Racism, Homophobia, Misogyny: Five Reasons We Are Not A Post Racial; Post Anything Society

The transparency that Facebook,Twitter and YouTube provide gives us a rare view into the racism, misogyny and homophobia that use to take place behind closed doors.

Here is a sampling of the stories that I have seen posted online in the past few weeks.

1)  Dasha Zhukova the editor in chief of a magazine posed sitting on a chair designed to look like a black woman dressed as a dominatrix with her legs in the air and the seat strapped to her backside. The image makes me sick.

2) Dr. Essay Anne Vanderbilt killed herself after a journalist Caleb Hannan exposed her as a transgender person in a article despite Vanderbilt's urging that Hannan keep it private.

3)Michael Douglas was widely criticized for using the word "mincing" in his acceptance speech for Best Actor at Golden Globes. He played Liberace and described his concern that he was perceived as "mincing'" by his director in a previous project. Instead of correcting his error in his SAG award acceptance speech he went on to make jokes about who was "on top" and "two handers" What an asshole and what a careless disregard for the feelings of others.

4) Madonna called her son the N-word on Instagram. After some backlash she proceeded to  apologize to anyone she offended and referred to the N-word as a "term of endearment"for her white son. She has two black adopted children. Isn't that adorable?

5)The U.S. Skating Committee chose fourth place U.S. Nationals skater Ashley Wagner (white, blonde hair, blue eyes) over the third place winner Mirai Nagasu (Asian-American) for the Olympic team. Wagner, 22 has the opportunitiy to compete at other Olympics.  The average age of an Olympic Skater is early twenties. At 29, Mirai may not have another chance. She earned it. Wagner didn't.

A few more:

On the CBS show "How I Met Your Mother" the actors appeared in yellowface. Now that's comedy.

This article about the casting of Sasheer Zamata (SNL's first black female since 2007)  is prejudicial gobbledygook.

Jared Leto a straight, male actor is winning awards left and right for portraying a transgender character. Why wasn't a transgender actor cast in the role? Here are some suggestions Alexandra Billings, Alexis Arquette, Laverne Cox


These examples are just the tip of the iceberg. If people in the public eye are willing to be careless with their words and actions just imagine what people who aren't in the limelight think and feel. Racism, sexism, prejudice run deep. This culture is in the thick of it.

I have two choices. I could avoid all media or I can use my Facebook page and blog to share these stories in hopes to illuminate and remind people we have a long way to go.