Why Bamako is a Must-Watch Film About Justice and Power

Protest against the IMF vs. World Bank

If you’ve ever questioned whether real justice can be achieved through existing institutions, there’s a movie that tackles these exact questions in a unique way: Bamako (2006), directed by Abderrahmane Sissako. Bamako is set in the capital of Mali and features a fictional trial, set up in a backyard, where ordinary citizens and lawyers bring international financial giants like the World Bank and IMF to court.

How Twitter and Teargas Changed My View on Social Media and Social Movements

Künstlerische Collage mit Gesichtern, Kameras und abstrakten Mustern, die soziale Medien und Revolution thematisiert.

Twitter and Teargas, was written in 2017 by Zeynep Tufecki, an academic with Turkish roots and a background in programming. Tufecki’s work dives deep into the impact of digital technologies on politics, and in Twitter and Teargas, she examines how social media shapes collective movements by looking at major examples like the Arab Spring

Miriam Makeba: Mama Africa’s Legacy in Music and Justice

Miriam Makeba spielt Gitarre und singt, gekleidet in ein blaues Outfit mit Schmuck, vor einem bunten, mosaikartigen Hinter...

The life of Miriam Makeba, famously known as Mama Africa. Makeba didn’t just make music—she made a movement. Her unique blend of traditional African music with jazz and pop was like nothing anyone had heard before, and it captivated audiences worldwide.

How Necropolitics Shapes Our View of Global Crises

Drei Personen mit Masken und Kopftüchern in floralen Mustern vor einem dunklen Hintergrund.

Whether it’s Sudan, Iran, Palestine, Congo, or Haiti, many of these crises share a common origin: systems of oppression like colonialism and slavery. Yet, there’s a significant lack of responsibility or accountability from the Western world, even though the roots of these issues are deeply linked to its exploitative history

Toni Morrison: A Literary Giant Who Paved the Way for Others

Porträt von Toni Morrison mit grauen Locken, nachdenklichem Ausdruck und buntem Hintergrund.

Morrison’s impact on literature, particularly for Black women, is undeniable. Black women have always been integral to storytelling, despite often being erased from mainstream narratives. Morrison’s work reminds us of this truth, offering tenderness mixed with righteous anger, complex relationships, and an artistry in writing that continues to influence the literary world. Today, I’d like to share two books that, in my view, carry on Morrison’s legacy of nuanced storytelling and emotional depth.

Reclaiming Documentary Cinema: Turning the Gaze Black & Brown

Drei stilvoll gekleidete Frauen posieren in einer schummrigen Gasse bei Nacht, umgeben von warmem Licht.

However, while Paris is Burning has earned its iconic status, it isn’t without its controversies. The film was directed by Jennie Livingston, a white woman who is of an upper middle class background, who has never been a part of ballroom culture.

The Misuse of Words as Structural Erasure in Liberation Movements

Historische Darstellung der brasilianischen Widerstandsbewegung gegen die portugiesische Herrschaft im 16. Jahrhundert.

Have you ever heard the word quilombo? In South America, particularly in Brazil, it is often misused to mean „chaos“ or „mess.“ But in reality, quilombo refers to communities of formerly enslaved people who escaped and built free, self-sustained societies.

Rechte Unterwanderung und koloniale Tradition des Berliner Schlosses?

Berliner Schloss mit prächtiger Fassade und Kuppel, im Hintergrund blauer Himmel mit Wolken.

Die konträren Debatten über den Gebäudekomplex des Humboldt-Forums / des Berliner Schlosses gehen weiter. Rechte Unterwanderung und koloniale Traditionen – bei diesen Themen taucht ein immer wiederkehrendes Déjà-vu einer sozio-ökonomisch-historischen Amnesie auf. Es ist ein Phänomen der „unschuldigen“ Vergessenheit. Die vergessene Geschichte der christlichen Symbolik am Berliner Schloss/Humboldt-Forum Wir leben im Erbe des Kolonialismus und […]