Butterfly Magazine Issue 38 14th May 2021

Ian Wright: Home Truths

Noelle Palmer White Privilege in Action

Credit: Twitter

Vol. 2 Issue 38, 14th– 20th May 2021

DIVERSITY NOMINATED FOR BAFTA AWARD in conjunction with

Credit: Britain’s Got Talent

From the

Credit: code.likeagirl.io

Editor’s desk

Diversity Nominated For Bafta Award “As the world watched on, another Black life gone, leaving what we thought we knew in tatters” Diversity Dance Troupe

Diversity’s performance on Britain’s Got Talent may have prompted 25,000 complaints to the broadcasting watchdog Ofcom. Nevertheless, it has been nominated for the Virgin Media Must-See Moment Award at the TV Baftas.

Diversity performed a stunning, emotional and thought-provoking dance telling the story of George Floyd and the response from the Black Lives Matter movement.

Protests broke out worldwide to support the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement prompting governments and companies to revisit diversity policies and behaviour, including the UK.

Ashley Banjo, leader of Diversity, said he got “hundreds of messages a week” from trolls, but this nomination vindicates the group’s stand for memorialising a significant moment in Black History.

Without a doubt, 2020 was a challenging year for so many reasons. Still, for the Black community, particularly the visual image of Derek Chauvin, a police officer with his knee on Mr Floyd’s neck, was another must-see moment they would rather not see. However, the quick thinking of the young lady who broadcast it live to the world helped secure justice. Mr Chauvin was found guilty on all counts in a trial watched by the world.

Diversity is a British street dance troupe formed in 2007 and based in London. They are best known for winning the 3rd series of Britain’s Got Talent in 2009.

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Affairs

Ian Wright:

Home Truths E x-footballer Ian Wright investigates the effect growing up in a psychologically abusive and violent home has on children in the UK. In the last year, 1.6 million women experienced domestic abuse, and in 90% of domestic abuse cases there is a child present. As well as coming to terms with his own experience, Ian sets out to understand the impact this kind of childhood can have on kids growing up now and on the adults they will become.

After returning to his childhood home for the first time in 50 years to revisit his past, Ian decides to travel across the UK to meet other people who have experienced domestic abuse in their childhoods, as well as to meet professionals to talk through his own trauma. Ian discovers how things have changed since he grew up in the 1970s, and he finds out how children are supported in the UK today by visiting his former primary school and observing local and charity-led initiatives.

In the final leg of his journey, Ian visits a charity that works with people at risk of committing, or who have already committed, domestic abuse and meets a man who is on a course to help him understand and change his behaviour. Ian discovers how abuse can become a dangerous cycle and emotionally reveals that he is now able to begin to forgive his mother and move on from the past. Upon reflection, he concludes that ‘abuse creates a vicious cycle - it’s up to all of us to stop it’.

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Freedom

Is Mine

By FAYIDA JAILLER

T

Italy

he black presence in Italy dates back to Portrait of a Young Black Man Italy the Roman empire. Over time, Rome (c. 1760s) by Alessandro Longhi developed trading networks across Northern Africa, and oftentimes, Egypt on to join a Franciscan Friary in was the gateway for transporting African products Palermo where he rose up the ranks such as wood, ivory, spices, animals and enslaved to Guardian of the Community. He people. died aged sixty-five in 1589 in Sicily There have been several Roman emperors of and became the patron of the city African origin, including the militaristic Septimius ici Palermo.

Alessandro De Med Severus who was born in modern-day Libya, and Another notable 16th century

by Angolo Brozino his son Caracalla who ruled after his Afro-Italian is Alessandro father’s death. de Medici, who was the first duke of After the Roman empire came to Florence and by some accounts, the an end, the black presence in Italy first Afrodescedant head of State in the was less frequently documented. modern Western world. He was born in Unlike several other major European 1510 to an enslaved woman of African powers, Italy did not participate in a descent and a nobleman from the Medici significant way in the Transatlantic family, a powerful family of merchants and Slave Trade. bankers in Florence. After much political Italy was in some ways involved conflict, the new Florentine Constitution however, by proxy of other slavewas declared in 1532 and Alessandro was trading European powers. In 1440 made the hereditary Duke of Florence. He Benedict the Moo the Portuguese opened a trading r ruled until 1537 when he was assassinated route between Mediterranean Europe by his cousin and rival Lorenzino de Medici. and the West coast of Africa, and the port cities of Fast forward in history and it’s worth mentioning Genoa and Venice became slave trading ports. that over the 19th and 20th century, Italy was visited There is therefore, evidence of a black presence by several prominent African-American writers, in Italy thorough the centuries. One prominent artists, actors and activists including Frederick example of a prominent Afro-Italian from history is Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Langston Hughes Benedict the Moor who in 1807 became the first and Mary Church Terrel. black canonical saint. Born in Sicily, Benedict went A major milestone in Italy’s black history was the ‘Scramble for Africa’, a period of rapid colonial invasion and expansion in Africa by various European powers. Italy also participated, and from 1890 to the 1940’s, Italy had colonial territories in Africa, namely the present-day countries of Libya, Eritrea, Somalia and Ethiopia. However, the events of the Second World War took their toll, and Italy relinquished control its African colonial territories from 1941 to 1947.

Today, digital platforms like Nappytalia and AfroItalian Souls unite and celebrate the African diaspora in Italy.

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Black Roman statue

by Pinterest

White Privilege in Action

I

NOELLE PALMER’S STORY

have been hesitant to talk about my son through all of this.

I did not want to use his blackness as a platform. Being an adoptive mother of a black son does NOT give me any first-hand knowledge or experience of what it is like to live in black skin. Even when we had our encounters with racism, I had the power of my white privilege to stand up for my rights.

I do have second-hand knowledge (so to speak) as a witness of racial profiling and the secondary pain of one who loves my son. However, as I see so much pushback of those scrambling to continue to blame black people for their encounters with law enforcement, I wanted to share a couple of stories with the hope that scales can be lifted.

My family moved to a new home after my husband was relocated. We purchased a home that had been empty for about six months. We arrived the day before the moving truck to prep the home. I was inside painting, and my 14-year-old son was raking the leaves in the front yard. Within the FIRST HOUR of my son out front, I hear the sound of cars racing down the street. I go outside to find THREE squad cars parked in my driveway and police rushing out of the vehicle. I had no fear of the police, as why would I? And I walk right up to them to inquire what is going on. I could clearly see, the moment they saw me, I saw in their faces and change demeanour, instant calm. They explained that somebody called to report that there was “somebody” at this house who is not supposed to be there.

All I had to do was say I was the new owner, and they took my word for it and left.

So many questions: Why did that person who called ASSUME that a 14-year-old child raking leaves was up to no good, breaking some kind of crime that merited calling the police? Why THREE squad cars in response to a 14-year-old kid raking leaves? Why did my presence instantly calm them? Why did they simply take my word that I was the new homeowner without asking me for proof? I will leave those deductions for others to derive.

Another day, while driving on an open road, I sped up to pass a car. In the process of doing so, I was driving over the speed limit. Perfect place, perfect time, passed right by the police. I get pulled over for breaking the law. I BROKE THE LAW! It took unusually long for the officers to get out of the car, and I could see them talking to each other. Each got out, slowly approached my car with their hands on their guns. That had never happened to me before, so I thought it strange. As the officer cautiously approached my window, I already had my license out and was holding it to the window. She didn’t take it. Instead, she was looking at my passenger, my 15-year-old passenger. She asked me, “Are YOU, okay Mam?” She stared at him with a look I had never seen in an officer before…it was like she was afraid.

Again, I gestured for her to take my license. She asked me for my passenger’s driver’s license. I said clearly stated, he is only 15 and does not have a license. She then asked for his school ID, and I said it was a Sunday and he does not have it with him. I explained, “he is my son.” She then requested his Social Security number. Had I known then what I know now, I would have protested in that instant. But I was so confused; I was not used to this kind of police interaction. I provided his SS number.

The two officers proceeded to go back to the car. 45 MINUTES we sat there, waiting, while they ran their background checks.

They were checking NOT on me, but rather on my son. This became clear when they provided me with information about my son when returning to the car. I stated, “I would like to get out of my car to speak with you.” Hand shot right back on her gun, again asking, “Are you okay, Ma’am?” I said I was fine but would like to step out of the car and speak to them. They allowed me, and again I was able to use my whiteness as privilege and power to confront them on this racial profiling, with no fear of retaliation.

So many questions. Why was the assumption that I was in danger and in need of help? Why was the focus on a 15-year-old child when I was the one who broke the law?

These are only two events, of the many, where my son was under scrutiny, for no reason, other than the colour of his skin.

My son was considered a threat or assumed that he was doing wrong, based on the colour of his skin.

My skin “vouched” for him. My skin “made him okay.” My skin had the power to push back against racial profiling and inequality—my skin.

In all my interactions with law enforcement, I have been able to reason with, and I have been listened to. My word and report have been considered and accepted. Even in instances related to my work in crisis situations, I have been able to use my power (skin colour) to push back when I feel the officers were not handling the situation appropriately….and they have backed down.

For the first 40 years of my life, I had NO experiences even remotely resembling those of what our brothers and sisters with black and brown skin spoke about. I have benefited from being listened to, so I assumed that there must be something wrong with the way others speak to law enforcement was the problem.

I, too, had the instinct to react to those stories with disbelief, as I had no personal reference that I could draw to make that connection. I, too, reacted in all those implicit biases that it must be because they are breaking the law or doing something to deserve the officer treatment they received. I had my lens.

And like many of us, I gauged my lens against the lens of others experiences and assumed my lens was the correct lens.

Beg my pardon for what I am about to say next. It may come across as brazen and maybe even ruffle some feathers. When it comes to systemic racism and police brutality against those with black and brown skin, we as a white collective have no grounds to have an opinion that rejects its reality. Just because we have not experienced it, it does not mean it is not a reality. And in fact, the fact we have not experienced it gives further proof to the reality that it is a racial issue. Please, my brothers and sisters, rip off those scales and become a part of the solution.

UPDATE: Check out this PODCAST: Let’s Keep the Conversation Going.

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Black History

Library

What’s on the Screen?

Fayida’s Black History in 60 Seconds

Prince Hall: The Founder Of Black Freemasonry

Have you heard of Prince Hall, nicknamed “the Founder of Black Freemasonry”?

Born around 1735, throughout his lifetime Prince Hall tirelessly lobbied for African-Americans to have equal access to education, the military and most of all Freemasonry. He eventually founded the first black Freemasons lodge.

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PRINCE HALL MASONS (1784 - )

Cinema/Video

W

n o s ’ t a h

t

e h

r c S

? n ee

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Yasuke

In a war-torn feudal Japan filled with mechs and magic, the greatest ronin never known, Yasuke, struggles to maintain a peaceful existence after a past life of violence. But when a local village becomes the center of social upheaval between warring daimyo, Yasuke must take up his sword and transport a mysterious child who is the target of dark forces and bloodthirsty warlords. Credit: Netflix

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She’s the One

Join us for the UK online premiere of new British romantic-comedy ‘She’s The One’ from director Fredi Nwaka on Sunday 16th May (5.00pm).

Credit: Kush TV

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9

The Beloved

The only time Morrison authorized a film adaptation of one of her books was with Beloved, which she allowed Oprah Winfrey to option on 1987. 11 years later, Winfrey was finally able to bring it to the screen, with the added support of director Jonathan Demme. Winfrey stars as Sethe, a former slave confronted by the secrets that have haunted her for years. When an an old friend (Danny Glover) unexpectedly reenters her life, Sethe begins to slowly rediscover who she is—until a mysterious young woman (Thandie Newton) appears on their doorstep one day. Credit: the coolidge 10 Transform your viewing...

Undefeated

Undefeated Official Trailer #1 - Academy Award Nominated Documentary (2011) Credit: Movieclips trailers Transform your viewing...

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Who Are The San Bushmen?

The World’s Oldest People Credit: Rastafari TV

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Monster

Monster tells the story of Steve Harmon (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) a seventeen-year-old honor student whose world comes crashing down around him when he is charged with felony murder. The film follows his dramatic journey from a smart, likeable film student from Harlem attending an elite high school through a complex legal battle that could leave him spending the rest of his life in prison. Credit: Netflix

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Kingdom Come

When her husband keels over from a stroke, Raynelle Slocumb (Whoopi Goldberg) calls the entire clan together. Family tensions reach a comedic boil as the wildly dysfunctional Slocumbs squabble and fight their way to the funeral. Reparto: Jada Pinkett, Vivica A. Fox, Whoopi Goldberg, LL Cool J., Loretta Devine, Toni Braxton, Cedric the Entertainer, Darius McCrary, Anthony Anderson, Masasa, Dominic Hoffman.

Credit: sonysloba 14 Transform your viewing...

Viewer’s Choice

This week from Nathan L. Croydon, UK

Overcomer

Life changes overnight for coach John Harrison when his high school basketball team and state championship dreams are crushed under the weight of unexpected news. When the largest manufacturing plant shuts down and hundreds of families leave their town, John questions how he and his family will face an uncertain future. After If you want to reluctantly agreeing to coach cross-country, John and his wife, share a special movie/ Amy, meet an aspiring athlete who’s pushing her limits on a journey TV programme with toward discovery. Inspired by the words and prayers of a new-found the Butterfly Magazine friend, John becomes the least likely coach helping the least likely viewers submit to: runner attempt the impossible in the biggest race of the year. editor@butterflymagazine.net Credit: Sony/Kendrick Brothers

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Viewer’s Choice

This week from Levi L. London. UK

Breakthrough

When he was 14, Smith drowned in Lake St. Louis and was dead for nearly an hour. According to reports at the time, CPR was performed 27 minutes to no avail. Then the youth’s mother, Joyce Smith, entered the room, praying loudly. Suddenly, there was a pulse, and Smith came around. Credit: Rapid Trailer

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Black

Arts

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Chenzira Ayoka is a black visual artist hailing from 1950’s Philadelphia.

While her name sounds born out of Africa, Chenzira is an artist completely birthed by African American art culture.

By Efosa Osaghae

A

s a graduate of The College other black independent filmmakers. This of New Rochelle in New York, includes her 1993 film “Alma’s Rainbow” which her intro in the art world came detailed the interplay between a beauty store through academia. She read owner and a showbiz aunt. film, photography and at New Indirectly, she has influenced Black Cinema York University delved further into the craft of forever. Yet as a name, she is filmmaking. not overly recognisable.

It was at university that As a filmmaker she predates she created her first short film the likes of Spike Lee and John “They Dance to her Drum” which Singleton - who are some of documents the story of concert the first names young budding dancer and her former teacher, black filmmakers look to Syvilla Fort. reference when they consider As an artist, Chenzira is inspiration. a maverick and pioneer. She As her films are quite was one of the first African obscure, they are hard to find.

American artists to utilize the They are so hard to find medium of film to full capacity. that even trailers are elusive.

Chenzira is also the first However you can see the African American female behind the scenes of her work animator which is further via either direct interviews or evidence of her cutting-edge Ayoka Chenzira Making of BTS footage of her sets. sensibilities as an artist. She is a interactive film HERadventure filmmaker who likes leading Black The above video dives into culture into the unknown. a coming-of-age story of a reluctant female warrior. The film is told through the guise of Her first feature films were produced interactivity which again highlights Chenzira’s completely outside of the mainstream studio penchant for novelty. system and paved the way forward for many Transform your viewing...

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IChurch

The Golden Voices (2018) The Golden Voices Competition will be at Terrell Christian College this year, but they don’t have a choir. The Assistant Dean of TCC forces Georgia, head of the music department, to put together a choir or lose her job. Georgia gets injured and her granddaughter, Sidney helps out. Sidney hires a former R&B singer with a shady past, Jax, to help with the choir. The Dean finds out about Jax’s history and threatens to fire Georgia again if they don’t win. Credit: Deep C Digital

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Laughter

Eight-year-old author

Miscommunication

Cars

Dancers extraordinaire

You have one thing to do don’t mess up!

The Vaccine Come Transform your viewing...

21

Credit: BET/DJ Cassidy

Last Word

Every day is Mother’s Day

Pass the Mic BET Mothers’ Day Edition