Homi Bhabha, Hybridity and Identity, or Derrida Versus Lacan.
The words “Orient” and “Occident” originate simply in the Latin words for sun rising (oriens) and sun setting (occidens). In his path-breaking work, Orientalism (1978), Edward Said snows how a massive and ancient discursive regime took these essentially mobile positions and fixed them in relation to an imaginary centre in Europe. The Orient” became an […]
‘It’s About the Way I’m Treated’: Afro- Latina Black Identity Development in the Third Space.
Abstract Through an ethnographic study of an afterschool program serving girls of color in the New York City metro area, this study examines how girls who are ethically Latina and racially Black embrace and articulate AfroLatinx identity. It asks, what are the contexts and institutional processes that facilitate the development of a Black identity among […]
“Latinidad Is Cancelled”: Confronting an Anti-Black Construct.
In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, Ben & Jerry’s released a widely lauded statement—“We Must Dismantle White Supremacy: Silence Is NOT an Option”— avowing their commitment to anti-racism.1 In it, the ice cream company categorically reaffirmed support for Black Lives Matter; named the following victims of racial violence: “Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, […]
Crocus Bag
A Crocus bag (also known as a croker/ crocus sack, burlap sack, towsack, gunnysack, grass sack or barley sack depending on the region of North America) is a sack which was used for carrying goods and produce to and from plantations and market places. The sacks were often made of roughly woven and coarse horse […]
Bogolanfini
Bogolanfini (also known as Bogolan or mud cloth) is a fabric indigenous to Mali in West Africa. Although made and used by many ethnic groups in this country the designs made by the Bambana people are the ones which have the most international recognition. The finished fabric is found in two forms mass produced and […]
Shema/ Ethiopian Cotton
Shema is Ethiopian cotton and the production of it is Ethiopia’s oldest industry. Traditionally the cotton was hand spun and woven on handlooms. Even though there is a significant part of the Ethiopian cotton industry that is now industrialised there are still a large number of rational hand spinners and weavers. Handpicked cotton is separated […]
Madras
Madras is the name given to a particular style of cotton fabric used in many places across the world and extensively by designers such as Ralph Lauren. Madras cotton is used to great effect in many of the Caribbean islands as the basis for their national costumes. The fabric originated in the Southeast region of India […]
The National Dress of Dominica
Well I started with our national wear, because as I teach the students we are of strong African heritage and Africans love colour. Colour played an important part in the choosing of the materials of our national wear. Now we have what we call the Madras which is Indian cloth but what we have today […]
Turks and Caicos
Name and description of item or character This is the National Costume of Turks and Caicos. The Turks and Caicos national costume is a fairly new one in the panoply of national costumes with its debut being made on the 1st June 2002. For the female the costume consists of a full shirted white dress […]
St Kitts and Nevis
Name and description of item or character Masquerade costume. This costume consists of a very brightly coloured and busily patterned shirt and trousers over which is worn an apron which has small round mirrors attached to it. Over the shoulders is worn a cape with a wide collar which covers the front part of the […]