#blacklivesmatter racism is a human problem

But people who want to verbalise their racism need to understand there are consequences for it and not just the opprobrium of the Internet/twitter massive but real world physical ones if said black person decides it’s necessary.

My mate Georges was very keen, when people slung shit at him, to remind them of the physical consequences of their words. He may have even used the line, from Dave Chappelle?, "I've got 400 years of this".

potentially damaging to their "brand"

He's done plenty of this before, not sure that was the only reason for the statement.

he's been an arsehole for years

There has been talk of his struggling mental health for years too.

Fucking love Dave Chappelle

"i'm sorry officer i didn't know i couldn't do that...". Killin them softly is so on point, shame his later stuff wasn't all that.

Thanks for your thoughts, i have a habit of stepping in after 15 years working night life venues but it's good to be reminded to have more perspective/sensitivity on the situation. No one should be told how to feel about something so deeply offensive and hurtful.

To tell you the truth I would probably step in as well, just because I’d be thinking if they did damage to this person and it went to court they’d be in a much more serious situation, whether they felt justified to put one on them or not. And we don’t need anymore black people in jail.

I’d be thinking if they did damage to this person and it went to court they’d be in a much more serious situation

As someone who’s been the target of racial abuse many a time, I try and remember that people can and do die from a single stupid punch thrown in anger. Even when I lived in places with ‘fighting words’ laws on the books (as a defence against assault charges), the potential hassle that would come of seriously harming some ignorant moron outweighs the potential catharsis of cashing their verbal cheques. The few times it’s gone beyond words have been when I’ve felt under clear and imminent threat, but when someone else retaliates physically to ‘just‘ verbal abuse I tend to feel sad for all involved: for the asskicker because they’ve been pushed to a breaking point, and for the asskicked because their choices and life experience have led them to a pummelling. I don’t feel sorry for the asskicked though.

The #blackunityride was a resounding success with over a 1000 riders peacefully supporting reparations,blacklivesmatter and black pound day

1 Attachment

Meanwhile we have to put up with this shit
The black community coming out and protesting peacefully.3 arrests I believe for the whole day .

1 Attachment

I was out in Brixton yesterday afternoon and it was the least terrifying atmosphere imaginable

Plus that photo was taken right by Clapham Common station. Doesn’t quite have the same ring...

It was but that type of narrative is all to commonplace

BLM post. Thanks for this.

Racism in the UK is REAL. I face it regularly and experienced it once I turned 16 thankfully My mother and father prepared me for this and told me once I turned 16 I would be treated like a threat/criminal. So I understood to remain calm despite people's ignorance and hatred but it doesn't change and hasn't changed.

Being originally from the Caribbean this is a fact.
Whether I was in the US/Canada or Europe - its in your face in major cities and less so in the suburbs unless you want to date someone's daughter.
Or here in the UK - its more subtle with workplaces never giving you an outstanding although you outperform your peers and put in more hours. Or being passed over for a promotion despite you then being the pillar of info that when the shit hits the fan you get called to help and not the person who got the promotion even though its their job.

The only Times I have transcended racism is when performing on a stage or as a competitive athlete representing a country. FACTS. The famous imagery of "Josephine Baker - Dance Monkey Dance" never left me and reminds me how little has changed in acceptance of Black Lives.

Despite being a pillar of my community
I have been stopped and searched with my 3 kids in Islington and Tottenham
I have been stopped and searched with my wife
I have been questioned politely by police outside MY HOME as to why I was "hanging around" - its a nice neighbourhood.
I have been "randomly selected" stopped and searched at immigration in the UK and Europe and let's not forget the Texas experience where I missed my connection flight and had to sleep at the airport for 5 hrs before my next flight due to me being randomly selected as I was boarding the plane.
I have had 3 strip searches while travelling to/from the UK
I have had mouth swabs and Shoe swabs when travelling with my business colleagues internationally. "Another random selection" While they weren't.

Even though I have never committed a crime. I am an Ex- Olympic Swimmer, I have adopted 2 boys, I have had 2 Enhanced Criminal Background checks performed in the UK. I have a blended family and step family of mixed race. 3 girls and 3 boys. Yeah big family love it.

All they see is "Fear/hate" Yes racism is alive and well in the UK.

So I share this to make you aware to educate your children, prepare them and for those who were unaware this happens in the UK. It's alive and well.

So Black Lives Matter!!!! The most ridiculous thing of this all is ...

If you only knew me you'd find out I am of Carib descent. Native to the Caribbean(the word is my language and it means Land of The Caribs) Yes the people who were there before the Europeans and Africans. But there is no Box for that and so all you see and fear is "Black". I wish people would get to know me so they would learn about the Caribs and OUR history.

Anyway signing off I strive to live and treat everyone with respect and forgive those that are ignorant. Much love for this thread. Hope this prepares others and awakens others to the reality of the UK. Racism towards "Black" people even though you may be Carib is Alive and Well.

Interesting which island are your family from?

Side note:
Bequai (Carib word for island of the clouds) in the Grenadines - the last remaining settlement in the Caribbean. Others were forcefully removed from the Caribbean and placed in South America and other places or into slavery or murdered.

Little known fact many Islands and even the word Caribbean are Carib ancestral names. Other islands have since been renamed by the Spanish/British and French.

We inhabited the lesser Antilles for centuries you may not see our islands on google maps unless you know the names of the many islands but in the UK it doesn't matter they're only two boxes "Black British/Black Caribbean".

My 10 year old daughter submitted a paper about our ancestry and islands and the level of ignorance at her school that she was met with by British white & BLACK Caribbean was staggering. They even called her a liar. She came home and broke down in tears. So I showed her how to educate them and find the islands on google maps to educate them that we exist and here are our islands and here is our history.

Anyway back on topic:
Whether Carib or not they're only 2 boxes. Not one for Carib
either one affects me the same "Black Lives Matter" or at least everyone thrown into that box lives knowing that our reality is different to yours. There is only one race - The Human race.

Bequai!! My GF is from Barbados, says she wants to revisit Bequai when we go over to see her family, hopefully next year if travel restrictions are lifted. I have only heard good things I can’t wait to see your country myself @RecoveringFixed*Star

GF family also from Guyana, so few people even know where that country is in South America, yet will become a hotspot for eco tourism.

Awesome. I sent you a great travel itinerary. You'll truly enjoy.

So, of the the three comments the one possible fact of location means it is all utter bullshit.

Am amazed garage has never been prosecuted for inciting hatred.

Another rather mind-boggling 'revelation'. Amazingly, this one's Grade I listed and was refurbished only seven years ago, which basically means it can't be changed at all unless the listing is downgraded. (This is what will happen.)

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/aug/04/tate-removes-reference-to-amusing-restaurant-after-racist-images-in-mural-draw-anger

You are amazing... thank you :))))

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/aug/05/sculptor-thomas-j-price-black-everywoman-reaching-out-erected-at-public-art-walk-in-london

Unfortunately little is known about the indigenous people of the Caribbean pre European contact due to fact the winner tells the story . I know the island you're from due to my grandfather being from St Vincent and being half carib. So I share a tiny piece of my DNA with you but that's a story for another day

It’s a great story @chokalateboywonder the Carib and Arawak histories also exist in Colombia, Venezuela and many islands in the region.

@Oliver Schick nothing new for black folk in the UK. The link between Art-Sugar Production-Slavery through imperialistic attitudes of the early 20th century has a response here.

https://www.tate.org.uk/about-us/history-tate/tate-galleries-and-slavery

I often discuss with my GF about the world and local environment her son will experience. Right now he is cheeky, innocent chatterbox at 8 years old.. but it doesn’t take long before his appearance is viewed in society as difficult, troubled, rude, mistrusted, intimidating, threatening. That his adolescence will come with a very different set of lenses to my own, regardless of his upbringing, home structure and discipline. I will ensure that he knows himself, his heritage, his history and has self belief to strive for the very best, what ever life throws at him. To be better and work harder than his class mates to seize more opportunities in life.

https://youtu.be/KfsAB_F7VZA

I doubt that revelation is nothing new for black folk in the UK.

Well, I'm quite sure it's nothing new for them. :)

I meant it more in the sense of 'here's a mural in a restaurant at a major tourist attraction, and it's only 'revealed' in a newspaper now that it exists? I mean, I had no idea, as I've never eaten there, but it's been there for yonks and been highly visible. I'm sure it's no news to any but the least observant employees. It's just that this whole 'we haven't taken any action on things like this even though they're so blatant, but we finally are now (or not, given that it's a listed painting) that we think the political scales have been tipped a little further in this direction' doesn't feel right to me. It doesn't feel as if the heart's in it somehow.