I grew up in Handsworth. It is one of the most vibrant and diverse places in the UK, whether in terms of complexion or creed. For someone to feel uncomfortable there says everything about the kind of sameness they crave, rather than anything meaningful about Handsworth or Birmingham.

Wow ...

Black Joy Day - Marie Antoinette Style and the Afrocentric Wardrobe - V&A Academy Talk at V&A South Kensington · V&A Marie Antoinette’s image still shapes global culture, yet during her reign, Black elites in France and the Caribbean made vital contributions to the arts, military, politics, and more. Explore how the...

To continue to enjoy the fabulous exhibition currently at the V&A 'Marie Antoinette Style', join me in November.
www.vam.ac.uk/event/d10aOY...

Young artist from Martinique sheds light on the plight of coral reefs The hidden world of coral reefs is home to thousands of plant and animal species. But it's a world under threat from pollution and the coral bleaching caused by global warming. Hervé Lechar, an artist...

www.rfi.fr/en/culture/2...

'Europeos africanos. Una historia jamás contada', de Olivette Otele @historianmemory.bsky.social. Coeditado con @casa-africa.bsky.social. Una reivindicación de aquellas personas de origen africano que a lo largo de la historia han dejado su huella en Europa. También en #eBook buff.ly/FQS18Fm

'Hatred and racism cannot tear us apart,' first woman Archbishop of Canterbury says Dame Sarah Mullally addresses

Some good balm to our souls in these dangerous times even if I'm not a Church of England's flock.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...

*Happening*

Just found out this is appening today (5 October) in Bristol. This Black mum from Wales, will be sick with worry. 'Anti-inmigration' is code for anti Black and Brown and those wearing the hijab if you didn't know. Thanking Claire, people and places like The Watershed for offering shelter. 🙏🏾

Incredible 1st ever Black Welsh Music Awards at The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Co-founders: amazing artist Ify & Prof. Uzo Iwobi. Lovely moment with Dr Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason & Levi Roots. I even got to present the award for best music video! Party still on but these mature legs are done 😂

It's ok. I've learnt , after over 40 years of practice, to never let these people kill my inner joy! 💛

She had enjoyed talking to pupils afterwards (they were SO lovely 😍). NOTHING can dim the joy of knowing some of those young people will go out there and transform other people's lives, NOT even an old racist. Love, always, not hate. ✊🏽✊🏻☮️

to find out if the idiot was right.

Well, this woman, moi, DID have a 1st class ticket. She had just given a talk for BLack History Month to over 800 pupils aged 11-18 and had received a hugely celebratory, heartwarming, most amazing response at the end.

Nobody intervened when he went on a ranty bigoted inquisition and became agitated because I didn't see it fit to waste my breath answering. When an employee started to approach you could see, given the obvious stares that people on that carriage were all waiting with bated breath

Yesterday: imagine managing to get the last seat on a packed train even in 1st class, just to be confronted by a frail 75+ White man who decided that the only Black person in the carriage (and NOT the only person who got on that carriage) couldn't possibly have a 1st class ticket.

Also a wonderful opportunity to catch up with other judges, enjoy Hachette's rooftop garden and view AND my opportunity here to recommend the fabulous Paula Akpan's first book *When We Ruled*. It's amazing!

First Runner-Up was Zahrah Nesbitt-Ahmed for 'Sunana: Searching for my Father's Tongue' about language, love and identity.

Second Runner-Up was Rajan Sharma for 'Tokyo Boys' about 'Netaji INA cadets in imperial Japan during India's struggle for independence'.

2 magnificent stories!

It is about resilience, loss, memory, enslavement and the exploitation of young girls known as Mui Tsai. It's extremely well researched and it's about reconstructing what her grandmother 's life was like and how herself ended up in the UK.

They then have help to develop a full manuscript that is published by Trapeze, an imprint of Hachette. Judging is agonising but also a very rewarding adventure.

The winner this year is Yin F Lim. The story she put forward is called 'The Ties that Bind'.

London, last night at Mo Siewcharran Prize. A privilege to be a judge for this fantastic prize. it's for non-published authors. The publisher selects 10 stories, then we shortlist them. 1 workshop that then helps authors develop the application for the prize and the winner is introduced to an agent.

Manchester: 💔

Well, last night a brilliant woman's work was celebrated, amongst other scientists (but the only woman ...), and that filled me with joy. Final point, hearing Masud Husain talk about his book was mind-blowing (pun intended). I have already ordered it.
royalsociety.org/news/2025/10...

What I didn't know was that the first women to be elected fellows were Kathleen Lonsdale and Marjory Stephenson. It was only in 1945.

The Academy at the time (funded in 1660) was crucial in that development and particularly under Sir Isaac Newton's leadership. I also knew that Hans Sloane (whose collection was used to set up the British Museum ), was a fellow.

As an 18th century historian, I knew about the role of the Royal Society as it is also the UK's national academy of science. The 18th century was a period of immense wealth (yes, colonialism made European kingdoms extremely wealthy!) that allowed the country to take its research to new heights.

Her book is about extinction from a history of science, empire and race viewpoints. So, for that kind of books to be selected and then be shortlisted for the prize is extremely rare. She didn't win last night but another amazing author, the neurologist and neuroscientist Masud Husain did.

Last night I attended the Royal Society Trivedi Book Prize as Prof. Sadiah Qureshi's plus one. @sadiahqureshi.bsky.social
She is the 1st woman of Pakistani descent to have be appointed to a professorial chair in the UK. Her incredible book *Vanished* was shortlisted by the Royal Society.

An enormous congratulations to Masud Husain on winning the Trivedi prize. Delighted to have met you and be in such good company on the shortlist. Also over the moon to have met Samira Ahmed at the ceremony, and be in a discussion with her and the other shortlisted authors.

Now, term begins!

*fills*. Moi and les British homophones. Ah la la !

Thank you :)

‘It goes beyond getting a cash refund for slavery’: Lenny Henry and Marcus Ryder on the case for reparations With their new book, Henry and Ryder are determined to start a discussion about compensation for the descendants of slaves. But how would any scheme work? And why is it yet to happen?

Bernie Grant, Esther Xosei, so so SO many less known others and myself reading this. Le sigh ...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...