post-racial boomerang

I've been loath to bring up Shirley Sharrod, because the whole situation was hyperpolitical to begin with. I knew something fishy was up from the start. Now Ms. Sharrod has the upper hand, which is good, considering that someone somewhere had it out for her.

Roland Martin's description of the racial gymnastics undertaken by the involved parties pretty much sums up how I feel about things.

To a point. He is a journalist, not a social scientist, so for him to distill all power dynamics to a matter of which side of the color line one resides is shortsighted. Myriad intersections of culture (class, education, socioeconomic background, gender, &c) coalesce in such situations, and it is ridiculously reductionist to purport that race can be summed up as 'blacks can be racist, too' (a paraphrase of Mr. Martin's recurring thrusts).

I would weep joyfully the day a journalist--any journalist, but preferably one with a national broadcast--examines race as purely a social construct.

(no subject)

Medical plane carrying 5 people crashes in Lake Mich.; 1 rescued

money, meet mouth

Target Corp. Shills for Emmer (alerted by guppiecat; thanks for the heads-up!)

Through an PAC named Minnesota Forward, Target Corporation, Polaris, Hubbard Broadcasting, and other corporations, have begun running television ads supporting Tom Emmer, the teabagger-like GOP candidate for Minnesota Governor. Emmer has called for cutting restaurant server wages to lower than minimum wage, and has praised Arizona's immigration law.

Source: New Corporate Money Enters Minn. Gov. Race

I agree with guppiecat (or at least I infer from guppiecat's post) that such a move leaves a progressive with little alternative but to boycott Target (as well as the other companies involved in Minnesota Forward PAC). At least this progressive.

The timing is oddly serendipitous, as someone else on my friendslist just yesterday heaped praise upon Target. I too have turned to the chain, specifically as the not-Walmart choice for general merchandise. I guess, for me, it's Meijer & Kmart from here on out.