The Recent Bombing In America That You Probably Didn't Hear About On The News
I want to help you get the news about domestic terrorism happening in the USA without having to spend hours on Twitter. So here ya go.
The NAACP, whose members are not strangers to violence, was attacked by a domestic terrorist at a Colorado chapter on Jan. 6, 2015. No one was injured. The gas can on the explosive didn't ignite.
Here are some tweets that I think give some important commentary on the incident.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has one historical perspective about the incident.
#NAACPBombing in Colorado Springs first attack on NAACP offices since 1993 http://t.co/SisU44GbWA pic.twitter.com/GzpXKMJNFH
— SPLC (@splcenter) January 7, 2015
Rep. John Lewis, who was beaten nearly to death during a march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in the '60s, was reminded of something.
I am deeply troubled by the bombing in Colorado. It reminds me of another period. These stories cannot be swept under the rug #NAACPBombing
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) January 7, 2015
Questlove, of The Roots and "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon," joins the Twitter "WTF, news?" questioning with a knowing shrug.
wait...there was an #NAACPBombing for real? man...thank god for social media cause i woulda never known otherwise. oh well *shrug*....right?
— Questlove Gomez (@questlove) January 7, 2015
Rashida Jones, with some emotional leadership and a *news article.*
PLEASE everybody, mainly national news outlets, CARE MORE ABOUT THIS, it's barely getting coverage: http://t.co/F0FCESedOr #NAACPBombing
— Rashida Jones (@iamrashidajones) January 7, 2015
Jose Antonio Vargas, famous for his own civil rights fight for immigrants, calls it as he sees it: domestic terrorism in the USA.
Dear news media:Can you please cover #NAACPBombing? This is domestic terrorism.
— Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) January 7, 2015
YouTube star Laci Green on the damage that the bombing is doing to humans and to our country, even though no one was physically injured.
white supremacy is alive and well in 2015. it shouldn't take a bombing to realize it - but it makes it much harder to ignore. #NAACPbombing
— Laci Green (@gogreen18) January 7, 2015
If you want in-depth explanations and perspectives, these members of the media are speaking way the heck up. If you haven't heard 'em, maybe you're not hearing them:
- Elon James White, independent media aficionado and host, AMAZING at Twitter.
#NAACPBombing provides an interesting moment to look at media's role in our society. Who is the media actually providing information for?
— Elon James White (@elonjames) January 7, 2015
- Orlando Jones, an actor you might recognize from TV's "Sleepy Hollow."
If we're gonna overuse a word, let's at least pretend to be consistent/honest in its application. #NAACPBombing = Terrorism. Point. Blank.
— Orlando Jones (@TheOrlandoJones) January 7, 2015
- Derrick Clifton, reporter for Mic.com.
Seriously, we should all be questioning WHY it took a trending hashtag for us to learn about the #NAACPBombing. We know the answer though...
— Derrick Clifton (@DerrickClifton) January 7, 2015
- Erica Tazel, television star of FX's "Justified," brings it all home by reminding us of the big picture.
Absolutely devastating the things we do to each other. The list is LONG, reported or not. Yesterday, NAACP bombing in CO. Today, Paris.
— Erica Tazel (@EricaTazel) January 7, 2015
This is just a start to the coverage. If you're interested in sifting through, Twitter's #NAACPBombing hashtag has you covered.
12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.