The American Prospect

pbsthisdayinhistory: May 17, 1954: The Supreme Court Rules on...

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:14:26 -0400

May 17, 1954: The Supreme Court Rules on Brown v. Board of Education

On this day in 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that racial segregation in public schools violated the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which says that no state may deny equal protection of the laws to any person within its jurisdiction.

Although the decision did not succeed in fully desegregating public education in the United States, it put the Constitution on the side of racial equality and galvanized the nascent civil rights movement into a full revolution.

Can you name all the key players behind Brown v. Board of Education? Revisit the landmark case with PBS’ The Supreme Court site.

You can also learn more about Brown v. Board of Education with “The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow” and explore more events of the Civil Rights Movement with PBS Black Culture Connection.

School integration, Barnard School, Washington, D.C., 1955 (Library of Congress).

A good primer to both sides of the civil war in Syria.

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:34:00 -0400

A good primer to both sides of the civil war in Syria.

"Keep in mind that the Republicans’ most serious charge revolves around the creation of misleading..."

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:51:03 -0400

“Keep in mind that the Republicans’ most serious charge revolves around the creation of misleading talking points. Stop and think about that for a moment. Not intentionally breaking laws passed by Congress as in Iran-Contra, not obstruction of justice as in Watergate, not perjury as in the Lewinsky affair. The creation of misleading talking points.”

- Republicans are boarding the impeachment train, and there may be no way to stop it. (via wilwheaton)

"Unfortunately, though, I’ve learned to redefine what constitutes an American tragedy. American..."

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:18:00 -0400

“

Unfortunately, though, I’ve learned to redefine what constitutes an American tragedy. American tragedies occur where middle America frequents every day: airplanes, business offices, marathons. Where there persists a tangible fear that this could happen to any of us. And rightfully so. Deaths and mayhem anywhere are tragic. That should always be the case. The story here is where American tragedies don’t occur.

American tragedies don’t occur on the southside of Chicago or the New Orleans 9th Ward. They don’t occur where inner city high school kids shoot into school buses or someone shoots at a 10-year old’s birthday party in New Orleans. Or Gary, Indiana. Or Compton. Or Newport News. These are where the forgotten tragedies happen and the cities are left to persevere on their own.

”

- David Dennis, on the Mothers’ Day shooting in New Orleans

5 Major Voting Fights You’ll Care About Come Election Time

Thu, 16 May 2013 09:29:35 -0400

5 Major Voting Fights You’ll Care About Come Election Time:

States legislatures around the country are busy battling it out over laws that could tilt the balance of the next election.

"I’m very ambitious. I’m very aggressive. But I do it in a really nice way,"

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:39:00 -0400

““I’m very ambitious. I’m very aggressive. But I do it in a really nice way,””

- Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

This picture.

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:39:59 -0400

This picture.

Why permissive gun laws in Texas can be scary, ex. 57

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:24:15 -0400

Why permissive gun laws in Texas can be scary, ex. 57

This website maps every recurring joke on Arrested Development

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:49:09 -0400

This website maps every recurring joke on Arrested Development:

comedynerdsunited:

thebluthcompany:

usnews:

An interactive visualization of running jokes in Arrested Development.

This is amazing.

Thanks, internet.

WE SO EXCITED.

"My best and brightest students, I generally try to get them out of education. It is so miserable at..."

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:47:44 -0400

““My best and brightest students, I generally try to get them out of education. It is so miserable at this point in time that I think their efforts can be better spent elsewhere.””

- Philip Kovacs, associate professor of education at the University of Alabama in Huntsville

What do you hope that viewers take away from this series?I...

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:47:35 -0400

What do you hope that viewers take away from this series?
I really don’t know. When I set out to do a project I remain quite neutral and allow the subjects to speak for themselves. The photography is pretty simple so it is what the viewer chooses to read or see. This project was about making the Afghan war personal, I guess, and not just about numbers.

Heartbreaking photographs. Hard to deny the lingering effects of a long war when you look at these faces.

The daily mean concentration of carbon dioxide is officially at its highest point in human history.

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:42:07 -0400

The daily mean concentration of carbon dioxide is officially at its highest point in human history.:

motherjones:

And not a peep in Congress.

So gross.

“I really like your idea. If we had guns that shot...

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:39:15 -0400

“I really like your idea. If we had guns that shot chocolate, not only would our country be safer, it would be happier. People love chocolate. You are a good boy.”

Joe Biden wins at constituent services. This letter, to a Wisconsin second-grader, is so sweet and sad and just right.

godbluffer: Some handy tips on how to not get raped…

Thu, 09 May 2013 11:48:22 -0400

godbluffer:

Some handy tips on how to not get raped…

Why We Still Need GLAAD

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:19:54 -0400

Why We Still Need GLAAD:

gabrielarana:

The swift advance of gay rights raises an existential question for the movement: Are we done once the most privileged among us get what we want?

"Ask yourself: Do you oppose putting U.S. troops everywhere, all the time? If you answered yes, you..."

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:56:22 -0400

“

Ask yourself: Do you oppose putting U.S. troops everywhere, all the time? If you answered yes, you might be an isolationist, according to the word’s new definition. A piece in Tuesday’s New York Times, based on a new NYT/CBS poll, warned that “Americans are exhibiting an isolationist streak, with majorities across party lines decidedly opposed to American intervention in North Korea or Syria right now.”

In the very next paragraph, however, we are told that, “While the public does not support direct military action in those two countries right now, a broad 70 percent majority favor the use of remotely piloted aircraft, or drones, to carry out bombing attacks against suspected terrorists in foreign countries.”

In other words, if you only support bombing unspecified foreign countries with flying robots, you’re exhibiting an isolationist streak.

”

- Matt Duss

Gabriel Arana: Are Gay Guys Checking You Out in the Locker Room?

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:07:08 -0400

Gabriel Arana: Are Gay Guys Checking You Out in the Locker Room?:

As a gay man, I can assure you that we’re probably less likely to look at your junk than your fellow straight guys. Rather than engage in the typical bro-to-bro bravado at the gym—I’ve never witnessed towel-snapping fights so often portrayed in movies, but I have seen guys shout boisterously across the locker room, pat each other on the back, and comment on each other’s bodies (“dude, what’d you do to get those pecs?”)—I and the gay friends I’ve spoken to do our best to keep to ourselves. Frankly, we find this behavior sort of terrifying.

Read the full article at The American Prospect

"I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay. I didn’t set out to be..."

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:19:16 -0400

“I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.
I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn’t the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, “I’m different.” If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.”

- Jason Collins

My New Website!

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:36:16 -0400

gabrielarana:

I spent the whole weekend revamping my website. In recognition of all my hard work, you should follow me by clicking below, and, if you would be so kind as to reblog, I’ll owe you a drink!

"It is perhaps unreasonable to expect that such a major piece of legislation will be free of..."

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:10:46 -0400

“It is perhaps unreasonable to expect that such a major piece of legislation will be free of political chicanery, but it is important to note that Boston-inspired opposition to immigration reform is not borne of sincere concern for Americans’ security.”

- The American Prospect (via gabrielarana)