Post-John Archer & Black Politics Presentation

Last week Tuesday’s John Archer & Black Politics presentation had one of the highest number of attendees for the history programmes at Battersea Library. I thank all who attended. Especially:

Sean Creighton, who contributed. Although Peter Fryer and several sources state that Archer’s mayoral vote was 40-39, Sean opts for the contemporaneous reports of the day, which indicate 30-29. Archer’s wife is often referred to as Bertha, an African Canadian, but Sean’s research shows his first wife was called Margaret, an African Canadian, whilst Bertha was the second wife, and English.

Knowing my stance in using ‘African’, and promoter of ‘black music’, Sean thought some clarification would be helpful. Well, there’s no confusion. Reproduced here from the TAOBQ (The Black Or African Question) blog is my position on the matter:

Black is a term that does not recognise the African identity or connection with the African continent. It was once a powerful and unifying political term, which embraced British “ethnic minorities” such as Africans and Asians. However, the latter have in recent years forged a separate identity, whether or not they were born in Asia, which has led to classifications such as Black And Asian, and Black, Asian And Minority Ethnic.

Whilst TAOBQ has no issues with ‘black’ in relation to an all-inclusive term for political solidarity among British ‘ethnic minorities’ or ‘black music’ describing a music genre, the campaign is advocating that people of African heritage be identified as African, instead of the meaningless ‘black’.

Next on the roll-call is Allswell Eno, who’s behind the The bLack Of Respect campaign, which aims to  “restore our dignity as a race by getting people, chiefly ourselves, as well as institutions in the UK, Europe and other parts of the world to cease referring to us as ‘black’ and describe us by heritage, like every other race.” Please support the bLack Of Respect petition for institutions such Office of National Statistics and others that engage in ethnic monitoring to abandon ‘black’ for African, be it British African, British African-Caribbean, African-American, African-Brazilian etc.

Brother Omowale’s attendance was a timely reminder for me to attend the PASCF (Pan-Afrikan Society Community Forum) workshop last Thursday on Kwame Nkrumah’s Consciencism philosophy. Although we only managed to read a few paragraphs on the introduction to ‘Consciencism: Philosophy and Ideology for De-Colonization’, I learnt so much about my former president because facilitator Brother Kwami made sure we understood the import of every sentence! Nkrumah did not use words “by heart” - each word was used purposefully.

If I was to sum up what I learnt - in a way Nkrumah is warning us about the mis-education of the then colonial African, who becomes learned through his engagement with Western philosophers and higher education, which if applied "wholesale" just props up the status quo i.e. Western capitalist and imperialist structures and viewpoints. It is the awakening or conscientisation which allows Africans to use that knowledge in a way that serves its people, rather than the colonisers.  

If you are interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the works of Nkrumah’s and other political thinkers, this free, small class is highly recommended. It’s not a seminar, and be ready to be a pro-active participant. Participants are encouraged to study particular topics in order to lead a discussion. The next Consciencism workshop is this Thursday April 25, 7-9pm at WASP (the West Indian Association of Service Personnel), 163 Clapham Manor Street, London SW4 6DB (Clapham Common). Just turn up or email: omowalerpt@yahoo.co.uk.

Nubian Jak almost gave the impression that my presentation was literally predestined, as that was the same day the news of the John Archer stamp was announced! I thought it was the Post Office that had introduced that horrible term ‘Afro-Caribbean’, but I was wrong – the Post Office’s website uses the African-Caribbean terminology. I suspect that ‘afro-‘ source must be the Daily Mail’s story, which has then been lazily regurgitated by other media!

Talking about black music, my organisation, BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress, is the initiator of British Black Music Month (BBMM), which takes place in June into mid-July - expect a Nubian Jak plaque to be unveiled in London  during BBMM2013. BBMM2013 will also feature a Vinyl Memories event in Battersea Library, and I’ll be roping in two old mates who attended, Clive Allick and Mark Jackson, as guests on the Veterans’ Front Room: Vinyl & Music Industry Memories sessions that will take place on the weekends in Wembley.

It seemed like everyone else had something to sell or plug, apart from me! Sean is the publisher of those useful booklets covering the likes of composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Plymouth Labour activist Bill Miller. NARM role model Marc Wadsworth, who is mentioned in my presentation on account of being the biographer of John Archer’s one time comrade Shapurji Saklatvala, had copies of the ‘Divided By Race United In war And Peace’ booklet – you can see the trailer of the film at The-Latest.com.

Elder Clarence Thompson MBE, came very early and spent the time telling me and showing me material about things he had done, which he didn’t mention during my recent interview with him for the Look How Far We’ve Come project. He’s one of the unsung been there, done it type of fellow, whose history needs to be better known. He was given an opportunity to raise awareness and fundraise to help south London’s Queen Mother Moore move from a supplementary to a fulltime school, by selling a special badge and copies of his illustrated poem. The original is housed in the UN HQ.

Cllr. Tony Belton, who’s the councillor for John Archer’s old Latchmere, ward attended with Penny Corfield, who scripted the ‘Red Battersea: One Hundred Years of Labour 1908-2008’ DVD, which tells the story of Battersea’s long and chequered Labour party history. Naturally John Archer is featured. Penny was kind enough to give us a copy, and Cllr Belton sent me a copy of the John Archer portrait, which hangs in his hometown Liverpool. See the Battersea Labour website for details of how you can purchase a sleeveless version for £5.

Brother Omowale had flyers promoting his Pan-Afrikan People's Phone-In on Sundays 7-10pm (studio phone number 020 8144 4547). It can be heard via a link on the www.pascf.org.uk website.

To wrap up, it’s nice to see history teacher Dan Lyndon-Cohen kept the promise he made on the BASA e-list “to be more conscious in the future” by refraining from using “by people of Black and Asian heritage”. In his comment piece for History Workshop Online, ‘A Response to the Proposed National Curriculum in History’, he must be commended for using “people of African and Asian heritage”.

Nothing to do with history – well actually it does in a sort of round about way, and it focuses mainly on BASA interest areas, Africa and Asia, here are details of two Fairtrade related activities in Brent and Harrow: 

Fairtrade presentation 8th May 1-3:30pm

In the lead up to World Fairtrade Day, there will be a Fairtrade presentation by Cllr Nana Asante, Chairperson of Harrow Fairtrade Campaign and Brent Fairtrade steering group member, at the Luncheon Club, St. John's Community Centre, Crawford Avenue, Wembley HA0 2HX. The cost of the meal is £4 and the presentation will take place after lunch. For more information: catherineamiller@hotmail.co.uk.

Fairtrade Pop-up Restaurant

Mark World Fairtrade Day at the Fairtrade Pop Up Restaurant at Stanmore Baptist Church, Abercorn Road, Stanmore, HA7 2PH on Saturday 11th May 1:00-3:30pm. It’s organised by Harrow Fairtrade Campaign in partnership with Mission Dine Club (MDC) and is an opportunity to fundraise for MDC & Harrow’s Foodbank, and raise awareness about Fairtrade. The cost is £6.50, but £5.50 if tickets are bought at http://missionfair.eventbrite.com‏. Menu: Jollof rice & chicken and plantain, with vegetarian option, and dessert. For more information: missiondine@hotmail.co.uk.

Lastly, lastly, lastly – I had an opportunity to watch the South African made feature film ‘Otelo Burning’ last Sunday. Although Flash Musicals Film Club’s regular spot at the their Edgware base is the first Friday of the month, from 6.30pm (£5 adults, £2 children, includes meal), they do the occasional Sunday special. This screening had the director and one of the cast, whom we were able to chat with. Whilst the film is said to be based on real life incidents around the time the country was about to move towards multi-racial elections and surfing, there’s a disturbing end bit, which was not based on an actual incident. It was so bleak, one wondered why the director swung her artistic licence in that direction, instead of offering some positivity or hopeful alternative.

Kwaku

John Archer and Paul Stephenson are NARM role models and the focus of BTWSC/African Histories Revisited’s 2013 African British history presentations. it will be 100 years since John Archer became London's first African mayor, and 50 years since Paul Stephenson successfully led the Bristol Bus Boycott. For more information regarding creating or delivering an African British civil rights history programme around these 2 NARM role models: btwsc@hotmail.com. For event details and bookings: www.narm2013.eventbrite.com.

Did You Know There Were Africans In England Before The English And That An African Dynasty Ruled The Roman Empire From England Before The Anglo Saxons?

Particularly for those Africans who claim British citizenship, next time one of your racist compatriots give you one of those "Why don't you go back to where you come from?", here's a brief historical background you can take from for your retort

Especially if that racist is English, let him or her know that Africans have been in England centuries before the English!

If that sounds too fantastic, here are the facts:

The British Isles used to be a Roman colony. To shore up their defences, not to mention collect taxes, they oversaw the building of Hadrian's Wall, which cut across north of England. The Wall, which was built in the early 2nd century had Roman garrisons stationed by it, which included African soldiers.

Septimius Severus ruled as a Roman emperor from 193-211AD. He was actually an African born in Libya, who moved his seat of power to England in 208AD - he died in York. His rule was succeeded by his sons, Caracalla and Geta, who continued the Severan Dynasty.

The Severan Dynasty lasted until 235AD. And when did the Anglo-Saxons, from whom came the English, arrive on the English isles? The 5th century! Now, who's the Johnny Come Lately, eh? This gives a new meaning to who can claim to be British, or "more" British!

Click to check the 'Were there some Black Kings in Old Scotland?' thread.

Kwaku
www.taobq.blogspot.com

ONS Missed An Opportunity To Include African British In 2011 Census

The census is the tool used by government, statutory bodies and commercial organisations interested in the demographics of the nation, or specific localities, in order to justify a whole range of policies, from political to financial. It’s not just a matter of head counts – in 1991 ethnicity options were introduced (Black Caribbean, Black African etc). However, another option was created post-census to accommodate the ‘Other Asian’ category was created from answers provided in the  ‘Black-Other and ‘Any other ethnic group’. Which shows that if the ONS (Office For National Statistics) is so minded, it can use African British, instead of the Black British terminology.

The government and statutory bodies in particular rely on data extrapolated from the census to make projections in their resource allocations. In 2010, the ONS proactively engaged with the African community to raise awareness of the census, through targeted media coverage, workshops, and they got rapper Ghetts to record a song and video called 'Invisible', which highlighted why we had to complete the 2011 census.

Click to see The Making Of The 'Invisible' video. Click to see the full 'Invisible' video.

Below is coverage on the 2007 testing of the format for the 2011 census forms culled from Ligali.org, with the addition of a UK ethnicity classification, which shows the Scottish census as the only one which provides an African, African Scottish and African British options - it seems the only reason a similar option is not included in the census form for England and Wales is financial.

Kwaku

www.taobq.blogspot.com

ONS test launch excludes African British community

Mon 10 July 2006

African British is to be excluded as a category from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2007 test questions for the 2011 census. The label 'black' British used is to be used in its place.

The ONS 2007 test which will target over 100,000 respondents is said to focus on the operational aspects of the census, whilst a smaller focus group approach targeting 30 respondents will provide a more personal, detailed evaluation on issues such as ethnicity and identity. The 2006 census test in Scotland successfully eradicated ‘colour coding’ in the ethnicity category, much of this is credited to grass roots opposition followed up by a responsible action plan following true grass roots consultation. In England the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) is vehemously opposed to the use of the word African to describe African people and uses its influence to advocate ‘blacks’ or ‘Afro-Caribbean’ (sic).

Scotland leading the way Scottish 2011 Census has African, African Scottish and African British classifications, unlike the English and Welsh census.

Scotland is not the only nation to move towards the rejection of odious colour-racial ideology in recognition of more accurate and respectful ethnicity and cultural identifiers. England is also behind nations such as Canada’s who in 2001’s census posed a question that asked “which ethnic or cultural group(s) did this person’s ancestors belong?”. Canada government state it has been recording ‘information on… ancestral origins… since the 1901 Census to capture the changing composition of Canada’s diverse population”. One of the problems in England seems to stem from the fact that the ONS defines ethnicity as a ‘label’ used by a group to define itself. They argue this point based on the fact that a majority of African Britons are taught to refer to themselves as ‘black’ Britons and this definition is erroneously ratified by the CRE and permeated by major media and educational institutions. The ONS is also concerned about the financial costs involved in producing a census which uses more paper for extra questions.

LIGALI Comment As an African British organisation, Ligali is one of many representing the case for eradicating colour coding and replacing it with more accurate ethnicity classifications. During our ONS meetings with the Census Diversity Advisory Group (formally SPAG) we have raised the moral incongruity of the perpetuation of racist ideology irrespective of its widespread institutional usage. To its credit our concerns have been acknowledged with the ONS agreeing to help organise consultation events in tandem with grass roots organisations from both ‘pro’ and ‘against’ camps to discuss this specific issue. Nonetheless, the failure to use the upcoming census test as an opportunity to test the African British v ‘black’ British question reveals that whilst the ONS recognises there is a need to move forwards and challenge this intellectual impasse, it lacks the political courage to do so. The irony of this matter is that whilst the ONS seeks to be ‘inclusive’ at all costs recognising the likes of ‘Jedi’ Britons in its coding framework, it is perpetuating the socio-political exclusion of those who self define as African British.

2005: 'African British' Identity Tops Poll

This 2005 piece is taken from Ligali.org, an African human rights organisation. Its founder Toyin Agbetu highlights a couple of polls that had ‘African British’ as the preferred terminology for identifying Africans in Britain. Toyin ends with a piece that lays out Ligali’s position on the matter. Kwaku www.toabq.blogspot.com African British identity tops poll

Submitted By: Ligali Media Network Date: Sat 30 April 2005

The name African British has topped two community polls for the preferred term to describe people previously mislabelled ‘black’.

African British has been the preferred name advocated by the Ligali organisation to describe all British nationals with antecedents originating directly from Africa or indirectly via African diasporic communities, such as those in the Caribbean and South America. The label ‘Black’ has been the subject of much debate over recent years, with many people citing the need to move away from a label that disengages African people with their place of cultural and historical origin. A poll on the online Village forum, part of the Blacknet website, revealed that at least 40% of respondents preferred the name African British while 24% opted for the label ‘black’. Currently, the African Foundation for Development also has a poll running on its website posing the question should we adopt the term African British? At the time of writing, the poll revealed that 50% of participants voted for African British while 32% of people voted against. The increasing awareness and usage of the term has seen individuals including journalist, Henry Bonsu and organisations such as AFFORD, the African British IT Association and the youth organisation Insaka asserting and self-defining themselves as African British.

AFFORD Identity Poll 2005

Blacknet Identity Poll 2005

LIGALI Comment Accepting Africa is an integral part of our identity and culture has been one of the primary reasons that we took the stance to reject the label ‘black’ in favour of African to describe our identity. While some people will inevitably find the shift away from ‘black’ - a term that was previously a word of power - a difficult process, it is nevertheless inevitable that we reassert our identity in order to complete the revolutionary cycle back to our original identity. The English language has always been a tool of oppression for African people and the association with the word ‘black’ and its respective metaphorical and social connotations was never an accident. Black has become what ‘negro’ and ‘coloured’ were to their respective generations: redundant, inaccurate and disengaging. A small minority of people have claimed that there is a need to ‘reclaim’ the racially offensive N word in order to take control of its meaning and turn it into a powerful form of reference. These misguided individuals have inevitably failed. Not only can you never really reclaim something that was never yours but it has led to racist minded people using the word more and more with the defence that ‘Black people use it too’. If we are to reclaim anything, let it be positive and connected to our true origin and heritage; Reclaim Africa by being African, reject colonisation of the mind through language by rejecting ‘black’. One of the greatest African American activists, Malcolm X recognised the importance of language. While he had not yet fully rejected the label ‘black’ before his untimely death, he did recognise the importance of the African identity; We, Afro-Americans, people who originated in Africa and now reside in America, speak out against the slavery and oppression inflicted upon us by this racist power structure… …[The] term, "negro," is erroneously used and is degrading in the eyes of informed and self-respecting persons of African heritage. It denotes stereotyped and debased traits of character and classifies a whole segment of humanity on the basis of false information. From all intelligent viewpoints, it is a badge of slavery and helps to prolong and perpetuate oppression and discrimination. Persons who recognize the emotional thrust and plain show of disrespect in the Southerner's use of "nigra" and the general use of "nigger" must also realize that all three words are essentially the same. The other two. "nigra" and "nigger" are blunt and undeceptive. The one representing respectability, "negro," is merely the same substance in a polished package and spelled with a capital letter. This refinement is added so that a degrading terminology can be legitimately used in general literature and "polite" conversation without embarrassment. The term "negro" developed from a word in the Spanish language which is actually an adjective (describing word) meaning "black," that is, the color black. In plain English, if someone said or was called a "black" or a "dark," even a young child would very naturally question: "a black what?" or "a dark what?" because adjectives do not name, they describe. Please take note that in order to make use of this mechanism, a word was transferred from another language and deceptively changed in function from an adjective to a noun, which is a naming word. Its application in the nominative (naming) sense was intentionally used to portray persons in a position of objects or "things." It stamps the article as being "all alike and all the same." It denotes: a "darkie," a slave, a subhuman, an ex-slave, a "negro." Afro-Americans must re-analyze and particularly question our own use of this term, keeping in mind all the facts. In light of the historical meanings and current implications, all intelligent and informed Afro-Americans and Africans continue to reject its use in the noun form as well as a proper adjective. Its usage shall continue to be considered as unenlightened and objectionable or deliberately offensive whether in speech or writing. We accept the use of Afro-American, African, and Black man in reference to persons of African heritage. To every other part of mankind goes this measure of just respect. We do not desire more nor shall we accept less. Source: Program of the Organization of Afro-American Unity ‘Black was our poker branded label, African is our liberated name’ – The Ligali Organisation