Thank you for joining us on our debut episode! We are delighted to be talking to Melanie Onovo, the founder of The Truth of the Matter, an incredible educational resource that platforms the voices of marginalised communities to foster anti-racist ally-ship. Melanie is currently studying History and Politics at Oxford University, and has also made significant political and sporting contributions to the student community. Today Melanie talks to us about how supported she felt to apply to Oxford during her A-levels as a talented black woman from one of the most impoverished areas of the UK. Sadly, this could never prepare her for the subsequent racial abuse that she suffered while studying here, and the devastating effects this has had on her mental health. Though parts of Melanie's story are distressing to hear, ultimately Melanie uses her traumatic experiences to educate, inspire, and empower. 

TW: racial abuse, mental health, depression, bipolar disorder. 

Socials

Engage with Oxford Feminist Society on Facebook/ oxfemsoc on Instagram and our website https://oxfemsoc.wixsite.com/website. 

Resources

The Truth Of The Matter (youtube channel), _thetruthofthematter_ instagram handle

The Good Ancestor podcast

Dual Lives by Abigail Allan, accessed through commonground-oxford.com

Credits

Hosts: Kate Murnane, Ruth Thrush

Cover art: Ruth Thrush

Editing: Timea Iliffe

Music: Hannah Louise Siddiqui

Sounds (all sourced from freesound.org): pouring a drink in a cup (Ccj125), kettle boiling (Aliedsvwyk), more Jazz guitar (Sub-d)