Francesca Sobande - Consuming Crisis (Social Science for Social Justice)

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This book is dedicated to my mum and dad. I love you.

This book is also dedicated to my grandparents, from whom I learnt much about care, candour, conviction, and comfort.

Dr Francesca Sobandeis a senior lecturer in digital media studies at the School of Journalism, Media and Culture (Cardiff University, Wales). She is the author of The Digital Lives of Black Women in Britain (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020), co-editor with Professor Akwugo Emejulu of To Exist is to Resist: Black Feminism in Europe (Pluto Press, 2019), and co-author with layla-roxanne hill of Black Oot Here: Black Lives in Scotland (Bloomsbury, 2022). Francescas work particularly focuses on digital remix culture, Black diaspora and archives, feminism, creative work, pop culture, and devolved nations. She tweets at @chess_ess

The process of writing Consuming Crisis: Commodifying Care and COVID-19 was made possible by many people, including loved ones who I grieved during that time, and whose words, wit, laughter, care, and presence will be forever felt.

I am particularly thankful for the guidance of Delayna Spencer (Senior Commissioning Editor, SAGE) who saw something in my work before the idea for this book was even formed. I vividly remember the first conversation we had which left me feeling inspired about the prospect of working together and was a reminder of what a joy writing can be.

From start to finish, I have been fully backed in my intention to write a book about care, consumer culture, and the COVID-19 crisis and to write it in a way that draws on scholarly research, as well as reflexive and speculative writing. Delaynas unwavering encouragement included memorable moments of reassurance regarding the space and time away from this work that I needed while in the grips of grief. Essentially, this book would not exist without the ever-present support and generosity of those around me.

Thank you to Professor Jason Arday and Professor Meredith D. Clark for the helpful and supportive SAGE Social Science for Social Justice series editorial feedback on Consuming Crisis. The generous and encouraging comments that were offered helped me to develop this book and the direction that it went in.