Literally Me The Second I Heard Duel Of The Fates In The Kenobi Trailer:

here and here are numbers (and other resources) for the national hotline for domestic violence in the uk given that around major football tournaments domestic abuse has spiked up by 38% when england has lost. it is not your fault and never will be. please rb to spread resources.

I don’t know if you’ll be able to help out, but I support BLM and want to learn more about black people in the UK but most of the stuff out there is about America. Do you have any recommendations about British black people? Books or documentaries or resources?

I'd be happy to help out! I agree the US tends to dominate conversations about race, but happily there are quite a few British books out there too! Disclaimer that these are just off the top of my head so if anyone wants to add more then please go ahead!

Black and British: A Forgotten History by David Olusoga! He's a prominent Black historian and has also done multiple documentaries which aim to expand traditional narratives of British history to include people of colour who are so often written out. You can find a full list on his Wikipedia page of course, though I'm unsure as to how many are on iPlayer and such! There's a child-friendly version of Black and British here too for any parents/teachers who are interested!

Brit(ish) by Afua Hirsch is a more autobiographical book about Hirsch's experiences growing up as a mixed race woman in Britain. Hirsch attended Oxford University and works at the BBC, so it’s offers a good insight into what it's like for POC to exist in spaces that have traditionally been saved for rich white people. She's a journalist to so there are various articles of hers floating about covering a range of issues, some of which relate to race. She's also done a few documentaries that are worth checking out, including The Battle for Britain's Heroes which questions whether some of our 'heroes' (e.g. Churchill, Nelson) should really be honoured, and (not British but) African Renaissance which looks at Black culture in Ethiopia, Senegal and Kenya - maybe the first time I've seen African culture shown on its own terms.

Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala is another half autobiographical work, covering stuff like the far right in Britain, policing and education. It does a great job of cutting through the squeamishness I think Brits often have when talking about race.

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge has become a sort of classic of its genre but I think it's totally worthy of all the praise it's received! It looks at how lots of white people in Britain (and more generally) equate racism with full-on hate crimes, meaning they don't consider themselves racist despite regularly committing micro-aggressions/other unintentional acts. Also an absolutely stellar insight into intersectionality throughout the book! Cannot recommend enough!

Feminism, Interrupted: Disrupting Power by Lola Olufemi is a must-read for feminists! It discusses modern-day feminism and how it needs to remove itself from that girlboss capitalist yuckiness, and should instead focus on marginalised issues within feminism such as transmisogyny, sex work, and - of course - racism. Has been praised by Angela Davis so that's a huge plus!

The Good Immigrant edited by Nikesh Shukla is a collection of essays by POC from across Britain sharing experiences of racism and immigration, and what it feels like to be constantly regarded as an 'other' or as an ambassador for your race.

Literally anything by Paul Gilroy! His work is slightly older and some of it is very ~academic~ but I don't want to suggest that it's therefore totally inaccessible. He talks a lot more about British national identity and our role in the world and how that has affected views on race and immigration. He's written lots (I recommend Googling him and having a better look yourself!) but There Ain't No Black in the Union Jack and After Empire: Melancholia or Convivial Culture are both fab.

If you're feeling brave then you could look at anything by Marxist darling Stuart Hall? Some of his writing is very difficult to penetrate imo, but it's worth it if you can. He's written a lot so I would recommend browsing his Wikipedia page first and seeing if there's anything that grabs you. Even if you don't feel up to reading his stuff cover to cover, he's still someone who every antiracist in Britain should know!

Honourary mention to Thinking Black: Britain, 1964-1985 by Rob Waters just because he taught me at university hehe! Obviously more of an academic history book, but again pretty accessible and a good insight into more radical Black politics in Britain in the era.

I haven't read it myself as I believe it's only just come out but David Harewood has a book called Maybe I Don't Belong Here: A Memoir of Race, Identity, Breakdown and Recovery which looks worth checking out! Foreword by our beloved David Olusoga too!

If you're still looking for more then a good tip with any of the academic books listed here is that you can browse the footnotes and/or bibliography to find further reading there!

If you're looking for documentaries then on the BBC you can browse for Black History Month stuff, (fictional) shows that centre Black British characters and narratives, and documentaries that do the same. There has been quite a lot done in the past year about all sorts of stuff - from Black people in the NHS, what it's like being Black in the church, more specific stuff on Stephen Lawrence, Windrush, the Newcross Fire, and even specials on Black celebrities such as Lenny Henry. There's also a Black and Proud section on Channel 4's website that does something similar (side note: cannot believe they've put Hollyoaks on there that's so funny).

I don't read much fiction myself, but it is important not just to see Black Britons as victims of racism, but also as… you know… complicated and fully rounded human beings who are able to experience the full spectrum of human emotion like everyone else. Like black people just… existing. Looking to others who do read fiction to help flesh out this section in particular but a couple again off the top of my head:

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo

Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola (I know this isn’t about Britain per se, but she's a Black British writer so I think it counts).

This is probably more than you asked for and you can likely tell that my academic background is in history so it is skewed towards that but I hope this helps! And again, if anyone wants to add anything then feel free!

- Dominique

The western media outlet will pay.

Help protect British transport workers during the pandemic! Please share

David O'Sullivan has been a London bus driver and tube worker for 30 years. His company has just sacked him for standing up for his colleagues' health and safety rights during the pandemic.

The fatality rate for London bus drivers is almost three times the national average and Britain has been one of the worst-affected countries during the pandemic.

In January, Dave asserted the rights of himself and his colleagues to a safe workplace. This is covered by Section 44 of the Employment Rights Act (1996). When he warned his colleagues about the spread of COVID-19 at the bus garage and informed them of their rights under the Act, he was sacked.

The union colluded with management in the sacking.

Because of serious safety breaches by management, Dave and his colleagues had already written to the company's Managing Director, the London Deputy Mayor for Transport, and Unite the Union officials. They were ignored.

Section 44 gives all employees the right to refuse to work “in circumstances of danger which the employee reasonably believes to be serious and imminent”. Employees can remove themselves until “appropriate steps” are taken “to protect themselves or other persons in danger.”

All British workers have this right.

Dave's claim against Metroline is a test case for the rights of key workers during the pandemic. Please don't let the legal system force key workers into yet more unsafe conditions!

Dave has evidence. He has secured legal advice. What he and London bus drivers need now is your support.

Please donate and / or share this message now

CrowdJustice

A test case for the rights of key workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

My name is David O'Sullivan. I'm a London bus driver who was sacked for standing up for my colleagues' health and safety rights during the C

Carol and Maria looking at each other.

Monica: 

hey i know theres a lot of jokes about the uk being fascist but this new bill is literally nazi shit if youre a uk citizen or resident PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE sign this petition

Petitions - UK Government and Parliament

Petition: Remove Clause 9 from the Nationality and Borders Bill

Under provisions in Clause 9 of this Bill, individuals could be stripped of their British citizenship without warning. We believe this is un

we say this after every ceasefire but even if active bombing has stopped, palestinians still face israeli violence on a daily basis. in gaza alone, and as a result of the recent violence, the water supply is now facing 40% shortage, roads leading to hospitals are destroyed, at least 70,000 people have been displaced, 12 families have been completely wiped out, and close to 2000 injured, many of whom will not be able to go abroad to receive crucial treatments as the 14-year siege on gaza continues.

and as always, israel is going to enjoy total impunity on all of these crimes which allows it to continue with the siege on gaza, home demolitions, land/resource theft, detention of children, terrorizing worshippers and so on.

the momentum that was built, especially on social media, has got to continue. it has become quite clear that the movement has done so much specifically in terms of shedding light on the magnitude of israel’s crimes and the absurdity of the justifications that we have been battling for ages.

yes, i cried literal tears seeing people in gaza celebrate the ceasefire but this is a reminder to all that a ceasefire is the bare minimum as different forms of violence enacted by israel never ceased. the fight for human rights has got to continue. keep talking about sheikh jarrah, the occupation, the apartheid, the siege; keep palestine present so that israel is held accountable for its crimes.

Things that happened in Bristol and London late last night:

-In Bristol, at about midnight, the police put dispersal order in place and brought the dogs out again.

-They arrested a number of protestors in a violent and aggressive way, including a medic who was providing first aid.

-In London, a large number of arrested protestors including legal observers are still being held. Organisations suck as Green and Black Cross and Black Protest Legal Support are challenging the legality of some of these arrests.

If you are in either of these cities and can provide post arrest support, please get in touch with the relevant organisations.

Otherwise, keep fighting the good fight.

“We will not blame him for the crimes of his ancestors if he relinquishes the royal rights of his ancestors; but as long as he claims their rights, by virtue of descent, then, by virtue of descent, he must shoulder the responsibility for their crimes.”

— James Connolly, on the visit of George V to Ireland

06/17/2021 8:50am pacific. this video was originally posted 10 hours ago