Hello {{ first name | friends}},

Lauren McQueen popped into my inbox one day, and we had a delightful conversation. I’ve often been struck by how tourism marketing appears to largely target the former colonisers, and her wish to connect the Diaspora with their heritage to the benefit of both seems a breath of fresh air. Please meet Lauren…

Lauren, tell me briefly about your background prior to founding Cousins Across the Sea

Before exploring this initiative, I was initially creating content about afrodescendant communities in the Americas. Having studied Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies at University, I noticed the strong cultural influence of afrodescendant communities across South and Central America. However, these communities haven’t always been given visibility or the recognition that they deserve. As someone of Caribbean heritage, it honestly blew my mind how much commonality I found across many of these cultures and this is something that really stood out to me when I lived in the city of Salvador in Brazil. I was able to really immerse myself in the local culture and it made me realise how much I hadn’t done that in the islands of my heritage.

After this trip, I began brainstorming what heritage tourism would look like for those within the UK who identify as Second or Third Generation Caribbean. How could we change tourism, an industry that the islands still heavily rely on, to be mutually beneficial for both the tourist and the host?

So many of us who identify as British Caribbean, especially Black British Caribbean, find ease in exploring countless countries but struggle to visit the countries of our heritage either because it’s too expensive, we don’t have connections with our relatives there or we just feel a bit removed from the islands of our heritage. However, many of us still have a desire to reconnect with them. This desire was really highlighted to me when I created a post sharing the idea of having more hostels in the Caribbean to help provide more accessible accommodation for young people. This alongside growing concerns of the declining population of the Black British Caribbean community really inspired me to take this further and explore how we can align tourism campaigns with a more heritage focused lens.

Give me the elevator pitch for Cousins Across the Sea

Cousins Across The Sea is a platform dedicated to encouraging more touristic endeavours centered around reconnecting the Caribbean Diaspora with the Caribbean islands and individuals from those islands. Many traditional tourism models are exploitative and rarely give back to the community they take from. However, this initiative is all about a fair exchange, enabling members of the diaspora to connect with their heritage whilst also providing local businesses a new market from which they can benefit. I believe that there is a bit of a disconnect between the Caribbean diaspora and Caribbean islands and I want to work to heal that gap so that we can build towards a more interconnected and supportive future.

And in more detail?

We have two main goals:

1 - Exploring how to get decision makers to encourage British Caribbean tourism towards the Caribbean islands.

Many tourism campaigns feel targeted at a demographic who seldom look like individuals who identify as British Caribbean. Creating more initiatives that explicitly target the British Caribbean community is one of our main focuses. We want to make the islands feel accessible for the British Caribbean community as it has the potential to bring great returns such as an interest to stay in the islands outside of high season as well as an interest in connecting with and investing into locals.

2 - Creating connections between local business owners and members of the Diaspora.

The traditional tourist rarely ventures further than their resort or hotel, meaning that local businesses often miss-out on opportunities for income, especially if they are located away from the coast. I am looking to create a hub where people can access accommodation, tours and businesses they either want to visit or invest in. As someone who identifies as second generation British Caribbean, it can be so hard to even know where to start before I land in the islands. Whilst there are some mentions on social media, I want to formalise these recommendations with contacts and better access so that more people feel incentivised to invest locally and establish more relationships.

What inequity were you trying to redress/address, and why is this important?

The difference of experience of people within the islands, people within the diaspora and the tourist who has no connection with the islands whatsoever. Many people see the islands as a two week paradise that they will enjoy and eventually forget about. They don’t necessarily connect with the experiences of people who live there or even the land, they just enjoy both from a distance. However, they are often the main target for tourism campaigns. I want the Black British Caribbean individual to be considered as deserving of visiting and getting to know the islands and the local Caribbean individual to be considered as deserving to be invested in and connected with.

How’s it going? What has the response been?

It’s early stages but I have been in contact with some governing boards for a few islands. Also, I’ve had predominantly positive feedback on the posts that I share online which has enabled me to connect with likeminded individuals. One thing I have noticed is an understandable resistance from some people from the islands. They have expressed concerns over certain individuals from the UK that have returned to the Caribbean quite mindlessly and as such have not been aware of the impact of their long term presence on local prices and experience. This has really made me aware of the necessity for caution in the way in which this initiative is led and to ensure that we work alongside people within the islands so this work does more good than harm.

Any goals you're hoping to achieve?

My goal is to connect with more business owners across the Caribbean. I have a handful of people in the islands who are giving insight but I really want to be cautious not to make assumptions before I bring this further. I'd love to know how we can make this model benefit them as much as the British Caribbean Community.

In relation to racism, what is your vision for the future?

I really hope that all peoples are able to gain more information about their heritages and reconnect with them. So many of us have battled with our identity because it has been scrutinised by an oppressing body. We then seek approval from these entities to feel worthy without necessarily considering fortifying our own communities in order to build outside of these oppressive individuals and systems. I think this focus on reconnection and education will also help those individuals who are oppressive or are associated with oppressive groups. The whole world has been impacted by colonialism and even those who began colonisation had to first be colonised. Many cultures, languages and histories were lost and a concerted effort for all parties (including the oppressive ones) to reconnect with their heritages could truly bring transformation for our futures. I think through this we could see a shift in cultural appropriation, settler colonialism and racial hierarchies because there would be more grounding in our own identities and histories instead of a scrambling to prove one better than the other.

I love this idea and the care with which Lauren is approaching it. Please connect with her on LinkedIn to follow how this project and platform develop.

Thanks for reading,

Sharon

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Note: poll feedback is private - if you’re happy to share your thoughts in public, then please also leave a comment.

© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2026. All Rights Reserved.

Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism educator, author of the award-winning book I'm Tired of Racism, and founder of the SHHARE anti-racism community and Sharon's Anti-Racism Newsletter, which provides tools and lived experiences to fuel systemic change. She is also the creator of The Unsilenced™ Method, which helps women who have been silenced, sidelined or shut down get their work into the world in a way that is structured, sustainable, and unmistakably theirs. A seasoned professional writer and journalist, she leverages over 30 years of experience to mentor introverted leaders, and is co-founder and co-host of the Introvert Sisters Podcast.

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

Unusually for me, I don't have all of October's newsletters scheduled. That's because I spent September working on the Still & Sovereign Retreat. So it'll be more of a fly by the seat of your pants approach this month, starting with this update, which I dictated the day before publication and was still editing before it went out at 9 Atlantic today.

The Newsletter

Luckily, I still have some pieces drafted, so this coming month there'll be two interviews, a new edition of Things White Folks Have Said (number 8, if you're keeping track), and potentially articles on reverse racism and colourism, as well as a review. I also have to make some time to share the results of the reader survey, but that's looking more likely to be November now. As for the podcast, I have a few ideas, but haven't settled on anything yet.

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

I started drafting this reading list in the weeks following the digital lynching of Professor Jason Arday. His death has raised a number of questions about racism, about the media, about Britain, and more. I've included a few here. The Reading List also includes a range of perspectives from the Global South on caste, enslavement, colonialism, as well as learning, knowledge and academia.

1. DEI is not dividing Britain. The weaponisation of race is by Monica Tyler

As I visited different parts of England over the summer, I felt the truth of this title, because there was so much bigoted anti-immigrant rhetoric floating around, and many of the loudest proponents seemed to ignore context and lack critical thinking. This piece examines the myth and the reality.

2. Who gets to be human? by Lena Bheeroo

This question, too, is pertinent, and points to centuries of people of racialised as white assuming their right to define, extract from and police people of the Global Majority.

3. The far right is flat wrong on racism by Keon West

As this writer says, call a thing and thing. Only then can you start to deal with it.

4. The World Still Wants Black Women to Love, Not to Lead. That Ends Now. by Dr Janelle Williams

Here, Dr Williams presents the issue of exploitation of Black women, as well as a solution for moving forward in true partnership.

Reading is the first step; sustaining the work is the next. This reading list is - and will remain - free for all subscribers. If you are in a position to pay it forward so that others can continue to access this education, upgrade your subscription here. Help me keep this independent resource growing.

5. On Annihilation of Caste, Are We Asking the Right Question? by Aditi Tandon

Who owns your story is always a pertinent question, isn't it?

6. Justice Work Does Not End With the Individual: When Systems Harm One Person, Families Carry It Too by Dr. Muna Abdi

This article made a number of thought-provoking points, not least that intergenerational trauma isn't simply historical; it remains present, and that ignoring systems means that healing is operating from a flawed foundation.

7. The Roots of Capitalism Run Through Slavery by Vijay Prasad

The Tricontinental was new to me, but based on this essay, it's one I'll be returning to. Here, the writer and historian makes the link between capitalism and enslavement clear. The piece is also illustrated with art depicting the period.

8. We Are Not Your Little Anything: On the Portrayal of Mizoram and the Ethics of Being Seen by Duhaisami Tochhawng

This piece surfaced a memory of when I was in my teens and a visitor to Barbados tried to include me in his photo. I was offended, having neither been asked nor consented. Of course, these days, it's hard to go anywhere without being the backdrop to someone's video. But this author makes lots of great points about how communities are valued, and who has agency over their likeness and their culture.

9. Who Governs Learning? Africa, Knowledge Power and the Struggle to Teach the Future by Magdaline Nkando

Related to the piece above, this piece highlights important questions about whose knowledge and intellectual traditions are treated as worthy, and whose are ignored, as this quote shows:

10. Reckoning with Empire: Defiant Scholarship with Takiyah Harper-Shipman by Mira Mookerjee

I love the concept of "scholar-activism" introduced here, and there's a sharp critique of the failings of academia too, which brings us full circle.

Bonus: Global Majority Life: Soft Living as Liberation, with R. Campbell-Stephens

Of Note - Things Worth Highlighting

• French parliament votes to repeal slavery-era Black Code

• America Needs to Grow the F*ck Up by Karen Attiah (who got her job back!)

• Yet another Wheel of Privilege

• What Are You Really Defending?

• What is Race? Creating a Future without Racism (YouTube)

As always, feel free to share, either by commenting below or replying to the email, what stood out to you from this month's reading list, and what's the next intentionally anti-racist action you'll take as a result.

Thanks for reading,

Sharon

Note: poll feedback is private - if you’re happy to share your thoughts in public, then please also leave a comment.

*Note: all articles linked here were free to read when I put together this edition. However, some may be paywalled by the time it is published, because capitalism. There’s not much I can do about that, but I hope the included quotes give you a flavour of the content.

© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2026. All Rights Reserved.

Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism educator, author of the award-winning book I'm Tired of Racism, and founder of the SHHARE anti-racism community and Sharon's Anti-Racism Newsletter, which provides tools and lived experiences to fuel systemic change. She is also the creator of The Unsilenced™ Method, which helps women who have been silenced, sidelined or shut down get their work into the world in a way that is structured, sustainable, and unmistakably theirs. A seasoned professional writer and journalist, she leverages over 30 years of experience to mentor introverted leaders, and is co-founder and co-host of the Introvert Sisters Podcast.

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

I often date the start of my anti-racism advocacy to the essay I'm Tired of Racism, which I originally published on Medium on June 3rd 2020, and which later became the title of my award winning book. But as it turns out, there were three earlier inflection points.

The first was arriving in Barbados at the age of 12 and observing that the social dynamics of racialisation were different from those I'd experienced in Trinidad. That led me, years later, to do the research on colourism that became my book Exploring Shadeism.

More recently, I wrote an article in 2016 called I'm Not American, But... which shared my feelings on the results of the US election. Looking at it now, I can see the features that would become characteristics of my writing style. I can also see the foundation of my current approach both to anti-racism advocacy and community building. If you're interested, I republished that article here in the newsletter in 2024, with updates on the most recent US election result.

And on May 31, 2020, a week after George Floyd's murder I wrote While Black: Thoughts on the Assumption of Wrongness. That was the essay that directly led to the founding of this newsletter. As with many other essays, it could have been written today. It seems timely to reboot that article today, with some current reflections.

While Black: Thoughts on the Assumption of Wrongness

When I think about the Black Death, these days I don’t think about the medieval plague. Instead, it’s the widespread killing of Black people in America. Some people might find it hard to figure out why a non-American even cares about this. But Black people in a post-slavery or post-colonial context have all suffered the enduring effects of racial discrimination. [2026 update: this has never been more evident than in the geopolitical chaos we're currently experiencing, where some countries still feel they have the right to extract resources from others and to change elected leaders. The starvation of Cuba stands out here.]

Here in the Caribbean, many of us have Black relatives who are or have become American, or who are attending school there. Simply put, we’re scared for them. [2026 update: And we should be. With moves in the US to whittle away at the rights of green card holders, and the desire to get rid of birthright citizenship, not to mention the deportation of those who arrived legally, the constant depredations of ICE, the lynching and digital lynching of Black folx, it seems likely that our relatives and friends are on very shaky ground.]

The danger of existing while Black in the US has been proved time and time again. A short list publicly posted on Facebook reminds us of the most recent incidents, but there have been many, many more over the decades. [2026 update: And so, so many more since this was written. The case of Nolan Wells and the huge number of Black people found hanging which the authorities don't seem to care about are among the most egregious recent examples. In lieu of the Facebook post I shared originally, I've included a list from Say Every Name, as well as a post from Instagram.]

Instagram post

In so many cases, to be Black is to be in the wrong, before you do anything or open your mouth. #AhmaudArbery And your word about your own probity isn’t enough to save you from being stopped, arrested, or killed.

Sure, racism exists everywhere. I’ve had some experiences in the UK that would make your hair curl. I’ve experienced discrimination in the Caribbean. But I never felt like any of those incidents would result in my death. That’s not the case for Black people in the US. That’s why parents have to have “the talk” with their children about what to do if you’re stopped, about why your hands must be in sight, about how you need to ask permission for every move lest it be misconstrued. The trigger-happy minority have ruined things for everyone. [2026 update: My essay on "The Talk" is included in my book, I'm Tired of Racism.]

It’s why Black mothers of sons (and their dads, too) have their hearts in their mouths as those boys grow up and go out in the world, because they know there’s no guarantee they will be safe in the US. As we’ve seen, even being in your own home minding your business won’t keep you alive. But mothers of daughters are afraid, too — your sex doesn’t protect you. #SandraBland

A good friend of mine said “I am not sending my beautiful Black child to the US to be shot!” That child will be going to school in Canada or the UK, where his skin colour isn’t a death sentence. [2026 update: That's not totally true, of course #JasonArday.]

Will it ever change? Who knows? Because the thing is, the concept — and it is only a concept — of whiteness depends on making blackness something “other”. Back in the days of slavery and colonialism, in order for racist white people to sleep at night, they created and perpetuated a fiction that Black people are still living with — and dying from — today. As Orientalism author Edward Said says:

That’s how people justify colonialism, and neo-colonialism (it’s not about the oil or other resources at all, clearly.)[2026 update: How relevant is this, folx, given the illegal wars in Venezuela and Iran?]

Underlying all of this is the uncomfortable fact that the white establishment needed Black people, yet still didn’t want to value us. When slavery ended by force in the US, ex-slaveholding states turned right around and criminalized minor infractions to create an imprisoned workforce, slavery by another name. Watch Netflix’s 13th — it’s pretty instructive. [2026 update: 14th is coming out, directed and produced by Ava duVernay, and I can't wait!]

But even the people who were quote unquote on our side saw us as less than, in a different way. Some liberals are only liberal when Black people need help, but still don’t see us as equals. I’ve had personal experience of this from a former colleague.

The truth is that Black people are tired of this. Tired of doing everything “the right way” only to learn that it’s still wrong. Tired of being castigated when we take a different route to making our voices heard (I guess those who don’t like it when we kneel aren’t going to like it when we stand and demand justice). And, most of all, tired of dying needlessly. Didn’t enough of us do that during enslavement while white slave owners built personal and national wealth? Enough already!

So what’s next? It’s clear that Black people can’t fix racism alone — it’s been proved time and again that whatever we say about it hardly counts. So, it’s up to white people to play their part. First of all, acknowledge the system, described eloquently by Scott Wood:

Second, don’t sit in silence bemoaning the system. Do something. Here’s what my sister, fellow activist, and podcast co-host Lisa Hurley says:

If you do the work, then maybe one day existing while Black will be the norm and not a crime. [2026 update: As I said in a poem, I'm still waiting. The targeting of Professor Jason Arday by the media and the right wing in the UK is more proof that as a Black person you can "do everything right" and still be suspected of wrongdoing, on the say-so of someone racialised as white, even if that person's credentials are suspect.]

As I reflect on nearly six years of the anti-racism newsletter, one thing is clear: those issues and the perceptions I highlighted haven't gone away. If anything, things are even worse now than when I wrote them. I don't mean to give into despair, but look at the reality. And that means our work is more important than ever. As you reflect on your journey as a person experiencing racism or a person standing against it, what comes up for you?

Thanks for reading,

Sharon

Note: poll feedback is private - if you’re happy to share your thoughts in public, then please also leave a comment.

Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism educator, author of the award-winning book I'm Tired of Racism, and founder of the SHHARE anti-racism community and Sharon's Anti-Racism Newsletter, which provides tools and lived experiences to fuel systemic change. She is also the creator of The Unsilenced™ Method, which helps women who have been silenced, sidelined or shut down get their work into the world in a way that is structured, sustainable, and unmistakably theirs. A seasoned professional writer and journalist, she leverages over 30 years of experience to mentor introverted leaders, and is co-founder and co-host of the Introvert Sisters Podcast.

© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2020, 2026. All Rights Reserved. This newsletter is published on beehiiv (affiliate link).

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

The Lion Sleeps Tonight is three things. First, an iconic song. Second, an example of colonial extraction. Third, a reminder of the first time I began to censor myself at work.

It was the 1990s and I was working in a small editorial department in the UK. It was my first job after moving back to the UK as an adult, and my second job (or third if you count my student experience) overall. As you know, I grew up in the Caribbean, where it wasn't unusual to hear someone humming along to a song, even at work, or to have someone make reference to a song and have everyone join in for a bit. But as I discovered, that wasn't de rigueur in a UK workplace.

At the time, The Lion Sleeps Tonight was the earworm of the moment. Finding myself alone in the bathroom, I sang a little bit of it. But when I got back to my desk I discovered two things. First, that the walls in UK offices were super thin. And second, that people thought singing in the bathroom at work was weird. Lesson learned, and I never did it again, but my life was the poorer for having that tiny expression of happiness taken away.

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

I was introduced to Annie Campbell by a mutual friend, and we had a thoroughly enjoyable conversation. Once we’d talked, I knew I wanted to help get the word out about this incredibly useful initiative. Read on to learn more about The Black Life Coach Directory.

Annie, tell me briefly about your background prior to founding The Black Life Coach Directory

Prior to founding The Black Life Coach Directory I spent 17 years in the pharmaceutical industry, then retrained as a Life Coach 4 years ago. It was my personal experience of trying to find a Black life coach led me to Founding the directory.

Give me the elevator pitch for The Black Life Coach Directory

The Black Life Coach Directory is the UK’s only platform dedicated exclusively to Black life coaches. It’s a central hub where you can find qualified, culturally attuned professionals who truly get you.

And in more detail?

Our initiative is driven by two core goals:

Firstly, we significantly increase the visibility of Black coaches among both individuals and organisations. We achieve this through targeted outreach across Black community networks, strategic media features, press coverage, and active, high-impact networking.

Secondly, and equally important, we build a safe, supportive community where Black coaches can elevate one another through shared knowledge, training, and education. We provide an inspiring online ecosystem where listed coaches enjoy complimentary workshops, webinars, and professional development training. Our aim is to help them thrive not only as exceptional coaches, but as sustainable Black business founders.

What inequity were you trying to address, and why is this important?

In the UK, there are roughly 100,000 coaches, yet only around 5% are Black. This severe visibility gap makes it incredibly difficult for individuals to find Black life coaches on generic, mainstream platforms. For organisations, this same visibility problem means they struggle to source culturally aligned coaches for their diverse talent, directly leading to inequitable support and development in the workplace. We are closing this gap. Whether you are an individual navigating your personal journey or a company seeking to empower your staff, the directory serves as a single, centralised platform where you can easily find the culturally attuned support you need.

How’s it going? What has the response been?

The response to the directory has been overwhelming. Everyone that hears about the platform, typically has a similar response "oh that's such a great idea, much needed and long overdue". The platform went live in February 2026, by May we had 16 founding members and to that end fully launched the directory. In May we also had our first enquiry, and since then we've had many more. The coaches are getting seen and booked, so I'd say we're having a strong and very encouraging start.

What’s next for The Black Life Coach Directory? Anything interesting happening in the near future?

The future looks incredibly bright. We're currently in the process of recording episodes for our up and coming podcast - Beyond the Bio: Conversations with The Black Life Coach Directory. This is designed to give potential clients more insight into our coaches before they book a complimentary discovery call. There are also more exciting workshops in the pipeline that we are bringing to our coaches.

In relation to racism, what is your vision for the future?

My vision for the future is a fundamental shift from survival and resilience to true equity and flourishing. For too long, Black professionals, creatives, and founders have had to expend immense emotional energy simply navigating, explaining, or enduring systemic racism and microaggressions in their careers and daily lives. My vision is a future where Black individuals no longer have to navigate these barriers alone, or feel forced to mask their lived reality when seeking professional development. I envision a society where culturally attuned support is readily accessible, giving Black people the safe spaces, coaching, mentorship, and tools they need to focus entirely on reaching their full potential, stepping into leadership, and building thriving futures.

What a fabulous goal! Please check out The Black Life Coach Directory via their website, LinkedIn page and Instagram profile.

Thanks for reading,

Sharon

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© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2026. All Rights Reserved.

Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism educator, author of the award-winning book I'm Tired of Racism, and founder of the SHHARE anti-racism community and Sharon's Anti-Racism Newsletter, which provides tools and lived experiences to fuel systemic change. She is also the creator of The Unsilenced™ Method, which helps women who have been silenced, sidelined or shut down get their work into the world in a way that is structured, sustainable, and unmistakably theirs. A seasoned professional writer and journalist, she leverages over 30 years of experience to mentor introverted leaders, and is co-founder and co-host of the Introvert Sisters Podcast.

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

As I've said many times before, there's nothing micro about microaggressions. They're racial harm and they feel like it, like another ones of those paper cuts from which you may eventually bleed out.

But today I want to posit another view on microaggressions: that they are not simply something that comes from "unconscious" bias or deliberate unawareness. Instead, they're a symptom of the system reasserting itself through the words and actions of individuals.

The system treats people racialised as Black as people whose presence is conditional and sometimes unwelcome, and whose excellence is an anomaly. We know different, but that's not what we're talking about today. It's that presumption of wrongness that I talked about in one of the very earliest essays in this newsletter. And microaggressions reinforce that view.

A Baker's Dozen of Othering Microaggressions

Here's a non-exhaustive list of examples:

1. When people ask where you're from, it reinforces that you are not expected to be from here, that you're an outsider. The same applies to "you speak English very well". On the face of it, they're compliments, but it's about reinforcing the view of Black people as alien or foreign.

2. "You're so articulate" suggests that Black people aren't expected to be intelligent. That also shows up as "you're a credit to your race".

3. For Asians, the assumption of proficiency at maths is one such, which perhaps goes along with the assumption that all Black people are athletic (I'm certainly not, so there's that.)

4. People pulling their bags closer, refusing to ride in the lift with you, or following you around the store, suggests the prevailing view of Black people as criminals, when really, we're in more danger from white folx than you are from us.

5. The meritocracy argument keeps systemic racism alive by wilfully ignoring the real additional barriers - some of them hidden - that minoritised folx face.

6. The idea that there's an ideal way to be. Black folx slated for being loud and aggressive, Asians slated for being quiet or passive while white folx have the right to be however they are.

7. The assumption that Black people are in a service or menial role - in shops, in offices and elsewhere.

8. Ignoring Black customers in favour of white ones, both in shops and when getting taxis

9. The "you people" phrase.

10. Fetishisation and exoticism about hair and skin colour ;"what even are you" - and yes, that's a question people I know have been asked. Suggests you're outside the norm.

11. Looking at Black and other cultures as exotic and lesser.

12. Sexual objectification - I've talked about this before.

13. Colour blindness: "I don't see colour", "all lives matter"; "there is only one race"

As I've said many times before, being on the receiving end of these remarks, not to mention other even more egregious examples of racism, is exhausting. As people walking in Black skin, we can feel surveilled and policed, and truthfully, we often are by the white gaze. Just ask any Black person who's worked in corporate in a white majority country, or who's been questioned while minding their own business. The irony is some people don't even recognise that they are reinforcing old systems of control of Black people, so ingrained is it in some parts of society.

Take Action

So what can we do about it? The starting point is knowing that some phrases and characterisations will cause harm to people racialised as Black and people of the Global Majority. And once you know, you can look for other, less harmful ways to engage so that you're part of the solution. As I've learned through facilitating the SHHARE community and others, noticing followed by action and accountability is a huge part of the work of anti-racism. Are you up for the challenge?

And Black folx, feel free to share this with your white friends and colleagues instead of having to make another unwelcome explanation.

Thanks for reading,

Sharon

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Building Anti-Racist Habits: A Presentation Deck for Sustained Action

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I'm speaking at the AuDHD Intensive (29-30 September). If you've ever felt half-seen in autism spaces and ADHD spaces, this is the event for you. Lisa Hurley and I are doing a joint session titled: The Introvert Sisters: Black, Autistic, and Unmasked. The event is built entirely around the AuDHD experience, and features more than18 lived experience experts. Tickets from £25 and there's a 10% discount if you use the code BRILLIANT10 at checkout. Learn more at bemorezebra.me

Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism educator, author of the award-winning book I'm Tired of Racism, and founder of the SHHARE anti-racism community and Sharon's Anti-Racism Newsletter, which provides tools and lived experiences to fuel systemic change. She is also the creator of The Unsilenced™ Method, which helps women who have been silenced, sidelined or shut down get their work into the world in a way that is structured, sustainable, and unmistakably theirs. A seasoned professional writer and journalist, she leverages over 30 years of experience to mentor introverted leaders, and is co-founder and co-host of the Introvert Sisters Podcast.

© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2026. All Rights Reserved. This newsletter is published on beehiiv (affiliate link).

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

As is so often the case with this interview series, I first met Audrey Hall on LinkedIn. I was impressed by the breadth of her vision and the extensive professional background she brought to the table. I was then lucky enough to meet her in person, and to talk through her experiences and vision. I’m already looking forward to the next time. Please meet Audrey…

Audrey, tell me briefly about your background prior to founding the Safe Space Sisterhood

For most of my career, I've helped other people tell their stories.

I'm an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and communications professional with more than 30 years' experience across media, communications and community engagement. My broadcasting career includes 13 years with the BBC, two years as a network presenter with Jazz FM, eight years working in mainstream television and more than eight years volunteering at Manchester's ALL FM, where my radio show, Audrey's Early Drive, continues to connect people through music, conversation and culture.

Throughout my career I've interviewed artists, experts, entrepreneurs, professionals, community leaders and changemakers, and I've always been interested in the stories that sit beneath the headlines. And in particular, what I call the 'so what?' of the Black reality. I've seen the power of storytelling to educate, inspire and build understanding, but I've also seen how easily important voices can be overlooked.

The catalyst for creating The Safe Space Sisterhood came from a combination of personal experience, professional observation and the publication of DCMS workforce data, which highlighted the ongoing inequalities facing mature Black women within the creative industries. I wanted to create something that not only acknowledged those realities but actively worked to change them.

Give me the elevator pitch for the Safe Space Sisterhood

I create platforms, conversations and media that amplify underrepresented voices, connect experienced creatives and professionals, and create opportunities for greater visibility, collaboration and sustainable income.

And in more detail?

The Safe Space Sisterhood grew from a recognition that many women are carrying enormous personal, professional and emotional responsibilities while often feeling unseen within the spaces they inhabit.

The platform creates opportunities for honest conversations, shared experiences, mutual support and meaningful connections. Through interviews, podcasts, events, workshops and community activity, it seeks to build confidence, increase visibility and create opportunities for women whose voices and experiences are often overlooked.

But ultimately, The Safe Space Sisterhood is about opening our own doors.

It's about moving beyond the silo mentality that can sometimes exist within creative and professional spaces and recognising the power of peer-to-peer collaboration. By sharing knowledge, creating opportunities and supporting one another, we can help shape our own futures while working alongside industry towards greater visibility, opportunity and financial inclusion.

Alongside this sits the Undisputed Music Legends Podcast, which documents the stories, achievements and cultural impact of artists and creatives who have helped shape our collective experience, while they are still with us.

Audrey's Early Drive continues that work, bringing people together through music, conversation and culture while championing excellence and giving voice and vision to stories that deserve to be heard. Our living history.

Together, The Safe Space Sisterhood, Audrey's Early Drive and the Undisputed Music Legends Podcast reflect my belief in the power of storytelling to connect communities, preserve living history, amplify underrepresented voices and create opportunities for people to be visible, valued and able to benefit from the value they create.

What inequity were you trying to address, and why is this important?

My work is really about visibility, voice, opportunity and belonging.

I've seen talented, experienced and highly skilled women become less visible as they get older, particularly within creative and freelance industries. And I've watched people continue to contribute enormously while navigating financial uncertainty, unpaid labour, gatekeeping and a lack of recognition. And, for many, that remains the reality today.

The DCMS workforce data in 2023 helped shine a light on something many women had been experiencing for years: mature Black women remain one of the most underrepresented and under-supported groups within the creative industries.

That picture hasn't changed significantly since the report was published.

In fact, subsequent industry research continues to point in the same direction. More than a dozen workforce studies and sector reports have highlighted the barriers faced by mature Black women across visibility, leadership, commissioning, funding and long-term career sustainability within the creative industries.

What's particularly striking is that while many reports explore inequalities linked to race, gender, class or age, very few focus on the lived experience of women who sit at the intersection of all four. As a result, much of their experience remains invisible within research, policy and industry discussions.

The reality is that many experienced creatives continue to face isolation, gatekeeping, reduced visibility, financial uncertainty and limited access to opportunities, despite years – and often decades – of contribution.

My work responds directly to that gap.

The Safe Space Sisterhood is about opening our own doors: creating opportunities for women to work collectively, share knowledge, build confidence and support one another towards greater visibility, opportunity and financial inclusion. At the same time, it creates space for conversations and lived experiences that are too often absent from the wider narrative.

How’s it going? What has the response been?

I'm genuinely delighted with the response so far.

My radio show, Audrey's Early Drive on ALL FM, continues to connect strongly with audiences and has regularly achieved top placings in Mixcloud's global charts. The podcast has also received recognition through Feedspot naming it among the Top 15 Podcasts to Listen to in the UK in its Singing category.

In 2021, I became the first recipient of the National Community Radio Awards' Honours Award for Broadcasting Services, recognising my contribution to broadcasting and my work to raise the profile, understanding and representation of Black communities through the media, over my career. More recently, I was honoured to receive Prolific North's Creative Trailblazer Award for The Safe Space Sisterhood - recognition of the vision behind the project and its commitment to inspiring the next generation of creatives.

What encourages me most isn't the recognition itself, but what it represents. It tells me there is a genuine appetite for these conversations, these stories and these spaces.

The Safe Space Sisterhood is really about opening our own doors and helping to shape our own futures - working collectively, peer-to-peer and alongside industry towards greater visibility, opportunity and financial inclusion.

The next stage is about building the infrastructure to sustain and grow that work.

At the same time, I'm actively seeking partnerships and funding to help build the operational foundations of The Safe Space Sisterhood, so it can grow into a sustainable platform that creates opportunities, reaches more people and delivers lasting impact.

What’s next? Any goals you're hoping to achieve?

The journey is really only just beginning.

The next stage is about building the infrastructure to sustain and grow that work.

Alongside continuing my broadcasting and podcasting work, I'm developing new opportunities through keynote speaking, workshops, training, consultancy and commissioned projects that draw on my experience across media, communications and community engagement.

Right now, my focus is on building the foundations needed to grow The Safe Space Sisterhood in a sustainable way. That includes developing the website, strengthening partnerships, creating a working group of supporters and exploring funding opportunities that will help move the work to the next level.

Ultimately, I want The Safe Space Sisterhood to become a recognised platform that creates meaningful impact, opens doors and helps more people feel connected, supported and visible.

Most importantly, I want to create a model that demonstrates what can happen when people work together, share opportunities and invest in one another's success. I firmly believe the best work happens through collaboration, and I'm excited about what can be achieved when people come together around a shared purpose.

In relation to racism, what is your vision for the future?

My vision is simple.

I want future generations to inherit a world where people are not judged, limited or excluded because of the colour of their skin.

I want to see a society where culture is celebrated, diversity is genuinely valued and appropriately rewarded, where different experiences and perspectives are respected, and where opportunities are shaped by talent, contribution and potential rather than stereotypes or prejudice.

Most importantly, we all matter. I want young people to grow up knowing they belong, informed by the lived experience, art and culture afforded by their elders, and that they don't have to spend their lives proving their worth in spaces where they should already be welcomed.

Ultimately, it's about all of us working towards a better tomorrow - one built on understanding, respect, opportunity and a shared belief in our common humanity.

Is there anything I haven't asked you that you'd like to add?

Whether through broadcasting, podcasting, storytelling or community engagement, I want people to tell their stories in their own words and on their own terms.

Creativity doesn’t have a best-before date – it grows with lived experience – yet freelance and creative life can be lonely and uncertain.

I’ve watched talented, experienced and highly skilled women become less visible as they get older, navigating freelance life, unpaid labour, financial uncertainty, professional isolation and, at times, appropriation of their ideas and work.

Attempts to challenge these inequalities can lead to ‘angry Black woman’ stereotyping or disproportionate professional consequences, resulting in many women disengaging from industries they have spent years helping to build.

I have walked this road since 2020, so if anything from my own journey can help someone feel seen, heard or encouraged, then that’s a good place to start.

The recent loss of Professor Jason Arday has also reminded many of us of Lee Jasper’s observation: ‘A story of Black exceptionalism, racist scrutiny and what happens when a human being becomes a symbol for everybody and everything but himself.’ And also says, Black people can be ‘under-promoted collectively and over-symbolised individually’. His words resonate deeply.

Inclusion matters. I don’t want women questioning whether they belong. I want them to know with certainty that they do.

That is what The Safe Space Sisterhood is about: opening our own doors, recognising the value of our collective experience, creating opportunities and working together towards greater visibility, opportunity and financial inclusion. So come join us.

And representation is key. Meeting Sharon was a highlight of my summer. I wholeheartedly subscribe to her ‘Unsilenced Method course’ and I’m looking forward to supporting the programme in the future, so watch this space…

Ultimately, if through my work more people feel valued, more stories are preserved, and more creatives and professionals are able to benefit from the skills, knowledge and experience they’ve spent a lifetime building, and are rewarded, then we’ll be making a meaningful difference together.

I love the work Audrey is planning and her vision for the future. Please connect with Audrey and support her work on the Safe Space Sisterhood website, on LinkedIn and on Instagram.

Thanks for reading,

Sharon



Note: poll feedback is private - if you’re happy to share your thoughts in public, then please also leave a comment.

© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2026. All Rights Reserved.

Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism educator, author of the award-winning book I'm Tired of Racism, and founder of the SHHARE anti-racism community and Sharon's Anti-Racism Newsletter, which provides tools and lived experiences to fuel systemic change. She is also the creator of The Unsilenced™ Method, which helps women who have been silenced, sidelined or shut down get their work into the world in a way that is structured, sustainable, and unmistakably theirs. A seasoned professional writer and journalist, she leverages over 30 years of experience to mentor introverted leaders, and is co-founder and co-host of the Introvert Sisters Podcast.

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

One thing anti-racism advocates often wonder when they're starting out is how to get started talking about anti-racism. After all, if you're racialised as white you may not be practiced in this area at first. (Sadly, if you're racialised as Black, or are a person of the Global Majority, you've probably had to have those conversations from a very young age.) A caveat: this is only one possible approach, but it's one that often works, and it's one I personally have used with white friends and acquaintances.

1. Look for an opening

There's often something in the conversation that lets you know the person is open to a discussion. Sometimes they'll ask a question about something they don't quite understand. Or maybe they'll share an experience, opening the door for you to share a different perspective. Whatever the situation, don't browbeat the person you're talking to or make them feel bad about where they are. Instead move to the next step.

2. Start with openness and curiosity

Try to find out more about their perspective, such as why they've asked a question or what they already know. Leading with openness, curiosity and willingness to hear them will help the conversation keep going. Again, going in too strong at the start can shut down conversation, especially if they feel attacked. That's exactly what you want to avoid.

3. State your stance

Before you get into answering their question or sharing more, let them know where you're coming from. You could share that you're anti-racist, how that came to be and why you feel this way. Keep it short; this is not the time for your whole life story. Just share enough to establish that you have some valuable insight.

4. Address the issue

Now it's time to share on the issue they were curious about. It's a great moment to debunk some common myths or flawed concepts, whether that's not seeing colour, all lives matter, whether race is real, racism is just name-calling or a thing of the past, or something else. If there's an opportunity to build bridges between where they are and where they'd like to be, then take it - engineering a shift in understanding is ideal.

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

I didn't know it when I started, but I ended up with a bit of a theme this month - reparations. This edition contains four perspectives on the issue (one in the 'Of Note' section) from African scholars and a Caribbean organisation. Other pieces examine different aspects of racism, as well as sharing some hopeful examples. Ready to dig in?

1. Present but Displaced: What Western Objections to Reparations Fail to See by Solomon Osei Poku

This article examines where arguments against reparations for enslavement fall short, and why.

2. White Hoods and Race Hustle: The KKK's Pyramid Scheme, Then and Now by Khafre Jay

Here, Khafre Jay looks into the history and founding of the Klan - and how it's evolved and rebranded for a new era:

3. Ghana slavery apology: Why many descendants say words are not enough by Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin

To my mind, there's no question that reparations are due. What actually constitutes restitution is a different matter. This article presents some of the perspectives:

4. They're Not WAITING For Permission by Dr. Tana M. Session

A room, and a country, where women leaders are the norm? More of that, please! Dr. Tana Session reports on an event that shows what's possible:

P.S. I believe girls in Barbados also benefit from this: the Prime Minister is a woman, as was the previous President, as are many leaders in the country. Still, the example of Rwanda continues to inspire.

Reading is the first step; sustaining the work is the next. This reading list is - and will remain - free for all 5700+ subscribers. If you are in a position to pay it forward so that others can continue to access this education, upgrade your subscription here. Help me keep this independent resource growing.

5. What People Call Burnout in Racial Justice Work Is Often Moral Injury by Dr. Muna Abdi

In this piece, Dr Abdi calls a thing a thing, urging us to look more deeply at what burnout really is for marginalised people, and how we can start to have more honest conversations about what's happening:

6. The Word the Field Won’t Define by Rabbi Sandra Lawson

That word is "fit" and it's often used to exclude, as Rabbi Sandra explains:

7. "You are too privileged to be a Dalit!” – A Personal Memory by Usha Kumari

"Caste" by Isabel Wilkerson remains one of the books I've found most impactful, so I was interested to read this perspective from a Dalit woman on her personal experience:

8. Drawing the line on racism by Patricia Pereira

This author examines racism in the multiracial and multicultural society in Malaysia and urges readers to stand against bigotry and for true unity:

9. From reparations to renaissance: How justice and development can transform Africa’s future – Kwame Mawuenyega Ackah writes

To follow on from the earlier pieces, this article looks at moving to new paradigm for Africa which aligns institutions and policies and moves away from the extractive frameworks of the past.

10. Black WNBA Players Face Misogynoir Amid the League’s Rapid Rise by Chandelis Duster

Misogynoir is pervasive. In this article, the author traces some of its history in sports in the USA:

Bonus: Juliet Daniel Spent Three Decades Studying The Disease That Took Her Mother. Then It Took Her Too by Alison Copeland.

I'd like to share this piece in honour of my friend and former schoolmate. Juliet lived life to the max, and made a difference not just in her profession, but in the inclusion and support of Black students in her university. If you ask how you can do it, Juliet's approach is an excellent starting point.

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Of Note - Things Worth Highlighting

• Whose Knowledge - centring the knowledge of marginalised communities

• At Flip 2026, Djamila Ribeiro Pushes Back on Distortions of Place of Speech and Announces Book on the Red Pill Movement

• Emancipation Day Message - CARICOM Reparations Commission

• Harvard releases information on 1,613 enslaved individuals

• Ghana welcomes Pope's apology over Catholic Church's role in slavery

• Windrush Support Directory

As always, feel free to share, either by commenting below or replying to the email, what stood out to you from this month's reading list, and what's the next intentionally anti-racist action you'll take as a result.

Thanks for reading,

Sharon

Note: poll feedback is private - if you’re happy to share your thoughts in public, then please also leave a comment.

*Note: all articles linked here were free to read when I put together this edition. However, some may be paywalled by the time it is published, because capitalism. There’s not much I can do about that, but I hope the included quotes give you a flavour of the content.

© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2026. All Rights Reserved.

Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism educator, author of the award-winning book I'm Tired of Racism, and founder of the SHHARE anti-racism community and Sharon's Anti-Racism Newsletter, which provides tools and lived experiences to fuel systemic change. She is also the creator of The Unsilenced™ Method, which helps women who have been silenced, sidelined or shut down get their work into the world in a way that is structured, sustainable, and unmistakably theirs. A seasoned professional writer and journalist, she leverages over 30 years of experience to mentor introverted leaders, and is co-founder and co-host of the Introvert Sisters Podcast.

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

This month’s reboot was about an incident that happened online, and I’ve seen a few more examples since then. This was originally sent to paid subscribers, but now this rebooted version is free to read. I’ve updated the links and some of the terminology to reflect what I usually use now.

For me, it reinforces the importance of community in anti-racism work, both as support and as a tool for growth. See what you think…

What If Being Called "Racist" Were the Start of the Conversation?

There’s a thing that happens in mixed company (that is when folx racialised as Black, racialised as white, and people of the Global Majority share space) whenever someone describes a white person’s behaviour as “racist”.

Invariably, the person whose behaviour has been described that way shuts down and they stop hearing anything else. Some even behave as if having their behaviour called racist is worse than, you know, actually experiencing racism. (It isn’t; not by a long shot.)

But something that happened a while back made me believe there’s hope, and that calling behaviour racist does not have to end a conversation.

Indeed, it can be the start of a new avenue of learning for the white person in question.

Some time ago, a Global Majority person posted on LinkedIn about racism and white people, and made a point about the unearned advantages many white-presenting people enjoy, and the system we all are raised in. What happened next was interesting.

As so often happens in these cases, a slew of white men descended on the post to excoriate the original poster, with the usual mansplaining, whitesplaining, denials and table turning. It could have turned into another flame war.

But it didn’t.

Before I get to why, I noticed that many of the white women who commented on the post had started to do their own work, and were able to look beyond what seemed like inflammatory words to see the truth that applies to those experiencing racism. That’s not always the case, so it stood out. [2026 update: it’s one of the many reasons that anti-racism work matters, because it’s a path to greater understanding of each other.]

In contrast, many of the white men showed an entrenched resistance to having their whole world view upended, with attendant fear and vulnerability. It’s something to be aware of in doing anti-racism work.

One of the white women in question took it on herself to help to educate a white man who, despite his initial aggression, clearly wanted to learn more and do better. She shared her journey to accepting her internalised racism, and the feelings that arose from that. Then, as he remained open to the conversation, she shared some other written resources. He had a lightbulb moment and committed to doing his own work.

[2026 update: this interaction validated the work I’ve been doing for years to help people build confidence in having so-called “difficult” conversations. The woman in question had been part of a group I led, and so felt she had the tools to enter the discussion.]

Beyond that, it was a good example of how calling in can work. (Though I’m not denying that calling out is sometimes necessary, believe me.) This is especially true with people who are willing to learn and grow.

As a would-be anti-racism advocate, you’re going to mess up at some point. Wherever you are in your journey, consider that if someone takes the time to tell you that a particular behaviour is racist, they’re letting you know so you don’t do it again. That’s priceless, because they could just roll their eyes and walk away. So consider it as an invitation to do better and the start of a deeper conversation, rather than the end.

What do you think?

Thanks for reading,

Sharon

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Additional reading

• What makes an anti-racism community work?

• Building anti-racist habits

• Waking up to better allyship

Note: poll feedback is private - if you’re happy to share your thoughts in public, then please also leave a comment.

Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism educator, author of the award-winning book I'm Tired of Racism, and founder of the SHHARE anti-racism community and Sharon's Anti-Racism Newsletter, which provides tools and lived experiences to fuel systemic change. She is also the creator of The Unsilenced™ Method, which helps women who have been silenced, sidelined or shut down get their work into the world in a way that is structured, sustainable, and unmistakably theirs. A seasoned professional writer and journalist, she leverages over 30 years of experience to mentor introverted leaders, and is co-founder and co-host of the Introvert Sisters Podcast.

© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2023, 2026. All Rights Reserved. This newsletter is published on beehiiv (affiliate link).

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

I wrote this letter a while back, but it seems particularly relevant in view of the unexplained deaths of Nolan Wells and many others. There are reasons why so many Black people exist in a state of hypervigilance…

Dear people racialised* as white, let's get real: if you look at history, people racialised as Black have more to fear from you than you do from them (us).

I was talking to a young Black woman the other day and she commented that everywhere she goes she's aware of white people watching her. She's not doing anything out of the ordinary but that white gaze is always there, and it's unsettling.

I've experienced this myself, walking through towns and cities in the UK, US and elsewhere. That prickling at the back of your neck that tells you you're being watched. Or seeing someone blatantly staring.

You might wonder how we know this has to do with our skin colour or identity. The answer is long years of experience and an epigenetic inheritance from the trauma of our enslaved ancestors. We know.

What The White Gaze Demands

The deep irony is that most of us are minding our business, going about our day and just want to be left alone to do that. We don't want to participate in the view of us the white gaze has. Yet often we are forced to. We sometimes alter our behaviour to appear less suspicious, less dangerous, more palatable. The codeswitching is exhausting. And still that gaze demands more, questions our presence in every space, looks for reasons to exclude us, wants us to shrink even smaller.

A few months ago I was on a street in Manchester waiting for a store to open. I went to lean against a railing and I was social distance away from the guy at the other end. He still raked me with his gaze and moved further away. The passers-by also had a good eyeful (and again, you can feel in your body the difference between disinterest, approval and hostility).

This happens to some Black people, Global Majority people, and people from marginalised identities every day. And just because we live our lives anyway it doesn't mean it isn't wearisome.

The Facts On Who Should Be Fearful

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

The other day, I came across a list of banned books by Black authors. It made me pause. Book bans aren't new, of course but they seem to have ramped up recently, and I contend it's because the powers that be don't want us to have a true picture of Black history.

Before we get to why, let me put this out there: we've almost never had an accurate education about Black history and it's been deliberate.

And we've never had an accurate depiction of Black people either. Also deliberate.

Because the truth is: the colonisers and enslavers, who were generally racialised as white, had to portray those racialised as Black as inferior in order to justify their conquest in the name of "civilisation".

Look at it from a Judeo-Christian lens: if we were all made in God's image how could colonisation and enslavement be justified?. But if Black people weren't quite "finished" then all bets were off. Those ideas are pernicious and enduring. In February, during Black History Month, the White House incumbent posted a video showing the Obamas as apes - nuff said!

Read An African History of Africa by Zeinab Badawi - one of my new favourite books - and you'll see some of the true history and culture of the African peoples. Those were the peoples that the Greeks and Romans learnt from, even though they aren't often credited. But you can see some of the truth in the art: there were Black people in ancient Greece. So the idea of lack of civilisation was a deliberate fiction created to allow for settler colonialism, genocide and enslavement. That's one of the truths the powers that be don't want you to know.

I can’t help thinking of this quote by the great Chinua Achebe:

Books are banned because the powers that be don't want you to think, and they don't want you to know. Most of all, they don't want the lions to tell their own story, because it would and will be very different from that of the hunter.

When people know that enslavement wasn't simply a "bad thing" but a maelstrom of genocide, trafficking, r*pe, brutalisation and general oppression, it becomes impossible to look away, impossible not to feel some responsibility for repairing the harm, impossible not to make the links with the situation of Black people today.

The powers that be don't want you to understand the system that makes the rich richer and pits everyone else from different identities against each other. They don't want you to understand the blueprint they are trying to use to take us back to an earlier time. Because if more people understood and accepted the true history, and took responsibility for the present, it would be much harder for the billionaire technocrats and oligarchs to reshape the world for their own benefit., don't you think?

Thanks for reading my perspective

Sharon

Note: poll feedback is private - if you’re happy to share your thoughts in public, then please also leave a comment.

Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism educator, author of the award-winning book I'm Tired of Racism, and founder of the SHHARE anti-racism community and Sharon's Anti-Racism Newsletter, which provides tools and lived experiences to fuel systemic change. She is also the creator of The Unsilenced™ Method, which helps women who have been silenced, sidelined or shut down get their work into the world in a way that is structured, sustainable, and unmistakably theirs. A seasoned professional writer and journalist, she leverages over 30 years of experience to mentor introverted leaders, and is co-founder and co-host of the Introvert Sisters Podcast.

© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2026. All Rights Reserved. This newsletter is published on beehiiv (affiliate link).

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

Well, July was a month of peopling, which was a lot for a confirmed introvert like me. That said, it was good to reconnect with old friends, make new acquaintances and see a few people I've known for ages outside the confines of a Zoom room. I often felt tired but I felt happy too. Here's how the month played out.

Quiet Queens

This actually happened in late June, but hadn't yet taken place when I posted my last update. It was fabulous. The conversations were rich and the food was delicious plus we provided some great additional perks for guests. No surprise that we didn't need the noise and the masking. We flourished in a room that met us where we were and allowed connections to happen naturally. And they did - people left that room with new clients and nourished in all the ways that mattered. Yinka Ewuola and I have committed to doing it again - if you want to join us reply to this email to reserve your spot at a special price.

Founders Dinner

This is another event created by an introvert making the kind of room she wanted to be in. Daniella Genas hosts these dinners several times a year across the UK. I attended the London dinner in July. Delicious and different Indian food, great conversation, wonderful connections, and superb follow-up. I know for sure I'll be attending more of those in the future. See when it's coming to your area here: https://www.instagram.com/thefoundersdinner?igsh=bG43ZWIydmplOHJk

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

We're going around the world again this month, with multiple pieces from Global South perspectives. This month's edition looks at racism, in built biases and expectations, how to heal and not just survive, and much more. Read on...

1. We Cannot Keep Calling Survival Leadership by Latrice Torres

As Latrice points out here, we deserve much more than continued resilience or mere survival:

2. The Hidden Cost of Excellence: Aid, Dependency and Africa’s Negotiating Power in a changing world by Asanda (Saule) Ngoasheng

This one hit home because it details saviourism on a global scale:

3. The Hierarchy of Inclusion by Romain Muhammad

This author is making the often unseen, seen, and it's one of the many reasons why nobody can guarantee safe spaces:

4. Racism Isn’t Going Away. So How Does Black America Heal? by Liz Courquet-Lesaulnier

This report on a conversation with “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome” author Joy DeGruy and others looks to the future, and shares insights about what's already happening in terms of healing:

5. ‘Appalling’ levels of racism and abuse at work revealed in new TUC research

With the increase in visibility of far-right sentiment, the findings shared in this article from The Voice aren't a surprise:

6. Recognition denied: Black women face UK’s toughest workplace barriers, new study finds

Sticking with The Voice, here's another article on discrimination, this time focused on Black women. Again, no surprises, and I've experienced some of this myself:

7. How Sharpeville and Soweto helped dismantle apartheid by Mosala Mosegomi

I've included this short piece because it's part of world history we mustn't forget:

8. “We Move the World”: Domestic Workers, Anti-Racism and Collective Power in Colombia

Racism and anti-Blackness operate globally, in all spheres. Following a recent documentary in Latin America, this article looks at what's going on behind the scenes of domestic work in Colombia:

9. Remarks by Commissioner Gloria de Mees on the Rights of Afro-Descendants (PDF)

This short speech shows the legacy of enslavement today:

10. How to read postcolonial writing by Lina Abushouk

This piece looks at how Global North arbiters can be trapped by their own biases when it comes to storytelling expectations:

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Of Note - Things Worth Highlighting

• 'Names can be a barrier': Birmingham Black Lawyers tackle inclusion by Megan Jones and Merisha Stevenson

• Transcribing speech is never neutral. It shapes power and bias by Celeste Rodriguez Louro

• Black woman faces prosecution in Lithuania for ‘mocking white people’ after ski resort refund dispute

• The Caribbean island where locals can't access the beach

• Nobody Told Me This - a newsletter for Black women navigating 40 and beyond

As always, feel free to share, either by commenting below or replying to the email, what stood out to you from this month's reading list, and what's the next intentionally anti-racist action you'll take as a result.

Thanks for reading,

Sharon

Note: poll feedback is private - if you’re happy to share your thoughts in public, then please also leave a comment.

*Note: all articles linked here were free to read when I put together this edition. However, some may be paywalled by the time it is published, because capitalism. There’s not much I can do about that, but I hope the included quotes give you a flavour of the content.

© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2026. All Rights Reserved.

Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism educator, author of the award-winning book I'm Tired of Racism, and founder of the SHHARE anti-racism community and Sharon's Anti-Racism Newsletter, which provides tools and lived experiences to fuel systemic change. She is also the creator of The Unsilenced™ Method, which helps women who have been silenced, sidelined or shut down get their work into the world in a way that is structured, sustainable, and unmistakably theirs. A seasoned professional writer and journalist, she leverages over 30 years of experience to mentor introverted leaders, and is co-founder and co-host of the Introvert Sisters Podcast.

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

This is the second and last part of a micro-series on the language and framing I use in SARN and the reasons for those choices. Check out part 1 on Identity and Language. Today, I'm digging deeper into some of the practices and experiences that some people find challenging. Let me set the scene with this ...

Anti-Racism Is a Practice, Not a Label

A lot of people claim to be anti-racist in mission statements, LinkedIn profiles and bios. That's not the same as doing the work. In SARN, I frame anti-racism as an active, ongoing practice. It's not always about doing large things for visibility and clout; sometimes it's about that quiet, consistent work. It's why I often end essays with something you can do: whether that's to be more aware, or to actually do something to counter inequality where you are. And of course, anti-racism is never done. It's not a training course to be checked off, it's a lifelong commitment, to be taken seriously.

It's About the Structure, Not Just the Person

When we talk about racism, it's easy to focus on individuals, and individuals definitely do harm. But if we only see the person and not the system, we're missing a crucial piece of the puzzle. That's why you'll often see me write about "structural racism" and "systemic racism" in SARN as a way of bringing that to the fore. Because otherwise important factors go unnoticed, and that is deliberate. Systems that advantage whiteness were designed to appear neutral, default, or simply "how things are". Our job as anti-racists is to look beyond the obvious to whose expertise gets cited and whose gets ignored, to sentencing disparities, to pay gaps and hiring practices, to what is true representation and what is actually tokenism. Here's a starting point: Structural Racism and Power: Three Questions Answered.

Privilege is a Description, Not (Always) an Accusation

Say the word "privilege" and some folx are immediately ready to push back. It's heard as an accusation, when it's a description of the unearned advantages that come with certain identities and cultures. However, as with everything, there are nuances with this term. The best way to illustrate them is with this quote from Is Privilege Situational?

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

This issue contains something rare for me - three articles with the name of the current White House incumbent, whom I usually refer to as "47" or "the orange one". But they all give useful insights into what's happening, not just in the US but around the globe. This issue also tackles issue on the African content, in the Caribbean, as well as the issue of reparations. The "Of Note" section is pretty juicy, too. Ready to dive in?

1. They believe in racism; do you really believe in anti-racism? by Shay, Black Girl in Maine

This is a timely question, and there are no easy answers. Here, Shay analyses what people's actions reveal about their beliefs:

2. Trumpism in Nigeria by Nanre Nafziger and Adam Khalid Muhammad

In Black MAGA Whyyy?, I talked about the sign of trumpism I saw on my morning walk. These authors dig deep into what's happening in Nigeria, and the push and pull of two competing paradigms:

3. African languages, the blind spot of AI by James Maisiri

You've likely heard me say that AI tools reinforce western norms. This article gives more evidence, and highlights some of the initiatives to fight it:

4. Black Women Are Losing Ground. Now Inclusion Is on Trial. by Frances Murphy (Toni) Draper

When white folx bring racism lawsuits, and traitors get reparations, this is where we are - sigh:

5. Relieving the Stress of the Mess We Are Living In by Dr. Lynne Maureen Hurdle

For many of us, these are very trying times. Here, Dr. Lynne offers a ten-point plan to help us to find some relief:

6. What Happened to the Black Women Trump Purged From the Federal Work Force? by Natalie Y. Moore

The numbers keep growing and the harm keeps compounding, as this author shows:

7. Black-Led Nonprofits Didn't See the Lasting Funding Boosts Promised After 2020's Racial Reckoning - Associated Press

I'm not surprised; are you?

8. Dah Beach Ain’t Mine: The Quiet & Persistent Enclosure of the Barbadian Horizon by CrossRoads Barbados

Public access to beaches as a right has long been a point of pride among Barbadians, but now it looks like that right is in greater danger than ever:

9. Trump & Republicans Are Enacting Structural Eugenics by Qasim Rashid

This is an interesting and worrying piece, with some solid data to back up the author's argument:

10. Moving Beyond Recognition Toward Repair for Enslavement by Matiangai Sirleaf

As I often say, it's telling who is deemed to be worthy of reparations, and who isn't. This author points out that the powers that be could choose to repair the harm; they just don't want to:

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Of Note - Things Worth Highlighting

• The Global State of Black Women's Labor - a first of its kind survey across Nigeria, the United States, Ghana, the Caribbean, South Africa, and the UK - if you’re a Black woman, add your voice today!

• Beware the Illusion of the Linear Authoritarian Timeline: On Ruptures, Breakups, and Detours by Míriam Juan-Torres and Joshua Clark

• Advancing reparations

• The Deep Legacy of Slavery - UNESCO

• Who is an Arab? by Farrah Elatty

• The Hidden Harm Inside Non-Profit Impact Reports by Paul Ekuru (includes the DIGNITY test)

As always, feel free to share, either by commenting below or replying to the email, what stood out to you from this month's reading list, and what's the next intentionally anti-racist action you'll take as a result.

Thanks for reading,

Sharon

Note: poll feedback is private - if you’re happy to share your thoughts in public, then please also leave a comment.

Note: As usual, the newsletter is going on hiatus in July - free subscribers will get the reading list in late July; SARN supporters will get the behind the scenes letter and two podcast episodes. The normal schedule will resume on the first Monday in August for SARN supporters and the first Wednesday in August for free subscribers.

*Note: all articles linked here were free to read when I put together this edition. However, some may be paywalled by the time it is published, because capitalism. There’s not much I can do about that, but I hope the included quotes give you a flavour of the content.

© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2026. All Rights Reserved.

Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism educator, author of the award-winning book I'm Tired of Racism, and founder of the SHHARE anti-racism community and Sharon's Anti-Racism Newsletter, which provides tools and lived experiences to fuel systemic change. She is also the creator of The Unsilenced™ Method, which helps women who have been silenced, sidelined or shut down get their work into the world in a way that is structured, sustainable, and unmistakably theirs. A seasoned professional writer and journalist, she leverages over 30 years of experience to mentor introverted leaders, and is co-founder and co-host of the Introvert Sisters Podcast.

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

Welcome to the fifth annual Top Voices in Anti-Racism list here on Sharon's Anti-Racism Newsletter. I started publishing this in 2022 to highlight people I'd been learning from and who had perspectives that resonated, and I've done it annually in the week of Juneteenth since then. It's a personal selection, drawn from LinkedIn and other social media platforms. So far, I've highlighted 42 people, and today I'm adding another 10 to the list. Ready to dive in? They're listed in alphabetical order, by first name, after a word from today's sponsor...

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For a limited time, get our TikTok Shop starter resource folder, including a case study showing how we scaled from $0 to $90K/month in 90 days.

You’ll also get our creator approval guide plus a sample P&L to better understand channel profitability.

Get the Free Starter Kit

1. Autumn Blackdeer, Ph.D

I've been following Dr Autumn for quite a while now. Though she's also on LinkedIn, Instagram is where I first connected with her and it's mostly where I see her content. I value it as a window into discrimination and oppression from an Indigenous viewpoint, and usually find something to relate to. She is unapologetic in her truth telling. Here's a recent take on the No Kings marches which provides food for thought. And here's where you can connect with her.

Connect: Website│LinkedIn│Instagram

2. Cath Blayney

Cath and I first met in a space where we were both members. We didn't talk much about anti-racism then, but whenever the topic came up I knew we were aligned, and I've enjoyed her content about inclusive leadership. Though we connected first on LinkedIn, Instagram is where I've been seeing her perspectives recently via some stunning galleries/carousels. Check out this post which urges Black folx to stop the self-gaslighting.

Connect: Website│LinkedIn│Instagram

3. Chikere Igbokwe

When my book came out in 2022, Chikere was quick to select it for the Allyship Book Club she had founded, which is still going strong. I've been following her ever since. We've also recently had the opportunity to discuss allyship, and will be doing an event together soon. Chikere wears many hats: allyship and inclusion advocate, anti-racism consultant, DEI advocate and more. Here's a recent post that resonated on allyship as a practice.

Connect: Website│LinkedIn

4. Collette Phillip

I've been following Collette for a while, and her combination of anti-racism activism and brand strategy is pretty compelling, as is her support for Black women in her industry and beyond (check out the Join Our Table group which she co-founded). Her message about doing the work consistently, especially if no-one is watching is something I very much believe too. Here's a a post pointing to an article on the UK's decision to "opt out of justice".

Connect: Website│LinkedIn│Instagram

5. Dominique Riviere, Ph.D

In her own words, Dominique is the creator of "Fictive Kin Equity Lab, a learning and development company for highly sensitive, super passionate, kinda intense, and endlessly curious world-changers who want to learn how to leverage these gifts... without giving up their identity, integrity, power, or peace." As a fellow book loving introvert, her content on Instagram resonates. This post is about what she calls "the PredTech test".

Connect: Website│LinkedIn│Instagram

6. Isvari Maranwe

One of the things I admire about Isvari is her willingness to build the solutions that don't exist yet. As you'll have seen in the interview with her earlier this year, she is the founder of both the Sentinel and Yuvoice, which will shake up the norms of the social media world. It's hard to pick just one post to represent her valuable perspective, but check out this one on creating impact tech.

Connect: Website│LinkedIn│Instagram

7. Jessica Pharm, MBA

When I first met Jessica on LinkedIn, she was hosting a podcast called Blackness and the Workplace. Though that's no longer running, Jessica is known for speaking about and centring the Black experience at work, a perspective that's always badly needed. Check out this recent career advice post.

Connect: LinkedIn

8. Liz Pemberton

On Instagram, Liz is known as the Black Nursery Manager. She's an early years anti-racist trainer and consultant. I've followed her content for years, even though my own child is long past nursery days. But it's fascinating because of the idea of raising kids to be anti-racist and welcoming of diversity. She's also a great voice to follow on the UK situation. Check out this recent post on the politics in early years education.

Connect: Website│LinkedIn│Instagram

9. Natasha Williams

We all know that working while Black, and showing up excellently, has a cost. And that cost isn't just to our pay packets but to our health and wellbeing. But it's not enough to know it intrinsically; it's also important to document it. That's where Natasha Williams comes in with her superlative Cost of Black Excellence research. The data she shares is compelling, and well worth paying attention to. Here's a recent post on the Excellence Tax as an example.

Connect: Website│LinkedIn

10. Shari Dunn

Shari Dunn is a DEI leader who has written the book (it's called Qualified) on the intersection of racism and competency checking in the workplace. Her straight talking posts on inequality always resonate. Here's a recent one on who gets reparations and who doesn't, a subject that's close to my heart.

Connect: Website│LinkedIn│Instagram

It's important to me to recognise those whose work I learn from - this list is one way I do that. I hope you'll learn as much as I have from these wonderful human beings.

Until next time,

Sharon

Additional reading

SARN Top Voices 2025

10 anti-racism advocates to expand your awareness and action - the 2025 list of Sharon Hurley Hall's favourite anti-racism voices

Sharon's Anti-Racism Newsletter • Sharon Hurley Hall

SARN Top Voices 2024

10 anti-racism advocates to follow and learn from

Sharon's Anti-Racism Newsletter • Sharon Hurley Hall

Note: poll feedback is private - if you’re happy to share your thoughts in public, then please also leave a comment.

Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism educator, author of I’m Tired of Racism, and founder of the SHHARE anti-racism community and of Sharon’s Anti-Racism Newsletter, which provides tools and lived experiences to fuel systemic change. A seasoned professional writer and journalist, she leverages over 30 years of experience to mentor introverted leaders, and is co-founder and co-host of the Introvert Sisters Podcast. Her recent work focuses on helping Black and Global Majority women achieve high-impact visibility and professional influence without the exhaustion of performing extroversion.

© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2026. All Rights Reserved. This newsletter is published on beehiiv (affiliate link).