"I Do See Color" weekly newsletter: April 19, 2023
Weekly newsletter 29: Combination of race- and culture-related posts from "We Need to Talk," "I Do See Color," "BlackTechLogy," "Homegrown Tales" and "Window Shopping"
Welcome to the “I Do See Color” newsletter (with a bonus section of two first-person interviews called “Deuces”).
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Now let’s get into the weekly newsletter!
Each week, eight carefully selected posts will be chosen, which focus on culture, politics, health and race from a black (wo)man’s perspective.
NEW! 1. Stop making me defend Kwame from 'Love Is Blind' ~ Yes, Kwame is awful, but stop insulting his Afrocentric features
There are moments on Netflix’s “Love Is Blind” that take me back to my first years in college. More specifically, Abhishek “Shake” on Season 2 and Kwame Appiah on Season 4—then SK of Season 3 once the show ended. This crew is really really really determined to find a white woman to date. And not the kind of light-skinned woman who looks racially ambiguous—the Meghan Markles or the Olivia Munns or the Zendayas. Their type must look like Kristen Bell, just taller. But I learned a couple of lessons while seeing this pattern of date-anybody-but-someone-at-my-family-reunion.
2. Stop hiring me because I’m black, start hiring me because I’m black and qualified ~ Supporting Affirmative Action without hurting minority-owned businesses
I support black businesses and would love nothing more than to recreate a new Black Wall Street. (Atlanta is getting notably close to doing what Tulsa, Oklahoma did.) I am vocal regarding those who immediately dismiss black businesses as “unprofessional,” “poor quality” or “ghetto.” This mindset pisses me off and usually starts a war of words.
I genuinely believe one of the most effective ways to better exercise black dollars is to invest in black businesses, black entrepreneurs and black investments. But there is one thing that I think we do that gets in our own way: Instead of looking for black professionals who are qualified to do a job, we pick anybody black. That will almost always lead to friction.
3. NEW! Start a neighborhood library book box to fight against banned books ~ While states like Texas are trying to close libraries, locals nationwide may want to find new places for censored books
Imagine hating a set of books so much that you’d consider shutting down an entire library just to try to force them to not be read. That’s what’s happening at a rural Texas county, Llano County, which was ordered by federal Judge Robert Pitman to return banned books to its public library shelves.
According to their meeting agenda via CNN report, a meeting of the Commissioners Court of Llano County on Thursday, April 13, will include discussion of whether to “continue or cease operations of the current physical Llano County library system pending further guidance from the Federal Courts.”
4. Go4Rent Magazine (Vol. IX): Tenant Selection Criteria: Finding the Best Renters
Having a Tenant Selection Criteria form evens the rental playing field for all. This uniform rundown is a documented checklist that Realtors can use when selecting, accepting and denying any prospective tenants. Before this form is created, all Realtors should be familiar with what cannot go on the form. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing in any of the following categories. Read on to find out what the form should include, what it should not include and how to create one.
5. NEW! ‘R&B Money’ podcast brings back my fangirl days of Immature ~ The podcast I didn’t know I needed to show respect to R&B legends
Watching Marques Houston share tales of his Immature days is amazing. Ray J, per usual, found his way into a story (as he does with EVERY single black artist in the Gen X or Millennial crew, including Snoop Doggy Dogg). I had no clue there was beef with Another Bad Creation and Kris Kross. I never knew the story behind “You Got Served.” Hearing about the little thing Marques Houston and Tia Mowry had was brand new too. My 41-year-old brain has reverted to being 14 just like that.
6. Mixed views on capitalizing the ‘b’ in ‘Black’ ~ Style Guide decision that became a youth talk about race
I can’t prove it because by the time I left that newspaper for two other — and whiter — newspapers, I never saw the student again. But I cannot imagine her being this upset to see a staff full of white reporters, graphic designers and editors. I can’t see her pointing her finger and yelling at the president of a white newspaper nor challenging the ratio of their staff. For some Black youth, an all-white newspaper team is a “normal” newspaper. For others, unfortunately, the sight of something different is upsetting.
7. Involuntary pelvic exams given to anesthetized women of color ~ Medical student exams should not be hidden in the fine print
My gripe about medical students asking me to retell the ambulance story repeatedly feels like small change compared to an episode of “This American Life.” If you haven’t heard about this already, women who were undergoing gynecological exams were also getting pelvic exams that they didn’t know about — from medical students.
Who was most likely to be the target of these exams? While anyone could be (depending on location), patients without insurance, those on Medicaid and women of color were common targets. And, according to Washington State Democrats, it “took lawmakers two years to pass SB 5282, in part because they crafted an exception to protect sexual assault victims.” As of June 2020, medical providers are now prohibited from doing pelvic examinations on women without their consent if they will be unconscious or under anesthesia.
8. Go4Rent Magazine (Vol. 6R): From Brackets to Rust, Balcony Maintenance Is Key
While the exact reason for the collapse of the Champlain Towers South (a 12-story, 136-unit, 40-year-old condominium building in Surfside) is ongoing, an investigative report from the Miami Herald states that the ground floor parking area and pool deck caved in seven minutes before the residential tower fell. In theory, and with the help of engineering professor Dawn Lehman from the University of Washington, “design failures, shoddy construction, damage and neglect” are to blame.
Meanwhile, tenants often ask questions about the actual unit during the walk-through, not the structure of the building. After this news unfolded, tenants may choose to reevaluate some of the questions they never asked before, including balcony safety, whether Building Violations should be called, and what balcony repairs have already been made and/or are in need. Read on to find out how tenants can get ahead of balcony maintenance before it becomes an issue post move-in.
“Deuces” ~ “I Do See Color” newsletter’s bonus interviews:
1. “Chicago Lawyer Uses Business Degree To Fight For Social Justice,” CBS Chicago, January 12, 2015
One of the many ways business management professionals have found themselves to be a better candidate for senior management and CEO level work is by getting a J.D., according to US News. Forty-six of the Fortune 500 CEOs hold law degrees.
2. “Clinical Associate Helps To Erase The Stigma Of Therapy In Chicago,” CBS Chicago, January 5, 2015
Blame the phobia African-Americans have of medical professionals on the yellow fever scandal or the Tuskegee experiment. Maybe the issue is therapy not being covered under health insurance plans. Or, maybe it's easier to divulge worries to a church pastor. And still others have no qualms about therapy or seeing medical professionals regularly.
Did you enjoy this post? You’re also welcome to check out my Substack columns “Black Girl In a Doggone World,” “BlackTechLogy,” “Homegrown Tales,” “I Do See Color,” “One Black Woman’s Vote,” “Tickled,” “We Need To Talk” and “Window Shopping” too. Subscribe to this newsletter for the weekly posts every Wednesday.
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