Showing results by author "Patricia Williams" in All Categories

One of five children, Pat watched as her alcoholic mother struggled to get by on charity, cons, and petty crimes. At age seven, Pat was taught to roll drunks for money. At 12, she was targeted for sex by a man eight years her senior; by 13, she was pregnant. By 15, Pat was a mother of two. Alone at 16, Pat was determined to make a better life for her children. But with no job skills and an eighth-grade education, her options were limited. She learned quickly that hustling and humor were the only tools she had to survive.

The Temptations' heritage, influence, and contributions to American culture and the global music landscape is undeniable. The group produced some of the greatest music of our era and it transcends generations. Through the years, the group's trademark razor-sharp choreography, finely tuned harmonies, and compelling vocals made them the exemplars of the Motown sound. Their story is one of courage, struggle, triumphs, setbacks, and ultimately, international superstardom.

For his birthday, Gus' mom sends him to karate camp with his best friend Bean. When Gus and Bean arrive at camp, Billy the bully is there, too. Gus hopes Billy won't ruin his birthday fun.

When Gus and Beto go to gather farm vegetables for Thanksgiving, Beto brings his camera along so that he can finish a homework assignment.

There are so many kids in line to see Santa. How will he ever remember Gus? With a little imagination, Gus figures out the perfect way to get Santa's attention. But in the end, Gus gets even more than that!

For Valentine's Day, Gus really wants to give his mom something special. But his gifts don't go exactly as planned. Will Gus have a card, candy, or flowers ready on the big day?

With the Halloween parade just days away, Gus needs a costume. After all, having the best costume means Gus gets the prize. The only problem is that Gus can't march. Will his best friend Bean have the answer to this sticky situation?

The dangers of war are behind him, but not the memories, the guilt-driven, never-ending memories.

The story of slavery in America is not over. It lives on in how we speak to one another, in how we treat one another, in how our societies are organised. In Giving a Damn, the legal scholar Patricia Williams finds that when you begin to unpick current debates around immigration, freedom of speech, the culture wars and wall-building, beneath them lies the unexamined history of enslavement in the West. Our ability to dehumanise one another can be traced all the way from the plantation to the US president’s Twitter account.

columnist who regularly contributes to The Nation and The Village Voice, Patricia J. Williams is also a professor of law at Columbia University and the recipient of a MacArthur “genius” award. In Open House, she shares her unique views on modern American culture and tells stories of her remarkable life. Her voice is powerful, provocative, and utterly charming.

From the moment Africans were first brought to the shores of the United States, they had a hand in shaping the country. Their labor created a strong economy, built our halls of government, and defined American society in profound ways. And though the Emancipation Proclamation wasn't signed until 300 years after the first Africans arrived, the fight for freedom started the moment they set foot on American soil.