Di Tree of Wi

This week’s episode will take us through one of the most contentious issues both within the black community and externally. Black women’s hair. We have seen recently that France’s lower house of parliament has backed a bill banning discrimination based on hairstyle, colour or texture, in a “historic” move supporters say will help penalise workplace discrimination. In the US, at least 23 states have passed legislation aimed at protecting people from hair discrimination. And in the UK, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has issued guidelines against hair discrimination in schools. Black hair has a rich history, symbolizing both empowerment and individuality as well as survival and resistance for men and women. Hair was a sacred tool of communication in ancient African societies. Hair is an undeniable form of self-expression — a way to communicate to the world a part of your identity. But living in a culture steeped in systemic racism and sexism, hair can also be a catalyst for judgment and prejudice.“Hair matters — and it matters to all of us — because it is a form of non-verbal communication,” says social and cultural psychologist Johanna Lukate, Ph.D.During the 1950s and 1960s, natural Black hairstyles such as the Afro, became a pivotal part of the Black liberation movement and a symbol of the growing resistance in a racist America.  So, the Black Afros that we associate with people such as Angela Davis and the Black Panthers of the civil rights movement really became a symbol of resistance."Black women's hair is intentional, and limitless, and historical, and influential, and deeply political in a world often incapable of recognising the depths of its wonder. We also explore our own hair journey and memories, including body hair.

Is there a Rise in the number of Black women who are single? This is part 2 of our discussions around love and dating for black women. The last episode we looked at the world of navigating dating, especially in your mature/fine years. The challenges, opportunities, and just how that whole landscape has changed. This episode Di Tree Of Wi looks at the potential fallout of that landscape, how it impacts black women, and is this contributing to the talk of the increase in the number of single black women. For the first time on record, the number of people who are married has dropped below 50 per cent in England and Wales.    Going to the chapel and we’re… not gonna get married, as it turns out. That’s because, for the first time on record, the percentage of over-16s in England and Wales who are wed or in a civil partnership has fallen below 50 per cent, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates for 2022. The figure had dropped to 49.4 per cent from 51.2 per cent a decade previously. It’s the latest stat proving the fact that marriage is on the decline. And not just in the UK – it’s a trend that’s happening in countries all over the world. Almost 90 per cent of the world’s population now live in countries with falling marriage rates; in the US, marriage has decreased by 60 per cent since the 1970s. The far-reaching tentacles of oppression via the transatlantic slave trade, chattel slavery, and mass incarceration have depleted the Black male marriage market. Meanwhile, what’s left of the market is further complicated by colorism and beauty hierarchies, leaving heterosexual Black women who desire to be married to a Black man, single for far longer than they intend. It is one thing for a Black woman to choose singleness—which is their prerogative; not everyone desires marriage. It is another thing entirely to desire marriage and to have your agency with regard to your marital status stripped away from you due to mechanisms of oppression that have been in motion for hundreds of years. What are the factors that maybe contributing to single black female? The discussions around the lack of available men Colourism is this a factor? Stereotypes  Desirability Di Tree Of Wi also discuss feedback from some of our listeners and friends on their thoughts on the Rise of the single black female and the contributing factors.

⁠#Sowillwe⁠ Hundreds of people took part in a community rally in support of Hackney and Stoke-Newington MP Diane Abbott. There were people there from a range of community organisations and speakers who turned up and out in solidarity at the Hackney rally.  We were so glad to see a truly awesome effort in support of Diane Abbott. More events in Enfield and Edmonton will continue to show solidarity for Britain’s longest-serving black MP. It seems to have given Ms. Abbott a lift, and now she can see the support and admiration for the work she has done and continues to do for many years. Ms. Abbott had the Labour whip suspended after comments she made suggesting Jewish, Irish, and Traveller people are not subject to racism ‘all their lives'. Frank Hester, who also happens to be the largest donor to the Conservative Party ever, was discovered by the Guardian in March 2024 to have declared that Diane Abbott "should be shot" and that her appearance made him "want to hate all Black women." Kemi Badenoch demanded that he should be "forgiven". Sausage maker, Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, stated that, just because someone says something racist, it doesn't mean that they are themselves racist. Di Tree of Wi share their thoughts on Ms. Abbott as a role model for generations and why calling out racists and racism has become so easy to deny and downplay because so much has been invested in relegating it to the past.

The world of dating has changed beyond recognition. Stats show that all types of women over 50 are the fastest growing sector of the online dating market. We’re now in the age of confident, successful, intelligent, and fun women over 50 who know what they are about and are not afraid to say it. Some have great success, whilst others have had traumatising experiences. Where do we start when we’re over 50 and still fabulous! Are we too fearful, too fastidious, or simply more discerning? What about our fantasies - have our wants, needs, and desires changed over the years? Di Tree of Wi chat about navigating this landscape, how to spot the signs of interest, the hard work of online dating, or whether we’re happily single and would rather have a cup of tea!

In this episode, Di Tree Of Wi tackles comedy. The traditions of humour carried with enslaved people from Africa helped shape the comic sensibilities found in different forms across the diaspora cultures. From the Chitlin' Circuit to Netflix, black comedians have always blended laughs with tragedy. There is a long history of humour in the Caribbean, with numerous Raconteurs, Contrarians, Vulgarians, and social commentators. With the abolition of slavery, a Jamaican theatrical style began to emerge with public performances that blended music, drama, and comedy. It took several years; however, it was not until 1941 that Greta Fowler founded the Little Theatre Movement (LTM). Many writers and actors graced the stage of the LTM with their creations and artistic abilities. One of the most outstanding among them is Miss Lou (Louise Bennett-Coverly), not Maas Ran (Randolph Samuel Williams), for they were a celebrated duo. Trinidadian Paul Kenn-Douglas gave us Tantie Merle. The piece Tantie at de Oval’’ reflects Caribbean culture with the sport of cricket. It transcends age, gender, and race. Black American humour began as a wrested freedom—the freedom to laugh at that which was unjust and cruel in order to create distance from what would otherwise obliterate a sense of self and community. —Glenda R. Carpio Glenda R. Carpio, "Laughing Fit to Kill: Black Humour in the Fictions of Slavery." We discuss the nature of our humour, its relevance in society—and why sometimes you just need a good joke to cleanse the palate!

There is a worrying trend that appears to be on the rise in conjunction with the seeming attack on EDI. We have seen that Harvard University's first Black president had resigned following a firestorm of criticism including backlash for how she has handled antisemitism on campus and accusations of plagiarism in her academic work. Dr. Claudine Gay’s experience is not unlike that of other prominent Black women leaders; there’s a disturbing trend where Black women are promoted and elevated into leadership positions and despite how qualified they are, they experience hyper-scrutiny once they take on the position. The attack isn’t new. Vice President Kamala Harris has been attacked as a “DEI hire.” Right-wing culture warrior podcaster Jordan Peterson called Biden White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, “some random diversity hire chick.” We also discuss the “Pet to Threat” which explain racist behaviours by leaders in organisations that adversely affects the career trajectory experiences of Black women in the workplace. So why are people so threatened by DEI? And why would a prominent, politically active, ultra-wealthy financier use their considerable platform to take specific aim at accomplished Black women? A special mention to Prof Antoinette “Bonnie” Candia-Bailey, who was the vice president of student affairs, took her own life on 08/01/24 in Illinois. She wrote a dissertation titled “My Sister, Myself: The Identification of Sociocultural Factors that Affect the Advancement of African-American Women into Senior-Level Administrative Positions.”

The Di of Wi explore their DNA journey’s as Caribbean women and what this means to their sense of identity. How they respond to the question ‘where are you from’ and why discovering genetic and ancestral roots is important for people of the African Diaspora. Critically the deliberate obfuscation of the origins and lives of enslaved peoples has made it difficult and sometimes impossible to trace our roots and ancestry. Di Tree of Wi talk about our DNA results, their family’s journeys, the stories they were told about ancestors and how this affects how they feel about themselves. How important is it to know your roots? We also discuss the recent landmark study article in The independent which states that almost half of young Black Britons plan to migrate amid racism concerns, how do our young people see their own identity and where they belong? What is it like for us in Britain vs our parents, and the changing faces of migration.

Di Tree of Wi, take a reflective view of 2023, covering the state of UK politics, the atrocities of war and the persistent inequalities that still prevails. A satirical trip down memory lane remembering the Christmas period when we were growing up.   Our own personal reflections of the best bits and low bits for the last year and the opportunities from the Tree of Wisdom for 2024. Thank you for all the support and here's wishing you all a Happy New Year 2024!

'The Empire Must Pay Back' £18 trillion, argue campaigners following a historic analysis assessing the true cost of slavery. Academics from the University of the West Indies calculated the amount owed to the Caribbean and the Americas. The Brattle Report considers the loss of liberty, foregone wages, hardship, mental suffering, and anguish experienced during slavery. To the delight of the British government, the payback of £2.6 billion to former slave-owning families and institutions for historical debts dating back more than three centuries was completed in 2015. This means we, our grandparents and parents, paid for it with our taxes. So, what do reparations mean to you? To some, atonement and recompense for wrongs committed in the past. To some, it means acknowledgment—an acknowledgment of the truth of the wrong that was done to us. Should it end with us, our children, and the children yet to be born? Should this become our legacy? https://www.gov.uk/government/news/repayment-of-26-billion-historical-debt-to-be-completed-by-government

This episode focuses on what is the Black woman’s experience in the world of media, both on a local and national level? Exploring personal, first-hand lived experience of this sector, including misogynoir, bullying, intimidation, and abuse. A two-year journey for the fight for justice and the truth. How we are seen and treated, especially by members of our community. Cultural aspects of our community coming into the boardroom. We need to call this behaviour out and stop protecting the rotten fruit, who are in disguise and pretence of the community but are only there to serve themselves. Follow us on Instagram Di_tree_of_wi

Calmly exploring the modern phenomenon of so-called 'Karens'. Whats happened to rational, respectful behaviour and communication? This episode we look at the seemingly growing trend of disproportionate, emotional, irrational responses to situations and each other. The dominance of social media platforms, negative mainstream media and shrinking resources in a post pandemic world, how do we maintain healthy minds, bodies and souls?

As we know the month of October is marked as Black History Month and this year’s theme is saluting our sisters.  In this episode, we salute and get to know a little more about the three San's behind the 'Di Tree of Wi'.  We acknowledge the contributions made by Black inventors whose inventions are part of everyday life, but never taught in schools or given the credit they are due. Research shows that Caribbean women are more likely to receive a late-stage cancer diagnosis than White women when treatment is less likely to be successful.  October is also breast cancer awareness month, we discuss Sandra Gordon's journey through breast cancer and our experiences of cancer in the community. 

Di Tree Of Wi share our own experiences of working life. We discuss the challenges we have faced and the tools we have inherited in order to create a new, more just future for Black women in the workplace. Black women are brilliant, ambitious, qualified. But we’re not treated as such. We survive workplace structures and cultures that were not built for us, that are stacked against us, which is made clear in many implicit and explicit ways —through pay, mentorship and sponsorship gaps, performance and promotion bias, daily microaggressions, and discrimination. In order to change that we need to create strategies that centre Black women, designed by Black women which hold organisations accountable to Black women. https://everylevelleads.com/

Di Tree Of Wi - Give their thoughts on the viral video of the incident from Peckham Hair and Cosmetics on Rye Lane in London. The video, which has been viewed over a million times, appears to show a Black woman inside the shop being grabbed by a much larger Asian man while she requests police intervention. Multi-ethnic consumers have a £4.5 billion annual disposable income, with £2.7 billion of that spent on hair and beauty. Black Pound Report https://www.backlight.uk/ Soundtrack https://soundcloud.com/itsofficiallysisanda

Sandra Gordon, Sandra Meadows MBE, and Sandra Green are the three hosts of 'Di Tree of Wi'. The best podcasts for women that explores black women's experiences, intimate female desire, riveting conversations about expressing ourselves freely and embracing who we are, and growing up as children of the Windrush Generation in the United Kingdom. A satirical magazine show with bracing, loose-lipped chat plus the odd interview with other inspiring women.