This is a new year. But a new digit on a date can herald no real change when it starts, as it has here in Ireland with a Black man named George (Nkencho) being gunned down by armed police in Dublin, in front of his family. When we see on…

In the lead up to 2020 Summer Solstice, what clutter did you throw out? What has for so long shouted, ‘I am essential to your life, your happiness, your wellbeing, your place and value in the world’ and in the end has not been needed? What changes will you create…

‘That’s such an unusual name, where does it come from?’ And other polite ways people ask — ‘what sort of black are you?’ Well now that you ask, Let’s consider. A name Is a peculiar thing Not a thing you choose Chosen for you. Not a thing you will use, As much as it is used To command you Into forms and official boxes of Acceptable identification. An appellation for Adoration Anointment To shame, mock, tease.

Mixed Race Mamma The first act of harm I will (unwillingly) Inflict On any sweet, Immaculate, Child of mine Is giving it Life. In a world that will abominate The simple complexity, Of its mixed up, Miscegenated, existence Boats, Borders, Boxes… (ticked, packed, buried in) Where do we go? Sweet unwanted (desperately wanted) child of mine? Where do we live, That I do not bequeath you these hurts? Originally published at https://shivarjoyce.com on April 4, 2020.

A Review of Experiences at the Paisley Book Festival I am a writer in search of eclectic literature spaces that challenge the ‘stale’ and cultivate something of benefit to society. Otherwise what is the point? Sometimes travelling to places off the beaten track can yield the most enlightening experiences and the Paisley Book Festival was a recent exemplar. Committed…

Ahhh February: hearts, cards and roses quickly replace festive holiday merchandise — and we are expected to collectively leap into LOVE. LOVE is all around us. All you need is LOVE. LOVE lifts us up… da da da… The ever-elusive grand romantic gesture is everywhere being scurried around for —…

‘She was one of those black mothers, unwilling to either seek or accept help from others. Unwilling to suffer any small blow to her sense of independence or her vision of eventual arrival. And so if a job suddenly arose in some distant part of the city but held the…

In my first experiences in Ireland, I didn’t perceive the issues I faced as deriving from discrimination; I didn’t want to believe a country with such a history of colonial oppression could enable and endorse such attitudes. It took a while to unpack the subtle nature and shape of the…

The scene is the reception lounge in the Metropole Hotel in Cork, people are heading out for early dinner because there’s theatre performances to get to and the rugby is on. We’re sitting on the lounges near the reception desk having a coffee, my back is to the lobby entrance…