Author: Lori Tharps
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Black History is American History
This essay was originally published on Beacon Broadside in February 2017. I still agree with every single word. February is Black History Month. Personally, I’ve always felt conflicted about a month being set aside to celebrate the achievements of African Americans in the United States, because it seems to suggest that once February is over,…
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Can You Rehabilitate a Racist?
The state of Virginia is a mess. Racist skeletons are falling out of every single closet, cupboard and pantry. First it was the governor, then it was the attorney general. Now, there’s a senator implicated too. But it’s not just the state of Virginia that’s housing racists. Just ask Liam Neeson. Last week, Liam Neeson…
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“Bao” Film Nominated for 2019 Oscar
Hello, Meltingpot readers. Remember last summer, I wrote a long post about the short film, Bao, a Pixar short that premiered with The Incredibles II? The film is about a dumpling that comes to life and is reared by a lonely Chinese woman. The eight-minute masterpiece covers a lot of different issues (which I discuss…
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Declaring War on Black Hair Ignorance Starts Now
Hello Meltingpot Readers, Welcome to the first full week of Black History Month 2019. Over the years, I’ve had a lot to say about Black History Month and have tried to celebrate it in different ways. There were also years I wanted to boycott Black History Month, because I believed separating Black history from American…
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MAMP Podcast Episode #6: A Candid Conversation about Diversity in Kid Lit with Zetta Elliott
On episode #6 of the My American Meltingpot podcast, I am joined by author, activist and educator, Zetta Elliott for a passionate conversation about diversity in children’s literature. Zetta has written over 30 books for children, teens and young adults and is committed to telling stories featuring Black characters in the most unexpected places. From…
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Jussie Smollett, Hate Crimes and Fighting Back in Blazing Color
Hello Meltingpot Readers, By now you’ve probably heard about the horrific hate crime against actor and singer, Jussie Smollett. The assault occurred yesterday, January 29, in Chicago. Details have not been officially confirmed, but reports say the 36-year-old actor was walking back to his hotel when he was attacked by two men who recognized him…
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The Connection Between Climate Change and Racism is Real.
Today’s post was written by my friend, Eileen Flanagan. Eileen is an author, educator and environmental activist. She is a mother and one of the most dedicated social justice warriors I know. I asked her to write about the connection between racism and global climate change and she penned this insightful and urgent essay. Please…
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“Little” Looks Like “Big” Fun in Color
Hello Meltingpot Readers, It’s Friday, so I have something fun to share. It’s a great new family film with Black characters coming out this spring. I just saw the trailer for Little, starring Issa Rae, Regina Hall and Marsai Martin. Martin plays Diane on Black-ish, she’s only 14-years-old and she executive produced the film. In…
