The son of a doctor employed on a sugar plantation, nineteenth century Cuban writer Cirilo Villaverde had to present a “certificate of whiteness” to enroll in school. These certificates were ostensibly proofs of lineage and purity of blood. They could also be obtained, as José Piedra reminds us, through a demonstration of literacy in Latin … More Certificate of Whiteness
So, after going out to dinner where I discovered a number of shocking facts and more shocking hypotheses, I have made grades. Despite my earlier complaints, some awards are due. Various random individuals did well, but in terms of groups bouquets go to: 1. GREEKS, ATHLETES, and STUDENT GOVERNMENT. You did not use to study, … More Awards Night
Indeed, I do not like grand narratives when they request that you subject yourself to them. There is a Christian grand narrative. “Let God work through you” = do our bidding. There is a Marxist one. “Let the forces of history work through you” = you will get pie in the sky when you die. … More In Which I May Be Postmodern
THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF RACE Clio Bluestocking reminds us that “race” is a socially constructed category. I remember seeing an exhibit of photographs of renowned Brazilian writer Machado de Assis in Rio de Janeiro. He was mulato. Through his very successful writing he rose in fame and prestige throughout his life. The exhibit included photographs … More Three More Parts
Now much has been discovered. RIEDUCAZIONE It was abusive but the thing about it was that, like all abuse, its ultimate goal was to teach self abuse. I already knew how to do that, having learned about it very early on in life. Education militated against it, which is why I liked education. Reeducation reactivated … More Mais, yeah: révélations du jour
This video is marvelous and wild, and I would love to hear your comments on its discourse and ways of constructing its object. Axé.
About my old Professor Zero blog: I clicked on “update” and this destroyed its fine old design in a single stroke. The code by this time was not entirely kosher, so I clicked on “new template.” This destroyed the old links. I decided, well, it is too bad not to have a record of it … More Dark Side
Every morning I face the debris of the life I allowed Reeducation to destroy. Some days it is more difficult than others and today is a difficult day. I have some points to make for this reason. 1. This is not a fully new insight but it is freshly said. Reeducation’s values involved “accepting” unacceptable … More Random Notes on Reeducation
REEDUCATION Distant traffic hums in the early morning just as it did where I grew up, near but not too near to the highway. I like it because it is the sound of eternity, the sound of the universe. It causes me to wake up happy but I still have to remember not to censor … More Dat Whiteman, or, It Ain’t the Race, It’s the Gender
It is the weekend, so we will sing! Here is the Rankin Family on Fare The Well, Love. I am singing that I am back from the Lousiana State Penitentiary at Angola, and that the visit was not too depressing this time somehow. The Death Row guards are always so nice, and so glad to … More The Rankin Family
coldhearted scientist وداد 