They ask me, again, why I’m playing the race card, and I tell them I’m not playing – but yes – this is the race card; and now I’m laying all my cards, flat out blunt and openly on the table. Yes, this is the race card, because the media’s still separating the black suits... Continue Reading →
Recently, I discovered New York City had declared a ban on hair discrimination. Reading the print, I found myself smiling knowing New York had taken these steps in the face of racism and now - legally - no one could discriminate against black hairstyles in the Big Apple. But reading this also triggered an epiphany... Continue Reading →
It’s happening now: A massacre in Sudan. And I know it’s not being plastered all over your screens, Like the fire that took Notre-Dame. Not being reported by your trusted BBC and Sky News, who hung their heads in solidarity for France. But it’s happening now in Sudan: A massacre. So, why don’t you consider... Continue Reading →
A year ago: Sorry you feel uncomfortable Sorry I shattered your idyllic visions and Sorry I tarnished your childhood home and located it somewhere other than heavenly Sorry I transformed it and muddied your precious memories Sorry I brought it up Today: No, I won’t apologise for your discomfort and no I won’t apologise... Continue Reading →
Imprints on our skin, fresh in our blood: Straighten your hair, they slurred, as they staggered past. Straighten for you means whiten, Europeanise. Force my tight, nappy curls between the hot iron clasps of your European beauty standards; making myself acceptable for your viewing. Her hair’s grey but she’s black, they laughed. Your white privilege reaches beyond the scope of... Continue Reading →
Halloween season is upon us and I’m sure almost everyone is frantically trying to decide on a costume for the one of many parties that we’ve agreed to go to. Traditionally, Halloween is a day which enables people to remember the dead, and hence many believe the festival to be rooted in paganism. Less traditionally,... Continue Reading →
The last line of my first blog post reads ‘Black people need to do better.’ Now, eight posts later and I’m opening with this same belief in mind. From what I’ve seen, black people are one of the most racially divided groups. There is a massive lack of unity presenting the black community as a... Continue Reading →
Girl, 20, raped in the early hours of Sunday morning. ‘What was she wearing? Was she showing too much skin. Why was she walking alone at that time? She was probably drunk. She should have got a taxi home.’ Victim blaming. I frequently hear saddening reactions like the above in response to accounts of sexual... Continue Reading →
‘Go home. You’re not welcome here. Go home.’ Show me home, this place which you shriek and shout of, this place you shower in my face as you shove past me in the street. Show me where my home is, draw me home, paint me home, where I used to safely play sticks and stones,... Continue Reading →
