 |
February Recap
African American History month is always a busy time for me. This year was no exception. I had the opportunity to speak with hundreds of college students, community activists and business people around the country.
February was also a month of big news and sad news.
I am excited to announce that I am now a regular columnist for The Nation magazine. I will continue to contribute as an online blogger, but now I also have a column titled Sister
Citizen. I am thrilled about this newest opportunity.
I am sad to report that my partner, James Perry, was unsuccessful in his New Orleans' mayoral campaign. Despite not winning the election, we each learned a great deal about ourselves and about politics. We both remain committed to ensuring that New Orleans has a bright future. Speaking of which, did y'all see that Super Bowl? Geaux Saints.
Melissa |
Recent
Media Appearances
Countdown
with Keith Olbermann
February 23, 2010
 |
One
on One with Maria Hinojosa
February 22, 2010
 |
Religion
and Discrimination in Virginia
Maddow Show
February 22, 2010
 |
People
and Politics in the Big Easy
Rachel Maddow Super Bowl Edition
February 5, 2010
 |
The
American Presidents
A Disney Production
 |
Recent
Writings
Progressive
Bible Study
The Nation.com
February 24, 2010
 History
is replete with examples of how religion has been used to divide,
abuse, and justify horror. Christian theologies have been distorted
to fit ideologies of white supremacy, patriarchy, imperialism
and oppression. Today many Conservative spokespersons continue
to selectively quote scripture, employ religious imagery and
deploy twisted religious rhetoric to support policies of unprovoked
international aggression and domestic oppression.
|
The
Obama I Remember
The Nation.com
January 29, 2010
 Watching
Barack Obama become President of the United States made me proud
and hopeful, but I also found the experience somewhat amusing.
I think many of us who were his Hyde Park neighbors and Illinois
state senate constituents feel the same way. We may have always
believed he was extraordinary, but because he was familiar it
is sometimes hard to believe that he is now, as president, the
purveyor of such power and the object of such scorn.
|
End
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
The Nation.com
February 2, 2010
 Today
Congress will hear testimony aimed at finding a way to end the
military's policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Groundhog
day seems appropriate, because it was March 2009 when I first
wrote a response to DADT. The Obama administration's failure
to unilaterally end the policy along with Congressional inaction
on the matter gives me chance to revisit this issue. We must
immediately end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy
and allow gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the armed forces.
We must do this because the existing policy sanctions, maintains,
and enforces second-class citizenship that is incommensurate
with the ideals of American democracy. Military service is at
the heart of citizenship.
|
New
Orleans Deserves the Best
Huffington Post
February 2, 2010
 I
am in New Orleans and it is a pretty exciting place right now.
After more than forty years the New Orleans Saints are finally
going to the Super Bowl. This is much more than a football game
for this still recovering city; it is a symbol that excellence
is possible.
New Orleans is arguably the country's most distinctive
city. But even before the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina
it has been plagued by poverty, crime, neglect, and municipal
mismanagement. It is a great city, but it is a city that often
has a hard time imagining itself as truly capable and worthy
of things other cities take for granted: low crime, good streets,
quality schools, little blight, strong leadership.
|
On
Losing in New Orleans
Huffington Post
February 9, 2010
 My
partner, James Perry, was a candidate for mayor in New Orleans.
His campaign was built on creative criminal justice ideas, environmental
commitments, civil rights credentials, racial unity and a progressive
vision. It was a campaign of few traditional contacts and no
significant financial resources, but it was not a symbolic campaign.
We worked hard to earn a spot in the runoff and we hoped ultimately
to assemble a winning coalition.
On Saturday we lost badly.
|
|
-
February 2010 -
About Melissa
Melissa Harris-Lacewell is Associate Professor of Politics and African American Studies at Princeton University. She is the author of the award-winning book, Barbershops,
Bibles, and BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought. And she is currently at work on a new book: Sister
Citizen: A Text For Colored Girls Who've Considered Politics When Being Strong
Wasn't Enough.
Learn More...
Follow
Me On...
  More Media Mentions
20
Inspiring Women To Follow On Twitter
10
African-Americans Who Support the Freedom to Marry
MHL
Monthly Archives
- January
2010
- New
Orleans Edition
- December
2009
Contact
Melissa General Inquiries
info@melissaharrislacewell.com
Speaking Engagements and Public Appearances
Lynne Murphy, Media Relations Specialist
harrislacewellmedia@yahoo.com |
