The Inbetweeners

Let’s have an honest conversation about equality. Honestly, I don’t think we are capable of equality until we change how we understand it. Okay this is what it looks like to me. Remember how we were taught about equality when we were children? In Math class? I’ll provide you with a refresher. 1.        So we were taught than equal means that both sides of the equation are the same (hence the ‘=’ and from that flows all of algebra). 2.        When we moved on to proportions and we were asked to divide x among a specified number of people, we would take x and divide it among that specified number of people and get our answer. Hope I’m not moving too fast for you. 3.        Lastly, when we were told to make equal 75 and 25, knowing the value of x is 100, we knew that we had to take 25 from the 75 and give it to the 25 so that both become 50. It is this last model that we based our understand...

As a people, we have got to find a way to disagree with one another that does not result in one side being demonised or the drawing of fistacuffs. This post is inspired by the recent resignation of the leader of the Liberal Democrats political party in Britain over comments he made regarding homosexuality and how it intersects with his faith (side stepping this issue here). See, I believe that we live in a society wherein disagreement, or anything negative has been banned by practice: we refuse to see the merit in anger, or anxiety or disagreement. If we never see the merit in these things how can we hope to understand them and use them for their intended purpose. If Disney's Inside Out can get this right, then why can't we? Case in point: anger, frustration and sadness inspires people to fight for change, anxiety can keep you safe and, at it's baser level, acts as a warning signal (not downplaying how serious the mental health issue is but rather drawing upon my own...

I recently got a wig, and boy am I flossing . I am strutting around town like I declined an OBE. Right now, I feel like the world is my cat walk and honey, I ain't about to sashay away anytime soon. But when I take it off and I'm left with my cornrows, I feel less beautiful. Somehow, less fierce. Never mind that I can't pull of cornrows. But mind that I my self-esteem goes through the roof whenever I have extensions on - essentially whenever my hair is not in it's quintessential afro. And boy does this realisation hit you like a ton of bricks.  How deeply internalised 'Black is not beautiful' is. How when I need to go to interviews, I can spend an hour on my hair ensuring its presentability. Willing the curls to be looser, or that they once, stop defying gravity with their propensity to stick up and out of place. Wishing that I had taken the effort to actually do my hair. Praying that no-one will notice. Taking the time to beat my face to perfection to som...

Hello, one and all! I haven't been writing, even though I said I would and there is no excuse for this. Although, paradoxically, a small part of me thought I could get away with this because who reads what I write anyway and the whole point of this blog is instigate catharsis and make sense of the world not viewership (again, although both things would not be unwelcome *hint hint*) But I've returned to the blogosphere to discuss the fact that I don't exist outside of my external, visible attributes. No, this is not some Matrix, post-modern stuff. It's simply my reality - one that is becoming inescapable the longer I am here. What I am referring to is the fact that my entire being has been politicised - without my consent . All my actions are understood through the lens of a wider community/cause not simply because I wanted to do something. Suddenly, my actions are only acceptable if they are a microcosmic representation of some struggle or macrocosmic point. Since yo...

This year, my goal is to talk more and express myself more. To stop being so afraid of failing that I don't even try at all; I mean that's partly one of the reasons why I don't sing in public. To open up more because other people can't read minds nor can they sense the exact nature of my problems. That's why I am re-purposing this blog; to essentially become a place of reflection. A place where I can come and essentially reflect about myself, the world and my beliefs. The title remains the Inbetweeners but it takes on a whole new meaning. So this year marks 1 year of being a Christian (woop woop) and so the title now represents something else; how I feel like I'm in-between worlds; culturally and spiritually. Like if you look at Romans 12:2 Paul reminds us that we should not conform to the way our society thinks, behaves or acts but that is not a call to be completely removed from the wold. Like how else are we meant to represent God here on earth; how else a...