6 February 2018 marks 100 years since the Representation of the People Act 1918 – the act which allowed some women in the UK the right to vote. This was a major landmark in the history of our democracy. Influential consideration Only 58% of the adult male population was eligible to vote before 1918. An …
#Vote100 – Women’s suffrage movement
In the nineteenth century women had no place in national politics. They could not stand as candidates for Parliament. They were not even allowed to vote. It was assumed that women did not need the vote because their husbands would take responsibility in political matters. A woman’s role was seen to be child-rearing and taking …
Sandra Bland – Say her name
Sandra Bland is another black life lost under hinky police circumstances. The 28-year-old’s death in a Texas county jail on 13 July, three days after a routine traffic stop turned into a confrontation has attracted scepticism and disbelief from many who have been following the case. Whilst concerned American’s continue to keep a tally of …
The burning of Greenwood aka Black Wall Street
Greenwood, Tulsa was once a prosperous, modern, cultured Black community known as Black Wall Street until it was burned down by envious racists.
History of Jamaica Welfare
Jamaica Welfare was founded by Norman Manley in 1937. It was the first large scale social welfare organisation in the island. It was formed from suggestions Manley made to United Fruit Company President Samuel Zemurray, while acting as lawyer for the Jamaica Banana Producers Association. In the 1930s a plant disease killed off the banana …
12 Years a Slave Oscar wins prompts offensive headlines
In 2014 the film 12 Years a Slave, won many awards and was in the spotlight for months after the film launched last 2013. Actors Lupita Nyong’o and Chiwetel Ejiofor were constantly in the news along with director Steve McQueen. In February 2014 the film won Best Motion Picture in the Drama category at the …
Lupita Nyong’o shares her story of being dark skinned
Lupita Nyong’o was awarded Best Breakthrough Performance for her work in 12 Years a Slave at February’s Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon. Her acceptance speech brought a tear to my eye and to Lupita’s by the looks of things. Lupita shares snippets of a letter from a young girl who had been thinking of …
That awkward moment when Samuel L Jackson roasts a reporter
This was the moment when Samuel L Jackson roasted a news anchor on live TV in a case of mistaken identity. Samuel L Jackson was mistaken for Laurence Fishburne by news anchor Sam Rubin of KTLA. This has to be the funniest and most cringe-making interview ever as Samuel tore Sam a new one. Sam …
The truth about Fred Hampton’s murder
Fred Hampton was a political activist born August 30, 1948. In Junior college, he became active in the civil rights movement. Hampton eventually met Huey P. Newton and started his own chapter for the Black Panther Party in 1968. Fred Hampton was the chairman of the Chicago Black Panther Party and set up the …