Dissecting Black History Month PART 2
Posted on 20. Oct, 2009 by admin in Education, Politics, World
“The Africans living in the Western Hemisphere should be sensitive to the fact that the slaves ships coming from Africa to the so called new world brought no West Indians, no black Americans, no South Americans. They brought African people who had to adjust to the conditions where the slave ships put them down. It is by sheer accident that some Africans away from home are called Jamaicans, some Trinidadians, Barbadians and some called African Americans. They are all African people reacting to different forms of oppression” John Henrik Clarke
My generation of Africans in this country were pivotal in creating their own unique music genre; a raw sound that lamented the streets and surmised our story and our reality. Did we learn from the mistakes of Hip Hop in the states? No and we allowed for it to be defined as “Grime” and exercised no control over it.
So now corporate thugs dictate to us how the music should sound and to some extent what the artist should say. Let’s be honest recent chart topping grime artist cannot be put in the same bracket as Dizzee Rascal’s “Boy In The Corner”, So Solid “They Don’t Know” or More Fire Crew’s “Oi”. Whether we agree or disagree with their lyrical content or lifestyle, one thing we must agree on is that they embodied the innovative sound of a generation whilst in more recent times artist embody Simon Cowell’s sound. I feel this is a micro example of what happens with Africans on a macro scale.
“History is a people’s memory, and without a memory, man is demoted to the lower animals” – Malcolm X
John Archer born in Liverpool 1863 went onto become the first black mayor in this country so lets fast forward to the 1980’s Labour Black Section Group compromised of Bernie Grant, Keith Vaz, Paul Boateng and Diane Abbott. Now take a look at what Keith Vaz has helped to build in Leicester for the Asian community of Leicester and then tell me if you feel any African community in this country has managed to provide the same (although I take nothing away from Bernie Grants effort).
“Freedom is not handed down from one generation to another. Each generation must assume the responsibility of securing their manhood, their womanhood, and their definition of their being on earth. Until we accept the full responsibility of our freedom, until we house ourselves, feed ourselves, and clothe ourselves, we will not be free. That, in the final analysis, is nationhood.” - Dr. John Henrik Clarke
Is it me or has that party which hates Africans grown since this time last year? What would the Africans in England of 1596 think about the BNP? I want to hear their story. Considering how they were fighting against racist immigration policies outlined in Queen Elizabeth I letter which demanded Africans were expelled from this country.
Apparently apart from being slaves we were taking all of the jobs. I acknowledge the argument that both political parties are merely wings of the same bird. But this does not justify being apolitical. One must scrutinise the policies of both parties and decide which party they can negate with the most. Politics is a way of life and if you are opposed to mainstream politics then take part in communal grass root politics but NEVER be apolitical and just go with flow, then you only yourself to blame if things get worse. Did Thomas Peters (1791) politically active in vain?
To those that reside in Britain. If you choose to only acknowledge world history in its entirety once a year than that’s your choice but not only is the Marcus Garvey Library and George Padmore Institute open for longer than a month’s duration. As you walk through the buildings, streets and tunnels of old in many respects you are walking past African history. African history is all around you 365 days of the year so all you have to do is open your eyes and look at it.
Written by Kwabena O A
Pic Sources
http://scicultura.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/underexposed.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1235/771107672_a8501891c4.jpg
