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Thursday, October 23, 2008
Police prepare for unrest
"Police departments in cities across the country are beefing up their ranks for Election Day,
preparing for possible civil unrest and riots after the historic presidential contest," Alexander Bolton writes in The Hill. "Public safety officials said in interviews with The Hill that the election,
which will end with either the nation's first Black president or its first female vice president, demanded a stronger
police presence. "Some worry that if Barack Obama loses and there is suspicion
of foul play in the election, violence could ensue in cities with large Black populations. Others based the need for enhanced
patrols on past riots in urban areas (following professional sports events) and also on Internet rumors. "Democratic strategists and advocates for Black voters say they understand officers wanting
to keep the peace, but caution that excessive police presence could intimidate voters."
1:52 pm est
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Latin America and Africa: The need for closer cooperation by Sabella Ogbobode Abidde Almost every country in the world has one or two segments of its population with
traces of African ancestry. Though time and intermarriages may have blunted these historical and biological facts; still,
it is safe to say that all humans once lived in a Black-World. Scientifically at least, we know that human origin and its
eventual diffusion, began in Africa. But beyond this, there is the issue of slavery. As a result, one can speak of the Afro-Caribbean,
the Afro-Latino, the Afro-Asians, and the Euro-Africans, the African-Americans and the continental Africans. And others. In the Caribbean and in Latin America for instance, the African presence is primarily due to the Trans Atlantic
Slave Trade. There are various estimates, but it is widely believed that between 1450 and 1900, some 15 million Africans arrived
in the plantations of the New World. Brazil was the primary destination with about thirty-five percent of the slaves. This
historicity accounts for why Brazil has the highest number of Blacks outside of the African continent. To the
aforelisted, we add the four percent that was taken to British North America (later the United States of America), twenty
percent to the Spanish colonies, eighteen percent to British West Indies, and the rest scattered in the Danish, Dutch and
French colonies. With such a large population of Blacks and people of Black ancestry in Latin America (and in neighboring
Caribbean), one wonders why the political, cultural, and historical ties between both spheres are not as developed and as
enriching as it should be. Africa’s relationship with the Caribbean is much better; but with Latin America,
it is different: it is as if Latin America is not aware of Africa, and Africa too is not aware of Latin America. Most Latin
Americans I have met readily confesses to knowing very little about Africa. The little they know is shaped by centuries of
misconception and stereotype. And for that matter -- except for Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina -- most Africans also know very
little of Latin America, save in relation to their being soccer power houses. read more
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