Di Tree of Wi

Season 2 - Episode 1 Black women’s hair

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 [https://www.history.com/news/black-power-movement-civil-rights] 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.

Episode 13 - The Rise of the single black woman

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 [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/married-divorce-stats-uk-latest-b2485048.html], 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 [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/marriage-rate-uk-latest-figures-lowest-record-ons-a9464706.html]. 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 [https://www.cnbc.com/video/2023/07/19/why-are-people-not-getting-married-anymore.html]; 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.

Episode 12 - The Abbott Effect

⁠#Sowillwe⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/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.

Episode 11 - Navigating the world of mature dating!

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!

Episode 10 - Make Em Laugh!

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!