November 4, 2022

BUSINESS • Elite Evolution - Founded by three born and bred Hackney boys, Elite Evolution is a black-owned gym located in the heart of Hackney Wick. After finishing university, these three joined forces as they became acutely aware of the health inequalities that existed in their community and wanted to make a difference. They wanted to shift perceptions and attitudes towards health, fitness, sports and wellbeing by creating a community-focused, inclusive fitness and wellness hub. https://www.elite-evolution.com/ • Mind the Cork -Contemporary Eco-Friendly Cork Homeware and Lifestyle Products Mind the Cork is a London-based design studio that combines playful minimalism with sustainable materials to create cork lifestyle products that are exciting, eco-friendly and thoughtfully crafted. https://mindthecork.com/ • Rielli- Founded by Arielle C Baril in 2019, rielli has made its name around the world as the trendiest, most chic, celeb-loved swimwear. As an International Business graduate with a burning passion for swimwear, Arielle was always motivated to starting her own label. Rielli is deeply inspired by vintage feels, romance, nature and nostalgia. As a Haitian-American woman, she aspires to be a beacon of light for all women, people of color, and entrepreneurs chasing their dreams. Everything made is sold with a piece of our heart and handmade with so much love. https://riellibrand.com/ EVENTS • THE NEW BLACK VANGUARD PHOTOGRAPHY BETWEEN ART AND FASHION (28 October - 22 January 2023, Saatchi Gallery) - The New Black Vanguard features 15 international Black photographers contributing to a new vision of the Black figure and reframing representation in art and fashion. This exhibition is a celebration of Black creativity both in-front of and behind the camera. Featured works include Black stylists, models, make-up artists and creative directors who are bringing a radically new set of references and experiences to image making. Lynette Yiadom-Boakye is a British artist and writer acclaimed for her enigmatic portraits of fictitious people. This exhibition brings together around 70 works from 2003 to the present day in the most extensive survey of the artist’s career to date. The figures in Yiadom-Boakye’s paintings are not real people – she creates them from found images and her own imagination. Both familiar and mysterious, they invite viewers to project their own interpretations, and raise important questions of identity and representation. https://www.saatchigallery.com/exhibition/the_new_black_vanguard__photography_between_art_and_fashion •Windrusher the Betrayal - (7th Nov - 12th Nov), Union Theatre) - The story of how The Guardian Newspaper exposed the prejudicial and biased treatment of legal British Subjects by the Government’s “hostile environment” policy. An ideal piece for Entertainment, Education, and Discussion. As our Home Secretary in May 2012, Theresa May implemented government policy to reduce net migration from the hundreds of thousands to ten thousand per annum. This policy came to be known as the “hostile environment”. Many who had come to the UK legally as children, were harassed, arrested, detained and deported as the Conservative government targeted children of Commonwealth migrants in order to bully them out of the country. Guardian journalist Amelia Gentleman brought the shameful policy to the attention of the nation and saved dozens of legal British subjects from “removal”. Award winning playwright Mark Grey has taken the individual stories as reported in the National Press of Anthony Bryan, Paulette Wilson, Sylvester Marshall, and Michael Braithwaite and woven a story that highlights the way that children of the Windrush generation were shamelessly targeted by their own government, refused access to work, benefits, housing and healthcare in an attempt score political points by driving them out of the country they had called home for over fifty years. It was disgraceful, disgusting and it was shameful. If not for Amelia Gentleman and the Guardian, they would have succeeded. This is a true story, and Agape Theatre Company is doing its part to help ensure that everyone is aware of the facts. http://uniontheatre.biz/show/windrush-the-betrayal/ • Richard the Second (9th - 27th November, Omnibus Theatre) - A nation is in turmoil. Three first cousins – Richard, Aumerle and Henry – battle for the supreme position of authority. Who will succeed in saving their country from a trail of ultimate destruction? And who will survive the challenge for the throne?Tangle, in association with MAST Mayflower Studios, presents a radical and electrifying new adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Richard The Second performed in its distinctive Southern African Township theatre. Tangle’s unique interpretation of one of the most compelling of Shakespeare’s history plays, exploring the politics of power and family alliances, will be performed by a multi-skilled ensemble of five. With an original score of Zimbabwean music and song, this new multicultural production offers a fast, powerful and fresh take on this state of the nation play, while celebrating talented artists whose multi-national voices are at the centre of Tangle’s work. Richard The Second continues the company’s long-term commitment to championing African Caribbean artistic excellence, presenting classic plays in new and surprising ways to audiences of all kinds. https://www.omnibus-clapham.org/richard-the-second/ •A History of African and Caribbean People in Britain: Hakim Adi with David Olusoga -(Friday 4 November, British Library & Online) - A Black people's history to transform our understanding of this country's past. This event will take place at the British Library. It will be simultaneously live-streamed on the British Library platform. Tickets may be booked either to attend in person (physical), or to watch on our platform (online) either live or within 48 hours on catch-up. Viewing links will be sent out shortly before the event. The online version of this event will be live-captioned. https://www.bl.uk/events/a-history-of-african-and-caribbean-people-in-britain-hakim-adi-with-david-olusoga Ave, London WC2N 5BY BOOKS • My Hidden Race: Anyika Onuora - Shortlisted for William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2022 (Anyika Onuora) - Shortlisted for William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2022! MY HIDDEN RACE is the astonishing story of Anyika Onuora, a Team GB athlete tested to the limits – on and off the track. Anyika’s talent for running took her from her home city of Liverpool to the Olympic podium in Rio. Yet behind her medal-winning smiles lay a journey filled with horrifying physical and mental turmoil. From an early age, she fought to overcome vile racist abuse and body image issues. During her career, she was sexually assaulted by a physio who was meant to be helping her recover from injury. Then she suffered a terrifying ordeal where she had to fight off an attempted rapist after an athletics event – an incident that left behind dreadful mental scars. Anyika’s battle to overcome these many hurdles even made her consider ending it all. But she survived and now wants to use her brutally honest and courageous story to heal and inspire others. My Hidden Race offers a stark – and disturbing – glimpse into the fight- that black, female athletes still face in their everyday life and career and, in the era of Black Lives Matter and Me Too, asks serious questions of British society and sport. It is the powerful tale of how one woman fought against the odds to keep running, keep winning and keep surviving. 4.6 out of 5 Amazon 4.5 out of 5 Goodreads

• Cuts Both Ways (Candice Braithewaite) - Love is never just black and white... A sharp and authentic love story about 16-year-old Cynthia, who finds herself caught between two brothers: one who is Black and the other who is white. Tackling the complexities of growing up Black and British, Cuts Both Ways is the first fiction title from the Sunday Times best-selling Candice Brathwaite, author of I Am Not Your Baby Mother. London is everything to Cynthia, so when her parents move her to a place where there is only one bus an hour and the faint smell of horse manure continuously permeates the air, it's a culture shock, to say the least. As is transitioning to a private school. At her new school, Cynthia immediately finds herself caught between two brothers - head boy Thomas, who is white, and his adopted Black brother, Isaac. There is something about Isaac she cannot quite get enough of ... but her father wants her to partner up with someone like Thomas, someone who will be 'better for her future prospects'.

4.6 out of 5 Amazon

PODCASTS • Goal Digger - An award-winning black-female-led football podcast bringing you all things football. Tune into our episodes and join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #GDPod •Black, Broke & Brilliant - #BlackBrokeandBrilliant, a podcast brought to you by two twenty-something year old queens from London. Come laugh with us, cry with us and sip the sweetest of tea with us as we discuss the struggles of adulting. From thriving to surviving, life to love and lack thereof, we’ve got you covered. New episodes every other Thursday! https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/black-broke-and-brilliant/id1511001962 RADIO • If You Don't Know - Musician Loyle Carner drops in for a chat this week. He talks to De-Graft about what it’s like being a dad, identity and his ADHD. He also reveals his top tips in life… remember “nothing good happens after 1 am”. Also, Stephanie Phillips from punk band Big Joanie takes us through the black cultural roots of rock music. The Nova Twins stop by too, to tell us how they had to fight stereotypes to make the music they want. And with another new prime minister in Downing Street, we catch up with Andrew, a young black member of the Conservative Party. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001dq6t

FILM/TV • Till - The true story of Mamie Till Mobley’s relentless pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, who, in 1955, was lynched while visiting his cousins in Mississippi. Directed by Chinonye Chukwu. With Danielle Deadwyler • Whoopi Goldberg • Jalyn Hall • Frankie Faison • Tosin Cole • Kevin Carroll • Sean Patrick Thomas • Roger Guenveur Smith • Jayme Lawson. • On the Come Up (September 23, 2022) - Bri, a young rapper and the daughter of an underground hip-hop legend who died just before making it big. Her father’s legend makes him a hard act to follow, but between Bri being bullied and watching her mother struggle after losing her job, she pours out her frustration into songs that become big viral hits.Directed by Sanaa Lathan. With Sanaa Lathan • Method Man • Da'Vine Joy Randolph • Mike Epps • Jamila Gray. •End of the Road (September 09, 2022) -A recently widowed Brenda, drives her family cross-country to start a new life. In the New Mexico desert, cut off from help, they must learn to fight back when they become the targets of a mysterious killer. With Queen Latifah • Ludacris. Me Time (August 26, 2022) (NETFLIX) - With Kevin Hart • Regina Hall. The film follows a stay-at-home dad who finds himself with some “me time” for the first time in years while his wife and kids are away. He reconnects with his former best friend for a wild weekend that nearly upends his life. WHAT AM I PAYING ATTENTION TO? • John Lewis chief tops black Briton power list - Pioneering leader receives Powerlist award, with other names listed including Michaela Coel and Stormzy. The Times The Voice The Guardian •Black Unity Bike Ride (August 2023) - I completely missed this and I was not aware of the organisation, but it's on my calendar for next year. https://blackunitybikeride.com/ •New member appointed to Black Business Advisory Committee at Lloyds Banking Group— Another group that I had no idea existed. Claudine Reid MBE, Black Business Advisory Committee chair, said: “The aim of the committee is to provide tangible recommendations for Lloyds Banking Group to implement and others to learn from about how the world of business can transform to become fully inclusive of Black communities. https://www.business-money.com/announcements/new-member-appointed-to-black-business-advisory-committee-at-lloyds-banking-group/ WHAT I AM PERSONALLY RECOMMENDING? 1. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe - A worldwide bestseller and the first part of Achebe's African Trilogy. Things Fall Apart is the compelling story of one man's battle to protect his community against the forces of change. Okonkwo is the greatest wrestler and warrior alive, and his fame spreads throughout West Africa like a bush-fire in the harmattan. But when he accidentally kills a clansman, things begin to fall apart. Then Okonkwo returns from exile to find missionaries and colonial governors have arrived in the village. With his world thrown radically off-balance he can only hurtle towards tragedy. First published in 1958, Chinua Achebe's stark, coolly ironic novel reshaped both African and world literature, and has sold over ten million copies in forty-five languages. This arresting parable of a proud but powerless man witnessing the ruin of his people begins Achebe's landmark trilogy of works chronicling the fate of one African community, continued in Arrow of God and No Longer at Ease. 4.5 Amazon reviews 2. Black Klansman - Ron Stallworth, an African American police officer from Colorado Springs, CO, successfully manages to infiltrate the local Ku Klux Klan branch with the help of a Jewish surrogate who eventually becomes its leader. Based on actual events. 4.7 Amazon reviews