Whether traditional, international or national, special days play an essential role in our lives. Unlike traditional days like Mother’s Day, April Fools or Samhain, international days are specially chosen by UNESCO, like the Day of the Girl and International Women’s Day. Commemorating days like the Festival of Colours, Armistice Day, St George’s Day and others unite …
In today’s society, where racial tensions remain prevalent, the media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and perpetuating stereotypes. A controversial strategy known as race baiting has emerged, allowing politicians and media outlets to exploit racial divisions for their own gain. The rise of race baiting The power of blatant racial rhetoric Race …
Jamaica has a vibrant culture, sun-soaked beaches, and rich history. Among the numerous attractions that draw tourists from around the world, the story of the White Witch of Rose Hall stands out as a captivating tale of mystery, magic, and murder. The origins of the legend Nestled near Montego Bay, the magnificent Rose Hall Plantation …
As we’re celebrating International Day of the Girl and Black History Month, this post is dedicated to women inventors of colour. Did you know that only 13 per cent of science, tech, engineering and maths workers are women? At the end of the 20th century, only 10 per cent of all patents were awarded to female inventors. …
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 that humans are fundamentally bad for the environment and must be controlled or eliminated to save the planet. This can take many different forms, from …
In the annals of Jamaican history, Una Marson’s name shines as a luminary—a poet, playwright, feminist, and relentless advocate whose profound contributions continue to inspire and resonate across generations. Born on 6 February 1905 in Santa Cruz, Jamaica, Una Marson’s journey was destined to be one of literary brilliance, activism, and pioneering spirit. A literary …
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 a religion, and Jews have a right to self-determination in their own homeland. The political and historical aspects of Zionism are complex, and there are …
The Brixton Black Women’s Group (BBWG) was a groundbreaking organisation that was crucial in shaping the Black Power Movement in Britain during the 1960s and 1970s. At the forefront of this movement was Elizabeth Obi, a trailblazing activist who, along with her close collaborator Olive Morris, sought to address the unique struggles faced by Black …
Aretha Franklin, the undisputed Queen of Soul, left an indelible mark on the music industry with her soul-stirring voice and powerful performances. Born on 25 March 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee, Aretha Louise Franklin was destined to become a musical legend. From her early days singing in her father’s church to her groundbreaking achievements and iconic …
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 against late-night comedians like Samantha Bee and Trevor Noah. On the one side, we have people actively seeking to cancel these comedians for jokes that …
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 the internet. As a society, what should the media’s role be, and what purpose does it serve? The three broad roles of the media are …
Gatekeeping is a term used to define the practice of controlling, regulating, or limiting access and admission to something. In the context of cultural preservation, gatekeeping can become a double-edged sword, as it can protect a culture from potential harm while also hindering growth and innovation. This article explores the concept of gatekeeping within African …
Katy Perry recently apologised and acknowledged that she “did it wrong” regarding two separate performances where she was accused of cultural appropriation. Performing at the American Music Awards in 2013, Perry dressed as a geisha and wore a full kimono, tabi socks, lacquered hair, geiko pancake, and heavily powdered her face. And recently, for her …
The woman who inspired me most outside of my family has to be my primary school teacher. Through her, I learned to love history and poetry and went on to discover more phenomenal women such as Josephine Baker, Ida B Wells, Rosa Parks and, of course, Maya Angelou and many more. But I’m not going …
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 to think about our ancestry. Like many Jamaican’s my ancestry is a mix-up and blend up! My great-grandfather on my dad’s side was white Irish. …
On 17 June 2015, a young man named Dylann Roof walked into the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Known as Mother Emanuel, this historic church has been a pillar of the black community since its establishment in 1816. But on that fateful evening, Roof’s presence introduced fear and pain. How did …
Islam is a monotheistic religion that originated in the 7th century CE in the Arabian Peninsula and spread across Africa. Its teachings are based on the revelations received by its founder, Prophet Muhammad, from Allah (God) through the angel Gabriel. Today, Islam is one of the largest religions in the world, with over 1.6 billion …
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 to minority groups and their issues. What is political correctness? So, what is political correctness? The definition of political correctness can vary, but in general, …
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 debt repayments as it does on education and health combined. In 1972 Prime Minister Michael Manley instituted wide-ranging socialist reforms. The resulting trade deficit brought …
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 could end up dead after a routine traffic violation. As Sandra Bland’s death has been ruled as a suicide let’s look at statistics for deaths …
Sandra Bland is another black life lost under hinky police circumstances. The 28-year-old’s death in a Texas county jail on 13 July, three days after a routine traffic stop turned into a confrontation, has attracted scepticism and disbelief from many who have been following the case. Whilst concerned Americans continue to keep a tally of …
We’ve debunked the tale of how Black Friday came about, now we will fact check the crazy tale of the etymology of picnic. Have you heard the story about where the word picnic comes from? If you haven’t, you’ve been lucky so far. If you have, let’s fact check that story. Here’s another tall tale …
Originally written as a poem “Bitter Fruit” by Abel Meeropol became a song performed famously by Billie Holiday. Meeropol, a white, Jewish high school teacher from the Bronx and a member of the Communist Party wrote it as a protest against lynchings. His inspiration came from the photograph by Lawrence Beitler of the 1930 lynching …
In this post we fact check the origins of Black Friday and the Willie Lynch speech. Toni Braxton posted a call to boycott Black Friday on her Facebook page with an image of a slave auction and text claiming that Black Friday was linked to slave auctions the day after Thanksgiving. This post did the …
