Difficult discussions
I have used sound clips in reference to events a number of times over the many radio shows I have presented over the years. It is always a daunting thing to do because of the danger of alienating someone, or to present an idea that you later regret, or reframe your thinking on. However, I think more and more that presenting ideas is always useful, and also I have also always felt confident in what I knew – and what it was that I was addressing.
After a person from our music community voiced numerous miss-informed statements, anger fuelled slurs and outright hatred towards a group of people in our society I initially felt quite clear at what it was that needed to be addressed. However as events unfolded and another ugly side of our society crashed into the situation, highlighting another set of prejudices and depressing double standards I felt less sure of this. The incident showed just how deep and entangled societies problems are. Also, the more I things unravelled, and the more I engaged with it, the less I realised I knew and understood.
As hesitant as this made me, having engaged with other racism on this show a few times, I felt it was important to do so again here – and more importantly for me to do some work to try and have a bit more of a perspective. I read, spoke to friends of friends, parents of friends and friends of parents of friends who sent me other things to read or watch.
During the time I spent reading about this I was surprised at the number of times I found out things I understood as truths were either half truths or even examples of previous misrepresentations, this is an old hatred. I feel differently about a number of world situations current, recent and past after this process, and I still have a lot to understand. What I feel or think though, is not so important – sharing some informed perspectives might be; sample sources are listed and linked below.
Language
We must be careful about how we use language – especially in these days when we use it so publicly. Like a lot of things we have been dealing with recently, this is very complex – but one thing that seems very apparent about our discourse at the moment is how divided it is. Common parlance might perhaps be to reference both sides, and in these extruded times picking a side seems to be something we do all too easily. Defining fractious issues using simple two sided language can create framework that we start to attach reality to. I have seen the word ‘they’ used very frequently recently, often without the they in question having been identified, sometimes this might be implicit – but our words can hang around for a while, and can travel a long way away from their context. ‘They’ easily becomes a void which anything can fill, we should be careful how we use it.
Music.
Laurence Pike – Weightless
FRKTL – Rhododendron Forest Rescue
Szun Waves – Slow Motion
Passepartout Duo – Hvalur
Bvdub – Not Yours to Find
Lord RAJA – Boxing
First Circle – Ian Rankin
SBK & Eyez – Bits
Rakjay & Logan – Move From We
Grandmixxer – Windrush VIP
Proc Fiskal – Prop O Deed
Devonwho – Adds
Lord RAJA – Think a Drink
HarryWhitaker – Black Renaissance
Kwake Bass – Live at Jazz Refreshed
Lupe Fiasco, Kaelin Ellis, Virgil Abloh – Shoes
Duval Timothy – Look
Ssaliva – Terrain
False Moniker – Escape Path
Earl Grey feat. Dead Man’s Chest – Fugitive Version
Soviet Space Research Institute – ARPA Interceptor
Mala – Forgive
Djoser – Goose
Samples.
Cable St
In 1930s Europe, anti-semitism was everywhere. Europe did stand up to fascism eventually, but I think our understanding of other countries – including the UK’s relationship with racism is widely under-considered.
Medieval Anti-Semitism
I was actually looking for audio related to Martin Luther, which I could not find (if this is a new name for you this is a good introduction) when I found this clip. There are a number of lectures online from Henry Abramson – his perspectives on the emergence of racism out of a non specific fear-of-the-other as well as the long view they provide I found particularly useful.
Origins
Frequently in light of the above mentioned events when discussing these topics with otherwise well informed and fair minded people I heard ideas about how ‘Of course they are good with money’ or other tropes come into conversation. I find myself wary of these kind of ideas and wanted to try and understand them better. Initial research underlined my understanding that usury laws in the medieval period is the route of certain stereotypes, Julie Mell’s research suggests that this might itself be an excuse and not an explanation.
Technology
This is an old hate, as such one that has been in our midst for a long time. The ease of access and therefore the speed that this can travel today is however is something new.
Notes.
Vision of Sound.
I mentioned this Podcast by friend and Photographer Georgina Cook on this week’s show, Emma Warren discussing community and music (amongst other things) gave me a lot to think about.