood, but the convenience store around the corner lost its roof which blew straight back on our powerlines. We also had very little water pressure as there were some power losses to pumping stations around the city.
Sunday morning we left. Our house alarm's batter died, we had no power for over a day, and little water pressure. We decided we didn't like living Medieval: hot, dark, and dirty. I admire those who can live that way, but not worth it if you don't have to. I say this, and I have colleagues and students who still don't have power.
We went to Mari's brother's house in Fort Worth until Friday, which was also interesting. We've got older two dogs (10 & 11) and a cat (12), but they have a little Basenji who is 17. When we got there her brother told us they were on dog hospice watch. It was odd. Half the time I kept a close eye on the dog because I thought she was about to fall over and die. Then the next moment, she would jump up and run about the house like a mad person. She is blind and deaf, but always hungry and thirsty.
When we left, we went down to Waco, then to College Station and into Houston as we live not too far from 290. We feared that there would be a food and gasoline shortage, so we stocked up a bit in Fort Worth, then stopped at a gas station in Hempstead. Gas was $3.90, and had a limit of 10 gallons. Yet, when we made it back home, the HEB and Walmart had gas for $3.39 and there were no shopping lines!
Our neighbors had called us on Monday the 15th and told us power was restored, but only on our side of the street. Many of our neighbors are still without electricity. There was a bunch of broken trees, scattered limbs, blown transformers and just a general mess after the storm. Our electric company is working 24/7 to fix stuff, and it's been amazing to see how fast they, and the 7,000 contractors they brought in are restoring power, but there are still plenty without. I think by Thursday, the 24th, some 500,000 are without power still....that's the population of Alaska!
Street lights are out and may are on flash. Although there have been other problems, looting seems to have been a minimum. The real problem is Galveston and the rural beach areas. Some of my college students and many of Mari's high school kids are without power still, and some have had significant damage to their houses.
But, again, thankfully, we're ok.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Hunkering Down During Hurricane Ike-Sunday
We bugged out Sunday morning and headed for Fort Worth. It seems when a hurricane comes, we always head for West Texas.
We weathered the storm ok, however, when we went outside Saturday morning, trees were down all over the neighborhood. One tree down the street was split in half and was laying in the middle of the street.
We had electricity until Saturday morning at 6am. We considered ourselves lucky, at that. We walked around the neighborhood and found out that a convenience store around the corner had it's roof blown off. The roof was laying across our power lines, so we are unsure how long we'll be without power.
We also had very little water pressure, although our mayor promises that this is priority number 1.
One funny thing we noted was that people came out Saturday morning and began cleaning their yards. Maybe to get rid of the debris, maybe to see what was damaged and what wasn't, but it occurs to me that it was one way of humans reasserting some sense of control in the face of the power of nature.
Our institutions are closed until at least Thursday, and we don't know how long our neighborhood will be without power. We're just taking it one day at a time.
We weathered the storm ok, however, when we went outside Saturday morning, trees were down all over the neighborhood. One tree down the street was split in half and was laying in the middle of the street.
We had electricity until Saturday morning at 6am. We considered ourselves lucky, at that. We walked around the neighborhood and found out that a convenience store around the corner had it's roof blown off. The roof was laying across our power lines, so we are unsure how long we'll be without power.
We also had very little water pressure, although our mayor promises that this is priority number 1.
One funny thing we noted was that people came out Saturday morning and began cleaning their yards. Maybe to get rid of the debris, maybe to see what was damaged and what wasn't, but it occurs to me that it was one way of humans reasserting some sense of control in the face of the power of nature.
Our institutions are closed until at least Thursday, and we don't know how long our neighborhood will be without power. We're just taking it one day at a time.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Hunkering Down During Hurricane Ike
We're making podcasts of our experiences during Hurricane Ike.
Report 1 at 6pm. Click here to listen.
Report 2 at 8 pm. Click here to listen.
Report 3 at 11 pm. Click here to listen.
We're going to keep going until we lose electricity, or fall asleep. Which ever comes first.
Report 1 at 6pm. Click here to listen.
Report 2 at 8 pm. Click here to listen.
Report 3 at 11 pm. Click here to listen.
We're going to keep going until we lose electricity, or fall asleep. Which ever comes first.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Email Hoax about Obama
I just got an email one of my best friends forwarded to me called "Bubba on Obama." I'm not going to post it here, it's ALL OVER the Internet on a thousand stupid sites. If you want to read it, Google it.
It starts off, "MAYBE I'VE GOTT'N THIS ALL WRONG - ME JUST BE'N AN OLD FARM BOY WITHOUT MUCH EDUCATION...BUT NOW, Y'ALL CHECK THIS OUT:HIS FATHER WAS A KENYAN, A MUSLIM, AND A BLACK. WE SAW ALL THOSE PICTURES OF HIS NICE AFRICAN FAMILY."
Ok, at the very end it reads, "According to The Book of Revelations the anti-Christ is:The anti-Christ will be a man, in his 40's, of MUSLIM descent, who will deceive the nations with persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like appeal....the prophecy says that people will flock to him and he will promise false hope and world peace, and when he is in power, will destroy everything ."
Now, if anyone who reads this believes it, I've got about 200 letters from people who represent banks in Africa that have unclaimed money that you can claim. Also, I know of about 50 wealthy dying people who are looking for someone to take their millions because they don't want their evil relatives to get the money--in otherwords, you'll believe anything!
Oh, and cell phones will pop popcorn, too.
I don't have time nor the energy to point out step by step where this is just total foolishness, but if someone will show me in the Book of Revelations where it says the Anti-Christ will be a Muslim, much less a 40-something year old, I'll gladly buy you a bacon cheeseburger.
And as for experience, Obama was a practicing attorney and taught at law school for about 8 years, not someone just out of law school who was just an activist. He served in his state legislature.
Now, if you want to talk about lack of experience, what has Sarah Palin done? Govern a state that has less folks than Austin, TX? Govern a state that only has more people than Wyoming and North Dakota? Even her National Guard commander has admitted that she has never given any orders in the short two years as governor of a state that's mostly ice.
Palin's only claim to fame is the governor of a state that took federal money (that's OUR tax dollars, friend) and then didn't spend it as it was allocated, but used the money for other "pet" projects. That's responsibility?
She is also in favor of drilling and has just bought off Alaskan voters by giving them over $1,000 each of oil revenues. Nice, huh? Well, that oil drilling is paid for by taxpayers in the rest of the USA with tax incentives to those oil companies. Again, our tax dollars are being given to Alaskans to buy their support for Palin.
Now, look. There are plenty of reasons not to vote for Obama.
1) You're a Republican.
2) You want to vote for woman, no matter which ticket she's on.
3) You like McCain.
4) You don't want to vote for an African-American.
All those are legitimate reasons. Of course, if you're don't want to vote for Obama because you don't want to vote for an African-American, then just admit your a racist. It's that simple. The idiot who wrote all this claptrap about him being a Muslim, an Anti-white Christian, and the Anti-Christ needs to just come clean and admit he came up with this bull because he's racist. At least that would be honest.
But don't try to insult the intelligence of the rest of us.
Have a great day!
It starts off, "MAYBE I'VE GOTT'N THIS ALL WRONG - ME JUST BE'N AN OLD FARM BOY WITHOUT MUCH EDUCATION...BUT NOW, Y'ALL CHECK THIS OUT:HIS FATHER WAS A KENYAN, A MUSLIM, AND A BLACK. WE SAW ALL THOSE PICTURES OF HIS NICE AFRICAN FAMILY."
Ok, at the very end it reads, "According to The Book of Revelations the anti-Christ is:The anti-Christ will be a man, in his 40's, of MUSLIM descent, who will deceive the nations with persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like appeal....the prophecy says that people will flock to him and he will promise false hope and world peace, and when he is in power, will destroy everything ."
Now, if anyone who reads this believes it, I've got about 200 letters from people who represent banks in Africa that have unclaimed money that you can claim. Also, I know of about 50 wealthy dying people who are looking for someone to take their millions because they don't want their evil relatives to get the money--in otherwords, you'll believe anything!
Oh, and cell phones will pop popcorn, too.
I don't have time nor the energy to point out step by step where this is just total foolishness, but if someone will show me in the Book of Revelations where it says the Anti-Christ will be a Muslim, much less a 40-something year old, I'll gladly buy you a bacon cheeseburger.
And as for experience, Obama was a practicing attorney and taught at law school for about 8 years, not someone just out of law school who was just an activist. He served in his state legislature.
Now, if you want to talk about lack of experience, what has Sarah Palin done? Govern a state that has less folks than Austin, TX? Govern a state that only has more people than Wyoming and North Dakota? Even her National Guard commander has admitted that she has never given any orders in the short two years as governor of a state that's mostly ice.
Palin's only claim to fame is the governor of a state that took federal money (that's OUR tax dollars, friend) and then didn't spend it as it was allocated, but used the money for other "pet" projects. That's responsibility?
She is also in favor of drilling and has just bought off Alaskan voters by giving them over $1,000 each of oil revenues. Nice, huh? Well, that oil drilling is paid for by taxpayers in the rest of the USA with tax incentives to those oil companies. Again, our tax dollars are being given to Alaskans to buy their support for Palin.
Now, look. There are plenty of reasons not to vote for Obama.
1) You're a Republican.
2) You want to vote for woman, no matter which ticket she's on.
3) You like McCain.
4) You don't want to vote for an African-American.
All those are legitimate reasons. Of course, if you're don't want to vote for Obama because you don't want to vote for an African-American, then just admit your a racist. It's that simple. The idiot who wrote all this claptrap about him being a Muslim, an Anti-white Christian, and the Anti-Christ needs to just come clean and admit he came up with this bull because he's racist. At least that would be honest.
But don't try to insult the intelligence of the rest of us.
Have a great day!
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
The Reply!
Dear At Home,
Thank you for your e-mail. KPRC Local 2 reporters are using a much more demonstrative reporting style, and they are using it at my direction.
Demonstrative, active reporting is a much more engaging storytelling style. Most viewers respond positively to these techniques. This is also the way the majority of reporters and anchors around the country communicate information to viewers. For that matter it is the preferred style by most public speakers and storytellers.
I'm sorry you don't enjoy our demonstrative reporting, but I am glad you plan to give our news an extended look. You may come to enjoy our lively reporting. By the way, I think our competitors like what we are up to as they are adopting our live and lively storytelling techniques in their reports. Many viewers are pleased with our product as well. After many years of frankly not being competitive for Houston viewers’ attention, more and more people are now turning to KPRC for their news and information.
Thanks for watching KPRC Local 2 and for taking the time to e-mail me your concerns.
Sincerely,
Skip Valet
VP/News Director
KPRC Local 2
TV News Anger!
An Open Letter to My Local News Station:
I'm writing as a long-time KPRC viewer. I have long been a NBC news fan. Most of the shows I watch are NBC shows, and when I lived in New Braunfels, San Marcos, Austin, and Lubbock, I watched the local NBC affiliate.
I have become increasingly concerned over KPRC's reporters increasing use of "props" to facilitate their stories. At first, among my friends we had a game to try to figure when Ryan Korsgard would use a prop, as he was notorious. Almost every story he covered included him using some prop to propel the story. Recently, however, Elizabeth Scarborough began using props in more of her stories. This morning, Daniella Guzman waved $15 dollars at the camera when she discussed a local man's slaying.
The occasional "prop" might be effective, but these three reporters, especially Mr. Korsgard, have reduced the effectiveness of the prop to the ridiculous. I worked in radio broadcasting 10 years in the 1980s and 1990s, and although did not use props, the general understanding was that in both print and broadcasting these affectations could help a story, but used sparingly lest it become a crutch for a weak story. It seems it has become some sort of inside joke or contest at KPRC at best, or a crutch for weak reporting at worst.
It borders on the sensational, and skirts propriety in some cases. While the reporters should know better, it is really the responsibility of the news editor to curb this sort of behavior.
I will continue to watch KPRC, as I think it's the best station for news, but this trend toward reporters using props increasingly in their news stories has made me question the news department's effectiveness.
I'm writing as a long-time KPRC viewer. I have long been a NBC news fan. Most of the shows I watch are NBC shows, and when I lived in New Braunfels, San Marcos, Austin, and Lubbock, I watched the local NBC affiliate.
I have become increasingly concerned over KPRC's reporters increasing use of "props" to facilitate their stories. At first, among my friends we had a game to try to figure when Ryan Korsgard would use a prop, as he was notorious. Almost every story he covered included him using some prop to propel the story. Recently, however, Elizabeth Scarborough began using props in more of her stories. This morning, Daniella Guzman waved $15 dollars at the camera when she discussed a local man's slaying.
The occasional "prop" might be effective, but these three reporters, especially Mr. Korsgard, have reduced the effectiveness of the prop to the ridiculous. I worked in radio broadcasting 10 years in the 1980s and 1990s, and although did not use props, the general understanding was that in both print and broadcasting these affectations could help a story, but used sparingly lest it become a crutch for a weak story. It seems it has become some sort of inside joke or contest at KPRC at best, or a crutch for weak reporting at worst.
It borders on the sensational, and skirts propriety in some cases. While the reporters should know better, it is really the responsibility of the news editor to curb this sort of behavior.
I will continue to watch KPRC, as I think it's the best station for news, but this trend toward reporters using props increasingly in their news stories has made me question the news department's effectiveness.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Your Thought Influence Your Character
Last November, I attended a conference in Tampa, Florida, entitled “Black, Brown, and College Bound,” which discussed the problems of minority males in higher education. One of the speakers was Freeman Hrabowski, President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (http://www.umbc.edu/aboutumbc/president/index.php). He was a fantastic motivational speaker.
He recited a quote that I really liked:
"Watch your thoughts, they become words.Watch your words, they become actions.Watch your actions, they become habits.Watch your habits, they become your character.Watch your character, it becomes your destiny."
A little research attributes this to someone named Frank Outlaw, a cool name, but cannot be tracked down. The “internet” also attributes the quote to “Elizabeth C” who states she started sending it around in 1999.
A bit more research, however, reveals that this….probably like all good quotes….actually is a variation on something stated by Siddhārtha Gautama, the Buddha:
“The thought manifests as the word; The word manifests as the deed; The deed develops into habit; And habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care, And let it spring from love Born out of concern for all beings.”
Which isn’t too different from what Jesus said: “A tree is known by its fruit. … For from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. A good person brings forth good out of a store of goodness, but an evil person brings forth evil out of a store of evil.” (Matthew 12:34)
He recited a quote that I really liked:
"Watch your thoughts, they become words.Watch your words, they become actions.Watch your actions, they become habits.Watch your habits, they become your character.Watch your character, it becomes your destiny."
A little research attributes this to someone named Frank Outlaw, a cool name, but cannot be tracked down. The “internet” also attributes the quote to “Elizabeth C” who states she started sending it around in 1999.
A bit more research, however, reveals that this….probably like all good quotes….actually is a variation on something stated by Siddhārtha Gautama, the Buddha:
“The thought manifests as the word; The word manifests as the deed; The deed develops into habit; And habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care, And let it spring from love Born out of concern for all beings.”
Which isn’t too different from what Jesus said: “A tree is known by its fruit. … For from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. A good person brings forth good out of a store of goodness, but an evil person brings forth evil out of a store of evil.” (Matthew 12:34)
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
The Correct Answer Might Be "D"?
This photo is an example of
a. where the adjective "exemplary" was used instead of the adverb "exemplarily."
b. where "ours" was incorrectly used in the possessive.
c. where the word "teachers" should have been used parenthetically.
d. the reason our high school graduates cannot read or write.
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