Category Archives: Women

A Black Herstory Slam Redux

A Black Herstory Slam Redux This past February, the Women’s Resources Center at the University of Illinois sponsored Black Herstory Slam, an open mic devoted to poetry, spoken word, and performance that highlights Black women’s history and black feminist thought. … Continue reading

Posted in African Americans, Feminism, Women | Comments Off on A Black Herstory Slam Redux

Politically Correct

By Molly M. McLay “He tells it like it is,” you say, singing his praises “I don’t have to be politically correct anymore”– these are words out of a politician’s mouth; If you’re a politician and you’re not correct on … Continue reading

Posted in Feminism, Uncategorized, Women | Comments Off on Politically Correct

Full Transcript of Evelyn Reynolds’s CU Women’s March Speech

I’m grateful for the opportunity to speak here today. None of today’s speakers can fully represent the array of magnificent women in our community. Many of which don’t hold public positions of influence or prestigious titles. Many of whom are … Continue reading

Posted in African Americans, Feminism, Voices of Color, Women | Comments Off on Full Transcript of Evelyn Reynolds’s CU Women’s March Speech

Demands for a Transformed University

On September 9, 2016, a “Rally for a Transformed University” was held at the alma mater on UIUC campus. It corresponded with the release of a list of demands. Led by Black Students For Revolution, the coalition of student organizations … Continue reading

Posted in African Americans, Labor/Economics, LGBTQA, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Voices of Color, Women | Comments Off on Demands for a Transformed University

Taking Applications for “Open Scene,” IMC’s Youth Media Project

The Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center (UCIMC) and the City of Urbana are happy to launch Open Scene, a project to reimagine downtown Urbana through arts-based dialogues led by youth. Open Scene will be anchored at the UCIMC, a media and … Continue reading

Posted in African Americans, IMC, Latino/a, LGBTQA, Transgenders, Uncategorized, Women, Youth | Comments Off on Taking Applications for “Open Scene,” IMC’s Youth Media Project

Why Traditional School is a Dangerous Place for Black Boys

My son is an A student in his junior year of college and a budding composer and performer with shining confidence. However, that was not always the case. In the 5th grade he came home and said, “Mom, the teacher … Continue reading

Posted in Community Forum, Education, Women | Comments Off on Why Traditional School is a Dangerous Place for Black Boys

Activists Among Us: Claire Szoke

By Julie Laut Claire Szoke is an activist among us who has worked tirelessly on behalf of social justice issues for over forty years. She is currently the co-chair of Central Illinois Jobs With Justice, part-time director at the Channing-Murray … Continue reading

Posted in Immigration, International, Refugees, Women | Comments Off on Activists Among Us: Claire Szoke

Incarceration figures

Some figures compiled in the Coalition for Prisoners’ Rights Newsletter (April 2016). Reprinted with Permission. I. Number Incarcerated in U.S., 2014 1.5 million people at an annual per person cost of $80 billion–approximately $51,250 each. (A “free world” minimum wage of $15/hr … Continue reading

Posted in African Americans, Justice, Latino/a, Prisoners, Women, Youth | Comments Off on Incarceration figures

Radical Women-An Historical Perspective

“Women have to find a script, a narrative to live by, because all other scripts are likely to depict them in roles that fit the conventional stereotypes.” Mamphela Ramphele Last month in these pages I wrote about my personal journey as … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Voices of Color, Women | Comments Off on Radical Women-An Historical Perspective

#BlackLivesMatter Founder Opal Tometi Visits C-U

Posted in African Americans, Politics, Women | Comments Off on #BlackLivesMatter Founder Opal Tometi Visits C-U

The Right to Pray Movement and Feminist Politics in India

by India Watcher The women’s movement in India entered a new phase in late 2015 and early 2016 under the banner of the Right to Pray movement.  During this time, large numbers of women protested that they were barred from … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, International, Women | Comments Off on The Right to Pray Movement and Feminist Politics in India

Courtwatch Victory

By Courtwatchers Courtwatchers is a group of citizens who volunteer to attend criminal proceedings by request of the defendant,a family member or a concerned party. We are there as witnesses to criminal justice in Champaign County, to figure out how … Continue reading

Posted in Justice, Policing, Women | Comments Off on Courtwatch Victory

Where is My Radical Gender Equality?

In my youth I had a sense that my generation was perfectly poised to make a leap toward gender equity. A child of the 1970s, I admired the strength of my grandmothers’ generation, which had negotiated the Depression and World … Continue reading

Posted in Community Forum, Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Women | Comments Off on Where is My Radical Gender Equality?

Money and Otherness

I was an immigrant child growing up in Vancouver. I spent a lot of time walking alone, to and from school, through the forested neighborhoods and along the suburban roads. Every day a new experience floating in my mind. Here … Continue reading

Posted in Immigration, Women | Comments Off on Money and Otherness

Culture, Liberation, and #BlackLivesMatter

During the early 70s, Amilcar Cabral wrote extensively on the theme of liberation and the collective persona of subjugated people expressed as culture. His libratory praxis offered a context to dialectically engage notions of freedom and strategies for its attainment. … Continue reading

Posted in African Americans, Community Forum, Education, Women | Comments Off on Culture, Liberation, and #BlackLivesMatter

International Women’s Day Drawing by Maya Bauer

Posted in Arts, Women | Comments Off on International Women’s Day Drawing by Maya Bauer

A Poem by T’Aari D. Hunter, “ME”

ME by: T’Ari D. Hunter They said I wasn’t Pretty, They Lied. To be like them, I tried. But being like them wasn’t for me. Being like them, I didn’t feel pretty. I felt ashamed, Like I was a follower. … Continue reading

Posted in African Americans, Arts, Voices of Color, Women | Comments Off on A Poem by T’Aari D. Hunter, “ME”

Poetry by Robin Arbiter

Adoption Stories By Robin Arbiter One mother is still convinced, And one is still assured, And I must deal with history, The dawn of which was painful, The end of which approaches. In the face of stories More certain than … Continue reading

Posted in Arts, Women | Comments Off on Poetry by Robin Arbiter

Frances Friedman’s Passing; A Deep Loss to This Community

On February 28, this community lost a woman who made enormous contributions to the quality of life of so many in Champaign-Urbana.  Originally from Chicago’s West Side, Frances came to Champaign-Urbana and graduated in nursing from Mercy Hospital School of … Continue reading

Posted in Healthcare, LGBTQA, Women | Comments Off on Frances Friedman’s Passing; A Deep Loss to This Community

Rosa Parks Turns 100

Born February 4, 1913, Rosa Parks would have been 100 years old this year. A statue of Parks was recently unveiled in the U.S. Congress, the first black woman to be so honored. A in a new book titled The … Continue reading

Posted in African Americans, Women | Comments Off on Rosa Parks Turns 100