Why CNN does not owe anyone an apology for rape commentary | GlobalPost
“It is self-defeating to overlook the benefits of this more accurate depiction of boys and men who rape. Women’s rights activists have been saying “good guys” can be rapists for years, and it behooves them to take advantage of a moment when so many people are listening. Instead of rejecting wholesale the conversation that happened on CNN, advocates and commentators might also take the opportunity to point out what Crowley and Harlow got right: that a rapist can be the boy next door.”
“I am not Annie. I am Quvenzhane.”
— 
9-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis, correcting the AP Reporter who said “I’m calling you Annie now.”
(for context: Quvenzhane will be playing the title role of Annie in the upcoming film)
edit: Host Michelle Marie didn’t say she was “just going to call her Annie” like I quoted in the original post. And Quvenzhane said the above, and not what I had mistakenly paraphrased—(“My name is not Annie. It’s Quvenzhane.”) I thought I had better re-watch the interview for the exact quote after all the reblogs, so sorry!
(via shereader)
What is the state of rape in America?
“The function of freedom is to free someone else.” - Toni Morrison
So… about those debates. Seems to me the winner is clear.
Otherwise known as: the disconnect between media and what’s happening on the ground.
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation and that is act of political warfare.
~ Audre Lorde ~”
— (via afrolez)
Today Slate published my essay “Against Enthusiasm,” about “the epidemic of niceness in online book culture.” It’s an expansion of this here blog post.
For The National, I reviewed G. Willow Wilson’s novel “Alif the Unseen” and talked a bit about what the post-Arab Spring novel might look like.
On Wednesday, I was on CNN Radio, where I talked to Steve Kastenbaum about Jonah Lehrer and fabrication. My remarks come in towards the end of the segment.
The White-Skinned Elephant In the Room -
by Mia McKenzie
I have been thinking about this post for a long time. I have been ruminating on how, and whether, to say these things. I have been talking to trusted friends to get their thoughts and input. I have spoken to other writers about how to collaborate on a piece like this, so we could…
Subway Rape Fantasies or On Choosing To Wear A Short Skirt - This sh*t is simply disturbing.
There are things you learn growing up in this city. Like where to get $1 pizza, how to chalk your ID (dang! those days are long gone), why not to wear bandanas, how to loose a creep following you down the street…
I felt like I was 16 all over again taking the subway home tonight because of this…