The realism and violence in ’12 Years a Slave’
In a non-sensationalist manner, without super-heroes and special effects, director Steve McQueen allows the viewer not just be horrified, but to empathize too.
Blog
Homophobia in Senegal
While there is no Wolof word for “lesbian,” there are multiple words for the practice of a woman having sex with a woman, or a man having sex with a man.
Musician Umlilo pushes gender boundaries in South Africa
Artists in South Africa continue to push the boundaries of gender norms in popular media. In
‘The Post-Imperial’
I recently shot the short interview, below, with Niyi Okuboyejo, creative director of New York City men’s
Are Nigerians the New Asians?
Amy Chua's racist nonsense about "model minorities," peddling the lie that elites are on top because they're better.
What it means to be Winnie Mandela
Since she has never really spoken about her feelings on the breakdown of her marriage to Nelson Mandela, except to very close friends, we are obliged to speculate.
Political Theater
Robert Mugabe and how how quickly style and showmanship can sweep away an audience, even when the underlying message promotes violence and jingoistic triumphalism.
Elisofon’s Africa
The photographer, Elliot Elisofon's 'choice' of what to see and how was embedded in a visual colonial archive. It was never a unique choice.
Going to the Mall in Brazil
Since last December, Brazilian shopping malls have become the stage for a new style of youth
Did I ever tell you about that time a guy followed me in the NYC subway and offered me $40 to touch my leg?
Real talk: Who else is tired of gender/race swapping to make a point about racism/sexism? I
The most important public intellectual of the last 50 years
In gratitude to Stuart Hall, a socialist intellectual who taught us to confront the political with a smile.
How to deal with uncomfortable journalists
If a journalist reports on the unsavory parts of Nigeria, attack them on Twitter. For reporting while white. There's no comeback when you bring race into it.