Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in The Swamp.
We the People...
I don't give a shit how long its been or how far Black people (and others) have come since 1789. NO. FUCKING. BODY... should be allowed to hide behind freedom of speech to spew and express racial, religious, gender-based, and non-heterosexual hatred towards others. Hiding behind a 228-year old document? Cowards.
By Dre Joseph9 years ago in The Swamp
White Shock in the Face of Racism
Growing up in suburban Utah, I didn’t give much thought to race. I didn’t think of my whiteness as a luxury or think about the fact that despite attending a school that was in a primarily Hispanic neighborhood, I didn’t have any Hispanic friends. Although the Mormon church had a rocky and troubled history with black members, that was in the past—during the civil rights movement, church policy had been changed to be more welcoming. It was over. Civil rights had solved racism. It was important to be polite to people, but it wasn’t like those few suburban black kids I knew had experienced a dramatically different life than I had. Though I had relatives who complained about those “immigrants” who wouldn’t learn English, obviously their complaint had nothing to do with skin color.
By Haybitch Abersnatchy9 years ago in The Swamp
The Silence of Patton
Many times we are taught there are absolutes. What we read and are taught there are certain facts that shouldn't be called into question. In mathematics, for instance, 1+1=2 is a fact that should not be questioned. Many times we are taught, especially in history, there are underlying circumstances where certain facts come into light years and even decades afterward that dispute what we originally thought was true and factual. Some believe in conspiracy theories backed up by unsubstantiated incidents and non-verifiable information. Then there are other times what we think are just conspiracy theories; later on, verifiable information comes to light that suggests that maybe it wasn't a conspiracy after all but certain events really did happen.
By Dr. Williams9 years ago in The Swamp
Two Missouri Kids Feel Back in Closet After Quote Removal
Receiving the high school yearbook is perhaps one of the highlights of a student's scholastic career. The photos, both goofy and serious, the signatures from friends and teachers, and the memorable quotes all play a role in how everyone remembers their high school experiences.
By Christina St-Jean9 years ago in The Swamp
Kaepernick: The New Ali
If the vast majority of Black people in America (notice how I said not all) do not boycott the National Football League this upcoming season... we are lost as a people like for real for real. Colin Kaepernick, a professional athlete and multimillionaire, stood for something last season.
By Dre Joseph9 years ago in The Swamp
Trump's Nazi Problem
Another day, another Trump Nazi think piece. One would think that I enjoy writing these, but I don't. Truly I would rather go back to living in my bubble and pretend that this reality star was still terrorizing us for entertainment value and not as leader of the Free World. Seriously Republicans, what does he have to do before you get off your asses and start putting country over party? Will it take him attempting a coup of our country before you do anything? Coming out and saying he should have said something is not going far enough. There have to be consequences to actions, but so far you have empowered him for his bad behavior. Take, for example, the fact that it took him 48 hours, two whole days, to condemn white supremacist Nazis down South for their actions. 48 freaking hours. If that had been President Obama, you would have been starting impeachment hearings before the violence began. This is not the first time that Trump has refused to rebuke white supremacist/hate groups, though.
By Edward Anderson9 years ago in The Swamp
Campaign to Bring Justice Back to the Law
Campaign to put justice back as the center of legal systems. Laws were originally written down because the king of that time — who was absolute ruler — wanted all the people under his rule to get the same justice in disputes. I do not mean to affront the feminists but in late “Dark Ages”, pre-medieval, when Alfred the Great in Britain first started having his laws writing down, only men were kings since their first duty was to fight in hand-to-hand battles. The rights were, by modern standards, very limited but his objective was to impose his rule on the whole kingdom and stop local “Lords” imposing their own laws on the local people.
By Peter Rose9 years ago in The Swamp
America Needs More Than Denial Right Now
A friend posted "Beaumont to Detroit" written by Langston Hughes in 1943 on her social media profile the other day. For anyone unfamiliar with this piece, it is a very powerful reflection on America during WWII. Comparing the propaganda that was publicized about Hitler to the likes of the Ku Klux Klan and very powerfully speaking against the actions of white America through comparisons with Mussilini and Hitler. It's a powerful read and is very appropriate for the current climate.
By Regina Stone-Grover9 years ago in The Swamp
'Refuse Fascism' March
In response to the death of thirty-two-year-old Heather Heyer and the injuring of nineteen other non-violent counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, the outspoken organization known as Refuse Fascism organized a march August 13th in Downtown Chicago, Illinois’ Millennium Park with over five-hundred plus citizens. The protest took statements from concerned and angered Chicagoans that came out to condemn the violence of the Charlottesville riots, murder of an innocent woman and the Trump administration’s indifferent response to the uproar, going so far as to label the administration as the Trump/Pence Regime! Like all too many Americans, the Trump Presidency has continuously chosen not to condemn the actions of the Ku Klux Klan, Neo-Confederate and Neo-Nazi rallies spewing unethical racism and bigotry then try to disguise it as nationalism. The Refuse Fascism march had garnered media attention and support in the past, I myself have participated in many of their rallies in response to police killings, support of building a Civilian Police Accountability Council and especially now demanding the impeachment of the 45th president, Donald Trump.
By Myles D. Goethe9 years ago in The Swamp
Continue To Stand Against Racism, Hatred - And Not Just For Heather Heyer
Heather Heyer, just 32 years old, was a young woman embarking on what should be the rest of her life. She was, by all accounts, someone who believed in standing up for the voiceless, and happened to be in Charlottesville on Saturday, August 12, when a grey Dodge Challenger plowed through a mass of protesters, sending people racing for their lives and flying through the air as they were struck.
By Christina St-Jean9 years ago in The Swamp
