This week has been tough. I had planned to do the Yes edition, which similarly to the Shonda Rhymes’ book, The Year of Yes, I would say yes to more things that bring me joy.
However, I’ve been exposed to a particularly heavy news cycle. A lot is going on in the world that will bring even the strongest of people down.
That led me to try and find stories of triumph that highlight the fact that despite the challenges there are plenty of bright spots…
TRIUMPH OVER SCARCITY: AUNTY HENRIETTA CREATES HER OWN FOOD BANK
So know that when I call her Aunty it’s a cultural thing rather than us being related as I’m a child of African parents. Anyway, originally covered by BBC London Aunty Henrietta set up a food bank on her own where her local church could no longer sustain one. At first, she was self-funding but, over time, word has spread and people have started donating.
It’s such a simple thing yet not everyone can or would take the initiative to do so. As she says the more you do for others the more that comes back. The fact that Aunty Harrietta is doing our government’s job though makes me a little sour. At a time when everyone from local travel to supermarkets is finding dexterous ways to extract our pennies, it was heartening to see Aunty Henrietta being recognised positively.
TRIUMPH OVER TRASH: YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR MAKES TRAINERS OUT OF TRASH
Introducing Thaely’s, a shoe created by Ashay Bhave that uses recycled plastic bags and bottles to make trainers.
The brand – based in India – is utilising a resource that affects a lot of the globe: an abundance of dumped plastic waste.
They use the plastic to create their own type of ‘fabric’ and in a further move to be sustainable, the box the shoes come in can be planted in the ground as it has seeds built into it. The sneakers are currently $80 – just over £60 quid a pair.
I absolutely LOVE stories like this. What never makes sense to me is why these innovations don’t seem to be in the mainstream or adopted more widely.
Business Insider covers a similar story of a fabric called Pinatex which is a leather-like material made from pineapple skin.
These types of stories always make me wish I was doing more in the world. Fashion that serves humanity? Amazing.
TRIUMPH OVER EXCLUSION: DAWN BUTLER MP STANDS IN HER TRUTH
Dawn Butler has always given me a ‘cool, about her business, will have fun with you but don’t cross her, sister’ vibe.
The Guardian recently interviewed her as she prepares to release her autobiography A Purposeful Life this coming week (August 24).
Dawn is one of about a dozen Black female MPs in Parliament. A far cry from 1987 when Diane Abbott became the first Black female member of Parliament.
Unfortunately, Dawn would experience the same challenges in the workplace that Diane did (and still does) despite their elections decades apart. From other (white) female MPs working to oust Dawn from her position as Women and Equalities Committee Chair to having to run three times before she managed to secure a parliamentary seat to having the sheer bravery to say what we all knew and do what no one else was prepared to: call Boris Johnson out on his lies, Dawn is the embodiment of the Black female experience in this country.
I’ve pre-ordered the book on Audible partly in solidarity with Dawn – when one wins, we all do. Looking forward to learning about her journey and perspective.
AND ON THAT NOTE
An artist in Nigeria was profiled on CNN for making art infused with augmented reality.
Artist Ife Olowu creates beautiful canvas-based art but when scanned they become interactive pieces. These stories must be shared to break the ignorance around the continent.
