The Los Angeles Lakers have lost in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. This makes me happy, not just because I’m an “old school” Chicago Bulls fan, but also because multiple players on the team are represented by Rich Paul. Paul has made a name for himself, in large part, by shaking down small-market franchises for the sake of his star clients. This is not just an outsider's perspective, but an opinion shared by other agents as well. The Lakers losing is schadenfreude as far as I’m concerned — and that makes me feel like there’s some justice in this world after all.
I’ve needed small reminders about the possibility of justice more than usual this week. Why? Well, this week marked the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Wealthy politicians are leading a groundswell movement that seeks to ban or severely limit teaching this sort of history in public schools. Doing this hurts not just Black and brown people, but all people.
Republicans are trying to ban critical race theory in public schools and universities across the nation, but that won’t stop me from using it as a framework. We are committed to bringing you the hard facts: Again, the Lakers lost to the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The stories of the Tulsa Race Massacre are taking a more prominent role in U.S. public discourse. Those two facts are undeniable; how we orient ourselves to the facts is up to us.
I know which side I’m on. Do you?
1. Go Tell It on Chapel Hill
UNC’s tenure denial to Nikole Hannah-Jones is a battle for public memory. By Melissa Florer-Bixler via sojo.net.
2. T.D. Jakes on How White Evangelicals Lost Their Way
“The numbers have dropped, but the trauma has not.” One of America’s foremost pastors reflects on religion, race, and the pandemic. By Emma Green via theatlantic.com.
3. Refusing to Erase the Tragedies of U.S. History
On the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, we are finally confronting our history. By Terrance M. McKinley via sojo.net.
4. Lebron James Agent Is Transforming the Business of Basketball
Rich Paul is known for driving hard bargains for star clients, giving them new power in the NBA. By Isaac Chotiner via newyorker.com.
5. Minnesota Churches Building Together in Year After Floyd’s Murder
In the aftermath, churches began organizing and rallying internally, ecumenically, and in the community broadly. By Gina Ciliberto via sojo.net.
6. The Brewing Political Battle Over Critical Race Theory
Lawmakers are decrying critical race theory and making laws that ban it from being taught in public schools. But do they know what it is? By Barbara Sprunt via NPR.
7. When Conspiracy Theories Come To Church
How to deprogram followers of Trumpism and other extremist cults. By Gina Ciliberto via Sojourners.
8. Robin D.G. Kelley: The Tulsa Race Massacre Went Way Beyond “Black Wall Street”
The Tulsa race massacre only scratches the surface of the ways in which genocidal, state-sanctioned, racist violence has permeated the United States. By George Yancey via truthout.org.
9. Republicans Are Accidentally Suppressing Their Own Voters
Donald Trump’s weird obsession with mail-in voting is doing collateral damage to GOP lawmakers’ illiberal designs. By Timothy Noah via newrepublic.com.
10. Southern Baptist Seminaries Are Choosing Whiteness Over Witness
Inside the denomination’s rejection of critical race theory. By Kenyatta R. Gilbert via Sojourners.
Josiah R. Daniels is associate opinion editor at sojo.net. Follow him on X at @josiah_Rdaniels.
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