Leather from Human Skin
In the 1880s, in Philadelphia, "birthplace of America," some white locals used the skin of black people to make clothes, including shoes.
Politics
The Undemocratic Alliance
South Africa's second largest political party, the Democratic Alliance, exhibits the same paranoia as does the ruling party when it comes to dissent.
#WhiteHistoryMonth: When Marlon Brando brought up Native American rights at the Oscars
In March 1973, Marlon Brando won the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in “The
When Salazar met one of Lumumba’s murderers
António Oliveira Salazar founded Portugal’s New State dictatorship in 1933. Some Portuguese still remember him fondly.
Aimé Césaire on Europe
"At the end of capitalism, which is eager to outlive its day, there is Hitler. At the end of formal humanism and philosophic renunciation, there is Hitler."
Instagramming Africa
An interview with Peter DiCampo and Austin Merrill, founders of the Instagram project, Everyday Africa.
#WhiteHistoryMonth
Every February here schools, McDonald’s, television, corporations, the advertising industry, celebrate Black History Month. The whole
Finding the Afro- in Brazil
Last week I wrote a post about my excitement around the African musical permutations I was
Cape Town Pride’s Race Card
What happens when a corporate model of Pride is used to homogenize and silence those without privilege and power?
Cape Town’s Pretend Partnership
Cape Town's goals: designing a more tourist-friendly European City, while keeping the unwanted and unsightly on the other side of the mountain.
The passport that does not pass ports
The story of African migrants entering the Eurozone by sea is basically indecipherable as it is told in global and national media reports, because they are described only as helpless victims.
Africa is more queerer than you think
Both in and outside of Africa, there is an argumentative frenzy around the instability of gender and sex and non-conforming performances of gender.
The other news from Uganda this week
Here’s the `other’ news from Uganda this week. Dateline: Kampala: “Police have warned the public against
Bloomberg’s welfare addiction
Bloomberg Africa evokes Ronald Reagan's "welfare queen" stereotype for poor South Africans.
The Congolization Movement
Creating spaces where artists related to the Congolese diaspora can freely tell their side of the story.
The vulgarity of homophobic thinking
The writer, Chimamanda Adichie, lines up the homophobic arguments against rights for gay people and knocks them down one by one.
Are Nigerians the New Asians?
Amy Chua's racist nonsense about "model minorities," peddling the lie that elites are on top because they're better.
Going to the Mall in Brazil
Since last December, Brazilian shopping malls have become the stage for a new style of youth
Did I ever tell you about that time a guy followed me in the NYC subway and offered me $40 to touch my leg?
Real talk: Who else is tired of gender/race swapping to make a point about racism/sexism? I
How to deal with uncomfortable journalists
If a journalist reports on the unsavory parts of Nigeria, attack them on Twitter. For reporting while white. There's no comeback when you bring race into it.