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Welcome
to the first Ligali newsletter of 2004.
Far
from being a quiet induction into 2004, January has been an extremely
busy month. From developing and implementing new projects to dealing
with inappropriate and offensive language exhibited in the Guardian
and on Channel 4 respectively, it’s been non-stop all round.
We are particularly concerned about reports from members of our
community regarding the filming of members of the public within
the Hackney area by members of the police during what appear to
be routine encounters with the police. Apparently, the police are
not only filming the individuals who are stopped but any bystanders
who happen to be observing these incidents. Please get in touch
with us if you have had any similar experiences as we will be contacting
the Met to find out the motives behind such activities and, if necessary,
insist that this practice is stopped immediately.
On
a more positive note, we are looking for writers to contribute to
a new project that we are currently developing. There is currently
no money involved in the scheme but there will be the opportunity
to be part of something revolutionary and inspiring. For further
information, please send an email to mail@ligali.org
Finally,
we would again like to thank the people who continue to send us
words of encouragement and constructive feedback and those who support
us in countless other ways. We are hoping to make 2004 a year in
which we achieve real, visible change for the advancement of the
African British community.
Ed.
www.ligali.org
*African
British is the name now used to describe the community previously
mislabelled as Afro-Caribbean, Black British, UK Black, Coloured,
Black other and Black. It embraces all British nationals with antecedents
originating directly from Africa or indirectly via African diasporic
communities, such as those in the Caribbean and South America.
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| Media |
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Accountability
seems to have been the theme for January. Whether you are ‘whitewashing
it Hutton style or being slapped in the face with it as the BBC
were, it seems that few people are really brave enough to stand
up and face it head on. While it is important that institutions
accept responsibility for what they do, or fail to do, it is also
important that individual public figures and spokespeople are
equally thoughtful about what they say. To this effect, we have
written to the Bishop of Durham, the Muslim Council for Britain,
Diane Abbott and Lee Jasper following complaints and comments
from members of our community regarding specific public statements
they have made about or relating to our community.
Meanwhile,
we are slowly but surely receiving responses to the letter we
sent to the 40 sponsors of the MOBO awards. MasterCard have confirmed
that they will no longer be sponsoring the show. Click here
to view the responses by other sponsors and to view the full list
of sponsors.
Ian
Mayes, Readers Editors for The Guardian newspaper also dealt with
the issue we raised about two articles published in the paper
last year, written by Audrey Gillan and her excessive use of the
phrase ‘drug mules’.
Meanwhile,
Channel 4 is busy reaffirming its commitment to the denigration
of African people. This time, by insisting that it’s is
acceptable for performing artists to use the word ‘n****r’
on a show broadcast at 1pm on a Sunday afternoon because the term
‘had been appropriated by hip hop musicians as a very positive
way of referring to themselves and the black community.’
This is clearly unacceptable, particularly as it gives the green
light for the word to be broadcast again and again by Channel
4, supported by this flimsy justification.
Finally, the
BBC recently screened a series of programmes on BBC 3 and BBC
2 to coincide with the African Nations Football Tournament. From
the feedback we have had from various members of our community,
the response to these programmes has been overwhelmingly positive.
We will be writing to the BBC to convey these sentiments and to
encourage them to screen high quality programming throughout the
year.
We would encourage
people who viewed the programmes to write to the BBC with their
positive or negative views about these programmes.
email:
pov@bbc.co.uk or comment via
http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/contactus/form.shtml
To read more about this and other recent media stories, visit
our media
page
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| Crime |
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Serious
concerns have been raised regarding recent reports that the Metropolitan
Police have been overtly video taping innocent bystanders and
participants in routine stop and search encounters. According
to the police, this 'new strategy' has been implemented across
London for some time. We will be seeking advice on whether this
activity is indeed legal and whether we have a right to decline
to be filmed and to know how and where this footage will be used.
The police appear relatively unconcerned by the fact that this
type of monitoring activity does much to increase the climate
of distrust between the police and the African British community.
In fact, one officer recently stated that 'if you've got nothing
to hide, you've got nothing to worry about'. Ligali asks if there
is 'nothing to worry about' why have the police have not released
any information about this 'overt' practice? We will endeavour
to maintain pressure on the police to give us a full explanation
of why we are being filmed. Ultimately, we hope that this practice
will be stopped immediately.
We
have also been monitoring the implementation of Stop and Search
and Recommendation 61 in Hackney since April 2003. In Hackney
there are approximately 900 stop and searches per month, with
a typical stop/arrest ‘hit rate’ of 8:1. This ratio
gives us great cause for concern and we have consequently published
recommendations and guidelines that we feel the Metropolitan police
should follow.
The
Operation Trident Advisory Group organised a service of remembrance
for victims of gun crime and their families and friends on 15
January 2004. Readings were conducted by some of the relatives
of the victims and candles were also lit in honour and remembrance
of those who had past.
The Home Secretary, David Blunkett was among over 1,000 people
present and took the opportunity to unveil new amendments to the
Criminal Justice and Anti-Social Behaviour Acts which will ensure
that anyone carrying an illegal firearm will face a minimum of
five years in jail and ban the carrying of replicas and airguns
in public.
Finally, a recent initiative carried out by The Crib, CityZEN,
Youth Parliament and Ligali in which 45 young people were involved
with helping train 30 new recruits on stop and search had very
positive results and was deemed a success by those who took part.
For more information on these and other crime related stories,
visit the Ligali crime
page.
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| Education |
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This month a director of Hackney's local education authority launched
an attack on our African British young people during an interview
on the BBC stating institutional racism doesn’t exist. The
BNP quoted educationalist asserted that it is their low aspirations
and youth culture that is holding back their academic attainment.
Last week a MORI report was released stating the exact opposite,
Birmingham council acknowledged the findings of a report on educational
racism, and a radio debate with the young people themselves crushed
his idiotic ranting.
If
you are interested in learning some IT skills then there are three,
free modules available in networking basics. Course information
can be gained through www.communitylearning.biz
Visit
the Ligali education
page for further information on this and other stories. |
| me2we |
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23 years after the death of 14 young people following a house fire
in New Cross, a new and long awaited inquiry has been opened into
this terrible, unresolved incident. We hope that the families and
friends of those who passed in the tragic fire finally receive answers
to the questions they have waited over two decades to hear.
Ligali
met with the Commission for Racial Equality regarding the abolishment
of the colour caste system used to classify African descendants
in the UK. It seems that Scotland are way ahead when it comes
to issues of race classification and have already introduced the
term 'African British' into their ethnic classification categories.
Finally,
we attended a forum on freelancing hosted by Aspire, an organisation
that supports young African British talent in the media industry.
Many thanks to Aspire member, Corinne Amoo for inviting us to
the event.
Visit
the Ligali me2we
pages for further information on this and other stories.
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| Spirit |
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A leaked report by an inquiry team under Judge John Blofeld, recently
revealed that institutional racism is rife in the NHS. The report
follows an inquiry into the death of David 'Rocky' Bennett, an African
Caribbean schizophrenia patient who died in a secure unit in October
1998 after been held face down on the floor by at least 4 mental
health nurses. Unfortunately, there are suspicions that the government
is set to deny that institutional racism exists within the NHS when
the full report is released this Thursday.
We will be watching with interest to see if Health Secretary, John
Reid will make what the Guardian newspaper described as an 'unequivocal,
unambiguous, and crystal clear commitment to address the problems
identified by this inquiry'. We predict that there will be the usual
promises of reform and hollow rhetoric until the discussion disappears
from the public arena to be followed by the usual deafening sound
of silence.
A new survey by the Royal College of Nursing has also revealed that
African British nurses are paid less than European colleagues. The
report also highlighted the face that 68% of European nurses were
successful in applying for promotion, compared with 43% of African
and other minority ethnic colleagues.
Visit
the Ligali spirit
page for further information on this and other stories.
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| Terminology |
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Terminology is a relatively new section to the Ligali website. It
includes a new 'Facts and Stats' section as well as an ongoing African
British dictionary which we intend to develop throughout the year.
This
month, we are focusing on the word 'slave'.
During the African Holocaust, African people were enslaved, stripped
of their names and language and labelled ‘slaves’ as
a means to dehumanise and disconnect them from their families and
homes in Africa. The phrase ‘slave trade’ is regularly
used to describe the African Holocaust as if to lend an air of moral
and legal legitimacy to what was the most horrific crime ever perpetrated
on humankind by humankind. Enslaved Africans were murdered, raped
and denied basic human rights by Europeans who created laws to attempt
to legitimise their barbaric actions.
‘Negroes’ or Slaves were not taken from Africa. Africans
were taken from Africa. It is important we no longer perpetuate
this derogatory and inaccurate label, do not refer to our ancestors
as slaves, they were and always have been African people.
Visit
the Ligali terminology
page for further information and stats and facts.
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| ABC
Award |
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We would like to pay tribute to the team at Birmingham radio station
People's Community Radio Link (PCRL), for its dedication and devotion
to our community. PCRL, along with stations such as London's Station
and PowerJam FM to name a few, are the only stations that consistently
debate and champion the causes of our community and rarely if ever,
compromise on content or integrity. Following Choice FM's sale to
Capital Radio, its increasingly predominant African American pop
playlists and the derogatory nature of their music output, the community
is left feeling betrayed by what was previously a community centred
radio station. We are now left with what has become a 25 minute
slot on a Saturday morning in which to debate issues of concern.
It
is within this context that we acknowledge and applaud the women
and men behind PCRL. The unfortunate conclusion to a recent court
battle has meant that PCRL is left facing extreme difficulty when
trying to broadcast and heavy fines have been imposed on those behind
the station. Nevertheless, the great community contribution and
no doubt personal sacrifice by people like Cecil Morris, Anthony
Jeffers, Michael Norton and others involved in the station will
not be forgotten.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/3425575.stm
Following
along the theme of quality radio broadcasting, we have decided to
highlight the achievement of Journalist and Presenter, Henry Bonsu.
Since Henry took over the previously flailing Sunday evening radio
slot on BBC London, he has remained consistent in tackling the issues
that matter to the African Diaspora in Britain. Despite being on
air at 'night time rather than prime time' and the occasionally
obvious political constraints placed on the show, Henry and his
Team have successfully managed to make this four hour show unmissable
and the only show to go to sleep to. Aside from his BBC London Show,
Henry has become known as one of the few 'broadcasting activists'
in this country who understand that success does not have to come
at the expense of identity or community loyalty.
Visit
the Ligali ABC
awards page to read about more community s/heros.
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| RIO
(Racially Insensitive Offender) |
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Tony
is most well-known for his continual denial of racism. No doubt
he will be particularly encouraged by the fact that his 'views',
which often belittle the experiences of our community, are now
being quoted on the BNP website. The 'Educationalist' feels that
the current generation of young people do not experience racism
and disagrees that institutional racism exists. As far as Tony
is concerned, peer group pressure and 'anti-academic' street culture
are the primary causes of under achievement of African British
children who, he says are 'doing nothing, just mucking around,
[and] just letting the time go by'.
As if this
were not enough of an insult, Tony has also stated in a Guardian
article that we should be proud of slavery; 'Black children can
have some pride in this [slavery]. We should be teaching about
empire, but only in its full glory'. When asked by BBC Presenter
Fergal Keane, what was the worst thing Tony had to contend with
as an inner school teacher. Tony’s response was 'my first
experience of racism, which came from a black student to me..'.
When questioned about institutional racism, he describes it as
'amorphous' and declares 'I don’t even know if it necessarily
exists'.
Tony Sewell’s
‘blame the child for the failures of the adults’ approach
is typical of the ‘yes sir, masser’ mentality that
is secure accepting cash from institutions as the price for their
unwillingness to accept responsibility to be more proactive in
tackling and helping to eradicate institutional racism.
Tony accuses
Lee Jasper and Dianne Abbott of being 'Politicians and egotists…
people who want to say [anything to] … have quotation marks
around their name'. Yet he strangely omits to include his own
name as a racial careerist who in the Guardian, (7 February, 2004)
during a discussion with Pride Editor Amina Taylor, challenges
the need for mentors and role models while hypocritically asserting
Frank Bruno and Trevor MacDonald are successful figures for our
youth to aspire to.
The BBC questioned
the ability of Kilroy to carry out his job effectively with impartiality
in light of his racially insensitive views, we would suggest that
the Learning Trust does the same with Tony Sewell.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1135431,00.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/takingastand_20040127.shtml
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,991873,00.html
Don’t
forget that you are free to nominate people or institutions that
you feel should be placed on our RIO
list. Similarly, please send us your recommendations
for African British Community activists who you feel have or are
making great strides for the liberation of African people.
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| Events |
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Shango
B’song’s film Quiet storm is anything but what its
title suggest. This powerful politically conscious tale of a group
of African revolutionaries is both hard hitting and thought provoking,
deserving to be on the award circuit with films like ‘City
of God’.
Not
for the quaint or faint of heart.
SCREENING
DATES
14 Feb 4.30 PM: Brixton Rec
15 Feb 2:30 & 4:30: Brixton Rec
19 & 20 Feb 6PM: Peckham High Street, next door to Unity Centre
21 Feb 6.PM: Yaa Asantewa Centre, Chippingham Mews, off Harrow
Road, London W9
22 Feb 6PM: African Caribbean Centre, 9 Clarendon Road, Hornsey,
London N8. Tube Tufnell Park
26 & 27 Feb. 6PM: Tavistock Centre, Methodist Church, 25 High
Street Harlesden, London NW10
28 & 29 Feb. 6PM: Round Chapel, Lower Clapton Street
For
more screening info please call O7984 481 925
www.quietstormfilm.com
A
candlelight vigil in remembrance of for Jevan Richardson, the
ten year old who took his life after being excluded from school.
It will be held on Friday 13 February, between 12pm – 1:30
pm outside the offices of the Lewisham Education Offices, Laurence
House, 1 Catford Road, Catford, London SE8. For details call 0208
265 1731
The
Pan-African Society is organising discussions, speakers, events
and debates on the roots of Urban/Black Music, Gun and Gang Violence,
Quiet Storm and much...
Starting
on:
Thursday 12th February 2004, 6-8pm
Topic:
“The Beat Goes On” - Roots of Urban/Black Music
Venue:
London Metropolitan University’s - City Campus,
Room CM218,
Calcutta House, Old Castle Street, Aldgate,
London E1 7NT
Buses-253,
254, 25 / Tube- Aldgate East
Contact person: 07903-653-380 / panafricansociety@yahoo.co.uk
Explore
& Discover Living African (Black) & World and History
Now in it's 5th year! Restoration and Realisation of Self 16 week
African (Black) & World History Courses.
Beginners
This is a course for beginners, an introduction for participants
in World History from a African (Black) perspective: Africa, Asia,
Europe, the Americas, the Ancient Egyptians, Nubians, Greeks and
Romans. We will explore the global Black experience and relate
this to the here and now. The civilisations of Europe, the Dark
Ages, politics of economics, the politics of race and nationalism,
culture and identity, religion and spirituality. Participants
will learn about themselves, as they explore through seminars,
discussions, themes and issues and then relate this to themselves
and the present.
Advanced
Course
This
is a course for those who wish to take their understanding and
knowledge of African (black) history and its interconnectedness
to the world a stage further. This course is only for those who
have successfully completed a black history course and who feel
confident enough, to now begin to relate their knowledge of facts
and figures to a theoretical hypothesis and move towards positive
action. This is a totally interactive course and only those who
are willing and confident enough to explore these issues with
passion and candour need apply.
Advance
bookings only.
Starting Sunday 14th March 2004
12.00-2.00pm (beginners)
2.30-4.30pm (advance).
Course Fee: £60.00
Concessions
@ £50.00/unemployed/student/past students
Venue:
Coombes Croft Library, High Road, Tottenham, N17
To
reserve your place and further information
call: 020 8808 7547 / 07956 337 391 or email: thinktank27@hotmail.com
Annual
Omowale Malcolm X Observance:
The Power of Black Manhood & The Vision of Nation Building
Come
and commemorate the life and celebrate the legacy of this revered
leader, Let us defend our heroes from slander and character assassination
Message
by Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka, Performances by Soul Force Panthers, Guests
Artists
Film:
The Last Days of Malcolm X, Malcolm X picture competition award
FREE
ADMISSION (Donations welcome)
Date:
Sun
22nd February 04
Time:
1pm
– 7pm
Venue:
Welbourne
Centre, Chesnut Rd, Tottenham, London, N17
(Parkview Rd, off Monument way)
Tube/BR: Tottenham Hale (Victoria Line)
Bus:
41, 123, 230, W4
Recommended
Dress Code: Black and White or Black or White
Info:
Mama Afrika Kulcha Shap, 282 High Road Leyton E10 5PW
Tel/Fax:
020 8539 2154 / 07957 376 328
e-mail:
soulforce@yahoo.co.uk
NEW
BLACK PANTHER PARTY
Lectures,
poetry, videos, Hip Hop, etc
Be part of the solution to our peoples problems
Free admission (Donations welcome)
Local Host Bro. Hughie
NBPP Spokeman/UK Chair
Date:
Wednesday 11th February 2004 at 7.30 p.m.
Venue:
Hackney
Black Peoples Association
18
Stoke Newington Road
London
N16 7XN.
Info:
Telephone 0762 349 9512
Email: nbppengland@tiscali.net
For
more information about events in December, visit africanhistorymonth.org
or the Ligali events
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Ligali | PO Box 1257| London | E5
0UD
Copyright © 1995-2004 Ligali. All rights reserved.
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