Since my move to New York City in the summer of 2018, the question I get asked the most is ‘how do yo
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July 25 · Issue #5 · View online
DipsPatch from the City
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Since my move to New York City in the summer of 2018, the question I get asked the most is ‘how do you as a Black or West-African / European woman experience the USA?’ That is a great and frankly difficult question that I would like to try to answer with this bi-weekly DipsPatch from the City with curated content from BIPOC writers, experts and media personalities from this incredible, inspiring, difficult and divers country. Through great articles and interviews in combination with own experience, I’ll try to give you some insights thoughts and views on the society and culture around me. DipsPatch from the City is a Dipsaus Podcast Production. Politics Shmoletics….. Still relatively new to this nation, I’m trying to understand the American political system… And believe me, it’s not easy. To me it’s hard to understand that the richest country in the world does not offer all children the best possible education. The public school budget is tied to the property tax value of the houses in the same neighborhood. The federal government only pays a small percentage, the rest depends, simply said, on the economic prosperity of the parents. The federal minimum wage is $7,25 per hour. The average rent price in the USA is $1,231 per month. There is no universal health care and 51% of the working population does not receive employer sponsored health care. It’s not difficult to figure out how these numbers affect the lives of BIPOC in this country. The coming presidential election feels like the most important one in decades, but understandably so, a lot of people from marginalized communities are tired. Fed up and tired.
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Photo: Demetrius Freeman for The New York Times
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Biden says four Black women are on his VP list but won't commit to choosing one
I don’t think there are a lot of Black woman who are super enthusiastic about Joe Biden. But there are a lot of amazing Black female politicians who would make incredible running mates for him. The names I’ve come across the most are Senator Kamala Harris of California, Representative Val Demings of Florida, Stacey Abrams, the 2018 Democratic nominee for Georgia governor, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms of Atlanta and former National Security Adviser Susan E. Rice. But what about a more activistic and younger running mate? Here’s hoping…..
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“Joe Biden has touted his record supporting the African American community. But young Black voters want to see more from Biden.” Totally understandable if you look at the cold hard facts and statistics. Since the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns across the country triggered a huge recession, fewer than half of all Black Americans had a job in April and May. Black Americans, are also severely underrepresented at the top of the corporate hierarchy. Only four 500 companies have a black CEO. These are harsh numbers without even mentioning the disproportionate prison and police brutality statistics. The question is, what is Biden’s plan besides talking about Obama?
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Young Black voters say they aren't enthusiastic about a Joe Biden presidency
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Congressman and hero John Lewis one of the “Big Six” leaders of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s who continued to serve the public since being elected to the House of Representatives in 1986 passed away at age 80. By the time he was 23 he had been arrested more than 10 times for his human rights activism and fight for racial justice. This is a beautiful eulogy by Ibram X. Kendi Director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research.
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John Lewis and the Danger of Gradualism - The Atlantic
“We do not want our freedom gradually,” John Lewis said, “but we want to be free now!”
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On the one hand something revolutionary has happened. In Jackson County Michigan, commissioners passed a historic vote to eliminate racism. But only because the vote to call racism a public health crisis was declined. “I don’t like the feeling that I get from this that all white people are bad,” was one of the main reasons. White fragility remains a decisive political factor when it comes to structural change.
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Jackson County commissioners vote to not discriminate
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Why is Trump going so hard on Portland? Part of the answer lays in the fact that Portland is a ‘whiter’ city so it’s easier for the administration to demonize ‘Antifa’ and push the agenda that ‘anarchist looters’ are wrecking havoc on the city without using the words like ‘race’ and Black’. That way the brutal pushback by the federal troops seems less racist.
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Portland protesters slam Trump and federal agents
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For more analyses listen to this episode of the podcast ‘The Political Gabfest’ with one of my favorite NYT political columnists Jamelle Bouie.
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Trump’s assault on Portland with guest host Jamelle Bouie.
Trump has created a domestic police force unaccountable to the public.
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Republican Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr.’s of Maryland used the euphemism “a more traditional November election” to cover up his intention to practically make it impossible for senior citizens to vote. By denying voting by mail, not allowing people to vote for them by mandate and closing a number of polling centers, he’s making it clear what his intentions are. It’s hard for us as Europeans to phantom that this is happening and is perfectly legal….
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This Is Voter Suppression Period
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Solidarity is key and it’s crucial that white people to join the BLM protests power by numbers dictates that. The Black population in the USA is about 13% sooooooo. But is ‘white centered performance art’ seriously the way to go to make a crucial point for human rights? Artistic naked yoga Becky believes it is…
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Naked White Woman at Protest in Portland
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Behold the the politics of the workplace. A joke here, an off the cuff remark there, the consequent mispronunciation of a ‘difficult’ name. These are well known and documented microaggressions. But what can you do if all these seemingly small instances together fill up a big bowl of steaming racism? Keeping track of who said what can be useful for legal action and for your own peace of mind. It is not you, it is racism.
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How To Securely Document Racism You Experience At Work
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There’s a lot going on with Kanye West right now. A lot of it is not good. It’s very sad to see such any person caught in the grips of mental illness. All the money and fame in the world does not buy health and happiness. I really hope that the people around him have his best interest at heart and that he gets the help he needs. Mental health is still a big stigma within the Black community. Racism should federally be declared a metal and a physical health crisis. This is the song featuring the Kanye I prefer to remember… The picture is of Estelle and John Legend, co- author of this great American song.
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Estelle - American Boy featuring Kanye West
© 2008 WMG American Boy Feat. Kanye West Video
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Tip to Watch: How to combat the mental toll of racism | PBS NewsHour
The deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police have pushed race in America to the forefront of the national conversation. But for many, discussions about racism and the reality of living in America as a Black person happen daily.
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Thank you so much for reading this DipsPatch! Please take care of yourself and your loved ones! xoxo Anousha
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