It's a familiar scene in fundraising ads: a white-led organization asking for donations, or a white influencer posing with children in a global south country, highlighting their "charity" work. What we're seeing is the instrumentalization of children of color to evoke sympathy, often under the guise of "helping." But this kind of exploitation is incredibly harmful to both the children involved and the communities being represented.
Although France is no longer a colonial power in the traditional sense, it still has territories overseas, like Martinique and French Polynesia. Revisiting these histories through films, especially fictionalized retellings, allows us to gain empathy for people who lived through these times.
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.
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
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.
The trauma of forced migration, particularly on the African continent, is deeply entangled with Europe's colonial history, which was marked by exploitation of both land and people.
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
These powerful photos made global headlines, shining a light on the incredible bravery of these women. However, the news, while essential, often gives us a one-sided view of events. The focus is usually on generating clicks and watch time
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.
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.
