bell hooks on patriarchy, white supremacy and capitalism

"Renowned intellectual bell hooks examines popular culture in the context of patriarchy, white supremacy, and capitalism."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLMVqnyTo_0

Things to look forward to!

ASSA is currently working on meeting with the African Studies Program Committee at McGill to discuss the program's future in the coming year.

We are also planning a 2 day Conference March 11 and 12, 2011 - we will keep you posted on updates for this awesome event!

Also, *** We will be hosting a Wine and Cheese in November, time and place to be announced soon. We will also have a meeting at the same time for all African Studies Student's to share with us their opinions/suggestion on the program.

Romeo Dallaire "THEY FIGHT LIKE SOLDIERS, THEY DIE LIKE CHILDREN"

http://now.concordia.ca/upcoming-events/20101102/nov-4---romeo-dallaire-they-fight-like-soldiers-they-die-like-children.php

Senator and LGen Roméo Dallaire (ret), author of Shake Hands With the Devil and UN Force Commander during Rwanda’s genocide will discuss his new book on the scourge of child soldiers:

They Fight Like Soldiers, They Die Like Children.
(Random House Canada)

When: November 4, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Room H-110, Henry F. Hall Building, 1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W.

Admission is free.

Co-sponsored by the Concordia Student Union, McGill University Bookstore, Random House Canada, the Student Society of McGill University, and the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies at Concordia University.

I love my hair - Sesame Street promotes love of "kinky hair"

An interesting video by Sesame Street promoting girls love of what they were given naturally, including "kinky hair".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enpFde5rgmw&feature=player_embedded

The following video was a project showing the preference of a group of black children who, in majority, chose white dolls over black dolls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybDa0gSuAcg

An interesting blog on race.

http://www.racialicious.com/



A related article.

Sesame Street does it again!

Engaging in a little bit of non-alphanumeric teaching of kids, Sesame Street has gone viral once again (and this time without Katy Perry's cleavage.) A new video from the show that teaches little girls to be happy with what they've been given naturally, and simultaneously answers Chris Rock's Good Hair has garnered 585,000 views.

The piece, entitled "I Love My Hair" has a Muppet happily dancing and singing the praises of her kinky mane while telling children that whatever they've got growing is okay. "Don't need a trip to the beauty shop, 'cause I love what I got on top. / It's curly and it's brown and it's right up there. You know what I love? That's right, my hair!"

The song has even garnered a mashup with the video and Will Smith's daughter's runaway hit: Whip My Hair.

The idea was inspired by Sesame Street head writer Joey Mazzarino's five-year-old adopted daughter, Segi, who was born in Ethiopia. He noticed as she played with her dolls that she wanted long, straight blond hair, but thought only white parents of African American children had the problem until he found it was a much larger issue when he saw Rock's comedy documentary which talked about beauty perceptions, particularly among black women. Mazzarino, chose to put together the two-minute skit to let his daughter know her hair is nice just as it is.

"She really is loving her hair right now," Mazzarino told CNN.

Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/10/20/sesame-streets-i-love-my-hair-video-goes-viral/#ixzz12xBOYcEy

AMREF (African Medical & Research Foundation) Canada's new executive director Susanne

There's an article about AMREF (African Medical & Research Foundation) Canada's new executive director Susanne Courtney at



http://samaritanmag.com/maternal-child-health-fires-new-amref-exec-director 

October 14th Nollywood Film Screening!

POSTPONED!!

We are hosting a Nollywood Film Screening!

Nollywood is the 3rd (some sources now say 2nd) largest film industry in the world! Come see what flavours Nigeria is giving to film - be prepared for a new experience and some 'for sure' laughs!

Snacks will be served. Place TBA.

ASSA

LOGO Contest!

ASSA is currently searching for a logo - and it could be yours! We are offering $25.00 for a logo that you think suits us.

Submissions are due by October 22 and can be sent to assa.mcgill@gmail.com

Give your voice to ASSA!

Panel Discussion: Is Africa ready for China?

Thursday, September 30 · 7:00pm - 8:00pm


Breakout Room-2nd Floor SSMU Building (between the cafeteria and the Lev Buckhman Room)

3480 McTavish Street

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=144617888915547&index=1

With ever growing trade between China and Africa (an increase of 30% in the last decade), it is impossible to deny the change that the Asian giant has brought upon the economically marginalized continent. Chinese contractors are investing and building roads, dams, stadiums, hospitals and schools all across Africa. 

Nevertheless, critics complain that China is playing unfairly: paying low wages, ignoring safety standards and dealing through ambiguous diplomacy. 
Should Africa embrace Chinese presence as an alternative to inefficient foreign aid or should the continent be wary of what some have labelled as 'neocolonialism'?

Come armed with brilliant arguments-and all interested friends-this Thursday at 7pm.

Sincerely,
The MASS Exec"

Speak to your Parliament!

The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network is going to Parliament Hill, Wednesday September 29th, to Rally for action on the Global AIDS Crisis. They want to help support the pass of Bill C-393 (an act to amend the Patent Drug). There will be a bus at McGill Roddick Gates at 9:00 am.

http://www.aidslaw.ca/EN/camr/index.htm

Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network:
"In 2006, Parliament responded to the urgent need for medicines in many developing countries by creating 'Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime' (CAMR), with the goal of getting affordable medicines to people in the developing world. Unfortunately, that laudable initiative was, and is, seriously flawed.
But now there is a chance to fix it! Join us in applying pressure on Canadian parliamentarians. The Canadian government has the ability to save lives and get essential medicines to ailing patients in developing countries."

Welcome to ASSA!

Welcome et Bienvenue to the ASSA McGill Blog!

Stay tuned here for information on upcoming events and meetings, and take a look at our photos, fun facts and links.

Don't forget: Monday September 27th is our first General Meeting at 6:00 pm, place TBA. We will be discussing our plans for the year, as well as filling in executive positions. Following the meeting there will be a film screening with African appetizers. Come partake in the debut of our association!