Global Voices Online

Late one night, a Cuban taxi driver stops for Yoani Sanchez because of the colour of her skin, but when he learns that she's a blogger, his unease reveals another kind of prejudice: “His spectrum of classification stigmatizes not only some shades of color, but also certain leanings of opinion…that also lead, on this Island, to displays of segregation and rejection.”

“The important thing, I think, is that if you don't want to be a racist, you need to focus on how you treat people, not on how you react to people”: Trinidadian Ian Ramjohn suggests that “in the end, it all boils down to what you're used to.”

“When it comes to race in politics, Trinidad and Tobago has a colourful past”: Taran Rampersad thinks it's time for a change.

At Groundviews Marisa de Silva points to the fact that “even post-war, discrimination runs deep in Sri Lanka.” For an insight into the post war politics in Sri Lanka read Sanjana's piece.

Scraps of Moscow translates Zhenya Kuida's piece (RUS) on “a racist restauranteur” in Moscow.

Letter From Jamaica takes a visit to Kingston's National Gallery and posts photos of cartoons drawn in the early 1800s that “look kind of racist”.

Adventures in Wheelville expresses solidarity with Moscow's African residents: “While Obama is busy making buddy with Medvyedev, scores of black folks on Moscow streets are looking over their shoulder every two seconds in fear. It's horribly ironic.”

A recent report on income disparities between black and white employees in Bermuda triggers some statistical analysis by 21 Square. “The sad reality … is that white Bermudians are more likely to hold a higher level of education and thus are more likely to earn more.”

Signifyin' Guyana reflects on the troubling ideas about beauty that she and other dark-skinned Caribbean women encountered when they were growing up. “It took me a while to learn to ignore the inconsistencies from others and arrive at a healthy view of my skin color and facial features.”