It feels as though it’s been a busy week with everything going on at work. It’s nothing too major but my boss isn’t making working from home any easier. Getting everyone to stop for updates every 5 minutes for updates really doesn’t help anything get done. But never mind. The positive thing about working from home is that as soon as the day is done, I’m done. No more commuting. I know that my journey home isn’t exactly long but it’s a lot longer than simply walking upstairs. It does make it a whole lot easier to signoff and destress at the end of the day.

Weekly Blog Posts

• BOOKISH POST – May Reading Wrap-Up

This week saw a return to my usual schedule of blog posts. As it was also the second week of June, it felt right to finally post my reading wrap-up for the previous month. It hadn’t gone as badly as I’d imagined. I was only one away from my April score and I’m still well on my way to doubling the target that I set for myself. It helped that I’d started the month by reading shorter books and ended it with a couple of quick reads to get me through. I’ve not started June well but I’m hoping to make some ground up in the next few weeks. To find out which books I loved most in May, check out my wrap-up.

• TUESDAY REVIEW – Becoming (2020)

In the last couple of weeks, I’ve been trying to promote anti-racist works that people can take advantage of. It was finally time to start practising what I preached. That meant watching and promoting films that amplified melanated voices. This documentary has come to Netflix this year and I’ve seen plenty of other people recommend it. Plus, if there was ever a time that we needed someone like Michelle Obama then it’s now. Read my review to see if this documentary was everything we needed it to be.

• BOOK REVIEW – Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

All of the most well-known non-fiction books on race and racism are pretty much sold out on Amazon. Since the protests started in the US and all over the world, people have been keen to learn more about how we got here. Or at least, they want to buy the books that make it look as though they are keen to learn. Either way, it’s impossible to get physical copies of most of them, so I had to resort to my Kindle. I decided to start with this one and I’m glad I did. The British connection really helped and there were plenty of things I was familiar with. Head over to my review to see if you could find something useful in this book.

• TBT REVIEW – 13th (2016)

There are a lot of harrowing documentaries and films out there that go into detail about how the system works against Black people. Ava DuVernay’s 13th is one of the most unforgettable. It has been made with such care and passion that you can’t really feel the frustration that so many people are experiencing. Seeing how easy it has been to create situations to keep Black people down in society is horrifying. It’s a must-watch for anyone serious about learning more about the Black Lives Matters movement. Read my review to see why.

• FRIDAY FAVOURITES – Ways to Amplify Melanated Voices

To make up for being MIA last week, I decided to revive my Friday Favourites one more time. It was mainly so I could share my recommendations for books, films, documentaries, and TV shows that people could turn to right now. I wanted to find things that I hadn’t seen that could help me learn more. It made sense to share ideas with people who may be like me. We can’t expect Black people to tell us what to do, so why not try to help somebody out. Read my recommendations to see where you might want to start.

Just Read

• Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

This was such a good overview of what life is like in the UK for a Black person. It is a great way to start a conversation about race, white privilege, and systemic racism. It’s got plenty of stats but it isn’t overly academic. Part of me, perhaps, wished for more depth but I can look elsewhere for that. This is definitely a great place to start.

Currently Reading

• Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

It’s been a few years since I last read this and I’d already bought a copy intending to read it again. I was hoping to do so before I watched the TV show. I hadn’t been in much of a rush until recent events moved it up to my TBR. I don’t think I appreciated this book when I was a kid but I can see how it would be a great read for younger readers.

Recently Purchased

I’ve bought a few ebooks recently and I’ve kind of lost track. I might have to just include a book haul in my monthly wrap-up in June because I’m sure I’m behind.

Recently Watched

• TV:
  • Misfits – I really wanted to find something comforting and fun to watch along with all of the heavy stuff that I was dealing with. The first 3 seasons of this show are just fantastic. I tried to keep going with season 4 but I just can’t get into it any more. I’m not a fan of the characters.