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Womanist

Rants from a Jamaican British Woman

Monday, October 09, 2006

I guess the war in Iraq is over and now the war on the Nicab has started. Well done Jack.

.: posted by womanist 12:58 AM


Sunday, October 08, 2006

I am trying hard to recall that little poem which I believe was written by Ezra someone or another, but I may be wrong. The first line reads I think; "First they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out; and so on and so, ending with; "Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak.... something like that. The recent attacks on Brown skinned Muslims is to my mind unprecendented, since the attacks on Black Caribbean immigrants to this country. Throughout the 60's 70's and some of the 80's, Black young people and Black families seemed to be blamed for every ill this country suffered. They suffered mostly in silence apart from the odd uprisings or 'Riots' as some in the press like to describe the behaviour in the early 80's of a number of disenchanted and disenfranchised young Black males mostly of African/Caribbean descent. Of course the way Black people dressed was all wrong as well. The so called 'Afro hair style' was seen as a threat to White communities. Of course it wasn't really the hair style that was the threat, but the meaning ascribed to it. Black people in England were genuinely saying through their huge Afro's that they were Black and proud. The messages that were being conveyed by Blacks in America had finally reached these shores. Of course Black people in this country do not share one particular religious belief system so there was nothing to jump on there, so clothes, hairstyles, dating White women, all became points of attack. Black people have of course learn over time not to react to today's garrish headlines. It's simply not worth the energy. After all, there's always a new enemy of the State waiting in the wings for the onslaught of the British Press seeming determination to stir up zenophobia and general racial hatred. My advice to British Brown skinned Muslims is stop feeling you have to react to every headline. Remember that people stating their differences in their style of dress is nothing new in this country. Infact it is positively encouraged, from endless different school uniforms, sincluding those that clearly show who are state/privately educated, scouts, bikers, politicians, judges, city gents, mohicans, skinheads, very strange looking young people with tattooes and rings coming out of every orifice (usually to be spotted in Camden Market) Nuns, Priests, rich kids, poor kids. sloane rangers, the green welly types, Rastas, Jews, Hindus, Amishes, soldiers, policemen, firemen, ambulance people, doctors, nurses, porters, doormen, people who work in stores, on airplanes, all public transport. You name it, we love uniforms. So worry not Muslim women. Keep dressing in any manner that you feel comfortable. It's legitimate part of your culture, religion or maybe just personal taste. I'm just off to have my leg, arm and neck irons replaced. I wouldn't want to upset the Powers that be by pretending I am free.

.: posted by womanist 10:42 AM