fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
MongoDB Transaction using NodeJS Driver
By: Onlykiosk Dev Tech
Tags: Transactions, Nodejs, Mongodb

Now, the connection string is done. Next, we prepare the transaction options object.

In total, we set three properties.

The first one is readPreference. We set it to primary. This is also the only value we can set.

Then we set the readConcern. Its value is an object. We set the level property to local. This means the transaction will read whatever is available in the primary node. You can also use snapshot or majority.

The last property is the writeConcern. Its value is also an object. We set the W value to majority.

Next, we create a function and name it transferMoney.

We pass the connection string to it and set the second parameter to amount. We use it to set the amount of money we transfer.

Inside the transferMoney function, we first check the value of the amount parameter. It must be bigger than zero. If not, we console log an error message. We set it to invalid amount value. Then we use return to shut down the function.
MongoDB NodeJS Driver
By: Onlykiosk Dev Tech
Tags: Nodejs, Mongodb Nodejs Driver, Driver, Mongodb

Next, let’s create our first mongoClient instance.

To use the mongoClient constructor, we need to prefix it with the package name which is mongoDB. This is very inconvenient.

A better solution is to use destructure assignment. We directly retrieve the constructor we need from the package and store it in a variable or constant that is under the same name.

It is very important you keep the variable or constant name the same as the constructor you want to retrieve. Also do not forget the curly brackets because destructure assignment is all about pattern matching.

Next, we prepare the connection string. The connection string is a standard universal resource identifier. We start it with the scheme name which is mongoDB.

Then we add a colon and two slashes. Behind the slashes, we add the user name and password and connect them with a colon. Then we add an @ sign and list host names of mongod processes we want to connect to. If you have more than one host name, separate them with a comma.

Behind the last host name, we add a slash and specify the database name that owns the user account we just set. Here, the database name should be admin.

If you need to set connection options, add a question mark behind the database name and set them in the form of key value pairs. For example, if we are connecting to a replica set, we use the replicaSet option to specify the replica set name. The option name and value are connected by an equal sign.
Full Stack Quiz Game with NextJS — My Journey
By: Hugo Lopes
Tags: React, JavaScript, Nextjs, Mongodb

Intro

After being a ReactJS developer for a couple of years now (only on the client-side), I started to feel the need to discover and understand which fullstack solutions are currently available.

One that really stands out is NextJS. It has an incredible 56.9K of GitHub stars. In my opinion, the best way to learn a framework or technology is by creating an example application.

That’s how the Quiz Game project has born. By any means, this is an exhaustive tutorial, preferably an overview of the project’s steps I’ve used to create the game.

Main libs used in this project:

Semantic UI React — React Components lib (these have some custom style override with CSS Modules).

React Toastify — Lib used to add notifications in UI.

@artsy/fresnel — Lib to create media queries components in JSX.

react-query — Lib used to manage async requests made on the client-side.

react-hook-form — React lib used for forms management.

TL;DR:

Github— project source code

Demo — application in production

What is NextJS

NextJS is an opinionated framework made by Vercel built on the top of NodeJS, Webpack, Babel, and ReactJS.

This framework doesn’t require additional configuration to have an optimized application for production. The hybrid approach for rendering is another of the main advantages. The decision between Static Site Generation (SSG) and Server-Side Rendering (SSR) are supported on a per-page basis.

Quiz Game

The idea for this app/game has come up after encountering the Open Trivia API available here. In my mind, I began to see a small application divided into the following sections:

Homepage with the Top 10 players;

players; Authentication pages for Login and Register ;

and ; Game page;

page; Account page will display players statistics and game settings;

page will display players statistics and game settings; About page will display the parsing result of the README.md file.

All these should take into account a responsive layout. But first things first.
A Shout Out to the Westside of Whoville: Why Majority-Black Neighborhoods Exist
By: Kenadie Cobbin Richardson
Tags: Redlining, Housing Discrimination, Segregation, Racial Justice

I am a fan of the Christmas classics, especially from the Temptations, the Whispers, Nat King Cole, and others. I also enjoy old tunes reimagined as hip new grooves by singers such as Chris Brown, Mariah Carey, Fantasia, and Christina Aguilera. However, this year, I noticed a lyric from a Christmas song by Busta Rhymes and Jim Carey, Grinch 2000, that made me reflect on America’s history of housing segregation.

At the end of the song, Carey gives a “shout out to the Westside of Whoville.” Even though this lyric made me laugh at first, I began thinking about America’s oppressive policies that racialized space. The “Westside of Whoville,” then, represents the collection of cities across America that consciously created majority-Black neighborhoods through forced segregation and housing discrimination.

Many people take pride in being raised on the Black side of towns in places such as the Southside of Chicago or the Westside of Detroit, Atlanta, or Las Vegas. While property is a path to accumulate wealth; our residency also creates a sense of belonging and identity. So, pride in our upbringing and shared identity is a good thing. However, we cannot take pride in how low-income neighborhoods of color were created. Black enclaves were consciously designed to put “social distance” between certain ethnic groups and others and sanctioned by federal policy, systemic racial exclusion, and ongoing efforts to restrict the resources and networks that make the American dream affordable and accessible to all.

More specifically, these Black enclaves, also called “the hood,” exist because they have been victimized by bank redlining, real estate steering, restrictive covenants, income inequality, disinvestment, and generational poverty. Without our government’s purposeful imposition on racial segregation, other causes such as private prejudice, white flight, and self-segregation still would have existed but with far less opportunity for expression. Therefore, the Westside of Whoville shares the history of property ownership built on the violent colonization of Indigenous People’s lands, the brutal enslavement of Black people, and America’s broad exploitation of laborers. These dynamics work together to suppress Black economic mobility.

Black homeowners in West Las Vegas

As citizens in this democracy, we bear a collective responsibility to enforce our constitution and rectify past violations whose effects endure today. Whatever routes we or our particular ancestors took to get us to this point, we are all in this together now.
Thank you for your honesty and your recognition that putting a lot of focus on how not to appear…
By: Tara Abraham
Tags: Racial Justice

Thank you for your honesty and your recognition that putting a lot of focus on how not to appear “racist” can detract from actually helping fight for racial justice
#RadicalReadz: Healing Politics by Dr. Abdul El-Sayed
By: The Gathering For Justice
Tags: Social Justice, Racial Justice, Muslim Americans, Healthcare, Politics

For December’s #RadicalReadz, we’ve chosen Healing Politics: A Doctor’s Journey Into the Heart of Our Political Epidemic by Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who became the youngest city health official in America in 2015. As the Executive Director of the Detroit Health Department, El-Sayed realized that in order to build a truly healthy community, he needed to address the underlying inequities that caused the illnesses he was treating. So, in 2018 he ran as the progressive candidate for Michigan governor, championing free healthcare for all. Now with his first book, El-Sayed draws from his experience as a doctor, advocate, and leader to not only diagnose America’s underlying “epidemic of insecurity” but provide a treatment plan. In this widely acclaimed book, El-Sayed explains how we can repair society with empathy, humanity, and bravery. As a pandemic rages and politics become increasingly volatile, Healing Politics is a source of both hope and call to action in this uncertain time.
What if — and this is gonna sound really f**king crazy so just bear with me — what if we don’t let…
By: David Barletta
Tags: Social Justice, Roasted Marshmallow, Racial Justice, Equality, Fire Safety

What if — and this is gonna sound really f**king crazy so just bear with me — what if we don’t let race or gender factor into our decision making processes at all? As in, don’t even consider those details as relaying any useful information.

Like, maybe we can just judge people by the merits of their accomplishments instead of putting their demographics at the center of the dialogue?

I mean, yeah, for sure, if a non-white female co-worker does something impressive, definitely speak up and make sure their hard work is justly rewarded, but like, maybe instead of going out of your way to shower them with accolades because they’re non-white and female, do it because what they did was something genuinely impressive that warrants going out of your way to shower them with accolades?

Do you think that might be less dehumanizing than qualifying all your praise with “and they did it all while being black and female"? Maybe? Just a little?

Is it possible that looking at them as charity cases we can “save” by running our white male mouths for them sorta relies on the demeaning assumption that our white male mouths are inherently superior to theirs, which is lightweight racist as f**k and lowkey insulting?

Do you see how your article kinda reinforces implicit racial biases instead of challenging them yet, or do I need to keep using condescending and sarcastic questatements to beat my way clockwise around the bush?

On an unrelated note, will Medium punish me for describing someone as a “pompous, out-of-touch dumbf**k"? Obviously not asking because of anything to do with you, kind sir. I’m just new at this and insult humor is a passion of mine.
Revenge Will Never Be Justice. On December 10, 2020, otherwise known…
By: Katie Gu
Tags: Racism, Death Penalty, Racial Justice, Brandon Bernard, BlackLivesMatter

An ineffective deterrent to crime

Many advocates for the death penalty argue that it serves as a good deterrent for violent crime. After all, what can be worse than the punishment of death, they argue. The problem with this statement is that it assumes that criminal behavior is always rationally motivated: before committing a crime, a criminal carefully weighs the benefits against the consequences. It fails to consider that many criminals simply act based on their emotions; crimes of passion such as the murder of Steve McNair were motivated by sudden rage. There have also been numerous cases where the perpetrator was impaired by drugs or alcohol, Dale Nelson being one of them. This statement also makes the bold assumption that criminals know the specific penalties for crimes in their locations, which is unfair to assume since they are not common knowledge for people outside of law.

The statistics also show that the death penalty has failed to reduce violent crime; in 2018, the violent crime rate was 30% lower in non-death penalty states than in states with the death penalty. In fact, the South consistently has the highest murder rate yet carries out 80% of executions in the United States.

Most importantly, the death penalty does not deter crime because it does not address some of the root issues that cause crime. Poverty has long been a contributing factor to crime; in desperate need of basic necessities such as food and housing, some unfortunately turn toward theft. The education disparity between wealthy and impoverished cities is massive in the United States, as school districts with the highest levels of poverty receive significantly less funding per capita than school districts with the lowest levels of poverty. The lack of adequate education in poor neighborhoods perpetuates the cycle of poverty. Without a proper education, many youth fail to find jobs that pay a decent living wage. The hopelessness that results from poverty may put these youth at a higher risk for drug abuse and gang membership. Instead of being so focused on gaining vengeance after the fact, our government should focus more on tackling the complex systemic issues that lead one down a path of crime.
Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Celebrates One Year of Reviving Radical
By: Ppgny Action Fund
Tags: Reviving Radical, Planned Parenthood, Reproductive Justice, Racial Justice, Reproductive Rights

One year ago, we gathered with community to speak truth to power at Planned Parenthood of Greater NY’s Reviving Radical — Truth and Reckoning convening. The gathering was the third in a series of events that launched our Reviving Radical framework, created to reckon with our organization’s legacy and transform our relationship with communities of color.

Radical Truth: Truth and Reckoning convening was co-created with Black Women’s Blueprint and overseen by our community and respected reproductive justice and advocates leaders. The gathering centered the voices of our patients and community members who offered powerful testimonies and a vision for how PPGNY can begin repairing our relationship with communities of color. After the convening, we synthesized what we learned, validated our understanding with community and publicly committed to the Reviving Radical Community Mandates. PPGNY has made a public commitment to an intentional, mission-critical process to center equity, especially race equity, across our programs, services, and internal operations.

Here are some of the initiatives that we have undertaken:

We launched an Equity School, an internal racial and social justice training initiative for all staff. To date, we have engaged 130 staff in Equity School. Equity School is a mandatory for all new staff.

We began reckoning with Planned Parenthood’s founder Margaret Sanger by removing her name from our Manhattan Health Center, disavowing her support for eugenics and committing to Reviving Radical Community Mandates and organizational transformation.

We launched a bilingual Reviving Radical Website where community and supporters can track our progress implementing the Reviving Radical Community Mandates.

Who knew that the world would change so dramatically in just a year? Who knew COVID-19 would turn into a global health pandemic, taking the lives of over 260,000 Americans and drastically altering the lives of millions more, especially people of color, exposing the scourge of medical racism, economic injustice, and structural inequities within health care systems? Who knew that during this pandemic, the country would explode in protest over the deaths of unarmed Black people, calling on city and state governments to defund the police? While the world has changed and new challenges have arisen, the work of Reviving Radical that we committed to continues with vigor and necessity.

To learn more, visit the Reviving Radical website.
RESILIENCY IN THE TIME OF A PANDEMIC by Agustín Aguirre Herrera
By: Agustin Aguirre Herrera
Tags: Social Justice, Latinos, Racial Justice, Opinion, Maryland

The coronavirus has shaped humankind in ways that still need to be determined. For example, in industrialized countries, like the United States, the economic gap and wealth inequality has widened since the pandemic. Moreover, the devastating effects of the novel coronavirus among minority groups have intensified existing disparities harming communities of color. For instance, in Maryland, the Latino community has been the most affected ethnic group, especially out-of-status individuals, who in many cases are front-line workers unable to work from home, increasing their chances of getting infected and spreading the virus to others in the community. Additionally, out-of-status individuals are not getting tested to avoid being targeted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Unfortunately, the federal government has continued to target sensitive populations, choosing to ignore the Latino population’s unbalanced reality and its financial and emotional loss during these challenging times.

Nevertheless, local authorities have extended a helping hand to an already struggling community. For example, Montgomery County launched a program named “Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar” or translated in English as “For Our Health and Wellbeing.” The program offers case management services and a Spanish-language hotline to assist community members in need of economic and health assistance due to the pandemic. The proposal, by the Montgomery County Council, was implemented after data showed that Latinos in the county counted for more than 60% of positive tests. Even though local officials’ approach puts a band-aid to the systematic health and social inequalities towards minority groups in the region, some must wonder what the future might bring to an already struggling population.

Researchers have concluded that exposure to stressful environments impacts individuals’ mental and physical health, especially in communities where resources such as affordable and accessible health care are absent. The novel coronavirus has disproportionately affected ethnic minorities in the state of Maryland and the nation, broadening racial injustice and economic inequalities already in existence in an already broken system.

This article was published in the 1st issue of “The Disruptor,” a student journal from the University of Maryland School of Social Work.
Fruitful discussions
By: Alan Kopitske
Tags: Social Issues, College Life, Racial Justice, Bethel University, Books

Fruitful discussions

By Alan Kopitske | Reporter and Theologian

Professor Marion Larson knows what to do. Everyone in the Bethel English and Journalism Department board meeting agrees, this semester should have one more Active Voice meeting, but no one knows what topic to use for it. It’s unusual for a teacher to co-lead more than one Active Voice meeting in a semester, but that’s exactly what Larson and her colleague and friend Professor Susan Brooks decide to do. Ever since Summer 2020s grim events they’ve both been reading extensively on racial injustice, and now seems like as good a time as any to bring that topic to the discussion group. Their idea is accepted without second thought.

The Coronavirus Pandemic forced many friends to be apart, but Marion and Susan were among the inventive crowd that found ways around the isolation. As the school year approached, they saw an opportunity to revive their old reading discussions.

“We knew because of Covid that we weren’t going to see each other as much as we usually do…so Active Voice gave us an excuse to see each other via zoom, get caught up, and talk about books we like.” said Larson.

“I’ve been really thinking about what I put my dollar towards…I wanna make sure I support the small bookstores that fight to make their voices heard.” — Marion Larson, Professor of English at Bethel University.

Between the two of them, 14 different books on the topic were shared as the meeting commenced Dec. 3 at 11:15 a.m. White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo was referenced several times as a great example of “hearing from the voices who are marginalized,” according to Larson.

The message was simple: Hearing and learning is one thing, but taking action is another. Brooks has taken her passion to the classroom more than anywhere else.

“We’ve had some good discussions this semester…not everyone was in agreement, but they were respectful, and I think a lot came out of having them,” she said.

Larson has begun to wield her power as a consumer in a new way, by only paying for books when she wants to support the author or retailer specifically. “I’ve been really thinking about what I put my dollar towards…I wanna make sure I support the small bookstores that fight to make their voices heard.”
Supporting the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs with Silicon North Stars this #GivingTuesday
By: Mary Grove
Tags: Racial Justice, Minnesota, Givingtuesday, Entrepreneurship, Youth Entrepreneurship

Please join us on this #GivingTuesday in supporting an effort close to our hearts, Silicon North Stars.

My husband Steve Grove & I started this nonprofit in 2013 to educate and inspire youth from economically underserved communities in Minnesota towards futures in technology. We primarily serve communities of color and our mission is to level the playing field for access and opportunity.

What started as a passion side project has become a nonprofit that serves more than 120 students, ranging from 9th graders through now to juniors in college. Our students are brilliant, tenacious, and going places. Our students are attending Stanford, Pomona College, the University of Minnesota, St. Cloud State University, and more. Anaa Jibicho was just named to MinneInno’s Entrepreneurs under 25 as CEO as founder of social impact startup Didomi. Robel Zewdie just launched a nonprofit to help students in his native Ethiopia. We started this organization when we were living in Silicon Valley and working at Google, and since moving to MN in 2018 we have doubled down on the organization and honed in our focus on connecting our students with the growing Minnesota tech ecosystem.

This year we launched a college scholarship as well to support our students beyond high school. Jordan Dotson, our first scholarship recipient, is a freshman at the University of Minnesota and has interned at Accenture, Target, and Best Buy.

We would not be here today without our partners STEPUP, Washington Technology Magnet School, Humboldt High School, our incredible team & board.

Please consider supporting our annual end-of-year fundraiser. No amount is too small. Donate via our #GivingTuesday campaign on Facebook or directly via our website.

Hear a bit about our program in the voices of some of our students (I love this video in particular because I can fast forward to 2020 and am overwhelmed by what these students have accomplished):

Thank you for supporting the next generation!
Where do we go from here?
By: Insight Center For Community Economic Development
Tags: Race, Pandemic, Racial Justice, Election 2020, Economic Inequality

By Anne Price, President

As the nation prepares for the transfer of power to a new Presidential administration, we are confronted with uncomfortable truths about our democracy and the social and economic structures of our society. As writer Steve Almond noted, “This election took American democracy down to its studs. What became visible are the deep cracks in our national foundation.”

One truth is that as the pandemic worsens and the economic crisis deepens, pressure to cut public investments in the name of so-called “fiscal responsibility” will intensify. This political approach will result in human suffering, the brunt of which will be felt by those already in precarious conditions. It will fall on those struggling the most, plunging millions of Americans into greater financial precarity and poverty.

The warning signs are already here. New data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities captures the pain of the pandemic in real time. Nearly 26 million adults — 12 percent of all adults in the country — reported that their household sometimes or often didn’t have enough to eat in the last seven days. Over 1 in 4 children living in rental housing live in a household that hasn’t had enough to eat. Nearly 1 in 5 adult renters were not caught up on rent. Black and Latinx families are disproportionately experiencing hunger and eviction.

What we choose to do in response to these crises will either further entrench racial inequities or become a turning point where we begin to reimagine a new set of rules, policies, narratives, and theories of the economy. This is no time to make draconian cuts. Quite the contrary, it is critical that we make massive investments in people and communities and transform institutions that lead to a better quality of life. We must ensure that communities are in charge of their investments and can hold governments accountable.

Insight’s focus on racial and economic justice has been relevant for more than half a century; that focus is now not only relevant but absolutely imperative to address racial and gender inequities in our economy as we approach the next difficult phase of the pandemic and economic crisis. We cannot seek to redefine our collective understanding of “normal” by looking back. We must look firmly ahead — to opportunities to build an economy that works for people of different races and from different places; white, Black, or Brown; Native or newcomer.

Please donate to sustain our work. Your gift will ensure that in 2021 we can continue to push the conversation to ensure race and gender are at the center of our rebuilding efforts to redefine what a truly equitable society can look like, and to reimagine the policies and structures that have undermined our communities for far too long. People built these systems, it is time “we the people” reject, reinvest, and reinvigorate for a better future.
Questions for a Baltimore Journalist
By: Owen Silverman Andrews
Tags: Journalism, Racial Justice, Literature, Interview, Baltimore

For Ron Cassie on the occasion of your interview by WYPR’s Tom Hall about “If You Love Baltimore, It will Love You Back: 171 Short, But True Stories”

Another Way of Seeing the Same Thing

Sean Yoes wrote: “I am a journalist and a student of history; for me, the two are interdependent when telling the story of Baltimore.” (Baltimore After Freddie Gray: Real Stories From One of America’s Great Imperiled Cities)

Q: How do you balance the weight of that history in chronicling Baltimore’s present?
翻譯【數位外交】以城市外交解決警務改革和種族正義
By: 簡單奇妙的珊瑚礁, Polyglot Miao
Tags: Police Reform, City Diplomacy, Racial Justice, Blm, BlackLivesMatter

in The New York Times
It’s Time for An Executive Order for Descendants of American Chattel Slavery
By: Dawn Alston Paige
Tags: Reparations, Racial Justice, Joe Biden, African American, Politics

It’s time for America to settle its debt with Black Americans

Dear President-Elect Joe Biden,

On July 29, 2008, the 110th US House of Representatives passed House Resolution 194: Apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African-Americans.

“Whereas a genuine apology is an important and necessary first step in the process of racial reconciliation;…

That the House of Representatives —

(1)acknowledges that slavery is incompatible with the basic founding principles recognized in the Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal;

(2)acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow;

(3)apologizes to African Americans on behalf of the people of the United States, for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow; and

(4)expresses its commitment to rectify the lingering consequences of the misdeeds committed against African Americans under slavery and Jim Crow and to stop the occurrence of human rights violations in the future.”

Unlike “women, indigenous people, or AAPI” who have had long standing, rollover executive orders in place with their respective constituencies prosperity as their goal such as the “Executive Order — Establishing the White House Council on Native American Affairs”, or “Executive Order on Economic Empowerment of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders” or the “Executive Order on the White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative; “African-Americans” who are descended from American chattel slavery do not enjoy any such initiatives on their behalf despite suffering a household wealth gap of over $800,000 compared to white families.

On November 3rd, 2020, 90% of “Descendants of American Chattel Slavery”, or “African-Americans” voted for Joe Biden. It is only because of their critical votes in battleground states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Georgia that we now call Joe Biden, “President-elect.” In expressing his gratitude, Joe peered into the camera at African Americans and said he’s “got our back”. African-American descendants of American chattel slavery are now calling on the Biden administration to make good on his promise by enforcing the US government’s “commitment to rectify the lingering consequences of the misdeeds committed against African Americans under slavery and Jim Crow and to stop the occurrence of human rights violations in the future.”

Concerned Black American Citizens is calling on Joe Biden to sign an executive order that establishes a two year Reparations Commission and hereby establishes the National Reparations Bureau (NRB) going forward.

Help Concerned Black American Citizens advocate an “Executive Order for Descendants of American Chattel Slavery” in Joe Biden’s First 100 Days.

Dawn Alston Paige, Founder

Concerned Black American Citizens,

An ADOS Political Advocacy Group

November 18, 2020
Diversity is key to advancing technology forward
By: Call For Code
Tags: Code, Racial Justice, Open Source, Technology, Developer

Diversity is key to advancing technology forward

Photo by claybanks on Unsplash

Great technology starts with great code — and achieving great code starts with every individual having a seat at the table. It’s the diversity of perspective, expertise, and experience working in concert that makes transformative innovations come to life.

In response to the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and too many others, Black IBMers, in their pain, frustration, and exhaustion, had a moment of clarity. They had a vision of an America without social injustice — a vision of using technology to help combat systemic racism.

As a result, Call for Code for Racial Justice was born. The movement encourages people across the globe to channel their frustrations about systemic racism in a tangible and authentic way by getting involved. The projects cover areas as diverse as Police & Judicial Reform and Accountability, Diverse Representation and Policy & Legislation Reform.

To improve the diversity in the tech industry and racial tolerance in the country, we need novel, tangible ideas. Check out the latest Smart Talk podcast episode from IBM Distinguished Engineer Lysa Banks, Vice President and Distinguished Engineer Dale Davis Jones, along with Creative Architect Britni Lonesome, to hear what they have to say about their involvement with the Call for Code for Racial Justice global initiative and how listeners can get involved. Learn more here.
The Work Never Stops
By: Liberation In A Generation
Tags: Race, Inequality, Racial Justice, Economic Inequality, Economy

In her acceptance speech, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris said, “Now is when the real work begins.” After four disastrous years and an especially troubling nine months, many on the left are satisfied with the results of the 2020 Election. However, as progressive organizers of color best understand, the real work never stopped, and we at Liberation in a Generation don’t intend to let up now.

Ultimately, racial and economic justice are “the unfinished business of America,” as Danyelle Solomon stated in Episode 4 of our Distancing Racism series. From campaigning for fundamental economic rights to combating corporate concentration, organizers of color have always been relentless when it comes to the fight for liberation. Confronting oppression — in our economy and democracy — is not something that you can put on pause or step away from.

To overcome theft, exclusion, and exploitation, we must push ahead at all times and under all leadership. As a national movement support organization, we at Liberation in a Generation work to release people of color from the stranglehold of racism. This work will never stop until all of us — Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and Pacific Islander people — are free.

Today, we’re proud to announce that Liberation in a Generation has been awarded a grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation as an extension of its commitment to advance racial justice. Their financial support will be put toward our work to dismantle America’s oppression economy, which restrains the lives and livelihoods of Black people and other communities of color. This type of award will not only provide real — and substantial — institutional stability, but it will also allow us to grow and better fulfill our mission in a sustainable way.

And we’re in good company: This investment will be shared among leading nonprofit organizations, including Black Futures Lab, Common Future, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, and SisterSong. The Hewlett Foundation’s advisory council “was inspired by each organization’s approach to building inclusive, antiracist power that centers Black communities and helps people find their own antiracist power,” said Jasmine Sudarkasa, a program fellow.

Systemic racism knows no rest — and neither do we. Liberation in a Generation will remain tireless in the pursuit of racial justice and economic liberation, and we thank you for your continued support.

In solidarity,

Jeremie and Solana
The National Computer Science Education Community Announces 165 New Efforts to Achieve Computer Science for All
Tags: Computer Science, Covid 19, Racial Justice, Technology, Education

New Commitments Reflect Efforts from Schools, Cities, Nonprofits, and Industry to Advance Computer Science Education Across the U.S. and Around the Globe

Today we announce 127 organizations have made 165 commitments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK, NY, NOVEMBER, 17, 2020 — Today, at the virtual CSforALL Commitments Showcase, CSforALL announced new commitments from the CS education community to advance computer science education for all youth, including highlighting promising new work in response to the impacts of the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and racial injustice on the computer science (CS) education movement. The 2020 CSforALL Commitments were announced during a live-streamed event featuring a keynote from notable CS educator Mitchel Resnick, creator of the SCRATCH programming language, computer science education influencers, policy makers, industry leaders, and celebrities, all celebrating and elevating the incredible work being done in this unprecedented year.

As the U.S. continues to grapple with the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and racial injustice in a year full of obstacles and surprises, the need to bring rigorous and equitable CS education to prepare ALL students for a successful future is more urgent than ever. Fortunately, the systems in place to expand that critical access are getting a significant boost today through 165 new commitments from 127 organizations to advance computer science education access and opportunity for youth across the United States and beyond.

#CSforALL commitments are new, specific, and measurable actions aimed at advancing the goal of rigorous and inclusive computer science education for all U.S. youth, and are designed to grow support and momentum for a sustainable K-12 computer science education system in and out of school. Notably 29 organizations listed below have made a #CSforALL commitment annually since 2017. To continue the trend, in 2020, 78 organizations have returned to make a commitment at least twice. The commitments detailed below include investments in 34 individual states, 43 commitments with a nationwide focus, and 5 commitments serving youth around the globe.

Highlights of Today’s Major Announcements Include:
Our Struggle
By: Politics Now
Tags: Racial Justice, African American, Art, BlackLivesMatter, History

Reflection:

After viewing Jacob Lawrence's art many find themselves at a vast reflection point and wonder what racial inequalities still arise in todays world. In todays America the United States is the “majority minority” nation, with the great wealth divide growing bigger every year. The poverty rate among black Americans is 21.8 percent which is dramatically higher than the poverty rate of white Americans which stands at 8.8 percent. Not only are black Americans living in more poverty than white Americans, black Americans also have higher incarceration rates, lower life expectancy, lower incomes, higher unemployment, inequities within the healthcare system, and even higher death rates during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Its easier to refute the reality that there is systematic racism within the United States, but when looking at the considerable evidence it all points to some degree of racial bias across nearly every institution within the United States government. Systematic racism runs through the very core of our nations largest institutions and we can see it almost on a daily basis, as unarmed black men die in the hands of the police.

As racial disparities grow and protests take place across the country it is a matter of time for when these disparities be taken note of and fixed. However, to fix racial injustices in this country the entire system would have to be reformed from the bottom up. That is why it is crucial to keep the fight going, and when you see the art that Jacob Lawrence made just remember, our struggle for justice continues.
#RadicalReadz: Aloha Betrayed
By: The Gathering For Justice
Tags: Indigenous People, Indigenous Rights, Racial Justice, Colonialism, Book Recommendations

To honor Indigenous Peoples’ Month, our #RadicalReadz for this month is Aloha Betrayed: Native Hawaiian Resistance to American Colonialism by Dr. Noenoe Silva. In this book, Silva examines native Hawaiian’s political, economic, linguistic, and cultural resistance to American domination during Hawaiian Annexation in 1887. Drawing from contemporary sources written in the “mother tongue” of native Hawaiians, Silva uplifts the long-ignored experiences of native Hawaiians during Hawaiian Annexation. This well researched and innovative book is a tribute to the plight and perseverance of native Hawaiians and Indigenous people around the world. Furthermore, it is a reminder that for many of us the land we inhabit today is a product of forceful colonization, a fact we should all be mindful of during Indigenous Peoples’ Month and beyond.
It’s utterly true, and yet so difficult to prove.
Tags: Racial Justice

It’s utterly true, and yet so difficult to prove. The hidden nature of racism stalks and undermines all our actions as enlightened white people. As a white man, and an educated one at that, I am dangerously close to pretending I am trapped in my own cultural problems, whereas all the problems of the world are due to my kind. The victimhood can be strong, but then I step into the world of race discrimination and I am rightly hit in the face by real oppression. It’s sobering and motivating.
Minneapolis, a Tale of Two Cities
By: Baher Hussein
Tags: Liberalism, Divided, Inequality, Racial Justice, Minneapolis

Minneapolis once seemed like a beacon for liberalism and The American Dream. New racial and economic realities have put all of this into question. The city now has to grapple with these realties and reimagine itself.

Minneapolis is known for its numerous bike lanes, well-maintained parks, vibrant night life and overall high quality of life, but census data tells an entirely different story. The stark racial inequalities in the City of Lakes has become especially omnipresent after the of George Floyd by a white officer for the Minneapolis Police Department on May 25th.

Minneapolis was once for mixing affordability, opportunity, wealth and diversity. Before this year, the city was well for its business freedom, robust economy, environmental quality and tolerance.

After the killing of Mr. Floyd, parts of the city were quite literally lit on fire — and its troubling past became ubiquitous in the flames of anger.

Systemic inequality is habitual in the Twin Cities. According to the most recent census data, African Americans are over four times more likely to be poor then whites. For instance, the cities Near North neighborhood is 56% Black and has a median household income of just $39,150 — while , a neighborhood in South Minneapolis, is 85.9% white and has an average household income of $99,295.

The city has woken up to these harsh realities and is creating public policy solutions with the intention of remedying these inequalities. In 2019, it became the first major U.S city to end single-family zoning. Now, buildings with up to three units can be built on any residential lot.

City Council hopes that this will incentivize the creation of more affordable housing and will ultimately remedy racial segregation across Minneapolis neighborhoods.

The Minneapolis City Council has crafted refreshingly innovative public policy plans that if implemented thoroughly — the city’s battered reputation would be corrected. It has created the Minneapolis 2040 plan, which imagines a more healthy, sustainable and thriving city for all.

In this ambitious plan, the city wants to tackle deep seated income inequalities and ensure more affordable housing options.
Streaming Service, Philo, Donates $1 Million Dollars In Ad Impression For 20+ Black Owned Businesses And Social Justice Organizations
By: Judith Davis
Tags: Black Owned, Social Justice, Racial Justice, Streaming Service, Philo

Popular entertainment and lifestyle streaming TV service, Philo, is proud to announce its commitment to support Black-owned businesses and social justice organizations by donating $1M dollars worth of ad impressions in 2020. Diversity, equity and inclusion are critical pillars of Philo as a company, and in light of recent events, Philo has used its platform to showcase organizations and businesses that uplift the Black community.

As a streaming service with more than 60 channels, the businesses and organizations have a prominent platform to showcase their work and gain awareness. The ad campaign is featured on Philo’s platform and inserted on channels like A&E, aspireTV, BET, CLEO TV, Food Network, HGTV, OWN, TV One and many more networks. The ad partners are inserted into the “local insertion” advertisement break. This ad break is traditionally used by cable networks and streaming services for their own ad sales placements, therefore, advertisement inclusion does not add extra commercial time for viewers. Beyond the initial ad commitment, Philo’s team has been working with some of the organizations and businesses to create ads utilizing the streaming service’s in-house design team.

“In light of the recent events, we decided to use our platform as a place for good. We opened up our ad inventory space to provide space for discussions about systemic injustice, raise awareness for social good organizations, and provide Black business owners with an opportunity to promote their businesses free-of-charge. Philo is truly TV for everyone, and we want our ad presence on the platform to be uplifting and include diverse representation.” Reed Barker, Head of Advertising, Philo.

Philo’s partners include:

With this latest commitment, Philo hopes to not only support those already hard at work, but also inspire a new wave of change agents. Philo’s ethos of “TV for Everyone” includes valuing the broader community and recognizing the responsibility to help accelerate progress by actively dissolving systemic inequity across the board. Some of that will be achieved through initiatives that align with Philo’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) principles. These include:

A partnership with the National Urban League and The Gathering Spot to create a two-part “Power Lunch Series: How To Build Your Brand”

Working with programming partners and the Ad Council to air anti-racism PSAs across our platform

A commitment to Black-owned content, including the addition of new channel offering, TV One

For more information, check out the Philo website.
Wisdom from “Facing Race 2020”
By: Sarah Mccarthy Grimm
Tags: Power, Racial Justice, Equity, Systems Change, Democracy

Wisdom from “Facing Race 2020”

Drawn from Glenn Harris’s closing remarks

“Where Do We Go From Here? Building a Just Multiracial Democracy”

was the name of the closing plenary of the Facing Race 2020 Conference presented by Race Forward. Glenn Harris outlined that people, cultural, and institutional power must all be built simultaneously to create a system that adequately serves all people in the USA. Right now, the systems are designed to exclude the many and serve only the select few.

“Because of the energy of people saying ENOUGH…we saw the wins that we did” as Judith Browne Dianis asserted.

Enough. Enough nonsensical violence against people who are trying to sleep in their own bedrooms like Breonna Taylor. Enough of denying the humanity of too many people.

“How do we turn success into significance?” -Rev. Dr. William Barber II

The Poor People’s Campaign has a robust moral agenda to shift systems towards justice, to end poverty and inequality, to address the environmental crisis of this moment, to call out unnecessary militarism and to end, once and for all, white nationalism. It is also organizing in tremendous ways to shift the power structures of the entire country, especially where white supremacy still reigns most strongly in the southern states.

We are in the “3rd Reconstruction,” which demands systemic healing and justice.

Both Rev. Dr. William Barber II and Glenn Harris called out the fact that the third reconstruction is underway. The first reconstruction happened after slavery was “ended” by the 13th Amendment in 1865. The second reconstruction was attempted after Jim Crow was “ended” with the Civil Rights Act in 1864. “Ended” is in quotes because aspects of slavery and Jim Crow are still alive in the systems of this country, particularly that of mass incarceration. Now is the time to dig up the roots of this systemic oppression.

“1 out of every 875 Black residents in the USA has died in the last 8 months from COVID-19.” - Eric Ward

Reconstruction has a long way to go, particularly with regards to health justice during this pandemic. It is time to say ENOUGH to a disproportionate number of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color dying during this pandemic without adequate access to compassionate care.

“We can and we will imagine a new future” -Andrea Jenkins

It is no small task to reimagine society in a way that is empowering to all people, excluding none. As Jenkins pointed out, Black Trans lives are the most excluded, and it is imperative to call in the edges of the edges in this movement for life.

Integration is key.

The design of this conference was exceptional. It neither overpromised nor did it demand too much of participants. Participants were led through grounding exercises before each session that prepared the mind to be a fertile ground for the seeds planted by each speaker. Thank you, Race Forward.
RWC Fall 2020 Newsletter
By: Dedrick Asante-Muhammad
Tags: Racial Inequality, Racial Justice

Dedrick Asante-Muhammad focuses on studying and advocating for solutions concerning racial economic inequality and the racial wealth divide in particular.
Open policing is the only way forward.
By: Drew Seewald
Tags: Simpsons Paradox, Police Reform, Racial Justice, Data Science, Machine Learning

Open policing is the only way forward. Last time I was looking for traffic stop data in the US it was wildly inconsistent from state to state on what was available and how it was formatted. Love the time and effort you put into this project regarding something that is at the forefront of our minds!

I’m a huge fan of bringing in additional information to look at more dimensions of thr issue. Are police stopping and searching certain groups more where that group represents a larger portion of the population in an area? Is policing happening more frequently in areas with a high population of these groups, leading to higher rates of stop and searches for those groups?

I think these are other important questions to ask to fully assess the situation. Is Simpson’s paradox playing a role and maybe if we look a different level it is even worse than it appears?