Skyeview

I read with interest the following announcement. Passing it on.

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CALL FOR REGISTRATION
Race, Sex, Power: New Movements in Black and Latina/o Sexualities
April 11-12, 2008
Chicago, Illinois
http://condor.depaul.edu/~rsp2008/info.html

Registration is now open!!!
Faculty from nine universities and colleges will hold the largest ever conference on black and Latina/o sexuality on April 11-12 at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “Race, Sex, Power: New Movements in Black and Latina/o Sexualities,” the culmination of more than two years of planning, will bring together academics, activists, and artists to address topics ranging from intimacy and desire to HIV/AIDS and teen pregnancy to humor and Hip Hop.

Organizer Cathy Cohen, Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, calls the conference “a bold effort to rethink what sexuality means for the two largest racial minorities in the US.”  Dr. Jocelyn Elders, the former United States Surgeon General appointed by President Clinton, will open the conference on Friday morning, April 11.

Sponsored by the participating universities with major funding from the Ford and Arcus Foundations, “Race, Sex, Power” aims to set a new agenda for studying, organizing, writing, and developing policy about sexuality.  Juan Battle, professor of Sociology at the CUNY Graduate Center, argues that the conference is not only ambitious, but timely, as sexuality is central to current political debates. “Same-sex marriage, abstinence education, and abortion rights are all at the forefront.”

Marysol Asencio, associate professor of Family Studies/Puerto Rican and Latino/a Studies from the University of Connecticut at Storrs, adds that the demographic shifts in the US mean that “sexuality has to be confronted from the perspective of race, not merely to challenge the pathologies historically assigned to Latina/o and Black Americans, but to explore the dynamism and heterogeneity within these populations as well.”

The conference program takes sexuality and race in all their complexity. Panels and speakers selected from hundreds of submissions will cover, among other things: media, migration and immigration, religion and spirituality, sexual tourism, reproductive rights, transgender, community organizing, gay and lesbian civil rights, poverty, social class, age, and the sex industry.  Within the wide variety of approaches in both method and topic, a key idea emerges.  Sexuality can only be imagined in the context of communities that are embedded in a national and international context of changing sexual mores and deeply entrenched habits of thought and representation.

One of the hallmarks of this conference, Cohen stresses, is its emphasis on collaboration and inclusiveness. The complex coordination of nine institutions permitted organizers to draw on a pool of expertise that no one college or university could hope to contain. The unusual blend of research, activism, and art encourages all participants to think outside their personal assumptions and the conventions of their fields. Finally, the organizers hope to draw an audience of specialists and non-specialists alike. Asencio reminds us that knowledge about sexuality is hardly confined to those who make a profession of its study. Everyone, Asencio argues, is engaged in a critique of current sexual conventions. The conference is simply the space where such knowledge can be shared, rethought, and transformed.

LOCATION: UIC FORUM, 725 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL

SPONSORING UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES:
Chicago State University
Columbia College Chicago
DePaul University

The Graduate Center, CUNY
Northwestern University
Roosevelt University
University of Chicago
University of Connecticut at Storrs
University of Illinois, Chicago

Conference Website: http://condor.depaul.edu/~rsp2008/info.html

For more information, contact:  racesexpower08@gmail.com

Gender Notions-Between A Rock And A Hard Place

The plight of women and girls in India can only be described as between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand women from middle class and affluent backgrounds are encouraged to pursue their ambitions without regard to their gender. Women can be found amongst the ranks of physicians, engineers, and even airline pilots. I have the impression that as long as a woman gets married and bears children her professions is of little consequence. I find it extremely odd that high level academic administrators, government officials and the like privilege “Mrs.” in their titles before all other titles they may hold including “Dr.”, “Commissioner” or even “The Honorable”.

The predicament and treatment of women and girls in the lower castes becomes even direr because they may carry the burden of the caste and perhaps a darker hue. Illiteracy influenced by patriarchy and misogyny can literally make for a deadly combination for many women in this country.

I have observed Indian children of both genders of varying backgrounds and caste fawned over and doted on by their parents and family members with such affection to a degree I don’t see in the states. But make no mistake about it male children are highly prized and femicide and foeticide in some parts of India have reached epidemic proportions.

It seems the primacy of males is taught from birth. While searching for educational toys for a group of Mahim district youth whom I first visited in 2005 and who seem to have adopted me in 2006, I spotted this children’s book for young children learning to read. Judging from the cover of the book I presumed it would appeal to both boys and girls. Imagine my indignation upon noticing the invisibility of girls in all the subject areas. But to my absolute dismay the section on word opposites included this photograph illustrating the difference between beautiful and ugly.

Nuff said.

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Check out Oleander Circle, a new group of writers and lesbian artists from Trinidad & Tobago. Download project-oleander.pdf for more details.

Sadly two bystanders were killed in the riot and there has been a mass exodus of over 10,000 North Indian migrant workers attempting to avoid the violence. It’s all political muckary and foolishiness. Westerners might be confounded by how Indians accept these types of events as being typical of the political environment and if possible won’t let it disrupt their daily routine. It’s all about timing and being well informed.

I weighed all the risks, checked in with my colleagues and friends, monitored the news reports and finally made the decision to trek to Pune. The flight to Bombay and Jet Airways coach ride to Pune was pleasantly uneventful.

I’m glad I made the decision to travel here because it provided another opportunity to confront my notions of safety and security and to see more of the landscape. It’s nice to return to Pune a laid back mid-size city.

The sunny weather of Bombay combined with a comfortable coach ride that included a feature length movie and snacks lulled me into a deep slumber. I almost missed getting off the coach because there weren’t any announcements and the coach attendants seemed reluctant to disturb me.

Jet Airways provided the coach service because the Pune airport is closed for revamping. Passengers were dropped off at various points in the city. I awoke one stop before the last one. And, without missing a beat I got off the coach and boarded an autorickshaw with luggage in tow to my hotel. Voila!

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Fifty rupees is equivalent to $1.26 USD. Fifty rupees will purchase a 1-2 mile taxi ride. You KNOW the dollar is weak when the Indian rupee starts gaining on it!

It Isn’t Bollywood But It Sure Is Drama!

On the eve of my departure from New Delhi to Pune via Mumbai (Bombay) I received this rather alarming email message informing me of the unrest in my next two destinations. The flight to Mumbai didn’t concern me so much as the 4-hour coach ride onward to Pune. You see, Indian rioters preferred method of demonstration is to torch, as in burn baby burn, buses and trains!

Is this hyperbole in effect or type casting the next scene?

Stay tuned.

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You’ve Got Panic!
13 February 2008
Hi Ms Skye

Well I have received your email, but as you must not be aware of the situation in Pune due to a Political Riot the situation is got out of control and its worst in Mumbai. So hence if you can just call us once your leaving on sirs mobile, so that he can guide you how to take it forward thanks.

13 February 2008
Hello Varsha,

Oh wow! No I was not aware of the riots.
The hotel staff has advised me to go to the airport in the morning and take the advice of the Jet Airways officials as regards proceeding to Mumbai and Pune.
The staff said Jet Airways would cancel the flight in New Delhi and possibly the coach ride from Mumbai to Pune if deemed too dangerous. Apparently the rioters are attacking government buses and official vehicles. I will check into a hotel near the Delhi airport if the flight is cancelled.
I am not carrying a cell phone so I will have to locate a phone when I arrive in Pune. I will phone upon my arrival.
Inshalla it will all work out.
Regards,
Skye
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Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

Peaceful Co-Existence In Gurgaon.

“Very Welcome Delhi”

I arrived in New Delhi during Basant Panchami the puja and festival time honoring the Hindu deity Saraswati. In the sacred text of the Rig Veda she represents a river and the deity presiding over it. Saraswati is also identified with Vaach (speech), perfect speech that denotes intelligence. An apropos greetings being that the purpose of my trip is to conduct informational seminars at colleges.

Very welcome Delhi is the spontaneous greeting the fellow wearing the brown jacket gave me after insisting I take he and his friend’s photograph, imperfect speech perhaps but heartfelt nonetheless. Of all the countries I have visited India is absolutely my most favorite place. The genuine warmth and generosity of Indians never ceases to warm my heart.

First time visitors might be put off or even shocked by the chaos, crumbling infrastructure, pungent odor of burning cow dung, harrowing traffic, and calcophy of sound and gritty poverty. It is precisely this discomfort and strangeness combined with Indian hospitality that makes visiting India an exciting and transformative experience.

This is my 6th annual visit to New Delhi and I still have to adjust my perceptions and suspend judgment when I encounter the unfamiliar. For example when I arrived at my hotel at 2:00 am on a darkened narrow unpaved road. The sight of what appeared to be an abandoned hotel greeted me, the lobby was dark as is most of the building due to energy conservation. The building directly across from the hotel appeared to be in ruins. I booked this hotel on the Internet and thought that perhaps I had made very bad mistake and would be staying in a dive. I was pleasantly surprised by the size and appearance of my room.

The hotel and the neighborhood looked completely different in the light of day. The hotel staff has been exceedingly gracious and accommodating. It feels like I’m staying in someone’s home.

Stay tuned for upcoming dispatches from New Delhi, Mumbai (Bombay) and Pune.

Chant peace.
[sw 2.12.08]

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I’m ambivalent about the places I’ve visited in Mexico largely in part because I have traveled there for business not leisure. From the moment I board my connecting flight in Dallas/Fort Worth and notice the flight is nearly full with American white male and Mexican male subcontractors and multinational workers I brace myself. 

On a previous trip and this trip I found myself unexpectedly challenged by the potential “isms” I would have to confront if I weren’t mindful of the brutal violence against women, particularly violence perpetrated against unattached independent women. The expressions of over the top patriarchy, sexual repression and religious dogma put me in check and thus dampens my travel experience.

First and foremost as a woman I didn’t feel safe in Monterrey or any of the places I transited or visited in Mexico, Secondly as a dreadlocked out lesbian I REALLY don’t feel safe and possibly in harms way. I know it’s a big country but I’m talking about deeply ingrained and institutionalized sexism and racism like some mess out of the Jim Crow south!

It seems to me the threat of violence lurks just barely below the surface. Hence I found myself on edge and somewhat anxious in Leon, Mexico City and Monterrey during my first visit a few years ago and once again on this trip. The internalized racism, colorism and classism I’ve observed amongst Mexicans are just too much for me. I don’t feel very well equipped to deal effectively with the cultural dissonance and in such a manner that would enable me to be a gracious traveler and visitor.

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These photographs were taken from the trans bay bus on the Oakland Bay Bridge. I was headed to the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco to pick up my travel visa. I thought about the wintry weather I may have to endure in Shanghai and Beijing next month. For now my heart is warmed with the thought of traveling to India soon for more agreeable temperatures. Stay tuned for dispatches.

Chant peace.

[sw 2/4/08]

Monterrey, Mexico!

Attention Bargain Shoppers
The National Black Lesbian Conference early bird registration results in an $80.00 discount. Now that’s a bargain!

Big Up Zuna Institute for keeping our communities connected.

Maximum respect.

Announcement
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Zuna Institute’s National Black Lesbian Conference, the only event of its kind, is the preeminent assembly of Black Lesbian activists, educators, community organizers, and professionals. The National Black Lesbian Conference provides attendees with opportunities for leadership development and skills-building, business development, professional networking, and continues to develop and expand our platform for future advocacy. The past three conferences have fostered an environment and provided a space where hundreds of Black Lesbians have convened to enhance their skills through a holistic approach to well being, receive information, commemorate each other, and network with like-minded members of the community.

CONFERENCE THEME:
Time To Be Renewed — renew your commitment to family, community service, activism, and health awareness. Renew at NBLC 2008.

CONFERENCE LOCATION:
The Conference will be held at the red rock Casino Resort Spa
11011 W. Charleston Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89135

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION:
Early registration $195.00 until March 31
Standard registration $275.00 April 1st until June 30th.
Onsite registration $325.00
Includes all conference sessions, Banquet, Sunday Brunch, and Entertainment.

Direct Link to Registration:
http://nblc.eventbrite.com