In commemoration of Black History Month, Sampsonia Way recognizes the African-American authors who have contributed their transformative words to our pages, among them Chris Abani, Amiri Baraka, Toi Derricotte, Thomas Sayers Ellis, Nikki Giovanni, Angela Jackson, and Yusef Komunyakaa.
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Did the ‘Caliphate’ really exist as a political and religious regime for transferring authority through Islamic history? Author Hamdy el-Gazzar comments on Islamic historian Mohammad Abu Rahma’s new book about the fight for authority throughout the more than 600-year history of Caliphate rule.
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Does Iranian or Middle Eastern heritage mean ‘terrorist’? Yaghoub Yadali examines prejudice and takes a close look at the short film “Brain of Terror,” in which the Iranian-American actress Kathreen Khavari plays 11 characters who are trying determine whether or not they’re terrorists.
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In this segment of The Writer’s Block, David Harris-Gershon discusses his writing process, the consequences he faced for publishing his memoir, What Do You Buy the Children of the Terrorist Who Tried to Kill Your Wife?, and writer’s responsibilities towards society.
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In Israel/Palestine, former combatants are using the Theatre of the Oppressed to move towards an end to the occupation. Recently London theatre group Cardboard Citizens invited a former Israeli officer Chen Alon to share his experience of making theatre for peace.
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Political cartoonist Tjeerd Royaards (Netherlands) comments on the international media’s apparent disregard for serious journalism while covering the Sochi Winter Olympics.
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A new survey of press freedom around the world finds the United States has plunged 13 spots, now ranking just 46th among 180 countries.
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