Site-Wide Activity

While many found humour in the discovery that Colonel Gaddafi greatly admires former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, his admiration speaks volumes to the appeal of women, especially  Black women, in power. When Gaddafi declared in an interview in 2007 that “I support my darling black African woman…. I admire and am very proud […]

I remember reading a brief article online about Rihanna’s recent appearance and participation in her country’s yearly Kadooment celebration and I was outraged at the media’s response. Some called her costumes and moves ‘scandalous,’ ‘raunchy’ and ‘overly sexual.’ ‘Ignorance!’ I declared.   To me, these responses are rooted in these people’s ignorance and their lack of knowledge […]

One of South London’s biggest exports has been lover’s rock riddimz. While it was orijinally created to fit within the more conservative London reggae scene, lovers rock has become a staple of reggae music worldwide.  Incorporating the smooth sounds of soul music and reggae baselines and riddimz, lovers rock tunes have emerged as one of […]

Is Mixed Race “really” better? I came across this video by Dr Aarathi Prasad which claims to investigate the scientific advantage of being ‘mixed race’ and asks the question “It is better to be mixed race?” As a ‘mixed-race’ person I couldn’t help but feel a bit ‘special’ at the notion that I might in some […]

Its commonplace on almost every Caribbean cruise; older men dressed in tropical shirts, hitting the sticks they hold in their hands against the corners of the shinny hollowed silver ‘bowls.’ To a large extent, these ‘bowls’ or steelpans have come to symbolize the Caribbean. Also referred to as ‘pans,’ steelpans orijinated in Trinidad and Tobago […]

Addressing the misconception that soccer and education are separate entities Son: “Dad, I think I have decided what I want to be when I finish secondary school.” Father: “Right my boy, what is it you have decided to do? Be a doctor like your aunt, a teacher like your mother or a lawyer like your father?” Son: “No Dad, […]

The term African fashion is becoming commonplace in the fashion industry as a result of new and fresh ideas, changed perspectives and a global mindset. African fashion is slowly but surely becoming popular culture in the couture scene. However, the problem with becoming pop culture is the possibility of losing uniqueness and breeding a sense of familiarity […]

On January 5th, 2010, the US congress, under the leaderships of President Obama, passed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform & Consumer Protection Act. This Act, also known as the ‘Loi Obama’ or ‘Obama Law’ in the République démocratique du Congo (DRC), was put in place with a mandate “To promote the financial stability of the […]

As a light skinned African American woman, I’ve grown up with questions about my “authenticity”. When people look at me, they assume I’m Latina or mixed. Very few people have met me without questioning what race I am. I tell them I’m Black, and they usually respond with ‘That’s it?’ or ‘Really’. Sometimes I tell […]