Jason Okundaye
@jaseokundaye.bsky.social
Assistant newsletter editor and writer at the Guardian
Pinned
Jason Okundaye
@jaseokundaye.bsky.social
· Feb 13
My book REVOLUTIONARY ACTS is released today in paperback with this beautiful new cover by Ajamu X. This is a social history of Black Britain’s gay communities, told through the generation who lived through Thatcher, AIDS and squats. Get yours 💚 linktr.ee/revolutionaryacts
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
‘Young people can come in and have life-changing moments’: Gus Casely-Hayford on V&A East, a new museum for Gen Z
‘Young people can come in and have life-changing moments’: Gus Casely-Hayford on V&A East, a new museum for Gen Z
The director wants London’s long-awaited institution to ignite creative passion in the Gen Z visitors it’s aimed at. As he unveils the building and its contents, can he pull it off?
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:44 AM
‘Young people can come in and have life-changing moments’: Gus Casely-Hayford on V&A East, a new museum for Gen Z
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
If the right really wants free speech in universities, why is it so obsessed with discrediting students? | Jason Okundaye
If the right really wants free speech in universities, why is it so obsessed with discrediting students? | Jason Okundaye
The media loves to manufacture outrage about what students get up to – and to discipline those who dare challenge conservatives, says Jason Okundaye, a Guardian assistant newsletter editor
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 11:21 AM
If the right really wants free speech in universities, why is it so obsessed with discrediting students? | Jason Okundaye
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
‘They said I didn’t belong here’: rap star Knucks on his uprooted childhood – and why he records bus conductors
‘They said I didn’t belong here’: rap star Knucks on his uprooted childhood – and why he records bus conductors
For the follow-up to his Mobo-winner Alpha Place, the UK rapper revisited Nigeria, drawing inspiration from bygone days of school bullies and washing his clothes by hand
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 9:12 AM
‘They said I didn’t belong here’: rap star Knucks on his uprooted childhood – and why he records bus conductors
My piece on the death of one nation conservatism and the rise of blatant racism for the Guardian www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
No shame, no opprobrium: racism is priced in now. Of all the right’s victories, this one has been critical | Jason Okundaye
In this age of Tory nativism and Faragist populism, the question isn’t ‘is this person a bigot?’ Now it is ‘does that matter at all?’ says Guardian writer Jason Okundaye
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 9:17 AM
My piece on the death of one nation conservatism and the rise of blatant racism for the Guardian www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
No shame, no opprobrium: racism is priced in now. Of all the right’s victories, this one has been critical | Jason Okundaye
No shame, no opprobrium: racism is priced in now. Of all the right’s victories, this one has been critical | Jason Okundaye
In this age of Tory nativism and Faragist populism, the question isn’t ‘is this person a bigot’? Now it is ‘does that matter at all?’ says Guardian writer Jason Okundaye
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 7:01 AM
No shame, no opprobrium: racism is priced in now. Of all the right’s victories, this one has been critical | Jason Okundaye
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
‘This is a west African story’: how modern art tackled Nigeria’s identity crisis
‘This is a west African story’: how modern art tackled Nigeria’s identity crisis
As the landmark Nigerian Modernism exhibition opens at the Tate, curator Osei Bonsu talks about the art in dialogue with ideas of nation-making
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2025 at 12:37 PM
‘This is a west African story’: how modern art tackled Nigeria’s identity crisis
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
I had to flee the US – as a foreign, Black, pro-Palestinian activist, I tick every box on Ice’s list | Amandla Thomas-Johnson
I had to flee the US – as a foreign, Black, pro-Palestinian activist, I tick every box on Ice’s list | Amandla Thomas-Johnson
I’ve never been accused of any crimes, let alone prosecuted. My experience sums-up the draconian plight of non-citizens in the US, says journalist Amandla Thomas-Johnson
www.theguardian.com
October 5, 2025 at 9:14 AM
I had to flee the US – as a foreign, Black, pro-Palestinian activist, I tick every box on Ice’s list | Amandla Thomas-Johnson
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
Farewell Amazon Fresh: the no tills thing was all a bit too awkward | Jason Okundaye
Farewell Amazon Fresh: the no tills thing was all a bit too awkward | Jason Okundaye
The ‘just walk out’ innovation promised frictionless shopping – but these days, maybe we all need a bit less tech in our lives, says assistant newsletter editor Jason Okundaye
www.theguardian.com
September 27, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Farewell Amazon Fresh: the no tills thing was all a bit too awkward | Jason Okundaye
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
Why I withdrew my book from an LGBTQ+ literary prize | Jason Okundaye
Why I withdrew my book from an LGBTQ+ literary prize | Jason Okundaye
The Polari first book prize claims to promote trans rights and trans voices. But when I saw the longlist, I had to act, says Guardian writer Jason Okundaye
www.theguardian.com
August 15, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Why I withdrew my book from an LGBTQ+ literary prize | Jason Okundaye
I wrote about the decision myself and other authors took to withdraw from the longlist of the Polari Book Prizes for LGBTQ+ writers www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Why I withdrew my book from an LGBTQ+ literary prize | Jason Okundaye
The Polari first book prize claims to promote trans rights and trans voices. But when I saw the longlist, I had to act, says Guardian writer Jason Okundaye
www.theguardian.com
August 15, 2025 at 3:49 PM
I wrote about the decision myself and other authors took to withdraw from the longlist of the Polari Book Prizes for LGBTQ+ writers www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
Harlem to Hebron: the long history of Black solidarity with Palestinians
Harlem to Hebron: the long history of Black solidarity with Palestinians
A mutual alliance between oppressed people has been revived with Israel’s full-scale invasion of Gaza
www.theguardian.com
August 13, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Harlem to Hebron: the long history of Black solidarity with Palestinians
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
‘Little England’ no more: what I learned on my first trip to the Caribbean
‘Little England’ no more: what I learned on my first trip to the Caribbean
From stilt-walking to queer inclusion, I came for Crop Over but left Barbados with a powerful education in the island’s heritage, history and future
www.theguardian.com
August 6, 2025 at 11:39 AM
‘Little England’ no more: what I learned on my first trip to the Caribbean
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
‘I have different weathers in my brain’: how Celeste rekindled her love of music after heartbreak and loss
‘I have different weathers in my brain’: how Celeste rekindled her love of music after heartbreak and loss
After a No 1 debut album, a Brit win and Mercury and Oscar nods, the pandemic and a devastating breakup paused the singer’s rising career. Now, she’s back with a new record and a newfound sense of peace
www.theguardian.com
August 1, 2025 at 4:43 AM
‘I have different weathers in my brain’: how Celeste rekindled her love of music after heartbreak and loss
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
The Diane Abbott row shows how impoverished Britain’s conversations about race have become | Jason Okundaye
The Diane Abbott row shows how impoverished Britain’s conversations about race have become | Jason Okundaye
We should be able to discuss the different ways in which minorities are racialised in a thoughtful – and sometimes confronting – way, says Guardian writer Jason Okundaye
www.theguardian.com
July 18, 2025 at 7:14 PM
The Diane Abbott row shows how impoverished Britain’s conversations about race have become | Jason Okundaye
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
Wireless festival review – Drake’s disjointed three-night headline run smacks of desperation
Wireless festival review – Drake’s disjointed three-night headline run smacks of desperation
An all-star lineup of supporting turns – including, astonishingly, Lauryn Hill – show up to bolster the beleaguered megastar, but this is a very scrappy affair
www.theguardian.com
July 14, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Wireless festival review – Drake’s disjointed three-night headline run smacks of desperation
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
I wrote off Glastonbury as a ‘white’ festival – until I finally went
I wrote off Glastonbury as a ‘white’ festival – until I finally went
Camping, fogey rock acts and a lack of diversity meant I once ignored Glasto. But visiting Worthy Farm for a second year was like returning home
www.theguardian.com
July 2, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I wrote off Glastonbury as a ‘white’ festival – until I finally went
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
When did ‘feminist critique’ of celebrities become nothing more than a snide telling-off? | Jennifer Jasmine White
When did ‘feminist critique’ of celebrities become nothing more than a snide telling-off? | Jennifer Jasmine White
Those delivering paternalistic lectures to Sabrina Carpenter, Addison Rae and Sydney Sweeney would do well to revisit recent history, says writer Jennifer Jasmine White
www.theguardian.com
June 21, 2025 at 8:52 AM
When did ‘feminist critique’ of celebrities become nothing more than a snide telling-off? | Jennifer Jasmine White
Very pleased that my book Revolutionary Acts has won the Somerset Maugham Award. Thanks to the Society of Authors and congratulations to my co-winners.
June 18, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Very pleased that my book Revolutionary Acts has won the Somerset Maugham Award. Thanks to the Society of Authors and congratulations to my co-winners.
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
We in the cultural sector must stand up to Trump’s attacks – if not now, when? | Gus Casely-Hayford
We in the cultural sector must stand up to Trump’s attacks – if not now, when? | Gus Casely-Hayford
My former colleagues at the Smithsonian face unprecedented attack. I urge them to defend their principles, says Gus Casely-Hayford, the director of London’s V&A East
www.theguardian.com
June 4, 2025 at 4:01 PM
We in the cultural sector must stand up to Trump’s attacks – if not now, when? | Gus Casely-Hayford
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
I told the truth about the West Bank and was threatened and assaulted. Now I'm relying on you to act | Issa Amro
I told the truth about the West Bank and was threatened and assaulted. Now I'm relying on you to act | Issa Amro
Our lives are blighted by illegal settlements, and Israel has just approved 22 more. Without concrete action, we will be erased, says Palestinian human rights defender Issa Amro
www.theguardian.com
June 3, 2025 at 4:49 AM
I told the truth about the West Bank and was threatened and assaulted. Now I'm relying on you to act | Issa Amro
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
Was the Black Lives Matter rebellion all for nothing? It may feel like that, but I have seen reasons for hope | Jason Okundaye
Was the Black Lives Matter rebellion all for nothing? It may feel like that, but I have seen reasons for hope | Jason Okundaye
It is easy to look back at 2020 and feel aggrieved, even fooled. But in the British city where slaver Edward Colston’s statue was pulled down, I found cause for optimism, says Guardian writer Jason Okundaye
www.theguardian.com
May 24, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Was the Black Lives Matter rebellion all for nothing? It may feel like that, but I have seen reasons for hope | Jason Okundaye
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
Britain has dropped down Europe’s LGBTQ+ rights rankings. Good – now we might have to face reality | Jason Okundaye
Britain has dropped down Europe’s LGBTQ+ rights rankings. Good – now we might have to face reality | Jason Okundaye
In 2015, the UK placed first on the rainbow map. But even then, as an 18-year-old gay man, I knew that wasn’t the whole story, says Guardian writer Jason Okundaye
www.theguardian.com
May 17, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Britain has dropped down Europe’s LGBTQ+ rights rankings. Good – now we might have to face reality | Jason Okundaye
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
If you were shocked by my film on Israeli settlers in the West Bank, you haven’t been paying attention | Louis Theroux
If you were shocked by my film on Israeli settlers in the West Bank, you haven’t been paying attention | Louis Theroux
The response to The Settlers has been humbling. But the ongoing displacement and intimidation of Palestinians is more severe than we could capture, says documentary presenter Louis Theroux
www.theguardian.com
May 10, 2025 at 6:26 AM
If you were shocked by my film on Israeli settlers in the West Bank, you haven’t been paying attention | Louis Theroux
Reposted by Jason Okundaye
Black models, foreign films, queer culture – how the Face shaped me as a young man | Marc Thompson
Black models, foreign films, queer culture – how the Face shaped me as a young man | Marc Thompson
In the 1980s and 90s this pioneering magazine was a hub for subcultures, but in today’s digital landscape trends are followed rather than set, says queer archivist Marc Thompson
www.theguardian.com
March 1, 2025 at 5:26 AM
Black models, foreign films, queer culture – how the Face shaped me as a young man | Marc Thompson
