Author: Leah Kulkhanjian

The Armenian Genocide: The Effects of Denial on the Western Armenian Language

Executive Summary Introduction The Armenian Genocide refers to the period of 1915-1924 when the Turkish government systematically killed Armenians under the Ottoman Empire. Contemporary scholars describe the atrocities committed against the Armenians as ‘a massacre that changed the meaning of the word massacre’.i Raphael Lemkin coined the term ‘genocide’ after his examination of the Armenian […]

Notting Hill Carnival

Notting Hill Carnival is the largest street carnival in Europe with 1-2 million people joining the carnival over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Although this year the event had to be cancelled due to Covid-19 and was hosted online instead, it is a better time than ever to reflect on why the carnival began and […]

How to Respond to a Racist Joke

Ever been in a situation where someone tells a racist joke? Did you find it inappropriate yet kept quiet because you didn’t know how to address it? Did you instead shake your head and walk away? We’ve probably all experienced this in one way shape or form. So this article will unpack why these jokes […]

Beirut Blast: Crisis before Explosion

Since the explosion in Beirut’s port on the 4th of August there have been at least 137 deaths, thousands injured and over 300,000 people displaced. Although the cause of the catastrophe that set 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate – stored in an unsecured warehouse for the past 6 years – to explode is yet to […]

Braids and Cultural Appropriation

Over the past few decades we have seen white women fashion braids and cornrows, particularly within the celebrity world as the media praises their looks. However, this has also sparked controversy and deemed as cultural appropriation by black communities and all over social media. But why? Isn’t it just a hairstyle that anyone can wear […]

The Deep Rooted Racism Behind Blackface

Although widely regarded as inappropriate, blackface is used in contemporary society by those who think it’s harmless and a bit of fun. Some may be completely ignorant to the insensitivity of it, others would rebel that it is free expression. Blackface is commonly used for Halloween costume parties and fancy dress parties which. In these […]