EDITED EXCERTS TAKEN FROM A. NEW. MIND.
BRAND BLACK BRITISH
AUDIO OF TEXT . part1 of 6
We the Black people brought up in England have an identity crisis, some of us recognise this reality, some do not and the vast majority chose to ignore this reality. We can feel as English as we like but the nation has not passed the stage, where being English is being white this is in the minds of blacks and whites. In England some Cornish men consider themselves Cornish first and English second, some Yorkshire men see themselves as Yorkshire men first then Englishmen. Multi cultralism is confusion from this confusion we need to find an identity. A new identity one developed out of a new mind set of positivity and reality. We have lost our identities and we have to create and define a new one here now.
AUDIO OF TEXT part2 of 6
Black British have a different mentality compared to black Americans, different to the people in the Caribbean and different to the people in Africa. We have been influence by the environment in which we live our attitudes have been influenced by this island this is reality. This is a fact we must except it understand it and turn it into positives. In this multi-cultural, multi- faith multi mixed up society we have to find an identity. We don’t have to be pretend Americans, pretend Jamaicans or pretend Africans. We can take influence from them but we have to find who we are and build on it, the new mind Brand Black British. We find that when we leave these shores open our mouth and speak the rest of the world see us as English not just blacks. They may still hate us because of our skins shade but they have put some kind of identity on to us one we don’t seem to have while at home in England. We get back HOME? to England and we are no longer English just blacks. How are we going to make this work for us ?
Some of the people that left the Caribbean in the fifties to seventies have returned there and found it difficult to settle back in those islands. Their attitudes have changed after living in England for so long. And the people of those island attitudes towards the returning English as they see them has becomes an issue they have become Englishified.
AUDIO OF TEXT part3 of 6
We have spent so much time fighting the system for a piece of the cake and all we got was tired and crumbs. It makes no sense doing the same all over again don’t fight for a piece of the cake. WHAT WE NEED IS A RECIPE.
We can continue to talk about the problems or we can concentrate our minds on solutions. If we are not aware and active then our descendants will have less than we have now and we have little. Sitting around waiting for solutions to problems is creating more problems. It is no good waiting for others to solve our problems they are not feeling our pains, frustrations and our sufferings, if we want it done properly we have to do it ourselves.
Often people sit around hoping others can solve their problems, they then get disappointed when they are not solved. They are not dealing with self-determination. If we want to determine our destiny then we have to solve our problems. We have the same problems working together we can find the solutions. With minds focused and positive we will find solutions for ourselves. Because we allow others to determine what we learn and know they teach us what they want us to know. They do not want us to know the things that are going to help us to change our situations. And if we are not seen to be attempting to solve our problems why should others help us.
AUDIO OF TEXT part4 of 6
For hundreds of years the United Kingdom has been governed by systems designed to cause separation. Our society it is not a system designed to bring together a unified kingdom. It is based on a system designed for people to know their place, our place in this system is at the bottom. We are the ones who must make the choice if we stay at the bottom or if we rise. When we rise from the bottom and float upwards it will create major eruptions in this country. All negatives can be turned into positives it is a mind-set, it is about how we chose to feel and think about things. The most important part is what we are prepared to do to change our econonic conditions.
To build strong communities we need to find solutions to the problems that we have in common, only then can we set ourselves on the road to buildings strong communities. Common solutions will lead to more confidence and more unity. Communities are created when actions are taken for the common good. Because there are a lot of black people living in our neighbourhood, does not mean we have a black community.
AUDIO OF TEXT part5 of 6
What about the ones that follows us? What opportunities will be available to them?. We have to seriously consider what kind of future they will face in Britain. We need to gain insight into our personal and collective condition. We the Black British must start to determine and create our tomorrows. We cannot afford to get carried away in fantasies we have to be based in reality. No black person in England can get so successful that they stop being black. They can act as if they are not black but acting is not real its acting. No matter how well we do here we are seen for our skin shade this is a reality. Even if we had a black prime minister it would be a black prime minister. Not a prime minister who happens to be black. In England skin shades matters this is reality it always has and will always matter. In England we can be judged without us saying a word and without us doing anything. These judgements come from white people and black people and all other people. We are part of the solutions or we are part of the problems is often said it is an absolute truth. We live in a society where our success is judged on our skin shade, our opportunities are influenced and often limited by our skin shade, if we seek to ignore these facts then we are part of the problem. Many of our problems are due to the way we treat one another this must change for us to progress. The lack of trust we have in one another this must change
AUDIO OF TEXT part6 of 6
Most so called communities that have migrated to the united kingdom and have been considered prosperous have been bonded by religions or some kind of cultural identity . We the Black British belong to no unifying culture or religion which means we are not limited in our creation of our new identity by culture or religion it’s a mind set
The way we look at our issues will determine how productive we will be, if we don’t have we can create. We don’t need another religion but we need to develop our cultural identity and build on it. BRAND BLACK BRITISH
BRITAIN is not big enough or likely to become prosperous enough for us to grow to a satisfying level. We must also look beyond these shores to make a prosperous future a reality. We need to develop the will to make it happen when there is the will we will find the ways.
BLACK BRITISH-WE BLESSED-BELIEVE
