Teachable Moment

Did UCLA and NYT Overreact to Student's "Asians in the Library" Video?

Edward Lee | Posted 05.25.2011

Edward Lee

It would be a pity if an institution as great as UCLA could not figure out a way to reach out to Alexandra Wallace and its entire student body in order to make a recent unfortunate incident a teachable moment.

Toss The Textbooks: Teachers Draw On Egypt For Real-World Lessons

Posted 05.25.2011

Most schools require a cursory study of ancient Egypt. But when it comes to the current uprising, teachers are finding opportunities to provide real-w...

Educate Don't Censor: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and the N-Word

Hetert-Qebu Walters | Posted 05.25.2011

Hetert-Qebu Walters

The omission of a word that appears 219 times isn't a welcome alternative but an erasure, not just of the obstacles for educators who wish to use the book, but of what that deplorable word represents.

Should President Obama Use His Platform to Diffuse Racism?

Dexter Rogers | Posted 05.25.2011

Dexter Rogers

Obama's ascendancy demonstrates he has the capacity and the means to make a difference along racial grounds. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to be high on his list of priorities.

We Must Respond to the Needs of the Gulf Coast

Jim Wallis | Posted 05.25.2011

Jim Wallis

At the heart of the Christian tradition lies the belief that transformation requires sacrifice. Deep and abiding change is hard. But the BP leak is only the latest sign that our society must do exactly that.

A Time for Moral Reckoning

Jim Wallis | Posted 05.25.2011

Jim Wallis

Theologically, we are witnessing a massive despoiling of God's creation. We were meant to be stewards of the Gulf of Mexico. Instead, we are watching the destruction of all that. Why?

John Mayer's Playboy Interview: A "Tweachable Moment" in Race, Gender

Farai Chideya | Posted 05.25.2011

Farai Chideya

I can roll with some pretty raw or adventurous humor, but this fratboyesque ahistorical cheap shot shows a profound misunderstanding of of white supremacy.

What We Can Learn From the Tragic Murder of Lily Burk

Robin Sax | Posted 05.25.2011

Robin Sax

Some parents have an easier time telling their kids to be politically correct than they do discussing their safety, but life isn't always pretty, so sit down and talk to your kids today.

White Racism Black Bigotry: The Talk About Race is All Wrong!

Yvonne R. Davis | Posted 05.25.2011

Yvonne R. Davis

The problem with discussing "issues of race," is that it dummies down the issue of racism to an individual level, when the real problem is at the macro level.

Where You Sit Is Where You Stand (on Crowley-Gates)

Natalie Holder-Winfield | Posted 05.25.2011

Natalie Holder-Winfield

Many blacks cheered Obama for saying that Sgt. Crowley acted stupidly. They wanted more public dialogues on race. Instead, last night they saw a white guy get over again.

Beer Metaphor Becomes Frosty-Cold Reality

Chris Weigant | Posted 05.25.2011

Chris Weigant

Barack Obama is the first president to not just accept the premise of the "having a beer" test, but to embrace it and turn it into reality.