What i think is meant by the term "Black Britain", Is a British soceity that is able to make it's own
achievements and brings to Britain a wide variety of insight in to other various countries. Enabling
other races to partake in pieces of Black heritage. Through mediums such as the film industry, radio, television, online and events.
Thursday, 14 July 2011
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
Task Three..
Definitions:
-Identity:
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The state of something remaining the same one or ones, as under varying aspects or conditions: The identity of the fingerprints on the gun with those on file provided evidence that he was the killer.
Quotes on identity:
"A racial community provides not only a sense of identity, that luxury of looking into anothers face and seeing yourself reflected back, but a sense of security and support".- Wentworth Miller.
"My father is black and my mother is white. Therefore, I could answer to either, which kind of makes me a racial Lone Ranger, caught between two communities". - Wentworth Miller.
"My father is black and my mother is white. Therefore, I could answer to either, which kind of makes me a racial Lone Ranger, caught between two communities". - Robert Casey
Collective Identity:
Mediation:Marxist Theory: Mediation in Marxist theory refers to the reconciliation of two opposing forces within a given society (i.e. the cultural and material realms, or the superstructure and base) by a mediating object.
Newspapers: Newspapers throughout history have been seen as a use of propaganda and by many still are. Some newspapers are also seen as witch hunters within their ability to manipulate their readers. Yet newspapers fundamentally are here to give us information on issues/current affairs/events.Newspapers are able to mediate this information to the public from sources that we would not be able to contact on our own. Examples i will be showing are headlines that are either containing stories on international or national affairs:
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Imelda May has been given the representation of a young woman that looks like shes come straight from the 40's & 50's, as the diner setting and pre-war hair style indicates this. Also the photograph's colouring has been manipulated into having a pink/sepia glow which makes the photo look old and washed out connoting its been aged, thus making her look more authentic. She's being represented as hip due to her hoop earrings which connote a youth edge to the photograph. Her make up and wardrobe also indicate shes from those era's.
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Quotes on "Urban Music"...
"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a
long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."
Quote from : http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/dubiousquotes/a/hunter_thompson.htm
"Back in the day, if someone said that hip hop and rap was a fad, that was a joke to me because they just didn't know what they were talking about. In reality, there were so many people who didn't know what they were talking about it." -Jam Master Jay
"I got tired of the Ramones around the time I quit and I really got into rap. I thought it was the new punk rock. LL Cool J was my biggest idol." -Dee Dee Ramone
"I think that rap is narrative, when it's done right." - Ajay Naidu
Quotes from: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/rap_2.html
-Identity:
The condition of being oneself or itself, and not another: He doubted his own identity.
A condition or a character as to who a person or what a thing is: a case of mistaken identity.
Quotes on identity:
"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity". - Martin Luther King.
"A racial community provides not only a sense of identity, that luxury of looking into anothers face and seeing yourself reflected back, but a sense of security and support".- Wentworth Miller.
"My father is black and my mother is white. Therefore, I could answer to either, which kind of makes me a racial Lone Ranger, caught between two communities". - Wentworth Miller.
"My father is black and my mother is white. Therefore, I could answer to either, which kind of makes me a racial Lone Ranger, caught between two communities". - Robert Casey
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment".- Ralph Waldo Emerson
All quotes from Brainy Quotes: http://www.brainyquote.com/
Collective Identity:
A collective identity refers to individuals' sense of belonging (the identity) to a group (the collective). From the perspective of the individual, the collective identity forms a part of his or her personal identity.
Collective identity is a phenomena where an individuals' perceived membership in a social groups impacts upon their own identity in some way.
Mediation:
-Intervention in a dispute in order to resolve it.
-Action in mediating between parties, as to effect an agreement or reconciliation.
-A method of resolving an industrial dispute whereby a third party consults with those involved and recommends a solution which is not, however, binding on the parties.
-Mediation is a facilitated negotiation designed to help parties in dispute come to a mutually acceptable settlement.
Media Text deconstructing "Mediation":
Contemporary media theorists often use elements of Marxist theory, such as mediation, to look at how new media affect social relations and lifestyles through their ability to communicate images, sounds, and other forms of information across the globe at incredible speeds.
Media Text deconstructing "Mediation":
Contemporary media theorists often use elements of Marxist theory, such as mediation, to look at how new media affect social relations and lifestyles through their ability to communicate images, sounds, and other forms of information across the globe at incredible speeds.
Newspapers: Newspapers throughout history have been seen as a use of propaganda and by many still are. Some newspapers are also seen as witch hunters within their ability to manipulate their readers. Yet newspapers fundamentally are here to give us information on issues/current affairs/events.Newspapers are able to mediate this information to the public from sources that we would not be able to contact on our own. Examples i will be showing are headlines that are either containing stories on international or national affairs:
Representation:
-The action of speaking or acting on behalf of someone or the state of being so represented.
-The description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way or as being of a certain nature.
Media Text Deconstructing "Representation"...
The chosen media text is the music industry in particular how they brand their musicians, how they give them a representation and sell them upon this. For instance in posters/album covers/adverts/photo shoots a country music star might be place outside with an acoustic guitar and have long flowing hair and a flowing dress. I am going to show an album cover and connote the representations the music industry are trying to make of this young female singer.
Hegemony:
-Leadership or dominance, esp. by one country or social group.
-Influence, or authority over another, especially by one political group over a society or by one nation over others.
- Dominance of one social group over another, such that the ruling group or hegemon acquires some degree of consent from the subordinate, as opposed to dominance purely by force.
Its relevance... Hegemony plays a big role within media as the industries leaders show clear signs of being hegemonic. With leaders such as Rupert Murdoch owning many media companies and monopolizing the industry. Companies such as Sony not only in the music industry dominate and buy out any successful smaller record labels, as they simply dislike competition. Hegemony is the reason the media industry is based on "who you know" and is why it is so hard to find a career within.
Relevant Quotes..
"If you're a careerist, thinking only to advance your media career, then I don't really want to work with you".-Michael Moore
"The industry is littered with self-styled purists who believe the business of media.. the requirement to make a profit.. somehow corrupts the craft". -Lachlan Murdoch
"There is so much media now with the Internet and people, and so easy and so cheap to start a newspaper or start a magazine, there’s just millions of voices and people want to be heard". -Rupert Murdoch
"Independent labels take nothing and make something out of it. Major labels buy that something, and try to make more out of it." Tom Silverman, Tommy Boy Records CEO
"In the music business bigger is not necessarily better. In fact, I believe smaller is actually better." Chuck Kaye, Dreamworks, SBK Publishing
Colonialism and Post-Colonialism:
-Colonialism is the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.
-The control or governing influence of a nation over a dependent country, territory, or people.
-The system or policy by which a nation maintains or advocates such control or influence.
-The state or condition of being colonial.
-Post-colonialism (post-colonial theory, post-colonial theory) is a specifically post-modern intellectual discourse that consists of reactions to, and analysis of, the cultural legacy of colonialism.
-Subaltern (which means Post-Colonialism) is a term that commonly refers to the perspective of persons from regions and groups outside of the hegemonic power structure.
Imperial "Other":
-Of, like, or pertaining to an empire.
-Of, like, or pertaining to an emperor or empress.
-Characterizing the rule or authority of a sovereign state over its dependencies.
Youth Subculture:
-"A minority youth culture whose distinctiveness depended largely on the social class and ethnic background of its members; often characterized by its adoption of a particular music genre".
-"A youth subculture is a youth-based subculture with distinct styles, behaviors, and interests. Youth subcultures offer participants an identity outside of that ascribed by social institutions such as family, work, home and school".
-"The term, allied to subcultures, stresses 'age' and/or generational difference as a defining feature of the group".
Relevance to "Collective Identity"... The two are relevant to each other as the youth are always trying to create new identities for themselves. If these identities are similar to that of other teenagers they make up a collective identity for being similar people. Unfortunately in today's world collective identity has become just an easier platform to judge people on and "label" them just because of what collective identity they represent. For instance a teenager who wears black and likes heavy metal music falls under the names Goths or Emos.
Syncretism:
-The amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought.
-The merging of different inflectional varieties of a word during the development of a language.
-Relating to a historical tendency for a language to reduce its use of inflections; "modern English is a syncretic language".
-The attempted reconciliation or union of different or opposing principles, practices, or parties, as in philosophy or religion.-Grammar . the merging, as by historical change in a language, of two or more categories in a specified environment into one.
Post-Modernism:
-Postmodernism is a tendency in contemporary culture characterized by the rejection of objective truth and global cultural narrative.
-To refer to the end of the unified International style typical of Modernism.
-Departure from generalized style into individual expression through innovative use of new building technology and materials to differentiate the structure, space and experience from all previous styles.
-(Post-modern) Literary, artistic, cultural, and philosophical movement revolving around the post-industrial world in which we live, and the unique aspects of the trends of modern society.
Urban Music:
-Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s.
-Music that mostly originated from black people but is now listened to by a wide audience. It includes a number of genres within it. Hip-hop,R&B,Soul etcQuotes on "Urban Music"...
"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a
long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."
Quote from : http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/dubiousquotes/a/hunter_thompson.htm
"Back in the day, if someone said that hip hop and rap was a fad, that was a joke to me because they just didn't know what they were talking about. In reality, there were so many people who didn't know what they were talking about it." -Jam Master Jay
"I got tired of the Ramones around the time I quit and I really got into rap. I thought it was the new punk rock. LL Cool J was my biggest idol." -Dee Dee Ramone
"I think that rap is narrative, when it's done right." - Ajay Naidu
Quotes from: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/rap_2.html
Sunday, 10 July 2011
Task Four..Parts 1-3..
The Windrush Years Part One..
-The first thing i learnt was that black people really have not been in Britain long, as to the present day it has only been 63 years.
-Also i learnt that the reason it is referred to as "The Windrush Years" is because the boat they came from the Caribbean to England was called the "Empire Windrush".
-The sheer amount of people only 500 came to England via the boat, compare that to the population of England it is a terribly small percentage.
- I learnt that the riots happened due to horrific matters such as the murder of black people.
- I found out that in Jamaica in particular being a colony of England they had Church of England schools, they had the same royal family and respected them.
-The British flag was the Jamaican flag as well too many, even seeing England as their "mother" country.
-That they willingly joined up to help England fight the war, jobs included being in the Army, Navy, Air force, Air Sea Rescue, Marines, The Rens, ATS, WAFF, Nursing Services.
What i got from it really was a sense of hypocrisy from England at the time, white British soldiers went to Jamaica and asked for help. During the war when Jamaican men and women volunteered and signed up to help in WW2 they were getting "common citizenship" and "common cause" from England. Yet after the war it has not yet been explained but it has seemed to have disappeared and been replaced by people not letting out rooms to people from the West Indies. Made the divide even clearer as if people in England didn't realise that they had people in the West Indies that were apart of their country and they lived identical lives to them. Quotes made me get even more information on the matter such as one person saying "Britain was everything", another claiming "People were happy that we were here", "We were welcome". "Existed together as a family", "Died together". Yet after the war emotions had seemed to turn to polar opposites.
The Windrush Years Part Two..
- I found out that their were 250 soldiers from Trinidad of which 52 were killed at war.
-People who were at school together died together from Jamaica in the war.
-West Indians were popular was singers and musicians during the war, yet i found out that were never used as entertainers for the white British troops.
-The White British attitudes towards people from the West Indies changed abruptly after the war.
- That White British service men and women had turned their backs on them and wanted them to go home, many in some ways saw them as a burden and something to just put up with.
- After the war many returned to the Caribbean, some enlisted further in to the military service.
-1947 250 RAF men went home on leave to the Caribbean, after a few weeks they planned on returning to England.
-Ships were not going out to England "Empire Windrush" was in fact the only one. "Empire Windrush" was to take everyone back who was on leave, back to England.
-Ships owners wanted to fill up it up as it could fit up to 1,000 people on board, they charged people £28.10 (shillings) fayre to England on a one way trip. They advertised tickets in newspapers in Jamaica.
-Men found no work in the West Indies, sugar field main source of work but bad hurricanes meant no work. Whereas beforehand when hurricanes ruined the fields they could find work in America. New immigration laws meant that they could no longer do that. 30,000 est. men just sent back to Jamaica without any prospects after the war.
-"Empire Windrush" departed from Kingston, Jamaica on 24th May 1948.
What i got from this part was what i had expected that Britain had turned their backs on people from the West Indies as soon as the war ended. That they were grateful for their help during the war but that was it, whereas the men from Jamaica seemed oblivious to this as on the ship to England they were boisterous, full of "hope and excitement". That they found it a "nice trip" and their to be a "wonderful mood" on board. This made me realise that they did feel like they belonged to England just like any other English person. Yet in England the MP's called special meetings, warnings were out they claimed it "irresponsible" for them to be returning. At first it seemed like they some what cared as they said their would be no jobs for them, but really they only let them stay because they could not turn away one of their colonies. Which overall proves from this part that the men from the West Indies were made to feel apart of a society all their lives that never really wanted them only in a time of dire crisis.
The Windrush Years Part Three..
-They docked at Tillbury Harbour, Essex, June 21st 1948.
-Lord Kitchener, they're ambassador, he sang the song "London is The Place For Me".
-No one knew exactly what they were going to do.
-People thought the chimneys on houses, meant they were workhouses, they didn't realise they were for warmth.
-Nowhere to live and no jobs.
-Government housed them in an old air aid shelter under Clapham common in London, as soon as you got work you had to leave, most people didn't stay long.
-They found work first in Brixton at the nearest labour exchange.
-None of them found it hard to find work due to war.
-Came out of Wolverhampton station.
-People would rub their skin seeing if they could rub the black off of their face, highly insulting.
-Conservative government needed to recruit people for the transport sector, they even recruited in the Caribbean, they searched for nurses their also.
-1950's nearly quarter of a million West Indians came to England.
-They read Shakespeare and the Brontes before arriving, they also expected parties in England.
I got from it the account of them coming to England from the British and how it was necessary to mention they were one of our colonies. I got the sense they were being warned and that they were having to be convinced it was the countries duty to take them in. People wandering how they got on it assumed they had nothing really to do with them. Also how they all felt rather uncertain and tinged with excitement. I really got the sense of how both sides felt in this episode as one man describes how he was surprised to see white engine drivers, meaning both races were intrigued by each other and had never really seen each other. Made me realise how you can judge people you have never met or possible seen.
-The first thing i learnt was that black people really have not been in Britain long, as to the present day it has only been 63 years.
-Also i learnt that the reason it is referred to as "The Windrush Years" is because the boat they came from the Caribbean to England was called the "Empire Windrush".
-The sheer amount of people only 500 came to England via the boat, compare that to the population of England it is a terribly small percentage.
- I learnt that the riots happened due to horrific matters such as the murder of black people.
- I found out that in Jamaica in particular being a colony of England they had Church of England schools, they had the same royal family and respected them.
-The British flag was the Jamaican flag as well too many, even seeing England as their "mother" country.
-That they willingly joined up to help England fight the war, jobs included being in the Army, Navy, Air force, Air Sea Rescue, Marines, The Rens, ATS, WAFF, Nursing Services.
What i got from it really was a sense of hypocrisy from England at the time, white British soldiers went to Jamaica and asked for help. During the war when Jamaican men and women volunteered and signed up to help in WW2 they were getting "common citizenship" and "common cause" from England. Yet after the war it has not yet been explained but it has seemed to have disappeared and been replaced by people not letting out rooms to people from the West Indies. Made the divide even clearer as if people in England didn't realise that they had people in the West Indies that were apart of their country and they lived identical lives to them. Quotes made me get even more information on the matter such as one person saying "Britain was everything", another claiming "People were happy that we were here", "We were welcome". "Existed together as a family", "Died together". Yet after the war emotions had seemed to turn to polar opposites.
The Windrush Years Part Two..
- I found out that their were 250 soldiers from Trinidad of which 52 were killed at war.
-People who were at school together died together from Jamaica in the war.
-West Indians were popular was singers and musicians during the war, yet i found out that were never used as entertainers for the white British troops.
-The White British attitudes towards people from the West Indies changed abruptly after the war.
- That White British service men and women had turned their backs on them and wanted them to go home, many in some ways saw them as a burden and something to just put up with.
- After the war many returned to the Caribbean, some enlisted further in to the military service.
-1947 250 RAF men went home on leave to the Caribbean, after a few weeks they planned on returning to England.
-Ships were not going out to England "Empire Windrush" was in fact the only one. "Empire Windrush" was to take everyone back who was on leave, back to England.
-Ships owners wanted to fill up it up as it could fit up to 1,000 people on board, they charged people £28.10 (shillings) fayre to England on a one way trip. They advertised tickets in newspapers in Jamaica.
-Men found no work in the West Indies, sugar field main source of work but bad hurricanes meant no work. Whereas beforehand when hurricanes ruined the fields they could find work in America. New immigration laws meant that they could no longer do that. 30,000 est. men just sent back to Jamaica without any prospects after the war.
-"Empire Windrush" departed from Kingston, Jamaica on 24th May 1948.
What i got from this part was what i had expected that Britain had turned their backs on people from the West Indies as soon as the war ended. That they were grateful for their help during the war but that was it, whereas the men from Jamaica seemed oblivious to this as on the ship to England they were boisterous, full of "hope and excitement". That they found it a "nice trip" and their to be a "wonderful mood" on board. This made me realise that they did feel like they belonged to England just like any other English person. Yet in England the MP's called special meetings, warnings were out they claimed it "irresponsible" for them to be returning. At first it seemed like they some what cared as they said their would be no jobs for them, but really they only let them stay because they could not turn away one of their colonies. Which overall proves from this part that the men from the West Indies were made to feel apart of a society all their lives that never really wanted them only in a time of dire crisis.
The Windrush Years Part Three..
-They docked at Tillbury Harbour, Essex, June 21st 1948.
-Lord Kitchener, they're ambassador, he sang the song "London is The Place For Me".
-No one knew exactly what they were going to do.
-People thought the chimneys on houses, meant they were workhouses, they didn't realise they were for warmth.
-Nowhere to live and no jobs.
-Government housed them in an old air aid shelter under Clapham common in London, as soon as you got work you had to leave, most people didn't stay long.
-They found work first in Brixton at the nearest labour exchange.
-None of them found it hard to find work due to war.
-Came out of Wolverhampton station.
-People would rub their skin seeing if they could rub the black off of their face, highly insulting.
-Conservative government needed to recruit people for the transport sector, they even recruited in the Caribbean, they searched for nurses their also.
-1950's nearly quarter of a million West Indians came to England.
-They read Shakespeare and the Brontes before arriving, they also expected parties in England.
I got from it the account of them coming to England from the British and how it was necessary to mention they were one of our colonies. I got the sense they were being warned and that they were having to be convinced it was the countries duty to take them in. People wandering how they got on it assumed they had nothing really to do with them. Also how they all felt rather uncertain and tinged with excitement. I really got the sense of how both sides felt in this episode as one man describes how he was surprised to see white engine drivers, meaning both races were intrigued by each other and had never really seen each other. Made me realise how you can judge people you have never met or possible seen.
Saturday, 9 July 2011
Task Four..Parts 4-6..
Task The Windrush Years Part Four..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CyADD0ARLo&feature=related
-They were the Colonial dream of what England was.
-England was thought of to be much more prosperous and better looking than it was.
-People did not get along even in the pubs, due to different manners.
-Personal habits got it the way of the two races integrating, such as washing.
-Many felt a growing sense of isolation.
-Many felt like they were an intruder, an outsider.
-Many felt lost, could go days without seeing another black person and were friendless.
-Network of people grew via places such as the church, domino's and the pub.
I got from this just how disappointed England was to the them and how their opinion changed quickly to Britain. As it states the indifference and antagonism of the people, is what i got most from this clip. As people were ignorant towards the West Indies, it was the beginning of the segregation in what they thought was their "Motherland". I got things such as personal opinions, as people thought the West Indians had "unpleasant habits". This shows the differences in personality and mannerisms and they let these separate them more. As coldness turned to hostility, they weren't people they were "darkies". I got the idea that they all just stereotyped and became very ignorant. No one bothered to get to know them, this is a massive part of what i got from this clip. They blamed pointless things such as washing as getting in the way to talking to the West Indians, it was just mindless hearsay and nit picking at people they just did not want to get to know.
The Windrush Years Part Five..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jayl87RAv98&feature=related
-London's Bassins Street, where the West Indians meet up, favourite musicians meet up and played calypso, they had their own celebrities, most where young and male.
-Then became the mixing of races, the two races would go out together and court each other. Primarily white women would date black men. It was only a few women, but they were pioneers.
-Mid 1950's hit highest peak, 20,000 a year made the trip across the Atlantic.
-They found employment easily but housing was the hardest part, they were not allowed to go in BnB's.
-First thing on British television on race was a documentary following around Ben Bousquet and his journey on trying to get a room. It wasn't due to money they couldn't get rooms it was due to their colour.
-New arrivals forced in to overcrowded and unsafe rooms.
-Many were charged a lot for rooms, too much.
-Ratmen and his middle men were terrorises, they were the only people to let you live their and they exploited them. Made sure people didn't talk to people who didn't pay their rent.
-Many kept their heads down and were fearful, that if you created a scene then you could be kicked out.
-People had prosecuted as to were they got money to buy their own houses, raising money for housing buy prostitution was one thought.
What i got from this clip was that the youth had a better understanding and acceptance than their elders. The two races mixed and the youth found it fine, i found the behaviour of the family to be that of outrage. In which they would became ashamed, I got from this that the age gap meant a lot in this matter. I got that it was far better for the West Indians to be around the youth and that this would happen through the new waves of music. I got the point that they wanted segregation, they rejected West Indians due to ideas of them, ideas that were not true. Mainly i got that no one bothered to give them a chance and realise we are all human beings.
The Windrush Years Part Six..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYNfi4YyEp0&feature=related
- People from the Caribbean brought certain things with them, a system where a circle of friends would put a certain amount of money in each week, made up of a lump sum from the money they all put in. This is how they paid for houses.
-Speculation began prostitutes selling dope was supposedly the reasons behind them having houses, by white people.
-Resentment against West Indians rose and violence rose also.
-People would fight, if a white woman went with a black man she was taunted and also beaten up.
-An age of cruelty to black people.
-They did the dirty jobs that nobody wanted.
-1958 summer in Nottingham West Indians fought back after all their abuse, a West Indian named Roy fought back and it was classed as defiance. After two weeks of running battles, it settled down, then days later in London's Notting Hill. It was a white riot one that would shatter relation between black and white for a generation.
-The West Indians brought a vibrant edge to England.
-Notting Hill riots lasted six weeks started by a domestic argument, a black husband and white wife had a fight white people did not like this tried to help her out but she turned on them and started to fight them. They blamed black people for setting their own people against them. Next night was white anger, walked to where the black people were in a club the black and whites and even policemen (trying to break them up)began to fight each other. Blood was everywhere, this was just the opening scene.
I got from this clip the idea that the "immigrants disillusionment" were coming to an end of what their "Motherland" would actually be like. I got that the speculation grew to what was really just useless facts, people believed as excuses in my mind just so that they could get at the black people. To make them feel better that they were not earning another, it comes down to jealously with the housing situation. Jealously that stemmed from themselves, the black people should not be blamed for trying to help each other out and better their lives. I mainly got that they had a very strong black community which is a good thing that they could support one another especially as the white people were being ignorant and severely unnecessarily violent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CyADD0ARLo&feature=related
-They were the Colonial dream of what England was.
-England was thought of to be much more prosperous and better looking than it was.
-People did not get along even in the pubs, due to different manners.
-Personal habits got it the way of the two races integrating, such as washing.
-Many felt a growing sense of isolation.
-Many felt like they were an intruder, an outsider.
-Many felt lost, could go days without seeing another black person and were friendless.
-Network of people grew via places such as the church, domino's and the pub.
I got from this just how disappointed England was to the them and how their opinion changed quickly to Britain. As it states the indifference and antagonism of the people, is what i got most from this clip. As people were ignorant towards the West Indies, it was the beginning of the segregation in what they thought was their "Motherland". I got things such as personal opinions, as people thought the West Indians had "unpleasant habits". This shows the differences in personality and mannerisms and they let these separate them more. As coldness turned to hostility, they weren't people they were "darkies". I got the idea that they all just stereotyped and became very ignorant. No one bothered to get to know them, this is a massive part of what i got from this clip. They blamed pointless things such as washing as getting in the way to talking to the West Indians, it was just mindless hearsay and nit picking at people they just did not want to get to know.
The Windrush Years Part Five..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jayl87RAv98&feature=related
-London's Bassins Street, where the West Indians meet up, favourite musicians meet up and played calypso, they had their own celebrities, most where young and male.
-Then became the mixing of races, the two races would go out together and court each other. Primarily white women would date black men. It was only a few women, but they were pioneers.
-Mid 1950's hit highest peak, 20,000 a year made the trip across the Atlantic.
-They found employment easily but housing was the hardest part, they were not allowed to go in BnB's.
-First thing on British television on race was a documentary following around Ben Bousquet and his journey on trying to get a room. It wasn't due to money they couldn't get rooms it was due to their colour.
-New arrivals forced in to overcrowded and unsafe rooms.
-Many were charged a lot for rooms, too much.
-Ratmen and his middle men were terrorises, they were the only people to let you live their and they exploited them. Made sure people didn't talk to people who didn't pay their rent.
-Many kept their heads down and were fearful, that if you created a scene then you could be kicked out.
-People had prosecuted as to were they got money to buy their own houses, raising money for housing buy prostitution was one thought.
What i got from this clip was that the youth had a better understanding and acceptance than their elders. The two races mixed and the youth found it fine, i found the behaviour of the family to be that of outrage. In which they would became ashamed, I got from this that the age gap meant a lot in this matter. I got that it was far better for the West Indians to be around the youth and that this would happen through the new waves of music. I got the point that they wanted segregation, they rejected West Indians due to ideas of them, ideas that were not true. Mainly i got that no one bothered to give them a chance and realise we are all human beings.
The Windrush Years Part Six..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYNfi4YyEp0&feature=related
- People from the Caribbean brought certain things with them, a system where a circle of friends would put a certain amount of money in each week, made up of a lump sum from the money they all put in. This is how they paid for houses.
-Speculation began prostitutes selling dope was supposedly the reasons behind them having houses, by white people.
-Resentment against West Indians rose and violence rose also.
-People would fight, if a white woman went with a black man she was taunted and also beaten up.
-An age of cruelty to black people.
-They did the dirty jobs that nobody wanted.
-1958 summer in Nottingham West Indians fought back after all their abuse, a West Indian named Roy fought back and it was classed as defiance. After two weeks of running battles, it settled down, then days later in London's Notting Hill. It was a white riot one that would shatter relation between black and white for a generation.
-The West Indians brought a vibrant edge to England.
-Notting Hill riots lasted six weeks started by a domestic argument, a black husband and white wife had a fight white people did not like this tried to help her out but she turned on them and started to fight them. They blamed black people for setting their own people against them. Next night was white anger, walked to where the black people were in a club the black and whites and even policemen (trying to break them up)began to fight each other. Blood was everywhere, this was just the opening scene.
I got from this clip the idea that the "immigrants disillusionment" were coming to an end of what their "Motherland" would actually be like. I got that the speculation grew to what was really just useless facts, people believed as excuses in my mind just so that they could get at the black people. To make them feel better that they were not earning another, it comes down to jealously with the housing situation. Jealously that stemmed from themselves, the black people should not be blamed for trying to help each other out and better their lives. I mainly got that they had a very strong black community which is a good thing that they could support one another especially as the white people were being ignorant and severely unnecessarily violent.
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Task Five.. Radio Extract!
1958 Notting Hill Race Riots
Who is being Represented?
Their are two main races being represented in this radio extract, firstly the radio DJ is a middle class white man. The other race referred to mainly throughout the entire extract is that of the black society in Britain, which presumably he is referring mainly to the working class society. The extract represents both sides opinions and also recognises that Britain on a whole has declared neither opinion correct, thus meaning parts of Britain are being heavily represented.
What is being represented?
The "Race Riots" in Notting Hill are being represented, on the issue of "mass-interbreeding". The extract merely states that these riots are taking place due to some of the population not believing in different race relationships or breeding with someone of a different race to you, this is the issue. The riots themselves get a mention, how they are violent and where abouts they are taking place, but it's the reason behind them that it is focused on heavily. The extract looks in to both sides and how they both feel about the issue, it could be said that it is in favour of the white view. The extract represents more of the white view than the black as more white people are talking within the extract and have similar if not the same view.
How is the representation constructed? (communicated?)...
This representation is communicated through the fact that they chose to talk to a few middle class English men, we can tell this from all their eloquent and formal speech. Whereas when they spoke to the black man he sounded far more informal and common, instantly informing us that this was in fact a working class citizen. Certain words indicated that both of these were true, such as in the introduction the term "mulatto" was used which is a term used for mixed raced children, it derives from black slavery it was common for a white man to have sex with a black woman. Thus indicating the white males talking in the interview were definitely not working class like the white males that would do that. Other phrases in particular indicate that the two statements that can be derived from some of the white middle class and the black working class. That of the black society not caring about "mass-interbreeding" as the man states "Britain will never be kept white" and that "We are here now" clearly stating that the black community want to be integrated with the white and understand that people can fall in love and have sex with whoever they want. Whereas the white middle class society's message is that they wont accept it and that they do not want "mass-interbreeding" to happen by resorting to such things with "Blind Violence" and that it's "Evils of coloured invasion". It should be stated that these were not the only opinions, Britain was split in "Opinions differ", the extract clearly states that the white males opinions are not every one's "In our opinion".
Who is being Represented?
Their are two main races being represented in this radio extract, firstly the radio DJ is a middle class white man. The other race referred to mainly throughout the entire extract is that of the black society in Britain, which presumably he is referring mainly to the working class society. The extract represents both sides opinions and also recognises that Britain on a whole has declared neither opinion correct, thus meaning parts of Britain are being heavily represented.
What is being represented?
The "Race Riots" in Notting Hill are being represented, on the issue of "mass-interbreeding". The extract merely states that these riots are taking place due to some of the population not believing in different race relationships or breeding with someone of a different race to you, this is the issue. The riots themselves get a mention, how they are violent and where abouts they are taking place, but it's the reason behind them that it is focused on heavily. The extract looks in to both sides and how they both feel about the issue, it could be said that it is in favour of the white view. The extract represents more of the white view than the black as more white people are talking within the extract and have similar if not the same view.
How is the representation constructed? (communicated?)...
This representation is communicated through the fact that they chose to talk to a few middle class English men, we can tell this from all their eloquent and formal speech. Whereas when they spoke to the black man he sounded far more informal and common, instantly informing us that this was in fact a working class citizen. Certain words indicated that both of these were true, such as in the introduction the term "mulatto" was used which is a term used for mixed raced children, it derives from black slavery it was common for a white man to have sex with a black woman. Thus indicating the white males talking in the interview were definitely not working class like the white males that would do that. Other phrases in particular indicate that the two statements that can be derived from some of the white middle class and the black working class. That of the black society not caring about "mass-interbreeding" as the man states "Britain will never be kept white" and that "We are here now" clearly stating that the black community want to be integrated with the white and understand that people can fall in love and have sex with whoever they want. Whereas the white middle class society's message is that they wont accept it and that they do not want "mass-interbreeding" to happen by resorting to such things with "Blind Violence" and that it's "Evils of coloured invasion". It should be stated that these were not the only opinions, Britain was split in "Opinions differ", the extract clearly states that the white males opinions are not every one's "In our opinion".
Sunday, 3 July 2011
Task Six..
"What is Black British culture?"- 450-600 word essay.
I have learnt from this radio pod cast, the true extent of the two cultures and how they could easily clash yet they seem to bond and thrive exceedingly well especially with each next generation. This point in itself has made me see the true extent of the black British culture. How far it has come and how it may be doing so well that the culture divisions are now blurry, that we really are as one in many ways.
Firstly I learnt how it's people coming mainly from Jamaica who settle in Britain that make the term "Black Britain". When they come here they bring their culture, including their attributes and way of talking. This is then passed on to their children and then their grand children thus making further generations have this mixed culture. In the beginning their was a lot of racism towards the black culture and they were not allowed in venues. Learning of how they would have house parties and meetings at youth clubs, they loved music and could dance very well this helped them bond and grow closer to other races. This made the connection to the present day and how these gatherings and musical influences are present in the youth today.
The black culture brought with them particularly foods such as chicken, rice and yams. These are all popular foods especially amongst the younger generations. Which have been heavily commercialised, meaning many take-aways establishments are based around Jamaican foods. It is now accepted and a normality, typical black British food. In the sixties fashion and the "Jackson Five" influenced and thickened an already strong black style, of which they were persecuted for, as black women liked to dress up. They were consistent and strong with their style statements, rough but necessary pushes like this from black women and men have helped to make them fashion icons to many other races in Britain. In the 70's and 80's the low-slung jeans where apart of black style and caps and big round glasses all helped shape and influence a nations style.
I found America's arrogance in the 90's thinking it was the only country to have massive black influences and instead of embracing new ones from other countries they became outraged. Due partially to soul and reggae bands like "Soul2Soul". American artists are showing their mixed cultures, with artists such as "50 Cent" and "Jay Z" mixing their styles to show their mixed cultures. This was not something I had ever picked up on before and to know they do this consciously shows their respect for both cultures. A lot of white people especially teenagers have taken on this culture and get mocked for "acting black", when it's simply a complete acceptance to be appart of it. David Beckhams lifestyle led him to be named "Britains most famous black person", made me realise that the acceptance of these two races as one is more apparent, even in the media.
The media does tarnish the black race, as it dims a lot of peoples opinions. So much so that you see them as "all the same" and not as idividuals. The podcast clearly stated more white offenders then black offenders in 81% of crown court cases, however more black people went to prison. Black boys under achieve compared to white boys at school and partly due to the media. Musical talent and the film industry glamourise a gansters life, I agree the media make many think this the only option. They don't show the stronger characters that say no to this lifestyle, this should be the side that they promote.
My opinion on black british culture is still the same its black people who's ancestors moved here and through generations gave them a strong mixed culture, which they share with other races. I am far more determined to not take much attention to news stories and just the facts and statistics. You can't change everyone, the older generations will still have their prejudices, that's their problem. The younger generation should be the focus enabling them to respect everyone for who they are, will help close this already narrowing gap.
Friday, 1 July 2011
Task Seven..
1. What links all the media texts together?
All of the media texts are delving into Black culture within Britain. The texts are based from areas all over Britain this helps in broadening the opinions. They all portray realism and this is what bounds them so strongly together. That they all connote the lives and settings of real people in a real Britain. They all mainly focus on the lives of the working class and most of the media texts mass audiences are teenagers. They show how young peoples hobbies and passions can pull them from their neighbourhoods and take them on to bigger and brighter things. However all of the media texts show a rather current issue of how the Black culture in Britain can be perceived, all of the texts show a realistic and saddening portrayal of how violence, drugs and danger can play a huge destructive position in their lives. Of course some of the media texts are from America but they are highly relevant to British culture.
2. How are the media texts representative of the changing landscape of black Britain? (past, present and future)
The media texts span through generations showing the pivotal points to black Britain and how even today some of the issues of the past have not really changed but merely take on new shapes. As for example the film "Baldwins Nigger" divulges "The Windrush Years (1948-1998), which is a massive time gap. Yet it shows how little things can change in a country that is suppose to be forward thinking. The other media texts whether film or music orientated delve in to the culture itself and how the society really works in correlation to media texts. Such as Film the film industry in Britain may not be on a vast scale but their are plenty of Black British films in the 21st century. Of course in the past their were not many but in the present we can see successful stars such as Noel Clarke (Actor/Director/Screenwriter) doing great things for the British Film industry. Such as music whether RNB, Hip Hop, Blues or Grime, they shows a historical change in Britain's landscape. Blues is a traditional form of black cultured music that derives from the "slave trade" and particularly from America. Yet we can see in Britain today how Blues can now be seen in these different musical Genres such as HipHop, Grime and RNB. The Blues was a form of talking about troubles within the black culture, a form of therapeutic release. This shows how Britain is changing as current rap artists such as Tinie Tempah, Dizzee Rascal, Wretch 32 and chipmunk are taking the mainstream music charts in Britain by storm. This shows are vast difference in the British landscape in Black Britain as music like the blues in a far older Britain was not accepted. Whereas today's Britain sees absolutely no need to single it out and teenagers especially couldn't picture a Britain without this black British musical culture. I will admit this is unfortunately only a recent event as even in the 90's black music was not completely everywhere. Yet in the last twenty years black British culture within the media text of music has come a far way. Not only do these black British rap stars have massive success in award ceremonies such as "The Brits" but also British festivals as Dizzee Rascal and Tinie Tempah both had vastly amazing performances and crowd reception at this years "V Festival". Professor Green, Plan B, Example and Devlin both white British rap artists are paving the way in to showing the massive acceptance of black culture in Britain. The MOBOs (Music of Black Origin) is even further proof of this, it is an awards ceremony that celebrates the black British music culture. With viewing rates of 368,000 for the JLS MOBO Awards win alone. It shows how far Britain has come and how the landscape of Black Britain is becoming even more defined and stronger within the whole of British society.
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