#MeToo in Iran, Lizzo’s NPR tiny desk concert, NYC-based writer at The Root

Elsa Majimbo is a Kenyan comedian and she's taking over social media by providing some much needed relief amid lockdowns. She first went viral after posting a video about her experience in isolation back in March: "Ever since corona started, we've all been in isolation, and I like, miss no one," she said, laughing and eating potato chips. (spoiler alert: the chips have now become a consistent trend in her videos...and we love it)

In a beautiful and uplifting digital comic, cartoonist Christine Mi discusses the hardships she has faces with the pandemic and the little pockets of hope she has found. While describing an encounter she had with a stranger who called her attention to the “fluorescent” leaves of a tree, she thinks about the impact of the current situation and “if this interaction might have happened in our previous lives. Between commutes, coffee runs, deadlines, would we have paid as much attention to the million leaves unfurling above our heads?”

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is a 21-year-old British student with a million-dollar book deal. The author says she was ‘just a broke student writing to make myself some fictional friends’ in her debut Ace of Spades, about two black students navigating racism at an elite school. 

What springs to mind when you think of the word “goddess”? Divine feminine energy? Mother Earth? Ancient Greek women wafting around in white dresses causing mischief? A new book You Goddess! explores how goddesses have been approached in fiction, sometimes revelling in the divine spotlight and sometimes in more background roles. Here are 10 of the top goddesses in fiction. 

Kate Winslet's powerful love story Ammonite debuts at the Toronto Film Festival this week, and in a new interview shares her thoughts on the industry and personal reflections on her decisions: “What the fuck was I doing working with Woody Allen and Roman Polanski?”

“Fundamental. Gender Justice. No Exceptions” is a film series directed by the accomplished Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy focusing on the work of gender justice activists from Brazil, Kenya, Pakistan, Georgia, and the United States. The films highlight the hard work and passion of each activist as they fight for equality, justice, and improved rights for themselves and others like them.

Some of the best 2020 all-female rap collaborations.

Meet @sasamana1204, the Japanese artist creating intricate toast art during lockdown: “I use to spend an hour and a half commuting to work, but working from home led me to wake up late and get lazy. I wanted to get up early in the morning and create a morning routine that would excite me. That's when I started the toast art for breakfast.”

Step away from your usual Spotify playlists this week and save Lizzo's NPR Tiny Desk Concert – we can't promise you won't be distracted from work by her amazing concert, but it's worth it.

Beyoncé honors her culture and heritage and actively promotes the creativity of Black communities and creators, often using her platform and prestige to highlight the work and artistry of Black creators. Her new Black-Owned Everything initiative is another example of her dedication; her website now features a directory of Black owned businesses both in the US and around the world.