[Top 10] I’m Thankful For…

Working in politics and as an editor for a site dedicated to discussing problems, it can be difficult to be optimistic about the future. However, it’s the progress of our generation that invigorates me day after day. In 2011, there were a lot of things to be grateful for. Here are my top 10:

1. Marriage Equality Passing in New York: I cannot emphasize this enough – the last place that government should be making any decisions is within the families and bedrooms of two consenting adults.

2. The failure of legislation that would have mandated a government-issued photo ID to vote in Ohio. This saved 900,000 Ohio voters from being disenfranchised.

3. Young activists worldwide that inspire me everyday to believe in the power of organizing. Whether I agree with them or not, it’s nice to know that our generation hasn’t grown cynical and apathetic.

4. Spotify: Once upon a time, it was insane that we could carry our whole music collection on a tiny MP3 player. Apparently, even iPods must have become too burdensome, so it’s a good thing we can access our music whenever, wherever.

5. The fact that anyone can start a movement with a phone and an internet connection.

6. The failure of Amendment 26 in Mississippi. As long as we live in a society that preaches abstinence-only education and allows rape culture to persist, no politician should support something that gives more rights to a fetus than the woman carrying it.

7. Reforms that will eliminate co-pays for birth control after August 2012 – because it’s wrong for Viagra to be covered while birth control is not.

8. My right to vote.

9. The incredibly creative, intelligent writers at 99Problems.org for their courage, passion and drive to use the written word to question the status quo.

10. “Do you know why I smile? Because it’s worth it.”

Posted by:

Sarah Stern

Woman Arrested in Saudi Arabia for Driving

The Saudi Arabian government detained Manal al-Sharif Sunday in the eastern city of Dammam for up to five days on charges of disturbing public order and inciting public opinion by driving twice. In Saudi Arabia, women are NOT allowed to drive, but there is a protest movement brewing in the country and on the internet in the name of women trying to claim their right to drive a car. In a daring act of civil disobedience, al-Sharif, one of the campaign’s organizers, decided to risk it all and make two public drives.  Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that does not allow women to drive.  Stories like this make you realize, while we are not a perfect country either, we have things pretty darn good here in America…  More of this story at the New York Times.

Posted by:

Justin Burkhardt

Study finds median wealth for single black women at $5

Study finds median wealth for single black women at $5
By Tim Grant, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Women of all races bring home less income and own fewer assets, on average, than men of the same race, but for single black women the disparities are so overwhelmingly great that even in their prime working years their median wealth amounts to only $5.

In a groundbreaking report released Monday by a leading economic research group, social scientists turned a spotlight on the grave financial challenges facing an often overlooked group of women, many of whom could not take an unpaid sick day or repair a major appliance without going into debt.

“It’s rather shocking,” said Meizhu Lui, director of the Closing the Gap Initiative based in Oakland, Calif., who contributed to the report “Lifting as We Climb: Women of Color, Wealth and America’s Future.”

Read More:
spotted via “The Dude’s” aka Kmos’ facebook page

Posted by:

Biko Baker

Melyssa Ford, I’m SORRY!!!!!!!

Today, Bossip posted our video of Melyssa Ford encouraging everyone to mail back their census forms. (The forms will be hitting your mailboxes in March.) While I am super appreciative that they showed love and threw up our video, I was a little surprised to see how they spun it.

More after the jump.
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Posted by:

Biko Baker

The X Fact(her): Hillary Clinton Will Beat Your Ass

I’ve watched the video of Hillary Clinton spazzing out on that poor Congolese college student at least ten times and each time it gets me hype. She was in the Congo to speak on behalf of women’s rights specifically the epidemic of Congolese women and girls being raped and used as weapons of war. During a stop on her tour, she took questions at a town hall-style meeting on Monday.

One male student made the mistake of asking the Secretary of State: “Mrs. Clinton, we’ve all heard about the Chinese contracts in [The Congo]… What does Mr. Clinton think through the mouth of Mrs. Clinton…Thank you very much.”

For a split second I could see the sista in her, I think there’s even a visible neck roll and if you look closely I’ve been told you can see her lips mouth “Bitch, please!”

Her reaction is priceless.

… Continue Reading

Posted by:

Chloe