Black Mauritanians, still called harratines, hit the streets of Nouakchott, the capital to protest against slavery. During the march which coincided with the fourth anniversary of the Haratines Manifesto, protesters denounced continuous discrimination. “I believe that the movement for the conquest of civil rights or social rights in Mauritania has seen a resurgence in recent…
Japan’s ‘untouchables’ – descendants of a shunned caste from a long-gone era – are still ostracised in modern times purely because of their lineage. Despite their past, modern Burakumin still grapple with stigmatization and discrimination in today’s Japanese society.
Meet Sabir Arif, a finance and cost management student at a private institution in Lahore, whose resilience shines through despite living in a makeshift hut crafted from wood, cloth, and plastic sheets. Sabir’s sole income comes from providing private tuitions, a means to sustain his humble abode. Born into the challenging circumstances of a daily…
While Japan is often seen as a homogeneous nation, it’s crucial to acknowledge the diverse minority groups within its borders—the Ainu, resident Koreans, and foreigners like us. In this video, we shift the spotlight to the Burakumin, the largest minority that historically occupied the lowest rung of the social hierarchy in feudal Japan. Despite their…
ona Khatik, a young Nepalese journalist, investigates stories on sexual violence against Dalit girls. As she reports on one girl’s death, she reflects upon her own life. She knows first-hand how violence is entrenched
The Burakumin, often referred to as “Japan’s Invisible Race,” are portrayed as a diverse minority facing challenges in Japan’s ostensibly homogeneous society. This presentation challenges the perception of homogeneity as a source of friction, using ethnographic data to argue that it has played a crucial role in Burakumin activists’ efforts to combat discrimination.
Explore the evolving Dalit movement in Bangladesh, a movement still in its early stages, as reflected in the recent adoption of the term ‘Dalit,’ replacing the previous usage of ‘Antaj’ in Bengali. The awareness and organization within the Dalit movement are primarily associated with two groups: the Muci/Rishi/Chamar and the Sweepers/Harijan, the latter preferring the…
In September 2020, four upper caste Thakur men allegedly brutally gang-raped and attacked a 19-year-old Dalit woman in India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh. She died because of it and the police hurriedly cremated her without the consent of the family. This tragedy led to India actually being forced to deal with its caste problem….
Slavery is still existing in Mauritania, although it has officially been prohibited by law. The government of Mauritania has been trying to hide slavery from the outside world for years. Slavery has officially been abolished since 1981, almost a century after it happened worldwide. But activists are still fighting for the liberation of tens of…
Explore the little-known community in Japan that is fighting against discrimination – the burakumin. Despite being ethnically identical to their fellow countrymen, the burakumin are descendants of feudal-era workers who were marginalized due to their involvement in tasks deemed unclean. Presently, around two million individuals self-identify as burakumin, facing ongoing discrimination in areas such as…
