Freelance Work
I have had the pleasure of writing for different media outlets.
I write mostly about politics and social justice, with a particular focus on Blackness as a politicised identity.
I am not limited to this though- I truly do have the range.
‘This is not about statues’: Why Britain is yet again failing to engage meaningfully on race
For The New European
Britain's history and its informal policy of chronically denying its role in years of racism, colonialism and imperialism and their impacts, are finally catching up with it.
For decades (if not centuries), it has been difficult to have proper conversations about race in this country, because of the categorical insistence by the state, and subsequently much of the population, that it's not really an issue here.
When the very real discrimination faced by British minorities is sometimes acknowledged, it is often done so with the apparent boast that the UK is 'less racist' in comparison with the US, or its European neighbours – as if 'less racist' was a badge of honour.
The Black Lives Matter protests that have sprung up in the UK in recent days have made it hard to ignore the fundamental issues of racism in this country. Yet, still, the press and many others are trying their best to do just that.
Dark Skin Black Women Deserve Better: Misogynoir Isn't An Opportunity To Score Points
For Black Ballad
For years black women have spoken incessantly about the vile abuse we face both online and in real life and have been met with ridicule and name-calling. We know that merely existing at the intersection of race and gender has meant we contend with our own brand of oppression known as ‘misogynoir’, or simply put, racialised misogyny. From the exposure of the treatment of black women MPs in the Labour Party in the recently leaked dossier, to the resurfacing of old tweets from various Twitter personalities making anti-black and misogynistic statements in the last day or so, it is evident that we were right about this abuse all along.
Brexit has left EU citizens ostracised and anxious – and now it’s even taken away their right to vote
For the Independent
I never thought “voter suppression” would be a phrase that I'd ever associate with British politics. Unfortunately, the events witnessed on European Election polling day, which left registered European citizens unable to vote, leave me struggling to find the adequate words to describe how much of a mess it was.
For context, there are about 3 million European Union citizens in the UK; many of whom had registered to vote in the UK ahead of the EU parliamentary elections, which took place on 23 May. In registering to vote in the UK, EU citizens like myself relinquished our right to vote in – what the Electoral Commission problematically deems as – our “home countries”.
Black Europe Exists And It's Important We Unite
For Black Ballad
There is something about Twitter that just seems to fuel diaspora wars for no apparent reason. A few weeks ago, I witnessed an interaction which I can thankfully only describe as nothing short of amusing: Black UK Twitter vs Black French Twitter – or as it became known, ‘Top Boy Twitter’ vs ‘Oui Oui/Baguette Twitter’.
The exchange, characterised by banter and playful jabs about each other’s culture at a surface level, evidenced the differences in lifestyle and trends amongst young black communities from the different countries and highlighted our perceptions of each other. Like the ever-present “African American vs Black Brit” conversation, it had me thinking about the experiences of the black diasporic youth across Europe, our differences and similarities, and how this influences our experience of life in the continent and our relation to each other. It also reminded me of the ignorance surrounding black history in Europe, outside of Britain. Beyond this, it made me ponder on the unifying experiences, if any, we share as young black people in London, Paris, Amsterdam or Oslo.
For The UK in a Changing Europe
Vote for your future on Thursday
Voting is the first step an individual can take in getting their voice heard by those in charge. Representation matters, democracy matters, no matter how you vote. Whether we leave next month, later this year or not at all, it is important that our views are heard. One of us supports leaving the EU, and the other wants to stay in – despite a narrative of a divided United Kingdom, we’ve teamed up to get young people voting, no matter which way they cast their ballot.
A People’s Vote needs a strong positive case for freedom of movement
For The New European
'Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.'
A question that sends a shiver down the spine of most normal people, forced upon us by 'facilitators' to make us acquaint ourselves with strangers in a new environment.
But, for me, the response has been an easy one. I've always always spoken about my background. At first glance, you couldn't guess that I'm an Italian national, with Ghanaian heritage, who has been living in the UK for the last 9 years. I take pride in being able to say I have lived in 3 countries on 2 continents.
My story, whilst interesting, is far more than unique. There are millions of young people just like me in the UK, from even more diverse backgrounds. Who are, by the way, making a net contribution to the UK through income taxes and national insurance contributions, than they receive in tax credits and child benefits, as academic research has shown.
I emphasise immigrant contribution to the UK in a pre-emptive attempt to curb the expected extrapolation that immigrants benefit from the UK, at the expense of the British native. Rather, immigration benefits both the UK, and immigrants such as myself.
The Black European Identity: Reflections On Brexit And Black Europeans
For Black Ballad
Brexit has been a subject of contention in the UK for the last three years; we’ve all heard about it and are ready to move on from it. There seems to be an overwhelming sense of apathy: “[Brexit] this is bad, but we will survive” - appears to be the sentiment echoed by many of my fellow black women, who unsurprisingly, will have the most to lose from Brexit.
I say this because research has shown that whenever there is an economic downturn, ethnic minorities - especially women, are the most affected demographic as we rely on public services the most, both as service users and providers. Brexit, which is predicted to cause an economic slump, will be no different. Despite this, this sense of apathy to the situation prevails in the community and it does so for legitimate reasons too.