· April, 2011

Stories about Ethnicity & Race from April, 2011

Armenia: Pseudo-patriotism and flag burning

  28 April 2011

Unzipped comments on the creation of a Facebook page by some students in Armenia calling for the “virtual burning” of the flags of Azerbaijan and Turkey. The blog says it considers the move one that can only lead to more hatred between Armenia and its two estranged neighbors and is...

Hungary: Hungarian-Roma Tensions Result in Clash in Gyöngyöspata

  27 April 2011

Last night, four people were injured in a clash between ethnic Hungarian members of the far-right group Véderő and members of the Roma community in the village of Gyöngyöspata. Contradictory accounts have been published in the Hungarian media about how exactly the fight started - and neither of the communities has taken responsibility for the clash.

Trinidad & Tobago: Carib Queen Dies

  26 April 2011

Review of the Indigenous Caribbean and The Voice of the Taino People Online acknowledge the passing of Valentina Medina, the Carib Queen of the Santa Rosa Carib Community.

Armenia-Turkey: Suffering on both sides

  26 April 2011

Journalist in Turkey comments on the anniversary of the 1915 massacre and deportation of ethnic Armenians in Ottoman Turkey and says that it was commemorated for the second time in Istanbul this year. It also criticizes the approach taken by activists in the Armenian Diaspora towards the WWI events which...

Hungary: For Gyöngyöspata's Roma, Evacuation – or an Easter Excursion?

  24 April 2011

First, there were the rumors of a right-wing paramilitary group's plans to hold training in the village of Gyöngyöspata. Then came the local mayor's resignation. Then on April 22, some 300 Roma women and children left the village. While media used the word 'evacuation' to describe what happened, government officials claimed the Roma had been taken on an Easter weekend holiday trip.

The Genetic Origin Of Indians

  23 April 2011

Ever wondered about the genetic origins of Indians? Razib Khan at Sepia Mutiny analyzes in details about the genetics of Indians and the South Asians in general.

Bangladesh: Netizens Protest Human Rights Abuse in the Hills

  21 April 2011

Ethnic violence has sparked again in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh between Bengali settlers and indigenous people due to land disputes. The mainstream media have been accused of highlighting the Bengali casualties only and are ignoring the plights of the local aboriginal people. But this time around these minorities have found a voice via blogs and Facebook.

Jamaica: Walcott's Work

  21 April 2011

Litblogger Geoffrey Philp features a poem by Derek Walcott, saying: “I swear, [he] makes writing verse look so easy…a poet whose oeuvre shows a deep love for the Caribbean–its language, landscape and light.”

Guatemala: Maximón and Other Holy Week Traditions

  21 April 2011

The different and special elements of religiosity in Guatemala make Holy Week (in Spanish, 'Semana Santa') quite a unique experience. Somehow the Catholic religion has been "hacked" to incorporate indigenous peoples' gods, goddesses, rites and ceremonies while integrating elements of Catholicism.

Global: Bloggers Take Issue with Anti-Niqaab Punditry

On April 16, 2011, France's ban on the niqaab and burqa went into effect, re-stirring emotions on the subject and sparking protests in the European country and beyond. In cyberspace, bloggers are taking issue with popular pundits on the subject, focusing particular attention on Egyptian journalist Mona Eltahawy's pro-niqaab ban stance.

Argentina: Judge Recognizes Armenian Genocide

  18 April 2011

An Argentinean judge issued a historic ruling in which he condemned the Turkish state for committing the crime of genocide against the Armenian population. Argentina received an important stream of Armenian immigrants fleeing the genocide, whose descendants maintain their customs and traditions grouped under distinct institutions that form the Armenian Collective.

Jamaica: Vampire Humour

  14 April 2011

With the help of Trinidadian artist Christopher Cozier, Active Voice reveals another dimension to the recent Vybz Kartel cartoon controversy.

Armenia: Starlet ‘upset’ about Turkish magazine cover

  12 April 2011

Ianyan comments on attempts by the Armenian lobby in the U.S. to scandalize the use of a photograph of American-Armenian starlet Kim Kardashian on the cover of this month's Turkish edition of Cosmopolitan magazine. Coinciding with the anniversary of the the 1915 deportation and massacre of ethnic Armenians in the...

Jamaica: Cruel Cartoon?

  11 April 2011

Jamaica Woman Tongue has her say about cartoonist Clovis Brown’s recent caricature of Vybz Kartel: “The genuine wit of the stinging editorial cartoon appears to have degenerated into little more than vulgar gutter sniping.”