Reading List #10 (Patreon)

Texas is a notoriously backwards state. This is just more proof of that fact.  

2. ‘I want to see you naked’: When alcohol flowed, Mario Batali turned abusive, workers say (12/12/17) Maura Judkis and Emily Heil 

It is becoming clearer that no industry will go unexamined when it comes to sexual assault and harassment at the hands of powerful men. One thing I noticed when reading this article is that one component of Mario Batali's patterns of harassment is alcoholism, a problem that plagues not only gourmet chefs, but the food industry. According to this article, the food industry is one of the top 5 fields for alcoholism and illicit drug abuse. 

Another Read: An Open Letter to Male Chefs (Tom Colicchico) 

3. ‘More Black Abortions.’ ‘Neo-Nazis.’ Sharp-edged radio ads target Alabama’s black voters. (David Weigel) 

"....it grabs the listener’s attention with a fictional conversation between two fictional black voters about Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Doug Jones.

“I heard Doug Jones would add even more black babies to the 300,000 already being aborted this year,” a female voice says.

“Three hundred thousand black babies aborted?” a shocked male voice responds.

“A vote for Doug Jones is a vote for more black abortions, no school choice and higher taxes for job creators,” the first voice says.

“So he says whatever he needs to get our votes …”

. . . then keeps us down once he’s elected.”

Bipartisanship really puts black voters between a rock and a hard place. Democrats suck and so do republicans (though with a much more evil edge). In Alabama, black voters are being harnessed by Roy Moore supporters thanks to ads outlined in this article. 

4. A running list of the eyewitnesses who prove Trump’s innocence on sexual misconduct (Phillip Bump) 12/12/17

This title threw me for a loop. 

5. Should History Textbooks ‘Out’ LGBT Figures? (Theresa Harrington) 12/12/17

It was something I honestly never thought about until the recent uproar surrounding Patti Labelle "outing" Luther Vandross (whom gay rumors had followed for years before she said anything). This article weighs the pros and cons. I really want to know your thoughts on this one! Please leave a comment here after you read!

6. The Hate You Give (Angie Thomas)

A great young adult book that I finally got to finish up while on my flight to Los Angeles last weekend. My one complaint: why was the main character's boyfriend white? Why did 1/3 of the plot revolve around Starr agonizing over not being good enough for her wealthy white boyfriend? Why was the author so adamant about weaving that into the story? Was this a projection of the author's own thoughts or desires about interracial dating? I'd love to ask her one day. 

Another Read: “The Hate U Give”: Angie Thomas