Expression

Approx. time

Explanation

(start)

6:40

political prisoner

7:50

someone who is put in prison for being against another political leader and not against the law

swept up

8:00

to be taken against one’s will by a large, powerful force.  In this case, Richard’s father was swept up and sent to prison when the government of the country changed suddenly.

C.I.D.

8:15

Criminal Investigation Department

Amnesty International

8:26

a non-governmental organization which speaks up against human rights abuses across the globe.  In the case of Richard’s father, Amnesty International worked behind the scenes to free him a dozen years after he was imprisoned. http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work

moral and social ideals

9:23

the high principles that govern your thinking of human and social behavior

Chimamanda (Ngozi) Adichie

10:00

Nigerian author: http://nyti.ms/12cHGW9

indignant

10:36

upset, insulted

Sub-Saharan Africa

11:18

geographically: the part of Africa south of the Sahara Desert; culturally: the part of Africa that is not predominantly Arab (North Africa)

taken aback

11:39

surprised, shocked, startled

framed by race

11:46

group identity defined by skin color

ethnicity

11:49

group defined by cultural or tribal identity

of late

12:10

very recently

glaring

12:16

strongly obvious, impossible to miss

albeit

12:24

although

Euro-centric

12:30

based on European standards

conflate

12:48

confuse, mix together

anathema

13:33

very negative thing, something terrible to reject

taboo

13:34

something that is forbidden

phenotype

13:51

the total traits or characteristics of an organism (including its shape, development, chemistry, and behavior)

paradox

14:06

a contradiction, something that exists even though parts of it conflict or do not match

technological metaphors

14:15

making comparisons by using examples of technology

contradictions

15:10

things that conflict or do not match each other 

per se

15:29

by itself, alone

Mohammad Mosaddeq

15:46

The democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran from 1951-1953. His government was overthrown by a coup d'état organized by British and American secret operations.

masterminded

15:49

created the plan

play out

16:10

happen, show up, be exhibited

narrative

16:38

story

and the like

16:43

and similar things

outside the box

16:49

beyond traditional thinking, past the usual way of doing things

contentious process

17:00

a way of doing things that has conflict and disagreement

Ghanaian

17:54

from Ghana

biological entity

18:12

life form

ethics, morality

18:18

rules of behavior based on definitions of right and wrong

assimilated

19:02

becoming part of the group, losing original identity

new diaspora

19:22

scattering or dispersing of people from one original area to new areas

poignant story

20:11

moving or heart-warming story

hit it off

20:53

got along, felt connected

the onset

20:57

the beginning

elemental

21:28

core, basic, at the very beginning of one’s elements

(end)

21:52