Living Race

I've limped along to page 16. And I mean limped. Here is my first paragraph. I don't see why I should be the only one to suffer:

"The recent proliferation of otherness in popular scholarship on race signals a necessary shift in the state of race relations in the United States. The binary opposition that informs the relationship of whites to those who are not white has served thus far only to further widen the chasm that separates both groups. There is more than one side to the issue of whiteness. It is not only those privileged with the biology of skin color who should be held responsible for the quietly salient nature it seems to so steadfastly cling to. Its subtle rise to institutionalized power could not have taken place without the simultaneous subordination of all other racially categorized and powerfully insignificant groups of nonwhites. Indeed, the fact of racial binary opposition is dependent on the actions of the group in the position of power. However, I would like to advance the idea that both sides of the color line are responsible for the development, perpetuation and unfortunate strengthening of the power given to whites based on the simple biological fact of skin color."

It doesn't get any better. The good news is that I have a good chance of "finishing" it by Sunday evening. That is, if I wake up before 1 p.m. I've decided to stay in the room. Actually, it was decided for me. Gray has formed this alliance with me that I never legislated. It's kind of sad. Kim says it's because I'm the closest thing to white besides Gray. Whatever. I get along with everyone. Curses. So I'm staying. It's cool. Niketa and I get along and she'll maybe be famous one day and I can say I shared a room with her. By the way, the Lion King will be released at IMAX theatres on X-mas day. Niketa's in it, you'll remember, as the voice of Young Nala. I'll be going. The other movie she was in, "CB4," was on the other day. I missed her bit part, I guess. She was 10.

So Trent Lott is funny. I don't think he should step down. Having that attitude will expose a lot of the weaknesses of the GOP. And besides, he verbalized probably what a lot of the GOP feels. Shoot, probably what my neighbor feels. I think it's time for a revolution. I just read a Hannah Arendt essay on revolution. The problem is, I'm not willing to die just yet for anyone. So it'll have to wait. Anybody heard of india.arie? She's wonderful. Check her out. I'm gonna try to see her in January at Radio City Music Hall. The problem is, the tickets are $37.50 each. that's a lot for two tickets. But she's great. Buy her music.

I think I've procrastinated enough. Said everything I could possibly think of to talk about in order not to resume my paper. I did laundry yesterday. It's still on my bed. And I discovered the beauty of meatless pastrami. Just head to the health section by the Smart Dogs and you'll find all sorts of meatless wonders. With ample mustard, it's like you're really eating pastrami.