I'm Mabin Azar. Thank you for downloading this podcast. I wanted to make this program

because as a student and more recently I considered myself and my politics as very much on the left. I was involved in things like the

the stop the war movement and lots of anti-racist campaigns when I was at

university but in recent years I think these debates and the left more generally has changed.

We now talk about cultural appropriation and the idea of safe spaces.

I wanted to explore these conversations that are going on online and at

universities. It's stuff that sometimes feels a bit alien to me. So this is

offense, power and progress. I hope you enjoy it.

So what are you playing me?

I'm putting on crooked room which is actually about being a black woman in society. things string chorus of noise.

Chardine Taylor Stone calls herself a cultural producer.

That's what would more traditionally be known as an activist.

She's also the drummer and singer of the Black Fem punk band Big Joni.

Earlier this year the band published a checklist online for venues who want to book them

it said that white people wearing anything that is not of their culture is offensive.

That includes dreadlocks, saris and bindi's, the forehead marking rooted in Hinduism.

The objective to create a safe space for the band in which the ills of cultural appropriation

are understood by the venue's staff and the audience.

I meet shardine at her flat in South London.

For me, cultural appropriation is about a misuse of power and it's about images and stereotypes.

Tell me about the examples that the band has dealt with.

I think the main story that I can think of is we were playing at gig in Bristol.

...