The Learner

  By Muhsin Ibrahim Tunisia has been in a socio-political crisis for the past few years. The North African country was earlier praised as the success story of the famous Arab Spring, while the same failed in Syria, Libya, Yemen, etc. But, the recent development has dented the relative success recorded in the aftermath of the uprising. Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed, a controversial figure, looked for who to blame for his country's troubles. Shockingly, he blames West African migrants. In other words, black people living, legally or otherwise, in his country. It sounds farfetched, but that is what happens. He accuses them of crimes and changing the (racial) demography of the country! Due to racism, many black Africans don't prefer to live in North Africa. A few thousand in that region are mostly descendants of slaves or come from the so-called Francophone West African countries. That "I speak your language" idea drives them there. Others pass through the area o...

Muhammad Muhsin Ibrahim muhsin2008@gmail.com @muhsin234 (Twitter) An investigation by the World Value Survey   discovered that India and Jordan top the list of the least racially tolerant countries on the planet . As an African living in the former for over a year, I have witnessed a number of such incidents. Indians, particularly northerners, associate colour with higher or lower social standing. Needless to say, the lighter colour is held in esteem, while the dark in contempt or as “low caste”. It has been happening for so long and itching for sometimes. I often didn’t care or show any reaction, knowing that racism is a hot-button issue. But I was now pushed to the wall; I had better spill the beans to, at least, get some relief. It is worth noting, though, that we are individuals. Some equally ‘light-skinned’ Indians would treat you dearer than your own dark-skinned brethren. I have met some of such individuals, one of whom once took me and my wife to his hous...