Category Archives: Racism

A Choice Between Retributive and Restorative Justice

Posted on June 1, 2020 by John Swinburn

How many times will we tolerate hearing “we need to have a conversation about race?” How many times will we enthusiastically assert the possibility that, finally, we have reached the point at which a solution to systemic racism may be … Continue reading →

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On Racism: I Will Miss the Obamas

Posted on January 14, 2017 by John Swinburn

A white person—especially a white man—in the United States today, try as he may, is unlikely to be capable of eliminating racism from his thought processes. Our history and the institutional racism upon which this country was built and on … Continue reading →

Posted in Civility, Philosophy, Racism | Leave a comment

Witnessing Whiteness

Posted on November 6, 2016 by John Swinburn

My wife and I are participating in an educational exploration group designed to help participants “rewire” their visible and hidden racist tendencies. Our involvement in the group arose from a presentation about racism that caused us to acknowledge that, despite … Continue reading →

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Education Trumps Racism: Give Peace a Chance

Posted on August 13, 2016 by John Swinburn

I mentioned at the end of last month that I would participate in an online discussion dealing with racism, with a focus on racism leading to the death of young Black men at the hands of police. My interest in … Continue reading →

Posted in Peace, Philosophy, Racism | 2 Comments

One Hundred Ninety-Nine

Posted on July 18, 2015 by John Swinburn

I just read a piece from the New York Magazine entitled The Hard Truths of Ta-Nehisi Coates. It is the sort of thing one should not read early in the morning if one expects the rest of the day, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Justice, Racism | Leave a comment

Choking

Posted on April 28, 2015 by John Swinburn

I know the streets of large cities are filled with disaffected youths. I understand that their arrogance is hard to accept and harder still to deal with. I realize there’s a massive gulf between my experiences and the lives of … Continue reading →

Posted in Peace, Poverty, Racism, Rant | 1 Comment

Finding Places–Ohio and Beyond

Posted on September 8, 2013 by John Swinburn

We started the trip on Tuesday, August 27, around 11:30 a.m.  We had planned to start it Monday (and before Monday, Sunday and Saturday and the week before…but never mind), but decided for a variety of reasons that we should … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Family, Food, Racism, Regret, Travel | 2 Comments

On Experiencing Blackness

Posted on July 19, 2013 by John Swinburn

I heard today, for the first time in far too long, the words of a wonderfully “presidential” Barrack Obama.  I heard a man explain in a way I hope most people can now, finally, understand, why African-Americans have been reacting … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal Rights, Racism | 9 Comments