Black History Month Special Issue by Wessex Scene

Welcome

BRIDIE PEARSON-JONES Editor Wessex Scene

NATALIE FORDHAM Editor The Edge

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015 Black History Month has been celebrated in the UK since 1987 when it was ‘founded’ by Akyaaba Addai Sebbo and Ken Livingstone. The first event was held when the Greater London Council hosted Dr Maulana Karenga, African-American Activist and creator of the holiday Kwanzaa. Since, hundreds of celebrations of Black history and culture take place over the country every October.

MICHAEL OLIVER Deputy Editor Wessex Scene

For the last few months, Wessex Scene, The Edge and SUSU ACS have been working together to produce this issue to celebrate Black History Month. We hope you find this magazine entertaining, thought provoking and informative.

KERRY SCLATER SUSU Vice President Democracy and Creative Industries

In an ideal world, Black History Month would not be necessary, unfortunately even in today’s society Black history has failed to be recognised as part of the national curriculum. On page [?], read Henry Tyrell’s piece on why Black History should have a place in mainstream education.

JENNIFER OWUSU-FRIMPONG President SUSU African and Caribbean Society

We have a range of stories, from white-washing in Hollywood, to the #BlackLivesMatter campaign, how to be a white ally and some inspirational stories and people from black history.

SEBASTIAN STEELE Head of Design Wessex Scene

We hope this issue enlightens you to use Black History Month as an opportunity to share and celebrate the vast contributions made to society by the African-Caribbean community in Britain, which is all too often ignored or misrepresented in the rhetoric of the mainstream.

JORDAN STEWART Head of Imagery Wessex Scene

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

Welcome

04 Politics and History 04

Why is Black History Month Restricted to Only One Month?

Multicultural Society? Embrace a Multicultural Education

Is the USA Institutionally Racist?

Making Up for Damage Done

The Problems of Studying Abroad for Ethnic Minorities

10 Ways to be a White Ally to Black People

The Black Power Salute at the 1968 Olympics

04 People and voices 11

#Imjustsaying #cute #BlackLivesMatter #OMG

The Politcs of Black Twitter

5 of Britain’s Most Influential Career Women

5 Figures of Black History You Should Know About

An Everlasting Legacy

An Ode to Black Football

04 MEDIA and CULTURE

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

Authors in Focus: Ngugi Wa Thiong’o

Malorie Blackman

Novels That Changed The World

Director in Focus: Richard Ayoade

Hollywood and the Whitewashing Problem

Representation Matters

International Slavery Museum

The Strength of Street Knowledge

Artists Who Changed The Face of Music

Black Characters in Popular Culture

Why is Black History month restricted to only one month? WORDS BY TALLULAH LYONS IMAGE BY GEORGE THOM

lack History month is a month to honour and celebrate the achievements of important and influential figures throughout black history. Throughout the month of October, festivals take place, lessons and assemblies are taught in school, and there is an increase in documentaries and radio programmes surrounding the topic of Black History. The likes of Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, and Rosa Parks are just a few historical figures that are celebrated in this month, as well as many ‘modern’ influential figures such as Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Benjamin Zephaniah who help forge the way and inspire black people to aim high and achieve. However, to what extent can we celebrate something if we do not understand or know what we are celebrating? When questioned on the events of Black History, many people know about the slave trade, the civil rights movement and the abolition of slavery. What about the rest of Black history? The presence of black people throughout the Victorian and the Tudor period as a result of colonialism, or the thousands of black soldiers who fought in the world wars. Take the example of the Crimean War; both Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole played similar roles in assisting wounded soldiers but I am far more familiar with the work of Florence Nightingale than of Mary Seacole as that what was taught in school. This is not to say that there should be a competition between the achievements of white and black figures in history – as both equally shaped British history, but only one is widely recognised. Limiting Black History to one month is not enough time for the achievements and figures to be honoured and celebrated, 4

because for some people this might be the first time they are introduced to these figures. Despite the fact that Black history plays a large part of British history, it is segregated and taught independently as opposed to alongside the rest of history. If black school children in schools do not know about their history, then the rest of society do not know about the history and this then leads to racial ignorance and lack of understanding and respect for Black history. A study conducted by Havard and Pittsburg Universities concluded that ‘“racial socialization”— teaching kids about their culture and involving them in activities that promote racial pride and connection—helps to offset the discrimination and racial prejudices children face by the outside world.’ The findings suggest that it would be beneficial to children to learn about their backgrounds and different aspects of history and other cultures, and this should be integrated into British history for more than a one-month period. Marcus Garvey reinforces the importance of integrating Black history into British history, ‘a people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots’ Not only increase awareness of the culture and the events in the past, but also to help empower and inspire black people and then they can continue to feel a sense of pride of their history which is not only limited to one month of the year. If Black history had more than one month’s acknowledgement, then Black History month could be enjoyed for what it is meant to be – a celebration of achievements and could continue to inspire and empower children across Britain.

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Multicultural Society? Embrace a Multicultural Education WORDS BY HENRY TYRRELL

IMAGE BY JORDAN STEWART

When Britain has been dismissed as diplomatically irrelevant and a ‘small island that no one listens to’ in recent years, our Prime Minister has been quick to defend his country as one that remains a global power. David Cameron has boasted of some of our biggest accomplishments and successes. Among these, he stated that Britain had ‘helped to abolish slavery’ and even as the nation approaches its Black History Month this October, Mr Cameron highlighted the “rich diversity” our country experiences in 2015. But in order for a country to be so positive toward its multicultural communities, it must have an educational system that confronts an honest, unadulterated version of black history in Britain. The country must not limit the knowledge it passes on to future generations, but have a curriculum that includes elements of British history that have formed the fabric of the country. As a result, while the abolishment of slavery was a milestone, our schools should expand their lessons on black history to stories beyond individual triumph in the face of adversity and to how institutions of colonialism and racism have formed the country we live in today. There is a knowledge gap – a widespread unawareness – that if filled can weaken the legacy of slavery and commonplace racism; pushing racial equality and celebrating the true nature of our multiculturalism to the top of the nation’s political and societal agendas.

across the Atlantic, there is much more to the history of black people in Britain. For example, it was not legally possible for a person to be a slave in Tudor and Stuart Britain and Africans were even ‘baptised, married and buried in English churches.’

It should be emphasised that the diverse nature of our society is the very result of British partaking in the world. Some of our most celebrated national and cultural treasures are the consequence of our global trading network. The work of black slaves harvesting sugar has been suggested as to creating the substantial wealth Mr Darcy boasted in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and contributed to financing the manor of ‘Downton Abbey’. Britain’s exploitation of colonies abroad and treatment of the black people who built the country we live in today isn’t black history – it is English history. While many of us will be familiar with stories of Mary Seacole and the civil rights movement

It is an indication of a self-aware nation to not only acknowledge its wrongdoings, but to continue to educate the next generations of them. Is there a better way of discouraging something similar happening again than teaching a nation’s immorality with a brutally honest approach? When the history of black people is understood and recognised by all, we will be one of the few countries to counter modern-day prejudice and discrimination in the most constructive way possible. It will only be when we embrace a multicultural education that we can appreciate, and truly celebrate, our multicultural society.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

The point being that for Britain to be able to brag to the international community that we are a progressive nation in its prime, we must acknowledge our failings as well as our successes but not let the slave trade warp our view of black history in the country. Britain fits the idea of an ‘imagined community’ in which Benedict Anderson illustrates that what a country decides to recall and promote as its history is centric to its self-image, while it disregards certain events or aspects of its foundations. Therefore, Cameron fondly mentioning Britain helping to abolish slavery is obviously remembered before the centuries of cruelty that preceded it.

Is The USA Institutionally Racist? O

WORDS BY CAMERON RIDGWAY

ver 50 years after Martin Luther King Jr’s historic ‘I Have A Dream’ speech, race relations are still a contentious issue in the US, with police forces and other public organisations being accused of acting unfairly toward African Americans. The statistics seem to support such accusations, with black children in primary and secondary education three times more likely to be suspended and black young offenders much more likely to be considered adults by the court system than white young offenders. One of the most widely publicised issues which has brought the debate over institutional racism to the fore once again in the US is the shooting of unarmed black men by police, with the shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri by Darren Wilson, a white police officer, provoking riots and clashes across the town after Wilson was not indicted to face murder charges as a result. Tensions escalated when the police militarised their response by using tear gas and SWAT teams. The US Department of Justice later found that the Ferguson Police Department had discriminated against African Americans, using racial stereotypes in a ‘pattern or practice of unlawful conduct’. Since then, shootings of a similar nature have continued to occur. According to the Washington Post, black males accounted for 40% of the 60 unarmed firearms-related deaths in the US up to August this year, despite the fact that they only make up 6% of the entire population. Suggestions as to why such a disconnect between politics, police forces and other public organisations and the black population exists in some towns and cities in America are numerous and varied. Some have pointed to the lack of minority representation in government, particularly at a state 6

IMAGE BY CHESTER FRAMPTON

and local level as a potential reason. Using Ferguson as an example, 67% of the population is African American, while only one member of the city council is black. The economic picture also indicates a level of discrimination or marginalisation for African American, with the unemployment rate among blacks remaining higher than other ethnic group despite a wave of national job creation policies. Surveys and research conducted among black job applicants in America by by the International Business Times has found that although black applicants often have the same level of qualifications as their white counterparts, they can be held back by factors as simple as their name or the level of professional contacts they possess, despite discrimination on the grounds of race in the recruitment process being outlawed. However, it can’t be denied that progress in many areas has been made, with Barack Obama’s election as president a major step forward for equality both politically and symbolically. Research has shown that overall, most cities where the population is predominantly African American have a predominantly black city council. In terms of political engagement, black voter turnout is now on a similar level to white voter turnout in presidential elections, showing an increasing level of engagement with politics as a whole. In a recent interview, Obama said he believed racial equality had improved during his period in office, pointing to changes made in healthcare, access to college and the justice system. He did, however, acknowledge the frustration felt by communities affected by police shootings after the decision not to indict the shooters on murder charges. This continuing frustration, particularly in relation to the police force, will have to be resolved if the accusations of institutional racism are ever to be overcome. BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

Making up For Damage Done the Case for Reparations WORDS BY MEGAN SHERMAN

Instead of siphoning tax-pounds and dollars in to arming regimes who abuse human rights, we could instead redress the descendants of slaves who suffered one of the most callous cruelties human History has witnessed.

lavery is the absolute possession and subjugation of a people by a conquering, exploiting force. It completely eviscerates the human individual and subjects them to the whim of craven power. In the history of modern empire, slavery consists in the forcible expropriation of labour from colonial subjects, wrenched from their homelands and made to toil under appalling conditions in the New World. And the ill-gotten gains of white society, underwritten by the blood and sweat of slaves, have never been given back.

Moreover there is the argument we would only be returning wrongfully seized wealth. In his essay for The Atlantic “The Case for Reparations” Ta Nehisi Coates writes about the kleptocracy which bedevilled black people in America. He estimates they collectively lost 24,000 acres of land, valued at tens of millions of dollars, at the hands of greedy, powerful, rapacious white colonialists. Society was enriched only through it’s misdeeds, racism and capitalism going hand in hand.

Although in time the arrow of history moved towards progress and protests of the abolition movement forced the conscience of the free world to focus on outlawing the unpardonable evil of slavery, on putting a stop to the suffering so-called civilization had engendered, suffice to say the twin problems of racism and inequality persist. The wounds and scars remain.

Colonial prosperity and its legacies of inequality are sometimes discussed in the context of dependency theory. The theory argues that the modern capitalist system created a strict global hierarchy divided in to core and periphery sectors. In this version of political economy the main dynamic is that of the core zone enriching itself through its exploitation of the periphery, continuing the expropriation of labour and wealth fundamental to capitalism. The construction and evolution of the colonial metropole brought with it the deprivation and alienation of periphery subjects. That is the abject truth behind the modern world’s supposedly innovative and productive capabilities. On this view, it is only right to compensate the victims of empire building, to develop a more compassionate ethos to replace the morally defunct one which gave intellectual justification for the bad practices of colonialism.

The issue of monetary redress for the injustice of slavery has exerted a galvanising force in public debate throughout the decades separating the heights of the civil rights movement from today. It is a question which fails to die. The proposals draw as much fear and condemnation as they do support. But there are clear reasons why we ought to support the idea and i will try to outline them here. One reason colonial states must provide compensation is because the offspring of slavery’s progenitors continue to immorally benefit from reparations paid to recompense slave owners for human stock lost at the time the trade was outlawed. Whereas the collective lot of slaves and their descendants was systematic discrimination and disadvantage, left to fend for themselves in a hostile, prejudiced society, the likes of David Cameron still indirectly benefit from the generous stipends his ancestors received, worth millions in today’s money. It is decidedly wrong that the wealthy can live it up on reparations, as a form of inheritance, when descendants of slaves were damned to troubles and pittance. BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

General unwillingness to truly regard reparations as a form of redress for historical abuse shows we still have a long road to equality. I have heard complaint it is unfair to ask present generations to carry the past on our backs, but what that argument seems to entail is letting societies which are beneficiaries of slavery off the hook. If equality and evolution are values we hold dear, we shouldn’t stop the process of truth and reconciliation in societies infected by racism, and reparations are one critical step in making up for damage done.

The Problems of Studying Abroad for Ethnic Minorities Studying abroad is scary, exciting and suspenseful whoever you are. Thousands of UK students go abroad each year to study, teach, and work. For those from an ethnic minority background it’s extra tricky to get abroad - unfortunately, some countries aren’t as diverse or tolerant as the UK. WORDS BY BRIDIE PEARSON-JONES IMAGE BY JOSH SAMWAYS

round the world, people face discrimination because of the colour of their skin everyday, and it’s something some students have to bare in mind when choosing where to go on their year abroad. Thoughts before travelling away from home, friends and family are often chaotic, racism shouldn’t be at the forefront of your mind - but unfortunately for some students, it is. Blogger and Nottingham Trent Grad, Anita Barton-Williams, shared her advice on ThirdYearAbroad. com, after spending a year in France and Spain, and discovering she’d been placed in Front National territory. “I want to shed light on the experiences I have had as a young black woman abroad. I want to be able to give advice to other Black people and ethnic minorities on what to expect upon starting their year abroad as I, as well as several of my fellow Black Trent students, have encountered racism on several occasions and feel it is a topic that needs to be brought to attention.” Anita goes on to explain how she was stared at, called a slave and her afro was made fun of. She urges people to do their research before travelling, and to speak up when you become a victim of racism. Another blogger from Nottingham Trent, Alexander HyltonHolmes, who also spent his time in Strasbourg, said it was difficult to find accommodation because ‘Strasbourg was racist’ and no landlord would let to him because he’s ‘black and english’. Another year abroad student, Selena Falcone, a mixed race British student who decided to study at the University of 8

Luxembourg, with a year abroad in Japan told the Guardian: “It’s something people are more aware of in Luxembourg and Japan. In Luxembourg, what shocked me were the casual comments people would make about black people as if they didn’t concern me, because my appearance can be misleading, My background suddenly became relevant, whereas in England I never had to think about it. It made me more wary of becoming friends with people because of the inevitable comments they would make.” The same is true across the pond too. For 78% of American students who study abroad are white, and less than 5% of those that study abroad are black or African-American. Nyasha Mugavazi told the Guardian that here ethnicity was a factor in deciding where to travel. “I could have gone to Moscow, which would have been amazing, but my ethnicity made me doubt whether I’d get the same experience of Russia as my peers. Race relations in Hungary are also far from good, but I feel like the positives there outweigh my fear of feeling ostracised. I wasn’t really offered any specific advice as a BME [black and other ethnic minorities] and I feel like this also applies to other minority groups, such as LGBT students, who may also have to think about how the way they identify may give them a different year abroad experience to their peers.” Of course, for many ethnic minority students there are no problems with studying abroad, some with no problem at all. If you’re concerned about travelling abroad, or have issues while abroad contact SUSU’s Advice Centre. BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

10 Ways to be a White Ally to Black People An ally is someone who fights for a marginalised group, of which they are not a part of. So white people can support racial inequality by using their privilege to amplify the voices of black people and educate other white people. But it’s not as simple as going around, announcing yourself as an ally to everyone you meet. Here are a few valuable things you can do to be an ally: WORDS BY FREYA JEFFRIES IMAGE BY OWEN WEBB 1. Understand your privilege. Do some reflection and

consider the ways in which your white privilege affects your everyday life. Privilege doesn’t mean that you don’t have any problems of your own; it simply means that there are certain things that you won’t ever have to think about because they simply don’t affect you. Only by understanding your place within the system, can you learn how to fight the system.

2. It’s not about you. It is not only unproductive but

offensive to project your white guilt on to people of colour. Being an ally is not assuaging your guilt. Equally, don’t try to take on a leadership role in the struggle against racism. You are a part of the dominant culture and so you do not need a platform to speak about race.

3. Educate yourself and keep up to date. Read the news

and make yourself aware of the issues and injustices black people face. It’s your job to get online and actively learn about how racism affects people of colour.

4. Don’t show off about how educated you are about racism.

Instead listen to the experiences, feelings and views of people of colour and try your best to amplify them. It’s your job as an ally to support the movement, not to speak over and take credit for black people’s thoughts and opinions.

7. Don’t treat people like accessories. You’re not a black ally because you have a black friend, just as a man isn’t a feminist ally just because he has a girlfriend.

8. Don’t appropriate black culture. Using a marginalised

culture that is not your own as a fashion statement or joke hugely trivialises the systematic oppression of people of colour and serves to perpetuate white supremacy. Read up on cultural appropriation and understand the damage it does.

9. Learn from your mistakes and apologise. Nobody

is perfect and you are bound to accidentally make mistakes as you unlearn racist ideologies. The important thing is to apologise for your mistake and actively learn from it. This article may be full of mistakes, but it’s better to make mistakes then to refuse to talk about race altogether.

10. Keep learning. Don’t just read this article and assume

that you know everything about being an ally - I am a white person and I am only scratching the surface. Please go online and get reading websites blogs, articles, tweets etcetera written by people of colour. Stay informed, focused and active, and together we can all help fight for racial equality.

5. Speak out against racism. No matter how close you are

to your casually racist friend, you need to call them out! You don’t have to shout or make a scene, just be clear that what they said was wrong. And brush aside any ridiculous accusations that you can’t take a joke; tackling racism is infinitely more important.

6. Know that not everyone shares the same views.

This may sound obvious but not all black people have the same views. Don’t expect a handful of people, or even one person, to represent all black people. White people aren’t expected to speak for all white people so why should people of colour?

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

The Black Power Salute at the 1968 Olympics WORDS BY MICHAEL OLIVER IMAGE BY SIMEON COATH The 1968 Olympics, held in Mexico City, was certainly famous for the sheer number of records broken in the athletics events – a total of 14 new World Records and 12 new Olympic Records were made, with perhaps the most famous being Bob Beamon breaking the long jump record by 55cm. Other athletic highlights included Jim Hines becoming the first man to ever legally break the 10-second barrier in the men’s 100m, the World Record in the men’s triple jump being broken five times by three athletes and the Fosbury Flop (jumping backwards) being introduced into the high jump. However, all this sporting excellence was eclipsed by a then-controversial moment on the podium in the Olympic Stadium: the Black Power salute.

he date was 16th October. Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos finished 1st and 3rd in the mens’ 200m final, with Australian Peter Norman finishing second – Smith had won with a world record time of 19.83 seconds. As the Star-Spangled Banner played and they turned to face their rising national flags, both Smith and Carlos raised a black-gloved fist and held it there until the anthem had finished. Smith also wore a black scarf – his way of representing Black pride – and Carlos unzipped his top to reveal a chain of beads which he said ‘were for the individuals who were lynched or killed and no-one said a prayer for. It was for those thrown off the side of the boats in the middle passage (a popular route of the slave trade).’ Both also wore black socks instead of shoes, in an effort to represent the effects of black poverty. All three medallists also wore OPHR (Olympic Project for Human Rights) badges. The Black Power Salute happened in the same year, yet after, the assassination of Martin Luther King and the signing of the US civil rights act. Despite this, it was clear that discrimination was still rife throughout the US especially, if not on paper. The ‘Black Power’ slogan was used to help foster a sense of 10

pride, as well as promoting black values and culture amongst the Black Community in the US throughout the latter years of legalised discrimination, as well as in the immediate years afterward. Immediate response to the salute was not positive. After being booed by the Mexican crowd, the then-president of the IOC, Avery Brundage, an American, declared their political statement to be unfit for the supposedly apolitical nature of the games, and subsequently ordered the removal of Smith and Carlos from the Olympic Village. After the US Olympic Committee initially refused, the threat to ban the entire US team from the games meant that the two athletes were soon back in the USA. Response from the US press was even more negative than that of the IOC, with Time magazine famously showing on their cover the five Olympic rings with the caption ‘Angrier, Nastier, Uglier’ in place of the Olympic motto ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’. Both athletes were subject to abuse and even received death threats. Smith defended himself by saying that the gesture was not a black power salute, but a human rights salute, criticising the continued discrimination of black people in the US and worldwide, saying: ‘If I win, I am American, not a black American. But if I did something bad, then they would say I am a Negro. We are black and we are proud of being black. Black America will understand what we did tonight’. We have still not achieved racial equality, especially regarding African-Americans in the US. However, it is important to remember that progress has been made, and it is staggering to think that statements like this were having to be made less than fifty years ago. BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

People and Voices

#Imjustsaying #cute #BlackLivesMatter #OMG JENNIFER OWUSU-FRIMPONG AFRICAN AND CARIBBEAN SOCIETY

Tomorrow, you could click the ‘compose a tweet symbol’, type the hashtag “#BlackLivesMatter”, add a little heart emoji and publish the tweet so simply without giving it a second thought. When you do this though, are you really considering what it means for black lives to matter? Would you tweet or post this hashtag to support the movement or because you feel like it needs to be done? Does the hashtag really mean anything to you?

lack Lives Matter is a political movement, led by young protestors. The movement begun in July 2013 at the time of the trial of George Zimmerman who was charged with the murder of 17 year old Trayvon Martin. The hashtag took the social media by storm causing a stir all around the world as people supported the fight for justice. When we see or hear the hashtag we may be transported to the time we heard that about the Trayvon Martin case or when we heard an unarmed 18 year old Michael Brown was also shot and killed. We may even think of Sandra Bland, Dontre Hamilton or Eric Garner and those are just a few names that spring to mind. The movement has had a very powerful influence on social media and has allowed us to feel more connected to issues of racism that are being faced by our American counterparts.

feeling intimidated by a young black man walking in a hooded jumper or an employer refusing to hire a black candidate, it is more than just what we see and hear on our phones or TVs. According to US statistics from the Centre on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, young Blacks are 4.5 times more likely to be killed by police than any other age or racial group.

Not long after the hashtag began trending we found other individuals question why only black lives matter and in turn the “#AllLivesMatter” hashtag was started to challenge this. Individuals took it as far as to post pictures of animals adding the All Lives Matter hashtag. Following this was a large amount of controversy arguing that it was unnecessary and questioning whether this was making a mockery of the movement considering the number of Black individuals that have suffered injustice at the hands of the legal system and the extrajudicial killing of many other black bodies.

It has become so easy for us as a society nowadays, to say we are in support of something because it makes sense to be but we struggle to really grasp how much it affects us. #BlackLivesMatter or #AllLivesMatter, has it really gotten to the point that we are reducing human life to a single hashtag so much so that we are blind to the fact that things are really happening?

Even though social media is just a technological fabrication, we interact with it so much so that we almost forget that it is built upon reality. Black Lives Matter stems all the way down BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

Julian Craven, of the Huffington Post wrote an article entitled ‘Please stop telling me that All Lives Matter’. In this article Craven looks at shocking statistics and later says ‘Telling us that all lives matter is redundant. We know that already. But, just know, police violence and brutality disproportionately affects my people.’ Craven not only argued her point compellingly well but illustrated the harsh reality that we often choose to avoid through statistics.

The Black Lives Matter movement represents more than just particular individuals, it represents a people, an entire race standing against prejudice and discrimination so when you use that hashtag you are saying much more than you think you are. 11

People and Voices

The Politics of Black Twitter WORDS BY COURTNEY ISMAIN

n 2013, Buzzfeed’s Shani O. Hilton commented that ‘the hive has become a swarm’ when writing about the power of Black Twitter. What formed naturally as a source of entertainment, built upon the shared humour and experiences of mostly African-American users, has transformed into a formidable and essential force for cultural activism in 2015. The humorously incisive commentary (often culminating in viral hashtags), combined with the first-hand, uncensored coverage of injustice and controversy, enables Black Twitter to wield so much influence in popular media. When Rachel Dolezal, a former NAACP leader, allegedly lied to the organisation about her race, Black Twitter hilariously ridiculed her identification with the African American community with the trend #AskRachel. Not for the first time, satirical tweets accompanied outraged discussion about racism and cultural appropriation. Of course, these issues are nothing new to the black community: the crucial factor is that now the conversation is online, amplified to an audience of non-black social media users. The LA Times recently hired a full-time reporter to cover Black Twitter topics, reflecting the growing interest surrounding it. Although not ‘mainstream’ (and it is probably best this way), it is powerful enough to inspire discussion about race and cultural differences. It is influential enough to shape popular internet humour, with #TweetLikeJadenSmith, #GrowingUpBlack, and recent viral video ‘Why You Lying’ being a testament to this. In Black Twitter, everything is a talking point or a source of entertainment. More importantly, everybody is accountable for their actions: countless public figures and news publications have been called out for offensive comments or behaviour. In 2013, PR representative Justine Sacco tweeted, “Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m white!” to her 170 followers just before boarding an 11-hour 12

flight. Whilst she slept on the plane, her racist tweet went viral and Black Twitter called on her employer IAC to fire her. Swift-moving and determined is true; yet far from being just an overzealous witch hunt, the points being made highlight long-standing issues which are incredibly valid and relevant to the black community. When it comes to cultural activism, the depth of social media’s power and reach is hardly a surprise. This has been exemplified before by the Arab Spring, when it was crucial for defying state censorship and organising protests. Likewise, Black Twitter has been unyielding in the fight against racism and inequality, particularly police brutality in the USA. Courtesy of those at the forefront of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, uncensored coverage of demonstrations is instantly available on your timeline, with the latest updates being shared thousands of times before it has even reached any news desk. Black Twitter can be credited for the spread of #BringBackOurGirls, #HandsUpDontShoot and #ICantBreathe, and after the shooting of African American teenager Michael Brown, it confronted the unfair portrayal of black people in Western media with #If TheyGunnedMeDown. Twitter reaches audiences that traditional media sources do not, and activists need that. When in other instances mainstream attention might have withered away, Black Twitter has kept the conversation alive.

“When it comes to cultural activism, the depth of social media’s power and reach is hardly a surprise.” BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

5 of Britain’s Most Influential Black Career Women WORDS BY COURTNEY ISMAIN IMAGES BY ZOE COLLINS From academia to technology to law, this is a list of black British women who are being hailed as trailblazers in their respective fields. Their hard work and commitment has earned them places on power lists and their successes speak for themselves. Not to mention they have made history on the way to the top.

Karen Blackett, OBE

Karen Blackett was named the Britain’s most influential black person by the 2015 Powerlist, being the first business woman to achieve this. She is the CEO of the UK’s biggest media agency, MediaCom, and has spoken out about the racism and sexism she has experienced in her 20 years at the company. At the start of her career she was an obvious minority in an industry dominated by white, middle-class men, but in a recent interview with the Independent, she said that ‘neither colour nor background is a barrier. When people ask me for career advice I say do the job you are doing well, keep learning, and the rest will follow.’

Sandie Okoro

In 2014, Sandie Okoro was listed by the Guardian as one of ten women ‘changing the face of the City’. She is currently the global lead lawyer for HSBC Global Asset Management and until July 2014 was President of International Lawyers of Africa, an organisation that enables young African lawyers to work for the world’s most prominent law firms. These were just two of a number of endeavours that afforded Okoro the Chambers in Europe Award for Excellence for an Outstanding Contribution to the Legal Profession. This year, not for the first time, she joined Karen Blackett in the top ten of the Powerlist 100.

Baroness Valerie Amos

Baroness Amos only last month became the first black woman to lead a UK university, after she was appointed head of School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

Speaking to the Guardian earlier this year, she said she wants to address the underrepresentation of black academics in UK universities, and she also launched the Amos Bursary in 2009 to support young men completing higher education. Baroness Amos was appointed a Labour Life Peer in 1997 before becoming the first black woman to sit in the Cabinet in 2003. She accepted the position at SOAS after spending five years as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator for the UN.

Kanya King, MBE

Kanya King inspired widespread appreciation of black music when she founded the MOBO Awards in 1996. At a time when an awards ceremony dedicated to genres of African and Caribbean origin would not have been expected to succeed, she successfully pitched the project to Carlton Television, and only six weeks later - during which King funded and organised the entire project herself - the awards show was launched. Since its inception, the MOBO Awards has launched the careers of countless artists. King was awarded an MBE in 1999 and has featured in several power lists, including Real Business Britain’s 100 Most Entrepreneurial Women.

Anne-Marie Imafidon

Anne-Marie Imafidon has been called a ‘child prodigy’. She passed two GCSEs in Maths and ICT before even starting high school and was only 20 years old when she was awarded a Masters in Mathematics and Computer Science from Oxford University. But far from burning out, Imafidon continued to climb the ladder of success, working for companies such as Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs, and a lot of her ventures centre upon promoting the work of women in science and technology. Recently she launched the project Stemettes to encourage young women to get involved in these industries. Still only 25 years of age, Imafidon was named one of 2015’s most influential women in IT.

People and Voices

YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT WORDS BY KIERAN HYLAND IMAGE BY ZOE COLLINS

Black History in America is best represented by images of Martin Luther King Jr delivering his famous ‘I have a dream’ speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. Although Martin Luther King has undoubtedly earnt his place as a champion for the cause of Black Civil Rights, there are many other figures whose actions must also be recognised in the pursuit of equality across America, a struggle which lasted almost a century.

Booker T. Washington Booker T Washington lived during the very early stages of the civil rights era. His social rights were subsequently heavily restricted by his ethnicity, predominantly due to the extreme discrimination faced by African Americans from the majority of whites in the south of the country. Despite such severe limitations Washington was able to gain high social status as an author and teacher, and is perhaps most well-known for delivering the 1895 Atlanta Compromise speech. The speech proposed 14

that African Americans would sacrifice political rights in the south in order that they might secure greater economic and legal parity, a highly controversial proposal amongst other civil rights leaders. Indeed William E. B. Du Bois condemned Washington’s Atlanta compromise as treason for sacrificing political rights, as Washington’s suggestion meant that African Americans would have fewer rights than White Americans. However, Washington’s compromise was highly successful and revolutionary in softening hostile white attitudes in the south and marked a significant turning point in the civil rights discussion, as some white Americans began to accommodate African Americans within society. Washington should also receive praise for founding the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1881, the first university exclusively for African American students, which was essential in allowing students to occupy higher roles in the future. BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

People and Voices

William E. B. Du Bois

Eleanor Roosevelt

William Du Bois was a fixed figure throughout the civil rights era in America, and was undoubtedly one of the most persistent campaigners for civil rights. Whilst most civil rights pioneers accepted that equality was a step by step process, Du Bois refused to make concessions to achieve some social rights. Instead Du Bois worked at a grassroots level co-founding the NAACP in 1909, an organisation with the primary objective of defending the legal rights of African Americans, in addition to organising peaceful demonstrations through marches and sit-ins. Although at first Du Bois struggled to persuade white Americans of the need for change due to his resolute attitudes and mistrust of southern whites, the NAACP was highly successful in attracting support from both African Americans and white sympathisers as the 20th century progressed. Without the NAACP the movement would certainly not have gained so much momentum and support, and Du Bois’ impact in establishing the organisation was therefore fundamental to equality for African Americans being achieved at all.

Eleanor Roosevelt’s contribution towards bringing about equality was not as conventional as other aforementioned figures. Eleanor’s most valuable effort was bringing the issue to the attention of her husband, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, although Eleanor also participated through traditional methods, for instance lobbying during the 1930’s against continuing lynching in the south. Indeed Eleanor played a pivotal role in developing Roosevelt’s second New Deal to offer African Americans equal employment opportunities to white Americans, as well as arranging meetings between her husband and respected African American leaders to convince Franklin why federal change was so important to progression of the movement. Franklin Roosevelt’s label as being ‘the first civil rights President’ is testament to Eleanor’s vital effort in persuading Franklin that the issue had to be solved, with Roosevelt’s presidency setting the benchmark for successors to continue issuing civil rights legislation.

Marcus Garvey

STOKELY CARMICHAEL

Marcus Garvey’s approach to handling the civil rights issue was comprehensively dissimilar to the prevalent methods employed by other civil rights leaders. While most figures in the early period struggled against the current of discrimination and persecution in the south, Garvey offered a unique solution through the ‘Back to Africa’ movement. Garvey became disillusioned in the 1920’s that civil rights could be achieved in America, and therefore began to persuade African American families that they ought to migrate to Liberia where they would be treated fairly. Although the scheme was ultimately unsuccessful in increasing migration out of America, the movement was a decisive factor in inspiring many African Americans in the south to migrate into the north western states of the country, areas which were traditionally more sympathetic to the civil rights issue. Conversely, Garvey himself was imprisoned in 1922 over fraud charges for his vessel to transport passengers to Liberia, and was consequently unable to make an impact to the civil rights movement following his release and deportation in 1927.

Stokely Carmichael rose to prominence towards the end of the civil rights era. Despite the successful introduction of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, protests were maintained throughout the 1960’s to ensure the legislation was completed accepted across America. Carmichael worked as an organiser for the ‘Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee’ (SNCC) and participated in a range of protests arranged by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) during this period, yet felt frustrated by the minor impact these protests were having. Indeed, Carmichael eventually became disillusioned with the methods of protests used by the SNCC, and is most renowned for his ‘black power’ speech in 1966 which suggested a more violent form of protest was needed. Although this violent approach was popular amongst fellow students and members of ‘The Nation of Islam’, a Black Nationalist movement, the method alienated white sympathisers and divided the movement, with Martin Luther King Jr strongly opposed to these violent forms of protest.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

People and Voices

An Everlasting Legacy WORDS BY NUALA MCBRIDE IMAGES BY SAMMIE BURSTOW This line, my favourite line, echoes around me as I climb the steps. 69 large, white, imposing steps, in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!”

he pure courage of Martin Luther King Junior allowed him to highlight the unjustness that black people were judged on the colour of their skin and not their character. We are taught as children not to judge a person by their looks, yet in America many years ago this was the norm. Some people didn’t know any better, some truly believed and some just followed the 16

norms of society at the time. But Martin Luther King Junior looked to religion and believed strongly that everybody was created equal; which gave him the strength to lead hundreds and thousands of people to peacefully protest for equal rights. As I reach step 69, I see it - the engraving ‘I Have A Dream’ into the stone step. I have to pinch myself to believe that I am actually standing on this spot. BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

People and Voices

This is the spot where Martin Luther King Junior gave his monumental speech, fighting for equal rights for black people. America was created on the constitution; which stated that everybody was equal. So how was it allowed that black people were treated as second class citizens? It was a speech that united and gave hope to many black Americans. A man who would go down in history. A speech that is still remembered today. A cause that changed America. The legacy of Martin Luther King Junior is still strong today. Fifty-two years ago (almost to the day) these steps were filled with over 250,000 people, many who had travelled hundreds of miles, all listening to his stirring words. Today as I am standing here, I am surrounded by people from all over the world, who have come to this historic spot as they recognise the lasting legacy that Martin Luther King Junior has left.

in today’s society it still may not be completely equal but his children would be more appreciated for their character and not judged on the colour of their skin. So, standing here on this historic stone step where Martin Luther King Junior gave his ground breaking speech and I am once again reminded how far we have come. As I walk down the steps towards the White House, I reflect on how many milestones there have been in this fight for equality – the biggest one being that there is the first black President. Historically in such a short time, society has come a long way and it only took one person’s dream.

His speech was astounding; with the use of crescendos, simple language and a clear message. Thus, it was accessible to all and is still emulated today. Most children who you speak to will have some knowledge about this man, especially in America where it is still a large part of the school curriculum. I remember throughout my American schooling that Martin Luther King Junior was used regularly used an example of a courageous person, and his speech used in many different subjects. The four simple words ‘I Have A Dream’ are forever associated with the movement for equal rights between white and black people. After visiting some of the Southern States before arriving in Washington, I began to realise that complete equality had not yet been reached and that there are still many problems. I saw many towns that were still divided in terms of housing, with white people living in lovely apartment complexes and black people living in traditional poorer housing. Sadly, many members of the older white generation still believe in the traditional way of order as this was how they had been brought up and thus didn’t see the need to change their views. However, I do believe that the human race is progressing to equality for all: race, religion, ethnicity etc should not hinder ones opportunities in life. Which brings me back to me favourite line of Martin Luther King Junior’s speech; as BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

An Ode to Black Football: Southampton’s Danny Wallace

WORDS BY MAX SAAKYAN IMAGE BY CHARLOTTE RICHARDS

ore than 25% of professional players in England are black or from ethnic minorities, and things are improving for black players in football. But we haven’t beaten racism yet. There are only 14 black managers of the 230 clubs that make up the seven tiers of English Football. Hopefully this number increases soon, as there have been many talks about the Rooney Rule, a rule used in the American National Football League, which requires every NFL team to interview at least one minority candidate for the manager role once there is a vacancy. Danny Wallace, born David Lloyd Wallace, is the second youngest footballer - after Theo Walcott - to pull on the Southampton shirt. The London born footballer played for local club Deal Town when his potential ability attracted scouts from the likes of Arsenal, Millwall, and Southampton. At just 13 he joined the Saints and was rated as one of the brightest young players in the country. The number of talented black players in the English First Division was increasing at a huge rate in the 1980s. Wallace being one of them. The great John Barnes another. Paul Ince was also remerging from the scene, playing for United at the same time as Danny Wallace. Both Ince and Barnes even captained the England side. All these players proved to be such a significant inspiration to the younger generation, and saw this by the rise of Black players in the Premier League now.

Wallace suffered from many detrimental injuries that caused great distress to him during his time at Manchester. In 1996 he discovered the reason why his multiple injuries had occurred and had affected him so greatly. He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and thus was forced to retire from football. However, Wallace did not let his diagnosis get him down and later set up the Danny Wallace Foundation in order to raise awareness of MS. 10 years later, Wallace ran the full London Marathon in 5 days, raising money for his foundation and helping people to cope with MS. The forward made his debut against Manchester United – one of his future teams - when he was 16. 47,783 supporters at Old Trafford saw him coming on for the injured Kevin Keegan with the match ending 1-1. At this moment he became the youngest player ever to play for Southampton with his record standing for over 25 years. During his nine-year spell at Southampton Wallace made 323 appearances, scoring a total of 79 goals to become one of the leading goal scorers at the club. One of Wallace’s most famous goals was at home to Liverpool during the 1983/1984 season where Danny scored an absolute beauty. A goal so good that it was voted as the 1983/1984 goal of the season. That season the team finished second, just three points behind eventual champions, Liverpool. Wallace signed for Manchester United in 1989 for a record fee for a Southampton player, 1.2m. He then joined Millwall on loan before moving to Birmingham City in 1993. BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

Media and Culture

Author in Focus:

Ngugi Wa Thiong’o WORDS BY NATALIE FORDHAM

gugi Wa Thiong’o is an African author who simply cannot be missed if you want to understand Black African struggles. The Kenyan writer was baptised James Ngugi and though educated at University of Leeds eventually started to write exclusively in Gikuyu to keep the dying language alive.

Ngugi wrote his first novel while attending University at Leeds, Weep Not, Child in 1964. The novel was the first to be published by an East African and has gone on to be taught in Universities across the globe. Thiong’o’s works deal with the relationship between Africans and the British colonists in Africa, and are heavily critical of British colonial rule. Weep Not, Child specifically deals with the Mau Mau uprising and the Gikuyu people often mixing their culture and ideology with the idea of nationalism. This novel was one of the first to deal with negative affects of Imperialism and Colonialism from the perspective of a Black African citizen. Ngugi’s writing was ground breaking at the time of publication and still remains so today. He provides a voice for the often under represented Black African and allows for a different perspective of colonial history to be voiced. No less than a year later Ngugi published his second novel, The River Between. It tells the story of the separation of two neighbouring villages in Kenya caused by differences in faith, with the Mau Mau Uprising again as its background. BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

The bitterness between them caused much hatred between the adults of each side. The story tells about the struggle of a young leader ‘Waiyaki’ to unite the two villages of Kameno and Makuyu through sacrifice and pain. In this work and others, Ngugi attempts to correct Western literature’s image of Africa, by offsetting the perspective of writers such as Joseph Conrad in his Heart of Darkness. Ngugi’s work occupies the category of contemporary African fiction that began with Amos Tutuola’s Palm Wine Drunkard and Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. The River Between also deals with the controversial issue of circumcision. Nguigi’s portrayal of genital mutilation falls far from the traditional Western perspective. This novel allows the exploration of it as a symbol of adulthood and a right of passage that’s important to the tribe. Ngugi’s initial works were written in English, not the language of his own people. In the 1960s, he wove the stories and folk traditions of his culture and restated historical legends for a country that was less than a decade old. His later work is written in Gikuyu, the language of his tribe, as he seeks a more authentic literature and voice. His work represents the tenuous balance of cultures, languages, and nations that continues to be present in news headlines into the twenty-first century. This is why Ngugi Wa Thing’o is so important during Black History Month. 19

Section

Author in Focus: Malorie Blackman WORDS BY NARIECE SANDERSON Malorie Blackman is currently children’s laureate of 2015 and one of Britain’s best authors. Winning awards since 1995, it’s clear that she’s still got it. Blackman’s heart wrenching Noughts and Crosses series was a game changer, taking the reader on a thought provoking journey of romance and racial politics. Before the hype of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games and Veronica Roth’s Divergent, Noughts and Crosses is interpreted as dystopian teenage fiction with a difference. What makes Blackman’s writing so great? It’s realistic and often relatable. Her characters are a sublime balance between funny and serious. One of the best things about Blackman’s work is her mission to increase diversity in literature. Luckily, Blackman is one of the many authors supporting this concept, creating more multi-cultural characters for young readers. In 2014, Black20

man joined forces with the “Let Books Be Books” campaign in order to stop children’s books being sold for one gender or another. The campaign has also attracted the support of fellow authors Anne Fine and Phillip Pullman. Blackman is still viewed as one of Britain’s trendy teen authors, recently composing a romance anthology labelled Love Hurts. She is also receives a cheeky reference in Tinie Temper’s single, ‘Written in the Stars’. Blackman remains an inspiration for aspiring writers, unafraid to fight for what she believes in whether it’s gender equality, combating the “demonisation of young people” or battling racism. Malorie Blackman has a way with words, and a unique style that should continue to grip Britain’s young bookworms. BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

Novels That Changed The World WORDS BY NATALIE FORDHAM

Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga

Jazz by Toni Morrision.

First published in the United Kingdom in 1988 by the Women’s Press. The semi-autobiographical novel focuses on the story of a Rhodesian family in post-colonial Rhodesia during the 1960s. Nervous Conditions is the first of a proposed trilogy, with The Book of Not published in 2006 as the second novel in the series. The novel attempts to illustrate the dynamic themes of race, colonialism, and gender during the post-colonial conditions of present-day Zimbabwe. The title is taken from the introduction by JeanPaul Sartre to Frantz Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth which focuses on the dehumanising affects of colonisation on Black Africans.

1992 historical novel by Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning American author Toni Morrison. The majority of the narrative takes place in Harlem during the 1920s; however, as the pasts of the various characters are explored, the narrative extends back to the mid-19th century American South. The novel forms the second part of Morrison’s Dantesque trilogy on African American history, beginning with Beloved and ending with Paradise. Jazz mainly focuses on Black characters but is never afraid to flesh them out fully and show both their positive and negative character traits. A truly emotional read that often mirrors it’s title and utilises the theme of purgatory.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou 1969 autobiography about the early years of African-American writer and poet Maya Angelou. The first in a seven-volume series, it is a coming-of-age story that illustrates how strength of character and a love of literature can help overcome racism and trauma. The book begins when three-year-old Maya and her older brother are sent to Stamps, Arkansas, to live with their grandmother and ends when Maya becomes a mother at the age of 16. In the course of Caged Bird, Maya transforms from a victim of racism with an inferiority complex into a self-possessed, dignified young woman capable of responding to prejudice. Angelou was challenged by her friend, author James Baldwin, and her editor, Robert Loomis, to write an autobiography that was also a piece of literature. Reviewers often categorize Caged Bird as autobiographical fiction because Angelou uses thematic development and other techniques common to fiction, but the prevailing critical view characterizes it as an autobiography, a genre she attempts to critique, change, and expand. The book covers topics common to autobiographies written by Black American women in the years following the civil rights movement: a celebration of Black motherhood; a critique of racism; the importance of family; and the quest for independence, personal dignity, and self-definition. Angelou uses her autobiography to explore subjects such as identity, rape, racism, and literacy. She also writes in new ways about women’s lives in a male-dominated society. Maya, the younger version of Angelou and the book’s central character, has been called “a symbolic character for every black girl growing up in America”. Angelou’s description of being raped as an eight-year-old child overwhelms the book, although it is presented briefly in the text. Rape is used as a metaphor for the suffering of her race. Another metaphor, that of a bird struggling to escape its cage, is a central image throughout the work, which consists of “a sequence of lessons about resisting racist oppression”. Angelou’s treatment of racism provides a thematic unity to the book. Literacy and the power of words helps young Maya cope with her bewildering world; books become her refuge as she works through her trauma. Caged Bird was nominated for a National Book Award in 1970 and remained on The New York Times paperback bestseller list for two years. It has been used in educational settings from high schools to universities, and the book has been celebrated for creating new literary avenues for the American memoir. However, the book’s graphic depiction of childhood rape, racism, and sexuality has caused it to be challenged or banned in some schools and libraries. BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

Having dabbled in directing music videos for the likes of the Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian in the past, 2010 saw the premiere of Ayoade’s debut feature Submarine, an adaptation of Joe Dunthorne’s coming-of-age novel of the same name. Championing the awkwardness of general adolescence, the film received rave reviews as it toured the festival circuit, largely for Ayoade’s unique use of French New Wave techniques to cleverly climb inside the mind of the film’s teenage protagonist and exploit his overly-romanticised view of the world. Funny, thoughtful and above-all totally original, Submarine successfully - and rather loudly - marked Ayoade’s place within the cutthroat world of filmmaking as a definite one to watch. His follow-up however, took things in a drastically darker direction, graduating his influences from French New Wave to Russian dystopian literature as he dove into Dostoyevsky’s dramatic novella The Double. Ayoade’s second shot is a far more down-beat affair, chronicling the gradual descent into madness of its lead Jesse Eisenberg, as he comes into contact with his doppelgänger whilst attempting to navigate the bureaucratic nightmares of an Orwellian-style universe. The laughs are still there, though significantly more morbid in their approach, something which harps back to his time on Darkplace and has come to, over the years, mark Ayoade as a strange but monumentally unique voice in cinema and television.

Richard Ayoade WORDS BY BEN ROBINS

he son of a Nigerian father and a Norwegian mother, Richard Ayoade’s ancestry is a little more colourful than your average London resident - something that has seeped into both his career and his natural penchant for comedy. After graduating with a Law degree from Cambridge, where he headed-up the esteemed Footlights drama society (who’s other alumni includes the likes of Stephen Fry and Emma Thompson), Ayoade moved from an award-winning comedy show at the Edinburgh Fringe to Channel 4, with his spoof horror comedy series Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace. It was here on network TV that Ayoade shuffled around for several years, directing episodes of Darkplace and its follow up, as well as lending a hand to other cult-favourite shows such as The Mighty Boosh and starring in BAFTA-winning sitcom The IT Crowd. Over these years, Ayoade came to perfect his own brand of loud, absurdist humour; something which helped to form the template for his first foray into directing. 22

Did you know?

- His surname means ‘Joy of the Crown’ in the Nigerian language of Yoruba and is pronounced ‘eye-awe-ah-dee’. - In 2014, Ayoade released his first book Ayoade on Ayoade: A Cinematic Odyssey, a satirical take on a personal profile wherein he interviews himself throughout with frankly absurd results. - He is known for his quick-witted nature, winning over audiences on panel shows such as Channel 4’s annual Big Fat Quiz of the Year, and using this to outsmart Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy during a live interview to promote his book.

The film/TV show you should watch:

His gloriously silly send-up of classic horror Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, wherein Ayoade directs himself playing an actor who is portraying a character.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

Section

Hollywood and the Whitewashing Problem WORDS BY ANNEKA HONEYBALL

he year is 2015. And though society has made some efforts in accepting and celebrating diversity (in genders, sexuality and race), it would seem that it is still not enough. Even in the world of Hollywood, where the American dream to succeed and thrive is rife in the majority of studio pictures, there is a serious diversity problem. If you rifle through the cinematic produce of 2014, as Arts.Mic did, you will find that only 26.9% of speaking characters were not white. Shockingly, only 4.9% of that already dismal figure, were black actors. Now, in truth, there are a million different reasons why hollywood is not as diverse as it arguably should be. But one of the film industry’s most despicable trends, which regularly robs people of colour from roles that they were quite literally born to play, is whitewashing. Also known as racebending, whitewashing is a practice wherein Hollywood studios purposely change the race or ethnicity of a character, usually to ensure a bigger profit or popularity. Naturally, as a trend that doesn’t seem to have any rules (even by today’s seemingly moral standards), whitewashing/ racebending has the ability to both help and hinder racial minorities. But, mostly, the effect is usually negative in that it reinforces glass ceilings, as well as a lack of opportunity for up-and-coming actors that aren’t white. Historically, practices such as blackface, in which a white actor would use make-up to imitate a different race, were rife. One such example is the character played by Al Jolson in the 1927 film, The Jazz Singer. Though critics of the time (of both white and black descent) supposedly praised the film, with today’s more enlightened perspective, the sight of a white actor in black make-up is startling and offensive. While Hollywood BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

has mostly moved on from blackface, with the exception of comedies such as Tropic Thunder and White Chicks, which have played with the offence attached to the notion, whitewashing is still around, albeit in a subdued but no less obvious way. Back in 2007, (only eight years ago), white actress, Mena Suvari was cast in the film Stuck, where she played a woman who played a part in the death of a homeless man. The woman that Suvari played however, was African-American in real life. Not that you’d know that without delving further into the story, of course. That’s how simple this practice is and how under the radar it can be. A black character, based on a black woman was whitewashed so that a caucasian actress could take the role. Other recent examples of whitewashing include Angelina Jolie in A Mighty Heart (2007), Jake Gyllenhaal in Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (2010) and even arguably, Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games series. With all of these examples, the characters are not necessarily black, but in the latter cases are suggested to be mixed-race or of an ethnicity other than white. And yet, in Hollywood, that doesn’t seem to register, with execs choosing popular, white actors and actresses as their poster stars. It could of course be argued that there are some examples of racebending that have actually been beneficial to closing the diversity gap, such as Samuel L. Jackson’s portrayal of the comic-book caucasian, Nick Fury, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But generally speaking, when it affects the opportunities of people of colour, whitewashing is arguably one of the most prevalent problems Hollywood has when it comes to racial equality amongst actors and filmmakers, and it needs to stop. 23

Media and Culture

Representation matters:

Why we need African WORDS BY REBECCA JAMES

uperhero movies may well be fantasy escapism, with Norse gods and super soldiers running around together in a team with billionaires in flying suits and science experiments gone wrong, but they have a duty to represent the world fully and completely. There has been much conversation in the past about the lack of female representation in superhero films, and while this is a major issue, another prominent group in society is being ignored in terms of superhero filmic representations, and that is African American individuals.

children to see reflections of themselves on the screen, and it doesn’t take a genius to work out that a child is going to connect more fully with someone who they thinks reflects them. Children should be able to dress up as a superhero for Halloweeen that they truly connect with because the superhero represents that they too could be a hero if they really wanted to. I’ve seen plenty of anecdotal evidence since the release of Falcon costumes (the character played by African American Anthony Mackie in Captain America: The Winter Soldier) which seems to indicate that this is true.

Ask anyone on the street to name an African American superhero, and chances are after one or two names they will start having trouble. This is not an issue which exists only in superhero films - the wider film industry has a massive issue with the representation of African Americans, as demonstrated by the ethnicity of the nominees at last years Academy Awards, called the ‘Whitest’ awards since the 1990’s. But while the lack of African American representation in the wider film industry is appalling, I think that the lack of representation in superhero films is criminal, because of one of their audiences.

It is frankly shocking that in the industry where at least three superhero movies a year are released, not one of them has featured an African American lead character. We’ve seen films focusing on a man experimented on in World War Two and turned into a super soldier, featuring a man who can turn himself into the size of an ant, a man who turns into a giant green monster if he doesn’t control his emotions, and yet all of these characters are white. Marvel had the chance to cast a non-white actor in the role of Spider-man in the upcoming reboot of the franchise, and yet they chose to cast a young white man. Superhero films are dominated by the presentation of caucasian men, and this needs to stop.

Children love superheroes, and therefore by extension they love superhero films. You only have to look in a children’s fancy dress section to see multiple superhero costumes, or in a toy store to see lego sets based on Marvel’s heroes. While teenagers and adults may be the primary audience for superhero films, there is a reason that most of these films have a PG or 12A British Board of Film Classification, because studios make superhero films that they can market to all audiences, including children and soon to be teens who go to see these films with their parents. There has been multiple studies which suggest that it is positive and beneficial for 24

The comic books which many superhero movies use as source materials are far more diverse and progressive than the films which have been released in the post 9-11 superhero movie boom. They present African American superheroes, both men and women, and celebrate them as individuals and representatives of society. Marvel recently announced that their newest superhero will be an African American girl called Lunella, with the comic Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur focusing on her adventures with her friend who just happens to be a T-Rex, BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

Media and Culture

American superheroes while the latest issue of Batman takes a look at police racism, and the place of the billionaire Bruce Wayne and his plans for city gentrification in the racial struggle. Marvel also had Falcon take on the mantle of Captain America when the original Captain, Steve Rogers decided to retire. Comics are looking at the issues of representation and the problems which face African Americans in the world today, and there is no reason why the blockbuster films which look to them for inspiration cannot follow suit. There have been some fantastic individual African American superheroes presented in supporting roles, or as part of an ensemble - Halle Berry’s Storm in the X-Men franchise, and Anthony Mackie’s Falcon are both great representations, and great characters in themselves. However, they are far outnumbered by the white characters which surround them in their respective films, and neither have been the sole focus of a film. In recent years there have been small moves to redress the complete imbalance of representation with the announcement of a solo film focusing on Marvel’s Black Panther, to be released in July 2018, and starring Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa, Black Panther’s alter ego. While this project is exciting, until more African American individuals are cast in a variety of roles in superhero films, and until more African American characters take centre stage in superhero films, it simply won’t be enough. There needs to be greater representation now.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

International Slavery Museum WORDS BY COURTNEY ISMAIN IMAGES BY JORDAN STEWART

iverpool’s role in the transatlantic slave trade was enormous, which is why the International Slavery Museum can be found it this city. Opened in 2007 on International Slave Remembrance Day, this free exhibit presents an intense and fascinating timeline of Black ancestry that magnifies the reality of the slavery experience and connects past with present. Located on the Albert Dock, first impressions may be underwhelming when you realise it occupies only the third floor of the much larger Merseyside Maritime Museum; nevertheless you will find yourself spending a few hours amongst the compelling exhibits. As was expected, the Enslavement and Middle Passage gallery is the most intense in its exploration of the slaves’ horrific journey across the Atlantic. The audiovisual displays are immersive, depicting plantation life, authentic sculptures, and paintings as well as a comprehensive account of Liverpool’s rise to become a major trade port. At the centre of the gallery is a two-minute film clip that conveys the brutal reality of the slave experience aboard the ships, which is the most graphic and impressive display. It is hard-hitting and the sound effects can be heard throughout the gallery, which could be why I didn’t see many people going in. What is particularly memorable in the Legacy gallery is William Windus’ portrait, The Black Boy, which features a young subject who is said to be an African stowaway that arrived in Liverpool. It stands out for its authenticity; whilst the Enslavement and Middle Passage section generally revises the Year Eight syllabus in terms of information, this portrait - specifically the subject’s innocent facial expression - engages the viewer with the full human significance of the slave trade.

There is more to be learnt from the Legacy gallery, which depicts the lasting impact of the slave trade and racism long after abolition. The Fight for Freedom and Equality wall is an essential timeline that neatly tracks the progress of civil rights activism, from early slavery revolts to 20th Century movements; it relates the past to the present in such a way that brings clarity to the entire historical struggle. However, despite not expecting to see any reference to the current climate of racial tensions, there is little mention of the current decade, and so an update is essential. The highlight of the museum’s contemporary focus is the Black Achievers’ Wall, simply because its celebration of black figures across a number of disciplines is incredibly inspiring. Likewise, a celebration of African music’s influence in contemporary genres can be found at the Music Desk. The museum’s temporary exhibitions, including one that explores slavery in modern India, are also worth a visit. ‘Life in West Africa’ presents the continent’s civilisation and society prior to the Europeans’ arrival. Despite the fascinating sculptures and artefacts, the exhibit could have done more to emphasise just how wealthy and powerful Africa’s kingdoms were before the slave trade. It is also the least interactive gallery, and so while the rest of the museum piques your interest with audiovisuals, it is easy to pass through here without paying much attention. What I found most memorable was the wall inscription, ‘Africa is the cradle of civilisation: we are all descendants of Africans’. It is simple, relevant, and aside from those on the Freedom and Enslavement wall at the entrance, is one of the most powerful quotes in the museum. The International Slavery Museum is an incredibly valuable resource for comprehending the slave trade and its long term effects. Nevertheless at times the information itself may seem sugarcoated, and in an attempt to cover all bases of the timeline, the museum sacrifices depth. BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

THE strength of

STREET KNOWLEDGE: NWA’s Place in Black History Month With its blockbuster Hollywood biopic only recently released to critical acclaim, Straight Outta Compton tells the rise and fall of the “world’s most dangerous group,” NWA. WORDS BY STEVE ADAMS

or all those who have seen the film or are fans of the late 80s, early 90s gangsta rap, hip hop group, then its significance not only to the music industry but African American culture is well understood. For those who haven’t, rest assured NWA’s place in Black History Month is well earned. NWA arose during a period of East Coast dominance in the US rap scene; LL Cool J, Salt N Pepa and Public Enemy were amongst those East Coast acts that enjoyed commercial success. NWA also rose during a period of heightened tensions between the impoverished suburban black community and the police force. At the time the nation was gripped in what has been called the “crack epidemic”. The introduction of crack cocaine into America was felt nowhere more prominently than the impoverished African American community. The low-cost, high-profit crack trade spread like wildfire through suburban America. The highly addictive drug devastated the black community, among other crime the homicide rate amongst young black males more than doubled between 1984-1994. NWA rose then not only to challenge the East Coast rap scene, but to shed light on the lives of so many in America who up until then were widely under-represented. With their violent and often profane description of street life in the city of Compton, coupled with their ardent condemnation of police brutality and racial profiling, their message permeated through all walks of life in America. But with it came nationwide opposition. From parents all the way up to politicians, NWA made headlines amid accusations of

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

promoting violence towards law enforcement and glorifying gang life. However this level of attention only served to increase their fame. While the group would ultimately dissolve in 1991, the 1992 LA Riots or the Rodney King riots as they are also known, would for many, symbolise the very message the NWA had come to espouse. In their relatively short run, NWA had rewritten the rap genre. Rap began to focus on the hardships of the impoverished black Americans: life on the streets, police brutality, gang life and a greater telling of the socio-economic issues that plague America’s dominant minority. Not only that, but their controversial hit, ‘F**k tha Police,’ has become synonymous with anti-law enforcement protest. This was chanted recently during anti-police protests across America as well as finding continuous reference across popular culture, from music to film. NWA then can not only be accredited as a massive influence on modern rap but on the modern civil rights movement. While controversy surrounded the group and now surrounds the film, the legacy left by NWA is more than worthy to be recognised during Black History Month. Just as its founding members are still relevant today, with Dr. Dre and Ice Cube enjoying notable success since the groups dissolution. NWA’s message of the reality of street life and police brutality are also still relevant.

ARTISTS WHO CHANGED THE FACE OF MUSIC WILL HODGETTS

Bob Marley

Bob Marley has the most recognisable reggae voice of alltime. His Rastafarian beliefs lead him to creating spiritual and powerful lyrics with inspirational messages that resinated with fans the world over. His songs are still used today as uplifting anthems to improve the spirits and moods of millions of people. He started out with The Wailers who were formed in 1963, before disbanding over a decade later in 1974. After the group disbanded, Marley pursued a solo career that peaked with the release of Exodus in 1977, which established him worldwide and lead to his status of being one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, with sales of more than 75 million records. Marley remains as one of the most influential musicians and songwriters of all-time and has been idolised by many of the world’s current biggest stars.

R. Kelly

Robert Sylvester Kelly, better known by his first initial and surname, is one of the most recognisable names in the music industry. He was arguably the face of the R&B genre throughout the Nineties and early Noughties, with Billboard naming him as the most successful R&B/Hip-Hop artist of alltime, releasing tracks and records that are still just as popular today as they were when they were first released. Singles such as ‘Ignition (Remix)’, ‘Bump ‘N’ Grind’ and ‘I Believe I Can 28

NATALIE FORDHAM Fly’ have been used as inspiration for many artists who have carried the genre forward to the present day. Some of the world’s biggest artists of today have openly admitted to R. Kelly being one of their biggest influences, with the likes of Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars saying just that. His influence is just as relevant today as it was back during his heyday, and that won’t be slowing down anytime soon.

Stevie Wonder

Arguably one of the most influential men of all-time, let alone musicians, Stevie Wonder has overcome obstacles in the industry that very few have ever had to encounter. His iconic voice, coupled with his instrumental talents have lead him to creating some of the greatest tracks ever to be produced. Wonder’s songs are notoriously hard to sing due to his unique sound and vocal capabilities. His talents have resulted in him winning an unprecedented 25 Grammy Awards, the most ever awarded to a solo artist. Adding to his list of accomplishments, Wonder has has also won an Academy Award for Best Song, becoming the first Motown artist and second AfricanAmerican to do so, and has been inducted into both the Rock and Roll and Songwriters halls of fame, as well as being awarded the Polar Music Prize. He will no doubt go down as one of the greatest artists of all-time.

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Jimi Hendrix

Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, Jimi Hendrix is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th Century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes him as “arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music”. Moving to England in late 1966, after being discovered by Linda Keith, within months Hendrix had earned three UK top ten hits with the Jimi Hendrix Experience: ‘Hey Joe’, ‘Purple Haze’, and ‘The Wind Cries Mary’. He achieved fame in the US after his performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, and in 1968 his third and final studio album, Electric Ladyland, reached number one in the US; it was Hendrix’s most commercially successful release and his first and only number one album. Despite only ever having a single number one album Hendrix is still widely regarded as one of the most prolific musicians of all time and arguably one of the best guitarists of the 20th century.

Whitney Houston

The American singer was also an actress, producer, and model. In 2009, Guinness World Records cited her as the most awarded female act of all-time. Houston is one of pop music’s best-selling music artists, with an estimated 200 million records sold worldwide. She released six studio albums, one holiday album and three movie soundtrack albums, all of which have diamond, multi-platinum, platinum or gold certification. Houston’s crossover appeal on the popular music charts, as well as her prominence on MTV, starting with her video for ‘How Will I Know’, influenced several African American female artists who have followed in her footsteps. She has one of the most iconic voices of all-time, with her most well-known track ‘I Will Always Love You’, from the film The Bodyguard, being a track all young female singers attempt to replicate at one point or another.

Aretha Franklin

Franklin began her career singing gospel at her father’s, minister C.L. Franklin, church as a child. Following her signing to Atlantic Records in 1967, Franklin achieved commercial acclaim and success with songs such as ‘Respect’, ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’ and ‘Think’. These hits and more helped her to gain the title ‘The Queen of Soul’ by the end of the 60s. Franklin eventually recorded a total of 112 charted singles on Billboard, including 77 Hot 100 entries, 17 top ten pop singles, 100 R&B entries and twenty number-one R&B singles, becoming the most charted female artist in the chart’s history. Franklin has won a total of 18 Grammy Awards and is one of the best-selling female artists of all time, having sold over 75 million records worldwide. She is understandably still cited by many current artists as a massive inspiration. BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

Media and Culture

WORDS BY MATT CLARSON

ne of the major problems with black characters in popular culture – in TV shows, video games, and books – is that black characters are rarely, if ever, the main focus of anything produced, certainly not anything that has achieved serious popularity. They are treated with a kind of strange callousness, thrown in seemingly as an afterthought. They end up being poorly written, and the characters are then seen as disposable, used as cannon fodder, or else written out entirely. In The Walking Dead, easily one of the most popular shows on air at the moment, there is a worrying tendency to verge on a kind of ‘quota’ approach to minority characters. When a character death is required by the show, the core cast is never (or almost never) affected. Instead it’s often the minor characters (read: black characters) who get eaten, shot, or otherwise killed. After bumping off what amounts to their “spare” black character, the show replaces them with another black figure. This has happened throughout the show’s five seasons, and has multiple implications and effects: that, in the showrunners’ eyes, the audience don’t care enough about the black characters, so they can be killed for the necessary violent-danger factor required by a post-apocalyptic zombiebased TV show; that in repeatedly killing off this cycle of black characters, the audience is prevented from ever developing an attachment to them of the same strength that they have with the core cast; and that it seems apparent that the showrunners’ are in fact aiming for some quota of minority characters.

Andreas), but Franklin, one of the three main characters in the latest instalment, GTA V, is a fantastically written character, who is not only immersed in black culture, but is separate from it too. GTA is probably the most successful game series ever made, critically and commercially, with GTA V grossing a ridiculous $1 billion within its first few days of release. It shows that, actually, people don’t care what race their main character is, something that was perhaps more readily understood by Rockstar, which as a British-founded company lacks the almost crippling stigma towards race-relations that dominates American society.

There are, however, two compelling examples where black characters have been placed firmly and unashamedly at the front, and both have seen critical and commercial success in huge amounts.

What’s needed now is for these outliers to become prevalent, to become the norm. All it will take is a little bit of bravery on the part of those who make these things. Bravery, and a trust in the audience; we’ve accepted main characters who are black, who are female, who are LGBT, accepted them and enjoyed them, and we’re ready for more.

The first is the Grand Theft Auto series. Not only were they one of the first games to make the main character black (CJ in San 30

As well as in games, success can be found with major black characters in TV, as with Netflix’s Orange is the New Black, a show which consistently pushes the boundaries of what constitutes an empathetic, compelling character. Not only does the show split its focus equally (or as close as possible) between characters of all ethnicities, it manages to escape the trap of writing the kind of cookie-cutter minority characters so often found elsewhere: Poussey, Crazy-Eyes, and Taystee, though all black, are as different from one another as actual black people are different from one another. As with Grand Theft Auto, Orange is the New Black is different from its competitors not just in what it contains, but in how it’s made, or who by. Where GTA has British developers, OITNB is made by Netflix, a company that hasn’t so much turned the TV industry upside-down, as it has set the whole thing on fire and started again from scratch.

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015

Black History Month 2015

WHAT’S HAPPENING? Free Film Screening Sunday 11 October, 14:30

Union Films

Black History Month Performance Showcase Tuesday 20 October

Students’ Union Concourse (Building 42)

Free Film Screening Sunday 25 October, 14:30

Union Films

Black History Month Celebration Evening Wednesday 28 October, 19:00

The Bridge

Check out the Black History Month specials in The Bridge throughout October: Moroccan carrot soup with chermoula - £2.75 Peri Peri chicken served with rice - £6.00 Jamaican jerk chicken with rice and peas - £6.00 Look out for guest speakers and debates throughout the month, as well as the African Caribbean Society’s Paint and Poetry Night!

FIND OUT MORE AT SUSU.ORG/BHM