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UK broadcasters have made a commitment to end the use of the acronym BAME “wherever possible” in favour of specificity, as recommended by a report from the Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity. In a rare joint press statement, the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Viacom-owned Channel 5 said they will all try and move …
David Chappelle received substantial criticism for his jokes and comments about trans people in his Netflix special, The Closer, which aired on 5 October. The backlash goes beyond comments in the media and on Twitter: Netflix employees have also criticised the company for airing the special. The day after The Closer’s release, Netflix senior software …
A teaser trailer for Colin Kaepernick and Ava DuVernay’s upcoming Netflix limited series Colin in Black & White has been released. The six-episode scripted drama chronicles Kaepernick’s coming-of-age tackling the obstacles of race, class, and culture as the Black adopted child of a white family in Central California. Kaepernick narrates the tale as high school …
For over 70 years, the Palestinian people have suffered under Israel’s occupation. And today, the humanitarian crisis in Palestine is worse than ever. Over 2 million Palestinians live in Gaza, which is now the world’s largest open-air prison. Israel has imposed a land, air, and sea blockade on Gaza, making it impossible for civilians to …
The war on ‘woke’ and the overuse of the word wokeism has become a dog whistle to people who don’t like to be challenged for their bigoted, xenophobic or racist views. Just like the term politically correct, woke has been co-opted by the far-right to bash socially conscious people over the head. The term woke …
What is Black Lives Matter? The Black Lives Matter movement started as a hashtag on social networks and officially began in the United States in 2013 after George Zimmerman was found not guilty of murdering Trayvon Martin in Florida. The movement grew to protest not just the justice system in America but police brutality against …
The United States is currently in a heated debate over transgender rights, specifically about which public restrooms transgender people should be allowed to use. On one side of the debate are those who argue that transgender individuals should be allowed to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity, while on the other side …
It’s terrible news for the people of Lewisham as planned expansions of the Bakerloo line to extend from Elephant and Castle to Lewisham and potentially further have been halted “indefinitely”, Transport for London (TfL) announced. East London Line reports that Andy Byford, TfL’s commissioner, confirmed the halt of both the Bakerloo line and Crossrail 2 …
Donald Trump is a racist. This isn’t a new revelation, but it has been reiterated and confirmed throughout his presidential campaign and subsequent time in office. From the very beginning, Trump has stoked the flames of racism and bigotry and has never made a secret of his disdain for people of colour. His legacy will …
2020 seemed to start as it meant to go on. The UK was facing a definite Brexit, Donald Trump had been impeached in 2019 but was acquitted by the Senante in February. Covid-19 had reared its ugly head but became a global pandamic before proper measures were taken. Despite these measures 1.78M people have died …
Ella Addo-Kissi-Debrah is the first person in the UK whose death certificate lists air pollution exposure as a cause of death. The inquest into her death comes after her mother, Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, campaigned tirelessly for air pollution to be recognised as a factor in her daughter’s death. Ella lived in Lewisham, South London, just 25 …
Lewisham and Southwark councils have welcomed Transport for London (TfL)’s commitment to extend the Bakerloo line to Lewisham following a consultation last year. Thanks to the joint efforts of Lewisham and Southwark councils Back the Bakerloo campaign, the consultation undertaken last autumn received over 8,000 responses, with 89% supporting the plan to extend the tube …
On Saturday (October 3), a crowd gathered outside Lewisham library to voice their concerns about the traffic calming measures introduced by Lewisham Council. The low traffic neighbourhood scheme (LTN), a set of road barriers to reduce traffic in Lee was brought in under Covid-19 emergency transport measures and has received mixed feedback. The scheme aims …
In August 2020, national treasure, Adele got herself into hot water when she posted a picture on her social media channels, in honour of Notting Hill Carnival. The caption read “Happy what would be Notting Hill Carnival my beloved London.” Adele accused of cultural appropriation The hot water was thrown from Black American Twitter, who …
The term “New Black” has generated intense debate and controversy in recent years within the African American community. Often used to describe a specific group of African Americans, this term’s meaning and implications can vary depending on who uses it and in what context. As cultural identities continue to evolve, understanding the nuances behind such …
The UKs Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic TV Task Force has held talks with the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, and is preparing for meetings with Netflix and Amazon just days after publishing a letter demanding action on racial equality. The group, which sprung up last month amid the Black Lives Matter movement, is lobbying …
JK Rowling has spoken out after being criticised for recent remarks about transgender people. In an extended essay posted on her website, the Harry Potter author defended her recent tweets demeaning the transgender community. In her essay, Rowling explained how she first became interested in trans issues, spoke for the first time about her “first …
2021 list As a society, we still struggle with the issue of racism. Even though we have made significant progress in the last century, we still encounter racist behaviour and stereotypes in our daily lives. Elijah Lawal’s book, “The Clapback: Your Guide to Calling out Racist Stereotypes,” offers a powerful tool for anyone who wants …
In many cities and countries around the world, overtourism has become a significant issue of concern. Although tourism can stimulate the economy, it can also negatively impact it. Over tourism – the influx of too many tourists – is highly disruptive to local communities and the environment. Over-tourism is a term used to describe the …
The ADOS Movement, or American Descendants of Slavery Movement, is a political and social movement founded in the United States with the goal of seeking reparations for the descendants of enslaved Africans brought to America. The movement emphasises the specific experiences and struggles of African Americans who are descendants of enslaved Africans as distinct …
Dubai is a stunning Middle Eastern city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and a popular holiday destination. Despite Dubai’s glitzy shopping centres and luxury hotels, there are many rules to follow and not being aware of the rules is never an excuse in Dubai. Visitors from the West, who aren’t used to being restricted …
Ever since the Conservative government came into power in the UK in 2010, they have been deliberately using UKIP tactics to stoke the flames of culture wars. This has been done to distract from the various failures of their government, as well as to try and wedge the Labour party by playing on old-fashioned ideas …
Though Donald Trump’s election as the 45th president of the United States surprised many, it didn’t come as a total shock to those who had been tracking his rise in popularity. His loud and often-inflammatory rhetoric appealed to many Americans who felt left behind by mainstream politics. But while Trump’s supporters may have felt that …
There has been an alarming increase in anti-Semitic incidents in Europe and beyond in the last few years. Many Jewish organisations have started campaigns to raise awareness about anti-Semitism in response to this worrying trend. These actions are necessary and important to tackle anti-Semitism wherever it appears. However, a recent phenomenon reveals that anti-Semitism is …
