Shazia Usman expresses her story on bullying and discrimination in the form of a children's book

Shazia Usman expresses her story on bullying and discrimination in the form of a children's book

By Shanil Singh and Rashika Kumar
27/08/2019
Local author Shazia Usman [Photo:FRIDA]

Bullying and discrimination based on the dark complexion of her skin has inspired local author Shazia Usman to express her story in the form of a children’s book titled “Kaluti”.

Usman says she faced bullying and colourism as a child and still does as an adult and so do many of her friends and people around her.

Kaluti is about 10‑year‑old girl, Zia from Suva who is called Kaluti by her aunt.

Usman says most of the time people do not talk about the bullying that happens in the family.

She says children feel they will not be believed and adults do not want to be disrespectful to other adults.

Usman believes there are no stories that reflect the lives of brown girls, Indo‑Fijian girls.

She says there is a need for more stories that represent Fijians told by Fijians.

Usman says this story is about everyone who has ever been made to feel as though they are not good enough because they are not fair‑skinned, thin, rich, or have a disability.

ADVERTISEMENT

MH Moneygram
MH Online Shopping Banner
FEATURE NEWS
Some of my Year 12 - 13 students are categorised as failures because they did not pass English - Natabua Principal
The Principal of Natabua High School Virendra Sharma is recommending that English should not be used to determine that a student passes his or her Yea...
3 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
19 people injured after Mexican Navy training ship struck underside of Brooklyn Bridge in New York
A Mexican Navy training ship carrying 277 people struck the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, causing injuries to 19 people, including ...
3 hours ago

New HIV reports have risen fivefold in Fiji since 2019 - FNU
The new HIV infections report has risen fivefold in Fiji since 2019, with the highest number of cases reported in the Central Division. This has ...
3 hours ago

Fiji's Ministry of Trade strategically ahead in the queue for tariff talks with the US
As the clock ticks down on the US tariffs, the stakes rise and nobody wants to be out in the cold on July 8th but since mid-April, the Trump ...
3 hours ago

Farmers Union demands clarity on Rarawai Sugar Mill closure for cane crushing season
The National Farmers Union is calling on the government to explain the recommendation made by Chinese consultants to operate only one sugar mill in ...
3 hours ago

Woman in her 50s dies in a horrific accident along the Queens Highway
A woman in her 50s has died after allegedly sustaining injuries in an accident along the Queen’s Highway yesterday. Police say she was a ...
4 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH

Tragedy at PRB Flats: Couple found dead in suspected murder-suicide in April
A couple were found dead at the new Lagilagi Public Rental Board Flats today and it is alleged at this stage that it was a murder suicide case on ...
13 days ago

Tevita Ikanivere on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
The show focuses on Ikanivere’s journey, his family, career and how far the Drua has ...
26 days ago

TOP