Showing posts with label RACISM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RACISM. Show all posts
13 Oct 2009
8 Oct 2009
14 Feb 2009
14.2.09
Evarist Chahali
FASHION INDUSTRY, RACISM
No comments
“Some casting sheets actually said ‘No Blacks,”’ the 19-year-old model Shawn Sutton was saying on Friday, backstage at the Duckie Brown show in the Bryant Park tent. He was referring to the model castings at the recent men’s wear shows in Milan. “It was pretty brutal and, yeah, it was racist,” he added. “But things opened up a lot by Paris, so I paid it no mind.”Mr. Sutton was one of 24 models in a show whose casting, for once, reflected some ethnic diversity. It is early days in New York’s Fashion Week, but already there are signs that the recent industry habits of exclusion may be undergoing a shift. Call it the Obama effect, if you will...MORESOURCE: NYTimes
8 Nov 2008
- 8.11.08
- Evarist Chahali
- RACISM, TREVOR PHILIPS
- No comments
US President-elect Barack Obama would never have become the British Prime Minister because of "institutional racism" in the Labour Party, the head of Britain's equality watchdog has claimed. Skip related content
Trevor Phillips (pictured above), chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, told The Times: "If Barack Obama had lived here I would be very surprised if even somebody as brilliant as him would have been able to break through the institutional stranglehold that there is on power within the Labour Party."
He said the Conservative Party had made more progress when it came to its selection procedures than Labour.
He said: "The parties and unions and think-tanks are all very happy to sign up to the general idea of advancing the cause of minorities but in practice they would like somebody else to do the business. It's institutional racism."
He added that he opposed all-black shortlists but said "positive action" was needed by all parties.
His views were supported by Adam Afriyie, Conservative MP for Windsor, who said he did not believe he would see a black PM in his lifetime.
But Sadiq Khan, Labour MP for Tooting, disagreed and predicted a black or Asian Labour PM would be elected in his lifetime.
A Labour Party statement in response to Mr Phillips said it continually reviewed its procedures to ensure its elected positions reflected British society.
A spokesman for the party said it has a "proud record of promoting ethnic minority candidates".
SOURCE: Yahoo! News
6 Nov 2008
- 6.11.08
- Evarist Chahali
- ABORIGINES, AUSTRALIA, RACISM
- No comments
By Kathy Marks
Nearly four years ago, an Aboriginal man named Cameron Doomadgee was escorted into the police station on Palm Island, off the coast of North Queensland. A healthy 36-year-old, he had never been in trouble with the law. An hour later, he was dead.
Mr Doomadgee had been involved in a scuffle inside the police station with the arresting officer, Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley. An autopsy found Mr Doomadgee had four broken ribs, a ruptured spleen and a liver "virtually cleaved in two". The injuries were described as similar to those of a car or plane crash victim.
There have many such deaths; a Royal Commission even investigated the phenomenon 20 years ago. Its recommendations have not prevented Aborigines from continuing to be arrested and imprisoned at a far higher rate than white Australians. Thanks largely to the efforts of certain journalists, Mr Doomadgee's death wasn't just another black death in custody, of which there have been many. There was public outrage. One Aboriginal leader likened it to the murder by South African police of Steve Biko, the anti-apartheid activist.
Queensland – governed for two decades by a despotic right-wing premier, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, with the assistance of an often brutal and corrupt police force – is still known as Australia's Deep North. And there are few spots worse than Palm Island, founded as an Aboriginal penal colony and nowadays a byword for dysfunction and despair.
Sgt Hurley's conduct was investigated by his friends; he even collected the detectives from the airport. He denied assaulting Mr Doomadgee, saying he must have fallen on him. The coroner decided Sgt Hurley caused the fatal inj-uries by punching him. However, no charges were laid.
Uproar ensued and the case was reviewed. In June last year, Sgt Hurley stood trial on the mainland, where an all-white jury acquitted him of manslaughter. The verdict was greeted with jubilation by police officers, who had staged rallies in support of Sgt Hurley, claiming he had been "hung out to dry".
Eight months later, prime minister Kevin Rudd apologised to indigenous Australians for their past treatment, vowing that "the injustices of the past must never, never happen again". On Palm Island, people were still grieving for Mr Doomadgee – and for his son, Eric, who hanged himself in 2006, and for Patrick Bramwell, another islander who comforted Mr Doomadgee as he lay dying in his cell. Mr Bramwell hanged himself last year.
In parliament, Mr Rudd spoke of "unfinished business". Over the past 12 days, the loose ends of the Palm Island saga have been tied up. A community leader, Lex Wotton, was convicted by an all-white jury of inciting the riot that erupted after Mr Doomadgee's post mortem. And 34 Queensland police officers – the largest single batch ever – were awarded for their bravery during that riot.
Mr Wotton could be jailed for life. Sgt Hurley, who was suspended on full pay for two years, has returned to the police service and been promoted. He received a £40,000 payout. An inquiry into allegations that he ran over an Aboriginal woman's foot and then drove off concluded that he should receive counselling. Sgt Hurley has yet to be counselled.
Those who believe that Australia has cast off its racist past, or that a black man's life counts for much here, or that Mr Rudd's apology in February has improved the lives of ordinary Aborigines, would do well to reflect on recent events on Palm Island.
SOURCE:The Independent
13 Oct 2008
23 Sept 2008
- 23.9.08
- Evarist Chahali
- DAILY MAIL, RACISM
- No comments
According to the DAILY MAIL
Black farmer quizzed by police THREE times on suspicion of stealing food from his own field
By Andy Dolan
Last updated at 6:13 PM on 22nd September 2008
Huckled: Farmer David Mwanaka with part of his latest crop
A police force sent four squad cars to question a black farmer in his field after receiving reports that a thief was stealing maize - the third time in less than a week that officers had questioned the man.
David Mwanaka, 42, told yesterday how he was reported to the police by people 'who are not used to seeing a black man working in a farmer's field', after he was repeatedly quizzed at the farm where he rents land.
Mr Mwanaka, who is originally from Zimbabwe, was quizzed for half an hour and searched, while officers also checked his van.
He also had to call the white farmer, from whom he rents his field in Rothley, Leicestershire, before police were finally satisfied that he wasn't stealing food.
On the third occasion, four patrol cars arrived to quiz the farmer as he was picking maize from his crop.
The father-of-three was with wife Brenda and another worker when police first approached him on the land on a Saturday morning as he picked maize.
'They asked me what I was doing and I told them I was cropping my maize', he said. 'They said they couldn't believe me so they asked me for my ID and they did some checks on my vehicle.
'Then I had to call the local farmer, from whom I rent the field, to come and help me with the situation. He was able to tell them who I was and explain that I was renting the field from him.
'Then on Monday morning the same thing happened again. Some officers came over again and said, "We've got a report that you are stealing maize".
'I had to go over the whole thing all over again, proving my ID and convincing them that I was genuine.
Police interest: Mr Mwanaka was visited by police three times in a week after 'ignorant' neighbours thought he was stealing crops
'Then on Wednesday I was in the field when I heard a lady police officer saying, "Hello, hello", so I went over to her and she said she was looking for a thief.
'There were four police cars there, I couldn't believe it. I explained to the officer that I wasn't stealing maize, that I was a farmer but I had to go over the same process again all over again to prove that I was telling them the truth.
'It was a waste of time on my side and for the police. They should have shared the information about this and communicated better.'
Mr Mwanaka, who has a contract to supply white sweetcorn to Sainsbury's stores in the London area, added: 'They (the police) said the people who reported me had said there was a black man stealing food from a farmer's field.'
He believes he is one of just two black farmers in the country.
The incidents earlier this month are the first time in the five years he has rented the land that he has been bothered by the police.
He also rents several fields in Enfield, North London,and commutes to his crops from his home in Basildon, Essex.
Smallholder: The farmer rents his fields near Rothley, Leicestershire, from a white farmer. He also grows crops in north London
He said once someone driving past one of his fields in London shouted to him, 'What are you doing to that farmer's crop - leave our food alone.'
Mr Mwanaka was a journalist in his home country but moved to Britain legally in 1991, initially to study. He insisted he was not offended by the incidents, which he put down to 'ignorance'.
He added: 'If it was the same person calling the police each time, that would be racist. The police haven't told me who has been making the reports, but I suspect people have just become concerned because they are not used to seeing a black man in this area.'
He farms mainly white maize - the crop he grew in Zimbabwe. But he also grows pumpkins, sweet potatoes and sweetcorn.
A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said they had 'a duty' to respond to every call made by the public reporting a suspected crime.
He said: 'Police were called to land off Mountsorrel Lane in Rothley at 9.47am on Saturday, September 13 after a report of a suspected theft.
'Two further calls regarding suspicious activity on the land were received at 8.32am on Monday September 15 and 8.30am on Wednesday September 17.
'On all occasions, officers attended the scene and, after initial investigations they were satisfied there were no suspicious circumstances.'
The National Farmers Union said they did not keep any statistics on black farmers.
A spokeswoman said: 'Farming is traditionally a very white male-dominated industry but we have seen more women coming into it over recent years, and there is no reason why that won't happen with people from ethnic minorities.'
The best known black farmer in Britain - thought to be the only other one than David Mwanaka - is Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones,50, who is the Conservative Party candidate for Chippenham, Wiltshire.
He has his own branded lines of food such as sausages marketed under the name The Black Farmer.
The father-of-three was born in the West Indies, brought up in the Midlands after coming to England with his family when he was three years old and now farms in Devon.
The government ministry responsible for farming, Defra, said they did not keep statistics on black farmers either.
A police force sent four squad cars to question a black farmer in his field after receiving reports that a thief was stealing maize - the third time in less than a week that officers had questioned the man.
David Mwanaka, 42, told yesterday how he was reported to the police by people 'who are not used to seeing a black man working in a farmer's field', after he was repeatedly quizzed at the farm where he rents land.
Mr Mwanaka, who is originally from Zimbabwe, was quizzed for half an hour and searched, while officers also checked his van.
He also had to call the white farmer, from whom he rents his field in Rothley, Leicestershire, before police were finally satisfied that he wasn't stealing food.
On the third occasion, four patrol cars arrived to quiz the farmer as he was picking maize from his crop.
The father-of-three was with wife Brenda and another worker when police first approached him on the land on a Saturday morning as he picked maize.
'They asked me what I was doing and I told them I was cropping my maize', he said. 'They said they couldn't believe me so they asked me for my ID and they did some checks on my vehicle.
'Then I had to call the local farmer, from whom I rent the field, to come and help me with the situation. He was able to tell them who I was and explain that I was renting the field from him.
'Then on Monday morning the same thing happened again. Some officers came over again and said, "We've got a report that you are stealing maize".
'I had to go over the whole thing all over again, proving my ID and convincing them that I was genuine.
Police interest: Mr Mwanaka was visited by police three times in a week after 'ignorant' neighbours thought he was stealing crops
'Then on Wednesday I was in the field when I heard a lady police officer saying, "Hello, hello", so I went over to her and she said she was looking for a thief.
'There were four police cars there, I couldn't believe it. I explained to the officer that I wasn't stealing maize, that I was a farmer but I had to go over the same process again all over again to prove that I was telling them the truth.
'It was a waste of time on my side and for the police. They should have shared the information about this and communicated better.'
Mr Mwanaka, who has a contract to supply white sweetcorn to Sainsbury's stores in the London area, added: 'They (the police) said the people who reported me had said there was a black man stealing food from a farmer's field.'
He believes he is one of just two black farmers in the country.
The incidents earlier this month are the first time in the five years he has rented the land that he has been bothered by the police.
He also rents several fields in Enfield, North London,and commutes to his crops from his home in Basildon, Essex.
Smallholder: The farmer rents his fields near Rothley, Leicestershire, from a white farmer. He also grows crops in north London
He said once someone driving past one of his fields in London shouted to him, 'What are you doing to that farmer's crop - leave our food alone.'
Mr Mwanaka was a journalist in his home country but moved to Britain legally in 1991, initially to study. He insisted he was not offended by the incidents, which he put down to 'ignorance'.
He added: 'If it was the same person calling the police each time, that would be racist. The police haven't told me who has been making the reports, but I suspect people have just become concerned because they are not used to seeing a black man in this area.'
He farms mainly white maize - the crop he grew in Zimbabwe. But he also grows pumpkins, sweet potatoes and sweetcorn.
A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said they had 'a duty' to respond to every call made by the public reporting a suspected crime.
He said: 'Police were called to land off Mountsorrel Lane in Rothley at 9.47am on Saturday, September 13 after a report of a suspected theft.
'Two further calls regarding suspicious activity on the land were received at 8.32am on Monday September 15 and 8.30am on Wednesday September 17.
'On all occasions, officers attended the scene and, after initial investigations they were satisfied there were no suspicious circumstances.'
The National Farmers Union said they did not keep any statistics on black farmers.
A spokeswoman said: 'Farming is traditionally a very white male-dominated industry but we have seen more women coming into it over recent years, and there is no reason why that won't happen with people from ethnic minorities.'
The best known black farmer in Britain - thought to be the only other one than David Mwanaka - is Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones,50, who is the Conservative Party candidate for Chippenham, Wiltshire.
He has his own branded lines of food such as sausages marketed under the name The Black Farmer.
The father-of-three was born in the West Indies, brought up in the Midlands after coming to England with his family when he was three years old and now farms in Devon.
The government ministry responsible for farming, Defra, said they did not keep statistics on black farmers either.
19 Sept 2008
Ni jambo lililo wazi kwamba miongoni mwa wasiotaka kumuona Obama akiingia White House ni pamoja na wale wanaompinga sio kwa sera au uwezo wake bali asili yake (weusi wake).Katika hili kuna weupe wengi na weusi wachache,lakini wote ni wabaguzi wa rangi.Kwa weupe hao,kuongozwa na mtu mweusi ni jambo lisilofikirika kwao.Akilini mwao,mtu mweusi hajafikia hatua ya kuongoza taifa hilo.Kwa weusi wachache,Obama si mwenzao.Ni mtu wa tabaka tofauti na wao.Ukaribu wake na weupe unamtenga na wao.Makundi yote haya mawili yanaongozwa zaidi na hisia kuliko akili.Ni wazembe flani.Hata hivyo,hawa si wa kupuuzwa japo ni vigumu kuwabadili misimamo yao.Kuhusu namna suala la race linavyoweza kumuathiri Obama,SOMA MAKALA HII.Soma na HII kuhusu McCain anavyochomekea ishu za race.
17 Mar 2008
15 Mar 2008
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