The global case of skin bleaching and the Western ideal of beauty
While this long read is primarily based on skin bleaching, it’s impossible not to write about the influence of Western standards of beauty in its entirety as it stems from promoting society’s belief in whiteness as the most beautiful and worthy of respect and admiration. A quick google search (eg. type beautiful women), proves the common sentiments of who is deemed attractive. It’s evident, spreading and pervasive influence sets a precedent in these conversations. They both go hand in hand, intertwined in a union that can’t be ignored as it has affected many aspects within society.
The issue of colourism…
Many refuse to acknowledge its existence in the country
A reader responded to one of my articles about the toxicity of the British press and said how he resents my insinuation that the country is blinded by white privilege. He goes on to say that “idiots like you make the rest of the world view Britain as a racist country when nothing could be further from the truth.” This statement made me laugh at loud at the preposterous nature of it all and for refusing to acknowledge that racism exists in the UK.
Many believe that racism in Britain isn’t as pervasive like it is in the US as…
Were you already aware about it?
This is quite a sobering read, apologies in advance.
Throughout various points of our world history, doomsday proclamations have been made about the end of the world. We had the Mayans predicting that earth will cease to exist on December 21st 2012, Nostradamus prophesying that the end of the 20th century would be a period of chaos, trauma and transformation, and American psychic and astrologer Jeane Dixon (who predicted President John F. Kennedy’s death and President Richard Nixon was said to have followed her predictions), foretold that an apocalyptic ‘war of armageddon’ would happen in 2020. Mere coincidence? Or just…
It’s getting out of hand
Like every other buyer, I read through product reviews before potentially making a purchase. It’s paramount to do so to avoid returning things that don’t meet expectations. However, I’ve been coming across a lot of one-star reviews from buyers not because the products had minor issues like a scratch etc but because they are fake. I don’t know when this shift started as I’ve only recently become fully aware of the dodgy things happening on the site.
Over the years, Amazon made it more accessible for people to sell things on the site and be their own entrepreneurs. Although, the…
Once the biggest star of the Jazz age but when she stood up against racism and segregation, the establishment blacklisted her and her name vanished into obscurity.
Part two from the series I started on my instagram page Art History Talks, to commemorate Black History Month.
This post is about the iconic Trinidadian-born jazz pianist, actor and singer Hazel Scott. Throughout her outstanding career as a performance artist, she was always a champion for civil rights, speaking out against racial discrimination, state violence and oppression, even at the cost of her own career.
Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on June 11th in 1920, to a West African father scholar from Liverpool and classically trained pianist and pianist mother, Hazel and her mother moved to Harlem, New York, in 1924. From a very young age, her mother (Alma Long Scott) saw that her daughter…
A Brazilian warrior and Quilombo leader
A series I started on my instagram page Art History Talks, to commemorate Britain’s Black History Month 2020.
Whilst researching for iconic black figures to write about for my art page, I realised that many of their stories are largely forgotten or whitewashed. Yes Art History Talks will feature a handful of their stories but as it’s primarily an art page, I can’t completely divert to the usual things I post about. Instead, I decided to start a blog on Medium where I can write as many of these incredible black people and their stories in all of its glory…
Is time running out on celebrity culture?
I recently came across the song ‘The Cult of Personality’ by Living Colour and was not only blown away by the musical artistry (who said black people can’t do rock), but the lyrics rang astonishingly true leaving me to pause for thought. Even though the song came out in 1988, now more than ever, its relevance speaks volumes today:
How the Raft of the Medusa shines a light into the elite establishment of 19th century France
Today’s art world considers The Raft of the Medusa painting one of Théodore Géricault’s greatest works. It’s also regarded as one of France’s most celebrated work of art.
When it was first exhibited in 1819 at the Paris Salon, it received a mixed reception. Some were fascinated by the macabre nature of the painting while others were disgusted by all the dead bodies depicted. It was a far cry from the classist art genre that was celebrated at the time. Maybe it proved too real for them? No one wanted to buy the painting. …
Why do they constantly throw sensationalised news stories at the public to the detriment of others?
After sitting on the sidelines and observing troubling stories circulating in the media– occasionally ranting about it on twitter, I’ve decided it was time to put my thoughts together regarding the press treatment of Meghan Markle and other public figures. Here it goes:
THE UNITED KINGDOM HAS A TOXIC PRESS CULTURE.
Yes you read it right in bold. By now, pretty much everyone knows about the media’s behaviour with Meghan Markle and co, and more recently Caroline Flack. If you haven’t, I suggest doing a quick google search to put you up to date with this area of conversation.
Throughout…
Emi Eleode
Writer and visual artist // I write about culture and societal issues with a focus on the effects of colonialism, globalisation and capitalism.
