Written with Tyler J. Rogers, PhD student in American Studies, Yale University

Clarence Page’s May 9^th Chicago Tribune article, “Is ‘one-drop’ rule overruled?”, explores Elizabeth Warren’s claims of Native American ancestry. Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) has… Read full post »

Also available on Cultural Weekly 

A curious thing has been happening lately. Hip hop artists have come out publicly in support of gay marriage. Many of those who support gay marriage cite President Obama’s recent statement that gay marriage is about “expanded rights and responsibili… Read full post »

I am a college professor who often teaches about race and ethnicity. Last week one of my classes reached the point in our syllabus where we were to discuss Civil Rights and Black Power. Having taught this before I know it can be tricky. One of the great things is that… Read full post »

Arizona’s ban on ethnic studies curricula makes one thing supremely evident: no one in favor of the ban has ever taken an ethnic studies course. The ban, most recently passed in Tucson, assumes that “classes primarily designed for a particular ethnic group,” by their very existence,… Read full post »

Charlie Sheen, fired from Two and a Half Men after a well-publicized anti-Semitic rant and subsequent disaster of a tour, will be starring in a new tv series called “Anger Management.”  How appropriate. He has managed to turn his anger issues into a multimillion dollar television con… Read full post »

I like being female, at least most of the time.  But even on days when it might be easier to be male (like when I have to walk several blocks in heels), I don’t really want to be a man. I just want to be wearing comfortable shoes and am jealous… Read full post »

Can we raise gender-neutral children?  A Toronto couple is attempting to do just that. Kathy Witterick and David Stocker have decided to allow their third child, Storm, to decide which gender he or she identifies with.  This has caused some confusion.  It is a basic impulse for people/… Read full post »

The Civil War began at 4:30am on April 12, 1861. From the distance of 150 years, we should reflect on the meaning of the War Between the States and evaluate whether or not we have lived up to the legacy of all those who fought and died to preserve the union.… Read full post »

Though intriguing, the article, “Actually Going to Class, for a Specific Course? How 20th-Century,” in the Chronicle of Higher Education begins with a false premise. Dekunle Somade assumes that access to a podcast or video of a lecture and PowerPoint slides is equal to engaging in meaning… Read full post »

I am an educator, a college professor to be exact. I have taught at eight schools in three different states. I do not carry a gun.  My students (I hope) do not carry guns. The biggest problems I face in the classroom are web-surfing and text messaging. This is easily solved… Read full post »

Charlie Sheen has lost his job.  But he lost his mind first. This comes as no surprise to anyone with Internet access or who has stood in a checkout line next to the tabloid rack in the last few weeks.  Sheen’s drug and alcohol abuse, “goddesses,” and wild ravings are alre… Read full post »

The Department of Education’s “two or more races” category may appeal to some people but this is a slippery slope towards ignoring race altogether. Race still matters. Combating racism still matters. Acknowledging multiracial identities or agreeing to be placed in a “two or mo… Read full post »

What is the connection between Obama, the 2010 U.S. Census and multiracials?  Not as much as some may think. While it is tempting to look to Obama as a mixed race icon and to see the Census as publicly acknowledging a multiracial “community,” we may need to rethink these ideas. … Read full post »