I read My Sister, The Serial Killer during the pandemic. I loved it. I hate traditional ballet stories where women are constantly saved by men or killing themselves because the man doesn't like them. I am always on the lookout for something to turn into a ballet that doesn't feel like a woman is at the hands of male violence. There are themes of that in the book, but it felt really funny, dark and very stageable.
It is true that since 2020 there has been a noticeable increase in representation of black people in UK adverts. Data from Channel 4's Mirror on the Industry report showed there was a surge of representation after the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, when many industries including advertising were criticised for poor representation. In 2020, 37% of adverts featured black people; that number increased to 45% in 2021 and 51% in 2022 before a decline in 2023 to 49%.
Tyler Mitchell's first solo exhibition in France reflects on a decade of practice by an artist who has introduced new visual narratives of Black life, centring beauty, intimacy and empowerment as everyday realities. Tracing nearly a decade of creation, it shows how Mitchell, one of the most striking voices of his generation, explores themes of utopia, memory and intimacy through representations of Black life.
As we approach the beginning of the new school year, first-year student orientations take place on college campuses to help students prepare academically, integrate into the institution's values and traditions, and build community. During orientation for first-year psychology doctoral students at my institution, I was immediately struck by the small number of Black students. Out of 34 first-year students, there appeared to be only one Black student, representing 2 percent of the cohort. The optics to me were quite alarming.
Kinnard never expected the Brown Bomber to appear anywhere other than his sketchbook until the editor of his college newspaper asked him to contribute comics weekly.
