Real Reads
Jul 2021
Take Me Back Home
Mother lied when she said life would be better here. She lied again when she said that I have nothing to fear
Jul 2021
Interview with Chantelle Lunt: “You don’t always win in activism, but it’s that resistance that makes you an activist”
We evaluate how colourism and proximity to whiteness inform political success and assess the likelihood of longstanding structural change
Jul 2021
Why the “Nerdy/Quirky Black Girl” is an Emboldening rather than Limiting take on our Femininity
Intelligence is a descriptor that we see reserved for the white archetypes, with nerdiness on screen being explored primarily in relation to whiteness
Jul 2021
The Assassination of President Moïse: How Did We Get Here and What Lays Ahead for Haiti?
“The cycle of crisis after crisis during this period means that Haiti has never been given time to recover, pushing its economy and society to paper-thin limits”
Jul 2021
Bad Hair Review: A Funny Satire that Shows the Horrors of Trying to Fit in
An ambitious young woman gets a weave to succeed in the image-obsessed world of music television. But her new hair may have a mind of its own
Jul 2021
Review & Interview with Founder of Moneopura: Natural Products for Black Skin
“Like many Black Women, I suffer from hyperpigmentation. But I also have hypopigmentation, where there are lighter patches of skin on my face”
Jun 2021
In Conversation with Celebrity Hairstylist Dionne Smith
“I’ve always been keen on helping people improve. There are a lot of afro stylists who are not at their best, I want them to take what they’re doing seriously”
Jun 2021
Naomi Osaka and the Policing of Black Female Athletes
“From their bodies to their behaviours, Black female athletes are constantly scrutinised and expected to be grateful for being allowed to exist in these spaces”
Jun 2021
The Witch is Back and She’s Black
Black spiritual traditions were consciously dropped into the realm of evil and satanic through a juxtaposition with Western Christianity
Jun 2021
Does Cancel Culture Rectify Harm or Induce More?
“We need to re-assess the purpose of ‘cancelling’ and decide whether we’re seeking justice or revenge through this form of social reckoning”
Jun 2021
African Feminisms Part 1: The Historical Legacies of Kandaka
Kandaka’s legacy is a reminder of Black feminine magic. Honouring this title and heritage allows us to take responsibility over the herstories of African women
Jun 2021
“That’s still a thing?!”: Food Deserts and Black America
“My mom wasn’t the biggest cook. We had home-cooked meals, but I can’t recall seeing any fresh vegetables, and if we did, it was from a can”