Stories about Ethnicity & Race from April, 2023
‘Jamaica Farewell': Harry Belafonte passes away and the Caribbean tries to find adequate words of tribute
"There are not enough words to say how GREAT this man is and the giant contribution he has made during his life in music, film, human rights, Black rights."
End of Ramadan in Taipei shows role of Islam in Taiwan's diplomacy
Though it only makes up about one percent of the population, Taiwan's Muslim community represents an asset for greater visibility and engagement with the Middle East, where China dominates.
‘Overseas Chinese writer is now a label’: Interview with youth author Xia Zhou
Overseas Sinophone writers tend to continue writing in Chinese no matter what, according to young Chinese author Xia Zhou who now lives in the US.
How do Mandarin Chinese-speakers reference their own language in Mandarin Chinese?
Mandarin Chinese-speakers have about a dozen terms to describe the different spoken and written forms of the language, offer alluding to various cultural or political affiliations.
Sri Lanka's proposed anti-terrorism law aims to curb civil protests
There is growing dissent within Sri Lanka against the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), which is intended to replace the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the accompanying bill.
‘History of love in the country of hatred': influencers detained in Russia for LGBTQ+ ‘propaganda’
Apart from widespread censorship, the Russian "anti- LGBT propaganda" law leads to unprecedented pressure on LGBTQ+ people and the organizations helping them.
Russian decolonisation and Eurasia: An imperial legacy? Risks and opportunities for Tatarstan
Public attention to political and economic inequality in Russia’s regions, stirred by the debate on decolonisation, represents a welcome and much-needed development
‘Until Russia's colonial mindset changes, it will pose a threat': Interview with Buryat activist
Despite claims by the Kremlin that it is fighting colonialism, any attempt to point the finger at long-lasting Russian and Soviet imperialism is severely crushed in Putin's Russia.
Why do Western governments delegate border control to AI more and more? An interview with Petra Molnar
Many Western governments delegate border control and refugee crisis management to private companies that rely more and more on AI and technology, in effect dehumanizing people on the move.
Ravaged by war, Ethiopia’s Afar minority face lengthy recovery during peace
Ethiopia’s ethnic Afar minority number about two percent of Ethiopia’s estimated 119 million population and are mostly pastoralist.
Mongolians celebrate and fear for an 8-year old boy as Dalai Lama names him their next spiritual leader
Mongolia has got not only a spiritual leader but a powerful trump card with which it can influence relations between Tibet and China.
Unseen dangers: Landmines plague Yemeni women
The crisis of landmines in Yemen compounds the existing humanitarian crisis, causing tragic deaths and disabilities, particularly among women and children, highlighting the urgent need for attention.
What does it take to revitalize a dying language?
Researcher and writer Uday Raj Aaley, together with resource person and the only fluent Kusunda speaker Kamala Sen Khatri, is on a mission to revive the language, once deemed moribund.