'White Privilege' Lesson Draws Cries of Racism

A Wisconsin high school is under fire after an 'American Diversity' class introduced the topic of white privilege. Some call the idea of white privilege, also known as white skin privilege, a theory of white guilt. Many parents at Delavan-Darien High School, where the course was offered, expressed offense by the lesson and believe the purpose of the course was to make students feel bad about their skin color. 

A class handout defined white privilege as "a set of advantages that are believed to be enjoyed by white people beyond those commonly experienced by non-white people in the same social, political, and economic spaces (nation, community, workplace, income, etc.). Theorists differentiate it from racism or prejudice because, they say, a person who may benefit from white privilege is not necessarily racist or prejudiced and may be unaware of having any privileges reserved only for whites."

One of the diversity lessons instructed the students to go to the local Wal-Mart and count the number of dolls that were Black versus white. Another assignment asked questions posed by Strong Black Woman fav and anti-racism advocate Tim Wise such as: (a) Why is the colorblind model of American ineffective, (b) Why is it important to talk about whiteness in America, (c) Explain the irony of the phrase 'United We Stand.'

The course has been suspended.

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Congrats to Miss Quvenzhane Wallis, Youngest Woman To Be Nominated For Best Actress Oscar

Nine-year-old Quvenzhane Wallis has been nominated for an Oscar for her role as Hushpuppy in Beasts of the Southern Wild. And we think she is fabulous.

She shot the movie when she was only 6-years-old and this was her first movie.

She has made history as the youngest person nominated for an Academy Award in an acting category AND the youngest woman to be nominated for Best Actress. She has surpassed thirteen-year-old Keisha Castle-Hughes who was nominated for her performance in 2002's Whale Rider. 

She has already won an African American Film Critics Award, an Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award, an Austin Film Critics Award, a Chambie Award, a Critic's Choice Award, a New Hollywood Award, a National Board of Review Award, a Spirit Award, a New York Film Critics Online Award, an Online Film Critics Society Award, a San Diego Film Critics Society Award, a WDAFCA Award, and a Women Women Film Critics Circle Award. Whew! That’s a lot of awards for a nine-year-old. (Or an adult).

You better work, Miss Wallis.

Her competition includes Naomi Watts (The Impossible), Emmanuelle Riva (Amour, who is also the oldest nominee in the category at 85), and Jessica Chastian (Zero Dark Thirty).

Writer-Director Behn Zeitlin says "she's totally taking it in stride. It's magical. She's just poised and fearless." And Mr. Zeitlin can thank Wallis' performance for the other three awards 'Beasts' garnered: Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adalpted Screenplay.

Little Miss Quvenzhane told movie critic Roger Ebert the main difference between her and the character she played in the movie is that "she doesn't wear her pants pretty much." For the fact that she seems so grounded and knows the value of wearing ones pants, we like her even more. 

Plus, not only is she sassy and classy, this girl has goals. She's not set on being in the industry forever. When asked what career she wants to have, she replied "actress-dentist." It's always a good sign when a nine-year-old already knows the value of higher education. 

The funny thing is that Quvenzhane has never even seen a telecast of The Oscars. She said, "Whenever they said you might make it to the Oscars. I was like 'Who's Oscar? I don't know Oscar."  

So we'll be cheering her on when the 85th Academy Awards premiere on Sunday, February 24. 

Read more here. 

Last Comic Standing! Clarence Thomas Speaks For the First Time in Seven Years

He speaks. 

Well, sort of.

Clarence Thomas, who is not known for his loquacious presence on the Supreme Court, finally opened his mouth. During oral arguments on January 14, 2013, the Supreme Court Justice made a comment about attorneys trained at either his alma mater Yale Law School or Harvard Law. It appears the court reporter could not decipher his comments due to the cross-talking by the other justices. The transcript revealed that there was laughter in response of Thomas' comment. 

Apparently, he is a joker.

Thomas made his comments during a line of questioning about the the qualifications of the attorneys representing a Louisiana man in a murder case. Two of the attorneys attended Harvard and Yale law schools. Check out the transcript:

JUSTICE SCALIA: She was a graduate of Yale law school, wasn't she?
MS. SIGLER: She's a very impressive attorney.
JUSTICE SCALIA: And another of his counsel, Mr. Singer -- of the three that he had -- he was a graduate of Harvard law school, wasn't he?
MS. SIGLER: Yes, Your Honor.
JUSTICE SCALIA: Son of a gun.
JUSTICE THOMAS: Well -- he did not -­
(Laughter.)
MS. SIGLER: I would refute that, Justice Thomas.
JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR: Counsel, do you want to define constitutionally adequate counsel? Is it anybody who's graduated from Harvard and Yale?
(Laughter.)
JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR: Or even just passed the Bar?
MS. SIGLER: Or LSU law.
JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR: I would think -- no, no, no.

It seems that Thomas made a gibe about the attorneys' ivy league educations. In his book, "My Grandfather's Son," Thomas wrote that he placed a 15 cent price sticker on his Yale Law School degree and stored it in the basement. All of the Supreme Court justices have graduated from either Harvard or Yale.

The last time Justice Thomas posed a question to an attorney during oral arguments was on February 22, 2006.

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