My favourite books by BAME authors

This selection of books have all been written by BAME (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) authors and provide a thought-provoking look into race, prejudice and white privilege. Reading diverse literature is vastly important as it allows us to extend our understanding of the world and empathise with the experiences of others. I would recommend the books

Lessons from lockdown

As I cleared out my university halls of residence in March to move back home for lockdown, all I could think about were the things I was going to miss out on. I had anticipated the final term of first year to be packed with as much fun and memories as the previous term. As

Extinction Rebellion: a necessary nuisance?

Extinction Rebellion are a nonviolent organisation who aim to persuade the government to take action on the climate and ecological emergency. They recently made headlines for blocking access to Rupert Murdoch’s printing presses and delaying the distribution of many nationwide newspapers. Extinction Rebellion’s actions were motivated by the failure of papers like the Sun, the

The blame game

From Monday 14th onwards, the number of people allowed to gather indoors or outdoors in England is to be reduced from thirty to six. This decision comes after a surge in Coronavirus infections in young people and the looming threat of universities reopening. A blame culture has emerged with young people at the centre. It

Making the grade

‘Your application has been unsuccessful’ were the words I read at 8AM on my UCAS letter, after being rejected from the University of Sheffield. I was heartbroken. Two years of A-Level struggle had been fruitless and I was rejected from my first choice university. I was confused. I had been predicted grades good enough to

Clenton Farquharson MBE: A Conversation for Today

Imagine that life is a game of monopoly. In the game, the white players begin playing three days before the black players do. In addition to having a head start, the white players already possess the properties, wealth, resources and decision making abilities to succeed in the game. The difference between the players, is power.

Boohoo: a crying shame for Leicester

After a spike in coronavirus cases, Leicester was forced back into lockdown; facing travel restrictions and unable to reopen pubs and restaurants on the 4th July. It is no coincidence that Leicester is also home to 1000 garment factories, some of which are genuine, though some are extremely exploitative and have ignored government Covid-19 instructions.

How the fashion industry have commercialised black culture

In tribute to George Floyd, prominent brands among the fashion industry took to social media to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement on ‘#blackouttuesday’. However, critics fear that this display of solidarity was merely lip service. The fashion industry does not have the best reputation for encouraging diversity or for being representative

Juneteenth: what freedom looks like today

Last Friday, the 19th June 2020, marked the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth, otherwise known as Liberation Day, Freedom day or Emancipation Day. On the 19th June 1865, enslaved African-Americans in Galveston, Texas, were told they were free from emancipation and that the civil war had ended. Now, 155 years later, people in cities and towns

Grenfell: a fire fuelled by racism

This week marks the third anniversary of the Grenfell Tower blaze which claimed the lives of 72 people on the horrific morning of the 14th June 2017. As Black Lives Matter protests are taking place across the country, and with greater awareness of structural racism in the UK, the anniversary this year has been particularly