W. Lotus’ Reading List: A Much-Needed Lift

Boy playing in water. Color photo by Wanda Lotus.
22 May 2009, NYC. Photo by Wanda Lotus.

I could use some good news today, couldn’t you? Here are some things I saw on the internet that made me very happy.

  • Some of you may have heard of a seven-year-old Tulsa, OK girl who cried after being told by her school that her dreadlocks were against their dress code. MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry, who rocks in many ways, wrote a beautiful, encouraging letter to young Tiana and to all little black girls like her, who are told their natural hair is “not acceptable”.

  • In recent decades toy advertising has become increasingly genderized, with entire sections of toy stores color-coded and classified as “for girls” and “for boys”. Now the public is beginning to push back on toy makers and advertisers, since a child’s toys have absolutely nothing to do with the child’s genitalia. Toys “R” Us in the UK has responded to such a campaign by promising to stop genderizing their toys, even going so far as showing children of both genders playing with the same toys.

  • When municipal officials in Istanbul painted over the bright, rainbow colors a resident had used to spruce up some old stairs near his home, volunteers repainted the stairs. Not only that, people around Turkey responded by painting other stairs and walkways in other cities in similar fashion.

  • I’m including this video about the amazing camouflage abilities of the octopus, just because octopuses are cool!!!!!

  • 2 responses to “W. Lotus’ Reading List: A Much-Needed Lift”

    1. Kronda Avatar
      Kronda

      I needed this! Thanks!

      1. wlotus Avatar
        wlotus

        So did I, and you are very welcome.