English version below.

SIXT Sommerloch: Supremacy als Werbegag
Veröffentlicht am 30. Juni 2010 von Red. der braune mob
Offensichtlich hat SIXT kein Interesse daran, an Schwarze Menschen zu vermieten – sonst würden sie sie weniger unverschämt instrumentalisieren. Das kann man sch ja für die nächste Mietwagensuche vormerken.

Diese Mail -und damit verbundene Werbung- erreichte uns heute:

quelle: sixt, FAZ
Einsendung dazu:
—— Weitergeleitete Nachricht
Von: Mekonnen Mesghena
Datum: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:10:43 +0200
An: Werberat
Betreff: Sixt-Werbung in der Süddeutschen Zeitung vom 23.06.2010
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

die Sixt-Werbung in der Süddeutschen Zeitung vom 23.06.2010 (siehe Anlage) verkörpert eine ethnozentrische Weltsicht, die rassistisch und chauvinistisch ist. Sixt benutzt die Wohlstandsgefälle zwischen Reich (Deutschland) und Arm (Ghana), um die Überlegenheit Deutschlands gegenüber Ghana zu demostrieren. Diese ewigen Klischees eines armen, chaotischen und unterlegenen Afrikas sind es genau die Bilder, die die Denkweise der Mehrheitsbevölkerung über den Kontinent Afrika prägen. Bei aller Freiheit und Kreativität der Werbung bleibt der ständige Rückgriff auf solche alten und chauvinistischen Klischees abgeschmackt und beleidigend.

Gegen eine solche ethnozentrische Weltsicht in der besagten Sixt-Werbung protestiere ich aufs Schärfste. Den Deutschen Werberat möchte ich deshalb dringend dazu ermutigen, sich mit dem Inhalt der Werbung auseinander zu setzen.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Mekonnen Mesghena
====================
Mekonnen Mesghena
Department Head
Migration & Diversity
Heinrich Boell Stiftung
10117 Berlin, Germany
www.boell.de
www.migration-boell.de
diversity@boell.de
====================
Kontakt zu SIXT:
Mailadresse: InvestorRelations@sixt.de
Sixt GmbH & Co Autovermietung KG , Zugspitzstr. 1 ,D-82049 Pullach
Vorsitzender des Vorstands: Erich Sixt
Vorstand: Dr. Julian zu Putlitz, Detlev Pätsch
Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: Dr. Gunter Thielen
Stellvertretender Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: Thierry Antinori
Aufsichtsrat: Ralf Teckentrup
Tel: +49-(0)89 74444-0 ; Fax: +49-(0)89 74444-86666
Mailformular: http://ag.sixt.de/no_cache/kontakteadressen/kontaktformular/
*
Anmerkung des Mob:
Da der ‘Werberat’ sich offensichtlich vor allem aus Menschen zusammensetzt, die keine Vorbildung in den Bereichen ‘struktureller Rassismus’, ‘dominanter Diskurs’ oder ‘critical whiteness studies’ besitzen, und darüber hinaus ein Gremium der Werbewirtschaft selbst ist (also nicht unabhängig), erkennen wir seine Entscheidungen in Diskriminierungs-Angelegenheiten nicht an.
Unsere Erfahrungen mit dem “Werberat”, was eigene Positionierung und Aufklärungsversuche angeht, sind entsprechend. Siehe: http://www.derbraunemob.info/deutsch/content/sogehtsnicht/content_daneben_hoerzu.htm
Auch findet sich auf der Homepage des Werberates die “Rasse“.
Dies hatten wir (gut erklärt) moniert, es kam keine Antwort.
Eine vielsagende ‘Entscheidung’ des Werberates kann man auch hier nachlesen.

Es bleibt natürlich trotzdem allen ungenommen, sich an diese Gruppe zu wenden. Wir halten direktes Verbraucher_innen-Feedback an die Firmen jedoch für mindestens ebenso wichtig und erfolgversprechend. Ohne Zuschriften der “Verbraucher_innen” bzw Zielgruppe gibt es für die betreffenden Gewerbetreibenden keinen Grund zur Auseinandersetzung mit dem Grad der Demokratie oder des Diskriminierungsgehaltes ihrer Außendarstellung.

Wir sind allerdings auch der Ansicht, dass es beim Konsument_innenfeedback nicht darauf ankommt, die Firmen von der eigenen Meinung zu überzeugen, sondern ihnen diese einfach nur deutlich mitzuteilen. Der Sinn von Feedback ist ja nicht unbedingt “Einsicht beim Gegenüber” sondern zunächst, sich selbst mit diskriminierender Werbung nicht einverstanden zu zeigen, und danach, die Firma zu anderem Handeln zu bewegen. Dies machen Firmen meistens ohnehin ganz unabhängig von “Überzeugung”, sondern einfach aus ökonomischen oder Publicity-Gründen. Je mehr Menschen sagen/schreiben, dass sie etwas daneben finden, desto wahrscheinlicher ist auch ein Erfolg – egal wie diese Menschen sich ausdrücken.

English version:

SIXT silly season: Supremacy as a publicity stunt
Published on 30 June 2010 mob of Red, the brown
Obviously, SIXT no interest in black people to rent – or else they would exploit it less outrageous. One can mark sch so for the next car search.

This mail and related advertising, we received today:

source: sixt, FAZ
Submission to:
- Forwarded Message
From: Mekonnen Mesghena
Date: Mon, June 28, 2010 11:10:43 +0200
To: Advertising Council
Subject: Sixt advertising in the Süddeutsche Zeitung, 23.06.2010
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Sixt advertising in the Süddeutsche Zeitung of 23.06.2010 (see annex) embodies an ethnocentric view of the world is racist and chauvinistic. Sixt uses the wealth gap between rich (Germany) and arm (Ghana) to demo up the superiority of Germany to Ghana. All those cliches of a poor, chaotic and inferior Africa, it is precisely the images that shape the mindset of the majority population on the continent of Africa. For all the freedom and creativity of advertising remains constant recourse to such old and jingoistic cliches tasteless and offensive.
Against such an ethnocentric view of the world in the said Sixt advertising I protest in the strongest terms. The German Advertising Council I would therefore like to strongly encourage them to deal with the content of advertising.
Yours sincerely,
Mekonnen Mesghena
====================
Mekonnen Mesghena
Department Head
Migration & Diversity
Heinrich Boell Foundation
10117 Berlin, Germany
www.boell.de
www.migration-boell.de
diversity@boell.de
====================
Contact SIXT:
Mail Address: InvestorRelations@sixt.de
Sixt GmbH & Co KG, Car Rental, Zugspitzstr. 1, D-82049 Pullach
Chairman of the Board: Erich Sixt
Executive Board: Dr. Julian Putlitz, Detlev Pätsch
Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Dr. Gunter Thielen
Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Thierry Antinori
Supervisory Board: Ralf Teckentrup
Tel: +49- (0) 89 74444-0, Fax: +49- (0) 89 74444-86666
Mail Form: http://ag.sixt.de/no_cache/kontakteadressen/kontaktformular/
*
Note from the Mob:
Since the “Advertising Council” composed, seemingly for people who have no training in the areas of ‘structural racism’, ‘dominant discourse’ or ‘critical whiteness studies’ have, and also a body of the advertising industry itself (ie not independent) We recognize its decisions in discrimination matters not start.

Our experience with the Advertising Council, in terms of their positioning and detection experiments are, accordingly. See: http://www.derbraunemob.info/deutsch/content/sogehtsnicht/content_daneben_hoerzu.htm

Also found on the website of the Advertising Council, the “race”.
This is what we had (well explained) complained that there was no answer.

There can be meaningful ‘decision’ of the Advertising Council read it here.

It remains, of course, won all ungenommen, to apply to this group. We keep Verbraucher_innen direct feedback to the companies to at least as important and promising. Without the letters “Verbraucher_innen” or target group there is on traders no reason to address the degree of democracy or the content of their public image discrimination.

However, we also believe that it does not matter when Konsument_innenfeedback to convince the company of his own opinion, but this just clearly communicate them. The purpose of feedback is not necessarily about “access at the opposite,” but first, advertising itself with discriminatory not to show agreement, and then persuade the company to another action. Companies usually do this anyway regardless of “conviction”, but simply for economic or publicity reasons. The more people say / write that they find something next to it, the more likely it is a success – no matter how these people express themselves.

Helen Grant, OBV Alumnui has made political and Conservative Party history by winning the Southeast seat Maidstone and the Weald becoming the first Black female Conservative in the House of Commons. The seat she takes over was represented by Westminster firebrand Anne Widdecombe for 18 years.

After two and a half years of good old fashioned hard work and positive campaigning we have seen-off a particularly unpleasant challenge in the fight to retain Ann Widdecombe’s seat, taking 48% of the vote.

I want to send out my sincere thanks to everyone who voted for me, and to everyone who has helped and supported me in this general election campaign.

I am delighted too that we have retained control of Maidstone Borough Council.

Thank you all once again. With very best wishes,

The photo above is from a theater production in Hamburg. Click through to read or translate the German text.

Below is a letter to the artists in the production and their response:

Letter from a concerned citizen named Love, an entertainer who lives/works in Hamburg, to the brains behind the show:

GREETINGS JENNY, Abendblatt, Kampnagel and other supporters of “III, It’s gonna Blow!”

My intention is to support good art. I am sure that is what you were all trained to represent. But unfortunately, as I saw the poster, and later read about “III, IT’S GONNA BLOW”, I could see nothing but your misunderstanding about what it means to “get into the skin of another culture”. Many of us (I have received many calls and e-mails) are shocked and saddened by your choice, to represent ANY culture the way that you have. The costumes show tasteless, debasing clichés of Africans, and takes Germany and the world back to the beginning of what creates problems through misinformation, caused by the lack of investigation into the rich cultures of our world. I am sure that a poster with Africans, representing Germans with arms raised, beer foamed drinking glasses, leather pants and wurst would first bring negative feelings to the viewer, even if the content of the show meant well. As performers, journalists etc., we must take responsibility and PRIDE in making new and UPLIFTING choices, and stop repeating the same DEGRADING ones.

My request is that you re-think YOUR intentions to bring “culture” to Hamburg and the world, and support only those quality efforts which are available right here in this beautiful city. A sure way to achieve true peace among the various cultures is to start with the TRUTH, RESPECT, and a REAL desire to “get into the skin of another”, through historical, artistic, cultural and personal research. Then, AND ONLY THEN, should we present those results on a worthy stage.

Thank you for your time.

Promoting peace and understanding,
Love

Here is their response:

Dear Love,
We are sorry, that our flyer offended you. However, if you read closely, you will see, that our piece has absolutly nothing to do with Africa. It deals with the tension bewteen collecive and solo. Three performer working together on soli, getting into the skin of another person not another culture. The costume for the flyer plays with the idea of carneval, alienation through disguise and other related themes. We therefore dealt a lot with a child-like understanding of costume and appearance. For a european eye, the used image is a clear reference to carneval, but we do understand that the American way of reading it would have references to ministrel shows and other forms of racial caricature which are much less prominent in the European mind.

We simply want to invite you to see the piece in order to understand, that this particular piece of art is in no way offending to any culture. Please accept our invitation, we would also offer you a free ticket.

Best wishes
Jenny

My friend Trina also in Germany sent Jenny a letter too:

Dear Jenny,

I have been following this issue from afar (i.e. the “Hochsauerland”) and have seen the Abendblatt article, Love Newkirk’s letter to you, as well as your response.
I must say I found your reaction disappointing in that it latches onto a singular apparent misinterpretation without (in my opinion) doing the larger context the justice it deserves.

“For a european eye” and “other forms of racial caricature which are much less prominent in the European mind.”

While the idea of the minstrel show may well be something most common in an America context, the imagery of blackface chosen for your show is not singular to that particular phenomenon – and by no means, therefore, less hurtful, demeaning or misleading. This imagery of black people has it’s parallels in other societies as well. I would only quickly mention the British/Australian “golliwog” , the “sambo” as well as – to bring the matter closer to home – many clearly racist depictions of black people used during the Nazi era right here in Germany. These images were circulated as yet another vehicle to more deeply penetrate National Socialist dogma by further dehumanizing people of African descent, as well as justifying the continued colonial subjugation of the African continent and its peoples. These are certainly images with which many older Germans (and anyone with insight into the era) are very familiar.

Most significant for me, however, is the seemingly total disregard for the opinions and feelings of the hundreds of thousands of people of African descent living in Germany today – some for only a number of years; others already for several generations – who must still deal on a day-to-day basis with everything from this type of “minor artistic misunderstanding” to the most heinous and flagrant types of racially induced oppression and violence. Personally, I find it extremely difficult to believe that – within the context of a decidedly rich and extensive carneval history throughout Germany – there was no other imagery that contained an equally – if not superior (!) – reference to just the type of “alienation through diguise” to which the artists aspired.

By choosing to trivialize the responses you are receiving from people of African descent – not from America, mind you, but right here in Germany – you are continuing a cycle that renders us without a voice and “invisible” within the greater societal context. Our real thoughts, genuine feelings, personal opinions – our collective HISTORY – don’t seem to matter in comparison to the “artistic agenda” of select members of the Eurocentric population.

Is that really your message?

I actually don’t think so, but – as the old saying goes – “actions speak louder than words”.

Sincerely,

Trina Roach

P.S. Maybe these tips I collected for an early “blog post – “Taking Advantage of A ‘Teachable Moment” – can be helpful?

* Immediately acknowledge criticism

* Take your critics and their criticism seriously

* Stop doing whatever is offensive. ASAP!

* Avoid the temptation to slip into “auto-defense” mode

* Seek honest dialogue with a representative group of your critics

* Apologize publicly. And in earnest

I wonder if Jenny will take Trina’s advice.

I ask: Why is this still an issue in 2010?

Hat tip to Angela Shaw who sent me this article from the guardian.co.uk.

A government sting operation targeting hundreds of employers across Britain has uncovered widespread racial discrimination against workers with African and Asian names.

Researchers sent nearly 3,000 job applications under false identities in an attempt to discover if employers were discriminating against jobseekers with foreign names. Using names recognisably from three different communities – Nazia Mahmood, Mariam Namagembe and Alison Taylor – false identities were created with similar experience and qualifications. Every false applicant had British education and work histories.

They found that an applicant who appeared to be white would send nine applications before receiving a positive response of either an invitation to an interview or an encouraging telephone call. Minority candidates with the same qualifications and experience had to send 16 applications before receiving a similar response.

Read the full article on the Guradian website.

In an article for The Guardian, Hannah Pool explains Why blacking up is the worst kind of fashion crime.

If the images are supposed to be an artistic form of social commentary, they have pitched it badly wrong.

she says and goes on to ask:

If they were after a young gun, why not use Chanel Iman or Jourdan Dunn instead of painting Stone, a white woman, black?

Read Hannah’s story and determine for yourself if this is indeed a crime against fashion.

Beatrice Acheleke, founder and leader of the Black European Women’s Council was honored at the 2009 World Diversity Leadership Summit this month in Washington, DC. Ms. Acheleke is a mother, executive director of AFRA, a non-profit, non governmental self-organisation and NGO of Black Women with headquarters in Vienna, Austria, and an inspiration to Black women everywhere.

Previous honorees include Vaclav Havel, former President of the Czech Republic and leader of the Czech Velvet Revolution against Communist Rule.

The World Diversity Leadership Summit conference is the world’s leading gathering of senior corporate executives, leading experts and policymakers focused on global and local diversity best practices. Conference partners included some of the largest and most respected companies and media outlets n the world.

The AfroSpear community is proud to know Beatrice and have her as a member of our global community! We salute you and congratulate you!

From Derbraunemob.de:

Dear friends,

We’d like to bring to your attention something that’s happening at the cultural center called “Werkstatt der Kulturen” in Berlin at the moment.

We ask for your solidarity and support for this case.

In brief:

Philippa Ebéné, head of “Werkstatt der Kulturen”, is under immense media pressure because of her decision to cancel the exhibition “Die Dritte Welt im Zweiten Weltkrieg” (The Third World in the Second World War).

http://blog.derbraunemob.info/2009/08/30/exhibition-at-werkstatt-der-kulturen-statement-call-for-support/

In this blog entry the case is displayed more detailed. There, we are collecting German and international voices of resistance.

Typically, media coverage, Blogs or letters from the “outside” , especially the US and UK are being much more considered in Germany than are the voices and statements of Blacks and PoC in Germany. Your feedback on this could help a big deal here.

Please spread the word, post your statements or write to the Integration-commissioner.

Sincerely,

info@Derbraunemob.de

der braune mob e.V.
media-watch – schwarze deutsche in medien und öffentlichkeit

– http://www.derbraunemob.info –

To European democratic public opinion and the press that keeps it informed

Events in Italy have always – for better or worse – had an extraordinary influence on the whole of European society, from the Italian Renaissance to Fascism.

But, all too often, Europe has not become aware of these events in time.

There is currently a great deal of attention in major European newspapers on some aspects of the crisis that has engulfed our country. But we believe that it is our duty – the duty of all those living in Italy – to inform European public opinion on other alarming aspects that have not elicited such interest, such as the draft legislation proposed by the Italian Government, called the “Security Decree”. If it is not prevented, this legislation runs the risk of disfiguring the image of Europe and dealing a severe setback to human rights worldwide.

The Berlusconi Government, using security as a pretext, has imposed on our Parliament – over which it has total control – the adoption of laws discriminating against immigrants, laws the likes of which we had not seen in this country since the passing of the Fascist Race Laws.

The victim of the discrimination has changed: it is no longer the Jews but the undocumented migrant population, hundreds of thousands of people. But the discriminating measures have not changed: if passed, these new laws may, for example, forbid mixed marriages.

Such a prohibition would prevent a person from exercising a fundamental right, the right to marry without constraints of an ethnic or religious nature. The victims of discrimination would be denied this right simply on the basis of their nationality. Not to mention the fact that Italians would equally be denied their right to marry the person of their choice.

Another norm contained in the decree – even more abusive of human rights and dignity – is the prohibition for foreign women lacking permits (an administrative offence) to recognize their children at birth. Thus, the children born to “undocumented” foreign women, by virtue of a political decision by a temporary majority, shall be for their entire lives the children of unknown parents, they may be removed from their own mothers at birth and placed under the care of the State.

Not even Fascism had gone that far! The Race Laws introduced by the Regime in 1938 did not subtract children from their Jewish mothers, nor did they induce the mothers to abort rather than have their children confiscated by the State.

We would not be addressing European public opinion if the gravity of these measures were not such that it transcends national boundaries, calling for a reaction by all those who believe in our shared humanity. Europe cannot accept that one of its founding members regresses to primitive levels of social organization, contradicting international law and the very principles upon which the European political union is based.
It is in the interest of all of us that this not happen. It would dishonour us all.

European democratic public opinion must become aware of the disease ravaging Italy and act swiftly so that it does not spread further.

We are confident that each one of you will choose an effective way to demonstrate your opposition.

Roma, June, the 29th 2009

Andrea Camilleri, Antonio Tabucchi, Dacia Maraini, Dario Fo, Franca Rame, Moni Ovadia, Maurizio Scaparro, Gianni Amelio

Dispatches from the Front:

Piracy Task Force Welcomes New Commander

USS BOXER, At Sea, April 5, 2009 — Rear Adm. Michelle Howard assumed command of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2 during a ceremony held on board USS Boxer (LHD 4) today and relieved Rear Adm. Terence McKnight, ESG 2′s commander since November 2007.

In addition to relieving McKnight as the ESG 2 commander, Howard assumes command of several U.S. 5th Fleet task forces, including Combined Task Force (CTF) 51 and 59, as well as CTF 151, an international maritime coalition created to disrupt, deter and thwart piracy.

“I’m very fortunate to follow behind Admiral McKnight,” said Howard. “He and the staff have done a terrific job in standing up CTF 151. His leadership will be missed on the waterfront.”

As commander of ESG 2, McKnight was responsible for all of the amphibious assets based on the U.S. East Coast and upon deploying to the U.S. 5th Fleet’s area of operations in January 2009, he assumed command of CTF 151.

McKnight said commanding ESG 2 has been an incredible experience and one he will never forget.

“This has definitely been one of the more exciting assignments of my career,” he said. “Not only did I never think I’d be sailing the ocean chasing pirates, I certainly never thought I’d be doing it alongside the navies of so many different countries, especially Russia and China.”

“My time at ESG 2 has been amazing,” McKnight continued. “In addition to all the exercises and contingencies we were involved with before we deployed, I was privileged enough to have hosted a Great White Fleet event in New York City along with my staff and we also played a big part in the grand re-opening of the Intrepid museum during Veterans Day Weekend 2008. Those two events will certainly remain cherished memories when I look back at my career.”

As the first African-American woman to command a U.S. Navy ship, Howard said she understands the magnitude of bridging cultural and international gaps.

“ESG 2 has executed the three missions they’re responsible for without missing a beat,” she said. “My top priority right now is to deter piracy here in the Gulf of Aden. I want to continue the extensive international coordination Admiral McKnight started. That’s the true key to defeating piracy. Piracy is a problem that affects all maritime nations and requires an international solution. I’m looking forward to working with naval professionals from around the world on this vital mission.”

CTF 151 is a multinational task force established to conduct counter-piracy operations under a mission-based mandate throughout the CMF area of responsibility to actively deter, disrupt and suppress piracy in order to protect global maritime security and secure freedom of navigation for the benefit of all nations.

Howard previously served as Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy.

(Report by Lt. John Fage, Expeditionary Strike Group 2 Public Affairs.)

U.S. Navy Bio: Rear Admiral Michelle Howard
Rear Adm. Michelle Howard Assumes Command of Counter-Piracy Task Force CTF 151, ESG 2

Hat tip to Runoko Rashidi and TheBlackList

ISTANBUL – The black population of Turkey has a message for U.S. President Barack Obama.

Mustafa Olpak, author, activist and president of the Africans’ Culture and Solidarity Foundation in Izmir and other foundation members crave a meeting with Obama Ğ even for just a few minutes. But with Obama’s schedule and the foundation’s lack of funds for the trip, the group realizes it will not happen. Still, Olpak told Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review they were excited about the visit. “The spirits of his African ancestors, who were enslaved and excluded from the white man’s world, are with Obama,” he said.

Black people were not being bought and sold only in Europe and America, but in the Ottoman Empire, too. The island of Crete in the Aegean Sea was the most important center for the slave trade. Olpak comes from a family whose members were sold as slaves on this island. Although the family chose to remain silent on the matter, Opak has broken the silence with his recent book “Kölekıyısı-Kenya’dan Istanbul’a” (Slave Shore Ğ from Kenya to Istanbul). The book, out on Punto Publishing, features photographs and documents. There was also an exhibit at the EU center in Ankara, which opened with the book’s release.

The exhibit, titled “The Blacks of Turkey,” will be reopened in Ankara on the occasion of Obama’s visit with additional photographs from Opak’s family album added. “Maybe Obama cannot visit the foundation to meet us but he should see the exhibit at least,” said Olpak.

The foundation of Africans in a suitcase

Olpak said that black people’s poor fate had not ended yet and over 50 million black people were enslaved in the last century according to data by UNESCO. “It is still possible today to buy a black child as a slave in Sudan and in inner parts of India,” said Olpak. He also said there was still a record number of applications from black people in Turkey on lost family members. Although Olpak mentions the Africans’ Culture and Solidarity Foundation, the foundation does not have a street address. The building of the mentioned foundation in Ayvalık was burned to ashes after a fire in recent years. Olpak has the documents he saved from the building and the new applications in a suitcase that he carries with him all the time.

The black man’s son is the master of the White House

Olpak said especially in Europe and America black people were perceived as inhuman and enslaved. “The son of the despised and enslaved Africans became the black master of the White House that his ancestors had built with great difficulties,” said Olpak. He also said the African people had big expectations of Obama. “Let him be the friend of the oppressed and alienated societies. Let him be on the side of rightness and justice as his ancestors expect from him,” said Olpak.

Olpak said the protection of Obama’s ancestors’ spirits would be with him as long as he was on the right path and added, “Our hearts and prayers are with you even though we have never met.”

The majority of the Olpak family was kidnapped in 1895 at Zanzibar, the area called “slave shore” in today’s Kenya, and brought to the Ottoman Empire as slaves. The roots of the family belong to the Kukuri tribe. Olpak may be reached at www.afro-turk.org.

The need to highlight, raise awareness on and to celebrate achievements and successes of Black European Women from a self-empowerment perspective has been repeated on several occasions.

It is a fact that there are many Black European Women in decision-making and leadership positions in different Member States of the European Union. However, their contributions and achievements still remain largely invisible. Therefore, AFRA and its partners think that it is high time to pick up this challenge from a self-empowerment perspective and focus on this aspect within the framework of the European Year on Innovation and Creativity 2009.

For this reason we are currently working on our next book with the title: “100 Black European Women in Leadership”. This project aims at gathering data on 100 Black European Women in leadership and decision-making positions in Europe under the following categories: Social and Humanitarian engagements, Politics, Entrepreneurship, Academics and Research, Arts and Culture, Sports and Media. The selected 100 women shall be published as an attempt to honor these Black European role models (in all their rich diversity) for their leadership activities on the one hand, and on the other hand to encourage and promote the younger generations to go even further.

We therefore would very much appreciate it if you could recommend and/or help passing on this call to Black European Women around you, whom you think definitely deserve this honor. The deadline for nominations is 20th of March 2009. An international jury is going to decide upon the 100 Black European Women to be considered in the book and the BELA Award 2009.

AFRA and its partners are organising the “European Diversity, Innovation and Creativity Week 2009″ from 13th-16th October 2009 in Brussels, within the framework of the European Year 2009 on Innovation and Creativity. A high level gala evening is planned during this week to officially present the book “100 Black European Women in Leadership” and to honor selected personalities (for the first time) with the “Black European Leadership Award (BELA 2009)”- for their contributions to the promotion of the cause of Black European Women.

The “Global Diversity Award Europe 2009 2009 (GDA-EU)” takes place on the same evening after the BELA.
For further information we gladly will be at your service and are looking forward to getting in personal contact with you.

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve
been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” (Barack Obama 2008)

Let us make a change together!

Beatrice Achaleke (Executive Director AFRA)
- AFRA – International Center for Black Women’s Perspectives
- Initiator Black European Women’s Council-BEWC
- Trägerin des österreichischen Bundesehrenzeichen 2008
Graumanngasse 7/D/1, 1150 Wien
Tel/Fax: +43 1 9660 425
ZVR-Zahl: 488597767
office@blackwomencenter.org

Please contact adrianne@womenoftheafricandiaspora.com if you still see the old logo floating around.

Here’s the link to the designer’s website:
http://mderekmccullough.wordpress.com/
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Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. In time for Black History Month in the US Google and Johnson’s Publishing announce the Ebony, Jet and Negro Digest magazine archive online.

Click on the following links:
Ebony, Jet, and Negro Digest

Young Scholar’s Network – Black Diaspora and Germany

In recent years, scholarly work on Germany’s colonial past and its continuing consequences has stressed the relevance of notions of Blackness and whiteness to German national identity formation. Afro German feminists conducted pioneering work in exploring the various histories and experiences of People of Color in Germany. Together with a critical examination of whiteness, the complex role Germany plays in Black diasporic thought is also being explored. Aiming at an exchange on current issues in Afro German and African American, Black Diaspora and Critical Whiteness Studies, a young scholar’s network is currently in the process of being established at the University of Muenster, for which we seek to bring together a diverse, interdisciplinary group of scholars. Our collaborative research network will run over an estimated period of three years and will consist in several workshops which will conclude with a publication on the subject.

The research areas aforementioned often overlap with the self-organization and knowledge productions of People of Color. In this contested space, issues of representation, one’s own positionality and the power and authority to define have to be addressed. Building on already existing work in these fields, what conceptual tools can help continue the ongoing, yet often disparate debates? For instance, can the diaspora serve as an all-encompassing concept, and if so, how is it being modified, gendered, re-articulated? Within the field, are there tendencies toward an Americanist hegemony that should be counterbalanced? Can there be a more fruitful dialogue among scholars of Afro German and African American Studies? Do deconstructivist analyses of race run the risk of obscuring persistent effects of racialization/racism? And, if so, which other ways can be found to tie the world of experience to theorization?

The workshops we are going to plan during our network collaboration may center around issues of Black Diaspora and Critical Whiteness Studies, Gender and Sexuality, Authenticity and Performance of Blackness(es), Modernity and Transnationalism, Anticolonialism and Slavery, and Black Power (and its Reception in Germany). Further ideas are welcome.

If you would like to actively participate in the network, please send a short CV with your contact information and a brief description of your research project (250 words) in German or English to bdg@uni-muenster.de.

The submission deadline is February 15, 2009.

You may want to get in touch personally and meet current participants at the CAAR conference 2009 in Bremen (http://www.caar2009.eu/), where a network workshop will be held. Here, individual projects of network participants will be presented and the general network idea and its concept will be discussed. For further information and a list of associated members, please visit us at http://blackdiasporaandgermany.blogspot.com/.
–
Young Scholars Network Black Diaspora and Germany Westfälisch Wilhelms-Universität Münster Englisches Seminar Johannisstrasse 12-20
48143 Münster
Germany

(last year’s participants)
Summer School on Black Europe
Exploring Dimensions of Citizenship, Race and Ethnic Relations

June 14th-25th, 2009

Nederlandse versie, klik hier

For additional information over this course, please contact Amy Abdou a.abdou@ninsee.nl

Download the Application Form Deadline for Applications is April 1st, 2009.
Course Description

The Summer School on Black Europe is an intensive two week course offered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The course is a collaboration between the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the International School for Humanities and Social Sciences at the Universiteit van Amsterdam and NiNsee, the National Institute for the study of Dutch Slavery and its Legacy.

This course will begin with a historical overview of social and civil conflict in Europe leading to the formation of laws and antidiscrimination legislation within the EU. We will look specifically at anti-discrimination laws as they have arisen in various European countries; comparing the history of regulation and management of race and ethnic relations and the discourse surrounding the concept of Blackness and self-identification. Historically, social forces within Europe have given rise to policies to combat racism. We will trace the chain of events following social and civil conflicts that prompted these policies and analyze the legislative and intellectual discourse produced in the aftermath.

In the second week, we will explore the notions of blackness as; an official categorization; as a social construction, employed by natives to indicate (non) belonging; as a Diaspora living within Europe; and as a contestation of the dominant (White) paradigm. We will focus on the historical and colonial legacies of European countries to discuss the origins of Black Europe and investigate the impact of these legacies on policies and legislation.

This course will also seek to address the dimensions of race and ethnic relations that are unique to Europe; examining the ways in which conceptions of the “other” are institutionalized and reproduced; the rise of xenophobia in various EU countries; the legal definitions and discourse surrounding the conceptualized “other”; and examining the ways in which each country has dealt with issues of race and national identity.

Instructors 2009
 Dr. Ramon Grosfoguel, University of California, Berkeley
 Dr. Stephen Small, University of California, Berkeley
 Dr. Kwame Nimako, University of Amsterdam
 Dr. Philomena Essed, Antioch University
 Dr. David Theo Goldberg, University of California Humanities Research Institute
 Dr. Dienke Hondius, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Programme Manager

 Amy Abdou

Certificate and Credits
This course is accredited through the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Students wishing to receive university credit (3 US credits of 5 ECTS credits) for the course must submit a paper (15-20 pages) before September 1st, 2009. The paper topic must first be submitted to the directors of the programme for approval. Proposals are due at the end of the first week of the programme. Please do not submit a paper proposal in advance of the programme. Once a paper topic has been approved, the students may begin with their research. University libraries will be made available to the students during the course. The paper will be graded on its relevance to Black European Studies and its ability to process the course material. The paper must be relevant to the subject and incorporate some of the readings from the Summer School.
All students who attend and successfully complete the Summer School on Black Europe will receive a certificate of attendance.

Tuition
 Non-credit tuition € 1600
 Credit tuition € 1850

Tuition does not include housing during the programme or travel to and from Amsterdam. Tuition covers all course materials, lunch during the days when the course is held and travel and entry fees on excursion days.

Voor een Nederlandse versie van deze tekst, klik hier

For more information over the Summer School, please visit the website http://www.ishss.uva.nl/Summer/Black_Europe.htm

The need to highlight, raise awareness on and to celebrate achievements and successes of Black European Women from a self-empowerment perspective has been repaeted on several occasions. It is fact that there are many Black European Women in decisionmaking and leadership positions in different Member States of the European Union.

However their contributions and achievements still remain largely invisible. Therefore AFRA and its partners think that it is high time to pick up this challenge from a self empowerment perspective and adress it within the framework of the European Year on Innovation and Creativity 2009.

For this reason we are currently working on our next book with the title: “100 Black European Women in Leadership”. This project aims at gathering data on 100 Black European Women in leadership and decision-making positions in Europe under categories like Politics, Entrepreneurship, Academics and Research, Arts and Culture, Sports, Media, etc. and publishing a book on these black European role models in all their rich diversity.

With this we would very much need your support and would appreciate it if you could recommend us any women you know operating in the above mentioned categories. May be you yourself are one of them.
The deadline for recommendations will be the 20th of 27th if Febraury 2009. Later on a jury is going to decide upon the 100 Black European Women to be considered in the book.

In October 2009 AFRA and its partners intend to organise the “European Diversity, Innovation and Creativity Week 2009” in Brussels within the framework of the European Year 2009 on Innovation and Creativity. In the context of this event the book will be presented and combined with the “Black European Leadership Award (BELA)”- and the “Global Diversity Award Europe 2009 (GDA-EU)” – Gala Evening during which selected personalities and institutions will be honoured for their contributions.

For further information we gladly will be at your service and are looking forward to getting in personal contact with you.

Let´s make a change.

With best greetings from Vienna,

Beatrice Achaleke – Executive Director
- AFRA — International Center for Black Women’s Perspectives
- Initiator Black European Women’s Council-BEWC
- Trägerin des österreichischen Bundesehrenzeichen 2008

Graumanngasse 7/D/1, 1150 Wien
Tel/Fax: +43 1 9660 425
ZVR-Zahl: 488597767
office@blackwomencenter.org
www.blackwomencenter.org
www.bewnet.eu
www.blackaustria.at

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the
ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” (Barack Obama)

Important news from Sandrine in Paris:

Hi Adrianne,

Thanks for promoting my social media bio and new website design for Arts and Talents.

I wanted to highlight a French initiative led by a sister, Nicole Bristol, a caribbean girl like me, to make black voices from overseas heard at the top of the French government and in France (people living in Overseas France french caribbean islands, indian ocean islands, … and Territorial Communities as Guyana …) I attached a map to make things clearer for you.

The name of the association is La Voix de l’Outre Mer – Voices from France Overseas. We’re organizing a diner-debate at the french Senat with presence of Yves Jego – Minister of State to the Minister of the Interior, Overseas France and Territorial Communities, with responsibility for Overseas France. I attached the official invitattion. 50 people will attend to discuss this topic related to Europe: “Continental Europe, Maritime France, What role for France Overseas?” – Europe Continentale, France maritime, Quel rôle pour la France de l’Outre Mer?.

Key links in french:

Facebook group : http://www.new.facebook.com/friends/?id=651247427#/group.php?gid=44475145408&ref=ts

Facebook events : http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=777528503&ref=frmf#/event.php?eid=36853862187&ref=mf

Website : http://www.lavoixdeloutremer.com/

A bientôt!

Sandrine JOSEPH