This article explores the controversy surrounding Thomas J. Price’s statue of a Black woman in Times Square. While some viewers celebrated the work for its raw and unapologetic representation, others criticised it for depicting a body that did not conform to conventional beauty standards. Through the lens of W.E.B. Du Bois’s concept of double consciousness, the piece examines how marginalised communities often internalise and reproduce the biases of their oppressors, particularly around beauty and value. The article situates this debate within the broader history of how Black bodies have been represented in Western art and argues for the importance of embracing diverse, authentic depictions of Blackness.

The labels First World and Third World aren’t ancient truths about civilisation, they’re Cold War shorthand. “First World” referred to capitalist states allied with the US, “Second World” to the Soviet bloc, and “Third World” to everyone else. Over time, Third World became synonymous with “poor” or “backward,” masking the role of colonisation and global inequality in shaping development. Yet if we’re talking origins, Africa, humanity’s birthplace, should really be considered the first world. Today, alternatives like Global North/South or developed/developing are used, but they carry their own problems. Maybe it’s time to ditch the numbered worlds altogether.

AI is becoming part of our daily lives, but can it reflect human bias? Explore where AI prejudice shows up in health, policing, and law and what we can do to build fairer, more inclusive technology.

American Eagle’s advert uses a “great jeans/genes” pun, but with a blonde, blue‑eyed actress Sydney Sweeney talking about her looks, it echoes exclusionary beauty standards and even eugenics‑linked language. The lack of diversity turns what could have been a playful idea into something tone‑deaf, and critics argue brands need to stop hiding behind “it’s just a joke” when context clearly matters.

In “Why Hollywood’s Superhero Films Still Struggle With True Diversity in 2025,” Mikey N. reflects on their experience watching The Thunderbolts and other new superhero films, only to be met with the same tired tropes. From colourist casting and one dimensional tokenism to harmful mental health and racial stereotypes, this piece is a powerful call for the genre to live up to its ideals and not just with action, but with authenticity.

Discover how scrolling has quietly become a trap. This article unpacks the psychological, political and societal effects of social media, touching on mental health, growing inequality and the fading promise of inclusion in digital spaces.

In “Stop Using My Pain to Justify War,” Kian B. writes powerfully and personally about the weaponisation of queer suffering and how LGBTQ+ identities, especially from places like Iran, are misused to justify political violence and war. This piece challenges lazy generalisations, pink washing and double standards in Western narratives, reminding readers that true care for queer people means caring for them everywhere and not just when it’s politically convenient.

On the 80th anniversary of VE Day, a young British woman of Caribbean heritage reflects on the meaning of national pride, sacrifice and belonging. While she honours the courage of those who fought in WWII, she questions whether she could ever fight for a country that still sees her as an outsider. Amid rising inequality and cultural division, her story is a powerful call for healing, representation and a more inclusive Britain.

This first-person account tells the story of a young woman from Manchester who, despite working hard and building a professional career, finds herself stuck in a cycle of redundancy, low pay and debt. She reflects on how class background, gender, race and lack of structural support have shaped her journey, raising important questions about whether true social mobility in the UK is really possible. Her story offers insight into the reality of the benefits system and what real support for working-class people should look like.

How, in 2025, are we still here? Still testing life-saving treatments on groups that don’t reflect the actual risk pool? Because here’s the thing—and it's not new information—Black men, particularly those of African and Caribbean heritage, are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as white men. Twice. Yet we’re invisible when it comes to research that might one day save our lives. 

I was gutted when man like Melvin (Odoom) was voted out of the jungle on “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!” on ITV earlier this week. Watching TV presenter and radio DJ Melvin in the jungle reminded me how important it is to see people like us on TV, doing their thing and being real with it. Melvin was great TV but more importantly was his representation as a great role model and vulnerability.

Does the fun of Halloween justify the freedom to dress up as virtually anything or anyone regardless of whether certain costumes and actions can cross the line from harmless fun to offensive or even damaging representations?

For young Black women like me, the path to success is filled with so many barriers that sometimes, it feels like the world is working against us.

The power of cinema lies not only in its ability to entertain but also in its capacity to educate, enlighten, and provoke thought.

Growing up in a multicultural neighbourhood, I've always been surrounded by a vibrant tapestry of traditions, stories, and cultural pride.