DCentric

Good morning, DCentric readers! Ready for some delicious links?

The evolution of the race card in American politics “Last week in Washington, D.C., we saw the culmination of a long and dire campaign to sabotage the reform of the city’s schools. For years now, since the time of the disgraceful Marion Barry, a rumor has been circulated in the black wards of the capital that there is a thing called “The Plan.” This sinister scheme involves the deliberate erosion of black neighborhoods and communities in the interests of a white/Hispanic ascendancy. That would make its supposed leader a Korean-American named Michelle Rhee…” (Slate)

Sherrod Speaks Faith to DC Church “I have helped many, many, many white farmers since 1986 when I went through that transformation,” Sherrod told hundreds gathered at the Metropolitan AME Church in downtown Washington. “All of them won’t stand up and tell you that I helped them. Many of them don’t want to admit to the public that a black woman helped them.” (NBC Washington)

DO drink the water! “D.C. Water has a new focus on increased transparency, sparkling new facilities are starting to open up around town and, according to blind taste tests, the taste of D.C.’s public water actually holds up pretty well against bottled water. D.C. Water took to five locations across the city over the past month or so to conduct said taste tests, and according to D.C. Water spokesperson Alan Heymann, “a little more than half of our participants preferred D.C. tap water over bottled, or had no preference between the two.”" (DCist)

D.C. rolls out largest bike share program in U.S. “The Captial BikeShare program got off to a rolling start in D.C. Monday. Under the program, which is the nation’s largest, members pay a fee, then use bikes parked at bike stations throughout the region. A bike can be picked up at any station at any time of day and left at any destination.” (WTOP News)

Obama Tries to Rally Support at Black Caucus Gala “In his speech to the conference attendees, the president admitted that unemployment was a large issue for all Americans and has hit the black community especially hard. “This recession has taken a devastating toll on all sectors of our economy, he said. “It’s hit Americans of all races, all regions and all walks of life. But as has been true with other recessions, this one came down with a particular vengeance on African-American communities.”" (The Root)

Rhee: Oprah’s ‘Warrior Woman’ “Winfrey introduced Rhee to an adoring studio audience as the woman who “singlehandedly turned the D.C. public school system upside down,” firing “over 1,000 teachers and principals” — a number I’d never heard before. “This is a warrior woman! This is a warrior woman!” Oprah declared.” (voices.washingtonpost.com)

Immigration T-Shirt Spat at Maryland Mall “According to the Frederick News-Post, mall owner Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust has asked the owner of the Antietam Gallery custom framing gallery to stop selling “Maryland Stands With Arizona” T-shirts out of his shop.” (NBC Washington)