In this newsletter article we will take a look at Asian cultures.

To address the story of Black people in Europe certainly addresses the history of slavery and the history of European colonialism. The relationship between the two continents began with mutual respect and curiosity.

When talking about Black American families, we’ve all heard someone say this not-so-subtle dig: It all starts at home. The phrase suggests that if we could just fix Black mothers and fathers to be responsible like white, middle-class families, we wouldn’t have any problems.

To celebrate Women’s History Month, it seems only fitting to recognize the works and life of Chicago writer Gwendolyn Brooks. From becoming a Poet Laureate to being the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize, Gwendolyn Brooks shed light on the cultural and political issues of race and justice in Chicago during the 20th century.

Across South Asia, there are isolated communities of African origin – often disadvantaged and with only tenuous links to the continent of their forbears. Dr Shihan de Silva Jayasuriya, a London-based researcher, explains how her interest in these communities was first aroused, and how diverse patterns of migration still shape the situation of people widely known today as ‘Sidis’:

This piece is from our series, Hair Story. We interview an array of women from different walks of life to discover what their hair means to them. From photographing non-binary people who challenge society's norms by wearing their hair in bright colours, to investigating stereotypes, this series explores the intrinsic link between hair and identity.