BLACK CULTURE IS OUR CULTURE

If I am being honest, I am unsure what I should say. 

I mean… if I am being VERY honest, I know what I want to say but it’s articulating it in a manner that will not look petulant or immature. 

So here we go… 

First of all I want to congratulate the England Football team on reaching the final of Euro 2020. They have united the nation in a way that we haven’t seen since the 2012 olympics. Every single member of that squad, player or staff, should be proud of what they have achieved. They’ve made fans who switched off after continuous disappointment believe in England again. 

Also, while we are congratulating, a special mention must go to Gareth Southgate who has been impeccable since he started in the role of England manager. He is exemplary in the way he talks and conducts himself on certain issues. He has been able to capture the zeitgeist's opinion and understand the importance of highlighting certain issues. This has been extra important when we seem to have people in government who can’t seem to understand the feelings of the nation and are forever trying to catch up when the opinion shifts. 

On Sunday, England were one penalty away from European glory. One. Penalty. Bukayo Saka, who has arguably been one of the young players of the tournament, was one penalty away from sending the nation into bedlam. Jollof Rice would have been on the menu at our local chippy and Supermalt would have been the drink of choice in all packed lunches young and old. But like many greats before him, his penalty was saved. No problem Bukayo, you stood up to take one and for that you are a king. 

What has revealed itself since then has made me consider whether social media is even worth participating in. Italy hadn’t even lifted the trophy before the abuse started on Instagram, Twitter and other social media platforms. Fights broke out from what I saw in different parts of the country, people were angry and upset and racism showed its head once again. 

The same fans that were screaming Saka’s name only a game ago took to social media and started using language that you’d think had been left in the 70’s/80’s. Rashford, who missed a penalty but has fed two million kids this year with his free school meals programme had his mural in Manchester defaced. Sancho, another king who missed, I shudder to think what his comments section looked like either. 

At this point, you are probably asking why are we writing about this? We don’t discuss football, and racism is a big problem in football but in music it’s better right? Wrong. We’re writing about this because we are tired of seeing black people mistreated in any industry. It has to stop and you are the one that can stop it. 

Our government called it “gesture politics” when England said they would take the knee but now is calling the abuse “vile”. Our institutions seem to still pump money into snazzy campaigns but very little seems to change, so at Wordplay we are calling on you to start to make a change in your own community. 

As a Nigerian-British man I have long understood that if I do not change the people around me, help to educate those in need and also understand where I am wrong then I cannot ask for change from others. This England team has shown us what can happen when we come together & when we fight for each other. This England team has shown us what the future could look like if we start to see the benefits of our differences. 

Wordplay is a diverse team that is forever indebted to black culture in the UK, the 5 elements of Hip Hop which are our pillars have come directly from black culture. We find it harder and harder to watch black people who have brought us such joy be subject to such hatred because they missed a penalty? A fucking penalty… 

If you love the music, the food and drink, the hair, the dancing, the football players, the style and the swagger then g-check everybody around you when something is not right. I’m not asking you to do anything physical but we as a people need to start calling out racist and divisional behaviour and it starts with the people. I know it’s a ‘small minority’ but their voice is loud and we need to be very aware that these people are among us everyday. We’re also asking you to hold us accountable if you do not think we’ve acted in the correct manner. This battle is one that will last longer than all our lifetimes but it’s one that if we start tackling day by day we can see significant changes for our kids and kids’ kids. 

What we have seen since Sunday is abhorrent. Why should any black performer take to the stage? Why should any black restaurant owner open his shop today? Why should any black school teacher turn up today? Why should any black football player put on that shirt again if that is what they are going to receive? I’m tired. I’m very tired. You can’t benefit from our culture and not love our people, the two are not separate, they go hand in hand. 

There’s a parallel universe where Saka scored and every creed or colour are celebrating across the country. Joyous scenes and triumphant moments where people are coming together. But you know what? I’m glad I’m not in that universe, because now we are seeing England for what it truly is and I for one I will be doing everything to make sure it’s better for my kids and I know Wordplay will do the same too, will you? 

Words by Timothy Ogu