2019 BHM magazine

BLACK HISTORY MON TH
Celebrating our past, present and future
October 2019
#Identity
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Black History Month
So far 2019 has proven to be the year of change and in some cases, not for the better. The rhetoric being dispensed across the world has led to a feeling amongst many of my peers that the clock seems to be going in reverse, so the need to reflect and understand the unique connections we have with each other is even greater. Black History Month in Southampton has always been a time of celebration and a coming together of people from all walks of life to discuss and learn about past historic events in relation to black people with a view to creating a safer world for future generations.
I also would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people across Southampton, Hampshire and beyond who support Black History Month every year and for the contributions made by the quiet but tenacious people ‘behind the scenes’ that continually do outstanding work uniting our communities.
Welcome to Black History Month 2019. Lou Taylor
Black History Month Co-ordinator
The speed at which the launch of Black History Month 2019 has come around induces personal feelings of both eager anticipation and innate reservation. When rewiring a famous quote the question arises. ‘Ask not what Black History Month can do for me, ask what can I do for Black History Month’.
Did I let another year pass without earnestly endeavouring to affect some part of the positive changes we seek? Or did I semi switch off midway through November? In light of that, here’s a word challenge, rearrange to make a sentence: can we do together what to positive support change more?
Olu Rowe
Black History Month Co-Ordinator
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Our Sponsors
Hampshire Fire
and Rescue
Councillor Christopher Carter is the Conservative Member for Leesland and Town, part of Gosport Borough Council in Hampshire.
Chris became a Member of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority in June 2009 and has been Chairman since June 2015.
Councillor Christopher Carter
Hampshire Fire and Rescue
Hampshire Fire
and Rescue
Neil has worked in the British Fire and Rescue Service since 1991 becoming Chief Fire Officer of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service in January 2018.
Neil is a member of the Institute of Directors and a Graduate member of the Institution of Fire Engineers.
Neil is the UK National Fire Chief’s Council Chairman for the Prevention Committee, supporting Fire Services across the nation to prevent fires and other emergencies.
Neil is Chairman of the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO) which brings together the UKs rescue services to develop their skills and improve rescue standards.
Neil is also a Trustee of the Blue Lamp Trust which was established to promote and enhance community safety across Hampshire and the IOW.
Neil Odin MBA MIoD GIFireE
Chief Fire Officer
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service
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Gary Orr CEO Radian
recognised require direct involvement and additional support to target anti- social behaviour, violent crime, and unemployment.
Following the news of Brexit, communities across the country, including here in the south, have been the target of hate-related crimes. Radian has a strict zero-tolerance policy on this matter and our involvement in these investment zones is allowing us to implement positive change, creating safe spaces for communities.
As an example of this, in Mansbridge and Bordon we have built two thriving community cafes. The Round About Café was our first and has had a tremendous impact on the locale it was created for. It is run by volunteers and has exceeded our expectations of delivering a strong investment programme that covers areas of employment, training and wellbeing. It also allows us to take the temperature of what is happening within the communities, giving us the opportunity to address issues before they escalate. Our Community Involvement team take an educational approach to tackling crime committed by young people, working closely with the police and local schools to educate individuals and support them in giving back to their communities.
Our main concern is the quality of life and sense of individual identity that our communities experience every day. We are targeting areas of deprivation while focusing on what’s good about neighbourhoods where we have properties. We also understand that labelling any person or community disempowers people, so we focus on empowering individuals, encouraging self-respect and personal achievement by working with our Employment, Support and Training team to tackle unemployment and create career
Here at Radian we continue to be proud of our involvement in, and support of, Black History Month, watching it grow in scale each and every year. As Chief Executive of Radian, I am delighted to see our communities - which are rich in culture and history – develop. Within our organisation, I see a strong and unique correlation with the work we do in building and championing the individuals and families who live in our homes and the importance of Black History Month; celebrating the diverse communities that our region thrives on and learning about our black history.
The identity of our customers is a key focus of Radian and we continuously strive to engage, support and, ultimately, improve the quality of life of residents living in our properties. To do this, we have six investment zones that we’ve
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opportunities where our customers have choice and opportunity.
For Radian equality and diversity is much more than just achieving our statutory obligations. We recognise the absolute importance of creating a diverse workforce who can flourish and reach their greatest potential whatever their background and recognise that this sometimes means giving people additional help to suit their own circumstances. To this end we are implementing a new approach to equality and diversity aimed at increasing the opportunities for colleagues from all backgrounds and promoting gender equality through a gender action plan. We aim to be recognised as a best practice organisation and will use monitoring to ensure that we achieve this.
Our communities are vibrant, diverse and often combine tenures meaning social tenants, shared ownership and market rent live in close proximity. This creates a development made up of different backgrounds and cultures. An example of this is in Chapel, our estate in Southampton, made up of 174 homes. We understand that separating communities only works to increase stigma against social housing tenants and, in reality, what we actually see in mixed-tenure developments is a shared sense of belonging, minimised prejudice and a breaking down of pre- conceived perceptions.
We want to continue to create community leaders, positive shared experiences and strong, independent and uniquely identifiable communities. We will continue to create safe spaces for people to debate, express opinions and unite through values that bring us together, make us stronger and build inclusive places to live, no matter background or belief.
About Radian
Radian is one of the country’s leading house providers, dedicated to solving the housing crisis. With 90 years experience, we plan to build 3,500 new homes by 2023.
Solent University
Solent University works with local and global communities to share knowledge, expertise and experiences. With a mission to tackle social justice and our commitment to real-world experience we are proud to work with Southampton’s diverse and vibrant community. Throughout Black History Month and the year ahead we offer a series of free, open access activities for staff, students and the local community. We are committed to building a culturally cohesive society and look forward to welcoming you on campus to be part of the journey.
Visit our website for further information on how you can get involved: www. solent.ac.uk/community
Professor Julie Hall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Solent University
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Councillor Peter Baillie 797th Mayor of Southampton
I was born in a small village in Wiltshire and quickly moved to Somerset. I was schooled at Huish’s Grammar School, Taunton where I played a wide range of sports, representing the school in six sports. I took my pharmacy degree in London at what is now King’s College London. There I obtained my degree, got a ‘blue’ for sport and met my future wife Kim. After both working abroad in Saudi, we married and had three children. We both have worked in pharmacy in the NHS for the last 34 years – originally in hospital and then in community pharmacy. In 1993 I took over a pharmacy in Bitterne Park and met a fellow trader called Roy
Smith. We started the Triangle Traders’ Association and after getting no joy from our local councillors stood against them in the local elections as Independents. Roy is now the M.P. and I am the Mayor! I have been a local councillor for 16 years and was in the cabinet for four years, and I now represent Harefield Ward. My wife has just finished her third degree and is a Licensed Lay Minister in Bitterne. Our three children are all grown up, two are married and we have four grandchildren with one more imminent. Though not very good at it I enjoy DIY, I play golf when I can and I enjoy watching most sports. I enjoy the theatre and art galleries.
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I am a frontline police officer rising gradually through the ranks in a variety of roles but always returning to neighbourhood policing which is at my core. I am also proud to have been a police trainer for 4 years, developing the next generation of officers and staff, the force’s performance manager and a public order commander where I worked hard to diversify those who applied for such roles. Equality and inclusion has always been important to me throughout my career. I was a founding member of the Constabulary’s LGBT resource group and chaired ‘Inspire’ the network of women for many years as well as being an ally to our Black Ethnic and Minority (BEAM) support group. It is therefore little wonder that I chose to return to Southampton for the 3rd time in my career, being drawn by its vibrancy and rich diversity.
Black History Month marks the recognition, celebration and appreciation of Black and ethnic
BHM message from Southampton Police Commander – Superintendent Kelly Whiting
minority individuals and communities, what they bring to enrich the cultural experience of the City and what they contribute to society. The contributions and achievements of our Black and Minority Ethnic staff and officers over the years should be celebrated and valued, for it is such a diverse workforce that enables us to continue to strive towards providing an excellent service to all our communities.
We are an organisation that values equality, diversity and inclusivity, and we are proud to provide recruitment opportunities to the widest possible community. We are keen to recruit people with a wide range of skills and experiences to work with us and build a workforce to best promote and reflect the communities we serve.
If this sounds like you and you are interested in applying, please email [email protected]. police.uk”
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Black History Month Launch 2019
Location: St Mary’s Fire Station, Thursday 26th September 11am - 2pm
Joseph Harker
Joseph Harker is deputy editor and columnist on the Guardian’s Opinion section. He also coordinates the diversity and inclusion strategy for the paper’s editorial department and runs its Positive Action schemes.
He was a contributor to the 2019 book “Safe: On Black British Men Reclaiming Space”.
He is a former managing editor of the Guardian’s features department.
He has edited the Guardian’s Week in Africa, its all-Black comment special issue, its Black History Month poster series, and the hardback book The Legacy of Apartheid.
Before joining the Guardian, Joseph was editor and publisher of the weekly newspaper Black Briton, and previous to that assistant editor at The Voice.
Ivan J
Ivan Dellimore ( IVAN J ) has been a singer songwriter and performer for over 40 years. He started out as a Singer and Keyboardist in the Southampton
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Reggae Band Ebony Rockers, who were formed in the late seventies. They were signed to the record company EMI in 1980 and released a Double ‘A’ side 12” single called Human Jungle / Steppin Out co written by Ivan. He left Ebony Rockers in 1981 performing all over England mainly as a Singer and Frontman with various Soul, R&B, Motown and Pop cover bands. In 1988 he formed the duo Fresh 2 with his good friend Nick Longland performing in venues in and around Southampton. They performed a mixture of their own self-penned songs and Soul, R&B and Pop covers. They were signed to Pete Watermans record label PWL IN 1993. Ivan has been a Solo performer and DJ for the last few years and one of the lead vocalist of the Highly Acclaimed Southampton based 9 piece Soul and Motown band, The Wonderband. His main Influences as a singer and performer are Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, Luther Vandross, Prince and Lionel Ritchie.
Resonance Harmonics
Izzii Moulsdale
The wonderful voice of Izzii will simply blow you away. For her young years she has an impressive cv of performances under her belt. Having sung at Southampton Guild Hall, The Concorde, Grand Cafe, The Brook and many more. She could literally sing the phone book and it would sound like a hit record.
Resonance Harmonics is a group of soulfully spirited singers who when joined together make a beautiful sound.
With solid harmonies and wonderful song choices they’ll leave you wanting to hear more!
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Who am I?
Who am I? Is the question I speak What will I find in the quest that I seek?
When I look into the mirror what do I see?
Is it a true reflection looking back at me?
Am I defined by the colour of my skin? Or is there a hidden meaning deeper within?
When I look into the mirror what
do I see?
Is nature or nurture that influences me?
Where do I fit in? Where do I belong? Is there a template that’s right
or wrong?
Is it society, gender or social economic status?
Or is it something else that truly shapes us?
When I look into the mirror what do I see?
Is it my true reflection looking back at me?
These questions consume me in the path that I’ve trod.
A Wiseman once said; “We are the image of God.”
I guess we can safely say we are part of mankind.
So often the lines get blurred and our true selves hard to find.
When I look into the mirror what do I see?
A reflection of God and humanity staring back at me.
When you look in the mirror what do you see?
Only you have the answer that will set you free.
Written by Stevina Southwell © Copyright 21 July 2019
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I Am Your Neighbour
Identifying yourself as British or even English is a challenge faced by people who are not European and White. This is made more difficult when the subliminal message that they do not belong here; “go home”, “where do you come from?” etc.
Black people who have been born in the UK or have lived all their working life are regarded as experts on the culture of far flung places that used to be in the British Empire.
The assumptions made, when satisfying curiosity come in many forms.
• The temperature where you come from must be higher. Subtext “because you are black you must be from somewhere hot?”
•What are you, Indian, Pakistani; what?... Hindu, Muslim? Subtext “I have noticed your colour therefore you must be one of these...”
• Do you get to go home often? Subtext “I want to brag about having been on holiday to “your” country.”
The answer is “I go home every evening, I live round the corner”
My identity can be defined by my profession, or my age, or my lack of religion but above all I AM YOUR NEIGHBOUR.
J; Jay Shah; Jayanti Shah; Jayantilal Shah.
I am referred to by many names to make life easier for others.
Black History Month South would like to thank the Asian Fire Service Association for their fantastic evening on the 13th June 2019 and for honouring BHM South with their award.
Thank you to Itchen College students Charras Collins and Summer Clarke- Graham for their contribution to this years BHM launch and to Dave Newman and Richard Stevens for their continued support.
Left to right: John Barnes, Lou Taylor, Don John, Neil Odin
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Hair: Going Back To My Roots
Before the arrival of the colonizer, African hair was the pride and joy of the land. Hair styles indicated, among other things, age, marital status, wealth and was adapted for a state of mourning. In matriarchal societies, which were common in Africa, grandmothers taught their daughters and granddaughters the skills of hair dressing, this was the time that deep and meaningful connections were created between women.
The arrival of the kidnapped Africans, in the West, during the times of chattel slavery sparked the fascination about black hair from Europeans. This fascination led to the creation of human zoos across Europe and in New York where indigenous people where exhibited in faux villages. When the heads of slaves were shaved it was not just hair that was lost; with every snip history, culture and identity were discarded.
During the 1960s young female dancers and jazz artists began to wear afros as a symbol of racial pride, a show of solidarity for the civil rights movement and at the peak of the hairstyles it was worn by both men and women and was the embodiment of black beauty, a defiant stand against racial injustice. As its popularity grew its association to the black political movement lessened, nonetheless The history behind black hair is one of power and resilience, celebrated by simply wearing it.
At secondary school I decided that I wanted a weave, something long and flowing and more European so I would fit in with this concept of beauty or I thought. I assumed this would stop mostly white people from petting my hair, if my hair looked like theirs they wouldn’t want to touch mine. Throughout college I travelled frequently to London
to get my hair done, it was at this time I noticed that men reacted differently to me when I had natural hair I was invisible, unseen to the world. With my hair done I was seen, men approached me even as I walked with my mum. This confirmed to me a place in this world where beauty was only achievable with my association and proximity to whiteness.
In University I couldn’t afford weaves as much I would have loved to and so would relax my hair twice a month with colour each time, coils did not belong in my hair, it was unsightly. My hair once full of life began to thin.
I made the decision to cut my hair. What I thought was going to be just a haircut became a re learning of my natural hair, I began trying out new things with my hair and began looking at it as beautiful in its natural form.
I made the decision to change my hair to locks. Was it really a smart idea to have my hair like this while attending meetings and interviews? Would people take me seriously when I spoke or would the weight of their expectations weigh me down?
Then I remembered I was a badass who would not let anyone’s projections of me define me. I am as limitless as my hair.
Imale Ndhlovu
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NST Theatre 17–21Sep:
Two Trains Running.
It is Pittsburgh 1969 and racial tensions are on the rise. The regulars of Memphis Lee’s restaurant are struggling to cope with the turbulence of a rapidly changing world. The diner is in threat of being torn down, a casualty of the city’s renovation project that is sweeping away the buildings of a community, but not its spirit.
The iconic American playwright August Wilson paints a vivid portrait of everyday lives in this defining moment
of American history. When Two Trains Running opened on Broadway in 1992, its legendary première won TONY and Drama Desk Awards.
Directed by the 2018 winner of the RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award, Nancy Medina, this major revival will introduce this Pulitzer Prize shortlisted modern classic to UK-wide audiences for the first time.
Tue 17 Sep: FREE pre-show talk 6.30pm with Assistant Director and English Touring Theatre’s Producer
Wed 18 Sep: FREE post show Q&A with members of the cast and company
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Saturday 9 November
The story of Reggae music from the arrival of the Windrush Generation from Jamaica - bringing their stories, history and music with them - and hear how their music evolved through the decades to take the world by storm.
Narrated by comedian John Simmit
the show features ska, rock steady, calypso, gospel, lovers rock, dancehall and Reggae played live by the JA Reggae Band.
Get ready to dance to the music of Desmond Dekker, Jimmy Cliff, Toots & The Maytals, Prince Buster, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Lord Kitchener, Millie Small and many, many more.
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Post-show Q&A: 14 Nov
Barber Shop Chronicles 13 - 16 November
NST Campus
By Inua Ellams Director Bijan Sheibani BSL Interpreted & Audio Described: 16 November 14.30
One day. Six cities. A thousand stories.
For generations, African men have gathered in barber shops. Sometimes they have haircuts, sometimes they listen, more often than not they talk. Barber shops are confession boxes, political platforms, preacher-pulpits and football pitches... places to go for unofficial advice, and to keep in touch with the world.
Fuel has produced Inua Ellams’ work for theatre since his debut play nine years ago. Barber Shop Chronicles is a heart- warming, hilarious and insightful play, set in Johannesburg, Harare, Kampala, Lagos, Accra and London. The play invites the audience into a uniquely masculine environment where the banter may be barbed, but the truth always telling. The barbers of these tales are sages, role models and father figures, they are the glue that keeps men together.
Aiming for Fri 18 Oct, NST (tbc) for Vintage Sounds – Aretha Queen of Soul Tribute night - Queenie Bone. I’ve got no copy as yet but I have an image which I’ve attached. Basically she sings Aretha songs with a band with a bit of social history between some numbers to explain her significance in US history at that time. As you probably know, Aretha Franklin was involved with the civil rights movement, her Dad organised fundraisers for Dr. King, they were very dear friends, she also sang at his funeral. Queenie’s tribute goes through her musical journey from gospel, to the Columbia years (standards/ jazz/pop), rhythm & blues to her breakout hit Atlantic album in 1967 “Never Loved A Man”. The show is very cool, classy, vintage costuming and a great band. 2 x 45 minute sets and it will be in the bar.
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Soco Music Project
Bringing you
live music, poetry and discussions about the impact of the Windrush generation and Caribbean culture in today’s society. Catch the show live 6-8pm on Unity 101
Saturday 12th and 26th October
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BLACK HISTORY MON TH
Celebrating our past, present and future
For more information or to place an advert in our next issue please email: [email protected]
Advertising Rates
Full page £110 • Half Page £80 • Quarter Page £45
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Tickets: £5
Open Mic £3
Apples and Snakes presents
451 City
Monday 28th October - 7.45pm
NST City, 144 Above Bar St, Southampton, SO14 7DU
Booking: www.nstheatres.co.uk Info: [email protected] www.applesandsnakes.org
Bringing the best local, national and international spoken word artists to Southampton; from stand-up poets to live literature to spoken word theatre.
Featuring Yomi Sode
Yomi is a Nigerian British writer, performer, facilitator and Complete Works Alumni. He has read at Lagos International Poetry Festival, Afrika Fest in Finland and at the New York Public Library with the British Council. His writing has been published in Rialto Magazine, Bare lit Anthology, 10: Poets of the New Generation Anthology, Tales of Two Londons Anthology and the upcoming Safe: On Black British Men Reclaiming Space.
In 2019 Yomi was awarded one of three Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellowships.
COAT, Yomi’s first one-man show, has toured nationally to sold-out audiences and he is currently working on his first poetry collection.
http://yomisode.com/
Birdspeed
British-born, Barbadian-raised Birdspeed, is known to captivate audiences by effortlessly weaving poetry, storytelling, satirical humour and movement. Her writing is a combination of social commentary and auto-biography and includes themes on Caribbean culture and folklore, afrofuturism, black feminism, mental health and the lingering effects of colonialism on the black body.
https://www.birdspeed.org/
Neelam Saredia-Brayley
Neelam writes about gender, culture and sexuality and is currently developing her first spoken word show; Queer Brown Skin.
Her poetry will reach out to the daughters of immigrants; to mothers who stay; to girls who love girls and to girls who sing hurricanes away.
Plus OPEN MIC.
Sign up at Box Office on the night from 7pm. Spaces limited.
Hosted by Ricky Tart
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Birdspeed
Yomi Sode
Neelam Saredia-Brayley
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Rebel Music: Sound Systems Culture The Story of Blues Parties in Southampton
18th October - 20th December 2019 Launch night date TBC
Between the mid 1950s and the early1960s West Indian and African drinking clubs were founded with increasing rapidity across inner cities; and Southampton was no exception Most were quickly recognised, by supporters and detractors alike, as important new black cosmopolitan spaces; significantly changing the character of the city.
The Derby Road area in Southampton was one of those places. They were invariably called Shebeens or Blues and were contained in a small geographical area on the edge of the inner city and was the preferred living area for many in the African/Caribbean communities. This developed as a response to the fact
Solent Showcase Gallery explores the Significance of the Blues Party/ Shebeen culture in Inner City Southampton
that many black people were denied entry to some of the bars and clubs in the city and “Leisure” and “Entertainment” were areas in which such prejudices manifested themselves ; and they had to devise ways to enjoy their music and culture... and the “Blues” were born. In some cases they were an extension to“House-Parties” which were common in black communities.
The Solent Showcase Gallery, part of Solent University, have commissioned an exhibition to explore the issue and the social and political circumstances surrounding it. Gerard Hanson, a Jamaican Painter and fine artist has been commissioned to develop this exhibition and he will be supported by Don John. It is hoped that this will bring a greater understanding to one aspect of Black culture that has not been explored as much as it should have been; and will demonstrate the impact it has had on the music and entertainment cultures that are now mainstream. It is also hoped that “Bass Culture”, the much praised Mykaell Riley film about Black music culture will also be shown again.
The exhibition will take place in Solent Showcase Gallery in the Solent Sir James Matthews Building, 157- 187, Above Bar St. Southampton SO14 7NN (Access is through The Artisan Cafe) 18th October - 20th December 2019.
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MAKA Foundation Sound System Celebrates it’s 40th Anniversary
Maka Foundation started with 3 original founder members in 1978,Wayne Salmon (Smiley), Joe Salmon (Skippy), Tony Campbell (T.C), Others then got involved in the collective and included Sunil Sharma (Briggy Mix), Richard Clark (Rugged Richy), Brian Rodgers (Supa B) and Terry Rodgers (Digniterry). The members that still remain today are Smiley ,T.C, Briggy Mix, Digniterry, Rugged Richy. Skippy is still a founder member and is living in Wales but is still involved. The MAKA family have their roots in St.Mary’s and Newtown Southampton and their music is a mixture of Reggae, Dancehall, Soul & R&B, Funky House, UKG bassline, Jungle and Drum & Bass.
Many people have supported the Sound from the beginning and they have also influenced many young and older
people in the community. One youth in particular was Craig (FADE) David who mentioned MAKA FOUNDATION on his first album (Born To Do It ) and was from the start one of the truly gifted ones, a great DJ / Singer songwriter along side Aaron Soul who was part of (Junior MAKA) in the 90’s. MAKA has made a significant contribution to Black music for over four decades.
Maka Foundation celebrates it’s 40th anniversary this year and will be celebrating this during Black History Month at The Stage Door on Saturday October 26th. Here they will take you down memory lane playing old school to new reggae and Soul and R&B all night long with many special guest DJs who have played with them over the years.
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Mind over Black Life Matters
Gentlemen... Let’s broaden our minds’.
One my favorite lines by The Joker from the movie Batman in 1989.
So what has another nearly 12 months brought us. Or more specifically what has been my personal observation of matters relating to black history over that period.
Whilst acknowledging that we have much to be thankful for in terms of the era that we are ‘doing life’ in. Not dissimilar to women’s rights, LGBT rights, disabled rights etc etc, the endeavor continues.
I recently heard a quote from an American film director in which she said. “America is still extremely racist compared to the UK. But at least in the states you know exactly what you’re dealing with!”. Well perhaps the last 3 years or so would challenge that perception of the UK. Tussles with European identity and membership having created all manner of upfront anti (perceived) non British/European prejudice and racism. Whilst TV and media in general are charged with a code of fair representation of BAME contributors. The public will of course do their own thing! My concern, apart from the disturbing rise of Islamophobia is as follows. That the main target of blatant racism continues to be the black male. Specifically aged between 12 to 40 years old. I’ve often pondered over when (being in the most vilified demographic) as a black male, I would reach that age when I would no longer be considered to be a threat to society! Would I need to get to a Trevor McDonald resemblance to finally be ignored driving a nice car, browsing in a shop or walking through an airport.
Sir Mo Farah wasn’t afforded that privilege when he was harassed by a security officer at Munich airport for apparently wearing a hoody or something equally dangerous!
Does Raheem Stirling need to get to Pele’s age before he can be cut some slack. Or before he can simply be respected for the talent he has, in the same way a young and ‘out there’ Beckham or Rooney was! Without being attacked by both media and so called English football fans.
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Does Stormzy and his entourage have to get to the age of (the still touring and performing) Soul n Motown legends before they’re no longer stereotyped, profiled and targeted for extra thorough security checks! I very much respect the fact that he pulled out of the Austrian gig that he was the headline act for, in protest of the prejudiced treatment received.
Although it happened back in 2015, would ‘so called’ Chelsea fans in Paris have twice pushed suave suited office worker Souleymane Sylla off a metro train if he had looked more like Nelson Mandela!
These incidents particularly resonate with me at the moment. Not because of the potential for this to still happen to me. But because they are situations that I was sincerely hopeful that my 12 year old son would less likely have to face, as he reaches that less cute and more youth age.
Although in all honesty I’m somewhat discouraged by elements of back stepping and certain stubborn pockets of society. Having recently watched some scenes of David Oyelowo in the film Selma. The scene of the march to the Edmund Pettus Bridge reminded me of certain facts. Sprinkled among mostly black people were a few white faces. In many ways precipitating wider societal understanding of a fight that wasn’t just the concern of black people but of fellow human beings.
The encouragement I do take and believe in going forward, is that today’s hypothetical updated image of that march would have many more non black faces on display. This takes us beyond just broadening, to the meeting of minds.
Olu Rowe
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Alexander Patterson...
Black Man in Southampton in 1889!
Alexander Patterson was a Black man born in St Vincent in 1865. It is said that he was a quartermaster with the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company which was the principal British shipping company serving the Caribbean and the east coast of Latin America and that he travelled between the Caribbean and the UK.
He came to Southampton around 1889 and was married to Emma Chipperfield a white British woman; which was unusual in the Victorian era. There is a suggestion that whilst a merchant seaman he operated as a trader with connections in Barbados and Brazil and some of these transactions may have resulted in his bankruptcy. Furthermore, it is said that Alexander then became unwell
and was admitted to Knowle hospital and subsequently died there in 1905; and is buried on the grounds. During his time in Southampton he lived in various properties in Shirley. He was also the landlord of The Builders Arms in 7 Union Street 1895-1900) and research is ongoing regarding what his experience was during that time.
Alexander and Emma had the following children: Rose, Alexander, Alice, Margaretta, Albert, Dorothy and Louis. Alexander; the son, was an officer in the RFC and trained others for combat in war.
It is only now that we are discovering these ordinary stories of Black people who lived in this city over 100 years and those experiences must have been unique in a city where black people were rare. Alexander’s family were raised in Southampton and that DNA resulted in a large extended family who on the surface are “White” but whose antecedents are “Black”.
We have always maintained that so called “Black History is not just for Black people but for all of us and this story speaks to that and is consistent with this year’s theme of “Identity”
If anyone has further information about this extraordinary individual Alexander Patterson , please contact us [email protected] or Louise Allen louise.allen16@yahoo. co.uk
Don John
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‘MOTOWN THE MUSICAL WILL HAVE YOU DANCING IN THE STREET’
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
1 – 12 OCTOBER 2019
| mayflower.org.uk | 02380 711811 MotownTM is a trademark of UMG Recordings, Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries, and is used under license. Photography West End Cast 2018.
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TUVVA
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Solent University Public Lecture for Black History Month: Wednesday October 9th 5pm-8pm:Venue to be determined
“Is Anti-Racism an Outdated Concept in society today:– what role does music play in building cohesive communities?’
Ethnic minorities in Britain are facing rising and increasingly overt racism, with levels of discrimination and abuse continuing to grow in the wake of the Brexit referendum a nationwide research has revealed. Furthermore the data suggests that people with racist feelings have become increasingly more confident in expressing their racism and there are now more people subjected to racism from complete strangers. There is also now greater evidence of racism being expressed through social media
and sadly this normalisation of racism has been compounded by the behaviours expressed by those in positions of power.
Our panel of speakers will discuss how society has changed today, focusing on what we can learn from the past and what our future in Southampton will look like. Further details will be available nearer the time
Speakers at this time are, Dr Don John, Dr Kim-Marie Spence and others to be determined in due course.


Love Soul Choir Celebrates Black History
Black History Month South are pleased to welcome Voice FM 103.9 as our Media Partners for 2019 BHM celebration.
Voice FM is the voice of Southampton broadcasting live on FM locally and online worldwide with all shows available for streaming after broadcast. They currently have a reach of 380,000 people with around 75,000 listeners per week. They are located in St. Mary’s in the heart of the most culturally diverse spot in the city. It is a station that understands the history of African- Caribbean culture and the shows “Soul Train”, two hours of sweet soul music, and “Night Moves” 60 minutes of sweet reggae music; every Tuesday night from 6-9pm is testimony to this. The show is hosted and produced by Don John a veteran of the music.
Sunday 13th October 12:00-12:30pm & 1:00pm-1:30pm
Love Soul Choir “the community of talented singers” is pleased to be celebrating their 10 year anniversary and are once again delighted to be supporting Black History Month South. Love Soul Choir have been an essential ingredient within Black History Month for many years and are a wonderful example of the city’s diversity.
Love Soul Choir are once again happy to further promote activities celebrating people of African descent.
They are a non-religious pop, soul, motown and gospel group open to singers over the age of 16 and currently set in and around Southampton.
Come and join us and them at West Quay!
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Black History Identity Project: Who Are The “We” and Who are the “Them”?
The debate of this time is all about Identity. Who are the “We” and who are the “ Them” and the choices of who we choose to be are sometimes dependent on how much we want to fit in; and furthermore how much of ourselves do we have to give up to be accepted. The reality is that many of us only became Black when we came to this country because before we were just people until we were relentlessly reminded on numerous occasions when we came here that we were Black; and sometimes in not a very friendly manner
“Identity” is the theme for Black History Month this year and this issue resonates in every aspect of our lives. It has resonated more strongly with the evocation of issues like “The War on Terror”, ‘Refugees & Asylum Seekers” “Brexit”, and “The Windrush” and in all these circumstances some of us sometimes search to determine who are the “We” and who are the “Them”.
The term “Coloured” was a generic term used to describe any peoples of a darker colour than “White” and was considered to be a much more polite description as opposed to “Black’ which was seen as a term of little value and unfortunately some of us absorbed some of that. The Black awareness culture of the 70s soon put paid to that with “ “Say it Loud” and “Black is Beautiful” and everyone on the darker side of white were included. During that time the much maligned term half- caste was used to describe those now known as “mixed heritage/race” and heralded a delineation between Black and Mixed-Race people.
We have undertaken an exercise with four local young people of mixed-
race, one parent “African/Caribbean” and one parent “White European”, to examine how they value the different identities that they now have at their disposal. To this end we provided them with a DNA ancestry kit and asked them to prioritise the top 3 identities they could opt for from a selection that included; Black, British, Mixed-Race, English etc.
Despite the fact that African countries were heavily featured in their ancestry results, the term mixed race was top choice for 3 of the 4 participants and second for the fourth participant. The term ‘Black” was featured once out of the 12 choices, British and English were featured twice and African countries not featured at all.
We will be bringing the four participants together to discuss the results and discuss further the underlying factors that have contributed to their choices.
This continuing project has been made possible by the kind support of Angela Chicken.
Project Manager: Don John
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BHM South Merchandise
A Black History of Southampton: 16th Century to 21st Century by Don John & Stella Muirhead is the only publication that documents the history of Black people in Southampton and explodes the myth that the Windrush generation were the first Black presence in the city. This brief and consumable publication is available at October Books, Portswood Road, Southampton at the cost of £7.99 and is required reading for those with an interest in Black History.
Black History Month South T-Shirts
£12
+postage
Available from website blackhistorymonthsouth.com or email [email protected]
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On Wednesday 9 October the Home Office will be hosting a public event in Southampton to raise awareness of the scheme at :
NEW COMMUNITY CENTRAL HALL ST. MARY STREET SOUTHAMPTON
SO14 1NF
Between 16:30 – 18:30


Black History Month at Turner Sims Southampton
Located on the University of Southampton’s Highfield campus, and a venue of national renown, Turner Sims is proud to bring over 70 cultural events to Southampton every year. We aim to present a wide range of music, and our programme regularly includes artists who are people of colour and/or have black heritage. The focus for the 2019- 20 year is journeys, whether real or imagined, planned or enforced, and our Autumn 2019 season includes two key events featuring artists from the fields of classical and world music .
opening our Piano Series with a focus on music by Clara Schumann and Brahms. We interviewed Isata about BHM and inspirational figures.
TS: “In which way is Black History Month relevant to you?”
Isata: “Black History Month is a wonderful celebration of diversity and achievement. I think that it is always important to celebrate excellence and people, and I always enjoying being involved in the celebrations somehow.”
Originally from Nottingham, pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason is a Postgraduate at the Royal Academy of Music and has recently released her debut album “Romance” on the Decca record label at the age of only 23. The rising star pianist will perform her first solo recital at Turner Sims on Tuesday 01 October,
TS: “Who inspires you?”
Isata: “Many people inspire me on a daily basis, including my family and the people around me. In terms of well-known icons, I always come back to people like J.K Rowling, Beyoncé, Martha Argerich and Rachmaninov.”
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Later in the month, on Saturday 19 October, singer Aziza Brahim and her band will bring the music of the Sahrawi people to Turner Sims. Growing up in a refugee camp in western Algeria, Aziza witnessed the Sahrawi’s fight for independence from Morocco first hand. In touch with her passion for music from an early age, she played her first small concerts there and has since become an eloquent representative of her people, conveying sorrow alongside hope. You can expect a sound full of warmth and poetry, made up of Aziza’s vocals, tabal drum, Spanish guitars, electric bass, keyboard, djembes, sabar and other drums.
If you are interested in hearing more about people from the Sahara, we recommend Reza Pakravan’s talk on Thursday 28 November. The explorer and filmmaker will share stories of people planting an 8000km Great Green Wall to battle desertification in the Sahel zone where climate change has hit the hardest.
To find more about the Autumn season at Turner Sims and to book tickets visit turnersims.co.uk There are many ways in which you can get involved in life at the concert hall – from volunteering to visiting free art exhibitions to occasional special events. We’d love to see you!
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BLACK HISTORY UK
Ignatius Sancho (1729-1780)
Ignatius Sancho was a composer, actor and writer. He was a neighbour and friend of Ottobah Cugoano. Sancho was born in 1729 on a slave ship and spent the first two years of his life enslaved in Grenada. His mother died when he was very young and his father killed himself, rather than become enslaved. When he was two, his owner brought him to England.
He worked as a servant in Greenwich and then for the Duke of Montagu. Sancho taught himself to read and spoke out against the slave trade. He went on to compose music and write poetry and plays. In 1773, Sancho and his wife set up a grocer’s shop in Westminster. Sancho was very well known and his shop became a meeting place for some of the most famous writers, artists, actors and politicians of the day. As a financially-independent householder, he became the first black person of African origin to vote in parliamentary elections in Britain (1774 & 1780).
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912)
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was an English composer who enjoyed considerable acclaim in the early years of the 20th century.
At the age of five Samuel began playing the violin and joined the choir of a Presbyterian church in Croydon, where H.A. Walters guided his progress and arranged his admittance to the Royal College of Music in 1890.
While still a student he published some anthems, but his creative gifts were more apparent in various colourful instrumental works. In 1896 he became conductor of an amateur orchestra in Croydon and began teaching, guest- conducting, recital work, and judging at music festivals to support his wife and two children. He also continued to compose and was an early success at the Gloucester Festival with an orchestral Ballade in A Minor (1898), which was followed by his outstanding achievement, the Longfellow trilogy for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra
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of Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast (1898), The Death of Minnehaha (1899), and Hiawatha’s Departure (1900). In these and numerous other works, including incidental music, choral works, and a violin concerto (1911), influences from Dvorák, Tchaikovsky, and Grieg appear along with a spontaneity derived from appreciation of African American folk music, in which Coleridge-Taylor was a pioneer. He was well received in the United States, where he toured in 1904, 1906, and 1910.
Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784)
Phillis Wheatley was born in West Africa. When she was a young girl, she was put on board a ship and sent to the US, where she was sold as a slave to a family called the Wheatleys. She was named after that ship - the Phillis.
While Phillis was a slave, she was taught to read and write, which was unusual at the time.
She wrote her first poem at the age of 14. At the age of 20, she moved to England with her son and within a year, published her first book.
This made her the first African- American poet to be published, with her first volume of poetry in 1773.
The fact that her writing was so brilliant proved that women who were slaves could have amazing intellectual ideas, when people hadn’t thought that they could, and this contributed towards the anti-slavery movement.
Fanny Eaton (1835-unknown)
You can see Fanny Eaton featured in a lot of artwork by Pre-Raphaelite artists (a period of art which started in the mid-1880s).
That’s because she worked as a model for several well-known artists.
She moved to London from Jamaica and worked at the Royal Academy. The Royal Academy is an extremely famous place in London for art - especially painting, sculpture and architecture - which started in 1768.
One of the artists that she modelled for called Dante Gabriel Rossetti praised how beautiful Fanny was. This was significant because, at the time, many people did not see black people as beautiful, so black women were not featured very much in Western art.
But Fanny Eaton challenged this and is an important figure in the history of art.
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John Hansard Gallery to include two ground-breaking films exploring Black History in their upcoming film programme as part of Home Economics at John Hansard Gallery, Southampton.
Twilight City (1989), is a profound and reflective film by the vastly significant, seven-person, British artist group Black Audio Film Collective, 1982-1998. The montaged piece uses interviews, historical footage and dream sequences to explore London, blackness, abandonment and exile. “Films can[not] provide resolutions. The Purpose of films is to throw some light onto a dark area.” - Reece Auguiste, member of the Black Audio Film Collective.
? Smoking Dogs Films; Courtesy Smoking Dogs Films and Lisson Gallery.
Twilight City (1989), 31 August – 28 September 2019, John Hansard Gallery
There’s a Hole in the Sky Part II: Listening to James Baldwin (2016) by artist filmmaker Helen Cammock (1970), born in Britain to an English mother and Jamaican father, is based upon
an imagined conversation with James Baldwin. Baldwin (1924-1987) was a gay African American writer, who depicted the internalised obstacles that faced him and many others in their quests for acceptance. The film explores the migrations of Black American writers and dancers who moved to Europe in search of equality. Courtesy the artist.
There’s a Hole in the Sky Part II: Listening to James Baldwin (2016), 20 August – 17 October 2019, John Hansard Gallery
John Hansard Gallery Explores “Black History”
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Andi Schmied
Jing Jin City (2015–16) and Private Views (2016–ongoing)
31 August – 28 September 2019
Based in Budapest, Hungary, Andi Schmied has undertaken residencies and research visits to locations around the world, seeking out places that seem to defy logic, or highlight privilege and socio-economic inequality. Jing Jin City is an exploration of a newly-built luxury resort town outside Beijing. Despite containing approximately 3,000 luxury villas, a 5-star hotel and golf course, the city remains incomplete, in limbo, and with barely any occupants. Private Views reveals spaces of privilege and the world of the elite in New York. Schmied adopted a fictional personae, making appointments with real estate agents claiming to be interested in purchasing penthouse apartments only available to the super-rich. The results reveal the surreal strategies of persuasion used by the agents to sell the lifestyles that the sales brochures promise. Read more...
Stair/Slide/Space
Love Kept Us Warm (2019)
31 August – 28 September 2019
Stair/Slide/Space, a collective of artists and curators who have developed a collective practice that explores co-authorship, consensus and the role that conversation plays in this. Love Kept Us Warm is a constellation of exchanges with an expanded community to consider shifting ideas of boundaries and belonging. Stair/ Slide/Space projects often involve wider participation and collaboration. Love Kept Us Warm culminates in a series of daily meals, dialogue and social gatherings, exploring whether conversations about the home can help us reimagine the institutional, social and political. Read more...
Film Programme
Corresponding with Home Economics, we are presenting two curated film programmes, featuring seven films that explore the politics and discourses around the home, the wider environment and economy. Special thanks to LUX, London and Lisson Gallery.
31 August – 14 September 2019 Rosalind Nashashibi, ‘Hreash House’ (2004)
Lucy Parker, ‘The Home and the World’ (2010)
Ben Rivers, ‘Sack Barrow’ (2011) Margaret Salmon, ‘Pyramid’ (2014)
17 September – 28 September 2019 Black Audio Film Collective, Reece Auguiste, ‘Twilight City’ (1989) William Raban, ‘About Now MMX’ (2011)
Charlotte Ginsborg, ‘Melior Street’ (2011)
Read more...
*Sean Lynch’s exhibition, A Murmur, Repeated continues alongside Home Economics until 28 September 2019.
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Travelling While Black
The concept of race encompasses more than skin colour. Racialised differences are largely social constructs, whether the internal cultural element passed down inter-generationally or the external social reaction. A flight brought the latter in sharp relief to me.
Most people associate travel with the rigours of movement - first class versus economy – and the discovery of new social customs – I still wear jasmine as my preferred scent inspired by Malayali women wearing jasmine flowers. After living in approximately 11 countries, I now also associate travel with negotiating manifold perceptions of blackness.
But back to the flight. It was the early 2000s. I was moving to India to work with now-Nobel laureate, Kailash Satyarthi at the Global March Against Child Labour in Delhi. I was traveling to Delhi via Abu Dhabi. I was an average looking dark-skinned Afro-Jamaican woman with dreadlocks, dressed in jeans. In NYC, I attracted attention from black men for my dreadlocks. As this was years before the current natural hair movement, I was thought to be alternative and bohemian.
In the UAE, I was persona non grata. Same clothes, same hair, same skin. I even smelled good, thanks to my in- flight kit of perfume, deodorant and facial oil. I thought I was paranoid, as I felt the weight of stereotypes of being lesser – lesser-educated, less attractive, less rich, just less. Conversation with a fellow travellers alerted me that I was mistaken for, at best, a servant in transit.
I then landed in India, in Delhi to be exact. The assumption then was that I was a poor student at best. There is a history of African and Caribbean scholarship students in India. The worst was prostitute or drug runner. Same clothes, hair and skin.
This flight highlighted an element of what it is to be black. Varying socio- cultural perceptions are ascribed to you but they are rarely positive. I am never mistaken for a rich foreigner and beggars approach me last. In one sense, I had little to complain about in this story, as it is not a story of police harassment etc. But it is a story of the psychic burden one carries as a minority. On one hand, continually standing out has made me more confident as I have no choice. On another, you are a screen on which stereotypes are projected, not an individual. Despite black/African/ African diasporic history (and present) being one of overcoming ,whether colonisation, enslavement, or some form of marginalisation or dispossession, blackness continues to be a point for negative stereotypes rather than for empathy and respect. Travelling while black is not just learning about new places but also about new stereotypes.
Kim-Marie Spence
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BASINGSTOKE CARIBBEAN SOCIETY AND FRIENDS
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BHM Events 2019 SEPTEMBER
17th -21st
Two Trains Running, NST City 144 Above Bar St Southampton
18th October - 20th December 2019
Rebel Music: Sound Systems Culture The Story of Blues Parties in Southampton Solent Art Gallery 157-187 Above Bar St, Southampton SO14 7NN
25th
Finley Quaye, The Brook 466 Portswood Road, Southampton, SO17 3SD
25th
The Three Degrees, The Concorde Club, Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh SO50 9HQ
26th
Windrush Live 101.1FM & www.unity101.org 6-8pm
26th
Shalamar The Concorde Club, Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh SO50 9HQ
28th
451 City, NST City 144 Above Bar St Southampton
NOVEMBER
9th
Rush, NST City 144 Above Bar St Southampton
13th – 16th
Barber Shop Chronicles, NST Campus University Rd, Southampton SO17 1TR
NORTH HAMPSHIRE
OCTOBER
5th
BHM Our Cultural Heritage 6.00pm-11.30pm
Popley Fields Community Centre, Popley, Basingstoke RG24 9AM at Showcase Gallery, Above Bar, SO14 7NN
Black to the Future Opening night - 6pm-8pm at Showcase Gallery, Above Bar, SO14 7NN
26th
BHM Launch 11am – 2pm St Mary’s Fire Station 122 Brinton’s Rd Southampton SO14 0DB
OCTOBER
1st – 12th
Motown The Musical, Mayflower Theatre 22-26 Commercial Rd, Southampton SO15 1GE
4th
Brand New Heavies, The Brook 466 Portswood Road, Southampton SO17 3SD
5th
Southampton One Voice Concert, Victory Centre 154 Portswood Rd Southampton SO17 2NH
9th
BHM Solent University Public Lecture “Is Anti-Racism an Outdated Concept
in society today:– what role does music play in building cohesive communities?’ Venue TBC
9th
Windrush Compensation Scheme Community Event, Central Hall St Mary St, Southampton SO14 1NF
10th
Wild Scenes Southampton, John Hansard Gallery 142-144 Above Bar St, Southampton SO14 7DU
12th
Windrush Live 101.1FM & www.unity101.org 6-8pm
13th
Love Soul Choir 12pm-12.30pm, 1.00pm -1.30pm West Quay Southampton SO15 1GE
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