Michael Brown did not deserve to die.

                                                                  Photo taken from Michael's Facebook profile

Michael Brown, an 18 years-old African American teenage boy was shot down on Saturday Aug 9th by a Ferguson police officer in St. Louis. Witnesses say Brown had his hands in the air as he was shot from 35 feet away.                                                   

          My personal belief is that there is no race, we are all equal, we are all brothers and sisters, we all deserve the same rights and the color of our skin when were are born, does not influence the shape of our brain and hearts. But due to the recent events, I those beliefs are only mine.  

          The black race (term I strongly disapprove but which to some people makes sense) has always suffered throughout history and according to me enough blood have been shed and that’s why  news like the murder of an unarmed African American boy outrages and revolts me. The fact that such acts can still happen in a “civilized” country like the United States of America in the Twenty-First Century is a big punch to the stomach of black history. It is an insult to race that have always been fighting for welfare and rights its people, it is an insult to the legacy of people like Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X etc… who gave their time and life to fight for the freedom and rights of black people, it is an insult to the people who fought and died for the independence of African Nations and an insult for the people who are still fighting for a total equality of races.

                                           A Ferguson prostester chants "hands up don't shoot" at police in  riot gear.  ( Ben Kesling via Twitter )

  

         This act of violence toward an unarmed citizen just because of the color of his skin makes it legitimate for all black people living in western countries to question themselves about the rights they truly have. Is success only for white people? Are we condemned to live in ghettos? Are we only qualified for low paying and downgrading jobs?  Are we born with the tag murderer on our foreheads?  And one point that is clear to us with the death of Michael Brown is that black people will have to double their vigilance and efforts in whatever they do if they want to stay alive.

         If you are white and you’re reading me, don’t get me wrong. Not all white people have perfect life but I am sure that the percentage of black people with perfect life (i.e success, happiness, money…) is a lower than the number of low class white people.  And the reason this difference exists is because of racism. Once one of my white friends (hate using terms like that) in a discussion told me, with certainty that in the European country where I live, “there isn't a lot of racism… right?” (“right” to make her affirmation look less affirmative). In peaceful way I just answer this “It’s not because you don’t see racism that it doesn't exist.” And if today she was to ask me the same question again, I’ll just make her google ‘Michael Brown’.

As a conclusion, I’ll say that the story of Michael Brown is not only the story of a boy who was killed for no legal reason, but also the story of community which after all what has happened to it, it still has things to prove to the white supremacists alive.

May the soul of Michael Brown rest in peace and all my deep regrets and condolences go to his family.

- B. Y

Lupita Nyong’o deserves more support from Africans.

            When I first watched ’12 Years a Slave’, I was startled by Lupita Nyong’o’s performance. In my opinion she definitely put herself in the shoes of Patsey, her character and it resulted in her winning an Oscar. But if most of the critics praised her performance in ’12 Years a Slave’, I observed flurry of critiques concerning her beauty.

        After The Academy Awards season, Lupita Nyong’o became one of the most popular actresses of the time, medias continued to pay attention to her and praised her for all her chic and glamour styles on the red carpets. From there, the name Lupita Nyong’o became a very attractive and lucrative trademark for companies. Indeed, the luxury make-up french brand Lancôme made her, Lupita Nyong’o a very dark skin "Negro", their New Face — a premiere in the make-up industry. Then followed up People magazine, who awarded her the title of the “World’s Most Beautiful Woman”.

        Those two titles received a lot of negative critiques, and especially from African mates (except Kenyans I guess). From what I read on Facebook and other sites, everybody did not see Lupita’s success as the rise of Africa and black beauty in all its shades as I did, actually some people felt like Hollywood was just trying to impose Lupita on them. 

— Some comments read of Facebook African pages: "Let's not exaggerate, stop imposing her to us, she is natural but not wow so don't exaggerate", "She's not pretty, she's not voluptuous... good actress? She only played in one movie", "Is it because she's really dark that we all have to adore her?" etc  —   But folks, don’t you know all new trends come from Hollywood? Generally, I am scandalized by the values the American showbiz promotes, but this time I found it useful and intelligent for once — yes I did!

Why?

         Even If Lupita is not the "real" most beautiful woman in the world (my Mama is, then  follows up all the other beautiful ladies of my family lol!)  She is the proof that no matter where you come from and what your skin color is (in this case referring to "black race" which in the novel 'Americanah' is analyzed as the lowest race in America), you can still have the opportunity to shine — and that is what Lupita said when she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress (“No matter where you come from, your dreams are valid” ).

         If it was another black woman winning an Oscar then the title of most beautiful woman, I’d still be happy, but I won’t have the same enthusiasm about it. Because imagining somebody different means 99% cases, imagining a light skin and very beautiful that would be too superficial to be real.  — But that's just me?

         So after watching the movie ’12 Years a Slave’ the first time, I started searching for Lupita’s interviews on Youtube. What I discovered was a lady with impressing communication skills and  who was very eloquent. For me, it seems like she doesn't play the "Mrs. I’m Pretty like some celebs" — one that can blink 10 times in one minute. So from what I saw and heard, I believe that she’s still herself and she shows that who she is in public is the same as who she is backstage. She talks about real life problems without any complexity (her skin tone for example). And in my opinion, she should be a role model for the young girls because she is the proof to the world and especially to black people whose social ladder is graded according to their skin tone (from dark dark skin [like Lupita] to half-caste) that beauty is not only about physical appearance but also about who we are.

        In my opinion, if she received a lot of attention from the media, it’s because of the sensitivity and easiness with which she can pass on messages and emotions. And it applies to this quote from late Maya Angelou who said " people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”. Lupita Nyong’o found the method to attract America’s spotlights on her, and it's working. By doing so, she has imposed her short hair, dark skin and proper Kenyan accent to the showbiz and the world. And for all that, black people in general but Africans in particular should be thankful.

        Lupita Nyong’o should be considered as Africa’s pride by every African because she’s not only making her country sparkle, but also her continent. Because for once, it’s not an African girl who grew up in a desert or forest that is mediatized but it’s a well-educated woman from a good family that gets to be elevated to an honorable position. Meaning that FOR ONCE some westerners will start having the idea that there are not only poor people living in Africa like some media tend to present the continent most of the time.

        Also, another reason for Africans to be more proud and supportive is because, through Lupita’s success, the African culture gets to be valorized. She shows the world that there are things going on in Africa, that Africa is not only a land that can produce oils, gold etc… but it can also produce talented people.

So after reading this article, I hope that you’ll give her your support because we’re not only talking garlands and make-up here, but implicit politics and African/ black people emancipation.

Thank you for reading, please don't forget to subscribe to my blog, and share this article ;)
- B.Y

Introduction to "For Outsiders"

      I am a mas who naturally asks himself questions (a lot!). Most of my questions can be answered but the responses I usually get are not as accurate as I expect them to be. The aim of this blog for me will be to write and thing about general questions. 

     This blog is not a dictatorship, I am here to create real debates. Even, I shall be sharing my  thoughts via my posts, I also want to exchange with visitors and other bloggers. 

       This blog will be for "Outsiders". Not in a negative way, it's simply to say that it's for people who seek for reliable information and can't find any in the medias. Also "For Outsiders" because we're living in a world where cultural differences and globalization are becoming important. My role will be to connect YOU outsider, to news and the reality of life in other countries or continents (We are living in an interconnected world, so don't stay asleep).

     This blog will tackle all kinds of topics, from the most subtle to the lightest. That is, from political conflicts to racial issues or from religion and economics to lifestyle.  Some of the posts will be connected to trending topics and they will be the least subjective as possible in order to create valuable discussions. 

   

- B.Y