latin american princesa {LAP}

Via TakingITGlobal:

I just learned about a digital dialogue initiative from Queen Rania on YouTube. This is a women who defies stereotypes through her very existence and actions. Now she is using cyberspace to help bring down some of the stereotypes about Arabs and especially Arab women. She’s like the Barack Obama of Arab women.

Obama has shown us that while he understands that we have a lot of work to do still in terms of equality and opportunity, this country has already come a long way. Some say that his “Change” message is superficial. How much change can he really bring about? What does that mean exactly? But his campaign alone has already changed so much. Dialogue is the first step and he has instigated a serious level of dialogue. He has made people think. And think again.

Queen Rania is attempting the same. She’s a brilliant woman. I’ll be following the initiative this summer. I hope you’ll check it out too. Let’s see if some stereotypes come down on both sides.

Via the Latin Americanist.

This is the video for “Rainin’ in Paradize” from the new album “La Radiolina”. Manu Chao believes in the power of the neighborhood (local communities) and I whole-heartedly agree.

Look around your neighborhood. What are people doing? Can you join them or inspire them?

It’s not all anti-”big mac fat” over on this side on the pond!!! Europe’s youth take complex view of US.

It’s nice to find some good news.

“Yo, you white, girl!”

On a hot June day in a Colombian fast food joint in Queens, I expressed my preference for a mocha over a cafesito colombiano con leche.

“You a little bit kinda white.”

On another occasion, I explained I was doing research for my masters degree and what cultural anthropology was all about.

“Now Colombia has everything. Cause there’s some niggers*, charcoal niggers. … And then there’s white girls. I know some Colombian white girls. And then there’s us, tanned.”

A youth explains to me the diversity that developed in Colombia since the slaves were brought over, resulting in a mixed Colombian culture.

Continue reading Black vs. white? NO! color full societies…