SARN Top Voices 2025

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

As my friend Erin Corine Johnson would say, this is now a tradition. It's the week of Juneteenth, which means it's also the week where I publish my annual top voices in anti-racism list. I've been doing this since 2022, because I wanted to recognise the people I was learning from, many of whom weren't being recognised by LinkedIn and other social media platforms.

Each year, I try to expand the list of people we can learn from, and so far there've been no repeats, even though I'm still following most of the 32 people I've featured here so far. Today, I'm adding 10 more names to this very personal list of favourite and inspiring voices. You'll probably recognise a few names from the reading lists, and once again, I've included a couple of people who are active on platforms other than LinkedIn. Ready to dive in?

As always, they're listed in alphabetical order by first name...

Arturo is a journalist and photojournalist whom I first met on Medium, and I believe we were both in a writers' group for a short while. His journalism expertise shows in his beautifully researched pieces, which deal with the Latine experience specifically, and with racism in general. I enjoy his work because it gives me a window into a community I'm not a part of, and shows me where the commonalities and differences are. I think that's something we all need as we build community. A recent article I enjoyed is Wait. Who are the Bad Guys Again? Read his work in the Decolonized Journalism newsletter, and check out other places to read and support his work on Linktree.

As a former Spanish language student, I was drawn in my Christian's newsletter, Oye Mira, and I remember having a wonderful conversation with him before interviewing him for the newsletter. The founder of Justice AI, which is an amazing tool for anyone wanting to use AI in a non-coloniser way to produce decolonised content (and much much more), Christian posts thoughtful pieces on racial and social justice, including Race in America Is Not Culture. It’s a Weaponized Political Category. Quite a few of his articles have made it into the reading list. Again, I enjoy his work because it's a different perspective, and I'm always looking to learn. Follow Christian Ortiz on LinkedIn.

Everyday Racism is an Instagram account run by two sisters, Naomi and Natalie, based in the UK. It offers exactly what the name suggests: a peek into the racism that happens daily that many people racialised as white miss. I've been following them for a few years. Their posts are often short, but very impactful, like this one about hatred. Sometimes I visit the account to learn; at other times it's to see my own experiences reflected there, much as people do in this newsletter. It never disappoints. Here's their Linktree so you can find more of their work.

I'll be honest: 25% of what Dr. Marcelle posts goes over my head, as I'm definitely more in the words camp than the numbers camp and she is a heterodox economist (and yes, I had to search for the meaning of that). But what I do understand is her compelling blend of erudition and straight talk about the failings of capitalism, and about new, regenerative approaches to finance and investment. One of the articles I really enjoyed was Transforming finance to work for all. I was lucky enough to meet her earlier this year and we had a great conversation. She is passionate about recognising and supporting initiatives happening in the Diaspora, and about questioning and improving harmful financial systems. And she does it all with kind but firm auntie energy. Follow her on LinkedIn, and check out the Levers of Change project.

You'll have seen Khafre Jay interviewed here about his Hip Hop for Change project. Since then, he's expanded his mission of using Hip Hop in business for impact and education. I enjoy his posts on LinkedIn because they pull no punches, and his Unapologetic Black newsletter is worth looking at for articles like When They Whitewash Our Past, We Wield Juneteenth Like a Weapon. Follow Khafre on LinkedIn and check out more of his work on the Hip Hop for the Future website.

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LC De Shay combines a range of expertise: sex and gender; health, journalism, data analysis and more. Their posts give insight into the intersectional trans experience, and always include tonnes of research, so I always learn a lot. LC does not coddle their readers; they expect them to be grown-ups and they provide the resources to help people see the bigger picture for themselves. This post on Delusional Audacity is a good example. Be warned: they are prolific posters, but everything they post is worth your time. Check them out on LinkedIn.

The only surprise here is that it's taken so long for me to include Sadia on this list. After all, I've been following her Language Matters account since I first started getting more active on Instagram. Back then, the account explained the issues with some of the language we take for granted and offered alternatives. It later branched out to guides on different issues. Then a few years, ago The Language Matters Memo monthly newsletter started coming out. I signed up immediately, and I have read every issue. I love the focus on language (hello: word nerd here), and the thoughtful critique of things we take for granted. An example: The Subtle Scripts of Everyday Prejudice: How Conversations (Often) Go Awry. Sadia's work is very accessible but don't let the simplicity fool you - she always leaves you something to think about. Check out all the places to connect with her on her Linktree.

Tammy Triolo's no-nonsense takes on racism are well worth paying attention to. LinkedIn didn't seem to appreciate her, but luckily you can find her work on empathy in a number of other places, such as her TedX talk on Empathy the thread that connects us and her YouTube channel, where she's got a powerful video on systemic empathy failures. Check out Tammy's website and Linktree for all the places to connect.

Taryn Talley, who calls herself "your favourite trans menace", is one of a couple of people I follow for insight into the polycultural trans experience. Like LC, Taryn's work is thoughtful and well-researched, and there are always plenty of links to take a deeper dive on the issues raised. Taryn tells it like it is. As a bonus, her marketing expertise also informs her thoughtful takes, and that resonates, too. Here's an example: Stopping bias and discrimination in the training of generative AI tools. Follow Taryn on LinkedIn and check out her website and Linktree.

Dr. Timnit Gebru is a more recent follow. I first came across her work when I was reviewing Coded Bias, which led me to the Algorithmic Justice League, which led me to Timnit's alarm bells about AI. This is an area where I'm still learning, and I love the fact that she's one of the Black scholars I can learn from. She is the founder of the Distributed AI Research Institute. Read this interview to catch up on the history, and follow her on LinkedIn.

I believe in giving people their flowers and I'm grateful to these writers, thinkers, and activists. I hope their work will resonate with you, too! Until next time,

Sharon

Note: poll feedback is private - if you’re happy to share your thoughts in public, then please also leave a comment.

I am an anti-racism educator and activist, the author of “I’m Tired of Racism”, and co-host of The Introvert Sisters podcast.

© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2025. All Rights Reserved. This newsletter is published on beehiiv (affiliate link).