Articles

Vybz Kartel launches a line of skin bleaching products for men

Fans of Vybz Kartel were shocked and outraged earlier this year when the Jamaican dancehall artist appeared several shades lighter than his normal brown complexion and exclaimed: “This is my new …

Invisible women: Black women struggle to be heard

When riots broke out in London on August 6, Charmaine Scott watched as a diverse group of people took hold of her hometown, smashing glass windows and setting buildings and automobiles ablaze. Amid …

British Library publishes CD of Caribbean and black British poetry to mark Black History Month

In celebration of Black History Month, the British Library released a new 2-CD set, Caribbean Roots, featuring some of the most significant Caribbean and black British poets of the past several …

The Royal African Company: England’s colonial commerce and the transatlantic slave trade

The Royal African Company (RAC), founded in 1672 under a royal charter by King Charles II of England, played a pivotal role in shaping England’s involvement in the Atlantic slave trade and its …

Nobody Canna Cross It – Clifton Brown goes viral

In June 2011, Jamaica experienced some devastating rains. This is not unusual. What is unusual is that the misfortune faced by the people of St Andrew could inspire a viral video. A section of the …

The History of Rocksteady: Jamaica’s influential music genre

Rocksteady, a music genre that originated in Jamaica around 1966, played a significant role in shaping the sound of modern reggae music. This short-lived yet impactful genre evolved from its …

The Dutch East India Company: A colossus of trade and power

In the annals of maritime and colonial history, the Dutch East India Company, known as the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) in Dutch, casts a long and formidable shadow. Founded in 1602, the …

The history of Ska music

‍Ska music is a unique and influential genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, laying the foundation for rocksteady and reggae music. With its catchy rhythms and upbeat melodies, Ska has …

Booker T. Washington: The great accommodator and educator

‍Booker T. Washington, born into slavery in 1856, rose to prominence as an influential African American intellectual and educator of the 19th century. Washington’s life and work continue to …

UK riots – everyday life amplified

People have branded the recent UK riots and uprising as senseless violence. For me it has been a highlighted section of our normal life, just sped up and multiplied. Violence, crimes and fear. Those …

More deaths following police arrests

The last time we mentioned someone getting tasered by police we received a threat of legal action on behalf of the police. Despite the fact that we did not mention the name of the officer or officers …

Red verses blue black – WTF!!

Despite the abolition of slavery in the 1800s, the slave mentality has not left black people. Yeah. I said it. Some of us are still trapped in the divide and conquer that was slavery. We are a …