In this episode of Yurt Jurt, Aidai Aidarova speaks with Terrell J. Starr, journalist, podcaster, and political commentator. Aidai and Terrell discuss how conversations about colonialism and decolonization often remain trapped within African or Western frameworks, overlooking former Soviet and Central Asian experiences. Together, they explore how these global narratives are shifting and what it means to live, write, and think decolonially beyond borders and geography.
Terrell shares how living in Ukraine reshaped his understanding of race, identity, and decoloniality. He reflects on his realization that in the U.S., “Caucasian” is synonymous with “white,” while in reality, the peoples of the Caucasus are the true Caucasians – a revelation that challenged his perception of race and belonging.
More content from this blog
- What Are You Fighting For? Sally Abed and Jess Bricker in Conversation – 16 October 2025
- Why China’s Ability to Make a $6 Toaster is a Big Problem for the Global South – 12 November 2025
- Fuel Shortages and Extractivism in Bolivia, by Claudia López Pardo – 21 August 2026
- Looking for Empires: Japanese Colonialism and the Comparative Gaze, by Kate McDonald – 17 April 2021
- Gender-Based Violence in Central American Women’s Lives, by Cecilia Menjívar – 20 April 2026
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