Color Initiative
Phillip Martin
The Color Initiative is a series of reports that examine complex global issues of politics, culture, history and society through the framework of human perceptions and experiences related to color. Correspondent Phillip Martin is executive producer for Lifted Veils Productions, a Boston-based non-profit radio journalism organization dedicated to exploring issues that divide (and unite) society. The project is made possible by a grant from the Ford Foundation and additional funding from the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities and the Funding Exchange.
| Race debate in China Nov 16th, 2009: President Obama’s visit to China came in the midst of a controversy over racism in China. It erupted this summer when a biracial contestant appeared on a televised talent show. The contestant is the daughter of a Chinese woman and an African-American man – an unusual combination in China. Scores of hostile comments flooded the internet following her debut. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
“Skin”: a youth under apartheid Oct 30th, 2009: Phillip Martin has the true story of Sandra Laing. She grew up in South Africa in the 1960s and ’70s as the black daughter of white Afrikaners. Her story is now the topic of a movie: Skin premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, and was released to a limited number of US theaters in October
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Albinism worldwide  July 28th, 2009: In his second report on albinism worldwide, Phillip Martin surveys global efforts to show albinos in a more favorable light. Martin interviews Rick Guidotti, a fashion photographer who, in 1999, photographed a young albino woman named Christine (pictured) for a Life Magazine photo essay entitled “Redifining Beauty.”
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| Albinos face discrimination in Africa July 27th, 2009: Phillip Martin reports on the challenges faced by albinos in much of sub-Saharan Africa. Albinos lack the pigment melanin in their eyes, skin, and hair. It’s a genetic defect, but in much of Africa, it’s also reason for extreme – and deadly — prejudice. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
>>>Read more on the albinism stories and see user comments
Skin whitening in Asia March 11th, 2009: Skin whitening is a growing industry in China, Japan, and India. For many Asians whitening is part of a long tradition, but these days it’s also the result of the powerful influence of white western culture.
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| March 12th, 2009: However not everyone in Asia wants whiter skins, Phillip Martin tells how many middle class Asians are now moving away from creating white complexions and going for a Western-style tan.
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Africans and African Americans December 2nd, 2008:Phillip Martin reports on how the election of Barack Obama might help bring together two groups that haven’t always had a good relationship: African Americans and African immigrants.
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Racial attitudes in Puerto Rico August 20th, 2008: Puerto Rico is proud of its reputation as a racially diverse island. But a new report challenges the notion of racial harmony in Puerto Rico. Phillip Martin has the latest in his series of reports on color around the globe.
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| What’s in an ethnic name? July 14th, 2008: Is it Hispanic? Latino? Chicano? Or is it “brown?” Reporter Philip Martin explores how Mexican-Americans see themselves today. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
| Immigration and skin color April 14th, 2008: In this story Phillip Martin reports on how recent immigrants to the United States feel about American notions of race and skin color. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. |
Color and the US view of Iraq
March 21st, 2008
Philip Martin explores whether prejudice and racial stereotypes influence how Americans view Iraqis.
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Malaysia’s ethnic Indians protest
March 7th, 2008
Ethnic Indians in Malaysia have long supported that country’s ruling party. But not this time around. Before Malaysia’s elections, ethnic Indians were taking to the streets to protest discrimination.
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Race, immigration, and the presidential election
January 21th, 2008
Race and immigration are two major issues in the current presidential campaign. They’re also old standbys in American politics.
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Race in American movies
December 19th, 2007
Phillip Martin went to Taiwan, where most people form an image of America based on how the United States is portrayed in Hollywood films. Martin watched the recent film “Crash” with a group of young Taiwanese and then asked them to describe what the film says about race relations in the US.
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Race as a marketing tool
November 8th, 2007
Phillip Martin reports on how a European clothes company has fared championing racial diversity through its marketing campaign. Benetton’s goal has always been to sell casual clothing. But it’s used skin color to build its global brand.
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