December 2015v2

BLACK -

Raising Awareness & Sharing Information

Ma’liCiouZ

CO N F O R M I T Y TH E N EW O PPRESS ION Kristy Pearce

Do we all look alike?

News Issue 48

dering how the liver patches on Coral’s face did not differentiate one woman from the other and not only that, why she hadn’t noticed that Lottie’s eyes were smaller, her lips were thinner and legs slimmer?

DO ALL BLACKS LOOK ALIKE? EDITORIAL

I was working away from home at a place I help out at a couple days a week, where there are three black ladies including me, and the rest are white. One of the black ladies, called ‘Lottie’ came bursting in the room saying with some indignation: “Jenny just called me Coral - how could she get mixed up with Coral!?” I understood why Lottie was confused. Coral, while she was also black, was two shades lighter than her; her hair, whilst curly, was about 3 inches longer and Coral was much heavier. Coral also had a liver deficiency, which caused her to have white patches on her face and neck and, in addition to that, their styling was different.

If “we all look alike”, which seems to be the case, just because we have similar hairstyles and status – (because that is what it amounts to), it is no wonder why a black person gets prosecuted and does a jail term for a crime s/he did not commit!

It is quite disturbing actually – I could never get any of our white colleagues mixed up. Lottie and Coral look totally different and if our white colleagues would take the time to examine who they were interacting with, life-impacting mistakes like this would not happen.

My colleague was offended, because she could not understand how she could be confused with someone who, in her eyes (and mine) looked totally different.

“It’s scary, she said - it was no wonder our black children get arrested for things they didn’t do, if people who I work with 5 days a week for 8 hours a day, cannot identify me correctly - what chance does a young man have who has just been glimpsed through a shop window?” I had to agree with her.

White people with in-born prejudices that make them lazy, need to show genuine interest in black people as individuals, and not see us as a collective or a mass of people who all look the same because a black person’s livelihood can be adversely affected just because a white person hasn’t ‘t bothered to pay attention.

I decided to ask a white colleague (who had been working with Lottie for over a year), if she could explain how Coral and Lottie could be mistaken for each other. The white woman responded cautiously: “I can see why … they are both dark skinned, they both have the same type of hair, they are both of similar build, and they both hold senior positions” I wanted to say “but what about did dyam marks pan her face – and what has her senior position got to do with her appearance?”

The Editor.

Lottie and I were frustrated. We were both won1

hearts flutter, as part of the launch of a new fundraising partnership between Britain’s leading services provider to today’s over 50s and the nation’s heart charity As part of the partnership Saga will be publicising the work of the BHF to Saga customers and jointly promoting fundraising activities. Saga aims to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds over the course of the partnership.

Professor Andrew Steptoe, BHF Chair of Psychology at University College London said: “There is a serious side to thinking about love and affection as we grow older. Clinical research has shown that people who enjoy high levels of emotional support and who have lots of social connections are at reduced risk for developing coronary heart disease.

DO HEARTS STILL FLUTTER WHEN YOU ARE OVER 50?

Hearts fluttering, spontaneous romance and love at first sight might sound like the pages of Mills and Boon or at least teenage fantasy, but hearts are racing a plenty amongst the over 50s too - according to a study by Saga and the British Heart Foundation.

“On the other hand, family discord and conflict between partners may raise risk. There are direct links between these emotional states and our biological responses in everyday life. With research funding from the British Heart Foundation, we are trying to understand these processes in detail, so that we can work out exactly how our emotional lives affect the heart.

36% of over 50s consider themselves more spontaneous now than they were in their 20s and 30s and the numbers of over 50s claiming to live life to the full actually increases the further over 50 they get.

Andrew Goodsell, Chief Executive, Saga Group said: “It is good to know that today’s over 50s are making the most of love and romance and better still, that this is good for our hearts. We are proud to be working with the British Heart Foundation and I am confident that working together we will raise money and awareness of why the nation’s over 50s should keep fit, healthy and active.”

This certainly applies to over 50s’ love lives as over one in four proclaim to feel more romantic the older they get, and over half believe in love at first sight, 6% more than cynical under 50s. 69% of over 50s consider themselves romantic; a sentiment put into practice when, as part of the study, the majority lovingly picked their husband, wife or partner as a dream date even when they could have picked celebrities such as Idris Elba and Pauline Long.

Blackbright News

Douglas Rouse, Head of Corporate Partnerships at the British Heart Foundation said: “The money raised through our fundraising partnership with Saga, will help us in our fight against heart disease, which remains the UK’s biggest killer. Through this partnership, we will highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy heart, so romance can continue to blossom for the over 50s.”

Myrna Loy, Founder & Managing Editor

• The Fluttering Hearts survey was carried out for Saga and the BHF by TNS PhoneBus. A representative sample of 1017 GB adults were interviewed by telephone from 21-23 July.

FRONT COVER - COURTESY OF MA’LICIOUZ, ARTIST

• The ideal celebrity date survey was carried out for Saga and the BHF by TNS OnLineBus. A representative sample of 1011 adults were surveyed online from 25-27 July.

These over 50s Casanovas were discovered by Saga and BHF as they investigated what makes

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Ma’liCiouZ | Afro Urban Art – Painter – Muralist - Illustrator “My art is a strong affirmation of identity in which I evokes a sacred gasoline through characters with Negroid features and under franc on a background reminiscent of a very influential changing environment. Sailing between ‘Remember! Where and who are you? ‘ I affirm and questions using mostly painting and aerosol as mediums and body painting and graphic arts. My art is African, urban, contemporary”.

Born in 1989, Ma’liCiouZ is a visual artist, Montreal of Haitian origin.

She says in her art she built her identity affirmation by the forces of his people rather than on the challenge and injury history. His works are tinged with tribal aesthetics and references the myths of the cradle of humanity that it fits the time.

From 2011 to 2014, Ma’liCiouZ exposes several times and is done collectively by recognizing its many live painting performance that leads him to represent Montreal at the National Art Battle final in 2014.

It was during this same year she held her first solo exhibition at Gallery 203, participates in the implementation of a collective mural in Haiti. She also received a scholarship from the foundation created Michaëlle Jean then participate in the exhibition the fourth wall at the Museum of Fine Arts.

Ma’liCiouZ has held many Solo, Group an Living Painting Exhibitions and won many awards.

HONORS AND AWARDS 2014 - Gatineau - Advanced category 2nd prize - Annual

Graffiti Contest

2014 - Gatineau - Price Blow of Heart STO - Annual Competition of Graffiti

2014 - Longueil - 2nd prize - Graffiti Contest - Percussion Festival

2014 - Montreal - Art Battle Winner 144 - Final MTL

2014 - Montreal - Creation Grant - 4th Wall of the Michaëlle

Jean Foundation

2014 - Montreal - Tribute to the Haitian painting

2013 - Montreal - Winner of Art Battle 68

2009 - Montreal - heart stroke Price Challenge Female Entrepreneurship in Company F

TO SEE MALCIOUZ’S WORKS - CHECK HER WEBSITE

The Expression of Identity The young woman has developed her artistic vocation in shaping her identity and her art is inseparable from its origins. She stopped watching TV because she saw very few models who looked like her, so in her works she represents. It shows how she sees herself and how she wants to be (see “Aset” via www.maliciouz.com), she painted many portraits of black women in an African-inspired style caribéene. Her work is tinged tribal aesthetics and various references to myths and history of the 3 cradle of humanity that it fits the time.

Routes of Expression The will to find the public led Maliciouz diversify mediums: painting on clothes, street art, airbrush, graphic art ... As a teenager, she dreamed of starting a clothing brand, she was trained in business start then graphic design, before finding its way into the visual arts. Now she practices more often hoping it will also speak to the media arts.

Negritude Ma’liCiouZ affirms her identity in his art. In lack of models in which to recognize, she drew on his heart and the deep roots of negritude positive identity markers that correspond to his spiritual vision. Ma’liCiouZ expresses a message of love, it exposes a black identity soothed which is built by assertion rather than differentiation. It focuses on the strengths of its people rather than protest and the wounds of history, not by choice but by forgetfulness. She recognizes in Pan-Africanism.

The Human Malice The pseudonym Ma’liCiouZ o alternate between playfulness and pettiness. Ma’liCiouZ believes in the power and energy that emerges around us, a Love and energy she calls she made her faith, detached religions (see “Adam and Eve” it represents Aboriginal woman and black man). His works are imbued this powerful will to exist in harmony with the universe: It uses bright colors, draws characters with traits assertive, proud and peaceful character. It seeks to recreate the vibrations, the atmospheres

she feels about his characters. A surprising sweetness emerges from its work resulting from the balance of all these forces within his compositions

www.maliciouz.com

Ma’liCiouZ is a young multi-disciplinary artist of Haitian origin now based in Montreal.

Maliciouz honours her people rather than contestation and the wounds of history. Her works are tinged with tribal aesthetics and various references to Black myths that she adapts to the contemporary times.

Malicouz has competed in 2 Montreal events this season, dominating the competition on both occasions with her visceral and regal dipictions. We can’t wait to see if she can keep up her winning streak against Canada’s best live painters, in the 2014 Art Battle National Championship.

The Spirit of Queens ‘Thy Queendom come’

by Myrna Loy A review by Patricia Lashley-Charles

Review of Spirit of Queens

By Desmond Edward

This book is a black woman’s treasure and indeed a wonderful delight for ALL women and the younger generation. Its healing nature is a true gift to behold with daily mantras to soothe the soul.

In the preamble for this latest collection of poems from Myrna Loy, she states that this is “an organic work without format, effort or interruption” Well if this is what she’s capable of without effort then we have a veritable treasure chest to look forward to when she applies herself fully.

An avid Historian on Black History, Myrna Loy is no stranger to the Arts, both with her visual and published works. Her love of African history is deeply embedded in this latest book of Poetry as she acquires the wisdom of her ancestors through dreams in Akhenaton, recalling of past lives in Our Queendom come, her spiritual purpose unfolds in The Unbroken Queen, and an understanding of her earthly path in Ancestral Queen. She proudly and bravely shares this journey with us. The Spirit of Queens engages the reader to behold the essence of Myrna’s Black British Jamaican heritage and her connection to her African ancestry. She awakens to become an Ancestral queen, proudly aspiring to her full potential, with a powerful purpose and a vision to share with other women and lessons for the young, in Kappatalist and Fear of Greatness.

I embarked on this journey of prose not knowing where it would take me but found myself drawn into a work that uncovered darkness as in “My Regal Dynasty”, Inspiration in “Our Queendom Come”, History in “Akhenaton”, Soul searching in “Unlock the key to the Queendom” and so it went on….

Each piece posed questions, proffered answers, delivering strength and vulnerability in equal measure, not showing fear nor ego but challenging me to partake of this particular black queens perceptions.

This Artist is unlocking the key to spiritual wisdom as she writes ‘You were not created to be locked inside; so claim your birthright, stand tall with pride.’ She boldly challenges our fear of greatness and nourishes our souls with pros to encapsulate the essence and sweetness of our melanin. In Blue mountain skin, she teaches a deep love of self: I am black and unique.

Onwards the journey continued to the very impactful “Kappatalist” which delivers a powerful narrative on the plight of people in modern society to my favourite “Whispers” which whilst quite minimalist in volume has maximum punch.

In opening the treasure My Regal Dynasty, Loy challenges centuries of mental enslavement to unearth the truth behind the lies, and awaken a deeper connection to our African history. In Candace - Look in the history books to see where I’m written; you may not believe it, but you are forgiven.

Yes – I can see the organic nature of this work but at the same time I sense it’s a work with some historic context that’s been fighting to leave the fingertips of the author and find its place before the eyes of the reader.

Well done Myrna Loy!!

I FULLY ENJOYED THE JOURNEY…………..

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CONFORMITY - THE NEW OPPRESSION

By Kristy Pearce

A very wise and articulate woman once said, ‘If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.’ Maya Angelou.

female, through the eyes of the media and society.

However, more commonly at present, after all these years of suppressing African beauty and uniqueness, women are now seeking surgery to give the illusion of a fuller and curvier figure. Women of white heritage using this new ‘sexually appealing statement’ to become more desirable to men, after subjecting black women (whom are naturally built this way) to scrutiny and constant criticism over the matter. This is hypocrisy at its best.

Could we apply that same ethos to the public perception surrounding the diversity of cultures in Great Britain today?

I say ‘Great Britain’, in a bid to be coy, because I have to question how a country and its’ population can be classed as ‘Great’ when those whom dare to stand out and be different are condemned as ‘attention seekers’ or ‘deviants’ maybe, and those who embrace their unique origins are seen as a threat? In this country it is easier to blend in and conform, to blur the unique and colourful heritage of those diverse cultures and live the ‘white supremacist way’. But is the white way the right way? With these types of restrictions in which we abide by, there is no room for real growth.

There is the bigger issue of racial profiling by authoritative figures who are bodies of the community that take an oath of protecting the public and reducing crime within our communities, however such bodies are abusing their power by wrongfully racially stereotyping. How can you expect our multicultural nation to feel safeguarded by these police officials? It goes against anyone’s human rights to be stopped and searched, not to mention humiliated in public, all because an individual dressed in a tracksuit, or is seen to be from a gang for example. The following statistics that have been reported through various national papers are shocking, yet the right to be ‘stopped and searched’ by the police has not yet been banned. This is extremely problematic, as the government and police officials are beginning to see, people are speaking up (A good example of this would be the campaign in the USA, Black Lives Matter), and the relationship between the public especially those from African and Caribbean descent is severely fractured.

What is seen to be beautiful and alluring in a female is the false stereotype of the slim, blonde haired, blue eyed and yes pale skinned lady. This is a subjective and false illusion.

What makes every culture and the demographic within them unique is that element which differentiates between each culture. This is a beautiful thing, diversity, variation, to possess the ability to stand out for just being simply who you are, and not being led to believe that there is fault within that notion. This nation is host to millions of aspiring young individuals, with urges to do more, see more and learn more. Yet there is a barrier segregating the minorities, when in essence with this young budding demographic, why aren’t people trying to broaden their knowledge and experiences involving themselves in cultures which are new and possess a whole different account on history. Why is change and difference seen in such a negative way? When the truth of the matter is a lot of what we see today in Britain are manifestos from an array of cultures and origins for instance, fashion styles, how we identify ourselves, the foods we eat, hobbies etc.

The curvaceous body of the African or West Indian women were seen as too much of a fuller figure for an ‘attractive’

The BBC Reported in 1998;

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BBC Social Affairs Correspondent Reeta Chakrabati: “People of African and Caribbean descent are around five times more likely to be stopped and searched as white people. They also make up a much higher proportion in prison than might be expected in the general population.”

me and the father of my two children weren’t to last.

And as a single parent over the past 5 years I had found that before people met my children they had all assumed my children were of white origin. So I was seen to be this strong independent woman, taking on the sole responsibility of my two children along with immersing myself in topics of study at college. People really thought I was amazing, until some of those people met my children and had seen there mixed heritage, soon their approach towards me changed, as if they had assumed my being a single parent was the result of having children with a man outside of my own culture. I am proud to have two wonderfully beautiful children of a uniquely mixed culture, they are the best thing to ever come out of my life and no one will ever take that from them or me.

14 years later the racial profiling has reportedly increased with The Guardian newspaper in 2012 stating;

‘Police forces are up to 28 times more likely to use stopand-search powers against black people than white people and may be breaking the law, new research from the official human rights body reveals.’

The Daily Mail also exposed in 2013 that;

‘In 27 per cent of cases police did not have reasonable grounds the stop and search said being.’

A community contributor Roy Williams, who organises various community projects, and is part of the Lewsey Farm Residential Committee took the time to offer his insight on the topic of cultural division and oppression within Britain today. Roy Williams and his team are a self built community and are very relevant to this topic as they (the YP Founders; Nathan Otto, Roy Williams and Yehoshua Woodford) have managed to put together a community football team the YP Community, in various ways the YP Community have successfully brought together a local demographic which in many ways had drifted apart over the years.

However, I have to ask myself, if these assumptions are made about me, though not one of those white people really knew me nor did they know about the hardships I and the father of my children went through just to be together. How many black women living as single parents are silently discriminated against and ultimately blamed for their struggles just because they are not white, professional white people immediately accepted me before they knew of my children’s origin. So how many hurdles as a black woman raising children alone do they have to overcome before they are accredited with the same strength and heroism as I initially was?

How hard did the black woman have to work and study to gain good jobs if they were to be stereotyped and put down for no worthy reason? We are living in a society where women from all walks of life cannot not relate to each other’s struggle and therefore reduce the chances of unity. White supremacists fail to remember that everybody has a right to life however the vast majority from the lower class are having to break the stereotypical race barriers to gain entitlement to good quality living.

When asked about his thoughts on the division between culture, he discussed the impact of the ‘System’ and the power of oppression it has over young black men. The system has demasculinised the black man, categories of work such as sports and music are seen to be the areas of acceptance and expectancy implicitly showing that black people aren’t seen to have strengths and intelligence for other areas of study or interest. Jobs are lacking in the UK in modern times, so racial discrimination in work interviews are more common but not spoken about. Black women are having to take on both roles in the home, the man and woman. This breaks down the family dynamic and has a recurring effect on the younger generation of black people. More single mothers, and increasing numbers of ‘gangs’ are occurring. Young groups of friends who hanging around certain locations are labelled ‘gangs’ rather than small communities of friends who relate to each others struggle. Who also see each other more as a family than gang members. The collective group of police could be classed a gang, if we are to label in such a way as the police do.

The education system, also plays a major role, with what is instilled in our children, the history they are taught is not very broad. The only black history taught is a synthesised version of slavery which is not allowing children from all walks of life to identify with who they individually are. There is only one black history month a year yet in schools across the nation there is white history day every week. The injustice and bias opinion is a silent weapon being used daily, the system and those who govern our nation are ignorant to what they are allowing to manifest furthermore, they implore it. Written by Kristy Pearce

As a white single mother myself, I have felt the struggle of the single parent life, but not how you would assume; low finances, limited recourses, unemployment etc.

Though that was an issue I found the following to be most troubling. The father of my children was of mixed race origins, and as a young couple we found it difficult to establish our relationship without being stereotyped as ‘the street man and his white trash girlfriend’ it really took for me to see for myself how small minded people could be. Also to realise the struggles black people were up against. To be labelled before anyone really got to know us. Unfortunately due to our personals problems

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on Bay Watch, and when they reach their destination, she is taking off more than just her clothes.

Off with the fake hair, eye lashes, nails, and the left eye ball. “I don’t think so…”

Beauty of a black woman A male’s perspective

By Michael Atkinson I know that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, but I think that I’m an intelligent creature, and mature enough to know what true beauty is. I even have the power to see past the eminent front that people in our society try the50ir best every day to make us see and believe.

And there is one thing I know for sure, I would bet the ranch on it, but I live in a small home, and that is that God’s best creation is a female. The human kind of course.

It takes just a smile, a sincere greeting, the beautiful sparkling eyes that say “I‘m so glad to see you” to send me over the edge.

“How are you doing Michael?”

In that sensual female tone, and it’s all over for me.

This is what I think is beautiful in a (black) women, the simple things. It‘s not about being size “4” or a size “0“ for me, especially when it comes with pure unadulterated attitude. “What have you, or can you, do for me?”

“You don’t make enough money to keep me in the life style I desire.”

Yeah, I really need someone like that in my life.

One morning, all I remember saying was “Good morning” to this young black lady, because I’m such a lovely guy, and what I got back for being such a civilized person was a beautiful smile, and those sparkling eyes that said “Where have you been

all of my life.” You better believe that for the rest of the day, I continued to float on a cloud.

In my humble opinion, and I know that everyone has one, beauty to me is the one that emanates from the person: The kindness, the caring, the sensuality, the sincerity that you couldn’t buy even if you were rich.

Most of the females I love to be around are the ones that do not go around thinking that they are all that, and a bag of potato crisps because they spend all their money trying to look like they deserve to be on the front cover of a magazine.

The girls I like are so naturally beautiful that I doubt that they even know that there are men out there who are foaming at the mouth over them, only because they know that they didn’t deliberately go out to starve themselves, get fake tans, hair, nails, and other appendages to attract a man. They know deep down inside that whoever likes them for them, because they did not lie to the person physically. The last thing a man needs is to think that he pulled a female that belonged

No! This has to be wrong. I like the natural and beautiful black females that did not go out of their way to conform to the pressures of their peers and the media, who are all telling them that if they have any chance of being a “Ten” in this new society, they have to bleach themselves, and get down to the size of a mannequin.

God’s best creation to me are the beautiful and delicate ones, even though some of them try their best to be hard, and the most modern of militant women, “I don’t need no damn man in my life.“ Mmm… After these ladies take a breath, and let their bullet proof shield down, let a brother near them, this is when you see their true beauty shine, whether they wanted it to or not. I know that there are a lot of brothers that play these lovely women like a lottery ticket, and that’s why a girl has to be on point like a pin, every minute of the day, but let me tell you, true brothers (like myself), hate these guys even more than the girls that they go around hurting, because brothers like me are the ones that get tarred with the same brush as these Neanderthals, and end up sitting in our lonely rooms at night, watching East Enders.

One of my friends, who lives to love big, healthy (as he likes to call them), black, and beautiful ladies told me one day, “Michael, when you go to the butchers, what do you look for. I’m sure you

Myrna broaches topics on being judged and defiled as a woman, exploring feelings of incompletion and the struggle to own her voice.

don’t pick out the bone without the meat on it. Do you?” He had a valid point, and ever since then I have never been one to go out in search of skeletons like some disturbed archeologist.

I love my big, black, and beautiful girls out there.

“Word up!” I’m telling ya’ll, I don’t want a girl that has less breasts than me, a bigger six pack than Tupac, and hands bigger than Lennox Lewis’. “I don’t think so…”

I love a female to look like a female, have a shape like a female, and act like a female, and not some scary gang banging female that I’m afraid is going to kill me if I don’t rob a jewelry store for her before the night is through.

She journeys on her path to discover spiritual consciousness that seeks to awaken her quest for a greater connection with our ancestors’ early beginnings in Africa, to appreciate the essence of who she is becoming. Seeking and asking questions of God and man that will only be revealed as she continues on this spiritual path, she asks: ‘Did the Goddess come first or did she come later?’ Who am I?’

God’s best creation are females, and that’s all there is to it. Even he knew what a creature he created, because he even made them in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and you can’t beat that with a bat.

I thank the Lord up above for our beautiful sisters.

Can I get an “Amen.”

To quote from her introduction ‘A steady flow of whispers ruminating in the gallows of noise until they surfaced and captured my attention. It was as if the words were prompted by spirits and magically arranged themselves on the pages.’

Michael Atkinson.

In the heart of Myrna’s book reveals a quest for love and a longing for companionship that cherishes and honours the love between the black man and woman - the original King and Queen. So thus her journey to ‘Queendom’ unfolds in this volume of sacred soul work. A book of 23 heart-filled pros and poems, spiritually guided, self-searching, selffulfilling and profoundly encouraging. In Whispers 7 – I am Myrna Loy – a Limited Edition. We are living in the age of knowing, so Myrna, standing tall and proud on her Blue Mountain, beckons us to arise and awake to our authentic self.

Review of Spirit of Queens was written by Patricia Lashley-Charles (Sept, 2015)

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But I’m worried on two fronts: firstly, if the amount of spin that is being put out in the build-up to the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the trade in slaves in March is anything to go by, I wonder how accurately the history of the transatlantic slave trade will be taught.

Don’t just teach children the abolition of slavery, says Michael Eboda... ...

Show them the richness of their culture and past.

Wherever you turn at the moment, someone is trying to glamourise the abolition with stories about how morally wealthy Britain was for getting rid of the trade.

The truth is that slavery was not abolished at all in 1807 - what happened was that British ships were forbidden to carry slaves. And that had more to do with economics (Adam Smith had opposed slavery on economic and moral grounds) and the successful slave rebellion in Haiti than any sudden awakening of conscience by Parliament.

EducationGuardian.co.uk

For the past fifteen years, my newspaper has campaigned for African and Caribbean history to be taught in schools.

It is our fervent belief that one of the reasons so many black kids are not performing well at GCSE is because much of what they are being taught has very little resonance with who they are. Nowhere is this more evident than in the subject of history, the syllabus of which at present is dominated by the story of Britain and to a lesser extent Europe, with some bits and pieces thrown in about the rest of the world.

Indeed, according to Bury The Chains by Adam Hochschild, William Wilberforce is wrongly credited with abolishing slavery, and said in his final speech to Parliament that the way forward for the slavers was to continue their trade through a slave breeding process.

When I was at school in Britain, until I was 14, stories of the exploits of the Tudors and Stuarts held little interest for me.

But when I left to finish off my secondary schooling in Nigeria and learnt the history of West Africa along with European history, I was so fascinated and could relate to the subject so easily that I went on to study it at A-level and even considered doing a degree in it. It gave me a sense of pride and belonging.

Very little of this is being talked about in the run-up to March, and I wonder how much it will be debated in schools.

Secondly and most importantly, the history of Africa predates slavery by thousands of years. And merely concentrating on a period in time during which Europeans lorded it over black people simply reinforces all the negative stereotypes that started racism in the first place.

I’m not saying there is anything wrong in teaching British and European history in British schools. I’m simply saying that adding a bit of variety in today’s multicultural classrooms would make the subject more interesting, relevant and valuable to a greater number of pupils.

At one point, the government wanted to make it compulsory to study the transatlantic slave trade. So am I jumping for joy at this announcement, which seems to be a step in the right direction? Should Britain’s involvement in the slave trade be taught to our kids? The simple answer, of course, is yes, it should. The more thoughtful answer is: “As part of what?”

Far from being imbued with a sense of pride in their identities, African and Caribbean pupils could well end up feeling inferior, depressed and lose interest in the subject of history as a result. That defeats the purpose.

So, in addition to the slave trade, I want children to be taught about the great empires of Africa, the many innovations that came from African people, and that the continent was pretty much on a par with the rest of the world until slavery decimated it.

In terms of its importance there is no doubt that the 450 years during which the transatlantic slave trade dominated world commerce is probably one of the worst examples of the greed and consequent evil of mankind in the history of the planet.

In short, I want black kids to know that they came from a line of kings and queens long before some of their ancestors were enslaved.

The effect of this peculiarly barbaric form of slavery has been staggering. Without it there would be no African-Americans, no black Brazilians and most Caribbeans would be Arawak.

It underdeveloped Africa and developed Europe as the wealth it generated led almost directly to the industrialisation of Europe. Of course, young people should be made aware of all of that.

Michael Eboda is the editor of New Nation

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Some Black Achievers Men

1 Mo Ibrahim, Founder, Mo Ibrahim Foundation

2 Tidjane Thiam, group finance director, Prudential 3 Damon Buffini, Chairman, Permira

4 John Sentamu, Archbishop of York 5 Trevor Phillips, Chairman, CEHR

6 David Lammy, Skills Minister

7 Rio Ferdinand, Footballer, England

Beating Self-Sabotage

8 Kenneth Olisa, Director, Eurasian Natural Res Corp.

Recognizing and Overcoming It

9 David Adjaye, Architect

“You can’t do that!” “That’s way too difficult!” “If you try, you’ll probably just fail anyway.” These statements sound as if they’re coming from a tyrannical and cruel person with a mission to destroy self-confidence. Unfortunately, all too often, we can be the tyrant and our target can be our self.

10 Daniel Alexander QC, Barrister

Women

1 Baroness Scotland, Attorney General

Negative self-talk is something we have all probably engaged in at some time. When it rears its ugly head on a regular basis it, it can lead to self-sabotage, and can stop us achieving our goals and dreams.

2 Claire Ighodaro, independent director

3 Michelle Ogundehin, editor-in-chief, Elle magazine

What’s worse is that we usually don’t recognize that it’s even happening. Instead, we attribute our lack of success to inadequacy. This, in turn, strengthens the negative messages we feed ourselves, and we get caught in a self-sabotaging cycle that can be very difficult to break.

4 Vivian Hunt, director, McKinsey & Co

5 Pat McGrath, Global Cosmetics Design Director 6 Carol Lake, Managing director: JP Morgan

The tell-tale sign that you are sabotaging your self is when you grind to a halt when you’re trying to achieve your goals, for no rational reason. The skill, ability and desire are there: It’s just that something stops you moving forward.

7 Diane Abbott, MP

8 Tandy Anderson, Chief executive, Select Models 9 Sonita Alleyne, director, Somethin’ Else

10 Abigail Blackburn, editor, Now magazine

When you feel that you can’t do something you should be able to do, or that you shouldn’t do

Judging Panel

something, even though you know deep down that you want or need to do it, that is self-sabotage.

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Baroness Amos (chair); Annmarie Dixon-Barrow, headhunter; Kwame Kwei-Armah, actor and playwright; Michael Prest, physical oil trader.

Self-Sabotage Contd/...

Sabotage is an intentional act of destruction. Someone messes up something on purpose. SelfSabotage is something you do to yourself when you feel you don’t deserve good things to happen to you; when you feel defeated. OR – when you revert to bad habits that work against you. You could get help for these selfsabotaging things that you do to yourself but you may not even know that you are self-sabotaging yourself!

THE BRITISH NEED TO THINK MORE CRITICALLY ABOUT RACE, RELIGION AND ETHNICITY

Are You SELF-SABOTAGING Yourself?

The study of Britain’s involvement in the slave trade is to be made compulsory as part of history lessons in English secondary schools.

James Meikle, Education Correspondent The Guardian

Sabotage kills confidence which sets the downward spiral into motion.

The transportation of millions of Africans to plantations, the role in de-

Acts of Self-Sabotage start with self-sabotaging thoughts:

veloping the British Empire and the legacy of anti-slavery reform in

campaigns such as the civil rights movement will all be required under

Beating yourself up, Playing it too safe, Expecting perfection, Comparing yourself to others, Competing too much, Catastrophising, Struggling with social fears, Experiencing too much anxiety - setting yourself up for self-sabotaging behaviour.

a shake-up of the 11-14 curriculum was announced by the Alan John-

son (Education Secretary, 2007).

The move to make a cornerstone of what is now an optional element

coincides with the bicentenary of slavery’s abolition. Ministers hope it will help pupils understand more about the historical context of the Commonwealth and immigration.

Teenagers will be introduced to campaigners such as Olaudah

Equiano, the 18th-century African slave, merchant and writer, as well

Thoughts –> Feelings –> Actions –> Results

as the better-known abolitionist William Wilberforce.

How to stop the cycle?

Be aware of your thoughts. Turn them around.

Mr Johnson said: “Slavery is at the heart of our history in the last 300

years. It is crucial to confront and understand why slavery happened

and the long-term social and historical impact it has had. We also

Stop beating yourself up when you make mistakes.

Stop catastrophising when the life (and the people in it) do not show up the way you want it/them to.

Compliment yourself. Confidence comes from the inside.

Source: www.intentblog.com

should recognise Britain led the anti-slavery movement, one of the most important reform movements in our history.”

The introduction of these changes, which will be put out for consulta-

tion was planned for 2008. They go far further than the recommendations in a government-commissioned report that topics such as

slavery should be taught as part of a revamped citizenship curriculum.

Mr Johnson said: “This is about ensuring young people understand

what it means to be British today. I want them to think critically about

ethnicity, religion and race and assess our modern-day history through

the lens of our recent past.”

PE lessons will include more emphasis on healthy lifestyles and the

role of exercise in combating obesity. Mr Johnson said pupils should understand how being active benefited them.

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New Beginnings can start at any time

the media has a job to do, so you can take what they say with a pinch of salt - dismiss what is not relevant for where you are now; and accept what is useful. When you are true to your feelings, you are nurturing your identity. It is when you decide to go against your instincts/intuition, and do things to please others, or because you think it will make you look good, when things start going wrong.

in your life – it is up to you to choose when you want it

to start.

For example, if you have been experiencing the same downward spiral, year after year and you have this ‘Why me?’ complex, start your new beginning by looking at yourself. Do you recognise a pattern or a repetitive cycle? By this I mean – do you see yourself in a similar frame of mind, with the same type of person year after year, or in a position where you do not feel fulfilled or happy? If you do, look back at what decisions or choices you have made and try to work out what role you have played in your ‘why me?’ situation.

So in your new beginning, accept that you are responsible for the choices you make, the friends you choose, the relationships you get yourselves into and the job we accept (regardless of the ‘situation’ at the time). Some of you will be saying, “oh yeah.. I had to take that job because there was nothing else and I needed to pay my bills” – that is still your choice; another’s will say –“I decided to settle down with someone I didn’t love, because I was afraid I wouldn’t find anyone, and I thought s/he would make me happy”; that is not his/her fault, that was your choice too.

A lot of the time, we grow bitter, resentful, disappointed, angry, upset and unforgiving because we are blaming someone else for where we are now and I know we are not given a handbook on life, but we are given common sense and freedom to choose, to a degree.

Most of us respect our parents, but not everything they say has merit or is valid for what we are doing now. So we don’t have remain in child mode for the rest of our lives, listening to adults who have had a different experience to us, especially when what some adults say goes against what we believe is good and right for ourselves.

I appreciate there are the rebellious among us, who rebel just for the sake of it, but I am talking about when your mother says “don’t bother sing, it is not going to get you anywhere” or some other advice that might destroy your dream, don’t accept it. Conversely, if your peers are into something that makes you feel uncomfortable – you don’t have to go along with it. Ask yourself, why do I keep doing things that I don’t really want to do.. or go places I don’t really want to go? Is it because you don’t want to let someone down? If so.. what about you – aren’t you letting yourself down by doing something you don’t really want to do? This extends outside your home life and relationships - If something doesn’t work for you - reject it!. By now, we realise that

We all know those people who, regardless if they have a penny in their pocket, or somewhere to live, they will go out there and achieve their dreams. We sit there wide eyed and wide mouth thinking ‘They are so brave’; and you are right. It takes courage to go for what you want. It takes belief that things will be better than they are now if I step out in faith ..

So that is what people who feel stuck need to do – they need to step out in faith and claim their new beginning.

I double-dare you (Loy)

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ON SALE NOW - the perfect gift 7 REASONS TO CELEBRATE KWAANZA – By Curtis Bunn Unity (Umoja) To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, and race.

This ideology, if practiced en masse, could be a reference point of peace in Ferguson, Missouri, where emotions have been on edge (and over the edge in some cases) since the town’s grand jury decided not to indict officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown. The coming together on one accord in unity would serve the Black community well.

Self-Determination (Kujichagulia) To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves. There has not been a singular voice that has expressed Black people’s distrust in the police and disheartened feeling about the justice system in the aftermath of the grand jury’s decision.

But the prevailing feeling has to be to push forward in the face of injustice, using it as fuel.

Purpose (Nia) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. A lot has been lost in the Brown shooting, starting with a teenager’s life. That’s the biggest loss. But in some cases, hope has been lost, too — in the police, in the justice system and if they are designed to protect Blacks. The push now has to function with specific goals and direction that uplift individuals and the community.

Creativity (Kuumba) To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to

leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. Ferguson, overall, is hurting, and likely will be for some time. It will take myriad ideas and thought processes to rebuild and improve it Faith (Imani) To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. Belief in the system has deteriorated significantly, so much so that it could take quite a while (if ever) to re-establish. But the faith has to be that the battle is worth the effort, understanding that the greater good will come in the end.

Collective Work and Responsibility (Ujima) To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and to solve them together. In one sense, the collective pain of Brown’s death and angry response in the aftermath has been a shared disappointment. And the healing has to be in how Blacks come together and uplift each other and rebuild the Ferguson community.

Cooperative Work and Economics (Ujamaa) To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together. Some of the Ferguson business community endured significant damage, certainly impacting the economics in the town. The citizens have to come together to rebuild — because the community thrives when it spends money in the community.

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Curtis Bunn is national award-winning sports journalist and bestselling novelist who has covered and written about sports’ largest events and personalities for more than three decades.

that runaways and homeless youth are very vulnerable to trafficking. A study was conducted in Chicago, USA that found that 56% of females prostitutes were once young runaways, and similar numbers have also been found for young male victims.

Nonetheless, there are a few indicators that can help us indentify victims. The Bedfordshire Police site has provided a few signs; the potential victim may avoid eye contact, may appear malnourished, may show signs of physical abuse or they may exhibit anxious and/or fearful behaviour. The site also provides tips to help with identifying a trafficking enterprise, which includes: many people living and working at the same address (often in cramped conditions), heavy security personnel, ‘workers’ being driven in between premises and a lack of necessities, such as proper clothing and safety equipment that are often essential in working environments.

Human Trafficking - Profiling a Trafficker and the Trafficked Victim

By Franklyn Been

Human trafficking is seen by many as ‘modern day slavery’; not only is it illegal, it’s an international issue. Crimestoppers UK has stated that is it the second most profitable crime in the world, following drugs. They estimate a yearly value of £20million in the UK alone, and a global trade value of £30 billion - £2.6 billion of this generated by the worldwide brothel industry (as found by the US Department of Justice).

Victims will range from women, men and children of all creeds and colour. Back in March 2014, BBC reported that two Hungarian women were found at an address in Farley Hill, here in Luton, which I was, admittedly, more than shocked to discover. In 2012, The International Labour Organization estimated an excess of 20.9 million victims globally, and Crimestoppers International reports that this number has been gradually increasing since then. The United Nations Office on Drug and Crime has stated that, at any given time, about 2.5 million victims are being trafficked somewhere in the world, with Europe being their main destination, and Asia being their main source.

The idea of human trafficking being ‘modern day slavery’ was perhaps bred from the fact that victims are often forced to work for very little, or for no pay at all. The National Human Trafficking Resource Centre has indicated that victims may be kept in factories or brothels, supporting this idea of slavery. However, quite often, victims are allowed in public and able to interact with members of a community, making them very difficult to identify.

The identification process is made even more arduous when we take into consideration the fact that there is no single profile for trafficked victims. Their levels of education tend to be varied, their socio-economic backgrounds tend to diverse and their citizenship may either be documented or undocumented. The International Labour Organization states

Identifying traffickers can be a more difficult task.

Polaris (a non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to combat and prevent modern-day slavery and human trafficking) states that traffickers often share the same national, ethical, or cultural background as their victims, which allows for a better understanding between both parties, and makes it easier to exploit the weaknesses of victims. A trafficker may work alone, or be part of a much larger network. Some examples of people found guilty of trafficking include pimps, small business owners, gangs, large factory owners or even family members, all with the main goal of exploiting another person’s vulnerabilities for their own gain.

As traffickers tend to target victims using tailored methods, there are many different ways in which they recruit and control people. Their goal is to deprive a person of their human rights and dignity in order to gain control. They may use a combination of lies, threats, force or any other forms of mental manipulation for labour and/or sex trafficking. Examples of these include: promising high-paying jobs to victims, substance abuse, threatening to harm a victim or providing them with the pretence of a loving relationship. Other options involve sexual assault, stealing a person’s identification documents and money, and even isolating a person from their friends and family.They often make promises that address a victim’s needs, thereby exploiting their vulnerabilities and asserting control over them. This could result in a victim developing a fear of leaving due to emotional attachment, shame or psychological trauma. Take runaway youths in unfamiliar environments, for instance, traffickers often meet them at shelters or transportation hubs and provide displays of feigned affection and promises of accommodating them in return for their servitude. Foreign nationals are also huge targets for traffickers. In fact, in 2013, 32% of calls to National Human Trafficking Resource Centre (NHTRC) regarding human trafficking involved foreign national victims. Traffickers may take advantage of a foreign national’s lack of knowl-

edge of their legal rights, language fluency and/or their familiarity with their new environment in order to manipulate them.

Victims of violence and trauma developed by abuse, are more susceptible to future exploitation as violence and abuse may be normal to them, leading to increased vulnerability to traffickers. They will have been frequently subjected to mental, sexual, emotional and physical abuse. In addition to this, victims are often viewed as possessions to be used at their trafficker’s disposal. Furthermore, they are often threatened, coerced, and lied to. Combining these with enslavement and inhumane living conditions can easily result in severe physical and mental deterioration. Because of this, providing them with help often requires a multidisciplinary approach, as survivors require more than just psychological support after escaping. They will often require immediate emergency services, such as medical care, food and clothing; immediate social services intervention, access to interpreters, a job, transportation, housing, and immediate legal services to ascertain their immigration status and possibly be entered into a witness protection programme.

On top of this, they may find it hard to trust others, due to past manipulation by their trafficker. Elizabeth K. Hopper, PhD (Director of the Rapid Evaluation, Assessment and Consultation for Human Trafficking Victims project, or REACH) claims that “even when psychologists are aware of trafficking, they may not know the best way to evaluate and treat survivors— even if they’re trauma specialists”. She further states that “someone doesn’t have to be chained up or physically locked up in a room” for them to be under the control of another, as “traffickers use very subtle psychological coercion techniques”, which can make it “difficult for outsiders to understand what keeps trafficked people from escaping”. Some of these techniques will include “verbal and physical abuse”, “non-stop work” and “failure to provide basic necessities”. Victims seeking this help, may find it very difficult- especially those who can’t speak the language of the country they’re in well, or the ones who have had their identification documents and money taken away. Altogether, this makes human trafficking a very difficult crime to tackle.

Mo re f ro m F ran klyn Been in n ex t ed it io n .

F ran klyn Been is stu d yin g C rimin o lo gy a n d Psych o lo gy at t h e Un ivers ity o f Bedfordshire.

Politics needs young people

Dallow Councillor Tafheen Sharif makes the case for engaging more of the town’s young people in politics

Politics needs young people more than ever, and young people really need politics. Yet young people’s disconnect from formal politics is widely acknowledged. Politicians - along with the word ‘politics’ - are seen as boring, irrelevant and an immediate turn-off for many young people. Just 38% of Brits under 25 voted in any election in the past three years compared to 70% aged over 65, findings from one formal survey. However, low levels of interest in the “political process”, underlined by the low turnout in elections do not tell us the whole story where young people are concerned. In fact young people are interested in public issues and current affairs. I have spoken to many of our young Lutonians who on the one hand may declare themselves least interested in politics, but on the other do share political concerns, with it affecting our day to day lives. Many of whom I know have expressed strong views on issues ranging from education, health services, jobs, community work, affordable homes – the list is endless. Other youngsters have gone as far as signing a petition, or attending a local protest.

Young people do care. This so called “disconnect” is from the formal political process itself. How do we encourage future generations to get involved in the political process, to influence and shape policy effectively and for the betterment of our town. Empowerment Our youth need to be empowered. Opportunities need to be created to give them confidence in 1) understanding the political process and 2) getting involved in politics and hence the running of our town. Recently Uprising, a youth leadership development organisation, held its first political debate in Luton where youngsters were able to discuss their views with a panel of politicians. More of these opportunities need to be created, online and offline, so as to open pathways to power and prospects for our diverse, talented young people. Politicians need to be at the heart of this and to be leading on educating others on the political process. This in itself will lead to young

people participating in politics thus ensuring better representation We have also have had the introduction of the new requirements in registering to vote “individual electoral registration”, whereby each person is now required to register to vote individually, rather than by household. This gives an opportunity to encourage our young people to register themselves and to be involved in the political process. People from the wards of Dallow, Biscot, South and High Town are more likely to be missing from the register. So I would encourage you to register yourselves by contacting LBC 01582 510380. The forum for political debate from young people should be far wider than predominantly social media. Being able to take “action” and having the tools to make a difference on issues young people care about should be encouraged as well as fully supported by our political and community leaders. This will in event lead to healthy engagement and change.

Tafheen Sharif

Tony Jules, Our Local Hero!

I am at home, and my mind runs on Tony Jules (left). I met Tony Jules about 4-5 years ago, and I can’t even remember what or why our paths crossed but they did. Tony has a gentle but committed spirit that makes you want to be involved in everything he is doing and participate in every plan he is making. He has spearheaded so many events in Luton from Black History Month to events that helped youths get on the right track with regards to their career.

Photo was taken by a journalist from Luton Today Newspaper

Tony Jules is a friend and a colleague.

I have been to visit him a couple of times during my lunchbreak, while he is in Keech Hospice, and in all honesty, I have never attended a hospice before. I thought I would find it depressing - I was scared of seeing someone who was dying, and I didn’t want to admit to myself that Tony was dying - yes, I admit, I am a coward that way - but when I went to see him, he welcomed me with a hug and a peck on the cheek. He was so high spirited and chirpy, that I forgot the purpose of my visit. Tony has that way about him he has a way of making you feel all warm inside - he makes me feel good; he encourages me and makes me feel important. I love that man.

Keech hospice was nothing like I imagined. There is an air of peacefulness; there is a fragrance of flowers and it is so clean and well maintained. It gives visitors a feeling of comfort. .

Tony Jules is now raising money for the Keech Hospice and he is determined to raise £40,000. I couldn’t put a dent in that amount, but I was happy to know that one of my paintings I donated for an auction, raised £100 towards his goal.

Similarly, friends, family and strangers have been tirelessly donating their time and money in different ways.

able to at least make a small contribution to Keech which is really deserved.

“I am grateful that so many people have already responded to the call and I’m amazed with the generosity of the public.

What we have is a good piece of news, we can say there are a lot of good people in this county and around the world who respond to worthy causes.

“It is really heartening.”

Prior to his diagnosis in 2011 Tony worked as a programme director behind the £48.8million regeneration of the Marsh Farm estate.

Tony Jules is an elegant, sophisticated, strong Leader and I am so proud to be acquainted with him. I shall be featuring him in my next edition of Blackbright, which I shall share with him, like I share so many of my works and I always look forward to his feedback.

He was also previously the first secretary for the Grenada High Commissioner.

BELOW - EXTRACTED FROM LUTON TODAY

“My inital view of hospice is that it is a place where people spend a few days and then pop their clogs.

From his bed he works tirelessly, helping others in ways only he can.

Tony Jules, 63, from Sundon Park, has terminal prostate cancer but has decided to dedicate the remainder of his time to raise £40,000 to cover the cost of a Keech Hospice nurse for a year.

The idea came after Tony was taken back by the care he received at Keech, which he says changed his perception of hospices overnight.

In the last week the 63-year-old has recorded and produced a charity album from his hospice bed, while envelopes of donations arrive every day from across the globe. In the last 24 hours a Justgiving page for the campaign has been inundated with £6,500 worth of pledges.

Speaking to the Luton News, Mr Jules said that it would mean the world to him to reach the £40,000 target. He said: “It would mean so much, it would mean that I have been

As the 63-year-old’s condition worsened he was taken to Keech Hospice, where he has been ‘blown away’ by the level of care he has received,

Tony said: “Although I am unwell I thought I could at least use my time to help with fundraising as Keech is funded on donations.

“Within the first day of being here I was made to feel so welcome and to feel like I am a person and not a number.

“This is the best place I could be, I am very lucky to have been the beneficiary of that support.

“I enjoy referring to the staff and nurses as angels.”

Despite the bleak situation in front of him, Tony is determined to use the rest of his time to the best effect.

He said: “Right now I understand where things are going, I can face up to the reality without fear because I have put my mind in a good place.

“I really have no fears about anything so with that in mind my focus is on doing something that will have lasting benefits for everybody.”

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