Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies Commons^™

Attack Ads And Big Spending Don't Get To The Real World Underlying Political Campaigns, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

For the 2020 general election campaign, I had a special opportunity to observe my Nebraska communities from a unique viewpoint.

Envisioning Black Feminist Voodoo Aesthetics: African Spirituality In American Cinema, Jessica Knippel

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a book review of Kameelah L. Martin, Envisioning Black Feminist Voodoo Aesthetics: African Spirituality in American Cinema.

Islam, Immigrants, And The Angry Young Man: Laurent Cantet And The “Limits Of Fabricated Realism”, Elizabeth Toohey

Journal of Religion & Film

My paper juxtaposes Laurent Cantet’s films The Class (2008) and The Workshop (2017) to explore how they are infused with concerns about radical Islam and the place of Muslim immigrants in the West. Both films center on "angry young men" facing class-based marginalization, who are prone to anti-social behavior. In The Workshop, however, a great effort is made to reveal the intellectual potential and moral complexity of the young white French-born Antoine, whose alienation is defined by his attraction to the xenophobic and Islamophobic rhetoric of the Far Right, whereas viewers of The Class are kept at arm’s length …

White America May Have Amnesia, But Don't Ask Blacks To Forget, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

In 1775, Patrick Henry spoke to both his fellow colonists and to the British when he said, “Give me liberty or give me death.”

Nearly 250 years later, I too, scream for liberty.

'My Hope Is That John Lewis’ Life Will Be As A Beacon To Our Young", Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Congressman John Lewis was a friend of mine for 40 years. I mourn the passing of my dear friend, who was 80.

Understand North Omaha's Past To Chart The Best Course For The Future, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

As a native of Omaha with years of accumulated wisdom as to the plight of my beloved race, I have a responsibility to speak up during these tumultuous times. I do not have the right, however, to speak for my community. I am observing a tremendous surge of activism and conversation among black Omahans, from our elected officials and organizational leaders to our lay leaders and, most importantly, our young leaders.

The Pandemic Of Racism Has Endured And Grown. It's Time To Listen., Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Noted African American scholar W.E.B. Du Bois more than a century ago wrote of the “peculiar indifference” to the magnitude of human suffering brought about by racial disparities in health outcomes.

The Muslim World In Post-9/11 American Cinema: A Critical Study, 2001-2011, Ali A. Olomi

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a book review of Kerem Bayraktaroglu's The Muslim World In Post-9/11 American Cinema: A Critical Study, 2001-2011 (North Carolina: McFarland and Company, 2018).

Burden, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Burden (2020) directed by Andrew Heckler.

Now Is The Time, Jodi Mcdavid

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Now is the Time (2019) directed by Christopher Auchter.

Run Sweetheart Run, Jodi Mcdavid

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Run Sweetheart Run (2020) directed by Shana Feste.

Kuessipan, Sherry Coman

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Kuessipan (2019), directed by Myriam Verreault.

2019 Black Votes Matter Tour: Comprehensive Report With Data Detail Breakout, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Background: The seed for the Black Votes Matter Youth initiative is as a response to the lack of knowledge of the black history and the civil rights movement. In order for our youth to become effective leaders, they must learn and have respect for their own history. The Black Votes Matter Tour was designed to address this void. Students are chosen from nominations made by various grassroots organizations serving youth, such as the HOPE Center, Avenue Scholars, 100 Black Men, Urban League, Big Brothers Big Sisters and more. In addition to individual donations, we received significant grants from The Sherwood …

Identity In Congress: How Ethnicity Is Shaping Caucus Membership, Michael Herndon

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

There are more than 600 caucuses in Congress, and although most of these groups have little power on the Hill, there are a few that have serious influence and critical roles in policy-making. One such group is the Congressional Tri-Caucus which is comprised of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). Currently, there are over 100 members in the House of Representatives that belong to one or more of these three groups. Each of the three caucuses have legislative priorities that reflect their corresponding racial/ethnic membership. Previous research has explored the …

The 2019 Black Votes Matter Face To Face With Black History Tour, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

For the record, the BVM 2018 Tour exceeded all expectations as to content, impact and outcome. For a complete review, there is a Comprehensive Analysis and Report on the 2018 Tour, available upon request through the BVM Office at 402-905-9305.

Planning and arrangements, for the 2019 Face to Face with Black History Tour, is in full throttle and in the final stages. The 2019 students have been identified and meetings with the nominating groups and parents have been completed. In 2018, we were able to take 40-OPS high school kids on the tour. In 2019, there will be 65 students …

Lapü, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Lapü (2019), directed by Juan Pablo Polanco and César Alejandro Jaimes.

Dolce Fine Giornata, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Dolce Fine Giornata (2019) directed by Jacek Borcuch.

Did You Know That He(She) Had A Stroke?, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Did you know that he (she) had a stroke? The aforementioned, menacing question is being asked in every city, every social circle and every family, every day. Most recently, this haunting question has been asked about me, 76 years-old, 225 pounds, 6’4,” and by all appearances in great health, but I indeed, had a stroke. I had a stroke on the third day in 2019, and I am writing this article because my experience with my stroke and to increase the awareness of my community to the its dangers and to provide some facts and some precautions as it relates …

Face To Face With Black History Tour: A Complete And Comprehensive Trip Report, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Thank You!
Thanks to you, our donors and partners, the 2nd annual 2019 Black Votes Matter Tour exceeded all expectations!
We inspired youth and adults to Learn, Respect, and then Go Make History. We are extremely grateful for all of our donors and ask for your support as we continue to invest in the next generation of youth leadership development.
We are also educating Greater Omaha to greater empathy and understanding of Black History and where our youth fit in the picture.
Will you join us?

Background
The seed for the Black Votes Matter Youth initiative is as a response …

Omaha’S Documented Lynching: Where Do We Go From Here?, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

One of Omaha’s riots occurred September 28–29, 1919. The riot was by white people: it was not a race riot as they were frequently termed and it resulted in the brutal lynching of Will Brown, a black worker(he was also shot, burned and dragged through north Omaha); the death of two white rioters; the attempted hanging of Mayor Edward Parsons Smith; as well as white and black citizens; and a public rampage by thousands of white rioters who set fire to the Douglas County Courthouse in downtown Omaha. It followed more than 20 race riots that occurred in major industrial …

‘Love-Jihad’ And Bollywood: Constructing Muslims As ‘Other’, Nadira Khatun

Journal of Religion & Film

In the postcolonial nation state that is India, cinema has become an important tool for propagating the idea of nationalism. In recent times, one of the most controversial components of Hindu nationalism has been the hate campaign against what is termed as ‘love-jihad’, which is deployed as a weapon to mobilize, polarize, and communalize citizens. The Indian Hindi-language film industry, popularly known as Bollywood, has also become a controversial site. In this paper, I argue that if ‘Indian nationalism’ is to be represented as ‘Hindu nationalism’ and ‘Indian culture’ as ‘Hindu culture,’ it logically follows that this majoritarian construction needs …

Myth And Monstrosity: Teaching Indigenous Films, Ken Derry

Journal of Religion & Film

The past few times that I have taught my course on religion and film I have included a number of Indigenous movies. The response from students has been entirely positive, in part because most of them have rarely encountered Indigenous cultural products of any kind, especially contemporary ones. Students also respond well to the way in which many of these films use notions of the monstrous to explore, and explode, colonial myths. Goldstone, for example, by Kamilaroi filmmaker Ivan Sen, draws on noir tropes to peel back the smiling masks of the people responsible for the mining town’s success, …

2018 Election: North Omaha Voted Like Crazy!!, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

After years of low voting numbers in post 2008 (Obama era), North Omaha voters are fully awake and taking care of business. Years of pounding the streets, Forums, Town Halls, Voter Registration and Education efforts, our first North Omaha Political Convention, finally a commitment of staff and money by the Nebraska Democratic Party, new fresh activism by new and upcoming political leadership like Precious McKesson, Barry Thomas, Kimara Snipes, NOISE and many others, added to the long term work of Black Votes Matter and even the presidency of Donald Trump, North Omaha has gotten the point, that our vote is …

Blackkklansman, William L. Blizek

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of BlacKkKlansman (2018), directed by Spike Lee.

Black Votes Matter Election Endorsements, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Most years our list of endorsements is made up of several very difficult decisions. Not so, this General Elections. Black or white, Democratic or Republican, what and who we think will work with and for this community, we endorse. Because of serious problems we have with National policy, State policy and local issues this was not difficult in 2018.

The Black Votes Matter Tour Banquet, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

In July 2017, we had a vision that was rooted in my experience, research, and observation of our youth. The challenge is that our youth, as wonderful as they may be, and with all their innate potential, by and large, have little or no knowledge of their Black and civil rights history. Thus, our vision.

As many know, the vision was to provide as many youths as possible with knowledge, face to face experience and inspiration, as it relates to that history and the development of future leaders. Our strategy was, and is, a significantly transformative experience by touring many …

North Omaha Voter: Which Excuse Is Yours!! Part 2, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Recently I conducted a scholarly research project for my Master’s Degree class of study at Bellevue University. I wrote two 2000-word papers on my finding. Both papers analyzed finding from a random survey which included an interview question. The survey asked about voter habits, age, race, and reasons for the participant who are not voting, why not. The results were stimulating and I plan to expand on the study this year. The two papers are available from my website: prestonlovejr.com/ blackvotesmatter/case study.

The New Face Of North Omaha, 2018: Our Asian/Karen Neighbors, Part 1, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

On September 21, 2018, I, along with many others, were shocked and dismayed at the disgraceful handling of 500 of our fellow North Omaha neighbors, the Asian ethnic group Karen. These wonderful, loving people, come from an area sandwiched between Thailand and Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. Their plight is tragic because they have been victims of ethnic genocide and warfare in their own country, forced to become refugees in Thailand, in mostly isolated and overcrowded and otherwise horrible conditions. Over 400,000 Karen people are homeless, and with a few exceptions, no access to clean water, electricity, clothing and proper …

Face To Face With Black History, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

June 23, 40 of our youth, specifically OPS High School youth returned from a life changing Civil Rights Tour throughout the South. Memphis, Birmingham, Tuskegee, Selma, Across the Edmond Pettus Bridge, Montgomery (including the new lynching Memorial and Memorial) and Atlanta. They returned different than they left. They returned educated, sensitized, empowered and focused. They are going to be our future leaders. They came face to face with their own Black history. They will never be the same.

Urban Economic Development, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Previously, I have written that there are three emerging issues that will impact north Omaha and require collaboration and engagement with the community, Economic development is priority number one. Included in this article is what I see as the need for our political parties to act on.