Stories about Migration & Immigration from September, 2011
Cuba: The Reality of Prison
A former political prisoner blogs about his experience with the Cuban jail system, here.
United States: Increase in Poverty Rate Amongst Hispanics
The American economy is at a standstill and seems stuck on that plateau. The poverty rate is affecting more than 46 million people, 15.1 percent of the population, according to the latest Census figures. Minorities, and Hispanics in particular, are amongst the most affected.
Cuba: Jailed Activists
Uncommon Sense continues to keep a close eye on three members of the Damas de Blanco who were arrested recently, as well as political prisoner Sara Martha Fonseca, whose son was allegedly attacked after trying to obtain information about his jailed parents.
Cuba: Female Prisoner on Hunger Strike
Pedazos de La Isla uploads a video showing “what happened on Saturday, September 24th, to Sara Marta Fonseca Quevedo and other dissidents who were peacefully protesting”, while Uncommon Sense notes that Fonseca has since begun a hunger strike.
Cuba: More Arrests Post-March
More reports of activists being arrested in the wake of a peaceful protest march that took place this past Saturday.
Cuba: “Damas” Targeted Again
The Ladies in White were once more targeted this weekend for their “planned march to a church to honor Our Lady of Charity on her feast day” – bloggers have a lot to say here, here, here, here and here.
Jamaica: Gratitude to Garvey
In his ongoing effort to petition President Obama to exonerate Marcus Garvey, Geoffrey Philp says: “Marcus Garvey's cause was justice, plain and simple. And it is ironic that unjust methods were used to malign his good name and to bring about his eventual imprisonment on fraudulent charges.”
USA: The Real and Digital Unite for Latin American Literature
La Casa Azul - an online bookstore - has recently announced it is going to collaborate with a new bookstore located in Washington Heights, New York. Word Up (@wordupbooks) has two goals: to spread Latin American literature and independent bookstores.
Hong Kong: Migrant Domestic Workers
Foreign domestic workers constitute 3,763,000 total workforce in Hong Kong. However, their rights are very often neglected. “Open door” a support group for FDW posted an article addressing the situation at inmediahk.net.
Russia: Racial Propaganda in the State-Owned Media
Drawing on a rich tradition of "political technology" honed under both the Tsarist and Soviet police states, the Russian media are now rife with paid stories planted to advance specific agendas. Will Partlett examines what appears to be a recent example of this practice.
Trinidad & Tobago, U.S.A.: Troy Davis’ Execution
Trinidadian bloggers share their thoughts on the Troy Davis execution, with Afrobella saying: “I’m not here to rehash the facts of the Troy Davis case or to analyze the details of the social media outcry or the last minute attempts to save his life. I just know I’m not the...
Cuba: “Damas” March Tomorrow
Uncommon Sense will have his eye on Cuba tomorrow as “the Damas De Blanco (‘Ladies In White)…participate in a march and other ceremonies commemorating Our Lady of Mercy, the patroness of prisoners, a fitting celebration for a group committed to advocating for the release of Cuban political prisoners.”
Guyana, Jamaica: Possessed by Strong Narrative
“My favorite short stories work like cinematic vignettes…connecting in some major way with narrative voice…is for me the key component to enjoying short fiction”: Litblogger Charmaine Valere says that Jamaican author Lorna Goodison's new collection of short stories “continues in the tradition of presenting narrative voice as a key element…”
Cuba: A Blogger Says Goodbye
Boris Leonardo Caro says goodbye to Cuba and to his blog El rumor del elefante [es].
Cuba: Parents Detained; What Happens to Child?
Uncommon Sense calls the “countless number of children [who] have been separated from their families…one of the regime’s more unforgivable sins” and goes on to highlight the plight of a two-year-old boy whose parents are allegedly “in jail because of their active opposition to the Castro dictatorship.”
Jamaica: Acts of Creation
“I think that is part of the reason that we look behind in the toilet bowl. We want to see exactly what it is we have created”: Under the Saltire Flag writes a scatological post that will, astonishingly, get you looking at creativity from a different angle.
Cuba: Milanes’ Miami Concert Stirs Controversy Among Cubans
On August 27th, Cuban music legend Pablo Milanés performed in Miami, marking his first concert in South Florida since the 1970s. On Cuba-focused blogs and news sites, bitter disagreement over the event’s political significance reverberated throughout the weeks surrounding Milanés’ performance.
China: California Hotel adapted by a cook
A Chinese kitchen worker adapted the song California Hotel and sang in his farewell party. The video was uploaded in youku and echoed by thousands of people. China Hush translated the story and the lyrics of the Chinese version song.
Mexico, USA: Triqui Indigenous Migrants Defenseless Against Crime and Police Questioning
The Triqui indigenous people of Mexico living in the United States as undocumented immigrants are easy targets for robberies and police questioning because they often don't speak Spanish or English –Ismael Flores in Vivir México [es] reports.
Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: Bocas 2012 Literature Prize
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp is excited about “the second OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, which will reward the best Caribbean book published this year with a US$10,000 prize.”
Cuba: Hunger Strike for Human Rights
Pedazos de La Isla posts an interview with Rufina Velazquez, speaking out on behalf of her activist father, who has been on a hunger strike to demand respect for the human rights of all Cubans.
