· February, 2011

Stories about Ethnicity & Race from February, 2011

Jamaica: Nothing for the Youth?

  28 February 2011

“We too busy having dramatic, Days-of-our-lives type enquiries to stop for a minute and realise that this year, more than any other year to date, is all about us. It's about the African people. It's about youth”: Ruthibelle is dismayed that the UN International Year of Youth is not being...

Malaysia: Rally against ‘racist’ book

  28 February 2011

A rally was held by Malaysian Indians in Kuala Lumpur to protest the continuing use of Interlok novel in schools. The controversial book, according to protesters, discriminates against the Indian community.

Cuba: Zapata Vive

  24 February 2011

“The fact that Zapata’s death came about through starvation is one more piece of the hunger we have endured for over half a century”: Crossing the Barbed Wire explains why Orlando Zapata Tamayo's death “was not in vain”.

Georgia: Sex & the EU

  24 February 2011

Social Science in the Caucasus examines the results of a 2008 survey aimed at comparing Georgian social attitudes to those in the EU. The survey, for example, found that 80 percent of Georgians with no family members in EU member states were against the idea of a woman having sex...

Caucasus: Peace Village

  24 February 2011

Tamada Tales, a EurasiaNet blog, comments on plans by an Armenian peace activist to establish a peace building center in a village situated close to the intersection of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Noting that Armenians and Azerbaijanis are “implacable foes,” the blog notes that Georgia has often proven itself to...

Cuba: The Memory of Zapata

  23 February 2011

“Sometimes the end of person cements his name in history forever”: Generation Y blogs about Orlando Zapata Tamayo on the first anniversary of his death.

Azerbaijan: Assimilation Disorder

  22 February 2011

Known for its caustic humor and sarcastic insight, London-based Azerbaijani blogger Scary Azeri touches upon the sensitive issue of cultural (in)compatibility noting how a traditional mindset of her countrymen may seem out of place when living in a foreign country especially as they often find it hard, or refuse, to...

Video: Learning a New Language Through Online Video

  22 February 2011

February 21st is the International Mother Language Day and this year's theme is Linguistic Diversity and New Technologies. With that in mind, we bring you a series of examples of how people are helping others to learn their mother languages using videos and websites.

Jamaica: On “Buju Watch”

  21 February 2011

“Once again the Jamaican nation is on Buju watch”: Active Voice highlights the posts of some fellow bloggers to underscore her point that “Jamaicans are taking this very personally, it is as if the nation itself is on trial.”

Armenia: Blind nationalist hatred

  19 February 2011

Unzipped comments on what appears to be an orchestrated black PR campaign against a local musician in Armenia. One of four finalists in the running to compose the country's entry into this year's Eurovision Song Contest, reports in the local media attack Vahram Petrosyan for considering that Armenian and Azerbaijani...

Australia: Dog-whistling to Islamophobes

  18 February 2011

Australian Opposition politicians have been accused of using dog-whistle politics and courting islamophobes during the last week. Two issues have collided with instant reactions in the blogosphere.

Dominica: First Indigenous Lawyer

  17 February 2011

The Voice of the Taino People Online is proud to tell the story of “Pearl Diane Williams…the first indigenous Kalinago Carib person from Waitikubuli (Dominica) and possibly the Eastern Caribbean to be admitted to the Bar in the Commonwealth of Dominica.”

Caucasus: The Vagina Monologues

  16 February 2011

Georgia On My Mind provides its readers with a comprehensive review of The Vagina Monologues held earlier this week in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital. Controversial as it was bound to be in a region more renowned for its patriarchal values, the event, which included performances from women from Armenia, Azerbaijan,...