A 28-year-old Renton man accused of fatally punching a South Seattle man in an argument at a traffic circle on July 9 pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder today. Brian Keith Brown, who said little during the five minute hearing, is slated to be tried in connection to the murder of James Paroline, 60, later …
Any serious discussion about race has the effect of clearing a room.
In African American communities rape narratives are not women’s stories. They are men’s stories. Rape is tied to the historical legacy of white terror. Strange fruit hanging from Southern trees has led to a legacy of disbelieving women who report sexual violence and intimidation.
“While black women can come in a variety of shapes and complexions, those who are most often represented in mainstream American magazines are often, for lack of a better, equally descriptive phrase, “white-washed” in appearance. Features that are seen of characterized of black people, like curlier hair textures, wider noses and fuller lips, are often downplayed in American magazines, conforming to a white standard of beauty.”
When the memorial arrangements were announced for James Paroline, I struggled daily, unsure if I would attend. I had dropped flowers off the day after he died, and attended the community meeting. With little time to spare, I jumped out of my Sunday sweats and hunted for something more fitting and respectful …