Why the toppling of statues is a step towards countries confronting their racist past
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson Recent discourse surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement and the toppling of statues symbolic of our racist history has been hotly debated. People across the globe have…
Vergangenheitsbewältigung: Can we use Germany’s past to navigate our future?
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. Our memory is how we learn. I do not believe that George Santayana, in persuading us…
The fashion industry continues to exclude and exploit black people
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson Diversity and representation within the fashion industry has been a longstanding subject of contention. In the last decade, this issue has gained traction, as consumers are increasingly…
From Dystopian YA fiction to Black Lives Matter; the evolution of the revolution
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson On Monday 1st June, President Trump stood outside Washington D.C.’s St John’s Church holding up a Bible; in a photo-op meant to show the strength and resilience…
Black Lives Matter: A cause that needs direction
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson The Black Lives Matter movement isn’t a new one, but the murder of George Floyd has once again thrust it to the fore and the video of…
Donald Trump is set for a one term presidency
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson Logic has been cast aside with bombastic disdain by Donald Trump, a populist outsider who confounds expectation. His opponents do not want to be made electorally foolish…
Prison Labour: the untold truth
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson Over the last few weeks, we have seen that the Black Lives Matter movement has hugely increased momentum and support. The ongoing protests, which were majority peaceful,…
Why I’m not expecting black people to talk about race
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson In her seminal work Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race, Reni Eddo-Lodge conveys her frustration at her attempts to explain structural racism to…
Toppling a statue does not erase history, it brings it to life
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson Far from an attempt to write out history, the toppling, tainting and debating of our nation’s statues and monuments is a writing in of history. If the…
Why did Starmer condemn the Colston statue toppling?
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson Labour is suffering an identity crisis. After a cataclysmic showing at last year’s snap general election, which saw their campaign marred by Brexit and anti-Semitism thanks to…
Systemic racism: the true legacy of empire?
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson It is very easy to look across the pond to the United States, see the deep-rooted societal issues around race relations and say: ‘that is tragic, but…
Systemic racism in British sport: not such a level playing field
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson British Sport is a long way off from truly being equal to all. Sport is a universal language that connects people regardless of their background and has…
Hate crime: the brutal reality of everyday inertia
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson In the midst of the pervasive pain and fulminating fury at the centre of Black Lives Matter’s powerful protests – presenting a turning point in Britain’s egregious story…
Why does racism still underpin policing in the USA?
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson America’s original sin perpetuates. Like it or not, the notion of whiteness over blackness is enshrined within American history, and it still fundamentally underpins racial inequality in…
Instagram influencers are undermining activism
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson It has been almost three weeks since protests began following George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis. What has followed has been momentous. Protests have spread internationally in support…
Biden has to prove he is capable of making the promises of change a reality
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson Following George Floyd’s death, and the subsequent protest marches, the US has become even more divided– between those fighting for change, versus those fighting to sustain the…
America’s racist history – how we can make the future different?
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson Three weeks ago, I wrote an article commenting on how the fatal shooting of unarmed black jogger Ahmaud Arbery was symptomatic of a system which prioritizes the…
Social media activism can be incredibly powerful, but it can also be incredibly dangerous
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson Since the killing of George Floyd, social media activism has proved itself to be an incredibly powerful phenomenon. Millions of people have taken to Instagram and Twitter,…
White silence is no longer an option
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson The murder of George Floyd has seen people across the world mobilise in acts of solidarity on an unprecedented scale. It has managed to create greater awareness…
The UK Government’s deafening silence is complicity of the highest order
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson On Sunday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab decided to change the job description of one of the Great Offices of State, in order to appease a racist. When…
Complacency is complicity: black lives matter in the UK too
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson “Please I can’t breathe. My stomach hurts. My neck hurts. Everything hurts. They’re going to kill me.” GEORGE FLOYD, 2020. “I can’t breathe.” ERIC GARNER, 2014. People…
Why is Macron so unpopular in France?
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson During the election in 2017, international media praised Macron’s charisma and he was supported by some of the most powerful politicians in the world including Barack Obama…