Her Take by Laila Jean Yu Says

The UK’s Quiet Anti-Blackness & Racism — A Black Woman Speaks with Frankie

When people talk about racism, they usually point to America.But what about Britain?There’s a global narrative that the UK is more polite. More progressive. Less aggressive. But politeness has never dismantled a system.In this episode, I sit down with a Black woman born and raised in Manchester, who has also lived in London, to unpack what anti-Blackness actually looks like in Britain — in schools, in corporate spaces, in media, and in everyday life.We discuss:• Growing up Black in the UK• Race vs. class in British society• Workplace “politeness” and subtle exclusion• Media invisibility• Colonial history and denial• Anti-Blackness beyond white spaces• What empowerment looks like nowAnti-Blackness doesn’t always shout.Sometimes it whispers.Sometimes it smiles.This isn’t about comparison.It’s about clarity.This is Her Take — and we’re saying the quiet part out loud.

Why White Women Don’t Deserve ‘Say Her Name’

Say Her Name wasn’t created for white women. It was created to center Black women — women whose lives have been historically ignored, erased, and devalued. In this episode, I break down the recent media reaction to Renee Good’s death, explore why movements like ‘Say Her Name’ get co-opted, and call out the systemic hypocrisy that decides whose lives are mourned and whose are overlooked.This episode is bold, unapologetic, and reflective. I challenge you to examine your own awareness, confront uncomfortable truths, and ask yourself: whose names are you really saying — and why? If you care about justice, history, and accountability, this conversation is for you.”Clips featured in this episode:⁠https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSmxhskDV/⁠⁠https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSmxhgKyc/⁠

Black History Month Is Not White Comfort Month

Black History Month is not about comfort, guilt management, or performative kindness.In this episode, Laila unpacks how Black History Month often becomes a space where white people expect softness, reassurance, and emotional labor from Black people—while avoiding real accountability. From performative allyship to historical erasure, this conversation challenges the demand for palatable Black narratives and calls out the systems actively trying to sanitize and erase Black American history.This episode is not designed to soothe fragility.It’s designed to tell the truth.