What is Racism?

Racism is a social process. It is a structure in which individuals act in demeaning or exclusionary ways toward people of color in mutual empowering relation with social institutions that dehumanize and inferiorize them. Through the conjunction of both levels of such derogation of people, a white racialized identity is constituted for white people. It is that identity that is socially bestowed upon whites to varying degrees. And its self-generating context is white supremacy.

For individuals, racism takes the form of prejudice, a panoply of pre-judgments of other persons, eliciting certain pre-established attitude toward them. Racial prejudice is not a result of social experience; it is instead the source of experience of real people. Prejudice has non-experiential origins. White people are told who people of color are by other white people, and in particular, by those who instruct them as to what it "means" to be white. Each white child in a white supremacist society is made white through explanations of who black people are. White people are defined through black people. They essentially live in dependency on black people for their identity as white.

When white people encounter people of color, it is through those "instructions," and the stories by which those instructions are concretized. When face to face with an actual person of color, a white person will tend to experience that other as if they were a character in those stories. The gratuitousness and irreality (irrelevance) of such white “pre-judgments” are often astounding. Sometimes, the fear or anxiety is palpable (e.g. when a white woman in an elevator grasps her handbag in both arms when a black man enters). -more-

Development of the Ashby BART station must reverse the displacement of African Americans and the severe housing crisis for low-income, working-class, and unhoused people. -more-

Maryanne Trump Barry, President Trump’s sister, the retired Federal judge warned Americans that her younger brother is a pathological liar. This warning was echoed by Trump’s niece, Mary Trump and Jon Bolton, Trump’s former national security advisor.

In the age of KALJUG, criminals, like Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, , , , are pardoned while scores of African-Americans are languishing in jail charged with extremely minor offenses or the inability to post bail. I hope Americans will examine objective fact-checking that occurred during the convention where there were so many obvious and blatant lies. In addition, we must remember that the White House is a national symbol. It is the “People’s House,” paid for by all Americans; it does not belong to a political candidate like Donald Trump and Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and others who blatantly violated the provisos of the Hatch Act which forbids Federal property being used for political purposes. -more-

Editor's Note: The latest issue of the Pepper Spray Times is now available.

You can view it absolutely free of charge by clicking here . You can print it out to give to your friends.

Grace Underpressure has been producing it for many years now, even before the Berkeley Daily Planet started distributing it, most of the time without being paid, and now we'd like you to show your appreciation by using the button below to send her money.

This is a Very Good Deal. Go for it! -more-

Sally K. Sachs was born in Buffalo, NY, in September 1934, and died on June 26, 2020.

She received her primary and secondary education in Buffalo public schools and was valedictorian of her high school class. She was awarded a scholarship to Syracuse University in New York State. In addition to her academic work, she starred on their College Quiz Bowl team.

In 1955 she married Rainer Sachs and they went on to have four daughters, before divorcing in 1978.

After completing her studies, she and her family spent some years in Hamburg and London , but returned to the U.S, where they lived in New Jersey – first on an army base and then in Hoboken. They then spent four years in Austin, TX, ultimately settling in Berkeley CA. Sally appreciated Berkeley, and was active for 30 years in the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association, serving as president for 2 years.

Sally was employed by the IRS where she worked until her retirement.

Sally had many talents. She liked to sketch and draw, and continued this hobby throughout her life. She was knowledgeable about music and attended many concerts. She enjoyed gardening and grew fruits and vegetables in her yard. She read a lot and retained a great deal of what she read and learned. Sally was independent in her thinking and her actions. She was very straight forward, principled and a good citizen.

She enjoyed travel and made trips within the US, to Europe and to Mexico.

Sally's youngest daughter, Margaret, died in 1995. She is survived by 3 daughters: Anna Magda Sachs, Eliza Sachs and Carol Sachs, grandchildren Olaf Davis and Iona Marsh, a sister Barbara K. Zain and her partner of more than 30 years, Luis Flores.

Sally's life will be celebrated on Monday, September 7. For details of the online event, email sallysachsmemorialATgmailDOTcom

Donations in Sally's name can be made to Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association http://berkeleyheritage.com/ or to

ACLUaction.aclu.org/give/now -more-

Daniel Prude of Rochester New York was slain under heinous and humiliating conditions by local police officers. He was Black and he was having a mental health crisis. Black mentally ill people are often treated worse than white mentally ill people. While I don't have hard evidence to back this assertion, I believe it to be true. And this is based on what I've seen in news coverage and on what I've observed firsthand. -more-

In 1936, Franklin Delano Roosevelt won his second presidential election, garnering 60.8 percent of the popular vote. Until now, that was the largest margin of victory in any presidential contest. But Joe Biden has a chance of defeating Donald Trump by a similar percentage.

Coming out of the Republican National Convention, Trump is at the peak of his popularity. Trump will steadily drive away voters until his base remains -- slightly under 40 percent.

Consider this: 68 percent of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction (https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/direction_of_country-902.html). Biden has an overall lead of 7.3 percent in the polls (https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-general/national/ ). Trump remains unfavorable (43 percent approve versus 52 percent disapprove). Meanwhile Biden has a net favorable rating (46 percent favorable versus 40 percent unfavorable). (https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trumps-favorability-perceptions-covid-19-response-stagnate-post/story?id=72705268) (By the way: Kamala Harris is viewed more favorably than Mike Pence.) -more-

Needed: A Green New Diction

Conspicuous consumption and competitive conflict are so deeply rooted in our cultural DNA that these destructive traits even pop up in the written proclamations of our most esteemed environmental orgs.

Case in point: The Summer 2020 issue of Friends of the Earth's quarterly newsmagazine begins with a front-page, above-the-headline salute to FOE members who "are fueling the fight for a healthy and just world."

Really!? "Fueling the fight"? Double ding!

A Chance Evening Encounter

Last week's evening walk took us through North Berkeley. The streets were mostly empty. No traffic; no walkers. But on our return, several blocks from home, we noticed someone striding purposefully down Monterey. Just before he reached us, he began to turn up a pathway intent on knocking on the nearest door.

Instead, he caught our eyes, greeted us, adjusted his facemask, and introduced himself as Wayne Hsiung, a candidate running to become Berkeley's next mayor. He briefly laid out some of his objectives: Housing for all, Police reform, and the advancing Green New Deal.

Then he wrapped up with a winning political gesture perfectly tailored for these treacherous times—reaching into a bag, he offered us free, complimentary facemasks.

Salesmanship like that is nothing to sneeze at. -more-

In 2012, the French weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo published editorial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. One showed Muhammad flashing a victory sign—with two extended fingers drawn to resemble the burning World Trade Towers. Another depicted Muhammad as a bomb-toting terrorist. Another showed Muhammad with vampire teeth, drinking wine and smoking a cigar. This caused a wave of protests.

In response, in January 2015, the offices of Charlie Hebdo were attacked by Islamic extremists and 12 members of its staff were killed along with the three attackers. Later, a kosher supermarket was attacked. The attacks set off a wave of violence across Europe. Seventeen in all were killed.

Unrepentant, the first cover of Charlie Hebdo after the attack shows the Prophet Muhammad holding a “Je Suis Charlie” sign with the caption, “All is forgiven.” The newspaper printed a record 3 million copies that week, with financial help from Google, Le Monde and other organizations. It usually prints around 60,000 copies. This edition was translated into six languages including English, Arabic and Turkish. The edition sold out in minutes. This edition triggered a mixed reaction but for the most part, Muslims heeded their leaders and remained calm. -more-

Worth Noting:

Eleven City meetings in the coming week on Tuesday, September 8, Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday September 8. The City Council Agenda for September 15 is available for comment and follows the list of meetings.



Measure T1 neighborhood meetings are on Wednesday and Thursday.

Thursday at ZAB 600 Addison will be presented. It is a commercial building project across from Aquatic Park that is planned with over 1000 parking spaces that will wipe out mature trees including redwoods and supposedly dig up a mature oak and successfully replant it at another location.

Comment Deadline 9/10/2020 on new permit request by Berkeley Asphalt @699 Virginia in the Oceanview District from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Over the past years, neighbors have brought complaints against the company for not following their permits and allowing poisonous sulfur admissions to escape, especially dangerous to small children and in-firmed adults. You have a chance to comment on Berkeley Asphalt's latest permit request. Use this url https://www.baaqmd.gov/permits/public-notices/permit-applications-received. Go to Search & Filters at bottom of screen for Date - choose July 2020 City - Berkeley and the 7/10/2020 permit will come up Click on message icon above updated for form to leave comments.



Sunday, September 6, and Monday, September 7, Labor Day Holiday

Record Heat Predicted with wind gusts up to 50 mph – Reduce Electricity Use – High Fire Risk

No City Meetings or Events -more-

it's tragic the pandemic is

the cause of so much pain

the diners here in Berkeley

have been driven near insane

it's life and death to shop at all

and mental health depends

on sharing flights of hot mescal

on patios with friends



Chorus: the wealthy and the privileged

are in so much more distress

lament their inconveniences

and pray for their largesse -more-