by Carmen Van Kerckhove, originally published at CNN.com
I got a call yesterday morning from a radio show producer asking if I thought it hypocritical for African-Americans to celebrate Michael Jackson as a black man, since it seems to many people that he spent most of his life turning himself white.
She stopped short of calling Jackson [...]

By Special Correspondent Arturo R. García

“It’s done in fun. I don’t know if it’s stereotypes — they are robots, by the way. These are the voice actors. This is kind of the direction they were taking the characters and we went with it.”
– Michael Bay, as quoted by the Associated Press
This argument is, of course, [...]

by Special Correspondent Wendi Muse
“So, are the girls hot?”
This is the most common question I receive from American men when I explain that I have been living in Brazil. These men come from all walks of life, are of various racial, ethnic, and class backgrounds, and of varying levels of education, exposure to other countries, [...]

Feministe " I'm Not Like Other Guys…
"Even at the age of eight, I had begun to believe that I was a monster too. That there was something horrible inside me that would mean I needed to be shot with a silver bullet or decapitated. My feelings had to do with a lot of things: family [...]

by Latoya Peterson
SCOTUS split 5-4 in favor of Ricci.
From the New York Times:
The Supreme Court has ruled that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, reversing a decision that high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor endorsed as an appeals court judge.
New Haven was wrong to scrap a promotion exam [...]

by Guest Contributor (and regular commenter) Joseph Shahadi, originally published at Vs. The Pomegranate

Michael Jackson is dead.
My reaction is complicated. On Facebook my high school classmates and I are mourning Michael Jackson and sharing memories. Claudia wrote, “I remember when someone brought the Thriller video to school and there was a ‘viewing’ before 1st [...]

by Latoya Peterson

– davidle630: “In americas ghetto anacostia… If i get scared i will just yell chinese carry out! They will not shoot me.”
From the “none too swift” files, David Le was fired after his twitter messages about his slacking off at work and hating Anacostia surfaced.

The D.C. Department of Employment Services fired a [...]

by Carmen Van Kerckhove
What is it about the combination of race and sex that makes it so explosive? How is race getting in the way of your relationships without you even knowing it? What racial dynamics are driving the unconscious choices you’re making when it comes to your relationships?
I’m going to share that and much [...]

by Carmen Van Kerckhove

Addicted to Race is New Demographic’s podcast about America’s obsession with race. Here’s a rundown of what you’ll find in this episode:
We dedicate this episode to the memory of Michael Jackson and explore the role that race played in his life and career. In what ways did his music break racial [...]

Everyday Sociology Blog: Top Chef and the Black/Non-Black Divide
"Ultimately Huynh incorporated Asian-influenced flavors into his final meal in hopes of revealing his 'authentic' (ethnic) self to the judges. As Huynh tried to express 'soul,' his (aired) image shifted from a technically efficient, ultra-competitive, and unlikable Asian to a more humbled Asian eager to take advantage [...]

by Latoya Peterson

Okay, I lied. This isn’t a real open thread as much as it is an announcement.
We’re going to do something on Transformers. Arturo plans to hit the film this weekend, he’ll have a fresh post up early next week.
So thanks for all the tips – we will talk about it officially [...]

Hosted by Special Correspondent Arturo R. García
The L.A. Times was the first “mainstream” outlet to confirm the news: Michael Jackson died Thursday afternoon, at the age of fifty.
Jackson’s legacy is at once sublime, sad and at times ridiculous. This was a man who America almost literally saw grow up in the public eye: his rise [...]

by Carmen Van Kerckhove
A few years ago I was at a conference to deliver a workshop. During the break, a man came up to me and asked me what topic I’d be speaking on.
“Interracial relationships,” I replied.
As soon as the words came out of my mouth, his whole manner changed.
He started leering, and asked me [...]

by Guest Contributor Alicia, originally published at Muslimah Media Watch
It had to happen sooner or later. With Barbie and now Hannah Montana merchandise dominating the tween to early teenage market in Malaysia, products for young Muslim women in hijab are starting to appear, particularly on the bookshelves. And they look very pink.
The increasing pinkness of [...]

by Special Correspondent Wendi Muse
I must open this piece by stating that as someone who believes in equality between men and women, I would not be happy if my country or my religion or my culture told me I must dress or look differently from my male peers. I am not happy when it happens [...]