One of England’s most historic football games would go largely unnoticed by the wider world, as both teams in the Second City Derby languish in the second division. For supporters of Aston Villa and Birmingham City however, there is no bigger occasion.
Sleeping Giants
Once heralded as the “workshop of the world”, Birmingham was at the heart of the industrial revolution by the 18th century in Britain. Now more of a scrapyard than any sort of workshop, the city is one of the most dangerous in the country—even for footballers it would appear. It is perhaps unsurprising then, that of all places, Jack Grealish was hooked in the face by a fan in Birmingham territory. Such appalling behaviour needs to be addressed strongly.
Jack Grealish attacked by fan. Source: The Strait Times.
Although the decline of Birmingham is in a number of aspects, analogous to the recent failures of the two clubs it has given birth to, there are few greater examples of a more ferociously contested football rivalry. With the vast sums of money involved in the higher tier, it inadvertently falls to the lower leagues to illustrate the true humble beginnings of the game. One where working class people would gather, lighting up stadiums with an immense atmosphere as they found an outlet from the toil of their hard labour. The intensity and tension around St Andrew’s was palpable and this only heightened the stakes of the game: bragging rights around offices in Birmingham and league points to gain or lose, of course.
A derby to remember
Depsite nervy opening minutes, both teams eventually came out of their shells by asking numerous questions of each other. Birmingham however, were visibly more comfortable, with Jed Steer being tested in goal from an early corner and a failed attempt from Jacques Maghoma.
Half-way into the first half, Villa spurned their first real opportunity. A defence-splitting pass from Grealish allowed El Ghazi to go through on goal, only for a diligent Lee Camp to block the shot with good positioning between the sticks. Barely ten minutes later, the Villains came close again with Hourihane setting up Tammy Abraham for a shot that didn’t quite dip in time for the bar.
The Blues came close near 45 with their top scorer, Adams, launching a rapid ball on the floor that only narrowly missed the left post and had Steer at full stretch. Overall, the first-half was a scrappy affair with much physicality evident as players fed off the carnival atmosphere. Without any goals or many clear opportunities, the pitch invader who came from behind and sucker punched Grealish in the 10th minute, unfortunately, overshadowed the first-half and the game in general. Grealish who is both a Birmingham native and Villa supporter was also the subject of much jeering during the contest, in part due to his obvious ability.
It was the hope of the majority who condemned the pitch invader’s actions, that the game would move on from such unwarranted distractions with a goal at least. In this aspect, the game delivered with none other than Jack Grealish himself netting in the 67th minute, with a low shot managing to get through numerous bodies and into the bottom corner.
More controversy could have enveloped the game if the appeals by Birmingham City for a penalty were given after a nudge from Hause saw Adams hit the deck. Instead Tim Robinson who was in direct view, thought it was too soft to be given.
Villa managed a deserved 1-0 victory from what was seen as a great team performance, with their players really benefiting from Grealish’s return from a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The midfielder truly showed his class today by not reacting to being punched and going on to get the deciding goal. Grealish let his game speak on the pitch rather than retaliating, and it proved to be the ultimate karma for the Blues.
Now one of Villa’s longest serving players, the Englishman, has certainly matured from his alcohol-fuelled party lifestyle during the 2015/2016 relegation campaign. It would be wise of the FA never mind the police, to make sure that this incident does not go unpunished. Otherwise, they risk tainting the reputation of the sport or underplaying the gravity of what was a blatant assault on live television. Birmingham City must also seek to tighten the gaping holes in their security, as well as protecting fans inside stadiums, football clubs owe a duty of care to their players as well.
Commendably, Birmingham City swiftly responded to the events after the game. It’s a positive step in the right direction and a reminder of the lines that shouldn’t be crossed anywhere. And Football, a game filled to the brim with passion and excitement, is no exception.
Joshua Raj is a journalist for TCS scribe. A student at Loughborough University, he also plays various sports. Well he tries to. Having lived most of his life in South-East Asia, Joshua is interested in comparative politics and finance after being fascinated with how ‘governance’ has been applied by the rising economies in the region. Particularly, how they differ from the Western in which they seek to reconcile their own brand of rigid politics with fluid free-market economic principles.
Former retired Suits actress, Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex (after marrying Prince Harry of the British Royal family) is back in the limelight. Markle is widely regarded as ‘a black woman’, yet she self-identifies as ‘mixed race’, which calls upon the representation of her identity.
This is a response to the article The Problematic Tabloid Narrative of Meghan Markle by fellow Common Sense writer Ilayda McIntosh. Let’s look at Markle’s representation in the media from a different angle.
Recently, media depictions and attacks on Meghan Markle during her pregnancy show a similar treatment to that of Princess Diana. The debate that has ensued with extravagant costs of her baby shower. According to a new report from Vanity Fair, the total cost of Meghan’s NYC baby shower was around $200,000, (£152,000). At lavish Upper East Side hotel the Mark. The penthouse suite at a cost of $75,000 (£57,000) a night. A private jet Gulfstream G450 twin-jet plane, with the one-way trip to NYC costing around $125,000.
Some believe the scrutiny and outroar of the cost of the baby shower is down to Meghan’s racial background. The black community has lept to her defence, although she has publicly said she is “mixed race”, so why do the black community continue to defend a “mixed race” woman?
Meghan Markle’s mother is of an African American descent and her father of Dutch-Irish descent. Markle identifies as mixed-race. So why have the black community referred to her as a black woman?
Markle’s recent marriage to Britain’s Prince Harry has created a mixed public reaction in both the black community and the white community. The black community interestingly have defended her evidently in a greater proportion.
Some members of the black community have considered their union as an achievement and a “great day for black women”. Whilst others refused to claim Markle as black — citing her half white background.
One Drop Rule
“The One Drop Rule refers to how U.S courts and law books historically declared that a mixed race person with one black ancestor or one drop of black blood should be categorized as black”
The one–drop rule is a social and legal principle of racial classification that was historically prominent in the United States in the 20th century. It asserted that any person with even one ancestor of sub-Saharan African ancestry (“one drop” of black blood) is considered black (Negro in historical terms).
The reference of Meghan Markle as a black woman is as a result of the one drop rule approach still co opted in the black community.
Typically in the black community, due to the history of slavery, there were two terms we became synonymous with, the house negro (lighter complexion ) and field negro (darker complexion).
The lighter skinned negro was higher in the racial hierarchy, whereas the darker skinned negro was treated with disdain. The lighter skinned negro was seen as closer to white simply because of skin colour which allowed for greater assimilation into white society. There is a misconception that the light skinned slave was always treated better when sometimes their treatment was in fact worse.
Many light-skinned black people were believed to be biracial, so when the mistress would come outside and saw a lighter black kid, she would assume that her husband, the master or overseer of the plantation slept with one of the slaves. This often led to the woman to abuse the kid more, and sometimes even stab them.
The mistress often abused the biracial kids, more than the outdoor slaves who only got whipped if they disobeyed or slowed down their work. And since it was customary that the servants had to dress well and look well, to represent how wealthy the household was, the indoor slaves often got beaten anywhere on their body except for their face, and other visible parts.
This led the outdoor slaves to believe that the biracial and light skinned slaves were getting better treatment than the outdoor slaves. But in reality, they had it just as hard. The only benefit was being able to eat the leftovers on the master’s plate, while the outdoor slaves had to grow their own food.
The division between the lighter skinned, mixed race and the darker skinned community was because some believed that the lighter skinned or mixed race slaves were treated better. Lighter skinned, mixed-race slaves had to survive and many as history has shown turned around to aid the black struggle. The one–drop rule has persisted into the 20th century, it does not seem it will leave as Meghan Markle is still considered to be a great hope for black women and black people in general. Is it clutching at the thin straws of black ethnic solidarity?
Hope for Black Women
From Good Morning America tweeted
“For many black women, Meghan Markle’s engagement offers ‘hope’
Representation matters and the black community have called out for a better representation for years . I did not imagine this was the way they imagined hope looking like. Meghan Markle does not look like us, having a black mother gives her a cultural background, and perhaps a shared experience, but in phenotypes (facial features), Markle looks more racially ambiguous which is problematic as we have a one-track viewpoint on what looking black is.
Young black girls feel as if they are not recognized in society. Her marriage perhaps highlights the call and now the action for a more diverse monarchy. However the monarchy of Britain has had one face, Meghan Markle’s presence is a trickle in a pond of white faces.
The other side may say that society sees Meghan Markle as a “black woman”, and why can’t black women see Meghan Markle as black, well because it simply reduces her identity to what the black community want it to be. As opposed to what she states her own identity is. Others will also argue her having a black mother makes her black irrespective of her white father who she is estranged from. Whilst I understand the argument that there is strength in drawing in those of mixed descent to help unify the black race. It is still the one drop rule.
The solution is one that is simple, to label her as a “black woman” is to take away from her own identity. It is not fair to label her as something she does not define herself as. She has said and reiterated “I am a mixed race woman “. Being mixed race is a complex identity with layers to unpack, alike to the black identity. Identity is incredibly subjective and one should be able to choose their own identity no one else. She can not stand in place to represent the black community, as evidently she does not want to.
With nine games to go in the Premier League, we weigh in with our predictions of how things will shape up at the end of the season. Who’s making the top four? Who’s winning the league?
Manchester City
Last year’s winners with 100 points blew away the league and won by a landslide, only losing one game all season. City are also setting their sights to go for a quadruple, having already won the League Cup. City have the highest goal difference, with 56 and aren’t likely to lose any games due to stellar performances from the likes of possible PFA player of the year Bernado Silva, Raheem Sterling and a sensational striker in Sergio Aguero. They sit in first place currently with 71 points, only one point ahead of second placed Liverpool.
Man City face an inform Watford side in today’s late game, and will hope to not make any slip ups against The Hornets.
Bernado Silva has been in impressive form for Man City. Source: Sky Sports
Liverpool
Following a 0-0 drawn against Everton, Liverpool’s title chances have once again been dented, which Everton fans are elated about. It’s even more nerve wracking as Jurgen Klopp tends to fall off the edge as he draws closer to the finish line. Lack of experience in winning a Premier league campaign also plays a big factor, but if they do win then surely it will be the start of a new era for the club.
Liverpool will have to find a way to get over their draw against rivals Everton and find a way to get a good result against a disciplined Burnley side in Sunday’s early kick off. With some luck and a return to the kind of form that saw them go seven points clear at the top of the league in January, Liverpool are still big contenders for the title.
FT: Everton 0 #LFC 0: A draw which feels like a defeat for Liverpool at Goodison. 19 derbies unbeaten now but little consolation after dropping 2pts. Klopp's side miss out on the chance to go back top of the PL.
The title race really should have been a three-horse race but as always Spurs don’t quite posses the ability to pull through when it really matters most. Pochettino has suffered two defeats recently to Burnley and Chelsea which have almost certainly sunk their title chances. Drawing with Arsenal means they’ve once again displayed a cowardly mentality and for another year only merely put ‘pressure on’ the leaders. Pochettino will have taken Spurs as far as he can and might see this as an opportunity to step up to a bigger club with a bigger budget like the one he’s linked with at Manchester United.
Good fight in the second half but not the result we wanted. Focus on getting the job done on Tuesday now. #COYSpic.twitter.com/1tY60jjLO2
Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s influence at the helm of a once uninspiring team under Jose Mourinho has really taken a turn for the better, with a resurgence in performances of a United team reminiscent of the glory days. After a dramatic last gasp win in the Champions League against PSG, Man United will fancy their chances against any of the top six as they prepare to face Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday. Solskjær is yet to lose in the Premier League with United but heavy injuries currently in the team will make for a difficult game against an Arsenal side also chasing a top four spot. Irregardless of the result on Sunday though, after Solskjaer’s heroics in Paris, the Man United head coach position couldn’t possibly go to anyone else.
LOVE IT LADS, ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ BELIEVEEEEE ???????? UNITED MENTALITY ?????????? GASSED ??? pic.twitter.com/7JwyOFmDoo
Arsenal couldn’t quite replicate the heroic’s of English counterparts in France, instead slipping to an embarrassing 3-1 loss to Rennes. Currently a point behind fourth place Man United, Arsenal need to show a lot of character if they want to keep up contention for a Champions League spot. With what now seems like two trios of attack options in Ramsey, Iwobi, Lacazette in a starting eleven and Aubameyang, Ozil, Mkhitaryan in another, Arsenal have the artillery to get firing. Arsenal would really wish to be back in the Champions League so they can attract players of a higher calibre and also set Emery off to a good start in his first season in charge. With Arsenal still having to face Manchester United at home there is no easy road to securing a top four place.
Arsenal looked lost in France. Source: Squawka
Chelsea
After the Kepa debacle in the League cup and subsequently losing to Man City on penalties, Chelsea did well to gather themselves to beat Tottenham later in that week. Chelsea currently sit 6th, but have a game in hand which is a massive bonus, especially if Arsenal and United draw, each dropping two points, allowing Chelsea to leap frog them into fourth place. Sarri’s experience in Chelsea has been a bit of a bumpy ride, with dissension in the dressing room and having several disappointing results along the way. His Sarri style of football has taken full effect yet, either due to the fact that he doesn’t have the personnel at hand or it’s not a style conducive to the Premier League.
Kepa’s revolt made Sarri’s first Chelsea cup final a game to forget. Source: The Independent
This Premier League campaign has been extremely interesting and far more competitive than seasons past. Who will mount a challenge to secure their desired goal and which teams will crumble under the immense pressure and fall short? Our top six predictions at the end of the season are:
1. City
2. Liverpool
3. Tottenham
4. Manchester United
5. Chelsea
6. Arsenal
Connect with us on social media @tcsnetwork and let us know what you think. Only nine games left now, what are your predictions?
An eye-catching
3-0 victory over Japan means the Lionesses can look forward to France 2019 with
a sense of unrivalled optimism.
So on Tuesday England fans finally got a taste of what’s been coming for the last five years: some silverware. Beating Japan meant the Lionesses claimed their first trophy since the Cyprus Cup in 2015, in what is arguably their first ever ‘major’ tournament victory. While still being invite only and technically classed as a ‘minor’ event, the calibre of opposition at the SheBelieves Cup speak for itself. For England to come away with a draw against world champions USA and convincing victories over Japan and Brazil, is very impressive indeed. Travelling to France in June, there must surely be no better chance for this team to claim something which has so far alluded them since their inception in 1972: a world, or European championship.
If there’s one thing the SheBelieves Cup showed, it’s that the team’s performances are improving, especially against quality opposition. This will be music to manager Phil Neville’s ears, who said after Tuesday’s game:
“I wasn’t that bothered before the tournament whether we won or lost, I just wanted to see an improvement and we go home knowing we are definitely going in the right direction.”
Phil Neville post-match. Source: Evening Standard
Neville is obviously not one to get carried away, but the manner of England’s victories against Japan and Brazil must surely give him cause for excitement. In a scintillating first half performance, England simply blew Japan away. They were quicker, stronger, played with more intensity and managed to do all of this without sacrificing their slick passing game. It will have been even more satisfying for the team after their last minute defeat to Japan in 2015’s World Cup semi-final after Laura Bassett’s unfortunate own goal.
Bassett is consoled after the error. Source: Getty/Daily Express
Perhaps what will please Neville most of all however, is England’s performance against USA. During the 2018 tournament – Neville’s first in charge – England were lethargic and stunted against the Americans and fell to a 1-0 defeat which, in truth, could have been far worse. This year however, in a 2-2 draw, England really pressed and took the game to their opponents. I suspect the players would have ended the contest disappointed that they did not leave with three points, having led twice in the match.
What more do they need?
A great positive for the team, is that they still have key players to return before the summer. Midfield stalwarts, Jill Scott, and Jordan Nobbs, both missed the tournament, although Nobbs sadly will miss the World Cup too after her ACL injury in November. Izzy Christiansen was also forced off against Japan, but Phil Neville will be pleased with how well his midfield performed nonetheless. 21-year-old Kiera Walsh has proved a more than able deputy and provided the ‘pass of the tournament’ for Beth Mead’s goal against Japan.
Mead is part of an embarrassment of riches up-front for England, which comes with both positives and negatives. Jodie Taylor is only just coming back from injury, but when fit she will surely lead the line in France given her excellent England record (17 goals in 38 games). In Fran Kirby, England possess a bonafied world class no.10, but from there the selection becomes difficult. Mead is in tremendous form and both Nikita Parris and Toni Duggan will be knocking on the door. While competition for places is to be encouraged, Neville needs to manage this situation appropriately to ensure a settled squad over the next three months.
Where England have been criticised in the past is in defence and some uncertainty still remains. Both the USA and Brazil were able to get at them a bit too easily, which could partly be down to circumstance, with undisputed right back Lucy Bronze forced to play in midfield. If fit, Steph Houghton will remain a constant at centre back, but it is vital that her partner in the centre is addressed before June. Millie Bright is the favourite, but after missing out this time through injury, she must be blooded back into the team as soon as possible. Otherwise, Neville cannot afford much chopping and changing and should stick with Abbie McManus.
Houghton and Bright could be key. Source: Sport.net
Looking ahead, England will certainly fancy their chances in the summer. With Scotland, Argentina and Japan in their World Cup group, the team will take great heart in already knowing that they can comfortably beat the most difficult opponent in that bunch. Currently sitting fourth in the world rankings, this week’s win may see them rise higher and they could very well head into the World Cup as tournament favourites. Ultimately, this is the biggest obstacle standing in their way. Do they have the mental strength to succeed, or, just like the men’s squad for the last 50 years, will they crumble at the last moment?
Constantly labelled “the snowflake” generation, millennials have been teased and undermined as a result of the previously taboo subjects that they have internalised, often in relation to mental health issues and political awareness. However, with an employment structure that is morphing more and more into one characterised by risk and instability, is it any wonder that mental health has become more prominent in millennial discourse?
With a growing precariousness creeping its way into all aspects of life and society, millennials are increasingly subjected to an instability accredited to the modern day emergence of a risk society. Put simply, aspects in society such as employment, are becoming less and less stable due to the industrial and market changes that have resulted from an increasingly globalised and technical world. With talks of the “rent generation” and market instability emphasising the lack of permanence and security that the younger generations are having to come to terms with, economic experts and politicians alike seem to be at odds with the economic and social realities that are having to be faced.
Not only are members of Generation Z estimated to change careers twice as many times as those from Generation X, they also have to work harder to feel secure in employment – with a survey by Deloitte showing that 77% of employees are feeling burnt out at their current jobs. In reality, millennials feel like they must compensate for the lack of security that the employment market offers them, by working enough to ensure permanence to the highest extent. With 2017 being the record holding year for the most 18 year olds being accepted into higher education, job roles previously reserved for a smaller circle of university graduates have now become a grounds for competition, allowing for the rise of more exploitative and temporary work variations – seen from zero hour contracts, un-paid internships, and the rise of a gig economy. With such a disposable work force emerging, it is no real wonder why millennials are experiencing a growing amount of career changes and burnouts.
Instability and the decline of permanence is not just monopolised by the employment market. House prices have risen 6% faster than wages, defining mortgages as an unrealistic and abstract concept for many young adults growing up in Britain. The percentage of those aged between 25 and 34 whom live in a property they own rather than rent has declined 20% in the last decade to just 37%. Millennials are having to rely upon renting houses, often at an extortionate price, on both long term and short term contracts resulting in dis-attachment replacing certainty. However, cultural expectations have not yet been affected by these economic changes and thus still emphasises the importance in mortgaging and house ownership. This pressure is in turn then manifested more clearly in the growing rates of anxiety and depression starting at an increasingly young age.
The identity of millennials is at a crisis – previous assets, the area someone lives, and career would be huge contributors to one’s sense of belonging and purpose. For Generation Z, the lack of permanence and accessibility to all of these things becomes a barrier and often a problem. The rise in mental health issues such as anxiety and depression have been direct consequences of this dis-attachment and instability. Rather than being categorically undermined through names such as the “burnout” or “snowflake” generation, it would be more beneficial for the mainstream media, academics and politicians to recognise the emerging pressures that modern society comes with.
It is International Women’s Day today, a day to celebrate women and remind everyone that gender equality is not the norm everywhere. There is still much more work to be done. While we making strides in women’s poetry, the focus has been on young female poets. The emerging older poets, poets who published their poetry 45 and over, have been missing from our celebrations. This article is celebrating that.
I wanted to write this article because I’ve noticed an absence of such women in recent news items charting poetry’s rise in popularity, yet, in recent years swathes of older women have published their debut collection (or pamphlet) which is surely something to celebrate and suggests that UK poetry is experiencing a Second Spring.
It’s no coincidence that the surge of poetry books published by women in their 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond has coincided with increased mainstream internet and social media use. Whereas some younger poets are turning to platforms like Instagram and YouTube to publish their work and build a following – and certainly older writers are starting to do this too – women who were already far too old to win awards for young writers when the internet became part of everyday life, view new technology as an empowering means of educating themselves. They’re reading more widely, gaining information, and networking with readers, other writers, editors, reviewers broadcasters and bloggers.
As recent articles about its popularity have commented, poetry is not what it used to be. Many of the women I spoke to grew up at a time when most of the poets they studied at school or university were white, male and middle class. A similar demographic was reflected in poetry publishing, magazine editing and arts coverage in print and broadcast media. While still not wholly liberated from such a narrow stronghold, the internet has opened new avenues for new voices and diversified the range of poetry available to read, view and hear. Social media provides a means of communicating directly with editors and publishers, as well as discovering and responding to submissions and development opportunities. Regardless of where your home town is and who you knew at school the publishing industry suddenly becomes more accessible. Online courses, workshops, livestreams and recorded poetry readings and podcasts – often provided free of charge – are readily available. Women are doing it for themselves, establishing new presses and creating online spaces to publish their own and others’ work, as well as finding ways to use new technologies for creative play extending their creative practice.
Here are a dozen poets for you to discover, mostly published by independent UK presses, who, in various stages of their later life, have found a place for themselves in the poetry world.
This International Women’s day, lets celebrate a New Oldish Poets Society.
Kadija Sesay
Kadija Sesay
British/African writer and literary activist Kadija Sesay published her debut poetry collection as she approached the age of 50, after spending 25 years supporting and developing writers of colour by editing anthologies, reading and editing manuscripts, organising events and publishing the literary magazine Sable LitMag. Her collection Irki(motherland in the Nubian language) published by Peepal Tree Press in 2013 is the story of migrating parents from Sierra Leone and confronts the common experience of private fostering that many from her community have faced but feel unable to talk about openly. Other poems explore the experience of growing up Black as one of the ‘Michael Jackson generation’ in the racially divided Britain of the 60s, 70s and 80s, and consider what is meant by ‘home’ and what is lost or gained when home is left behind. Kadija is currently completing her doctorate on Black British Publishers and PanAfricanism, as well as a short story collection and a second poetry collection, The Modern Panafricanist’s Journey. In addition, she is developing a web-based app on Poetry and Panafricanism and will shortly appear in an African Voicesprogramme on CNN. Twitter @SABLELitMag
Carole Bromley
Carole Bromley
Carole Bromley was selected for the Jerwood/Arvon mentoring scheme when she was in her mid-fifties and says that neither her mentor Mimi Khalvati nor her publishers Smith/Doorstop have ever made her feel old. She is now in her 70s and writes poems about many subjects including family, love, death, literary figures, grandchildren, place (especially York, where she lives), travel, teaching and illness. She has published three collections with Smith/Doorstop, including one for children. She loves the internet and social media which she uses to connect with readers, editors and publishers. She took part in an online writing workshop (Jo Bell’s ‘52’ project) without which, she says, she would never have finished her latest book. She iscurrently working on a sequence of poems about her recent experience of brain surgery as well as a second children’s collection. Twitter @CaroleBromley1
Jessica Mookherjee
Jessica Mookherjee
Jessica Mookherjee is in her fifties and has published two poetry pamphlets and a full collection. Jessica regrets not writing earlier but says “I have a little more sense of myself now, what I want to write about and the time and means to give it more attention”. Her second collection, Tigress, will be published by Nine Arches Press later this year. The book includes poems about migration, mental fragmentation, myths spanning different cultures, humans’ relationship with the natural world and responses to trauma. Jessica finds the internet invaluable for research and uses it when she needs to find a poem quickly – “the internet gives me access to a vast poetry emporium”. She admits to sending fangirl tweets to poets Deryn Rees-Jones and Sarah Corbett. Twitter @jessmkrjy
Judy Brown
Judy Brown
Judy Brown first published in her late 40s. Crowd Sensations (Seren, 2016) is her second collection. “My poems feel like objects made out of how I see things,” she says, describing Crowd Sensations, which was written in London, Hong Kong, and during a year’s residency in Dove Cottage (William Wordsworth’s house in the Lake District) as a “half city and half country book”. Judy uses social media for creative play – “It’s more a resource for making and sharing odd connections than a way of being seen. I find ideas, poems, critical articles, books and images that I wouldn’t come across otherwise. Instagram I use completely for non-verbal creativity (which is quite a relief if you are writing all the time) – making images and enjoying other people’s. Plus, I like seeing the stuff that people make – photographers, painters, knitters, potters – and I use it as a source of book recommendations.” A renowned writing tutor, Judy uses Skype for mentoring and working with poets from the UK and all across the world. Twitter @JudyBrown_
Deborah Alma
Deborah Alma
First publishing in her early 50s, Deborah Alma’s debut collection, Dirty Laundry ,was published by Nine Arches Press in 2018. The poems are concerned with “being a mixed-race woman, with class, with ageing and a determination to be strong, boldly sexy and properly part of the world.” As well as working as a poet, workshop leader and poetry editor, Deborah Alma is The Emergency Poet and co-owner of The Poetry Pharmacy, prescribing the right poem for whatever mood or emotion ails her patients. Deborah edited #MeToo(Fair Acre Press, 2018) an anthology of poems donated by over 80 women which raised money for Women’s Aid and which has had readings and panel discussions across the UK. Deborah is particularly grateful to two arts organisations, Writing West Midlands and The Literacy Consultancy, which have supported her writing, and which she describes as being “properly free of ageism, offering support to new writers whatever their age.” Twitter @emergencypoet
Kathy Pimlott
Kathy Pimlott
Kathy Pimlott’s second poetry pamphlet, Elastic Glue (The Emma Press, 2019) has just been published. Her first, Goose Fair Night (The Emma Press, 2016) was published when she was 63. Although she wrote in her twenties, Kathy “gave up reading and writing poetry until I was around 50. It took me time to catch up, find what I wanted to say and how to say it. It’s truly lovely to receive recognition through publication, good reviews and sales, but the most important thing for me is doing the writing.” Poems in Elastic Glueare drawn from two specific places, the much commodified Covent Garden area of London, where she lives, and an allotment site. They explore ideas around ownership, change over time, what’s lost and what remains. Kathy states that her poems are sometimes “quite angry but, I hope, leavened by humour, without which how would we bear it?” She says that the internet enables her to read new work by poets she almost certainly wouldn’t otherwise encounter, find new opportunities and be part of an on-line community. “The internet has given me new platforms for my work which, arguably, reach more people than print.” Twitter @kathy_pimlott
L Kiew
L Kiew
L Kiew’s debut pamphlet The Unquietis newly published (Feb 2019) by Offord Road Books and contains poems that speak “both in and across languages and cultures, family and hauntings.” L welcomes the possibilities that the internet has created, for instance she found out that Offord Road Books were open to submissions, particularly from BAME writers, via Twitter. “It feels like there has been a real opening up to diversity in publishing and in poetry in the last five years. I remember some of the rejection letters I got when I started submitting to magazines 20 years ago and some definitely gave the impression that I wasn’t the ‘right sort’ because I was not-British and a woman. I’ve published using my initial ever since for that reason as it felt like one way of minimising the biases I faced. I am excited and inspired by the generation younger than me who are doing so well and speak out so confidently on the prejudices they see. I’ve realised that I was brought up to be quiet spoken and pass unnoticed. That makes me angry, both at myself for taking so long to become aware of this and also at the cultures I come from. And I feel it’s important to say I identify as mixed race, a migrant, and an older woman.” Twitter @l_kiew
Robbie Burton
Robbie Burton
Robbie Burton’s first pamphlet, Someone Else’s Street (HappenStance Press, 2017) was published when Robbie was in her 70s. She writes, she says, about “thedaftnesses and tragedy of the everyday. Alongside people and place, my pamphlet features a donkey and a river, a pianola and a cellar, a clogged u-bend and a man with a mattock. Lightning makes a short appearance too.” Robbie credits Jo Bell’s online group ‘52’ with helping her to evaluate her writing and put her in touch with a supportive poetry community. A last-minute entry to the 2018 Ledbury Poetry Festival Competition was awarded 3rdPlace which means that Robbie will be reading her work at this year’s Festival – “It’s all so exciting!”
Pey Pey Oh
Pey Pey Oh
Pey Pey Oh is in her early 50s and her first pamphlet Pictograph (Flarestack Poets, 2018) came out last year. Its themes encompass marriage and identity, stories from her Malaysian culture and travels through China and the USA, interwoven with myth and narrative. Pey Pey uses the internet “to inform myself of events so I can go and listen to poets read.” She also belongs to several online creative communities – “I love #LossLitwrite club every first Wednesday of the month on Twitter and Visual Versewebsite every first week of the month. I’m a photographer on Instagram and so I’m more in touch with the visual communities there, they are a supportive bunch! These communities make me feel less isolated and part of a movement. In a way you’re anonymous. No one knows how old you are or judges you too obviously for it.” Twitter @msiagir
Jane Clarke
Jane Clarke
Irish writer Jane Clarke published her first poetry collection, The River (Bloodaxe, 2015) in her early fifties and her second collection, When the Tree Falls(Bloodaxe, 2019) will be published later this year. A pamphlet All the Way Home (Smith/Doorstop, 2019) has also just gone to press. Jane states that a recurring theme in her work “is the depth of our connections to people, place and nature.” Jane believes that the internet and social media have been invaluable to her creative practice “facilitating research, learning and the development of my craft as well as communication with readers and other writers. A poem from The Riverwas tweeted by someone in Edinburgh and read by the editor of a nature journal in Cornwall, who then came over to Wicklow to do an interview for the next issue. A poetry group in Massachusetts read my work online and then invited me over to give a reading. A film of one of the poems in my second collection was shared on Facebook and within a fortnight there were 8,000 views. Because of the internet and social media I can work at home in uplands Wicklow and be part of a national and international poetry community.” Twitter @jane_janeclarke
Panya Banjoko
Panya Banjoko aka Panya The Poet
Fifty-something writer, poet and spoken word artist Panya Banjoko is published by Burning Eye Books. Her debut collection Some Things came out in September 2018 although Panya has been writing and performing her work for over 20 years, at the same time as raising a family. Burning Eye describes Panya as “an adversary of oppression and discrimination worldwide and a critic of the current political landscape.” The writer says of Some Things “It’s a collection of tension: between the boxes made for us and the boxes we don’t want to fit into.” Panya Banjoko received the Women in the Arts Poetry Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2008 and the Black Achievers Culture, Music and Arts Award in 2017.
Susannah Hart
Susannah Hart
Also in her fifties, Susannah Hart’s first collection Out of True was published by Live Canon in October 2018. Susannah explains that the title of her book (a phrase taken from one of her poems, ‘Loft’) reflects the fact that her work often finds the unusual in commonplace things: “I like to create interesting stories, imagined or real, to make us look at the world around us from a different perspective. My poems can be about supermarkets or breastfeeding, political assassinations or Soviet submarines, rats or the fabric of language. Some poems are short stories, some are imagined events, some are personal recollections retold. I like to think that there is something we can learn or imagine from even the most ordinary experience.” Susannah sits on the board of the poetry magazine Magmawhich uses social media extensively and to good effect and Susannah also finds social media platforms helpful for keeping informed about poetry events and making her feel connected to the poetry community. Twitter @SusannahJHart
Josephine Corcoran’s work as a short story writer and playwright has been broadcast on BBC R4 and performed on stage. A graduate of the Creative Writing MA at UEA, she started writing poetry in her late 40s and her debut collection What Are You After? was published by Nine Arches Press in 2018. She lives in Wiltshire and works as a writer in schools and other interesting places.
Tottenham and Manchester United represented the English top-tier in the Champions League against their respective European counterparts, Borrusia Dortmund and Paris St Germain.
Even for neutrals there is something that unites the country when Premier League teams compete in the Champions League; no longer are we divided by transfer budgets, colour of kits or long-standing rivalries. Rather, for a rare and brief period, club is put aside in favour of country.
Borrusia Dortmund V Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs were going into the game having lost 4 of their last away games in all competitions. Their last win away being against Fulham on the 20th of January.
A 3-0 win at home in Wembley however, provided the north-Londoners with a firm advantage, and a cushion against a bloodthirsty Dortmund team with the raucous and hostile ‘yellow wall’ behind them.
The first-half was dominated by the Germans with Tottenham content with soaking up the pressure and hitting back on the counter. Most opportunities therefore fell to the home side as intense pressure and closing weeded out any potentially dangerous threats.
Shortly after the break Kane(48) scored in typical Kane fashion with a calm finish around Burki, making him Tottenham’s greatest scorer in European competitions.
At full time the game was settled with Tottenham taking a deserved 4-0 victory on aggregate, making them the first English team this season to qualify for the quarter finals. Pochettino will hope his teams form in the Champions League will translate to the Premier League and pull them out of their slump.
England’s fourth best challenged France’s best in Paris, as Manchester United stared down the barrel of a two goal deficit to Paris St Germain from the first leg at Old Trafford. With 10 first-team players, on the treatment table including a suspended Paul Pogba, United fielded an improvised 11.
With nothing to lose, United were fearless and produced a goal inside two minutes from a Lukaku strike as a result of a careless back pass from Kehrer.
Lukaku silences Paris with his second goal within 30 minutes Source: DailyStar
PSG made it all even in France, but at 1-1 United still persisted and resisted the dominance of PSG. In the 30th minute, United again managed to bring the game to PSG with a hard shot by Rashford being padded directly into the path of a poaching Lukaku who scored one of his easier goals. This brought the forwards tally to two for the night and is the third time in three consecutive games that he has scored twice.
In the final chapter of this dramatic game, United were awarded a late controversial penalty after a Dalot shot skimmed the arm of Pascal Kimpembe. The gravity and importance of the game alongside the fact the he has never taken a penalty in a competitive game did not stop the young Englishman, Marcus Rashford, from stepping up and smashing the penalty in the top corner. United’s remarkable turnaround was complete against all odds and in ‘Fergie Time’. Classic United.
Under Solskjaer, Man United have been an unrecognisable team: one that looks rejuvenated, hungry and eager to play for their manager. Wednesday night in Paris may have been miraculous, but the true turnaround began the minute Solskajer walked through the door at Old Trafford. City are the only team to have accrued more points in Europe’s top five leagues since his first game on the 22nd of December. On the lips of many, therefore, is one pertinent question, and it isn’t so much about will they, as it is about when will they appoint Solskjaer as Manchester United head coach?
Joshua Raj is a journalist for TCS scribe. A student at Loughborough University, he also plays various sports. Well he tries to. Having lived most of his life in South-East Asia, Joshua is interested in comparative politics and finance after being fascinated with how ‘governance’ has been applied by the rising economies in the region. Particularly, how they differ from the Western in which they seek to reconcile their own brand of rigid politics with fluid free-market economic principles.
The Swiss tennis legend won his 100th ATP men’s singles title in Dubai on Saturday, becoming only the second man in history to reach the milestone.
Eighteen years after his first ATP tournament victory in 2001, Roger Federer has edged closer to Jimmy Connors all-time record of 109. At 37, it is unlikely that Federer will have too many opportunities to overtake Connors in the standings, but his achievement should not be underestimated. In winning the Dubai Tennis Championships on Saturday, he moved six clear of Ivan Lendl in third, 10 ahead of Rafael Nadal and 27 in front of current world no.1 Novak Djokovic. When you compare the level of prestige in the titles won between Federer and Connors, the feat becomes even more impressive. Connors’ eight Grand Slams are dwarfed by Federer’s 20; a record for men’s singles tennis.
Now very much in the twilight of his outstanding career, it seemed fitting that Federer should win this title against a player just beginning to form their own. Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 20-year-old Greek challenger is already seen as a star of the future, after a brilliant year in which he reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open. It was very much a case of master vs apprentice on Saturday though, with Federer recording a straight sets 6-4 6-4 victory. A win for Tsitsipas could have brought things full-circle, with Federer’s first ATP title coming when he was just 19. Here are some of the greatest moments from his illustrious career since that moment.
That final (Wimbledon 2008)
Ironically, arguably the most memorable moment of Federer’s career is a final that he didn’t even win. Considered by many to be the greatest tennis match of all time, this was the day that someone finally put a stop to Federer’s dominance at SW19. Played over 5 sets; 4 hours, 48 minutes of play and numerous rain delays, it was a true epic. The third final in a row between Federer and Nadal, it represented much more than just one match. This was the highest point of an enduring rivalry between two of the sports’ greatest competitors. Such was the spectacle, that by the end of play it didn’t really matter to neutrals who the eventual victor was. Both players were champions, but Nadal was overwhelmed in victory and Federer typically graceful in defeat. The post match interviews with both players said all there is to know.
“I must congratulate Roger, he’s still the No1, he’s still the best, and he’s won five times here. But now I have one, and that’s very important to me.”
Rafael Nadal. Source: The Guardian
“I tried everything, but Rafa’s a deserving champion, he’s the worst opponent on the best court.”
Roger Federer. Source: The Guardian
If anyone thought this signalled the end of Federer’s dominance in world tennis, they were to be proved wrong just one year later.
Clay day
Source: TennisworldUSA
It’s rare for Federer to lose his cool on court, but this was the scene at the 2009 French Open final, when he broke down due to sheer relief after clinching victory. His first and still only French Open win, on his unfavoured playing surface was down to a mixture of fortune and determination. Nadal’s shock early exit to eventual runner-up Robin Soderling, handed Federer a route to the title that had long alluded him. In winning that day, he not only overcame this mental hurdle, but he also equalled Pete Sampras’ all-time record of Grand Slam wins and finally won the coveted ‘Grand Slam’; all four of tennis’ premier achievements. By winning the French Open and subsequent ‘Grand Slam’, Federer could now be definitively talked about in the upper echelons of tennis greats.
How does he do that?
Becoming almost a trademark of his game, whenever he pulls this shot off, everyone in the stadium is left with the same question. How? Nicknamed ‘the tweener’, it’s a trick-shot commonly seen in tennis, but few have been able to use it consistently as a winner like Federer does. First coming to international attention against Djokovic at the 2009 US Open, Federer was still using the move against Tsitsipas at the Australian Open in January. Typical of a player who has always played with such freedom throughout his career, sometimes as a spectator you just have to watch and admire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IUOewKwrKw
The comeback
Source: Sbnation.com
While obviously still playing and still dreaming of reaching the 2020 Olympics (where he would be on the eve of his 39th birthday) many thought Federer was ‘finished’ long before this year. Having not recorded a Grand Slam final victory since 2012, even the most die hard Fed-head could have been forgiven for not expecting any wins in 2017. Well, those expectations were well and truly dashed at the Australian open, where he beat old rival Nadal in another five set final to record his first Grand Slam title in close to five years. The evergreen 35-year-old then followed this up later in the year with an eighth Wimbledon win, before successfully defending his crown in Australia again in 2018.
Watching the veteran during this period; still winning tournaments by gliding across court in his trademark style felt almost like a Hollywood film where the old-pro comes out of retirement for one last hurrah. It was simply a joy to behold as a spectator. Now, with this 100th victory, long may it continue.
The world has been taken by a transgender storm in the form of former tennis star and Wimbledon winner Martina Navratilova, who retired with 18 major singles titles. Navratilova came out as a lesbian in 1981, and recently wrote an op-ed page opinion article in the Sunday Times.
“A man can decide to be female, take hormones if required by whatever sporting organization is concerned, win everything in sight and perhaps earn a fortune, and then reverse his decision and go back to making babies if he desires. It’s insane and it’s cheating.”- She writes in the article
Ms Navratilova, part of the LGBTQ community, has brought the unprecedented label of “transphobic”. Surely she would be an ally of the trans struggle.
Navartilova has since apologised for her comments. Have her comments brought forward a much-needed debate?
American Trans Athletes
In 2018 Terry Miller and Andraya Yearwood, black transwomen and student athletes, both 16 years old, opened up the same debate.
They both competed on the girls’ track and field teams at their high schools, and their state championship glory triggered a debate in their community. They have dominated competitions although they consume female hormones to reduce their testosterone.
Parents of other competitors were outraged as they felt it was an unfair advantage on young females who are born in the gender they identify with.
Caster Semenya
Olympic gold medal 800m winner Caster Semenya
Caster Semenya was born a woman, but she has higher testorone levels than ordinary female athletes. Caster Semenya is powerfully built, likened to that of a man and has dominated the 800m track event, but she has been subject to a comparison likened to the trans argument. Yet she was born a female, unlike the transwomen who want to compete in women’s sport.
Puberty is known as the “process of physical changes through which a child’s body matures into an adult body capable of sexual reproduction. It is initiated by hormonal signals from the brain to the gonads: the ovaries in a girl, the testes in a boy”. Transwomen who have been through the puberty process are even stronger, faster and broader, than those who have not gone through puberty.
Even the lung capacity of men is larger than that of a woman. They hold still the biological advantage of men. Hormone treatment does not reduce this advantage. However, Semenya has testosterone levels three times higher than the average women due to hyperandrogenism.
Hyperandrogenism is when the female body has high levels of male sex hormones such as testosterone. It causes acne, seborrhea (inflamed skin), hair loss on the scalp, increased body hair, masculine appearance, menstrual irregularities, a deeper voice and increased sex drive.
Due to this Semenya also has no womb or ovaries, instead, she has internal testes because of a chromosomal abnormality. Identifying as a woman, this is argued as she could be classed as “intersex”. However many biologically born women call for her exclusion as it provides an unfair disadvantage, whilst trans call for her inclusion.
Caster Semenya could not choose her biological make up, the trans community have.
Why is there not a trans games?
The solution is simple, men and women have a separate games in respect to sports. The only time men and women mix is in mixed doubles tennis. Could we have a mixed doubles in other sports that includes trans athletes?
The other side argues that inclusivity is simple irrespective of biological differences. It is deeply transphobic to not allow trans men or trans women to take part in the sport category that they identify with. Sport has been victim to unfair disadvantage such as: Height in basketball, geographical location, resources invested into athletes and even pphysiological components such as long legs, small torsos. so what difference will trans athletes make to sport that is inherently disadvantageous to some and advantageous to many?
Trans women and trans men should have their own games which would be curated by the LGBTQ community, this allows for a greater sense of authenticity, responsibility and accuracy in their own narrative. Why want to be included where you biologically do not fit in? Or should we only let those trans who have not gone through hormone therapy or puberty be allowed to compete? Or is this bioligically transphobic?
Let the women and men compete in their biological categories and trans women and trans men compete in a trans games celebrating their gender identity and sporting achievements.
Kelly Tolhurst, the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility, has announced proposals to ban the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDA’s) by employers to cover up allegations of bullying, sexual harassment and racism in the workplace.
This follows on from several high-profile scandals in 2018,
in which NDA’s were found to have been used unethically.
Phillip Green, chairman of the Arcadia Group which is owned by Tina Green and houses Topshop, Topman and Miss Selfridge, has allegedly used NDAs to cover up allegations of bullying and sexual assault by former employees.
Harvey Weinstein was also revealed to have used an NDA to cover up allegations that he attempted to rape one of his assistants. This NDA prevented the assistant in question from seeking therapy or legal advice, as it forbade the assistant from talking to medical practitioners and legal representatives if they also signed NDAs related to the allegations.
Kelly Tolhurst expressed concern that “non-disclosure
agreements have been used to hide workplace harassment and discrimination, or
to intimidate victims into silence. That is clearly unacceptable.”
She detailed the governments plan, stating that “the government will be consulting on measures to improve the regulation of non-disclosure agreements, including how best to ensure that workers understand their rights when they have signed a non-disclosure agreement.”
She did acknowledge that NDAs have legitimate uses in the
workplace, as they have “legitimate use in the protection of trade secrets and
when a settlement has been reached.”
Many organisations use NDAs to protect confidential information. The government recently came under fire, as they admitted to using NDA’s to keep their no deal planning a confidential matter. This was fresh off the heels of Theresa May condemning NDAs as unethical.
Proposals to limit the use of NDAs are likely to come under fire, as this will limit the bargaining power that employees have when confronted with workplace tensions. One who wishes to seek compensation for harassment in the workplace will be unable to do so through the use of confidentiality agreements, and will likely have to go through more formal methods of workplace dispute such as mediation and arbitration. This could potentially elongate the time spent to reach an adequate conclusion, therefore causing further distress to the employee.
It was an exciting weekend of games in the Premier League. We bring you a recap of all the big action and prepare you for what’s coming next!
North London Derby
Tottenham hosted Arsenal on Saturday, with the Gunners looking more at home showing a dominating display early on, culminating in an Aaron Ramsey goal within 15 minutes. The game was fairly even thereafter with both teams seeing chances, but a resolute Arsenal defence was broken by a carelessly given away penalty. Harry Kane effortlessly placed his shot in the bottom right corner of the goal, sending Leno the other way and bringing Tottenham level.
The ascent of Tottenham in recent years has made this fixture more entertaining and closer than ever, but despite finishing above Arsenal in the last couple of seasons, Spurs have had few comfortable victories over their rivals. History was about to repeat itself after a penalty was rewarded to Arsenal one minute into stoppage time. A comfortable save by Lloris from a poor and predictable Aubameyang penalty ended the game at 1-1.
Source: BBC Sport
Merseyside Derby
Coming into the clash with a game in hand, it was crucial for Liverpool to get all three points to regain their spot at the top of the league. Mid-table Everton looked to close the gap between themselves and 9th place West Ham who after a torrid start to the season under Pellegrini, would be glad they kept faith.
A staltemate of 0-0 was a fair result for both teams as the Reds failed to be clinical in the final third. The best chance of the game fell to Liverpool in the 28th minute as Fabinho, with an easy pass, set Salah through on goal. Only brilliant goalkeeping from England hero, Jordan Pickford, maintained the deadlock . Liverpool will be disappointed to not take more from the game with their fate now in Man City’s hands. Evertonians will be more than happy about their takeaways from the game and will be thankful that their out-of-form players did not cost them at the expense of seeing their greatest rival strengthen their claim for the Premier League title.
Manchester United entertained Southampton at Old Trafford on Saturday following a 3-1 win at Selhurst Park last week. Southampton drew blood first in the 26th minute with a sublime 30-yard strike catching De Gea at his near post. In typical United fashion, an undeterred and resilient early second half performance gifted two goals with Andreas Pereira (53) and Lukaku (59) scoring within 6 minutes of each other. Southampton playing for their lives as they face relegation, managed to draw level with a tantalising free-kick in the 75th minute. A Man of The Match performance was topped-off with a second goal from Lukaku to win the game in the 88th minute.
Chelsea and Man City both won last weekend, albeit through narrow margins with the former winning 2-1 over Fulham and City just about getting past Bournemouth in a 1-0 victory. Chelsea’s Higuaín, propelled his side into the lead but this was short lived as Callum Chambers equalised seven minutes later. Scott Parker was off to a dream start which was soon spoiled by an unlikely Jorginho winner, his first Chelsea goal from open play.
Cold Premier League welcome for Brendan Rodgers
Brendon Rogers took the helm at his new side, former Premier League champions, Leicester City, against a surprisingly in form Watford side. Leicester gave away an early goal through a smartly directed Troy Deeney header on the end of a cross from Deulofeu. Leicester managed to pull one back in the 75th minute as Jamie Vardy out ran Mariappa to cleverly finish with the outside of his boot.
Brendan Rodgers off to a turf start at the Foxes. Source: Fox Sport
Last gasp pressure by Leicester bore no fruit as a late goal by Andre Gray – assisted by Deeney in the 92nd minute – leaves Leicester in 11th place and with a long journey back to the East Midlands. Welcome back to the Premier League, Brendan.
Next week’s games
Solskjaer’s United travel to Arsenal on Sunday looking to continue their unbeaten run in the Premier League under his tenure. League contenders Man City and Liverpool each face tough games in Watford and Burnley, respectively. Burnley are an especially disciplined side who will look to frustrate Liverpool’s front three.
Chelsea face an equally difficult game at home to Wolves, and with everything to play for at at both ends of the table, every game is a cup final at this point.
Keep up to date with TCS for all the latest sports news.
Joshua Raj is a journalist for TCS scribe. A student at Loughborough University, he also plays various sports. Well he tries to. Having lived most of his life in South-East Asia, Joshua is interested in comparative politics and finance after being fascinated with how ‘governance’ has been applied by the rising economies in the region. Particularly, how they differ from the Western in which they seek to reconcile their own brand of rigid politics with fluid free-market economic principles.
“My mission is to make sure that nobody can say: ‘I didn’t know’.”
Yannis Behrakis
Whilst international security and conflict is a topic most often monopolised by politicians and writers, photographers play a pivotal role in how we understand and internalise the struggles of others. In 2015, the photograph of Alan Kurdi, a three year old Syrian boy photographed drowned on a beach, humanised those previously degraded as “cockroaches” in the refugee crisis. It was photography, not politics nor the likes of Katie Hopkins urging xenophobia, that was able to have the biggest effect in terms of changing Britons opinions. This importance is even more personified by Yannis Behrakis.
Behrakis was one of the worlds best-loved photographers, committed to representing those that are wrongly portrayed and demonised by mainstream media. What made his work and his legacy so extra-ordinary was his ability to reflect empathy into the photos he took. In a world where digitisation has led to mass desensitisation, Behrakis humanised his photos and that is what made them feel so personal. His images portrayed the experiences of what the subjects were going through – be that starvation, war, heartbreak or happiness and encapsulated them into photographs that touched those around the world. Behrakis was able to switch the narrative of pity and degradation that we often see in mainstream media, to a narrative that showed the strength and humility of those that are fighting for the rights we often take for granted.
Following his recent death, we have included below some of his pictures that made the most impact:
All photo credits go to Yannis Behrakis and Reuters.
It could be forgiven if the statement above came across as being insensitive. But in light of the events over recent weeks, this seems to be true. There are two different sets of citizenships that exist in Britain. One is for the white Britons with no apparent foreign ‘mixture’ who are inalienable, whilst the other is for those who are either foreign born or who’s foreign origin is noticeable.
A white Briton’s citizenship is seen as a right and yet for those of a minority background it is something to be earned. And even when it is earned it can be revoked at anytime.
Just a week ago Shamima Begum, the London teen who fled the UK to join the Islamic State group (Isis) in Syria, was stripped of her British citizenship. Faced with questions of the legality of such a decision, Home Secretary, Sajid Javid asserted that legally a British national who holds dual citizenship can have their British citizenship revoked.
The revoking of one citizenship is said to be reserved for serious crimes such as terrorism, however no proof has been provided to show if Begum even engaged in criminality while in Syria.
While we can probably agree that in certain cases relating to terrorism such a ruling may be legitimate. The acts imply one has taken loyalty to another country over their own. However, when a law becomes used as a discriminatory tool by judges, that is when a line must be drawn. Passport stripping of white non-UK nationals is far lower when compared to those of black or brown origins as – to put it plain terms – their foreign extraction is not detectable.
While Begum fights to prove her right as a British Citizen, “Jihadi John”- a white man who fled the UK to join Isis, has yet to have his passport stripped though he holds dual citizenship with Canada.
An image of Shamima Begum complete with fake bengali script was used at a shooting range.
Tiers of citizenship have always existed in Britain, the public have only just become aware of it
One just has to have a read of the 2014 Immigration Act to see proof of non-white Brits being seen as second-class citizens in a country they helped create. The controversial Act gave Home Secretary powers to revoke citizenship from British nationals who were either born outside of Britain or have parents/grandparents who hold dual citizenship.
Even those of the Windrush generation who under the 1948 British Nationality Act were proclaimed citizens of the United Kingdom, have been greatly affected by the Act. 2018’s Windrush scandal saw the uncovering of wrongful deportations of those from the Windrush generation and the Home Office’s refusal of granting citizenship papers to various individuals though a promise had been made to do so.
A light has been thrown on to what it exactly means to be a British citizen and judging from Home Office’s recent actions, a passport is not enough. British citizenship relies on a multi-layer of factors and the rights to it are not absolute – that’s if your not white.
if anyone is stupid enough to think that gun target is only about shamima begum, clock the fake bengali script they’ve written out her name in. it’s about hatred of all non-white immigrants.
Strictly come dancing winner Stacey has become the centre of a new controversy. In a recent spout on Twitter, MP David Lammy accused her of perpetuating the “white saviour” narrative with her trip to Uganda in Africa with Comic Relief. She posted a picture of herself cradling a boy whilst on a charity mission.
White saviour is defined as “a cinematic trope in which a white character rescues people of colour from their plight. This trope appears in an array of genres of films in American cinema, wherein a white protagonist is portrayed as a messianic figure who often learns something about him or herself in the course of rescuing characters of colour.”
David Lammy (Source: The Mirror)
Reggie and Bolie, former X Factor stars who have come out in support of MP David Lammy, have said Stacey Dooley is “peddling poverty porn”.
Alongside Emma Dabiri, a fellow black activist and a lecturer in the Africa department at SOAS also tweeted on Twitter.
The main issue with #ComicRelief exists beyond the problematic white saviour trope. Rather it’s the fact it entirely obscures the role the west plays is CREATING & PERPETUATING poverty in Africa. The west is not some philanthropic benefactor, its the cause of most of the problems
“Comic relief have raised over one billion pounds since they started. I saw projects that were saving lives with money. Kids’ lives.”
David Lammy responded via twitter :
Hi @StaceyDooley. This isn't personal and I don't question your good motives. My problem with British celebrities being flown out by Comic Relief to make these films is that it sends a distorted image of Africa which perpetuates an old idea from the colonial era.
David Lammy has rejected Comic Relief’s offer for him to make a film or visit their funded projects, demonstrating his firm standpoint on this new issue.
It’s not about me making a nice film, but about you giving some of your very privileged platform on the BBC to the hundreds of African comedians, filmmakers, celebrities and everyday people who live on the continent.
Uganda’s history is thought of in relation to Idi Amin, a dictatorial leader who ruled Uganda with an iron fist.
In 1971, General Idi Amin overthrew the elected government of Milton Obote and declared himself president of Uganda, launching an eight-year regime where an estimated 300,000 civilians were massacred. His expulsion of all Indian and Pakistani citizens in 1972—along with increasing military expenditures—brought about the country’s economic decline. This has lasted for decades and continues to be felt. In 1979 his reign of terror came to an end as Ugandan exiles and Tanzanians took control of the capital of Kampala, forcing Amin to flee. Never brought to justice for his heinous crimes, Amin lived out the remainder of his life in Saudi Arabia.
On the This Morning Show The High Commissioner of Uganda has detailed that Uganda does need UK aid for anything including the provision of education, support to the health sector, support for refugees. They are not comfortable with pictures of young people on social media being ‘saved’. The stance is clear and further validates David Lammy’s outrage. Uganda’s High Commissioner wants to move forward with more positive images of Uganda.
The Other Side
The other side will argue that this is the how we promote charity in Africa. Images is the way. It doesn’t always have to be about race. Some people would refer to what David Lammy highlighted as race baiting. Using the white card against her in an attempt to smear her genuine kind hearted efforts. Why should skin colour matter when it comes to someone helping someone else?
Is this the white saviour complex?
During the Windrush scandal David Lammy has emerged as a political giant of sorts. He speaks even more candidly and is clearly not afraid to challenge the establishment and narratives that serve to hurt the black community.
Stacey Dooley has unearthed a white saviour complex. However, we must question, what is the next possible alternative? When Reggie Yates, Ed Sheeran, have done charity work in Africa I have not seen the outroar. David Lammy claims it has nothing to do with Stacey being “white”, evidently it must be, since the term “white saviour complex” has been used. Maybe Lammy could coin an addition to an already existing term and instead use “British saviour complex”, if it was truly not about her “whiteness”.
David Lammy has spoken out against the narrative that charities are a force for utter moralistic good. Evidence does prove otherwise or even so, perhaps Stacey Dooley is nothing more than an innocent woman who wants to do good in Africa? After all she has made documentaries on social issues previously.
