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Invisible girls can’t see themselves A common piece of literary advice is, "if you can’t find the story you want to read, write it". Two years ago, when I couldn’t find stories of contemporary queer African women coming into their own, I took this advice.

This personal essay was my way of reminding myself and others that African women who love women exist, and that our stories are so much more than just the forces that try to erase us.

OluTimehin, Othering correspondent Medium: ‘There they are, those girls’ (reading time: 14 minutes)
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What do we do with videos of police brutality? We shouldn’t need to see and share videos of black people being murdered to be outraged. As Kemi Alemoru writes: "Footage of brutality is a powerful weapon, but as much as it brings publicity to a case it also brings a lot of pain. As such it should be handled with care." This essay delves deeply into how the sphere of social media has responded to the tragic killings of African-Americans.

After the video of George Floyd, a black man, being murdered by a white police officer in the US, was widely shared this week, this piece is more relevant than ever. It asks critical questions about the need to share injustices on social media. There’s no easy answer: these videos mobilise some but traumatise others. This is a timely and essential read that raises as many questions as it answers – and I mean that in the best possible way.

Sabrina, editorial assistant Gal-dem: ‘What should we do with videos of police brutality?’ (reading time: 12 minutes)
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Fitbit life This is an old essay by David Sedaris from 2014, but I reread it the other day and immediately recharged my Fitbit, which I hadn’t used since ... last time I became obsessed with step counting. Living the Fitbit life is not about walking – it’s about walking more, and more, and more.

Imogen, engagement editor The New Yorker: ‘Stepping out’ (reading time: 20 minutes)

The best of The Correspondent

Why US Americans always end up with a president who is less progressive than they are The majority of people in the US are progressive on the big issues, but the media and political establishment close ranks to make sure they get a card-carrying centrist candidate like Joe Biden. If progressives want to win, they’ll have to reframe the debate. Read Nesrine Malik’s article here Kneading sanity and stability: why bread broke the internet For months now, social media has been awash with pictures of one food group: baked goods. Sourdough loaves, naan bread, and boiled bagels abound. I’m not a baker, but I’ve given in to the need to follow a recipe when all the rules on how we live are off the table. Read Emily Dreyfuss’s article here Black and white photograph of a young boy with short hair wearing a shirt with umbrellas on it, in a black frame against a warm-orange background. Behind the boy there is a set of windows and foliage. Trapping ghosts: photographs don’t lock us to loss, they remind us to live The grief caused by death is similar to the pain of distance, but our photographs can help bridge the gap to our loved ones. The pictures we carry with us are a defiant refusal to believe that all our good times are behind us. Read Maaza Mengiste’s article here