Crishet - Chair for Critical Studies in Higher Education Transformation

This National Women’s Month, we’re sitting with a question that lives closer to home than we’d like to admit: why do so many women still reach for lightness?

One of the most intimate legacies of colonialism is colourism, the privileging of lighter skin within a racial group. And women are on the receiving end.

Lightness has long been marketed as capital, the currency of beauty, belonging and opportunity, from the “beauty queue” to the multi-billion-dollar skin-lightening industry.

But the story doesn’t end there. The women of the Black Consciousness Movement threw out their skin-lighteners and declared Black is Beautiful.

We’re proud to introduce Simran, our newest colleague, whose research refuses to let us look away from this history 💛

Conversations, collaborations, and a few memorable stops along the way. 🇬🇧

During her recent UK visit, Dr Jenny Du Preez connected with colleagues and partners at Queen’s University Belfast, the University of Galway, Oxford University, the University of Bristol, and the University of Bath, strengthening relationships and exploring new opportunities for collaboration.

This carousel captures some of the moments that shaped the journey, both inside and outside the meeting rooms.

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Soweto Uprising. Let’s talk student activism burnout and keeping momentum.

Freedom Day

Staging History. Tracing voices. Holding space.

On 14 March 2026, CriSHET’s Madibaz Reading Group and Experiential Writing Space collaborated with Eastern Cape poets, the Bay Creative Writing Development Project and Imbizo Arts at Nelson Mandela University’s Concert Hall for Staging History: Tracing East Cape Poetry.

Filled with writers, thinkers, artists, and community, the room embodied honesty, curiosity, and dedication. Unathi Slasha’s keynote address anchored the day in history and significance. We explored Eastern Cape poetry’s roots and shared unfinished works.

Browse this photo dump. Gratitude to all who contributed their words, time, and energy.

The journey has just started.