Tyler Perry usually has a "gay, down-low brother gets AIDS" storyline**, so this is just a variation on a theme. My mom said she saw the movie Friday, and I guessed some cheater would get HIV before she even told me the plot.

A dude tried to holla when I was driving and my bf was in the passenger seat. My boyfriend was like, "What do I look like, your gay best friend?" the whole situation was pretty funny.

This is common in certain Spanish speaking countries. In fact, a common "request" is "me vas a dar..." which translates to "You are going to give me ..."

This elementary teacher agrees. I know of a student in my grade who sodomized another student—with a blunt object. And yes, this was in lower elementary (K-2).

I mentioned this in another thread, but in my district there is an "attendance board" that investigates chronic absence. I forget the acronym, and I'm not sure where it falls in the process of bringing truancy charges, but it's similar to a "child welfare" investigation. (Note: I teach elementary in California.)

I wonder if TN doesn't already have a "stick" for attendance. I teach in California, and there is an investigation process for attendance. I forget the acronym, but I know the family of one of my students is allegedly being investigated for excessive absences, plus other teachers and administrators besides myself are…

No, you're not crazy. In addition to what you mentioned, your boyfriend is a stranger. It is a privilege of both race and class to interact with strange children, against their parents' wishes, without fear of being accused of harassment, being a weirdo/predator, etc. It's also presumptuous, in general, for him to…

Yes! She needs to call Tamera Mowry, who had gorgeous outfits while pregnant.

Yep, I'm a public elementary teacher on "Spring Break" right now. (I'm in CA, but the situation was the same in Chicago where I grew up.)

I'm glad I wasn't the only one thinking it—I'm short and a size 2 (perhaps, I wear Juniors sizes because of aforementioned shortness), and the mannequin looks like a taller me.

Ha!

I should clarify: I wasn't referring to a clip of MHP, but rather a quote. I haven't seen the video of MHP you reference.

I think MHP was linked on Racialicious—almost positive she was on Awesomely Luvvie.

They had been together for "nearly 10 years" a few years ago, and they were together when they did "Bonnie and Clyde ('03)", so at the latest they got together when she was 21.

This just puts all of her insecurities on blast, IMO.

Darn, can't edit...

I'm a second grade teacher, and that age/grade is appropriate, especially because reading biographies/historical fiction is a focus. A group of my kids are reading Harriet Tubman's biography, and I did a quick overview of slavery last week, and my kids recognized th KKK in a movie last week. I agree with the OP,…

Africa is a continent; she's from the country of South Africa. Not that I think she's in on "African baby couture", but being from the same continent as her kid isn't a strong rebuttal.

Reread what I wrote. The first sentence of your second paragraph implies a distinction between "black neighborhood" and "neighborhood with college students". It's obviously not a "don't say white" issue; but the phrasing reminds us of how often "college" and "white" are conflated.

Racism is an action, not an existence. And putting Jon Hamm in blackface is racist because it's hard to successfully mock something that's still happening (racism on television). See Melissa Harris-Perry's brilliant comments on Quvenzhané Wallis and the Onion for a more detailed explanation.