Author Archives: Anna

DCentric was created to examine the ways race and class interact in Washington, D.C., a city with a vibrant mix of cultures and neighborhoods. Your guides to the changing district are reporters Anna John and Elahe Izadi.

January 21, 2011 | 5:01 PM | By

Our Money, Their Power

From DCist, I learned that Republicans in the House want to prevent federal tax dollars from being used to pay for abortions…

…and they’ve included the District’s locally-raised tax dollars in that prohibition… that means that our local tax dollars — which have to go to Congress for final approval — are considered “federal” for the purposes of the prohibition. This is a restriction that Congress couldn’t easily make on any state, but given our status as the legislative body’s favorite colony, can be imposed on the District without any real consequences. Restrictions such as these had been in place before, but in late 2009, the Democratic Congress acted to lift them. The National Abortion Rights Action League has already condemned the proposal, calling it “an unfair restriction” that “would reimpose the ban on Washington, D.C.’s use of its own local funds for abortion for low-income women.”

But DCist commenter “Over the River” took issue with that characterization:

There is no question this is an emotional topic and you are entitled to your opinion. I also feel you are reading the NARAL incorrectly. The point they are making is a woman’s right to her body should not be limited to those who can independently afford an abortion. You have twisted the point of discussion to play a class game with reproductive rights.

Tough topic for a 5pm post on a Friday, but it struck me as important.

FILED UNDER: Government, Politics
January 21, 2011 | 3:53 PM | By

Tiger Mothers, Black Sons

Flickr: Vearl Brown

Literally, a tiger mother.

Now reading: “How to Raise a Model Minority. “Tiger Mother” Amy Chua is right about one thing: Assimilation is the enemy of achievement for minorities in America“, via The Root:

“We gotta get out of here.”

My friend Allison was talking about the city we both live in, Washington D.C., where she and her husband were typical black strivers trying to do right by the race. Couple of kids, a house, advanced degrees, professional careers. Model minorities.

Allison and her husband were thriving professionally but felt suffocated by the U.S. education system, backlash against the Obama election, guns at town hall meetings, the inexplicably enduring public presence of a failed Alaska governor, the dueling Beck and Sharpton rallies — the nastiness that settled over us like an angry, evil cloud.

So where to? Maybe they wanted to join the bourgie reverse migration down South? “Mozambique … ,” she said. “Maybe Venezuela. We haven’t decided yet.”

Huh? Crazy talk! But I couldn’t fault her for wanting to flee the country. My son, an athletic bookworm, was having a rough year when we heard an NPR report in the car about black boys failing in schools. There was a long, uncomfortable silence as I searched for but did not find the words to say, “But they don’t mean you!” without denying him pride in his racial identity…

FILED UNDER: The People, Children, Immigrants, Race and Class
January 21, 2011 | 12:46 PM | By

Dog Poo and Racial Epithets, Oh My.

DCentric

More pleasant than a broom, but that's just me

Well, THIS is an interesting feature on TBD– the “Neighbor Hall of Shame“. I’m extra interested in this story for a few reasons– I think D.C.’ers need to be more neighborly, it involves “shame” and it has to do with dog poo. As the proud caretaker of a poky little puppy, I deal with such foulness at least twice a day…but at least I dispose of it properly, unlike this Hill East resident:

Handley accuses a neighbor in the 1700 block of Massachusetts Ave. SE, directly across the rear alley from him, of regularly sweeping his dog’s feces out of his back yard and into the alley. “This is his standard practice and has been going on for years,” Handley says. “What he tends to do is sweep it out there, and then maybe later he’ll take a hose and flush it down the alley.” The situation gets even worse in the summer months, Handley says, when “you really smell it.”

It’s a mind-boggling neighborhood issue on number of levels. So many questions come to mind. Is it really more work to pick up the poop and dispose of it properly than it is to grab a broom and start sweeping? Does this guy use that broom inside his house?

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FILED UNDER: Around the City, Animals, Racial Divide
January 21, 2011 | 10:51 AM | By

One Station, Many Voices

DCentric

Today’s WAMU commentary is from Joel Carela, who is part of WAMU’s Youth Voices program in partnership with Youth Radio and D.C’s Latin American Youth Center.

I’ve always been put off by TV shows and movies that glorify casual sex. Like the “American Pie” movies, whose main characters are always in search of a quick and easy hook-up. They make the guys who can separate sex and emotions seem normal and emasculate the ones who develop feelings beyond the mattress.

As an emotional person, I never liked that message — but I guess somehow it seeped into my brain.

Last fall, I started college and moved into a dorm with more than 100 other hormonal teenagers. Suddenly, we had easy access to all sorts of things that were out of reach back home: alcohol, drugs and each other.

It wasn’t long before I started to connect really well with a guy in my international politics class, who also happened to live across the hall. We shared an affinity for baroque-era choral music and an interest in the British monarchy.

You can listen to it, here.
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FILED UNDER: Media, Diversity, LGBT, WAMU
January 21, 2011 | 8:38 AM | By

Tasty Morning Bytes – Congress Heights Rising, Kagan the DCist and Panda Wrestling

Good morning, DCentric readers! Today is Friday, and on days that end with “Y”, we like to serve up links. Enjoy!

Congress Heights: Gradually Rising “Another of the neighborhood’s stumbling blocks is its high crime rate. While Peele asserted that she doesn’t feel any less secure in Congress Heights than she did in Northwest, she also admitted that she makes an effort to be very careful when coming and going. Darrin Davis, too, parsed his words carefully when talking about the area’s crime. “Yes, there’s some crime, but with new residents moving in, they’re demanding something be done about it,” he said…“The past few years, it’s gotten quieter,” said resident Linda Sweet…she then added that four men had recently been shot on a nearby corner, and two of them died.” (dc.urbanturf.com)

Justice Elena Kagan Digs D.C. “…Kagan isn’t just fulfilling her civic duty to the District — she’s also apparently looking to buy a home in Logan Circle. With a tip of the cap to neighborhood blog 14th and You, this report over at Above the Law says that Kagan was “recently seen inspecting…a small townhouse in the Logan Circle neighborhood.” Of course, Kagan already has broken with the majority of her fellow Justices — most of whom live in Maryland or Virginia — by living at a downtown luxury apartment building. Note to Rep. Louie Gohmert: she’s somehow managed to not get shot.” (DCist)

Good News for the District’s Food Deserts: FEED DC Act Passes “Late last month, in a major step toward closing the grocery gap in the District of Columbia, the D.C. Council passed the Food, Environmental, and Economic Development (“FEED”) DC Act of 2010. The grocery gap– in which low-income and minority communities often have far less access to full-service grocery stores than higher-income communities have – is a culprit of many diet-related chronic diseases plaguing District residents. And it represents promising opportunities for economic development. The FEED DC Act aims to capture those opportunities while also enabling more District residents to eat a healthy diet.” (dcfpi.org)
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January 20, 2011 | 4:20 PM | By

The Privilege of Prioritizing Organic Food

Flickr: ehpien

Farmer's Market, Dupont Circle.

Writing about Walmart earlier today reminded me of something I’ve been meaning to discuss on DCentric; I had an eye-opening experience at the beginning of the year, and all I could think about was “Race and class! Race and class!”, as it was happening. Despite my ethnicity, I’m not a huge fan of yoga, but I heard from a trusted friend that a local yogi was known for holding a workshop that helped people go beyond making resolutions. The all-day event included stuff one does on a rectangular mat, nutrition advice, life coaching, art and a vegetarian brunch.

I went and I have to agree, it was restorative and inspiring, so much so that I didn’t even mind twisting my body like a pretzel while trying to remember to breathe. What stands out to me most, however, is the nutrition-focused portion of the programming. While I expected to hear about the virtues of organic produce and embracing healthier diets which had few or no animal products, I did not expect for race and class to collide during the Q + A period, which came right after a recitation of the “dirty dozen”, or the list of produce that is most affected by pesticides.

Since I keep mentioning race, I’ll disclose that I was impressed that a quarter of the attendees were women of color; basically, it was me holding it down for Asian-America plus five African-American women.

One of them raised her hand, tentatively.

“Thank you so much for this information,” she began. “It’s so worrisome…all these chemicals and pesticides in our food. I would like to be healthier by eating organically but…it’s so expensive. Do you have any advice for dealing with that?” She looked hopeful; her hand was poised over her notebook, pen aquiver, ready to jot down wise words which would not come.
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FILED UNDER: The People, Food, Privilege, Race and Class
January 20, 2011 | 1:16 PM | By

When Walmart Comes to D.C., it will be Healthier

Flickr: Shawn Campbell

Bell peppers, on sale at Walmart, which is committed to making fruits and vegetables more affordable.

Remember how Walmart is planning on opening several stores in the District? Well, due to the considerable influence of our First Lady, who has made nutrition a national priority, those stores will be stocking healthier versions of Walmart’s house-branded foods, as well as more fresh produce:

In interviews previewing the announcement, Wal-Mart and White House officials said the company was also pledging to press its major food suppliers, like Kraft, to follow its example. Wal-Mart does not disclose how much of its sales come from its house brand. But Kraft says about 16 percent of its global sales are through Wal-Mart.

In addition, Wal-Mart will work to eliminate any extra cost to customers for healthy foods made with whole grains, said Leslie Dach, Wal-Mart’s executive vice president for corporate affairs. By lowering prices on fresh fruits and vegetables, Wal-Mart says it will cut into its own profits but hopes to make up for it in sales volume. “This is not about asking the farmers to accept less for their crops,” he said.

I know many D.C. residents are less than thrilled about Walmart’s impending arrival, but increasing access to healthy, affordable foods is one way to look at the “bright side” of such a development.
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FILED UNDER: Around the City, Access, Food, Michelle, Walmart
January 20, 2011 | 10:59 AM | By

Being Neighborly in Glover Park

DCentric

Unshoveled sidewalk near Glover Park.

This is great to see; in Glover Park, neighbors are coming together to help elderly or physically incapacitated people clear snow and ice while reminding others of their obligation to clear the sidewalk for pedestrians:

The sense of urgency to organize and pursue this initiative came from two sources. A primary driver was listserv traffic describing properties whose sidewalks have persistent snow and ice long after precipitation ends. Another factor was the occasional senior citizen or physically limited person who approached GPCA for shoveling assistance.

With feedback from residents, the ANC developed a snow shoveling flyer. The flyer explains the obligation to shovel sidewalk. It also promotes the availability of volunteers help with those who are physically unable to shovel. Any resident can print the flyer and leave a copy at a property with untreated sidewalks.

At no point was there significant discussion about how to formally validate that someone needed assistance. Organizers generally assumed that someone who approached the neighborhood for assistance legitimately needed it.

I think this fosters a sense of community, something which is sorely lacking in many parts of this city. The fact that such cooperation among neighbors makes it easier and safer to walk around is nice, too.

FILED UNDER: Around the City, Access, Glover Park
January 20, 2011 | 8:31 AM | By

Tasty Morning Bytes – Professor Fenty, Stroller Wars and Watching Washington

Good morning, DCentric readers. It’s time for links!

Fenty to teach at Oberlin in the fall “Former Mayor Adrian M. Fenty will return to his alma mater Oberlin College as a distinguished visiting professor of politics, a featured lecturer and a career adviser in the Department of African American Studies. Fenty, a 1992 graduate who majored in economics and English at the Ohio college, will participate in in a politics course in the spring, according to a news release issued by the college.” (voices.washingtonpost.com)

The Mommy-Fight Site: Welcome to the D.C. Urban Moms message board. And by the way, your kid’s stroller sucks “You people are stupid snobs,” one suburban defender snipped. “Excuse us for relocating to the area.” “Sorry I can afford to live in 20016,” another retorted, referencing the ZIP code that spans many Upper Northwest neighborhoods. Still another mocked the site’s audience with an ode to “the gritty streets of Tenleytown,” that buzzing neighborhood of art, innovation, and a nearby Cheesecake Factory. The sarcasm didn’t faze the site’s stalwarts, who chalked it up to jealousy among those unable to afford Ward 3. “There’s no reason to be unkind to those less fortunate,” one commenter said.” (Washington City Paper)

Supreme Court Rejects Appeal To Overturn D.C.’s Gay Marriage Law “Council Member David Catania, who is openly gay and the author of the same-sex legislation, says while opponents of the measure have exhausted their judicial options, he expects they’ll continue to lobby congress to intervene. “As we go forward, it will be important for District officials to build relationships with the new subcommittee chairmen, especially in the House, and to advocate our point of view about this is…intrinsically a local District matter,” Catania says. Last year Washington began issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples, and in 2009 it began recognizing gay marriages performed elsewhere.” (wamu.org)

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