What should the Indian government do to protect its students?

Australia is a major travel destination for Indian students studying abroad.   In return they generate good revenue for Australia.

Surely, these students have a right to feel safe whilst there.  But after an Indian graduate was stabbed to death at the weekend their safety is being questioned. 

On air: Should we have more of a sense of humour about race?

This act on an Australian TV talent show seems to have offended a lot of people – including an American celebrity on the judging panel. 

“I was black before the election”

We knew it was going to be an Obama heavy week. The President’s comment on yesterday’s Late Show with David Letterman is the latest subject getting you talking. What do you think of his appearance?

Is District 9 racist towards Nigerians?

“…The film clearly denigrated Nigeria’s image by portraying us as if we are cannibals, we are criminals… The name [of] our former president was clearly spelt out as the head of the criminal gang and our ladies shown like prostitutes sleeping with extra-terrestrial beings…”

Do you think this advert is racist?

Get white skin and life will get better: that’s the message to Pakistani and Indian men in this cosmetic advert.  It’s one of several skin whitening television commercials aimed at men in Pakistan and India.

Thanks, to the people at CNN for making this avalible to us on uTube.

Post-racial America: A myth?

It’s Saturday morning and the Newshour team is now on air live discussing the controversy surrounding the arrest of the prominent African American scholar Henry Louis Gates. One of the questions we’re asking is, how has President Obama handled the whole affair? Earlier in the week he said the police acted stupidly, and raised questions about the unfair treatment of black men. But on Friday a complete change of tone: The President said he regretted his comments and was responsible for helping to escalate the situation.

An end to black victimhood?

While we wait for the opportunity to talk to the Taleban, this blog got us talking in the office.

“The claim that, to an extent, the current plight of many black Americans is the fault of black culture. And that culture must now change”

And this. What do you make of it? Should there now be an end to black victimhood?

Talking Points 2nd September

Goodmorning it’s Karnie with you today..Thank you Nelson in Nigeria and Vanessa & Brett in the US for looking after the blog for us.

A UK academic says we are all inherently racist and that racial tolerance is merely skin deep. John Steiner says he will not tolerate Jamaican neighbours.

Is the fashion industry racist?

The next issue of the Italian edition of Vogue is to feature mainly black models. The magazine’s editor-in-chief, Franca Sozzani,  says she is doing it because not enough people in the fashion industry use black models.

Ms Sozzani is the latest person to suggest that the fashion industry is racist.  Is she right? Does it promote a white world?

Talking points for 19th March

Two weeks ago in Gaza there were celebrations that a gunman had infiltrated a Jewish seminary in West Jerusalem and killed eight people.  The Palestinian President condemned the attack, but according to a new poll an overwhelming majority of Palestinians support it and other acts of revenge against Israelis.