2010?

It is hard for me to believe that this month, February 2010, there were so many blatantly racist media and political statements.

I feel so strongly that this country, at its heart, does not want to see minorities succeed. The problem lies in the fact that as individuals, none of us is a bigot or racist, because, we as individuals sincerely feel open and loving of all, but as a culture, we continue to promote and allow privilege and prosperity to remain the rights of white people only.

1. Vanity Fair has looked into its crystal ball and decided that, as far as up-and-coming, cover-worthy female actors for the next decade go, the future is entirely white. Thank goodness there are many magazines that offer more current and realistic images. Gabourey Sidibe— cover girl for the March issue of Ebony is a wonderful actress and will clearly continue to have an exciting career.

She states, "I don't try to live up to the standards of Hollywood or any of that – I know that I'm different and I celebrate it. In a weird way, I kind of really, really love being the alien in the room. I dig it."

2. NYC Homeless Teen Denied Diploma, Missed Regents Exam During Eviction

This story's as sad as it is stupid: Last week Rosa Bracero, a student at Brooklyn's High School for Civil Rights, was required to be at a family meeting at her family's homeless shelter when the test was administered. Though she insisted she needed to leave to take the 1:15 p.m. exam in order to earn her diploma, staffers told her that the family would be denied shelter if the teen left. This talented student, accelerated her studies in order to graduate a semester early and enter the Lincoln Technical Institute (acing the entrance exam with a score of 490 out of a possible 500 on the English assessment) in order to jump-start a potential high paying career.

Though the school allowed her to take the test on Friday, the state invalidated the results because regulations forbid makeup Regents exams without a valid excuse.

Regents officials say she can take the exam again in June, but she can't graduate and begin taking classes the Lincoln Technical Institute. Rosa's mother lost her job as an administrative assistant last April, and they were evicted last month after falling behind on rent.