Curtis responds to "Diversify Your Mind" comments
Hey everybody,
Sorry for my long absence. Students and teachers will understand that this was the first week of the spring semester. Anybody who has not checked out George Daniels' Alabama Producer blog at bamproducer.blogspot.com should do so. The latest entry is about the recent arrest of James Seale in Mississippi. George's reporting on the case and his comments prove the importance of us keeping a strong institutional memory. George also makes a good point about the relevance of journalism today. Ask James Seale and I'm sure he will agree that the Clarion-Leger is very relevant. Seale said so himself. Great work George.
The other comment came from Michael Carroll. I'm pretty sure the comment is from a former graduate student at Columbia. Michael wrote that he felt some removed from the King experience and from the "Black Experience in America." Michael, I have to disagree with you about your disconection. Some of our best discussions have been about Cornell West's writings. Anyone who is as interested and engaged an interested in figuring out race relations is really not removed from the King experience. I think King wanted us all, especially young people, to constantly question, prob and ultimately change things.
Michael asked what I think King would think about race relations today and Katrina. It's hard to imagine King being anything but outraged at how the U.S. government and the Bush administration handled the Katrina disaster. As far as race relations are concerned, I think he would point out some progresses. Because of King and his band of unsung heroes much has changed. But he would not be satisfied. He point to many instances were we still let race and money divide us on issues where we should be united.
Congratulations to Michael who just landed a job with the State of Illinois Office of Mangement and Budget. I always thought of Michael as the Josh of my class. So Michael, when you reach the highest levels of government don't stop questioning and probing.
I'm going to try to pump out another piece before the weekend ends, so stay tuned.