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An Update From Sharon - October 2025

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Anti-Racism Reading List September 2025

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

In this month's edition of the reading list, the articles cover language being used both to foster belonging and to hide the workings of the hegemony, as well as more nuanced approaches to justice and degrowth. Some articles look at restorative justice and there's also some education around colonialism and history. Ready to dive in?

1. The small ways in which you can show others they belong by Sadia Siddiqui, Language Matters Memo

You won't be surprised that I love...

Done Being Less - SARN Minis #73

Done Being Less - SARN Minis #73 Transcript

Hi, I'm Sharon Hurley Hall. Welcome to the Sharon's Anti-Racism Newsletter podcast, SARN Minis.

I wrote this a while back but it never made it into the newsletter at the time. I've since realised that these experiences are still happening so I've decided to share it now.

While some people are positive when I talk about anti-racism, there are always a few who choose to go in the other direction. Here's an example:

Subscribe to SARN Supporter to read the re...

REBOOT: Black Joy: The Sisterhood

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

It’s time for this month’s article from the archives. Since it seems to me that we need joy more than ever, I chose this one about Black Joy and sisterhood. I’ve made a few minor tweaks, but most of it is as originally written.

Black Joy: The Sisterhood

If you read the work of any anti-racism writer or activist, you’d be tempted to think that being racialised as Black is all about trauma. In highlighting the clear and present dangers that racism imposes on those exi...

Review: An African History of Africa by Zeinab Badawi

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

An African History of Africa is a book that should be on everyone's bookshelf. As author Zeinab Badawi points out, everyone - humans - originated in Africa so it's a history for everyone.

The subtitle of the book is "From the dawn of humanity to independence", and the book delivers, touching on events happening on the African continent across millennia through 17 impactful chapters. The rise and fall of kingdoms and dynasties, the importance of location to prosperi...

Building Our Own Table: Dionne Payn

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

I love a bit of serendipity in the morning, don’t you? I was on LinkedIn a while back when I got a message from Dionne Payn. Within a short time we’d arranged a call, and it was as if we’d known each other for ages. I knew then that I wanted to bring her venture to empower women and end homelessness to the fore, even more so because we don’t often get to hear what Black entrepreneurs are doing in Australia. Please meet Dionne…

Dionne, tell me briefly about your ba...

Saviourism, Storytelling and the Glass Cliff in DEI

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

Earlier this year I did a presentation to some students who were hoping to advocate for DEI as part of their roles in the medical profession. As part of that, I answered several questions. Here are some of my responses.

Pitfalls for Black people in DEI Work

Black people being placed in the forefront of DEI work, in some cases, plays into the mammy stereotype, that idea that Black people are there to be of service. And it also puts Black people in the frame if things...

Zero Is The Best Number - SARN Minis #72

Zero Is The Best Number - SARN Minis #72Transcript

Hi, I'm Sharon Hurley Hall. Welcome to the Sharon's Anti-Racism Newsletter podcast, SARN Minis.

The ideal number of times to hear the N word is zero.

Sadly, the number of times I've heard it in multiple languages is much more than zero.

The ideal number of times to read the N word is also zero.

The number of times I've read it, from both people who've signed up to this anti-racism newsletter to deliver hate and from others is much more than zero.

The ...

REBOOT: Teaching the N-word

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

I’m on the road for much of this month, so you’re getting a bonus reboot article.

I was sitting in a beach bar the other day, when all of a sudden some rap music blared over the sound system. Though the person playing the music had attempted to use the non-explicit version, that wasn’t the version I heard. It was pretty uncomfortable hearing the N-word multiple times in succession while surrounded by a crowd largely racialised as white before the song ended and th...

"Why Don't You Want to Work for a Black Publication?"

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

It's funny how time gives you perspective. For example, in a podcast interview earlier this year, I talked about a job I held as an editor for a national organisation in the UK. In the main, I've always thought of it as a pretty positive experience, but even then I realised there were days when I experienced microaggressions and racism, so was it really that positive?

Perhaps I should have known when a member of the interview panel for that job asked me the questio...