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Black History Month is more important than ever – but it is being hollowed out

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Reposted by Natalie Morris

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 1d

This month, in the vacuum that should be being used to platform Black stories, that space is instead being filled with swelling hostility. Black History Month matters. In fact, it may be more important now than it’s ever been.

@nmozz.bsky.social

national.thelead.uk/p/black-hist...

Why we're shining a light on Black stories this month. Plus: The latest from Reform Watch, and everything our team is reading, watching and listening to this week.

Black History Month is more important than ever – but it is being hollowed out

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Natalie Morris @nmozz.bsky.social · 2d

“As dangerous, nationalist ideologies creep closer to the political and cultural mainstream, it has never been more vital to ensure minoritised communities have a voice.”

Me for the @theleaduk.bsky.social on our Black History Month coverage:

open.substack.com/pub/theleadu...

Why we're shining a light on Black stories this month. Plus: The latest from Reform Watch, and everything our team is reading, watching and listening to this week.

"Like a dog in a kennel": Lockdown in child prisons revealed

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Reposted by Natalie Morris

Hannah Fearn @hannahfearn.bsky.social · 10d

The news story shortlisted is this one on the abhorrent treatment of children in prison during the covid lockdowns, for @theleaduk.bsky.social

thelead.uk/dog-kennel-l...

Left alone for days, denied education and refused visitation rights for years: pandemic lockdowns revealed so many flaws in young offenders institutions that experts are calling for entire system to b...

thelead.uk

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Reposted by Natalie Morris

@bobhudson.bsky.social @bobhudson.bsky.social · 24d

Very powerful stuff from @nmozz.bsky.social. What have we become!?

Natalie Morris @nmozz.bsky.social · 25d

The Prime Minister declared Britain will “never surrender the flag” to the far-right - but this has already happened, and Starmer is complicit. The racists have been emboldened by this government's own rhetoric - what we saw at the weekend is the consequence

open.substack.com/pub/theleadu...

This is not who we are

The racists have been emboldened and sanctioned by our government’s own rhetoric – to now talk vaguely in terms of resistance is far too little, much too late.

The racists have been emboldened and sanctioned by our government’s own rhetoric – to now talk vaguely in terms of resistance is far too little, much too late.

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Natalie Morris @nmozz.bsky.social · 25d

The Prime Minister declared Britain will “never surrender the flag” to the far-right - but this has already happened, and Starmer is complicit. The racists have been emboldened by this government's own rhetoric - what we saw at the weekend is the consequence

open.substack.com/pub/theleadu...

This is not who we are

The racists have been emboldened and sanctioned by our government’s own rhetoric – to now talk vaguely in terms of resistance is far too little, much too late.

Reposted by Natalie Morris

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 25d

The mainstream political class has seamlessly adopted the far-right’s language of fear and othering. The Prime Minister declared Britain will “never surrender the flag” to far-right protesters. But this is exactly what has already happened.

✍️ @nmozz.bsky.social

national.thelead.uk/p/far-right-...

This is not who we are

Suddenly mixed heritage Britons are being obliged to explain ourselves and our families. We will not be pushed to the margins, says journalist and author Natalie Morris

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Reposted by Natalie Morris

The Guardian @theguardian.com · Sep 3

The Nigel Farage-ing of Britain is causing a terrible ripple effect - and families like mine are feeling it | Natalie Morris

www.theguardian.com

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Natalie Morris @nmozz.bsky.social · Sep 3

After a summer of Farage, flags, and the drip-feeding of cruelty into the public psyche - I'm writing in The Guardian today about what this scary vibe shift means for families like mine who don't fit the increasingly narrow, racialised definition of 'Britishness'

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The Nigel Farage-ing of Britain is causing a terrible ripple effect - and families like mine are feeling it | Natalie Morris

Suddenly mixed heritage Britons are being obliged to explain ourselves and our families. We will not be pushed to the margins, says journalist and author Natalie Morris

www.theguardian.com

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Natalie Morris @nmozz.bsky.social · Aug 22

The Met plans to use "dangerously inaccurate" LFR at Notting Hill Carnival with no meaningful consent & no clarity on what happens to your data

People of colour will feel the worst impacts of disproportionate surveillance first before it seeps outwards into society
open.substack.com/pub/theleadu...

Live facial recognition has no place at Notting Hill Carnival

The Met Police is pushing ahead with plans to use divisive LFR at Notting Hill – it's another terrifying slide towards state surveillance. Plus: Zoë Grünewald on Epping decision + latest ReformWatch.

national.thelead.uk/p/its-time-f...

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Reposted by Natalie Morris

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · Aug 8

“We all tell stories through our bodies and we all trap stories in our bodies.”

Lanre Malaolu talks to @Nmozz.bsky.social about the importance of the body in his work.

Listen now: national.thelead.uk/p/the-lead-i...

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Reposted by Natalie Morris

Zoe Gardner @zoejardiniere.bsky.social · Aug 4

WHEN IS IT NOT SMALL BOATS WEEK THO??
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

When is it wealth inequality week, eh?? WHEN DOES THAT COME AROUND?

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Reposted by Natalie Morris

Megha Mohan @meghamohan.bsky.social · Aug 2

Excited for my book on communities where women around the world live without men. I love the cover - the waves/braids represent unity, upheaval, and new systems being created. Herlands: lessons from societies where women make the rules is out March 6th www.penguin.co.uk/books/462518...

A woman with long dark hair smiles while holding a framed proof of the book “Herlands” by Megha Mohan. The book cover features bold, wavy patterns in red, white, and navy, with the subtitle “Lessons From Societies Where Women Make the Rules.”

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Reposted by Natalie Morris

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · Jul 22

It's time for sensible conversation about anti-Black racism

From Diane Abbott, to racism at the Euros, to maternal healthcare failings – it has never been more important to call out antiblackness wherever we see it.

It's time for sensible conversation about anti-Black racism

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Reposted by Natalie Morris

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · Jul 22

Why is it controversial to suggest that anti-Black racism is different to other kinds of racism?

As @NMozz.bsky.social writes, in the days since Diane Abbott's (poorly worded) comments, we're reminded just how stark anti-Black racism is, especially for women.

Read more in today's newsletter ⬇️

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Natalie Morris @nmozz.bsky.social · Jul 22

All forms of racism are abhorrent, *and* they are experienced differently - for all sorts of reasons. Yet too often, attempts at honest discussion are derailed by a mental block that turns debate into a spiral of defensiveness

My latest for @theleaduk.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/theleadu...

From Diane Abbott, to racism at the Euros, to maternal healthcare failings – it has never been more important to call out antiblackness wherever we see it.

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Reposted by Natalie Morris

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · Jun 24

ANSWER OUR READER SURVEY🎙️

As we approach the first anniversary of Labour coming into power, we want to know what you think of this government.

Use our reader survey to tell us exactly how well you think Labour are doing. Use the ranking system and then add your comments. (Link below )

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Natalie Morris @nmozz.bsky.social · Jun 20

I really hope legalising assisted dying doesn't come at the cost of improving palliative care. We need both. It's a travesty that hospices are run as charities and not government funded. Everyone deserves to die with dignity and comfort - it is possible and necessary

Your first experience of death shatters your sense of safety... but this time around, nothing feels the same.

Natalie Morris @nmozz.bsky.social · Jun 11

Can grief unravel you twice? This month's newsletter is all about the second big loss of your life, and how it can feel different - quieter, flatter heavier...

open.substack.com/pub/nmozz/p/...

The second big loss

Forget the implosions across the Atlanic and Reform psychodramas - it's time to deliver for our children

Reposted by Natalie Morris

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · Jun 10

"Increasing free school meals is not the silver bullet that will eradicate child poverty, but it’s a starting point."

@nmozz.bsky.social‬ reflects on Labour's decision to extend free school meals to an extra half a million children.

national.thelead.uk/p/forget-the...

Plus: The latest from The Lead North team, Hannah Fearn on Farage's baby boom plans, our latest ReformWatch + The Lead Digest of good reads and listens

Acutely unsafe: Social housing tenants are still waiting to see what better means

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Natalie Morris @nmozz.bsky.social · May 31

Another baby has died after living in mouldy social housing. Akram was just 15 weeks old. His desperate parents reached out for help - nothing was done

A law to force landlords to act quickly on mould has been delayed. It won't be fully implemented until 2027:

open.substack.com/pub/theleadu...

Plus: Why Kier Starmer should worry less about Farage and more about himself, the latest ReformWatch, The Lead Digest, and our View from the North all in The Lead's weekend edition

Five years since George Floyd – we are going backwards on race

Natalie Morris @nmozz.bsky.social · May 26

It's half a decade since George Floyd was murdered. I can't remember the last time I heard a white person use the word 'ally'

open.substack.com/pub/theleadu...

PLUS: Our view on the Brexit reset deal, latest ReformWatch, new from The Lead North and the launch of The Lead Digest.

We won’t solve the social care crisis unless we start valuing caring professions

Natalie Morris @nmozz.bsky.social · Apr 8

Care workers have some of the most vital roles in a well functioning, empathetic and morally robust society, yet people in these jobs are underpaid, overworked and undervalued.

We won’t solve the social care crisis unless we start valuing caring professions:

national.thelead.uk/p/we-wont-so...

We are in the grip of a social care crisis – the impacts are felt by all of us. Nothing will change until carers feel valued and respected.

A motherless Mother's Day

Natalie Morris @nmozz.bsky.social · Mar 30

My first Mother's Day as a mum. My first without my mum. Wrote this one for all the motherless mothers today 🩷🩷🩷

open.substack.com/pub/nmozz/p/...

My first without my mum. My first as a mum.

Birth trauma: How maternity care is failing women

Natalie Morris @nmozz.bsky.social · Mar 20

"Black women are more likely to die as a result of childbirth than white women. Beliefs that Black bodies can endure more pain coexisting with contradictory views about Black and Brown bodies being defective result in more surveillance but less actual care."

national.thelead.uk/p/birth-trau...

Plus: The damaging myth of the 'perfect mother' + The Lead in conversation: "Everyone in society has a part to play in raising children"