Comments for Duchess Harris http://www.duchessharris.com The Official Website of Duchess Harris Tue, 12 Jul 2011 22:18:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Comment on SISTER LAW PROFESSOR by WJ Moussa Foster http://www.duchessharris.com/2011/07/sister-law-professor/#comment-188 WJ Moussa Foster Tue, 12 Jul 2011 22:18:46 +0000 http://duchessharris.com/2011/07/sister-law-professor/#comment-188 Professor and Friend, let me applaud the courage you demonstrate in addressing the pitfalls of liberalism. They are part of the privilege White liberals enjoy and use, intentionally or inadvertently, to deflect fair and intelligent criticism of their position. I would recommend Dr. Matthew Johnson's recent work, The Tragic Vision of African American Religion, as a visionary approach to the psychology that under girds White liberal resistance to model other their own of social justice. How ironic that the group of people who invented race, exploited the world through racialized colonization and slavery and who owe their current social status to structural, systemic racial affirmative action for White people can now announce the Race is Just an Illusion? BTW this was not the meaning of the series. It attempts to say that the exclusionary power derived from White pseudo-scientific interpretations of race are patently false. Professor and Friend, let me applaud the courage you demonstrate in addressing the pitfalls of liberalism. They are part of the privilege White liberals enjoy and use, intentionally or inadvertently, to deflect fair and intelligent criticism of their position. I would recommend Dr. Matthew Johnson's recent work, The Tragic Vision of African American Religion, as a visionary approach to the psychology that under girds White liberal resistance to model other their own of social justice. How ironic that the group of people who invented race, exploited the world through racialized colonization and slavery and who owe their current social status to structural, systemic racial affirmative action for White people can now announce the Race is Just an Illusion? BTW this was not the meaning of the series. It attempts to say that the exclusionary power derived from White pseudo-scientific interpretations of race are patently false.

]]> Comment on SISTER LAW PROFESSOR by Anonymous http://www.duchessharris.com/2011/07/sister-law-professor/#comment-187 Anonymous Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:53:33 +0000 http://duchessharris.com/2011/07/sister-law-professor/#comment-187 Duch--thanks for your powerful insight. Also, isn't it interesting that we were assigned To Kill A Mockingbird in our Professional Responsibility class? Atticus' moral ambiguity and antiquated perspective was a poor choice for that course. In any event, congrats on finishing your class! Duch–thanks for your powerful insight. Also, isn't it interesting that we were assigned To Kill A Mockingbird in our Professional Responsibility class? Atticus' moral ambiguity and antiquated perspective was a poor choice for that course. In any event, congrats on finishing your class!

]]> Comment on SISTER LAW PROFESSOR by LoloReads http://www.duchessharris.com/2011/07/sister-law-professor/#comment-186 LoloReads Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:40:51 +0000 http://duchessharris.com/2011/07/sister-law-professor/#comment-186 From Anonymous: "In some ways, perhaps many ways, some white liberals are as cemented into their ideas about black people as bigots, they just have different stereotypes they cling to."<br /><br />You hit the nail on the head. The "white liberalism" you speak of serves to maintain systemic status quo, while absolving individual white people of implication in structural racial injustice. Unexamined "white goodness" is the pathological core of this type of white liberalism. Even as I write, I am mindful of the ongoing praxis of freedom from this dynamic--continual reflection, action, more reflection, more action... From Anonymous: "In some ways, perhaps many ways, some white liberals are as cemented into their ideas about black people as bigots, they just have different stereotypes they cling to."

You hit the nail on the head. The "white liberalism" you speak of serves to maintain systemic status quo, while absolving individual white people of implication in structural racial injustice. Unexamined "white goodness" is the pathological core of this type of white liberalism. Even as I write, I am mindful of the ongoing praxis of freedom from this dynamic–continual reflection, action, more reflection, more action…

]]> Comment on SISTER LAW PROFESSOR by Anonymous http://www.duchessharris.com/2011/07/sister-law-professor/#comment-185 Anonymous Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:29:39 +0000 http://duchessharris.com/2011/07/sister-law-professor/#comment-185 Great post cousin! I have been confronting the limits of white liberalism quite personally recently, having joined two advisory boards that are majority white. In some ways, perhaps many ways, some white liberals are as cemented into their ideas about black people as bigots, they just have different stereotypes they cling to. Great post cousin! I have been confronting the limits of white liberalism quite personally recently, having joined two advisory boards that are majority white. In some ways, perhaps many ways, some white liberals are as cemented into their ideas about black people as bigots, they just have different stereotypes they cling to.

]]> Comment on SISTER LAW PROFESSOR by LoloReads http://www.duchessharris.com/2011/07/sister-law-professor/#comment-184 LoloReads Wed, 06 Jul 2011 06:21:39 +0000 http://duchessharris.com/2011/07/sister-law-professor/#comment-184 I think that your critique of Professor Christina Kunz’s comments to your graduating class is a bit harsh, but understandably so. Apparently, you neglected to take Professor Kunz’s first-year course entitled “Gems of Classic American Films and The Law,” a survey course that examines the wisdom of Hollywood films from the 1930s to the 1960s as related to both the law and the law school experience. <br /> <br />Here are some of the film excerpts from the course syllabus:<br /><br />ON THE LEGAL PROFESSION: <br />“The Caine Mutiny,” Lt. Keefer: 99 percent of everything we do is strict routine. Only one percent requires creative intelligence.<br /><br />ON THE LAW SCHOOL EXPERIENCE: <br />“The Wizard of Oz,” Cowardly Lion: Look at the circles under my eyes. I haven't slept in weeks! Tin Woodsman: Why don't you try counting sheep? Cowardly Lion: That doesn't do any good, I'm afraid of 'em. [sobs loud] Scarecrow: Aw, that's too bad. <br /><br />REAL PROPERTY<br />“Gone With the Wind,” Gerald O'Hara: Why, land is the only thing in the world worth workin' for, worth fightin' for, worth dyin' for, because it's the only thing that lasts. <br /><br />POVERTY LAW<br />“The Ten Commandments,” Charlton Heston as Moses: And there shall be so great a cry throughout the land, that you will surely let the people go.<br /><br />FEMINIST JURISPRUDENCE<br />“Some Like it Hot,” Jack Lemmon as Jerry: Look at that! Look how she moves! That’s just like Jell-O on springs. She must have some sort of built-in motor. I… I tell you, it’s a whole different sex! <br /><br />CONTRACTS<br />“A Night At The Opera,” Groucho Marx as Otis B. Driftwood: It’s all right, that’s in every contract. That’s what they call a sanity clause.<br /><br />RACE AND THE LAW<br />“The Jerk,” Steve Martin as Navin: I was born a poor black child.<br /><br />CIVIL PROCEDURE<br />“The King and I,” Yul Brynner as King: Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.<br /><br />CONFLICT OF LAWS<br />“Cool Hand Luke,” Strother Martin as Captain: What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.<br /><br />CRIMINAL LAW<br />“The Diary of Anne Frank,” Millie Perkins as Anne Frank: I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are really good at heart. I think that your critique of Professor Christina Kunz’s comments to your graduating class is a bit harsh, but understandably so. Apparently, you neglected to take Professor Kunz’s first-year course entitled “Gems of Classic American Films and The Law,” a survey course that examines the wisdom of Hollywood films from the 1930s to the 1960s as related to both the law and the law school experience.

Here are some of the film excerpts from the course syllabus:

ON THE LEGAL PROFESSION:
“The Caine Mutiny,” Lt. Keefer: 99 percent of everything we do is strict routine. Only one percent requires creative intelligence.

ON THE LAW SCHOOL EXPERIENCE:
“The Wizard of Oz,” Cowardly Lion: Look at the circles under my eyes. I haven't slept in weeks! Tin Woodsman: Why don't you try counting sheep? Cowardly Lion: That doesn't do any good, I'm afraid of 'em. [sobs loud] Scarecrow: Aw, that's too bad.

REAL PROPERTY
“Gone With the Wind,” Gerald O'Hara: Why, land is the only thing in the world worth workin' for, worth fightin' for, worth dyin' for, because it's the only thing that lasts.

POVERTY LAW
“The Ten Commandments,” Charlton Heston as Moses: And there shall be so great a cry throughout the land, that you will surely let the people go.

FEMINIST JURISPRUDENCE
“Some Like it Hot,” Jack Lemmon as Jerry: Look at that! Look how she moves! That’s just like Jell-O on springs. She must have some sort of built-in motor. I… I tell you, it’s a whole different sex!

CONTRACTS
“A Night At The Opera,” Groucho Marx as Otis B. Driftwood: It’s all right, that’s in every contract. That’s what they call a sanity clause.

RACE AND THE LAW
“The Jerk,” Steve Martin as Navin: I was born a poor black child.

CIVIL PROCEDURE
“The King and I,” Yul Brynner as King: Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

CONFLICT OF LAWS
“Cool Hand Luke,” Strother Martin as Captain: What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.

CRIMINAL LAW
“The Diary of Anne Frank,” Millie Perkins as Anne Frank: I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are really good at heart.

]]> Comment on SEX ED AND THE MAGICAL UTERUS by Camilla Engblom http://www.duchessharris.com/2011/03/sex-ed-and-the-magical-uterus/#comment-183 Camilla Engblom Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:12:03 +0000 http://duchessharris.com/2011/03/sex-ed-and-the-magical-uterus/#comment-183 Dear Professor Harris,<br /><br />when I read this, I thought of a video clip I had seen recently:<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry-LwxR746s<br /><br />She has some suggestions on how to talk about where the sperm and the egg meet. :)<br /><br />Hope all is well,<br /><br />Best Dear Professor Harris,

when I read this, I thought of a video clip I had seen recently:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry-LwxR746s

She has some suggestions on how to talk about where the sperm and the egg meet. :)

Hope all is well,

Best

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