Diversify Pennsylvania’s court system; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1/31/16

Anisha Singh and Jodi Hirsh, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Diversify Pennsylvania’s court system:

"Of 27 appellate state court judges, only one is a judge of color. Except for one two-year period, the state Supreme Court has been all-white for two decades. And in a state where people of color make up about 20 percent of the population, only 14 percent of Pennsylvania’s federal judges are people of color, including semi-retired judges. Meanwhile, only 14 of the state’s 66 federal judges and only 25 percent of state judges are women, even though women are more than half of the state’s population.

Pennsylvania needs diversity in its state and federal courts. Studies show that diversity on the bench impacts judges’ decision-making, as a variety of perspectives are brought to bear. Moreover, a recent Center for American Progress report noted that communities of color are more likely to trust the fairness of the judicial branch if they see their communities reflected on the bench.

The lack of diversity in Pennsylvania courts could also lead many litigants to feel their voices are not being heard. Worse, litigants may feel as though the justice system is stacked against them."

With great power comes great responsibility for new breed of African superheroes; 1/26/16

Agence France-Presse via The National; With great power comes great responsibility for new breed of African superheroes:

"Aje was created by Jide Martins, the founder of Comic Republic, one of a handful of start-ups that is developing African superheroes they hope can rival the likes of Iron Man, Batman, Superman and Spider-Man.

Unlike Storm, the popular character from Marvel’s X-Men, who is a dual citizen of the United States and the fictional African country Wakanda, the superheroes Martins brings to life are born and bred in Africa – and live and fight there, too...

“Ten years ago, if you released a superhero from Nigeria, I don’t think anybody would care,” says Okupe. “But now that it’s a popular industry, people want diversity.”

For scholars of comic books, the rise of African superheroes are an inevitable reaction to a predominantly white cast of caped crusaders.

“I think it’s long overdue,” says Ronald Jackson, co-editor of the 2013 book Black Comics: Politics of Race and Representation.

“As we begin to appreciate other identities, we’re going to become increasingly more embracing of the kind of images coming out of African comics."

The real censorship in children's books: smiling slaves is just the half of it; Guardian, 1/29/16

Daniel Jose Older, Guardian; The real censorship in children's books: smiling slaves is just the half of it:

"On 17 January, Scholastic (who, full disclosure, published my young adult novel Shadowshaper last year) pulled the book from circulation, stating: “without more historical background on the evils of slavery than this book for younger children can provide, the book may give a false impression of the reality of the lives of slaves and therefore should be withdrawn.”

On Friday, three prominent free speech organizations – the National Coalition Against Censorship, the Pen American Center, and the The First Amendment Committee of the American Society of Journalists and Authors – condemned Scholastic’s decision to pull A Birthday Cake for George Washington from circulation; a move the group qualified as “censorship”. Their statement – which sounds more like panicked GOP candidates squalling about the rise of “PC culture” than organizations dedicated to freedom – conflates Black Lives Matter activism for equality in children’s books with the anti-immigrant cultural studies purges in Arizona and homophobic attacks on books with LGBTQ characters."

Ian McKellen: I sympathise with any under-represented group – video; ITN via Guardian, 1/26/16

ITN via Guardian; Ian McKellen: I sympathise with any under-represented group – video:

"Veteran British actor Ian McKellen says he thinks it’s difficult to comment on the Oscars diversity controversy, but feels great sympathy for any group that feels under represented in the film industry or otherwise. The 76-year-old star added that the row surrounding the Oscars is symptomatic of a bigger cultural problem."

Digital divide deepens between rich and poor - internet a family's lifeline?; Age, 1/21/16

Miki Perkins, Age; Digital divide deepens between rich and poor - internet a family's lifeline? :

"Travel anywhere in Australia and pretty much everyone has their head buried in a mobile phone.

When they return home, about 90 per cent of households in Australia have internet access.

Broadband is now a basic utility, just like water or electricity, but there are fears the rapid uptake of digital technology is leaving disadvantaged people in its wake.

"This is about having a basic adequate standard of living. If you're not able to get online on a regular basis you now live a completely different and excluded life," says Cassandra Goldie, the head of the Australian Council of Social Services.

The changing digital environment may exacerbate the experience of poverty and the trend towards greater inequality says ACOSS, in a new policy push on the "digital divide", released on Friday.

With government services increasingly online (and not always successfully - Centrelink clients recently missed out on payments because the service's website malfunctioned), people on low incomes have to use the internet frequently."

The New Digital Divide: Mobile-first design serves all virtual patrons; American Libraries, 1/4/16

Meredith Farkas, American Libraries; The New Digital Divide: Mobile-first design serves all virtual patrons:

"According to a recent Pew Research Center study of smartphone use, for approximately one in five Americans, their mobile device is their primary computing tool. Even for those who have personal computers, many people use their smartphones for progressively more purposes, including seeking health-related information, banking, looking for jobs, and completing coursework.

Until recently, mobile library websites were envisioned not as total online library experiences but as quick lookup tools. They often did not contain the full range of services as the regular website but a curated collection of commonly used items, such as a catalog search, hours and directions, an ask-a-librarian feature, and room booking. The assumption was that patrons would use a computer for anything more intensive, such as doing research.

If patrons are using mobile devices as their primary computing tools, a website designed for quick lookup will frequently be insufficient...

The ways that patrons are using available technologies continue to change rapidly, but focusing first on serving those with the least and most challenging access may help libraries design a better online user experience for all their patrons."

PNC Presents--Transforming Pittsburgh, Again; Town Hall Series, Wednesday, 1/27/16 at 6 PM

Town Hall Series: PNC Presents--Transforming Pittsburgh, Again:

"Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Senator John Heinz Regional History Center

Admission Info: Free Event...

Introducing PNC Presents, a new town hall series featuring conversations hosted by the Post-Gazette with the most fascinating people making news in Pittsburgh today. The inaugural event, Transforming Pittsburgh, Again, will welcome Mayor Bill Peduto and a roundtable of Pittsburgh luminaries to explore the future of our city’s revitalization. Audiences will be engaged, enlightened and entertained by the discussion and lively Q&A session.

Register for this event at www.post-gazette.com/pncseries or call at 412-263-1541.

Brought to you by: PNC + Pittsburgh Post-Gazette"

Ava DuVernay on Hollywood’s Inclusion Problem; New York Times, 1/25/16

Cara Buckley, New York Times; Ava DuVernay on Hollywood’s Inclusion Problem:

"“We’re hearing a lot about diversity,” the director Ava DuVernay, steadfast champion of diversity in film, told a roomful of people gathered for lunch Sunday in a restaurant here. “I hate that word so, so much.”

Filmmakers, actors, playwrights, directors, up-and-comers and industry insiders sat before her, and before them sat salads, wilting from Caesar dressing, untouched as Ms. DuVernay spoke, holding everyone rapt. A little while later, Ms. DuVernay made the rounds, and explained to the Bagger why the D word irked her so.

“I feel it’s a medicinal word that has no emotional resonance, and this is a really emotional issue,” she said. “It’s emotional for artists who are women and people of color to have less value placed on our worldview.”

Better words? Inclusion, she said, or belonging. “There’s a belonging problem in Hollywood,” Ms. DuVernay said, “Who dictates who belongs? The very body who dictates that looks all one way.”"

And the Oscar Goes to … White People; New York Times, 1/22/16

Room for Debate, New York Times; And the Oscar Goes to … White People:

"The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the 2016 Oscar nominations this week; all of the nominees were white. What’s more, in two of the year’s biggest films about African-American characters — “Creed” and “Straight Outta Compton” — nominations for those movies went to white people.

Once again, social media was filled with complaints: #OscarsSoWhite. How can the Academy increase diversity in nominations and awards?"

Academy Board Endorses Changes to Increase Diversity in Oscar Nominees and Itself; New York Times, 1/22/16

Michael Cieply, New York Times; Academy Board Endorses Changes to Increase Diversity in Oscar Nominees and Itself:

"Confronting a fierce protest over a second straight year of all-white Oscar acting nominations, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Friday said it would make radical changes to its voting requirements, recruiting process and governing structure, with an aim toward increasing the diversity of its membership.

The changes were approved at an unusual special meeting of the group’s 51-member governing board Thursday night. The session ended with a unanimous vote to endorse the new processes, but action on possible changes to Oscar balloting was deferred for later consideration. The board said its goal was to double the number of female and minority members by 2020.

“The academy is going to lead and not wait for the industry to catch up,” the academy’s president, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, said in a statement. Ms. Isaacs referred to an often-repeated complaint that the academy, in its lack of diversity, reflects the demographics of a film industry that for years has been primarily white and male."

X Minus One - The Martian Death March; OldTimeRadioDownloads.com, originally broadcast 9/8/1955

[Podcast 23 min. 19 sec.] X Minus One - The Martian Death March:

"NBC net. "The Martian Death March". The story of man's inhumanity to Martians. An allegory of the westward expansion and the mistreatment of the native Americans."

Biden Is Sick Of LGBT People Getting Treated Like Second-Class Citizens; Huffington Post, 1/20/16

Alana Horowitz Satlin, Huffington Post; Biden Is Sick Of LGBT People Getting Treated Like Second-Class Citizens:

"Vice President Joe Biden got visibly heated while discussing the importance of LGBT rights on Wednesday.

Speaking at an LGBT rights roundtable at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Veep lamented that openly gay and transgender people are still treated like second class citizens around the world.

"LGBT people face violence, harassment, unequal treatment, mistreatment by cops, denial of health care, isolation -- always in the name of culture. I've had it up to here with culture. I really mean it," he said, striking the table with his palms. "Culture never justifies rank, raw, discrimination or violation of human rights. There is no cultural justification. None. None. None."

Biden said that he has confronted at least four heads of state from countries where people face persecution over their sexuality. He didn't say which leaders he spoke to, but at least 75 countries represented in Davos outlaw homosexuality."

The 'gaytrification' effect: why gay neighbourhoods are being priced out; Guardian, 1/13/16

Feargus O'Sullivan, Guardian; The 'gaytrification' effect: why gay neighbourhoods are being priced out:

"The anecdotal association between LGBT people and changing inner cities has been around for a while. What’s relatively new is the starring role they have been given in discussions around urbanism and gentrification.

This dates back to the 2002 publication of Richard Florida’s The Rise of the Creative Class. Florida’s theory placed gay people at the heart of urban regeneration, part of a gentrifying vanguard along with creative and tech workers and “high bohemians”, who together helped to repopulate and refurbish previously rundown urban areas. In doing so, the model suggests these groups suck in more economic investment by creating the sort of attractive environment in which “wealth creators” like to live. If this tolerance of gay people is matched by a higher level of foreign-born residents and racial mixing, it is even more likely to attract the creative workers on which a city’s economic success depends. In other words, the more gay people your city attracts, the more tolerant it is likely to be.

As this theory has gained momentum, Florida’s point – that sexual tolerance in itself is not the sole factor, but a litmus test that measures a city’s ability to attract many diverse groups – has tended to get drowned out. This has often led to a basic assumption that LGBT residents are somehow synonymous with economic growth.

This approach might seem a little crude, but it’s not unfounded. According to sociology professor Amin Ghaziani, who researched the subject extensively while writing his book, There Goes the Gayborhood?, there is evidence from North America to back up assumptions that LGBT residents boost property prices."

Ryan Coogler Will Direct Marvel's 'Black Panther'; Huffington Post, 1/12/16

Huffington Post; Ryan Coogler Will Direct Marvel's 'Black Panther' :

""Creed" helmer Ryan Coogler is set to direct Marvel and Disney's "Black Panther" movie, the studio announced on Monday. Chadwick Boseman has already been cast as the lead character, who will make his first appearance in May's "Captain America: Civil War." The "Black Panther" film, set for a release in February 2018, marks the first time a major Marvel Studios film will focus primarily on a black superhero."

Pinterest Is Not Messing Around On Diversity; Huffington Post, 1/7/16

Emily Peck, Huffington Post; Pinterest Is Not Messing Around On Diversity:

"Pinterest this week announced its first head of diversity, as pressure builds on tech companies to hire outside their white/male comfort zone.

Candice Morgan, a black woman who's spent a decade working with various businesses at the nonprofit women's business group Catalyst, will help lead the company's fairly ambitious efforts to hire more women and people of color.

Pinterest's announcement comes less than two weeks after Twitter was called out for announcing that it had hired a white guy to head up its diversity efforts."

All the people Donald Trump insulted in 2015; Washington Post, 12/30/15

Gillian Brockell, Thomas LeGro, Julio Negron, Washington Post; All the people Donald Trump insulted in 2015:

"Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has publicly insulted at least 68 people or groups in 2015, many of them multiple times. Here is a comprehensive list."

Americans Are Split Along Party Lines Over Whether Schools Should Punish Racist Speech; Huffington Post, 1/4/16

Tyler Kingkade, Huffington Post; Americans Are Split Along Party Lines Over Whether Schools Should Punish Racist Speech:

"Americans are divided -- largely along party lines -- over whether colleges and universities have a responsibility to teach students about racism, promote diversity or prioritize free speech over stopping racially insensitive statements, a new HuffPost/YouGov poll reveals."

Twitter faces backlash over its new diversity lead; Washington Post, 12/30/15

Hayley Tsukayama, Washington Post; Twitter faces backlash over its new diversity lead:

"To address some of those issues, Twitter announced that it has hired a new vice president for diversity and inclusion, Jeffery Siminoff. The fifty-year-old replaces Janet Van Huysse, and comes from a similar role at Apple. He is known for his extensive work with Out Leadership -- a group dedicated to demonstrating how equality in general makes for good business, with a particular focus on LGBT executives. He was also named in a TechCrunch piece identifying "10 Men Making Waves for Women in Tech."

But he's also a white man — something that hasn't been lost on those who've repeatedly criticized the tech industry at large for its lack of diversity. Many argue that Twitter's largely white and male workforce keep it from seeing community issues with its product...

But others welcomed the appointment.

“Members of underrepresented groups in tech are tired of being the only advocates of cultural change in the field,” said Lucy Sanders, co-founder of the National Center for Women in Information Technology. “We encourage those who think otherwise to become more informed and consider the complexities.” She added that the industry needs more white men in diversity and inclusion roles advocating for more underrepresented groups.

Diversity and inclusion, of course, can mean many things to many people."