groups as possible or would you like to see the entire school history curriculum
see the entire school history curriculum Rewritten well I think it's important to
Rewritten well I think it's important to understand for me I think the dichotomy
understand for me I think the dichotomy of black and white can be a dangerous
of black and white can be a dangerous territory where we get into just
territory where we get into just focusing on that dichotomy rather than
focusing on that dichotomy rather than realizing that we need an overhaul in my
realizing that we need an overhaul in my view but again this is based on my
view but again this is based on my biases and the way I view the world we
biases and the way I view the world we need an overhaul generally depending
need an overhaul generally depending what we want the outcome to be I don't
what we want the outcome to be I don't think we should be naive history isn't
think we should be naive history isn't distorted by accident the what's on your
distorted by accident the what's on your curriculum isn't chosen by accident when
curriculum isn't chosen by accident when you watch the news there is an editor
you watch the news there is an editor for the news someone who decides what
for the news someone who decides what will and won't make the cut similarly
will and won't make the cut similarly with the design of a curriculum someone
with the design of a curriculum someone decides what will and won't make the cut
decides what will and won't make the cut I'm saying based on my view of the world
I'm saying based on my view of the world and what I'd like to see I would love to
and what I'd like to see I would love to see a more people centered curriculum
see a more people centered curriculum Full Stop in London we have particularly
Full Stop in London we have particularly London but UK as a whole we have people
London but UK as a whole we have people from all over the world we have people
from all over the world we have people from every reach of the British Empire
from every reach of the British Empire yet no one's ever explained to people
yet no one's ever explained to people that live in this country particularly
that live in this country particularly working-class people that maybe feel
working-class people that maybe feel displaced where are all these people
displaced where are all these people from India and Ghana and Nigeria and
from India and Ghana and Nigeria and Barbados and Jamaica came from it's just
Barbados and Jamaica came from it's just they just came out of finera after World
they just came out of finera after World War II all of these people who we've got
War II all of these people who we've got no idea where they came from just
no idea where they came from just descended upon Britain and if we look at
descended upon Britain and if we look at the r around immigration at the moment
the r around immigration at the moment that's still how a lot of it is conveyed
that's still how a lot of it is conveyed and no one ever says well actually I'm
and no one ever says well actually I'm we used to own their country and they
we used to own their country and they fought for us in a couple of world wars
fought for us in a couple of world wars aside from building our economy and
aside from building our economy and actually when my grandmother came here
actually when my grandmother came here she was a citizen of the British
she was a citizen of the British Commonwealth traveling from one part of
Commonwealth traveling from one part of the British Commonwealth to another so
the British Commonwealth to another so for me I don't think it's just about the
for me I don't think it's just about the inclusion of black history personally I
inclusion of black history personally I think a campaign to do that would be
think a campaign to do that would be misguided and wouldn't win I think it's
misguided and wouldn't win I think it's the inclusion of global history cuz we
the inclusion of global history cuz we live in a globalized world and if we
live in a globalized world and if we want our children to be able to function
want our children to be able to function in a world where they might need to
in a world where they might need to speak Mandarin which is a very real
speak Mandarin which is a very real economic possibility you can see our
economic possibility you can see our government kissing up to China right now
government kissing up to China right now right then we might need to teach them
right then we might need to teach them some things about the world if we want
some things about the world if we want to raise people that might want to go
to raise people that might want to go and work in Sagal or morania or India we
and work in Sagal or morania or India we going to need to raise people with more
going to need to raise people with more awareness but also for me it's about
awareness but also for me it's about human relations and it's
human relations and it's about reduction of conflict
about reduction of conflict if we have an understanding of the
if we have an understanding of the relationship between different cultures
relationship between different cultures historically I don't think we would be
historically I don't think we would be so quick to support Wars to support
so quick to support Wars to support unjust foreign policy to view people as
unjust foreign policy to view people as less than ourselves we'd be more warm to
less than ourselves we'd be more warm to other human beings so absolutely I have
other human beings so absolutely I have an agenda I'm not coming here I don't
an agenda I'm not coming here I don't believe in objectivity I think it's a
believe in objectivity I think it's a made up nonsensical idea that I can
made up nonsensical idea that I can transcend my upbringing my class
transcend my upbringing my class everything I've been through and just
everything I've been through and just speak on behalf of Bangladeshi women
speak on behalf of Bangladeshi women because I'm so objective no if I want to
because I'm so objective no if I want to know what Bangladeshi women think I'll
know what Bangladeshi women think I'll ask a Bangladeshi woman um so I am
ask a Bangladeshi woman um so I am totally projecting my my agenda and I
totally projecting my my agenda and I own that up front but for me I would
own that up front but for me I would like to see not just black history but
like to see not just black history but world history talk but I will add that
world history talk but I will add that for me my passion for learning world
for me my passion for learning world history came from panafrican Saturday
history came from panafrican Saturday school so as a young afro Caribbean
school so as a young afro Caribbean child growing up if I had swallowed the
child growing up if I had swallowed the eurocentric curriculum that told me
eurocentric curriculum that told me black people's only role in the human
black people's only role in the human story was first of all as being slaves
story was first of all as being slaves then getting set free by William wi
then getting set free by William wi force and then the civil rights movement
force and then the civil rights movement in America I probably would have had
in America I probably would have had very much pride in my own identity
very much pride in my own identity luckily I didn't swallow that curriculum
luckily I didn't swallow that curriculum cuz I went to a sep Saturday school that
cuz I went to a sep Saturday school that Caribbean people set up in the 1970s
Caribbean people set up in the 1970s there's a big movement in the 70s where
there's a big movement in the 70s where Caribbean set up Saturday schools to a
Caribbean set up Saturday schools to a teach black history but also to teach
teach black history but also to teach maths and Science and to improve on what
maths and Science and to improve on what they felt was a racist curriculum but
they felt was a racist curriculum but also the way their children were being
also the way their children were being dealt with in the schools I was a lucky
dealt with in the schools I was a lucky recipient of some of that knowledge and
recipient of some of that knowledge and it meant that I didn't feel inferior to
it meant that I didn't feel inferior to what I was been taught so I could engage
what I was been taught so I could engage with Shakespeare or Newton or Plato
with Shakespeare or Newton or Plato because I didn't feel intimidated by
because I didn't feel intimidated by that because I didn't feel that people
that because I didn't feel that people like me had never contributed anything
like me had never contributed anything to human progress so if we don't teach
to human progress so if we don't teach that history many people can come to the
that history many people can come to the world or come to world history with an
world or come to world history with an inferiority complex that is unjustified
inferiority complex that is unjustified and unnecessary thank you we're going to
and unnecessary thank you we're going to open up to questions from the floor if
open up to questions from the floor if you'd like to ask a question please put
you'd like to ask a question please put your hand up high and wait for the
your hand up high and wait for the microphone to come round to you could we
microphone to come round to you could we start with the gentleman in the third
start with the gentleman in the third row over
there first of all thank you so much that was incredibly eye opening thank
that was incredibly eye opening thank you um I was also uh wondering so um a
you um I was also uh wondering so um a lot of these civilizations probably had
lot of these civilizations probably had their own historical records as well
their own historical records as well right and a lot of the sources that we
right and a lot of the sources that we were seeing were from um Greece and some
were seeing were from um Greece and some other ones were those um I uh were those
other ones were those um I uh were those systematically destroyed or what what is
systematically destroyed or what what is the situation with historical records
the situation with historical records from say Egypt but also Ghana Mali yeah
from say Egypt but also Ghana Mali yeah so as I mentioned there there's 3/4 of a
so as I mentioned there there's 3/4 of a million documents surviving from the
million documents surviving from the malan Empire so those still survive
malan Empire so those still survive today they haven't all been translated
today they haven't all been translated so the only government in Africa
so the only government in Africa unfortunately that's put up any money to
unfortunately that's put up any money to start translating them is the government
start translating them is the government of South Africa so of course it's a very
of South Africa so of course it's a very slow process there's three4 of a million
slow process there's three4 of a million documents but already what has emerged
documents but already what has emerged from that process is a book called the T
from that process is a book called the T Al fatash which is a history of that
Al fatash which is a history of that area written by an African that lived in
area written by an African that lived in Timbuktu so up to this point most of the
Timbuktu so up to this point most of the documents have been Arab observers or
documents have been Arab observers or North African observers of West Africa
North African observers of West Africa or european observers because there was
or european observers because there was a mythology that West Africa didn't have
a mythology that West Africa didn't have any writing in the case of Nubia or
any writing in the case of Nubia or Sudan for example they have a writing
Sudan for example they have a writing system called meroitic but it's never
system called meroitic but it's never been deciphered unlike the ancient
been deciphered unlike the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs whereas in Ethiopia
Egyptian hieroglyphs whereas in Ethiopia they have their own records those have
they have their own records those have been deciphered they also used the
been deciphered they also used the Ethiopian alphabet to write Greek we
Ethiopian alphabet to write Greek we found in Sudan in medieval Nubia um
found in Sudan in medieval Nubia um essentially writings that are in several
essentially writings that are in several different languages in Greek in Latin so
different languages in Greek in Latin so we know it was a Cosmopolitan City that
we know it was a Cosmopolitan City that had relationships with the world so
had relationships with the world so there are documents but in many cases
there are documents but in many cases books have been destroyed we know the
books have been destroyed we know the Library of Alexandria was destroyed we
Library of Alexandria was destroyed we know mes American documents that doesn't
know mes American documents that doesn't relate to Africa but we know they were
relate to Africa but we know they were massively almost completely destroyed so
massively almost completely destroyed so we've had to piece back the history
we've had to piece back the history together in a way that accounts for the
together in a way that accounts for the fact that there's not as much written
fact that there's not as much written record despite Europe's massive amounts
record despite Europe's massive amounts of Wars there's what van calls archival
of Wars there's what van calls archival continuity we have the written documents
continuity we have the written documents so we can piece their history together
so we can piece their history together more easily whereas in the case of
more easily whereas in the case of Africa or meso America other colonized
Africa or meso America other colonized spaces we may have to use other forms
spaces we may have to use other forms things like botony things like
things like botony things like archaeology but the picture is still
archaeology but the picture is still emerging but that isn't for absence of
emerging but that isn't for absence of written documents so I want to make that
written documents so I want to make that I want to make that clear but ancient
I want to make that clear but ancient Egypt of course has some of the most
Egypt of course has some of the most copious amounts of written documents of
copious amounts of written documents of any ancient civilization
any ancient civilization it's just the myth that it's non-african
it's just the myth that it's non-african has
persisted can we go to the uh gentleman here on the front
row thank you very much first of all I hope you forgive me for a kind of
hope you forgive me for a kind of tangental question it's about music um
tangental question it's about music um about Grime specifically so Grime has a
about Grime specifically so Grime has a lot of traction at the moment
lot of traction at the moment particularly in Oxford skep doors here
particularly in Oxford skep doors here at the weekend Y and there's a lot of
at the weekend Y and there's a lot of white people there's a lot of public
white people there's a lot of public school people um Etc it's sort of you
school people um Etc it's sort of you know very into this kind of music um and
know very into this kind of music um and sort of dressing in whatever way and you
sort of dressing in whatever way and you know rapping and things like that to be
know rapping and things like that to be part of a movement which is which
part of a movement which is which they're not really part of in a socio
they're not really part of in a socio economic sense necessarily um do you
economic sense necessarily um do you think the sort of let's say public
think the sort of let's say public school and I don't want to say
school and I don't want to say appropriation but kind of enjoyment
appropriation but kind of enjoyment let's say of grime is something that is
let's say of grime is something that is perverse do you think it's something
perverse do you think it's something that's funny do you think it's something
that's funny do you think it's something that's actually Progressive well I think
that's actually Progressive well I think it depends on the individual in question
it depends on the individual in question I think someone enjoying another group
I think someone enjoying another group of people's culture there's nothing
of people's culture there's nothing perverse about that unless they have
perverse about that unless they have perverse opinions about the same group
perverse opinions about the same group of people whose culture they're claiming
of people whose culture they're claiming to enjoy so for example if I don't
to enjoy so for example if I don't respect your culture but I enjoy your
respect your culture but I enjoy your music if I don't respect your struggle
music if I don't respect your struggle but I enjoy your music that's a little
but I enjoy your music that's a little perverse so if we look back in history
perverse so if we look back in history at segregated clubs in America where the
at segregated clubs in America where the only black person allowed in the venue
only black person allowed in the venue was the black person on stage that's a
was the black person on stage that's a bit problematic in the era I live in
bit problematic in the era I live in quite right now labber Grove the old
quite right now labber Grove the old crack house has been turned into a a
crack house has been turned into a a club a very snooty sort of Caribbean
club a very snooty sort of Caribbean food serving club and and when too many
food serving club and and when too many black guys go there on the weekend
black guys go there on the weekend everyone gets uncomfortable but it only
everyone gets uncomfortable but it only plays reg music and serves Caribbean
plays reg music and serves Caribbean food you got to make up your mind which
food you got to make up your mind which one do you want and for me you can't
one do you want and for me you can't have black culture without black people
have black culture without black people I think not and Hill Carnival has become
I think not and Hill Carnival has become an example of that where they've sort of
an example of that where they've sort of turned it into red and and Leeds
turned it into red and and Leeds Festival there's nothing wrong with red
Festival there's nothing wrong with red and Leeds Festival they're great
and Leeds Festival they're great festivals but n Hill Carnival was set up
festivals but n Hill Carnival was set up directly in the wake of a racist murder
directly in the wake of a racist murder of a man called Kelo K crane to promote
of a man called Kelo K crane to promote and celebrate Caribbean culture I always
and celebrate Caribbean culture I always give people this example if I went to a
give people this example if I went to a Dali Festival which I have done many
Dali Festival which I have done many times in the UK and in India and
times in the UK and in India and everyone there was Jamaican and Ras
everyone there was Jamaican and Ras aarian I would complain not because I've
aarian I would complain not because I've got anything against Jamaican
got anything against Jamaican Rastafarians I didn't go to the valley
Rastafarians I didn't go to the valley to experience rastafarianism and so for
to experience rastafarianism and so for me if I go to not in Hill Carnival and
me if I go to not in Hill Carnival and it's no longer a celebration of
it's no longer a celebration of Caribbean culture that isn't about
Caribbean culture that isn't about hating anyone it's about asking why this
hating anyone it's about asking why this Festival that was set up for specific
Festival that was set up for specific purposes has been appropriated so I
purposes has been appropriated so I think no matter what class you're from
think no matter what class you're from you can engage in a different group of
you can engage in a different group of people's culture
people's culture constructively but many people don't do
constructively but many people don't do that does that make sense and there is a
that does that make sense and there is a particular type of performed Blackness
particular type of performed Blackness that people are willing to engage with
that people are willing to engage with without engaging with the oppression
without engaging with the oppression that has gone into creating that form
that has gone into creating that form does that make sense so I I I don't
does that make sense so I I I don't think necessarily because someone
think necessarily because someone happens to be wealthy and white that
happens to be wealthy and white that means they can't engage with black
means they can't engage with black culture in a constructive way but there
culture in a constructive way but there is certainly a condition
is certainly a condition of I want to cherry pick the bits of
of I want to cherry pick the bits of Blackness I'm willing to listen to and
Blackness I'm willing to listen to and hear and I don't really want to engage
hear and I don't really want to engage with the wider issues and I certainly
with the wider issues and I certainly don't want to deal with uh what went
don't want to deal with uh what went into creating Grime CU Grime is an
into creating Grime CU Grime is an offshoot in many ways of Hip Hop even
offshoot in many ways of Hip Hop even though many Grime artist would admit
though many Grime artist would admit that hip hop is an offshoot of the
that hip hop is an offshoot of the Traditions that come before it so many
Traditions that come before it so many of you even the artists themselves can
of you even the artists themselves can feed into this shallow depiction of the
feed into this shallow depiction of the culture which can be problematic for
please hi Cara um on the same sort of train of thought yeah um I wanted to ask
train of thought yeah um I wanted to ask you what your thoughts are on the nword
you what your thoughts are on the nword and like the use of that in rap music
and like the use of that in rap music because obviously as a white person I've
because obviously as a white person I've been brought up never to ever use that
been brought up never to ever use that word but a lot the music I listen to
word but a lot the music I listen to says it 20 times in every song so I
says it 20 times in every song so I wanted to know what your thoughts are on
wanted to know what your thoughts are on that and like whether you think it's a
that and like whether you think it's a word that's become obsolete or whether
word that's become obsolete or whether you think that there are negative
you think that there are negative consequences on the fact that it's so
consequences on the fact that it's so widely used I do I do I very much do I
widely used I do I do I very much do I used to be someone who use the word all
used to be someone who use the word all the time as some of you may or may not
the time as some of you may or may not know I came to a stage in my life where
know I came to a stage in my life where one of my oldest said to me you're
one of my oldest said to me you're better than that and I started reading a
better than that and I started reading a bit more I started studying the history
bit more I started studying the history of the word I started looking at the
of the word I started looking at the brutality that had been underpinned by
brutality that had been underpinned by this word let me be clear I'm not
this word let me be clear I'm not against people using the word I'm just
against people using the word I'm just against the stupid idea has now become a
against the stupid idea has now become a term of emment it hasn't it has so much
term of emment it hasn't it has so much blood attached to it for me it means
blood attached to it for me it means what is always meant it is a term of
what is always meant it is a term of white supremacist genocide it is a a
white supremacist genocide it is a a word that says African people are not
word that says African people are not human it was a way of reducing people to
human it was a way of reducing people to subhuman status which led to as I've
subhuman status which led to as I've said to you people being put in zoos or
said to you people being put in zoos or public lynchin in America where someone
public lynchin in America where someone could literally be barbecued in public
could literally be barbecued in public and people thought it was perfectly
and people thought it was perfectly acceptable to bring their child give
acceptable to bring their child give their child the day of school to come
their child the day of school to come and watch a person be barbecued in
and watch a person be barbecued in public rail systems would operate
public rail systems would operate special Lynch and day rail cards after
special Lynch and day rail cards after the Lynch and there'd be postcards with
the Lynch and there'd be postcards with the dead person on front of it they'd
the dead person on front of it they'd send out as souvenirs so this is the
send out as souvenirs so this is the history behind that words if we look at
history behind that words if we look at early hip-hop when hip-hop was a bit
early hip-hop when hip-hop was a bit more independent when hip-hop was owned
more independent when hip-hop was owned a bit more by the black community we see
a bit more by the black community we see that hip-hop was completely offensive to
that hip-hop was completely offensive to everyone you people would say cracker
everyone you people would say cracker they'd say honky they'd say you'd
they'd say honky they'd say you'd have ice cube making inappropriate songs
have ice cube making inappropriate songs like black Korea you'd have songs that
like black Korea you'd have songs that NWA songs that were about killing black
NWA songs that were about killing black people Hip Hop was just completely like
people Hip Hop was just completely like Punk it was just offensive to everyone
Punk it was just offensive to everyone but someone decided somewhere it was no
but someone decided somewhere it was no longer acceptable to say cracker and
longer acceptable to say cracker and honky and those kind of but was
honky and those kind of but was okay and for me when we look at who owns
okay and for me when we look at who owns hip hop most def made a song called old
hip hop most def made a song called old white men is running this rap it's
white men is running this rap it's called the rapes over it was on a a beat
called the rapes over it was on a a beat the same beat that Jay-Z made the
the same beat that Jay-Z made the takeover on and that song was taken off
takeover on and that song was taken off of his album without his label telling
of his album without his label telling him because he criticized white
him because he criticized white corporate ownership of hip-hop he said
corporate ownership of hip-hop he said some tall Israeli is running this rap
some tall Israeli is running this rap and that was taken to be
and that was taken to be anti-semitic Leo Cohen is tall and is
anti-semitic Leo Cohen is tall and is Israeli it's a statement of fact it
Israeli it's a statement of fact it wasn't anti-semitic he was like that's
wasn't anti-semitic he was like that's who's in charge of rap it's not black
who's in charge of rap it's not black people um and so I think that the use of
people um and so I think that the use of that word has become to me very gimmicky
that word has become to me very gimmicky has become a dangerous way of glossing
has become a dangerous way of glossing over the reality of what it was to be
over the reality of what it was to be black in America and certainly for me as
black in America and certainly for me as someone whose mother's white I don't
someone whose mother's white I don't understand the motivation for white
understand the motivation for white people to want to use the word when
people to want to use the word when people are like but why can't I use it
people are like but why can't I use it I'm white I'm like first of all why do
I'm white I'm like first of all why do you feel oppressed by that I'm confused
you feel oppressed by that I'm confused and knowing the history why do you want
and knowing the history why do you want to call your black friend let's
to call your black friend let's just deal with that for a minute cuz my
just deal with that for a minute cuz my mom's white and she's never had the
mom's white and she's never had the desire to say look at my little niggaer
desire to say look at my little niggaer son so I'm confused why people want to
son so I'm confused why people want to use the word now now black people can
use the word now now black people can figure out for ourselves whether or not
figure out for ourselves whether or not we think is intelligent to continue
we think is intelligent to continue using the word but why are young white
using the word but why are young white kids like I just want to I just want to
kids like I just want to I just want to this comes back to your question a
this comes back to your question a little bit this perverse sort of
little bit this perverse sort of Blackness is just a bit dangerous and
Blackness is just a bit dangerous and it's a bit sexy and it's a bit violent
it's a bit sexy and it's a bit violent oh can I say niggga can't I it's a
oh can I say niggga can't I it's a little bit of that yeah but I don't
little bit of that yeah but I don't think a song called honkies in Harlem
think a song called honkies in Harlem would get on radio
would get on radio one but in Paris will we've got
one but in Paris will we've got time for one more question uh could we
time for one more question uh could we go to the question on the back R there
go to the question on the back R there hi um you spoke earlier about how kind
hi um you spoke earlier about how kind of Lucky and fortunate you were to go to
of Lucky and fortunate you were to go to a Sunday school was it or it was
a Sunday school was it or it was Saturday Saturday oh um where you could
Saturday Saturday oh um where you could sort of experience a different kind of
sort of experience a different kind of History yeah um I wanted to know what
History yeah um I wanted to know what sort of specific advice would you give
sort of specific advice would you give to as well as people like me who um not
to as well as people like me who um not only have to deal with very whitewashed
only have to deal with very whitewashed Academia here but back where I'm from
Academia here but back where I'm from there's a lot of internalized kind of um
there's a lot of internalized kind of um denial of any contribution that you know
denial of any contribution that you know India or wherever made to civilization
India or wherever made to civilization in general um sort of dealing on both
in general um sort of dealing on both two different fronts if you like well I
two different fronts if you like well I think you have to uh a good friend of
think you have to uh a good friend of mine who's one of the youngest if not
mine who's one of the youngest if not the youngest professor in American
the youngest professor in American history G called MK Asanti Jr um whose
history G called MK Asanti Jr um whose dad was actually the guy who came up
dad was actually the guy who came up with the idea of afrocentrism
with the idea of afrocentrism interestingly enough that theory but his
interestingly enough that theory but his son always says take two sets of notes
son always says take two sets of notes you live in the world you live in I
you live in the world you live in I don't want to come here and pretend to
don't want to come here and pretend to you that I'm all depressed and
you that I'm all depressed and everything everyone has a struggle even
everything everyone has a struggle even to be brought up in a culture let's be
to be brought up in a culture let's be clear to be brought up in a culture that
clear to be brought up in a culture that teaches you are you are ethnically
teaches you are you are ethnically exceptional and then have to go to
exceptional and then have to go to school with a garan kid who's cleverer
school with a garan kid who's cleverer than you is difficult so I don't want to
than you is difficult so I don't want to pretend that everyone Brown has it
pretend that everyone Brown has it terrible and everyone white has it
terrible and everyone white has it wonderful there are challenges and
wonderful there are challenges and consequences of being brought up in a
consequences of being brought up in a culture that pathologically tells you
culture that pathologically tells you you're brilliant just because of the way
you're brilliant just because of the way you look how's that going to pan out for
you look how's that going to pan out for you in the real world it doesn't pan out
you in the real world it doesn't pan out so well so I I don't want to give the
so well so I I don't want to give the impression that it's all oneway traffic
impression that it's all oneway traffic in that sense if we look at suicide if
in that sense if we look at suicide if we look at uses of drug addiction I grew
we look at uses of drug addiction I grew up in workingclass inner city afro
up in workingclass inner city afro Caribbean London I've never been to a
Caribbean London I've never been to a party and seen people take heroin or
party and seen people take heroin or cocaine we I'm not saying people don't
cocaine we I'm not saying people don't sell cocaine or take cocaine but you
sell cocaine or take cocaine but you will never go to a party in hen and see
will never go to a party in hen and see tables full of cocaine and ketam in and
tables full of cocaine and ketam in and all those kinds of hard drugs that I see
all those kinds of hard drugs that I see when I go to festivals that are
when I go to festivals that are problematic in a way right so there are
problematic in a way right so there are issues that come for any uh kind of
issues that come for any uh kind of group identity but I would say in terms
group identity but I would say in terms of taking two sets of notes that means
of taking two sets of notes that means you have to do what you have to do to
you have to do what you have to do to get by in the workplace you have to do
get by in the workplace you have to do what you have to do to survive
what you have to do to survive in University but for yourself for your
in University but for yourself for your own spiritual center for your own
own spiritual center for your own well-being you have to expose yourself
well-being you have to expose yourself to a broader set of information beyond
to a broader set of information beyond the propaganda that you're being taught
the propaganda that you're being taught and that goes for you as a woman goes on
and that goes for you as a woman goes on many levels you know the history of
many levels you know the history of women in science are we to believe that
women in science are we to believe that women are less intelligent that's why
women are less intelligent that's why there's less women in science of course
there's less women in science of course not and when countries like Iran and
not and when countries like Iran and India are producing more female
India are producing more female scientists than the UK as a percentage
scientists than the UK as a percentage we have to ask ourselves why because all
we have to ask ourselves why because all we hear about gender relations of those
we hear about gender relations of those countries by the way the Indian Mission
countries by the way the Indian Mission Tom Mars a lot of the scientists who
Tom Mars a lot of the scientists who worked on it were women and they did it
worked on it were women and they did it for 10% of NASA's Mission to Mars and
for 10% of NASA's Mission to Mars and this was last year right so you can find
this was last year right so you can find inspiration in things that are even
inspiration in things that are even happening and evolv in now that's not to
happening and evolv in now that's not to say that gender relations in India are
say that gender relations in India are all of a sudden wonderful because of
all of a sudden wonderful because of that is to say we only hear one side of
that is to say we only hear one side of it so I think you have to give yourself
it so I think you have to give yourself a broader picture for me I find a lot of
a broader picture for me I find a lot of solace in reading a lot of solace in
solace in reading a lot of solace in acquiring greater information um and
acquiring greater information um and it's not just about therapy it's about
it's not just about therapy it's about learning these things to inform action
learning these things to inform action as Dr John henr Clark says and I'll
as Dr John henr Clark says and I'll close with it history is is a map which
close with it history is is a map which people which tells people where they
people which tells people where they have been and where they must go history
have been and where they must go history is a clock on which people tell their
is a clock on which people tell their cultural political and socioeconomic
cultural political and socioeconomic time of day so history is not just to
time of day so history is not just to Naval gaze and say our ancestors are
Naval gaze and say our ancestors are great but we're not our well is to say
great but we're not our well is to say oh this is the history as Europe does
oh this is the history as Europe does right now there go Greece Rome
right now there go Greece Rome Enlightenment 21st century if you pick
Enlightenment 21st century if you pick up a violin tomorrow and you want to
up a violin tomorrow and you want to learn classical music they're going to
learn classical music they're going to take you to 14th century Florence
take you to 14th century Florence whereas if you're a rapper it's very
whereas if you're a rapper it's very unlikely that anyone's everever told you
unlikely that anyone's everever told you the connection to West African malyan
the connection to West African malyan griots their relationship to Jazz then
griots their relationship to Jazz then Blues then reggae music and giving you
Blues then reggae music and giving you that sense of continuity cuz it's broken
that sense of continuity cuz it's broken history and that's what I'm interested
history and that's what I'm interested in rebuilding so take two sets of notes
in rebuilding so take two sets of notes I'm afraid that's all we have time for
I'm afraid that's all we have time for this evening but we are going to be
this evening but we are going to be heading into the bar so please do come
heading into the bar so please do come and have a drink and continue the
and have a drink and continue the conversation with aala in there please
conversation with aala in there please join me in thanking aala B go thank you
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