SjP,

When I was much younger my view of "Black on Black crime" was that it was just the price one paid for living in the hood. As I learned about atrocities in Africa, I found it suprising that a continent of Africans warred against each other in tribal conflicts.

The reality is that no one person or group has copyrights on murder and inhumanity. As Paul grieved for Israel, I grieve for Africans (both here in America and abroad). Until we can look at each other and see another human being, we will continue down the path of pain, destruction and shame.

underOvr

Science shows that that genetic variation within a population dwarfs that between populations http://jyte.com/cl/race-is-a-social-construct

Race is indeed then a social construct which means anything a particalr ethnic group does differently to another is going to be down to cultural/political/historic and economic factors.

These are the factors that external polulations such as the USA and UK can impact upon. The flip side of "belonging" ethnic identity is dangerous racist nationalism (think Nazi germany)- tribalism is just a perfect example of nationalism. The big problem is how to nurture and prseserve identity while doing the same for social cohesion. I'm not sure that is possible. But who would give up their culture? Difficult one.

I appreciate you for the consistent commitment that you have made to this monthly human rights blogging campaign.

My understanding is that Obama and Hillary plan to name an offical 'envoy' to deal with the situation in Darfur ... similiar to their strategy in the Mideast and Afghanistan/Pakistan. I look forward to the announcement.

I'm also heartened by the fact that UN Ambassador Susan Rice is a longtime Darfur activist. She should give the US a greater voice about the Darfur genocide in the United Nations.

SJP..righteous post. Thank you for reminding us of the struggles our brothers and sisters still face in Darfur.

I know Obama's plate is full, but in his admin recognizing the plight of the people of that country bears well with his plans for Global Unity

Great post SjP!

I am hoping that we will see some major progress in Darfur under Obama's administration. This is really an inhumane situation that needs to be eradicated.

Great post. Hopefully we will see some improvement in the situation sooner rather than later. For information on the lives of refugees in camps in Darfur and along the Chadian border, communities of Sudanese in Egypt, the pending ICC decision and the relationship between China and Sudan, listen to the Darfur Radio Project's March show at http://www.darfurradioproject.org.

Thank you for this post --- watchful eyes certainly are not enough. Very well said.