The life and legacy of Louise Bennett: A Jamaican poet whose words still resonate
Louise Bennett was a Jamaican author, poet, and playwright who used her words to promote the culture and history of her home country. She was fondly known by many as …
Features
The Windrush passenger’s underground accommodations
When Caribbean migrants disembarked from the SS Empire Windrush on 22 June 1948, many of them had nowhere to live. Due to the shortage of housing in London following World …
I Spy: The Josephine Baker Story
Actor Janelle Monaé (Hidden Figures) is set to star as the iconic entertainer Josephine Baker in a new TV series titled De La Resistance. So who was Josephine Baker? Exotic …
Black women empowerment: How to lift each other up
Black women’s empowerment is not a new movement. However, in recent years, it has gained even more traction. This is likely partly due to the powerful voices of black women …
22 April is Stephen Lawrence Day – Have things got better?
Friday 22 April is Stephen Lawrence Day – an annual event held on the date of Stephen’s death as a celebration of Stephen’s life and legacy. Stephen Lawrence was a …
Why do we celebrate Easter?
Easter will be seen as a lovely long Bank Holiday weekend for many people. For others, it’s a Christian religious holiday. As a Jamaican, celebrating Easter has always been a …
World Poetry Day: Profile on Paul Laurence Dunbar
Today is World Poetry Day, and to celebrate, we’re highlighting a poet some may not have heard about in mainstream circles. Today, we feature Paul Laurence Dunbar, poet, novelist, and …
The global rise of fascism: How we got here and what we can do about
In the past few years, fascism has been on the rise all over the world. From Brexit to Trump, far-right ideologies have been gaining mainstream traction in a number of …
Proud to Be: Reclaiming black dignity
The theme of Black History Month 2021 is Proud to Be. How did our ancestors reclaim their dignity and what made them proud to be after slavery? I grew …
What is cancel culture, and are there any benefits?
In a world full of cancel culture, it’s hard to know what to do. We’re constantly being told that if we don’t agree with someone or something, the best thing …
Windrush Day
Windrush Day is observed in the UK on 22 June to mark the arrival of the Empire Windrush and to honour the contribution of the Windrush Generation and their descendants. …
Celebrating Pride Month: Justin Fashanu – First out gay footballer
In 1990 Justin Fashanu stunned the football world as the first professional footballer to come out as gay. At this time racism and homophobia were endemic in football. Justin’s early …
Celebrating Pride Month – Marsha P Johnson
Marsha P Johnson was an outspoken transgender rights activist at the forefront of important moments in LGBTQ+ history. Her activism in the 1960s and 70s had an enormous impact on …
The Windrush scandal and the hostile environment
What is the Windrush scandal? The Windrush scandal mainly affected UK citizens originally from the Caribbean. It came to light in 2018 after it emerged that hundreds of Commonwealth citizens, …
Tulsa race massacre survivors seek justice
Viola Fletcher, the oldest survivor of the racist attack on Tulsa’s “Black Wall Street”, testified at a House Judiciary Committee hearing to mark the centennial of the 1921 Tulsa Race …
Environmental concerns: What Is ecofascism?
The political and social movement known as eco fascism is growing in popularity worldwide. But what is it, and why should you care? Simply put, eco fascism is the belief …
The history and politics of Zionism: Everything you need to know
Zionism is a term that has been used in many different ways over the years. At its core, Zionism is the belief that Judaism is a nationality as well as …
The cultural divide between Cancel Culture and the rest of us
We have witnessed widely publicised examples of tension between social justice activists and those who advocate for restraint. The most recent example is the Cancel culture movement and its backlash …
The role of the media in fuelling culture wars
Media plays a vital role in shaping public awareness and providing information that shapes attitudes and opinions. The media has become a powerful tool, whether it is TV, radio, or …
Tracing my roots
History has been one of my favourite subjects since Primary school so it’s not surprising that my family history is important to me. Black History Month is a good opportunity …
Political correctness: A guide to the controversial ideology
Political correctness, or PC culture, is a term used to describe how public discourse has changed to avoid offending certain groups of people. It is often seen as excessive sensitivity …
6 facts about Jamaica’s debt
For over 40 years the people of Jamaica have suffered under the weight of massive debt. Jamaica is one of the most indebted countries and spends twice as much on …
African Americans experience higher arrest related deaths
Racial disproportionality in the US criminal justice system is a fact that can be proved with statics. This could help to explain why a young black woman like Sandra Bland …
Ackee and Saltfish – a match made in taste bud heaven
Ackee and Saltfish is the National Dish of Jamaica but neither ingredient is of Jamaican origin. Ackee Ackee is derived from the original name Ankye that comes from the Twi …
