BLACK-BRIGHT NEWS GEORGE FLOYD EDITION
Issue 63
How do you explain Racism to children? Paula Rhone-Adrien
PROTESTERS OR RIOTERS IS PROTESTING LAWFUL? HAVE B LACK PEO PLE OUTLIVE D THEIR USEFULNESS?
RACISM EXPOSED RESENTMENT OF THE BLAC K MAN
EDITOR’S RANT!
#JusticeForGeorge Floyd and all the Others Will our history of injustice ever be resolved? How do you stamp out racism when it still so evident 400 years later!!
I try to understand that fear due caused by ignorance in the 14th century, when slavery was ingrained in the mind of the white man as normal, but I do not understand why it exists now, when the education system, films, sports and other competitive events show that we are not inferior, but equals, and we can compete as good, and in some cases superior in any arena. Why is it so important for the racist elite to have us believe we are inferior, and have the white public believe we are criminally minded and dangerous?
The only area where blacks do not compete well is to do with money? Why has the black person never got to grips with how to compete in the economy or ‘money market’? Lack of money, and therefore the lack of power, holds them back.
There seems to be no resolve for a set of people who hate so much, that they are willing to take the life of a black man, to get a thrill
are defenceless in every other way – many have no guns; they have no rights; they feel valueless because they are not treated with respect, so they protest.
White people who kill black people in this senseless way, do so because they believe they should not be challenged by a black person - that black people should cower; should bow; have no right to defend themselves with words or in any way whatsoever – they should be prepared to serve, sweat or die! Amy Cooper is evidence of this mentality.
Where, in any part of the police training, does itstate a knee on the neck is an appropriate way to restrain someone who is resisting arrest. George Floyd, the 46 year old who was murdered in full view of the public on 25 May 2020, by police officer, Derek Chavin, could not resist arrest when he was handcuffed behind his back. As far as Officer Chavin was concerned, Floyd had no right to live. Derek Chauvin has been found guilty of murder and manslaughter.
Accepting responsibility for the death of an innocent civilian by an officer of the law, is an expensive consequence for the country. The City of Charlotte setThe black men they have killed, are not armed, they tled with US$2.25m, when a police officer Randall are not antagonists; they are not looting, shooting, Kerrick shot and killed Jonathan Ferrell in 2013. Ranor committing a crime. If they run, it is because they dall Kerrick pleaded guilty to diminished responsibilare scared for their lives; if they resist, it is for the ity/voluntary manslaughter, but this is not about same reason. They were not shot in self-defence, compensation, this is about making a concerted efbecause they were unarmed, so how can a police of- fort to stamp out racism. Similarly, Scotland Yard ficer feel threatened? They were shot because were fined £175,000 and the family of 27 year old Jean Charles de Menezes, who was shot in the head, someone resented their right to life - simple! at close range, 7 times by police officers who thought Frustrated civilians take to the streets because they he was a terrorist!!
GOOD MORNING BRITAIN – CAN WELL MEANING WHITES CHANGE RACISM?
On 3 June 2020, Gamal Turawa suggested to Piers Morgan that he ask white people “what does it mean to be white?” and trying to galvanise and strike while the iron was hot, Piers Morgan garnered a panel of four. Matthew Collins, a former member of the National Front in his youth and British National Party (BNP) as an adult, his affiliation was with a far-right, fascist political party in the United Kingdom. Matthew Collins is known for his admiration of Hitler and hatred of the Jews, however he now claims to be antiracist, so was invited to join GMB panel.
When asked by Susannah Reid, how did he change from being racist to anti-racist, he said “I addressed immediately the things I said and deliberately did to cause offence and tore away at people’s dignity. However, there is a provocative and vivid Nazi poster on the wall behind him and for those who do not know it is the cover of his book, may misconstrue it as being insensitive. The two “no Pasaran” scarves clearly visible on the door, send a duplicitous message.
them, and appeared on Twitter in response to the Spanish Terrorist attack.
‘No Pasaran’ has to do with not letting the enemy pass. Who is the enemy to a renowned ex-BNP member? Not everyone is going to research Matthew Collins, they could, like me, jump to conclusion that the poster might be offensive to Jews.
Peter Tachell, Civil Rights Campaigner and Activist came over as an empathetic panel member. He acknowledged that there was structural racism which was why deaths of black people at the hands of police was downplayed and not covered by the media, so the masses are not aware that it exists in the UK.
Peter Tachell acknowledged he had white privilege and that we live in a society that is structurally and institutionally racist so it disadvantages black and minority ethnics. He acknowledged that racism was a white people’s problem, and that white people have a responsibility to solve it. That might seem like a strange thing to hear by the majority of white people. “How can racism be our problem, when it is the blacks who are victims of racism?”
No Pasaran means “you shall not pass” and was originally used at the Battle of Verdun in 1916, by the French Military. It was also used on right-wing Exactly, because until white people acknowledge posters in Spain to turn her enemies words against that they have been complicit in perpetuating
racism, whether wittingly or unwittingly, it will continue.
There are more of us together than those who are trying to demonise blacks and ethnic minorities, so it is important that white people think critically and ask themselves... * Did I acknowledge or dismiss injustice, expecting it to take care of itself? * Did I think black people were playing the race card? * Did I believe that black people were exaggerating?
* Was I one of those who said they had a chip on their shoulder and they need to get over it?
* Did I believe that arrested and convicted black men were obviously guilty, and their detention was justified.
Kehinde Andrews, (Professor of Black Studies, Birmingham University and Author of ‘Back to Black, Retelling of Black Radicalism in 21st Century’ and ‘Resisting Racism: Race, inequality, and the Black supplementary school movement’) felt that white people uniting in the condemnation was shallow, which I could see that GMB presenters found difficult to swallow. Desperate to find an answer, Susannah asked:“Is there no capacity to change?”
Kehinde responded cooly: “we cannot wait for white people to get on board and be educated... we have got to do what we have got to do... if we don’t get equality, we will take it!”
White people whose eyes have been opened may now look at the media more critically, and notice what they exclude as opposed to what they promote to feed their narrative. It may become obvious where double standards come into play with their reporting. For example, Madeleine McCann gets front page coverage 13 years after her disappearance. Elizabeth Ogungbayibi has been missing since 2006. She was 5 years old when she disappeared from Manchester (how many of us know of her), yet putting ‘missing child UK, even if you search for black missing child, the only name that comes up is Madeleine McCann. What is it about Madeleine Mc-
Cann’s disappearance why so much money is being invested in finding her 13 years later, and not other children similarly aged.
I wonder how long it will take before 12 year old Patient Nguentha, who went missing on 4 June 2020 in Lewisham, will be forgotten. Did he make front page news? No.
Peter Tachell said that white people need to educate themselves about the black experience, and I hope he just doesn’t mean slavery and riots, but educating themselves about what we have engineered; created; built; achieved; our royal lineage and hierarchy.. it is all there.. The first black King.. the first black queen.. to Usain Bolt, the fastest man. Susannah Reid asked: “What should the killing of George Floyd in America make white people want to change about themselves in the UK?”
Kehinde Andrews responded “People are united in their condemnation, which is how racism is dealt with, but that [people getting together to condemn a racist act] is too easy to do.
Kehinde referred to Matt Hancock’s words “Black Lives Matter” when BAMEs are dying disproportionately from the coronavirus. His comments made me think about the Public Health England Report on the disparities, that had been censored – a third of it deleted, just like the Magna Carta. Censorship is to paint a false picture – covert and structural racism in action. Zizi Mills another panel member is a YouTube vlogger who attended the protest in Hyde Park early June. She was asked why social distancing had not been exercised. Zizi said that it was about solidarity, and I bring up social distancing when Dominic Cummings had flagrantly ignored it. Kehinde Andrews had the biggest platform this morning, and I was left wondering whether he had used the opportunity wisely.
Yes, it will take time to get white people on board and be educated, but Piers Morgan and Susannah Reid are very influential, and their news channel has high percentage of viewings.
I wondered if he could have used that opportunity to ask them to investigate the injustices against black
people (black men in particular) - the innocent black men in prison and in detention centres. He could have asked them to investigate why the Public Health England disparity report on Black & Minority Ethnics (BAME’s) had been censored. Kehinde could have asked them to look into the policies and legislation that disadvantage BAME’s, and come back to him with their findings. Put them to work.. they are offering.. see if they are willing to put their money where their mouth is!! They may not be able to fight our fight for us, but they are influential enough to raise awareness of the disparities and injustices in their own way.
I understand the frustration of black people having to justify their frustration over and over again, but in our frustration, we must remain alert, and grab onto every opportunity we can, regardless of how small and how inconsequential it may seem at the time. If someone offers to help.. think on your feet and ask yourself, what can they do for us? Whether they do it or not is a different matter, because investigating things like that takes dedication and time, which i don’t think they have, but at least you have given them an opportunity to prove themselves that they are willing to go out of their way to do something about racism
This article was inspired by the death of George Floyd, who died at the merciless hands (or should I say knee) of an American police officer, while his three colleagues stood by and watched and did not intervene to protect the life they are paid to do. It appeared as though they didn’t feel that George Floyd was a life worth saving. He knew he was being filmed, but in his mind, it didn’t matter because he would get off, because George Floyd’s life did not matter!
RESENTMENT OF A BLACK MAN
It goes deep into the psyche of those racist police officers who resent black men and do not believe that a black person’s life is worth anything - that their very presence is a bane of society and must be stamped out. When restraining an individual turns into murder, it cannot be termed as manslaughter, when millions of people watched Chauvin snuff out the life of a black man who was pleading for his life and calling his mother, and yet did not feel a sense of compassion.
Let’s look at the definition of murder in parts of USA:
port to be acting in the line of duty, when the law says “in effecting an arrest or in preventing an escape from custody, a law enforcement officer is justified in using deadly force, when the officer reasonably believes that such use of deadly force is immediately necessary to effect the arrest or prevent an escape from custody and also reasonably believes that the person to be arrested is attempting to escape, by use of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument? This is the reason why police officers are routinely cleared.
So even though there are clear instances of unjustiFirst degree murder is defined as “knowing causing fiable police killings of black men, that are tantathe death of another person after deliberation upon mount to murder - it is a legal conclusion to define a the matter” (i.e. pre meditated). Second degree killing as murder, so with the parameters above, murder: knowingly causing the death of another most police officers get off. person or, with the purpose of causing serious physical injury to another person, which causes the death Is there a theme that causes blacks to die at the hands of those who are employed to protect and of another person. serve? The themes I detect are as follows: 1) White How does that apply when enforcement officers pur- police officers are killing far too many unarmed black
men and women. 2) Police officers appear to be shooting to kill, not to disarm - many victims were shot between 6-10 times. 3) Stereotyping, preconceptions and misjudgement of character has caused unnecessary deaths of black people. 4) Lack of accountability, suggests systemic racism, i.e. the majority of police officers are not prosecuted. 5) Lack of racial equity in the criminal justice system, because black people are perceived as criminals and therefore dangerous.
On 25 May 2020, unarmed black man, George Floyd was arrested in Minneapolis, after Mahmoud Abumayyala, Cup Cakes Store Owner (or employee), called the police because he was suspicious of the US$20 that George Floyd gave him, believing it was a counterfeit us$20 bill.
First on the scene was police officers Thomas Lane and J A Kueng. Derek Chauvin, the officer who knelt on his neck for over 8 minutes until he died, has been arrested and charged with murder and manslaughter. It was later found that the US$20 was not counterfeit.
media.
George Floyd took the lid off of racism by the police, when his death was filmed and put on social
A day later, knowing the George Floyd had died at the hands of racist police, Amy Cooper called the police on Christian Cooper and lied that he was threatening her and her dog. Fortunately, the interaction was filmed, and it was found that she had been lying. It is lies most of the time, by white people, why black men die at the hands of racist police officers.
George Floyd is one of many – the difference is, his 8 minute murder was filmed, so the evidence was clear.
A few other deaths by police stand out!
On 23 February 2020, Ahmaud Arbery was pursued, confronted and fatally shot by two white residents fatally shot, while jogging in Glynn County, Georgia. As far as they were concerned, he had no right to be on their streets, in their neighbourhood, and in ‘trespassing’ as far as they were concerned, he had no right to life.
on 18 March 2019, 22 year old, unarmed father of two children, Stephon Clark was fired at 20 times and killed, in grandmother’s back garden on his mobile in Sacremento, California. Is that not maniacal behaviour displayed by Terrence Mercadal and Jared Robinet the two police officers on duty?
On 6 September 2018 Amber Guyger shot and killed Botham Jean? Suggestions she felt rejected. How dare he exercise his right to choose not to please her. Remember 14 year old Emmet Louis Till on 28 August 1955, who was kidnapped, tortured and murdered. He had been beaten to death, his eyes had been gouged out he had been shot in the head, and sent floating in the river, in Mississippi because a white woman accused him of touching her and flirting with her. Years later his accuser, Carolyn Bryant said she couldn’t live the guilt, and admits she had lied. No compensation was made to the family. She has written about it in her memoir, which won’t be released until 2036, when most of us are dead.
on 12 October 2018, in Texas , a neighbour apparently reported to the police that a front door was left open, and that the police should check it out. Noone knows what he actually told the police officers, but police officers surrounded her house. Aaron Dean alleges that she went for a gun when he fatally shot 28 years old Atatiana Kocquice Jefferson.
Some cops genuinely believe black lives don’t matter, and because they believe that, they believe that they will not be challenged by white authorities. He stepped down before they dismissed him. I think many white perpetrators are genuinely surprised when justice is sought, especially when it is sought by white people.
Some police officers are so caught up in the moment, 15 year old Jordan Edwards was fatally shot in the their hatred of black people, that they think every- back of the head on 29 April, 2017, by police officer one will be happy to see a ‘nigger’ die in that way. Roy Oliver in Balch Springs, Texas, while sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle trying to get away from They are probably astonished at the outrage.
intimidating police officers. He had just left a house party with his brother.
On 5 July 2016, 37 year old Alton Sterling, was shot at six times at close range by two Baton Rouge police officers within 90 seconds, and died in Louisiana. Footage from Police Officer’s body camera took 2 years to be released, and there are 4 more videos waiting to be released. (Gives room for editing and tampering) Apparently his right to die was because he had a criminal record – he had served 5 years for resisting arrest. Alton Sterling sold CDs and recently, CD vendors had been robbed, so he got himself a gun to protect his stuff. Someone reported that there was a CD vendor selling CDs with a red shirt on, carrying a gun, and officers shot him. Blane Salamoni, who killed him, had a pattern of unprofessional behaviour, was dismissed for violating use of force policies, along with his colleague Howie Lake. 3 years later, The Police department accepted that Officer Salamoni should never have been hired. He will receive no financial compensation, nor will he ever work within the police department again... so we have an angry man out there on the loose.. with a gun who will blame black people for losing his job! 23 year old Keith Childress was shot dead on 31 December 2015 in Las Vegas., suffered fatal multiple gun shot wounds by Las Vegas police officers, when his cell phone was mistaken for a gun. The killing was deemed legally justified and reasonable because there was a no-bail warrant out for him for theft and robbery. 20 September 2016, 43 year old unarmed Keith Lamont Scott was shot dead by a police officer in Charlotte North Carolina, claims he had a weapon. No charges.
On 16 September 2016, 40 year old, unarmed Terrence Crutcher was shot dead by Police Officer, Betty Jo Shelby in Tulsa, when he had his hands in the air. Jury said his death was tragic but justified. 6 July 2016, 32 year old Philando Castile was pulled over while driving in Falcon Heights Minnesota, when Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez fired 7 shots into him. He was in the passenger seat with his girlfriend and four year old daughter (no thought for trauma on the child). He was found not guilty of second degree murder. I wonder if the situation had been reversed.. i.e. a black officer killing a white motorist whether he would have been found not guilty! This
seems to be reinforcing the notion that black lives have no value, when the Justice System that is meant to protect you, fails you!
On April 4, 2015, unarmed Walter Scott was shot 5 tmes and killed after a traffic stop in North Charleston, South Carolina. Police Officer Michael Slager got 20 years in prison for shooting Walter with ‘malice and recklessness’ The only reason he got time was because a bystander videotaped the shooting on his cell phone, which showed that he handcuffed Walter Scott, AFTER he had shot him.
On 18 October 2015, Corey Jones was shot 6 times by Nouman Raja, was in plain clothes and driving an unmarked car a Florida police officer, after he had broken down and was waiting for a tow truck. Fortunately, he still had the roadside despatcher on line, who could hear everything and took it to the court. That was the only reason he got sent down. So what will police do now? Ensure that nothing is being recorded!
17 June 2015 (not police related) but 9 black people were killed by 21 year old Dylann Roof, in the Charleston Church Massacre, during Bible Study in South Carolina, because he claimed black men were raping their women, despite historical data finding that nearly 90% of rapes involve a victim and offender of the same race.
12 April 2015, 25 year old Freddie Gray suffered severe trauma, neck and spine injuries while being transported in a police vehicle. He died 6 days later. Officer Brian Rice was acquitted of all charges..
22 November 2014, 12 year old Tamir Rice was shot dead in Cleveland, Ohio by Police Officer, Timothy Loehmann because someone reported that there was a black boy with a gun pointing it at people in a park. It turned out to be a toy gun.
On 14 August 2014, 18 year old Mike Brown was fatally shot 6 times, by Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. 6’4” 292lb. He apparently shoved a store assistant and the police were called. His disposition was considered life-threatening??
On 5 August 2014, 22 year old John Crawford III was shot and killed by Beavercreak Police Officer, Sean Williams in Walmart, while he was talking to someone on his phone, because he bought pellet air rifle
from the sporting goods section. A customer said he was pointing it at someone but the store video shows no such thing, and also that the officers fired immediately without giving Corey any verbal commands, any time to drop the BB gun. The customer recanted her story after he was shot dead by two bullets and died in hospital. Other customers confirmed that Corey was not seen as a threat. On 17 July 2014 – #Eric Garner died when Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo NY Police Officer, put him into a stranglehold while arresting him – Garner was heard saying “I can’t breathe”. Pantaelo was not charged.
17 year old Laquan McDonald – shot and killed on 20 October 2014 shot 16 times. It was a DASHCAM video that got Jason Van Dyke, Chicago Police Officer convicted. He was convicted of second degree murder
On 2 November 2013, 19 year old unarmed Renisha McBride, was shot in the face and killed, when she sought help after being in a car crash [DO THEY forget they are black when they seek help?] House owners claiming they are being robbed, because someone knocks on their door! [BLACK PEOPLE SYNONYMOUS WITH BEING CRIMINALS]
door asking for help. Randall Kerrick Police Officer in Charlotte North Carolina shot him ten times and pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter – in other words “I didn’t mean to kill him... I wasn’t thinking right...” His family got US$2.2m.
STAND YOUR GROUND LAW IS AN EXCUSE FOR RACISTS TO KILL BECAUSE IT MEANS SHOOT TO KILL (DEADLY FORCE) IF YOUR LIFE FEELS THREATENED.. DEPENDING ON HOW INSECURE A PERSON FEELS, THAT MEANS MURDER IS LEGAL.
17 year old Jordan Davis, was shot dead on 23 November 2012, at a gas station in Florida, by Michael Dunn for playing his music too loud. A black man is perceived as violating the sacredness of a white man’s right to peace and quiet..
26 February 2012, 17 year old Trayvon Martin was shot dead by George Zimmerman in Miami, Florida, after leaving a convenience store. Because the prosecutor could not prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, Zimmerman got off, and is now suing the family for US$100m for malicious damage, claiming that the case relied on false evidence.
1 January 2009, 22 year old Oscar Grant was fatally shot in the back by police officers Johannes Mehserio in Oakland California. Oscar Grant was unarmed On 14 September 2013, 24 year old Jonathan Ferrell, and pinned down. In this case, Mehserle has been a college football player crashed his car in Charlotte. charged on suspicion of murder. Family are filing a He made the mistake of knocking the door a house US$25million law suit. at 2:30 am in the morning. A woman, seeing a black man, did not wait for an explanation, but panicked In 2006, Sean Bell, one of three unarmed men who and called 911 and said she was being robbed. He were shot, when plain clothes police officers John was unarmed, not under the influence of alcohol or Eligon and Patrick Farrell, unleashed 50 rounds of drugs. His crime? He was a black man who dragged bullets on them in New York City. He had been celhimself from a wreckage and knocked on the wrong ebrating his bachelor party, as his wedding was the
next day. He died on the morning of his wedding from a shot in the neck. His two friends were critically injured.
4 February 1999, 22 years old and unarmed Amadou Diallo was shot and killed with 41 bullets by 4 police officers in New York City, when he went to take his wallet out of his pocket. Police Officers were in plain clothes
25 November 1976, 15 year old Randolph Evans was shot by NYPD Police Officer Robert Torsney in Brooklyn at point blank range, in the head. One angry MoFo for having to work on that day on Thanksgiving Day
On 15 September 1974, 14 year old Claude Reese was shot in the head by a police officer Frank Bosco, who alleges he was investigating a burglary, in Brooklyn
28 April 1973, 10yr Clifford Glover (90lbs) was shot in the back by an undercover on duty police officer, in New York. [[why would you shoot a ten year old. Their justification is that they were questioning the ten year old and his grandfather because they looked like suspects in a robbery? I understand the concept of black lives matter.. but I think it should say black lives are just as important as white lives – (#All lives matter)
There are so many more who have died at the hands of police, Arthur Miller, Anthony Baez, Michael Stewart, Orlando Barlow, Victor Steen, Steven Eugene Washington, Gregory Gunn, Eric Harris, Samuel DuBose, Akai Gurley, Jamar Clark, Brendon Glenn, Christian Taylor, Jordan Edwards, Rekia Boyd, William Chapman II, Jeremy McDole, Ricky Ball, Diante Yarber.
I simply cannot elaborate on everyone, it would take me ages, and the video would be much too long – but I think you get the gist of what is going on here, and why this is now the straw that has broken the camel’s back in a time, when people are already feeling deprived, frustrated and angry.
Hopefully, by highlighting these names, you will read .. up on them, and learn a little bit more about them.
IS LAWFUL REBELLION LEGAL? WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROTESTS & RIOTS? Some believe unlawful rebellion is legal, and that the Security Clause – Article 61, which holds the government to account in the UK can be invoked.
Article 61’s security clause is there to protect the public from a government that is not governing properly. Aspects of this 800 year old law apparently remains in force today and cannot be repealed. It was written to provide rights to the citizens of England, I’m not sure what aspects though.
Much of the free world have constitutions based on UK’s common laws, i.e. Laws put in place in order to ensure no loss, no harm and no injury, to protect legal & human rights.
Did you know that the people’s constitutional rights were embodied and enforced in the Declaration of Rights 1688 and Bill of Rights 1689, (which is an extension of the Magna Carta, and formed the basis of the ‘glorious revolution’. The glorious revolution
ended serfdom, and empowered the people as work to work for whom they wish.
People would need a good lawyer or adviser before exercising their constitutional rights to lawful rebellion, as i am not sure if the law still applies – we could have people out there, trying to incite a rebellion.
What does lawful rebellion allow citizens to do: Full refusal to pay any taxes, fines and any other forms of monies to support and or benefit said unlawful governance of this country Full refusal to abide by any law, legislation or statutory instrument is deemed invalid, if this is unlawful governance that is in breach of the constitutional safeguard (the people may call out and shall not respond to legislation, especially eu law that depletes the constitutional safeguard) To hinder in any way possible, all actions of the treasonous government of this land, who have breached the constitutional safeguard, defined with no form
of violence in any way, just lawful hindrance under the freedoms granted and asserted by the constitutional law & article 61.
The most significant influence of the magna carta today, is the universal declaration of human rights. The declaration states that people around the world are protected by fundamental human rights, regardless of their citizenship, race, gender, or believes. Very few of magna carta’s clauses remain valid in english law today, because a third of it has been taken out over the centuries.
At the end of the document, however, it stipulates: ‘this document cannot be changed.. Not now..nor ever’ and any attempt to take people’s rights away is an act of treason, which is punishable by death (well death sentence went out of style years ago).
The Magna Carta, universal Bill of Rights and the constitution apparently supercedes parliamentary law. No new law can contravene the rights given to us within the constitution.
Parliament can only apply new laws with the consent of the nation’s people and if they do not seek the consent of the people, then that is allegedly an act of treason.
Without legal representation i would not recommend that you go out there thinking you have the right to lawful rebellion - however you do have the right for peaceful protest. I was not convinced of the validity of the video.. You could be being set up, or distracted, so be careful!
The Zong
Two travellers came to Liverpool
One reliving his youth, the other for the ride Just before Storm Aileen hit landfall On the shores of Merseyside. All was still in the Lancashire As the travellers booked in
And happily went to their rooms As the storm clouds gathered in.
The Lancashire was set in a lawn of green The September sun began to go down
But curiously the winds became strong With rain lashing all around.
The travellers tied themselves to their beds So fearful of the storm
No sleep was to be had –
The Lancashire was to transform. The travellers found they were on the Zong The slaver ship of greatest fame
Thirty others were shackled in each room
All caught up in Liverpool’s gain.
The Zong was set in a sea of blue The night refused to give in
The moaning, the groaning, the human cargo
GROOMED RACISM
Made such a melancholic din.
How do you become self-sufficient, When you have been groomed to be co-dependent?
Of human bodies, sealed in
You walked blindly into the oppressors trap, And now they have you drinking out their lap!
And Evil’s face had a grin.
“You must be grateful That we saved you.. You are indebted to us, So there we have you...
The heat on the Zong was unbearable The Lancashire’s radiators were cold To save the ship, 132
Of the shackled cargo of Black Were thrown overboard -
The sea would not give them back. The Zong arrived in Jamaica
To make the insurance claim
But the insurers were horrified, and by refusing
TheLiverpool-based Zong became the Nation’s Shame. The day broke and the Lancashirehotel returned The travellers were glad to see That the only shackled-black
Was the black of the flat screen TVs.
……………………………………………………………………………………
Inspired by a visit to Liverpool in 2017, whose wealth in the years 1500 – 1807 was based on the Slave Trade, one corner of the ‘Triangle’, and the true story of the Zong. The Zong Massacre happened 1n 1781. It was memorialised in the painting ‘The Slave Ship’ by W M Turner. Storm Aileen was the first winter storm of the season.
You couldn’t do it by yourselves.. You need us to help you... We rescued you, from yourselves.. Without us you are nothing..” Deceived with symbolic trinkets, In the guise of low-paid jobs and benefits; We thought we were being rewarded. Our mindset thwarted by the colonialist. “It’s about time we are getting something Out of this oppressive system, In repayment for slavery!” As opposed to harnessing our ancestors bravery. Many plundered the immigration system, Because they believed the UK wanted them. Far the UK respecting our contribution, Britain responded with retaliation, Indiscriminately perceived unlawful immigration Starting with the Windrushians, Who were living blindly in contentment, Until they decided it was time they went And turned the tables.. And found them sitting under it With no documents!
By Loy 2020
It is interesting that the death of George Floyd in the United States, has lifted the lid off of police violence in the UK and racism. My mind reflected on the black people’s cry for reparations for injustices of the past, and its link to injustices in the present. How did I link the death of George Floyd to the demand for reparations in the UK? Why do I think that black people may have outgrown their usefulness? Why do I believe the UK Government cannot accede to our demands for reparations, whether they believe we deserve it or not?
His ranking of Africans has been reinforced through history, so everyone studying history over the centuries would be taught the works of this famous philosopher, who was highly influential in his time, which is why racism and white privilege still exists to this day. Until they change what they teach in schools, miseducation will continue. When posing the question, how does the slave trade directly affect black people today, that is how. Reinforcement of biased and incorrect belief systems, so that when it comes to certain positions –black people are simply construed as not being as good as white people, and therefore do not deserve the same privileges. It is very difficult to change a belief system; especially one that has benefited a certain class of people, and has gone on for centuries.
Racial profiling and the way racist police officers treat black civilians is as a direct result of the indoctrination from the slave trade, that black people are inferior. In particular, 18 century philosophers like David Hume ranked Africans at the bottom because he believed they had no souls.
By asking for reparations, we are asking the government to acknowledge that black people are equal, that black people have merit, that black people should not be treated differently from whites.
Hulme believed that Africans had no mental ability, reason, character, feeling, consciousness, memory, cognition, perception or thinking ability... in other words, Africans were not human beings.
It means admitting that our education system was built on lies; it means admitting that black people are not criminally minded by nature; it means accepting that black people are just as good as whites when it comes to achievement
levels, both in academia and in the financial arena (Trading Places comes to mind with Eddie Murphy). But more controversial, it would mean that government would have to acknowledge they were complicit in fabricating history to our detriment. How can we expect them to admit that? It would cost them trillions in damages!! Yes, trillions in reparations! Many of the old-schoolers who run or head government, genuinely believe black people are inferior – after all, that was what they built their wealth on; that was what they were told by their parents, grandparents and great grandparents – they can’t all be wrong! It is that belief system that enabled them to feel justified in exploiting black people, and if they cannot exploit black people what purpose do black people serve, they might ask? Have you heard the saying, there is nothing more terrifying than an educated black man? That is because an educated black man cannot be exploited. Black people are being asked to provide evidence how they personally suffered from the effects of past violations through continuing economic or social deprivation in order to qualify for reparations. The Windrush Generation is another example - being asked to provide documents that the Home Office lost (or destroyed) so they could not prove their legitimacy in the UK – rendering them vulnerable in another way (unable to work, access healthcare, rent, drive – all means to live). This was sprawled across the media making black people look foolish, uneducated, disorganised, and therefore dependent on the system for survival. This fed the narrative that black people were inferior, ignorant, disorganised and deserved what they got.
It is clear that the perception that black people are inferior and are treated in a way that makes them appear that way, is as a direct result of the transatlantic slave trade, programming and miseducation. In the past, reparations have been paid to slave owners, because as far as the elite were concerned, slave owners had credibility. Anyone well-read and successful in business was to be rewarded. As far as they were concerned, just like the rich who believe they are entitled to bonuses, they believed slave owners were entitled to profits, and any loss of profits would need to be reimbursed. Hulme’s analysis that black people had no soul and therefore less valuable is probably why the government today, deems black people unworthy of reparations. That inherent racism still exists in the minds of the elite today, whose total objective is to make as much money as possible by putting in as little as possible. The bible says... to those who have more, more will be given and to those who have less even that what they have will be taken away. The fact that they did little to accumulate wealth, but used their their ability to create wealth gave them Kudos. The profit made from 10-12 million slaves, at £100 - £130 per slave in 1807 was the biggest money making scheme. Artificial intelligence and robots means that BAMEs are not needed as much for manual or casual labour. The only way they can make money from us, is from sports, music and with the poor, from our organs – so have we outlived
our usefulness? Today we find prophecy fulfilling it self because of our limited and highly moral mindset. Does our moral high ground work to our advantage? Black people tend to judge others as they judge themselves. It is only just and right to be treated fairly. However, despite being treated with injustice, somehow, we still have hope in the civility and empathy of mankind. We still haven’t quite got it that the meek will inherit the earth but not what is in it. The rich will do anything to preserve their wealth, the same way a man will do anything to preserve himself. Even though they have billions they are not prepared to give anything without getting something back as we witnessed with Richard Branson not wanting to pay his staff when they were not working during the pandemic. He preferred to lay the majority of them off.
How would reparations help? Some say, why should the West pay for the sins of their fathers.. i.e. for the generations that went before them. We could argue why is it when seeking citizenship it depends on our association with three generations that went before us! It is argued that the cost of reparations would cripple the economy. The UK economy could afford the Bank bailout in 2008 of £500billion and also the coronavirus bailout in the tune of £350 billion, but paying out the estimated sum of £300 trillion for reparations would indeed cripple the UK, especially if that money is not being reinvested back in the economy. If black people followed the advice of Marcus Garvey and became self-reliant by investing in themselves, creating their own industries, their own arts, literature, science and cultural facilities, with the reparations money, they could cripple the economy, especially if certain whites are not 100% convinced that they can rely on the “methods of containment they claim we use on ourselves, being ignorance, greed and selfishness.
Black consumers are 12% of the UK population and hold purchasing power of an estimated £300 billion and rising, according to research, so if that money was injected back into the black community it could definitely cause a dent in the UK economy. Data compiled by the institute of Practitioners in Advertising show BAME wield vast spending power – hence, probably, the increase of BAME portrayed in adverts to seduce the black pound into their pockets. We have been told that black people spend 6 times more on health and beauty products than their white counterparts. We now find ourselves in the unenviable position of not being given reparations because we are deemed not worth it; we can be replaced by robots; we are reducing our spending power because of the slump in the economy, and could therefore be rendered superfluous to requirements. The elite only need us if they can benefit from us financially - we are not meant to benefit from them. Black ‘woke’ folks are dangerous. If they are not prepared to pay ball, they need to go. If they are not prepared to be exploited, what purpose do they serve? So like the genocides of the past.. another could be planned and not just blacks, but anyone who is considered the bane of society because they are not contributing to the economy. In summary, I can’t see how any descendants of African Slaves are going to be compensated, even if they can evidence that police brutality and racism has a direct relationship to slavery and the perception of black people. Black people, have (like old age pensioners) outlived their usefulness, so there is no way the elite are going to disadvantage themselves by redistributing wealth and resources to adjust our current depleted economic situation.
Paula Rhone-Adrien
down. If you give them that impression; that there is something to hide, shy away from or be embarrassed about, then that is the impression that they will be left with. This would be wrong, particularly when history tells us that it is those who fail to question or challenge wrongdoing that permits such wrongdoing to fester. In any event, if you don’t give them an answer, they will look somewhere else and who knows where that will lead!
HOW DO WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN ABOUT RACISM?
Racism may just not be an issue for you. It simply isn’t something you regularly discuss. Or at most, it may be a topic that requires a nodding acknowledgment from you when it arises, but that’s it. So when the alarming killing of George Floyd occurred on 25th May, with the subsequent fury that enveloped thousands of people around the world, you must have had questions yourself about how or why this has all happened. What if you have a child who was also asking you questions? What could you possibly say to explain the anger, hurt, and destruction that was being beamed into your home? If your child is asking questions because either they have seen or overheard something then please don’t shy away from answering, be brave and tackle the question head on. If you don’t have an answer then admit it. Children have a sixth sense for sniffing out a response given to either shut them or a topic
So what is racism? Basically, it is the belief that members of other races are not as good as the members of your own race. You believe that your race is superior and that you should be treated better than those who are not of your own race. Children are being taught about race all the time, even in nursery they are taught to describe themselves; their family and their community. They watch tv and will notice differences far more than we give them credit for. However, what they don’t understand is why those differences should create feelings of hatred and anger and this is where you come in. Ultimately there is no right answer to my headline question. However, you may find that you need to challenge yourself first and your own views about what you understand racism to be. What do your network of friends look like? How do you express feelings about other races when at home? Do your children, for example, possess books that reference those from other races in a positive light? If you do care about your child understanding and appreciating other races, then take responsibility for ensuring that they get clear positive messages from you, or that you are able to reinforce that positive message if they challenge you with a negative one. Remember racism is not innate, but learnt. This means, the power to eradicate the unfairness
that results from this bias is very real and attainable through education, information and communication, be that with your child, those in your community, or with society as a whole. You should also be conscious that racism isn’t just about the tragic loss of George Floyd, but can cause just as much harm through; for example, negative stereotyping which leads to a skewered view of how others should be treated in society, from the type of jobs they obtain to how they may obtain justice. It is just as important to tackle that bias because in failing to address this, those who suffer the unfair treatment will become disaffected, angry and turn away from the more conventional methods of seeking redress due to the fact that they no longer trust in the system. Those protesting the death of Mr Floyd no longer trust that the system will protect them from injustice. Children know all about life being ‘so unfair’, from having to go to bed at 7.00pm to not getting to eat sweets all day every day. Helping them to identify and understand unfairness, that some adults get it wrong and that some adults are trying to make it better is a starting point on what will be a long journey for them understanding why some mistreat others, purely on the grounds of their race. Paula Rhone-Adrien is a leading female black Family law Barrister. She is a trusted BBC expert and a Mum of four. Keep up to date with her journey on instagram @familylawguruuk
According to the last census that was completed in 2011, there were 1.25 million mixed race couples, and it is deemed the fastest growing ethnic group.
What does racism mean to white people who deem themselves non racist, and claim “I have black friends, and my spouse is black?” However, it’s not just about integrating with us, but more to do with protecting and standing up for us.
Every day we are forced to ‘lay low’ not express how we truly feel because of fear of reprisals in one way or another. Comments like: “ You have a chip on your shoulder; Not all white people are like that; Get a grip; It’s your imagination; You are over-reacting or you are exaggerating”, so we shut down and hold onto our pain, our frustration.
We cannot say all white people are racist, because there is evidence to show that many are not, but there are many who are, and when those who are, run the systems that are meant to protect us, what are we meant to do.
Racism can be subtle, i.e. systemic via policies and legislation, or it can be overt, as we see in the case of George Floyd, racial profiling, Windrush scandal, the hostile environment policy, covert amendments to the British Nationality Act, Health Protection (coronavirus) policies and immigration legislation. White people who do not understand how racism works believe that the policies are made to protect everyone; when in fact the majority are designed to disadvantage a minority.
Take the coronavirus act for example – they media batting it out every day that black people are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus. They justify this by saying that black people are poorer, they have underlying symptoms, or it is their lifestyle and yet, when the report that was supposed to highlight the reasons for the disparities was published, the voices of 1000s of the health professionals and community members, had been removed, according the Health
Service Journal? The report needs to be revisited, which makes us believe that there is something untoward going on with regard to the deaths of so many BAMEs. When we learn that a report that is supposed to inform us of the rationale behind the statistics has been ‘white-washed’, we can’t help but believe that there is something underhanded going on.
It poses the questions – were BAME deaths due to lack of adequate care, because they were deemed less of a priority (according to Trump); is the reason they were not given priority to ventilators because they had underlying symptions and therefore their lives were not worth preserving or saving (since the equipment was so expenses); or was it because, as BAME health care workers confess, they were pushed to work in the frontline despite their underlying conditions and considered at risk; or even more macabre, could the deaths have something to do with Kiera’s Law, which allows organs to be removed without permission, if the deceased has not opted out?
Changing policies to do with immigration and the coronavirus legislation and not broadcasting them on mainstream tv, so that people can prepare in advance is a dereliction of duty.
Why do we find out about change policies and legislation through third parties? No wonder they want to shut down social media and the way we interact with each other – we are privy to information we should be privy, but where certain sectors of the government would prefer us not to.
George Floyd has brought racism out into the open and it is a pity that it took a video tape to bring it out into the open..
If only Emmet Till had video taped what had happened before he was tortured and killed over a lie by Carolyn Bryant Donham, whose memoir will not be released until 2036, I wonder why!!
White people cannot understand our struggle – how could they? We cannot blame them for not understanding, but we came blame them for not trying to understand – and instead of looking at this whole situation as a race thing, look at it as a human to human thing.
George Floyd died with a knee in his neck. The three officers around him did nothing to stop it, so they were complicit. That is what has been happening in the past.. People see injustices on black people but say and do nothing. Black people cannot step in be-
cause they will be ridiculed and made examples of, so we need white people to stand up for us, which we have been seeing in the media recently.
John Amaechi on Good Morning Britain gave a brilliant analogy. He said (not verbatim) that racism is like a boulder that a core set of people are pushing up on an incline.. Other people join in and try to push it up, but they get distracted, leaving the core people still pushing – who cannot push it alone.
What in effect he is saying is that we know there are good, moral and supporting white people out there, who are in a position to make a difference; highlight disparities, injustices, like HSJ and Emma Harris, who is a white lawyer who informed Preston Windrush Group about why commonwealth citizens were denied automatic British citizenship – valuable information we might never have been privy to.
We need more black lawyers; parliamentarians, police officers who are not Guinness heads, to perpetuate change
We do not know what it means to be white, the same why white people cannot know what it means to be black, but we all know what it means to be human.. We all recognise pain, although many are immune to it because of the film industry, but if we imagine that everyone is a family member who you know and love, when we see injustice, it will tug on our heartstrings and we wills step in and step up.
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EW N T GH I R B AC K
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