OWOLOWO

US Protests and the House Negro Syndrome Since the George Floyd protests started, opposition has come from a particular demographic – outright racists and non- racists who are in denial about their role. However, a particular group of individuals caught my attention – ‘blacks’ that are countering the efforts of anti-racists who come from various backgrounds. White supremacist ideologies must never be condoned in any way, shape or form. Those at the receiving end will never see anything good or beneficial in protests. To the beneficiaries of social inequalities, protests portend a change in status quo. Protests by their very essence are spontaneous, and could take many forms – riots to revolutions. For example, the French Revolution would not have been encouraged by the ruling elite, but it was a catalyst that led to societal change. In analysing intricacies associated with the protests, Malcolm X's ‘House Negro’ terminology comes to mind, with particular emphasis ...

Hijab and The Bar  A law student in Nigeria, Firdaus Amasa Abdulsalam fulfilled all academic requirements to practice the legal profession but was barred from the call to bar ceremony by the Law School Body of Benchers in Abuja on December 12, 2017. The reason for her being barred was because she wore along with her professional habiliments, her Hijab neatly tucked under the barristers’ wig. Apparently, there’s another case that is not yet as publicised as that of Firdaus. Another graduating law student, Aisha Zubair was harassed at the same call to bar ceremony – she was not only forced to remove her Hijab but had it trampled on, and had her certificate seized by obviously uncouth Law School personnel. Since the show of shame occurred, there have been arguments for and against the matter. The matter has taken a polemical life of its own and sides have been taken – some disappointingly extreme ones at that! Personally, I find it appalling the wearing of Hijab by a ...