Blog posts by Sokari Ekine: 2008
Seasons Greetings
By Sokari Ekine | 21 December 2008, 14:00
I am planning to make some changes in the new year as one does. Part of that change is I will stick to blogging on my own blog - Black Looks - in an attempt to reduce my online presence…
Intersexuality - XXY
By Sokari Ekine | 16 December 2008, 11:08
In XXY, a film from Argentina, Alex, the film’s protagonist, is a 14 year old intersex child who comes face to face with society’s prejudice.1 The close knit community of this small fishing village is populated by people this child would have viewed as neighbours. However because of the child’s intersexuality which in this case shows a female bodied child gradually turning male which is suggested abundantly throughout the film.
Charity Porn
By Sokari Ekine | 11 December 2008, 19:10
They’ve sent some porn actresses to Kenya, and filmed them having sex with impoverished local Africans for their Naked Continent series. The production company, Natural High, has proudly proclaimed that the director made an $11,000 donation to a local charity, and will donate another $10 for the purchase of every DVD of that particular film.
16 Days Against Violence Against Women
By Sokari Ekine | 28 November 2008, 10:01
November 25th marked the beginning of this years “16 Days Against Violence Against Women”. Black Women’s Rape Action Project have issued a press release regarding the UK government’s obligation to provide protection to women seeking asylum from rape and other forms of sexual violence.
Read '16 Days Against Violence Against Women'
Coming out for animals
By Sokari Ekine | 25 September 2008, 12:25
Why do queer activists in Uganda but animal activists in the USA bear the brunt of police suppression in their respective countries? Are they similarly subversive of “cultural” practices that turn out to be critical to the maintenance of state power?
I’m a sexworker and I’m not a victim
By Sokari Ekine | 24 September 2008, 21:29
In “I’m a sexworker dont take away my livelihood”, Lara responds critically to the “Brothel Report” by the Poppy Project (research into the UK sex industry in London. which goes to great lengths to paint sexworkers as women who are forcibly trafficked, drug addicts, drunken victims of pimps. Lara’s story which is one story but no doubt there are as many Lara’s as there are sexworkers with vastly different experiences challenges this stereotype of sexworker as victim
Read 'I'm a sexworker and I'm not a victim'
Child prisoners in UK detention centers
By Sokari Ekine | 11 September 2008, 13:07
For years the British government has tried to cover up the truth of what happens to women and children in detention centers such as Yarlswood. Now Sir Al Aynsley-Green, who is the Children’s Commissioner has exposed the reality for children in Yarlswood, nonetheless the government is refusing to change it’s policy towards asylum seekers in general and the detention of children in particular…
Read 'Child prisoners in UK detention centers'
Stamping on the Chosen Few: Township Soccer in London.
By Sokari Ekine | 1 September 2008, 19:41
Sport is continuously being assigned to a non-political space but no-one lives in a bubble - sports people or LGBTI people . The arrival in London of the Chosen Few (CF), a team of young out Black lesbians from the township of Soweto coming to play in the London 2008 IGLFA World Championships tournament, which is overwhelmingly dominated by white gay men, is very much a political event. An event in which the only other three lesbian teams have a total of three Black players, and where the CF are stomped and fouled upon with some outrageously poor and unprofessional refereeing.
Read 'Stamping on the Chosen Few: Township Soccer in London.'
Chavez enters EU immigration debate
By Sokari Ekine | 27 June 2008, 17:51
In a fightback from the post colonial commons, Hugo Chavez of Venezula is threatening to withhold oil and prevent EU investments in Venezula should the EU go ahead with the new immigration law - the “Returns Directive”. In a televised…
Read 'Chavez enters EU immigration debate'
Sending asylum seekers home with instructions to “be discreet”
By Sokari Ekine | 24 June 2008, 14:46
In an outrageous statement against LGBTs and asylum seekers, UK’s Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith claims gay and lesbian asylum seekers can be deported to Iran (and other countries such as Nigeria, Uganda and Cameroon) safely as long as they are “discreet”.
Read 'Sending asylum seekers home with instructions to "be discreet"'
“Shoot lezitabane” Drag Queen, Daisy Dube
By Sokari Ekine | 12 June 2008, 15:47
It seems it is so easy to move from name calling to drawing a gun and shooting someone simply because they are different, different sexualities, different nationalities, different races. The murder of Daisy Dube is under investigation but like so many previous murders, rapes and acts of violence, the perpetrators remain free sometimes even to taunt their victims on the street, in the corner shop, in the HIV clinics.
Read '"Shoot lezitabane" Drag Queen, Daisy Dube'
Racist hate in Russia
By Sokari Ekine | 13 May 2008, 11:39
Just over two years ago a friend of mine Kayode Ogundamisi wrote a piece “Are you a Black man? Don’t go to Russia” in which is spoke of the racism experienced by African students in Russia….. It is a shame…
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