I want to say something intelligent about the ongoing Race Fail 09, and the way the debate has been derailed by asshats... but it's been said better and with more understanding elsewhere, and with particular beauty here. For an understanding of what's been going on, take a look at the links that the magnificent rydra_wong has spent so much time and effort in compiling.

All I can add to that is my own personal pledge to try to put my time and money and interest where I believe it would be best spent. 'Scuse me whilst I go check out the SF/Fantasy tag on 50books_poc, and pick up some ideas from this post.