Family matters december 2013 edition

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FAMILY MATTERS DECEMBER 5-11, 2013 | SPECIAL FEATURE i PAGE 19-30

Family & Heritage

INSIDE:

i Reclaiming our family history: Who do you think you are? p22 i Talking to teenagers: Top tips to help them share with you p20

Family Matters

20 | THE VOICE DECEMBER 5 - 11, 2013

Top tips on talking to your teen Getting teenagers to talk openly about what’s bothering them can be hard. Follow these tips to help get them talking to you about their worries. 1.Ask, don’t judge Start by assuming that they had a good reason for doing what they did. Show them that you respect their intelligence, and are curious about the choices they’ve made. If you don’t pre-judge their behaviour as ‘stupid’ or ‘wrong’, they’re more likely to open up and explain why their actions made sense to them. “Ask them if they will help you figure out their choice so you can understand the person,” advises Camila Batmanghelidjh, from Kids Company, a charity which counsels troubled teens. Parentline Plus advises keeping an open mind and listening to the young person’s point of view. 2. Ask, don’t assume or accuse Don’t assume that you know what’s wrong. Rather than asking, “Are you being bullied?” Parentline Plus suggests trying, “I’ve been worried about you. You don’t seem your usu-

al self, and I wondered what’s going on with you at the moment? Is there anything I can help with?”. 3. Be clear you want to help “If you suspect your child is using drugs or drinking excessively, be gentle but direct,” says drug and alcohol charity DrugScope. “Ask them, and let them know that you’ll help them through any of their difficulties.” 4. Be honest yourself Teenagers will criticise you if you don’t follow your own advice. If you drink alcohol yourself, they’re likely to mention it (“You can’t talk!”). It’s important to be honest about your own habits. “If you drink alcohol, be prepared to acknowledge that with your teenager,” advises DrugScope. You can discuss both positive and negative aspects of alcohol use, but make sure you’re acting responsibly yourself.”

Teenagers hate being lectured or bombarded with solutions. Instead of trying to be the expert on their lives, try to help them think for themselves so that they can make good decisions. Try the following ideas: s $ISCUSS THE POTENTIAL implications of, for example, teen sex or smoking dope. For example, “How does smoking dope make you feel the next day? So, if you feel like that, how’s that going to affect you in school/playing football?”. s (ELP THEM THINK CRITIcally about what they see and hear. “So Paul said X: is that what you think?” “So Sara thinks Y; how about you? Do you feel the same?” s (ELP THEM THINK OF ways that they can respond and cope. “So, when you feel like that, is there anything you can do to make yourself feel better?”. 6. Don’t criticise everything If they only ever hear nagging from you they’ll stop listening. Overlooking minor issues, such as the clothes they wear, may mean you’re still talking to each other when you want to negotiate (or stand firm) with them on bigger issues. 7. If they get angry, try not to react “Teenagers often hit out at the people they most love and trust, not because they hate you, but because they feel con-

5. Help them think for themselves

fused,” says Parentline Plus. Don’t think that they mean the bad things they say (“I hate you!”). They may just feel confused, angry, upset, lost or hormonal, and they don’t know how to express it. 8. Make them feel safe Teenagers often worry that telling an adult will just make things worse. You need to be clear that you want to help them and won’t do anything they don’t want you to. This may be particularly important with bullying. “Once your child opens up to you, explain that bullying isn’t acceptable. Listen to their fears, and reassure them it’s not their fault. Help to build up their confidence by reassuring them that you’ll face the problem together,” says Parentline. 9. Avoid asking questions they won’t answer “Sometimes you’ll find out more about your teenager if you ask open questions, says eating disorders association, Beat. If they have an eating disorder, for example, asking confrontational questions such as, “What did you eat for lunch?’ or ‘Have you made yourself sick?’ “Sticking to open questions such as, ‘How are you?’ helps your teenager talk to you about how they’re feeling.” *Source: NHS Choices

Steps of bereavement

Former bus driver Noel Garriques gives the answers to services people need but don’t like talking about surrounding the issue of bereavement.

G

arriques has published The Steps of Bereavement, a guidebook about the benefits and help you are entitled to when someone dies. The book gives guidance and includes information licensed under the Open Government licence. It is an essential guide for all British citizens living in the UK and abroad. “There are many problems to face, such as what to do? Who to contact? and expenses that you will incur, so it is very useful to understand the practical circumstances that you will face” says Garriques. The book was launched at the House of Commons recently with the support of Mr Kelvin Hopkins MP (pictured right with Garriques) who said: “Noel Garrigues has written a very useful and informative book which will be of help to many who are experiencing bereavement. I was therefore very pleased to host his book launch at the House of Commons. “The book deals with a wide range of matters relating to bereavement and includes much valuable advice. I am sure many people will derive invaluable information from Noel’s work.” The book is available from: WH Smith, Amazon and Waterstone book stores. info@stepsof-

bereavement.com www.stepsofbereavement. com ISBN; 9-780992-620608. UK supplier 01582 454995.

Family Matters

DECEMBER 5 - 11, 2013 THE VOICE | 21

Foster Carers wanted from diverse backgrounds The coalition announced earlier this year a new package of support to help local authorities attract and retain more foster carers from a diverse range of backgrounds

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peaking at this year’s National Fostering Agency’s annual conference, the Children and Families Minister Edward Timpson announced a new package of support totalling £750, 000 which will be used to: s PROVIDE &OSTERING Network with £250,000 over 2 years to boost local recruitment of foster carers and help councils share good practice nationally s PROVIDE INTERVENTION programmes for looked-after children and those on the edge of care and custody and their families s FUND PARTNERSHIPS between local authorities and independent fostering services to explore new ways of recruitment and retaining a wider group of foster carers – including working professionals and those with the skills and

experience to care for children with more complex needs The package will be expected to support local authorities in recruiting foster carers who have the specialist skills to care for vulnerable children with different needs – giving them the support and stable environment they need to thrive and reach their full potential. Minister Edward Timpson said: “Growing up with over 80 foster brothers and sisters, I know from my own experience that foster care can provide an incredibly valuable opportunity for children to experience stable family life. “Fundamental to this challenge is the successful recruitment and retention of carers – in particular, those capable of caring for sibling groups and children with complex needs.

We know that three quarters of children in care are fostered, and that some local authorities need more help to get this right.â€? GOVERNMENT PLEDGE The government has pledged ÂŁ750,000 over the next 2 years to help local fostering services recruit a broader range of foster carers. Lucy Peake, Director of External Affairs at the Fostering Network, said: “The Fostering Network has been at the forefront of foster carer recruitment activity over the past decade, and is delighted to have been awarded the contract for this ground breaking new approach. “Over the next 2 years this work will tell us more about what motivates and drives foster carers, so that we can support fostering services to

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get better at recruitment and retention.� Research suggests that over half a million people are considering fostering, but are put off because of the myths about the process and confusion about what fostering involves, and whether they are eligible to foster. While the number of foster carers is increasing, with over ' 67,000!"#$%&'()*(+,(-.('"&'"'/0&1(+'."+(+'' children in care last year, the government wants !"#$%$&'(#)*++,-#(+#.-#/#0+,(-1#)/1-12#%(#)*+,-#3-4#56+#01%-&$,#6-1-#/71-/$8# to address the shortfall of foster 0+,(-1#)/1-1,#6%(*#9+,(-1:/1-#;<2#)/1%&=#0+1#(6+#.+8,2#/&$#"#*/$#6%(&-,,-$# carers in some parts of (*-%1#>+?1&-8#/,#(*-8#$-@-7+A-$4#"#0-7(#(*/(#/,#"'$#/71-/$8#.1+?=*(#?A#38#+6&# the country and encourage a wider (6+#)*%7$1-&#+&#38#+6&2#"#)+?7$#$+#%(#/=/%&4#"#*/@-#/76/8,#*/$#/#A/,,%+&#/&$# range of people to come forward to foster. $-,%1-#(+#*-7A#8+?&=#A-+A7-4# Alongside the measures in the Children and Families Bill, the !"(# 6/,# 1-/778#signifi=++$# $-)%,%+&2# (*+?=*# (*-1-# */@-# .--&# 3/&8# )*/77-&=-,# government is /# taking /7+&=# (*-# 6/8# +0# )+?1,-4# B@-&# (*+?=*# 8+?# */@-# /# 7%0-(%3-# +0# ,C%77,# /&$# cant action to reform the approval-DA-1%-&)-#01+3#1/%,%&=#8+?1#+6&#)*%7$1-&2#8+?#)/&#&-@-1#.-#0?778#A1-A/1-$# process for foster carers to0+1# make the)*/77-&=-,# system faster (*-# (*-# 8+?&=# A-+A7-# %&# )/1-# )+3-# 6%(*4# E?(2# (*-1-# /1-# and more efficient, so that the /76/8,# (*-# *%=*,# (*/(# 1-3%&$# 8+?# +0# 6*8# 8+?# $+# %(4# F*-&# 38# 0+,(-1# ,+&# children who need them find ¿UVW FDPH WR PH KH ZRXOGQœW VSHDN HYHQ WR VD\ ¾PRUQLQJœ RU ¾WKDQN \RXœ stable, loving homes quickly.

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!I+?#&--$#-3A/(*8#,+#8+?#)/&#?&$-1,(/&$#6*/(#(*-8'@-#.--&#(*1+?=*2#*+6# Andre & Sandra’s experience as(*-8'1-#0--7%&=#/&$#*+6#8+?#)/&#*-7A#/#)*%7$#$-/7#6%(*#(*-#,%(?/(%+&4#"(#(/C-,#/# a foster carer “Before we decided to go into foster caring7+(#+0#A/(%-&)-2#1-,%7%-&)-#/&$#)/1%&=4#I+?#/7,+#&--$#(+#C&+6#6*-&#(+#=%@-#/# we took a lot of time to consider how it would impact on our lives, but we knew )*%7$#(*-%1#,A/)-#K#,+3-(%3-,#(*-8#A?,*#8+?#/6/8#,+#8+?#&--$#(+#=%@-#(*-3# that a lot of children are in need. We’ve found being foster carers a very rewarding experience and it’s going well. We have been able to watch the change in the(%3-#(+#)+3-#(+#8+?4J children from when they first came to us and that’s priceless. At the start of the

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placement one of the children wasn’t attending school, and through our work with them he hasn’t missed a day recently; even his teachers have noticed the change in him. It’s remarkable to be able to help turn someone’s life around.

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409-&'10'*01(-1,"$'/0&1(+'."+(+&7 “We’ve always had children around us so when we started fostering we just fell back into it 'with ease. We’ve learnt that !"#$%&'()*(+,(-.('"&'"'/0&1(+'."+(+'' whether you’re a parent or a foster carer, it’s important to respect children and >?,(# listen/.+?(# to their$%,)?,,%&=# views and opinions.� !"(',# ,+# %3A+1(/&(# (+#the C&+64# "(',# &+(# (*-# 1-6/1$,2# 8+?#

!"#$%$&'(#)*++,-#(+#.-#/#0+,(-1#)/1-12#%(#)*+,-#3-4#56+#01%-&$,#6-1-#/71-/$8# &--$#(+#C&+6#/.+?(#(*-#*/1$#(%3-,#/,#6-77#(+#-&,?1-#8+?#*/@-#/77#(*-#$-(/%7,# 0+,(-1#)/1-1,#6%(*#9+,(-1:/1-#;<2#)/1%&=#0+1#(6+#.+8,2#/&$#"#*/$#6%(&-,,-$# &-)-,,/18#(+#3/C-#/#0?778#%&0+13-$#$-)%,%+&4J (*-%1#>+?1&-8#/,#(*-8#$-@-7+A-$4#"#0-7(#(*/(#/,#"'$#/71-/$8#.1+?=*(#?A#38#+6&# What does it take to be a foster carer? (6+#)*%7$1-&#+&#38#+6&2#"#)+?7$#$+#%(#/=/%&4#"#*/@-#/76/8,#*/$#/#A/,,%+&#/&$# “It has to be right for the individual. You have to really want to do something like this. However, if people can see the outcome 23;'<0&1(+="+('>?7 $-,%1-#(+#*-7A#8+?&=#A-+A7-4# of the children as the result of a successful placement then they would see the benefits. It’s about a commitment to the children, and considering the positive affect!"#,A+C-#(+#01%-&$,#6*+#6-1-#0+,(-1#)/1-1,#6%(*#9+,(-1:/1-#;<#/&$#(*-8#(+7$# you can have on their lives.â€? !"(#3-#/.+?(#(*-#,?AA+1(#(*-8#1-)-%@-#6*-&#)+3A/1-$#6%(*#+(*-1,'#-DA-1%-&)-,# 6/,# /# 1-/778# =++$# $-)%,%+&2# (*+?=*# (*-1-# */@-# .--&# 3/&8# )*/77-&=-,# /7+&=# (*-# 6/8#about +0# )+?1,-4# (*+?=*# 8+?# */@-# /# 7%0-(%3-# +0# ,C%77,# /&$# How important is it to potential foster carersIURP FRPSHWLQJ DJHQFLHV ,W JDYH PH D ORW RI FRQÂżGHQFH LQ WKHLU DELOLW\ ´ to be honest the upsB@-&# and the downs? -DA-1%-&)-#01+3#1/%,%&=#8+?1#+6&#)*%7$1-&2#8+?#)/&#&-@-1#.-#0?778#A1-A/1-$# Name: Andre and Sandra “It’s definitely best to be honest, as it’s not sweet and rosy. Yes it can be challenging as you 6%(*4# go through the tough 0+1#always (*-# )*/77-&=-,# (*-# 8+?&=# A-+A7-# %&# )/1-# )+3-# E?(2# (*-1-# /1-# times, but it’s better to be aware of this so/76/8,# you’re fully prepared both physically and emotionally.â€? Age: 58 and 54 years old (*-# *%=*,# (*/(# 1-3%&$# 8+?# +0# 6*8# 8+?# $+# %(4# F*-&# 38# 0+,(-1# ,+&# ÂżUVW FDPH WR PH KH ZRXOGQÂśW VSHDN HYHQ WR VD\ ÂľPRUQLQJÂś RU ÂľWKDQN \RXÂś Status: Full time foster carers Why FosterCare UK? %XW WKURXJK OLWWOH VWHSV ZH WXUQHG WKLV DURXQG QRZ KH VD\V ÂľPRUQLQJÂś WZLFH Location: London “Friends were already fostering with the agency and)+&@-1,/(%+&,G# told us of the experience had; receiving a lot of help,(-A# and support /&$# */,# "(# (++C# /#they 7+&=# (%3-2# .?(# %(',# /# *?=-# 0+16/1$4# A":(B'!"#$ throughout. We’ve found the continuous training in particular to be invaluable.â€? H+3-(%3-,#8+?#0--7#7%C-#8+?'1-#&+(#*-7A%&=2#-,A-)%/778#6*-&#8+?'@-#*/$#/# Total time fostering: 1 year CD(B'EF';("+&'0$4 A/1(%)?7/178# &-=/(%@-# -DA-1%-&)-2# .?(# (*-&# 8+?# &+(%)-# /# ,3/77# )*/&=-# /&$# @1"1#&B'@,-D$(G'/#$$'1,:( Foster children: Two Get in touch if you feel fostering could be for you and your family? 8+?'1-#1-3%&$-$#+0#*+6#0/1#8+?'@-#.+(*#)+3-4#I+?#C&+6#8+?'1-#3/C%&=#/# H0."1,0-B'=+0;40Telephone: 0844 800 1941 Birth children: Six, who have left home I01"$'1,:('/0&1(+,-DB'J';("+ $%00-1-&)-4#"'$#1-)+33-&$#%(#(+#/&8+&-4J Email:

enquiries@fostercareuk.co.uk OR fostering@fostercareuk.co.uk

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Family Matters

22 | THE VOICE DECEMBER 5 - 11, 2013

Reclaiming our family history Opinion by Patrick Vernon

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ITH THE recent launch of the online database Legacies of British Slave-ownership project, which provides details of the £20 million paid to slave owners, key issues have been raised not only about the whole debate regarding reparations and apology, but also family genealogy. The records hold details of OVER ABSENTEE PLANTAtion owners along with 46,000 claims for compensation that provide rich information to research either the European side of your family history, or potentially your roots in Africa. I have traced my family history from Wolverhampton, Jamaica and Senegal using records, oral history and DNA testing. The main focus has been on my mother’s side of the family and exploring the Shirleys from the Jamaican parishes of St James and Portland. I found details of a Henry Shirley who ran a number of plantations, including Hyde Hall and St Petersfield. Shirley had a relationship with Sally Skiers, a mulatto woman, and

fathered a son called Edmund. In many ways, Skiers is the maternal mother to all the black Shirleys of Jamaica and North America. The database provides details of a £1,286 compensation Shirley received for 64 enslaved Africans, which was trusted to his nephew Bernard

have always been in the public domain and stored either at The National Archives or the House of Lords. But thanks to the growth of digitalisation, the power of the Internet and online databases, we can now a do a lot of this research from the comfort of our own homes. It

comes to accessing information. Companies like Ancestry have exclusive licences from UK and USA archives to digitise records and charge the public a subscription fee. It raises an ethical issue. Should descendants of the enslaved have to face the double penalty of paying for

“...Who Do You Think You Are? Is a great brand using celebrities to demonstrate the accessibility of family history. However, it still reinforces a narrow version of Britishness despite using various black celebrities and personalities.” Shirley. The compensation and the subsequent assets from income from the plantations went to the white side of the Shirley family in Jamaica and England. Edmund Shirley received £100 when his father passed away in 1858. These records, along with the slave plantation records,

contrasts sharply with the days when Alex Haley was researching his novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family (1976) and had to travel to the British Library from the USA in the 1960s. However, the commercialisation of family history exposes a growing inequality when it

records and other related information to trace their ancestors? The good news is that a number of libraries and archives are making this information available free of charge. The BBC programme Who Do You Think You Are? Is a great continued on page 29

More fun than a clean kitchen

Adoption: another option

www.hounslow.gov.uk/adoption

Call our friendly team on 020 8583 4494 to book your place on one of our frequent Background to Adoption sessions or email your questions to us at: adoption@hounslow.gov.uk

Family Matters

DECEMBER 5 - 11, 2013 THE VOICE | 27

The rise and rise of underground radio Comment by authors, Lindsay Wesker & Dave VJ

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asters Of The Airwaves’ came about so that we could immortalise the characters that have helped to bring a different style of music to our very insular musical world. FM stations knew very little about the music we loved and, when any of those tunes became crossover hits, we’d drop them and move to the newest music that had just come in from USA, Japan or Jamaica, or home grown black music. Everything went from exclusive to inclusive very quickly but there were still millions of great songs every year that very few people heard or owned. This book is about those brave and – possibly – foolhardy people that forced the issue. UK radio had been impoverished for many years. Traditional British restraint and conservatism meant that we were only being spoon-fed music genres that the radio establishment could process. These old school tie radio executives were unnerved by

The main theme of the book is music but it’s much more than that. It’s now being bought by music fans and media alike because, if you were there in the days when history was being created, you want to see all the memories in one place and at your fingertips; the knowledge and stories that the contributors have unleashed are inspiring. RISE-UP

progressive, edgy or ‘ethnic’ genres, so we (the audience) never got the chance to hear them. Their defence was always that it was ‘niche’ or NOT radio music. The word ‘urban’ has been brought in to re-define black music and culture, to make people (advertising agencies, management and the PC brigade) feel comfortable, and then they want to act like it’s a musical genre they created! PIONEERS ‘Masters Of The Airwaves’ is about black music lovers not black people. We waited for a long while for someone to write this book but it didn’t happen so, when we had to attend yet another funeral (this time for pioneering UK DJ/ producer/rapper Derek B), we knew it was time to tell our story. Attending this funeral were the great oand the good of the British black music scene, people with a wealth of great stories, and we now have those stories in our book. A lot of people didn’t participate in the book for whatever reason, and now that Choice

Call Annette or Marlene at: 020 7510 0340 or contact us via email at: marketing@gvmedia.co.uk for this collectors item.

doesn’t exist and Kiss has completely changed, some of those very same people are expressing regret. The both of us could see this coming because

we have been in the business a long time and we know the only way to keep what you own is to have very deep pockets.

Some of the contributors started in the world of pirate radio and have gone on to become household names. MTV and Radio 1 didn’t shape Trevor Nelson, his Hackney days along with the Madhatters did. Shake ’n’ Finger Pop were part of Norman Jay and Judge Jules’ life long before BBC radio. The Soul II Soul sound system was going long before the band started. We’re all known for what we do now but we all came from somewhere. We wanted to document that and hope that the next set of entrepreneurs see that we moved on a bit further from the first generation minorities and, wherever you come from, it’s possible to rise-up from your situation

and make a mark in the world. No one is saying it’s easy but it is definitely possible! The contribution of black lifestyle to the world is evident everywhere. The way we speak, dress, walk, make music has been taken on by most people everywhere, but there is a problem when you, as a radio station, feel you represent black culture by calling it ‘urban’ and yet you have no understanding of it whatsoever. The fact that a radio programmer at the now-dismantled Choice FM said, “reggae is not needed because we have afrobeat,” is insulting to reggae and afrobeat lovers alike, and to not have soca on the station is another insult to the black music community it was created for. That statement says you are not allowed to have more than one representation of what you feel is the latest fashion in a black music. No one tells anyone you can only have one style of pop music and, since black music styles are in everything, if you start to lock-off music styles, there will be no even-paced growth because the music will once again be ghettoised.

Get your copy of this 212 page fu ll colour hard back n ow for £36.50 (UK) includ ing p&p.

Adopt a life The Royal Borough of Greenwich is looking to recruit adopters from all walks of life and especially welcomes enquiries from Black and minority ethnic families who are able to provide a child with a loving, stable and secure home.

Adopt with Royal Greenwich

For details of our information sessions, contact the adoption team on 020 8921 2752 or www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/adoption

28 | THE VOICE DECEMBER 5 - 11, 2013

Could you help change a young person’s life?

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slington’s fostering team urgently needs carers with a spare room to help local black young people. There are just not enough carers from the black community coming forward to foster these children, and we urgently need to change this. The need to be brought up within a family that reflects their birth heritage is vital. This gives them a sense of cultural background so they feel positive about themselves. This then allows them the opportunity to grow in confidence and selfworth. These are particularly important years for the over 11s when they start making decisions and developing the life skills that will shape their future. They may be confused or frustrated by their experiences and will need someone who will be patient and listen to them. Unfortunately people may not make an application thinking they would not be suitable to foster because they do not own their home or hold any qualifications. This is not true. Islington welcome applicants from all backgrounds and situations, it’s all about what you can offer the young person. Islington foster carers get full support and training opportunities as well as receiving generous allowances. If you think that you could make that difference to a young life, give us a call on OR CHECK ON WWW ISLINGTON GOV uk/fostering

Have you got what it takes to be a foster carer? Your life experience goes a long way! Foster with Islington and you’ll get the training and support you need to bring out your skills and really make a difference to a young life. Islington foster carers:

• can live in a rented or owned home in or near Islington • can be couples or single people • receive training and 24-hour support • receive generous allowances. To find out more about fostering and the next information session, call free now and take the first step towards making a real difference to a child’s life.

0800 073 0428 or email us at fostering@islington.gov.uk

www.islington.gov.uk/fostering

Family Matters

Family Matters continued from page 22

brand using celebrities to demonstrate the accessibility of family history. However, it still reinforces a narrow version of Britishness despite using various black celebrities and personalities. This is highlighted when you attend the Who Do You Think You Are? family exhibition which takes place in February each year. The original showcase was run by the Society of Genealogists, but over the past five years, thanks to the success of the television show, it has been completely rebranded. I have been going to the family show for the past 10 years and, until recently, I was often the only black person at an event which attracts up to 10,000 people. Over the last few years, though, there has been a much bigger black presence. For instance, the late Ken Martindale - founder of Black British Heritage - had a stall promoting his work around the black presence in Britain. And I have taken groups to the show as part of a family history course. GENERATION Despite the impact of Haley’s book and the TV series, and more recently with Who Do You Think You Are? in capturing the lives of black personalities such as Colin Jackson, Moira Stuart, Hugh Quarshie and John Barnes, there is still a lack of awareness around family genealogy and intergenerational learning for the black community in the UK. I have spent the past 14 years not only researching my family history, but supporting thousands of people through my website Every Generation with tips, advice, case studies, workshops and writing articles on family history. But after all these years, we are still holding ourselves back from researching our past. Some of the barriers are within our families. When coming to Britain, many of the Windrush generation redefined their identities, which meant some of the

DECEMBER 5 - 11, 2013 THE VOICE | 29

family narratives were hidden or slightly fabricated. This applies for any migration community who started a new life in a new country. The consequences, however, are that second and third generation members researching their family history are not encouraged or are even lied to about key facts and information. This is one of the major barriers to researching black family history today.

Recipe for a Caribbean Christmas

EMOTIONAL LEGACY Another major issue eloquently described by academics Dr Na’im Akbar and Dr Joy Leary, is post-traumatic slave syndrome; the emotional legacy of our enslaved past that still impacts us today in terms of our behaviour, cultural norms, parenting, relationships, lifestyle choices and in how we project our identity. The trauma of slavery is still present within our subconscious 400 years later. It is reinforced by everyday racism and the consequences of government policy and globalisation. By opening the family Pandora’s Box, the skeletons of the past may come to haunt us and for the majority of us, perhaps, it is easier to mythologise our African and Caribbean identities and not to explore, in detail, our personal family histories. This also applies to the white families who benefitted from the slave trade who may prefer not to know, or disguise or hide where their wealth came from. Despite this, family history is an important part of the healing process. It enables us to move forward by recognising our family achievements and challenges of the past. We need to reclaim our family history which will involve more soul searching within our own families and we must also demand resources and funding to support our research as part of a wider dialogue around reparations and restorative justice. Patrick Vernon OBE is the

founder of Every Generation Media. For more information visit http://everygeneration.co.uk

CHEF ANTHONY CUMBERBATCH

CARIBBEAN JERK CHICKEN FOR THE JERK SEASONING:

t t t t t

1 tsp ground cloves 1 tsp ground nutmeg 1 tsp chilli powder 1 garlic clove, crushed

t t t t

1 tsp ground cinnamon 2 tsp ground allspice 2 tbsp thyme, picked 1 tsp black pepper

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

FOR THE STUFFING RICE:

t t t t t t

1 shallot, peeled and cut into strips 1 asparagus, cut the ends off, cut in half and then down the middle 50grms of red bell pepper, cut square and then cut into 4 fingers 60grms of plantain, cut again into a square and then cut into 4 fingers 8 large leaf spinach, washed and de-vained Olive oil

FOR THE STUFFING RICE:

HOW TO MAKE ANTHONY’S JERK CHICKEN METHOD 1. Pre-heat the oven 220°C. 2. Place the chicken breasts in its side and then cut a pocket inside the middle of the chicken. Score the rest of the chicken breast ready for the seasoning. 3. Combine all the ingredients for the jerk seasoning; rub it into the chicken making sure that the spices are worked thoroughly into the chicken breast. 4. On a stove place a pot with water and bring to the boil.

t t t t

Wash the spinach, place in to the boiling water, for one second with a spider, take out the spinach and place into a boil of ice water to refresh. Take the spinach out of the cold water and pat the spinach dry with a damp cloth. Place spinach onto a chopping board then put a piece of plantain finger on one end of the red bell pepper, the sliced banana shallots and the asparagus Now roll the spinach leaf on top of the vegetables in to a cigar shape and place it in the pocket of the chicken breast.

5. Place the chicken supreme skin side down on a preheated tray, drizzle the olive oil and roast in the oven for 20 minutes until the chicken is cooked while the chicken is cooking lets prepare the recipe for the poached pears.

CARIBBEAN POACHED PEARS t t t t t t

1 vanilla pod 1 bottle red wine 225g caster sugar 1 cinnamon stick, halved fresh thyme sprig, plus sprigs to serve 4 pears, peeled, but kept whole with stalk intact

METHOD 1. Halve the vanilla pod lengthways, scrape out the black seeds and put in a large saucepan with the wine, sugar, cinnamon and thyme. Cut each piece of pod into three long thin strips, add to pan, then lower in the pears. 2. Poach the pears, covered, for 20-30 mins, making sure they are covered in the wine. The cooking time will very much depend on the ripeness of your pears –they should be tender all the way through when pierced with a cocktail stick. You can make these up to 2 days ahead and chill. 3. Take the pears from the pan, then boil the liquid to reduce it by half so that it’s syrupy. Serve each pear with the cooled syrup, a strip of vanilla, a piece of cinnamon and a small thyme sprig.

CHEFS FONDANT POTATOES t t t t t t t t t

Floury potatoes (large potatoes cut into barrell shapes to make the fondant potatoes) 1 scotch bonnet 1 cinnamon stick Salt and pepper 1-2 tablespoons olive oil Knob of butter Sprig of rosemary or thyme 3 cloves garlic, squashed Chicken stock

METHOD Preheat the oven to 400F. If your oven isn’t hot enough, your potatoes won’t cook in time. Firstly peel your potato and cut in half lengthways in the middle, making sure that they are cut to equal size so that they have the same cooking time. Season. Take a non-stick heat proof high sided roasting tin and place on a medium heat. Add olive oil. Make sure that this gets hot - you can see this happening as the oil gets thinner. Add garlic, scotch bonnet, cinnamon stick and the potatoes side down and potatoes cut side down - if your heat is correct you should hear them sizzle when they touch the hot fat. When they are golden brown on one side, turn them over and season with salt and pepper. Now add the chicken stock to just underneath the potato. If you add too much liquid the potato will become watery. Just before you put them in the oven, add a good knob of butter - this will help give them a great glaze. Scatter with thyme sprigs. Cook for approx 12-16 minutes. You can check they are done if you can cut through them with a sharp knife easily. Assemble the dish by cutting the cooked jerk chicken through the middle, place the fondant potato on the plate and drizzle the thyme jerk jus. Garnish and serve

WINE

Pinot Grigio - Trentino 2012

Family Matters

30 | THE VOICE DECEMBER 5 - 11, 2013

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