Will Shaun Bailey be London’s First Black Mayor?
The United States vs. Billie Holiday Vol. 2 Issue 36, 30th April– 6th May 2021
Sebastian
Thiel
in conjunction with
Dreaming Whilst Black
Credit: code.likeagirl.io
From the
Daniel’s Big Moment Daniel Kaluuya wins Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars 2021.
Should Jimi be awarded the George Cross for bravery, or should a memorial plaque be placed on London Bridge or both? Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole, aka Jimi, gave his life for a stranger. Sadly, Jimi, a 20-year-old, lost his life in the process. He was trying to save a woman who had fallen into the River Thames. His friends and family describe him as someone who has always been selfless, kind and purehearted. The George Cross (GC) is the second-highest award of the United Kingdom honours system. It is awarded “for acts of the greatest heroism or most conspicuous courage in circumstance of extreme danger”, not in the presence of the enemy…to British civilians. Posthumous awards have been allowed since it was instituted. Akala - Young people need to be recognised more when they do remarkable things. 2 Transform your viewing...
Credit: Sky News
Editor’s desk St Vincent & the Grenadines La Soufriere volcano continues to be dangerous. Over 15,000 people on SVG have been displaced. Continue to pray that they get the support they need.
India Continue to pray for India – Let us not forget where we were in 2020.
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Will Shaun Bailey be London’s First Black Mayor?
n May 6th, Londoners will be given the choice of whether to stick with Sadiq Khan, who, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, has spent an extra year as Mayor, or they can take a chance of one of 19 other candidates. One of the choices on the ballot sheet is Shaun Bailey. Much has been said about the Conservative hopeful on the run-up to election day, with some saying he just might be the man to clean up our broken city, while others believe he is completely out of his depth. With Khan expected to win a second term by a landslide, can a Tory from North Kensington really win the title of London’s first Black Mayor? Born in 1971, Bailey, who was raised in a council house by a single mum, certainly doesn’t fit the usual Tory mould. His upbringing suggests he has a true understanding of London through the eyes of the working class and of how difficult it can be to succeed in an environment where violence and inequality run rampant. Bailey embodies the straddling of the two London’s (one for the rich and one for the poor) as while he has obviously done well for himself working as a Downing Street advisor and Member of the London Assembly, before that he spent twenty years as a youth worker, helping to get young people out of crime and into employment. He also found himself homeless for part of his twenties. According to his campaign website, Shaun proposes a 10-point plan that includes hiring 8,000 police officers, building 100,000 new homes, and significant changes to the congestion charge and the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) ‘s; promises which are all bound to be popular. Much of his plan involves reversing proposed monetary hikes, such as Sadiq Khan’s 10% council tax increase (said to save each London household £307) and the scrapping of Khan’s plan to charge motorists £5.50 to drive into parts of outer London. Considering the pandemic has pushed many councils further into debt, they are unlikely to welcome these reversals. Bailey’s campaign slogan ‘Let’s Give London A Fresh Start’, in conjunction with his proven track record of dedicating his career to the pursuit of turning young lives around, should surely see him a stronger opponent for the front-runner. So why is this not the case? Critics cite poor campaigning and controversial views as a reason to disregard his campaign. Comments
By Melissa Osborne
bashing single mothers, non-Christian religious festivals and advising that working-class people need rules to keep them from turning to crime have all been seen as both shocking and not in line with the thoughts of most Londoners. Just as damning is the fact that while he was Special Advisor on Crime and Youth under David Cameron, the government made major cuts to The Metropolitan Police - effects which continue to negatively impact the capital. However, considering that many thought Sadiq Khan was a gamble and that the current Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, wasn’t the most credible politician, could there be unfair criticism of Bailey taking place? Coming from a man who has interacted with both the upper echelons of British politics and the grimy underbelly of a city of nearly 9 million people, perhaps Bailey’s words are an unwelcome truth? Or has he just lost touch with his roots? With Khan way out in front in the polls, it does seem a done deal. But whether Shaun Bailey suffers the lowest vote count for a Conservative mayoral candidate in the two decades the elections have been running, or does the unthinkable and actually wins, the fact that we have a Black candidate as the Tory party’s choice for London Mayor says a lot about the evolution of politics in this nation. Shaun Bailey - A Fresh Start for London Shaun Bailey’s campaign website (1). Mayoral election 2021: Sadiq Khan and Shaun Bailey - YouTube BBC London Mayoral debate (2). London’s Tory mayoral candidate on UK’s racial tensions - YouTube CNN interview with Shaun Bailey (3). “MIND THE GAP”: Social Mobility with Shaun Bailey, Conservative Candidate for London Mayor - YouTube Blue Collar Conservatism talk with Shaun Bailey about his upbringing Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Butterfly Magazine. Transform your viewing...
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Cover
Story
Dreaming
Whilst Black Producer proves you can By Beverley Cooper-Chambers
Sebastian
Thiel Tun yuh Hand Mek Fashion
(Use What You Have to Get What You Need)
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BM: What is the story behind the story? ST: I’m Zambian, Malawian and German. I was born in Luanshya, Zambia, on a farm my parents sold when they moved the family to London for a better life. I was three, and I grew up in Edgware in NW London. BM: How did you get into films? ST: I loved watching films. I used to act and dance, but I became reserved as I grew older. I got into basketball, and I thought I’d do it for the rest of my life because I was good. An opportunity arose to go to a basketball camp in America, but the sponsors pulled out while we were at the airport. I was 15, disheartened, and broken with basketball. Now I was in college, unsure what I wanted to do. I considered graphic design because I loved art, so I dropped out of college and started Upshot Clothing, making T-shirts. I made a comedy promo called ‘How Not to Chat Up A Girl’ that went viral receiving 500,000 views, and that’s when I became a filmmaker at age 17. BM: What is your money blueprint? ST: The money blueprint is a concept that I heard about from a book called the Secret Mind of a Millionaire. As a child, you pick up habits about money from your environment. For example, I don’t want to be rich; it will make me a horrible person or save money for a rainy day not by investing. I had to unlearn some habits and keep the positive ones, especially as I am now a businessman BM: Why is basic accounting skills essential? ST: I got burned when I was 18 when I set up my company online because a company comes with responsibilities. I found out when I got fined £1000; I didn’t have a job; this was a wake-up call. I set up a payment plan with HMRC, but I hate maths, however as a freelancer, you need basic accounting to understand your business.
Dreaming Whilst Black BM: What is the passion behind Dreaming whilst Black your latest TV show? ST: I love the tone of the world in the story. Our world, it’s relatable, is an important piece of work. I think what Adjani Salmon, the writer and actor Kwabena, is saying needs to be on a mainstream platform. It is done in an intelligent way that allows people that might not necessarily be ready for certain things to experience them through comedy. Those are some of the layers that I’m passionate about; it’s quite reflective of my experiences in London. BM: The scene with Kwabena, the British Jamaican filmmaker at the bus stop and the woman with the wig and his comment about her braids is brilliant. ST: That’s what I mean; those things are important details that get missed, but they are important to Adjani and me. Certain lines need to stay! BM: How do young people with good ideas start? ST: I’ve always had this mentality, ignore outside voices. My focus was just to learn, create and put content on YouTube whether I had the skills or not, and that’s what got the attention of the BBC. The content was getting views and creating a community. I think what I’ll say to people is to stay focused on your craft and try to make things regardless of what equipment or skills you have. Just create. Transform your viewing...
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BM: What about the lack of funds? ST: I never had the money. I applied for grants and worked. My parents didn’t fund me. I did work that I disliked to get what I needed. People can put content on YouTube using their phone or borrow equipment. BM: In Jamaica, we say ‘Tun yuh hand an’ mek fashion; basically, you use whatever you’ve got to do what you need. ST: I like that, can I use that? BM: At the end of your film Illegal Activity 2012, there is a powerful statement. Would we read more if books were illegal? How would you answer that question? ST: Interesting. I haven’t thought about it, but my gut instinct says yes. Given what’s going on in the world, I still feel the same. Young people gravitate towards things that we’re not supposed to do. I’d think a book must be unique if we’re not allowed to read it. BM: Tell us about your Vision Board. ST: I think it’s a great way to keep you focused. You have a vision board as inspiration or just for you to know what you want. For me, I know that it’s not about fame. I like what I’ve done; I know how much I love it and what I want to do through it.
Sebastian’s showreel BM: How do you handle the ‘crabs in a barrel’ mentality? ST: Sometimes, it’s hard to think about certain things, but I go forward; if people aren’t willing to work me, I do my own thing. I have seen the fear in people who want to be the one. I think that that stems from feeling that there are not a lot of opportunities for us. When they’ve done stuff for mainstream channels, I’ve seen many people get more views on their channels. The only thing that stops us is the finance which was why I couldn’t sustain my YouTube content. As you get older, you need a steady income because we have families. BM: What else would you have to say to young people and not so young people who still feel I’ve got something to say. ST: I think it’s important to do a lot of inner work on yourself whilst you’re trying to get into the industry. It’s something that not a lot of people talk about, but it is very important. With Tik Tok and Instagram, our generation thinks they know what will make them happy, but it won’t. Meditation has helped me to understand what I want and what makes me happy. So, know what you are doing and why. If the right reasons drive you, people cannot stop that. BM: Well, I’d like to thank you and finish with a reminder for our readers to watch Dreaming Whilst Black on BBC III or BBC iPlayer.
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Freedom
Is Mine
By FAYIDA JAILLER
T
Australia
he Australian mainland has been inhabited by indigenous Aborigines for tens of thousands of years. The oldest foreign artifacts ever discovered in Australia are coins minted by the medieval kingdom of the Kilwa Sultanate – the equivalent of modernday Tanzania - found on the Wessel Billy Blue 1834 Islands which indicates trade with Africa by J B East Convicts at Botany Bay from as early as the 12th century. The first fleet of British ships arrived in 1788 at on the convict ship Minorca. He arrived in Sydney Botany Bay which is located in modern-day Sydney. in 1801. Upon release, he married an English They established a penal colony on the mainland former convict, Elizabeth Williams and they had six which was populated by exiled British convicts. children together. Billy became a boatman, ferrying You may be wondering what this has to do passengers across Sydney Harbour, where it was with people of African descent. Well much of the said he was such an eccentric character that the money that went into establishing British colonies in local authorities turned a blind eye to him smuggling Australia was financed by Britain’s involvement in contraband and escaped convicts. Blues point on the Transatlantic slave trade. Sydney Harbour and Blue Street, Blues point tower and the Billy Blue College of Design are Several figures have been all named after him. documented as migrating to Australia after their families acquired wealth So, when did Africans start arriving in from the slave trade, particularly from Australia in large numbers? The African the compensation they received for diaspora in Australia as we know it today it the loss of their ‘product’ when the relatively recent, and African migrants have British government announced the entered Australia for a number of reasons, abolition of slavery in 1833. The Legacies whether as skilled workers, through family Kilwa coin of British Slave-Ownership database at connections or on humanitarian programs. by Powerhouse the University College London details The largest African diaspora communities in Museum many prominent European settlers in Australia hail from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Australia who had benefitted financially Sudan, Mauritius and Kenya. One of the largest from the slave trade. African diaspora communities in Australia today is the Sudanese community. From 1997 to 2007, over People of African descent arrived 20,000 Sudanese people migrated to Australia. via the First Fleet and throughout the 19th century. Notable examples include Billy Blue, John Caesar and Black Jack Anderson. Originally from either New York or Jamaica, Billy Blue was a black convict who was transported to Botany Bay British Abolition slavery compensation cartoon closeup by C. J. Grant
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Cinema/Video
W
n o s ’ t a h
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t
e h
r c S
? n ee
This Lady Called Life - Official Trailer Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire. Credit: Netflix
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Dreaming Whilst Black
DREAMING WHILST BLACK is a new mini comedy series from 4Quarter Films. The show, created by the award-winning filmmaker Adjani Salmon, tells the story of a young, passionate, yet naive filmmaker, Kwabena, who struggles to navigate between his dreams and reality. https://www.facebook.com/DreamingWhil... Dissatisfied with his work, Kwabena risks everything in order to make his dreams come true. As he makes his break out short film, he struggles to balance work, friends and his relationship. This struggle is compounded by the pressure from his family to gain financial stability. During this journey Kwabena has to ask himself, “What am I willing to sacrifice for my dreams?” and “Are these sacrifices worth it?” The creator, Adjani Salmon explains that his “frustration in only seeing all white shows, or shows where minorities characters are portrayed in crippling poverty or as criminals, led (him) to want to create a different narrative. One of a young black man who is just trying to make his way in the world” which he believes “is the majority of us”. It is a show that everyone who struggled to fit in can relate to. 10 Transform your viewing...
ZERO
Being invisible, is the real power. Zero, tells the story of a shy boy with an extraordinary superpower: becoming invisible. Not a superhero, but a modern hero who learns about his powers when the Barrio, the district of the Milan suburb from which he wanted to escape, is in danger. Zero will have to wear the uncomfortable clothes of a hero, despite himself and, in his adventure, he will discover the friendship of Sharif, Inno, Momo and Sara, and perhaps even love. Credit Netflix
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The Stowaway
On a mission headed to Mars, an unintended stowaway accidentally causes severe damage to the spaceship’s life support systems. Facing dwindling resources and a potentially fatal outcome, the crew is forced to make an impossible decision. Credit:Netflix
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Robert Johnson Can’t You Hear The Wind Howl The Life and Music of Robert Johnson.
Actor Danny Glover takes you on an evocative journey through Johnson’s life. The film uniquely blends together factual information, exclusive interviews with people who actually knew Robert Johnson, and historically accurate re-creations of Johnson’s life from boyhood to his death, including performances in juke joints, the San Antonio and Dallas recording sessions, and his many travels across the country. Johnson is portrayed by two-time Grammy Award®-winning singer/songwriter Keb’ Mo’, who accurately mimes both Johnson’s guitar and voice to the original Vocalion recordings. Credit: Shred Guitar Colombia MT Transform your viewing...
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The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Her voice would not be silenced. Experience Andra Day as Billie Holiday in ‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday,’ directed by Lee Daniels. Credit: Hulu
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Jumbie
Carnival 2021. Cancelled due to the pandemic. But that is just two days. You can’t cancel Trinidad and Tobago culture. Not only is it strong and rich, but it’s also versatile. Here’s something to help with the Carnival tabanca. Credit: GemGfx
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The Con Jamaican Movie 2021
Credit: prolonghd film
Fisherwoman and Tuk Tuk
When she discovers a pearl in the belly of a fish, a Konkani fisherwoman resigned to a mundane life of daily struggle, abandons her trade and indulges in her wildest fantasy. She buys herself a brightly colored rickshaw (“tuk tuk”) and starts to cruise at lightning speed through the winding roads of her coastal village, with her cats in tow. Finally released from her daily drudgery, ecstatic at her newly found sense of power and freedom, she is the talk of the town and her own greatest hero, when, suddenly, an accident threatens to thwart her indomitable spirit. An exuberant, wild and joyous tale about a woman’s awakening of dormant desires, that celebrates the thrill of adventure and the triumph of dreaming big and pursuing even our most wacky, psychedelic fantasies against all odds. Soulfully told in loud color and trippy animation, the film has won India’s National Award for Animation. Credit: Studio Eeksaurus 16 Transform your viewing...
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Black
Arts
Stan
Douglas By Efosa Osaghae
Douglas is an eclectic addition to this list for many reasons. First and foremost, while he is a black artist and filmmaker, he touches upon race only intermittently.
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Stills from Doppelgänger, 2019, by Stan Douglas, two-screen projection. © Stan Douglas. Courtesy of the artist, Victoria Miro, and David Zwirner
Born in Vancouver, Canada in 1960 his work bears influence from such artists like Franz Kafka, Joseph Conrad and Samuel Beckett. His works have found homes at The Tate Gallery in London, the Whitney Biennial and the MOMA in New York. The nuances of modernity and humanity are present in the artist’s most recent work “Doppelgänger”. The film is a deep dive into the blurred lines between fact and fiction through two parallel timelines. Doppelgänger presents a lopped narrative of an alternative present. The story unfolds as we follow a female astronaut on a mission to a distant planet. Joining her, is of course her clone. Doppelgänger uses the lens of science fiction to challenge the idea of the “self” and identity. As with all video art, there is a level of ambiguity that Douglas utilizes to enable audiences to form their own interpretation. Therefore, the benefit of the dual-screen format is that it cultivates multiple perspectives of the film underlying message.
W
hile many black artists tackle the issues of black identity head-on, he leaves it in the background in favour of facing wider issues pertaining to mass media, urbanism and humanity. Douglas uses photography, film and video installation to dissect the idea of a “failed utopia”. He centres around the intricacies of modernity but he doesn’t ruminate on its past. Instead, he focuses on how it informs our present and future. Again, Douglas’ artistic profile is rare in the black art world. He’s an artist that doesn’t reduce his art to the ideal of blackness. He is human first, and artist second.
Stan Douglas - Doppelgänger Transform your viewing...
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What happens when you buy your dream car after retirement!
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Last Word
We told them!
