“Why Black Lives Matter Resonates With Black People All Over The World: An Open Letter to Australians” by Claudia Chinyere Akole
For Claudia, the discourse surrounding the murder of George Floyd was hard to stomach. The responses of white Australian media pundits were nauseating, and the social media takes from well-meaning acquaintances left her feeling all the more alienated.
In this extended episode of All The Best she explores global Black Solidarity and compares ongoing Bla(c)k Civil Rights movements in the USA and Australia.
Content warning: Anti-Black Racism, Police Brutality, Racial Slurs, Suicide Mentions, Slavery, Distressing Imagery
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this work contains images and names of people who have died.
Written and performed by: Claudia Chinyere Akole
Producer: Ryan Pemberton
Music: “Arlan Vale”, “Levanger”, and “Vulcan Street” by Blue Dot Sessions.
Claudia Chinyere Akole is an exhibiting artist, freelance illustrator, cartoonist, designer, animator, and educator based in Sydney, Australia (unceded lands of the Gadigal and Wangal Peoples of the Eora Nation). She works as a graphic designer in TV broadcast, as a freelance illustrator, and creates comics and illustrations in her personal practice. She’s an art hag who bleeds pink.
“Why Black Lives Matter Resonates With Black People All Over The World: An Open Letter to Australians” is a comic originally published digitally on Going Down Swinging in August 2020. Charity zines are available for purchase here. Profits are split between the Aboriginal Legal Service (AU: NSW/ACT) and 71 US-based bail funds, mutual aid funds, and activist organizations via ActBlue (USA).
Sample images from the zine:
All The Best credits:
Executive Producer: Ryan Pemberton
Victorian State Coordinator: Mell Chun
Host: Maddy Macquine
Episode mix and compile: Ryan Pemberton
Community Coordinators: Chloe Gillespie and Danni Stewart
SYN Community Coordinator: Lee Robinson
Social Media Producers: Matilda Fay and Angela Moran