On On May 25th, 2020, George Floyd, a Black American Minneapolis man, was murdered by Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, in broad daylight, in front of numerous witnesses, who recorded the murder. George Floyd was 46-years old. He had two daughters. Chauvin kept his knee on this man’s neck for almost eight minutes while … Continue reading The George Floyd Problem
Category: human rights
Liberty, justice, and toilet freedom for all
While I was studying for my Masters degree, I worked part time as a janitor. It was extremely glamorous. The last school where I worked, Tong High School in Bradford, England, had unisex toilets. I don’t know how common this is, but I’d never seen it in any of the schools I’d been in before … Continue reading Liberty, justice, and toilet freedom for all
Being childfree is not an “interesting debate”
A little while ago, I was talking to my cousin when he said something to me about “When you have children.” I said “I’m not having children.” He was shocked, and said “Because you can’t, or because you don’t want to?” I honestly don’t understand why he was so shocked, because I had told him … Continue reading Being childfree is not an “interesting debate”
The Michael Brown Problem
Unless you’ve been living in a cave in Siberia for the past few weeks, you know that unarmed, black, 18-year old Michael Brown was shot to death by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri on August 9th. The police officer’s name was not released until a week after the incident, during which time it seems … Continue reading The Michael Brown Problem
Detroit citizens transported back to Stone Age
The United States of America. The self-professed “greatest country in the world”; the “land of the free.” Anyone who knows me knows that I would beg to differ. And perhaps, so would the people of Detroit, Michigan. Detroit used to be a bustling metropolis. In the early 20th century, it established itself as the world’s … Continue reading Detroit citizens transported back to Stone Age
When culture fails
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a widespread phenomenon. In the popular imagination, it’s often associated with Islam, or Africa, even though they both Islam and Africa are varied and diverse. While it is true that FGM is practiced in 29 out of 54 African countries, it also takes place in Asia, the Middle East, and … Continue reading When culture fails
Seriously, where the fuck are our girls?
On April 14th, nearly 300 Nigerian girls went missing in Chibo, Nigeria. Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the kidnappings on May 5th. Boko Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, has said that they will sell the Christian girls and marry off the Muslim ones. While journalists in Nigeria were working tirelessly to get the word out, the … Continue reading Seriously, where the fuck are our girls?
Sochi
Sochi 2014 We are one week into the 2014 Olympic Games. I haven’t been paying very much attention, but I will say that the Russian police choir singing Pharrell Williams’ Get Lucky was hands down one of the most awkward things I’ve ever seen or heard in my life. 17- year old figure skater Michael … Continue reading Sochi
South Africa: 2014
2014 is the 20th anniversary of South Africa’s independence, and is also an election year. Although South African politicians often describe the country as a “rainbow nation,” is the term really more than rhetoric used in an attempt to pacify those who speak about persisting inequalities and rampant corruption? Today’s African National Congress (ANC) is … Continue reading South Africa: 2014
Why your new neighborhood is violating other people’s rights
The right to housing is one of the most fundamental rights, and yet it’s no secret that millions of people around the world are going without. While commonly thought of as a developing world problem, the UN Human Rights Commission estimated in 2005 that 100 million people across the world were homeless, meaning that the … Continue reading Why your new neighborhood is violating other people’s rights
Doreen Akiyo Yomoah 