I’m not racist but……….

After the explosion of the you tube video showing a woman in a mindless racist rant last week I thought I’d write a short piece on racism. (I’m keeping it very short)

Whether your black, white, asian, chinese or pink anyone of colour can experience racism it’s not just something done against black people by BNP or NF’s. Racism is on of those topics that gets everyone going last week I saw the you tube video which was being repeatedly posted on facebook and twitter, was I shocked…. Not at all

People may wander why and the reason is simple I’m not blind racism is fully alive in the UK just some people choose to ignore it, even though we live in a very vast muliticultural society racism exists whether it’s outright or in the shadows. We have come a very long way since the day’s of King and Park’s, we are definately living in more harmonious cicumstances as a muliticultural society than our counterparts in America where there is still racial segregation. But yet there is still racism in the UK.

Sometimes people take the racism card a bit far like Tulisa from Ndubz rants at Micha B trying to get her voted off Xfactor and is dubbed a racist!!! She’s not she didn’t call her a black bitch she just had an opinion whether right or wrong spoke her mind race was not brought into it at all!

I’m not condoning the woman ranting on the tram what she said was totally unacceptable and she is just one of many with these views, but if you look around even those you know even some that are close to may have some racist preconceptions. This woman is set to face jail for her very open rant however the somalian girls who visciously,racially attacked and almost killed Rhea Page have been let walk free. Should there not be a flat line rule on racism no matter who it is too?

Girls attack

How many times have you heard “Oh those polish they come over here and take all our jobs?”  How many groups are on facebook so called proud to be British where the people that join secretly wished all non UK/ British Nationals would “Fuck off back home!” How many times have you hear I’m not racist my 2nd cousins friends wife is black/brown/chinese/asian.

The thing with us all going back to where we orginally came from is a funny one as there would literally be no one left we all have a bit of something ethnic in us if we research our heritage properly!

Who remembers back in the summer the London riots where David Starky blamed gang culture on Jamaican patois?? Another racist comment but yet he will still be seen on the TV.

Is there something we are missing in education??? Children are taught about different races, religions and cultures but are they spoken too about racism and why it is unacceptable? Are they taught about how racist views can destroy nations such as the holocaust?

BNP are allowed a place in parliment even though we all know them to be a group that has very racist views, however as long as they speak in a way that is politically correct and don’t use racial slurs they are free to say what they like.

Racism isn’t as bad as it was twenty odd years ago and there are always going to be people that have some form of prejudice whether they personally want to class themselves as racist or not.I don’t know if there really is anything that can be done for us to stop racism apart from us teaching our children that it is wrong and that underneath the colours the paint us we all bleed the same!

All Mixed Up

One day this week I was sitting on my laptop filling out one of those equal ops forms for a job I was applying for, as I scrolled down to the bit where you have to cross what race you are and instantly felt my blood boil. Last time I looked I was mixed race my Mum is white British with European roots and my Dad is black British with Caribbean roots. This form made it seem like my race had been wiped out by mass genocide, leaving me with two options to tick other black or other!! I refused to tick either and left the boxes blank, those of you who know me know this is a touch subject for me!

I’m not black other and I’m not other I’m MIXED RACE!!

It would be nice if there was a box to cross that said mixed race and on most equal ops forms there are. My children are fully mixed race, as they have two mixed race parents they don’t even fall into the white and black category. How would they explain this on this type of form??? From a very young age I explained to my children their race so that they understood and always feel comfortable within their skin as they are MIXED RACE!

Over the last 20 or so years particularly in the 80’s there was a mass mix of races coming together and forming relationships black and white, white and asian, asian and black, white and chinese the list is endless. Most people assume when you talk about mixed race it is just black and white but there are lot’s of different races that mix where a person chooses confidently to define themselves as mixed race.

Being mixed race growing up in the 80’s and 90’s wasn’t easy. In the 80’s the phrase mixed race didn’t really exist in main stream society so the term “Half Caste” was used a term that never fitted right with me, I always felt that it meant half of something and half of nothing which makes no sense.

Being mixed race in the early years of school made you stand out with tough bushy hair and a white mum taking you to school some people didn’t understand how your skin could be brown. When the spice girls first came out it was cool to have crazy hair and look like Mel B which I guess from then on meant being different wasn’t so bad. In my teens it was a bit more different not black enough for the black girls and not white enough for the white ones luckily I found my own way and guess looking back I always fitted in the middle. Now knowing a lot of mixed race people I understand I’m not the only one that faced daily struggles figthing to stay true to myself a family member told me this story which just goes to show how some people how untrue to themselves people really are:

At my school,(A now well known footballer) when were like 13/14 (he was a year older)….  came up to us in our tutor room on a break and asked me and two friends what race we were or ‘what colour are your mum and dad?’ … I think he is mixed race. Anyway, he asked My friend (his mum is mixed and his dad black), so he told him… “cool”… then he asked my other friend- who’s dad is white and mum black. He lied and said ‘redskin’ dad and black mum. So anyway, I told the truth.. (white mum, black dad) and he said “SELL OUT!”

When people ask what colour I am I say “I am MIXED RACE”  I’m proud to be the colour I am, in some places over the world they do not recognise the race for example in the USA they have a black president (Who has a white mum he is mixed race) and in the UK media they are always mistaken mixed race people for black people.

I can relate to those who are mixed race that identify themselves as black maybe it’s the easier option, people always ask where are you from and when you try to explain it gets difficult (I’m part British, Italian, Polish and Jamaican it’s confusing I know). Bottom line is I am two races intertwined I will not say I’m black just to fit in forsaking my mother and heritage I’m MIXED RACE!!!

Some will say it doesn’t matter that your half white if someones going to be rascist to you it’s because you have black in you!!! I still say I’m MIXED RACE!!! A race formed of few but now with a UK population of over 1 million we are vastly increasing in size . The one thing I find special about being mixed race is that it is the only race that fully unites two seperate races taking away racial barriers. I know a lot of people find it hard being mixed race especially those that are brought up in single parent families who don’t fully have the best of both worlds when in comes to their race, culture and heritage. Having a parent who finds it difficult to manage your tough hair or can’t help you identify with your roots, yeah it’s difficult but it’s a journey we face to find out who we really are!!

In Brazil where a majority of the population are mixed race they celebrate every year on the 27th June mixed race day, all over the world there are some great and very influential mixed race people alive and passed which include Barack Obama, Bob Marley, Rio Ferdinand, Mariah Carey, Halle Berry, Craig David, Thandie Newton, Nicole Scherzinger, Gok Wan, Drake and Kelly Holmes. (So many couldn’t name them all) So I’m very proud to be MIXED RACE are you? I’m mixed race and proud

This week is also mixed race week where the talents of mixed race people are being celebrated.

When I took my kids to dulwich park a few years ago it dawned on me as I sat watching The Punch and Judy show just how many of us there actually are, Dulwich a seamilngly posh area was full of mixed race couples and their mixed race children. As i watched the show I realised 95% of the children sitting around me were mixed race times have moved on since I was a child. But I guess like everything in this world with progress we take two steps back!  I will leave you with the following poem from John Agard which I think most people who are mixed race can relate to on his distaste in the being called half caste a poem about asserting your identity

Excuse me
standing on one leg
I’m half-caste.

Explain yuself
wha yu mean
when yu say half-caste
yu mean when Picasso
mix red an green
is a half-caste canvas?
explain yuself
wha yu mean
when yu say half-caste
yu mean when light an shadow
mix in de sky
is a half-caste weather?
well in dat case
england weather
nearly always half-caste
in fact some o dem cloud
half-caste till dem overcast
so spiteful dem don’t want de sun pass
ah rass?
explain yuself
wha yu mean
when yu say half-caste
yu mean tchaikovsky
sit down at dah piano
an mix a black key
wid a white key
is a half-caste symphony?

Explain yuself
wha yu mean
Ah listening to yu wid de keen
half of mih ear
Ah looking at yu wid de keen
half of mih eye
an when I’m introduced to yu
I’m sure you’ll understand
why I offer yu half-a-hand
an when I sleep at night
I close half-a-eye
consequently when I dream
I dream half-a-dream
an when moon begin to glow
I half-caste human being
cast half-a-shadow
but yu must come back tomorrow
wid de whole of yu eye
an de whole of yu ear
an de whole of yu mind.

an I will tell yu
de other half
of my story.

It’s Kicking off!!!

So... if you didn't notice London's a mess! It's been kicking
off everywhere!
So I thought I'd do my own piece onwhat's been going down
in the heart of London town and elsewhere across the UK.

On Thursday 8th August, Mark Duggan was shot dead by police in
circumstances that are yet to be fully revealed.
No one, at present knows what happened to Mark, and I think it
is important that we do not judge until we hear the full story.
Mark had a partner, children and a family who are all grieving.

Mark's family, like any family, deserve to get answers
about his death, so a peaceful protest was held outside
a police station in Tottenham.
Family and friends requested answers from the police
about his death, and unfortunately, this didn't happen
-tempers flared.

A witness then contacted the BBC and said the Riot,
which devastated Tottenham on Saturday,
was caused by a young female approaching the police asking
for answers about the death of Mark Duggan.
This female was then set upon by police which caused outrage,
and widespread chaos.

Subsequently, as we all came to realise, London descended into a
place where it was normal to see someone robbing the local
shop, the sounds of helicopters and sirens blaring through the
streets of Hackney, Brixton,Clapham Junction, Edmonton,
Enfield, Lewisham, Peckham,  Croydon,
Colliers wood (I would go on but... I will let
you see for yourselves.) 

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=207192798388318292131.
0004aa01af6748773e8f7&msa=0&ll=51.558503%2C
-0.055275&spn=0.114195%2C0.298691

People are disgusted by the mass looting and fires to people's
businesses, homes and cars. The ripple effect has spread,
and what started as Tottenham Riots, changed to London Riots
and is now UK Riots.

Three men were killed in Birmingham and one man was shot in
Croydon as a result of the madness that continues.
Another man also remains critically ill in hospital
after being set upon by thugs.

Now everyone has an opinion on this.
Some people are blaming the government, others police and the
parents of those out there and unsuprisingly, it is turning
into a race issue.
My point is, it's not just black people doing these things.
Every race has been seen on TV looting and although on our
screens it's mainly young people seen
(News only shows us what they want us to see don't be fooled)
I have seen people of all ages and classes involved. 

One part of society blaming another is not helpful and I
believewe need to all stick together and try to help with
the resurrection of our society.

In all honesty, I'm not a great fan of the police,
but they are there to do a job to protect our
streets-whether you agree with it or not.
It's their job, they're not all racist although I do
believe there is institutional racism within the
system - but you can't tar them all with the same brush.

The people who are getting involved are just following fashion,
they don't know why they are doing it!
(One girl claimed it was to claim her taxes back-
I don't thinkshe had ever worked!!)
When it kicked off in Tottenham and everyone saw the looting,
it became a game of Grand Theft Auto - Who can mash up their
'ends' the most!!!!

I feel people need to start taking responsibility for
themselves and for their actions however,
it is easier to be following the crowd.
How many people who have been dragged into the hype of
getting stuff for free or at a discount price?
Think how many of you have acquired 'stuff' through
ill gains or 'off the back of a lorry'-
stolen is stolen..hmmm... #justsaying

For example, if you found a wallet on the floor how many
of you would hand it to the local police station????
Or if a cash machine started giving out randomly £50.00
notes how many of you would be
there with your money bag???

I'm not condoning looting at all but people are happy when
they get stuff for free! (You know this.)
The big chains do exploit us as a nation and
with growing prices I'm not surprised people took their
chances.
Like Robin Hood, the poor steal from the rich!!!
Sadly, these people took it too far when they
decided to burn down towns, started robbing houses,
local small businesses and innocent
people got hurt. One of the worst videos I've seen
is of a boy getting robbed after being helped up 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=327J3ISiVOU 

There are a range of issues in society that have caused
the sudden uproar and destruction of the UK unemployment,
absent fathers, poverty, social exclusion, demonisation
of the youth- if we had looked at these issues
sooner would this have happened???

My husband grew up in a poor part of Peckham in the 80's
he came from a single parent family and lived much of his
childhood on the poverty line. However, he went to college,
got a job and even though he became a father at 18,
he is a brilliant Dad. (With no criminal record)
The fact is, not everyone is a product
of what is going on around them.
You don't have to fall into the cycle. Everyone has options.
Yet, believe it or not,
those around you; be it friends, family or community have
a part to play in how we all grow.

One Lady on LBC made a valid point yes there is poverty all
over the UK we are not in Africa there is always fresh water,
food and we have a welfare system that everyone has access
to if they need it!!!

I have had many messages from friends and family stating
what they have seen and heard. A lot of people are scared
to go out (I have been driving with a baseball bat to
protect myself in the event of being attacked)
and although it is calming down and there is a greater police
presence anything could happen!
Last night, I drove to a friends in Norwood from my house in
Rotherhithe and back driving through areas such as
Forest Hill, Peckham, Crystal Palace, Sydenham, Surrey Quays
and Old Kent Road.
I can tell you I saw 4 police Vehicles and not more than
a dozen police so where they all are is beyond me.

I just urge people to know where your children are in
these dark days. One mother, who thought her children
were at the gym, found out they were looting the
Curry's store in Brixton!
I do think we, as parents, play an important role
in teaching our children right from wrong and to those
mothers who were out looting WITH their children
"SHAME ON YOU"!

Even though my children are still young I made it quite
clear to both of them the other day if they ever were
involved in anything like I would firstly take the crisp
new trainers they had robbed, off their feet hurling them
at one part of their body and secondly march them to the
local police station handing them in. I don't know how many
other parents would do this but I strongly believe
in teaching  my children right from wrong.
A lot of parents act like their children are angels
and like their child could never do wrong and these
are the worst culprits! Know your children. 

My daughter is eight, slightly on the mouthy side,
can be quite rude when she wants to be, likes to have
the last word and sticks up for what she believes in.
(Yes, a miniature me). If her teacher
says to me she did XYZ today she knows she will be
punished.
I will protect my children to the end of time but if
they have done wrong they need to understand there
will be consequences!!!

It's nice to see communities coming out and cleaning
up the mess and sticking together to show the
behaviour we have seen is not on.
I've heard about people protecting their areas and
making a stand ensuring that anyone who comes near will
be met by people who are serious about protecting
what they have!!

I just hope all this stops and soon London seems to be
calming down for now, I'll leave you with an African
proverb I have seen on Twitter this week...

"It takes a whole village to raise a child."