KOLA E-ZINE Black Knight Communication http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com March 2011 Issue 41

Articles :- Editorial An inconvenient truth – A Midsomer murder 2 Smiley Culture 3 Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman 5 Dates to remember for Black History (March) 10 England's smartest family 15 Former Customs & Excise Senior Officer receives New Year's David Victor Emanuel Honour 16 also known as Political Correctness 'Smiley Culture' Don't call animals “it” in 1963 - 2011 the Bible 17 Tories pose with golliwogs in PC stunt 20 What does KOLA mean? 21

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 1 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com politically correct." I am sure this is not news to any Black and ethnic minority audience member where we continue to search for faces that reflect our own, EDITORIAL only to find them in stereotypical roles of drug dealers and hood rats. However, Mr True May spoke an inconvenient truth that could be a metaphor for the rest of society.

An inconvenient truth – A Midsomer murder

I don’t know about you, but I found the actions of the Yes society should be more inclusive, but for the program makers of Midsomer murder’s in suspending large part those in control/power probably also producer, Brian True-May, the height of hypocrisy. perceive that these all white bastions they preside over work. His fellow producers or TV network could not have slept walked through these past 14 years and not notice they have only employed one person of colour, a mixed race actress by the name of Indria Ove, an actress with natural blonde tousled hair and green eyes.

Brian True-May Brian True May simply let cat out of the bag in that the lack of ethnic faces is purposely designed and that he wanted to make a programme "that appeals to a certain audience, which seems to succeed." Whilst he agreed when questioned whether Englishness should include different ethnic minorities he remarked “Well, it should do, and maybe I'm not Indria Ove

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 2 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com Yes, out of many we are one (as per the Jamaican national motto), but Ms Ove is not the typical image that springs to mind when you think Black woman or indeed mixed race woman. Smiley Culture 10 February 1963 – 15 March 2011

Smiley Culture was one of the first artists to produce a home-grown version of that expressed a British identity and bore comparison with the original Jamaican style. His other hit, Cockney Translation (1984), was a typically humorous guide to Cockney slang delivered in Jamaican patois: "Cockney say scaarper. We say scatter Cockney say rabbit. We chatter We say bleach. Cockney knackered Cockney say triffic. We say waaacked!"). The song has become a tool for English teachers wanting to illustrate the influence of immigration on the English language. Though Smiley Culture's chart success was short-lived, his fast-paced, comical blend of London street talk, stand-up entertainment and reggae rhythms paved the way for such performers as The Streets and Dizzee Rascal.

Smiley Culture, who died on March 15 aged 48, allegedly from self-inflicted stab wounds during a police drugs raid, produced 2 of the most influential reggae singles of the 1980s, notably Police Officer, a song about police harassment. The supposedly autobiographical song ("Everytime me drive me car police a stop me superstar"), reached number 12 in the charts in 1984 and told of his being caught in possession of cannabis but being He was born David Emmanuel in 1962 to a Jamaican let off with a request for an autograph when the father and a Grenadian mother and grew up in officer concerned recognised him as a reggae star. Stockwell, south London. He attended Tulse Hill School where he acquired the nickname "Smiley" It earned Smiley Culture an invitation to meet the due to his method of chatting up girls – he would ask Queen who, he claimed, said she listened to his them for a smile. As reggae became popular he and records at Buckingham Palace. He also appeared his friends would practise "chatting" – rapping twice on , the BBC apparently failing staccato lyrics over rhythm tracks. to understand the meaning of the term "ganja". The refrain, "Police officer no give me producer", a After leaving school Smiley Culture became a DJ reference to a notice to produce driving documents with the reggae Saxon Studio at a police station, became a catchphrase on South International and worked with artists such as Maxi London streets. Priest, Papa Levi and Tippa Irie, popularising the "fast chat" style of talking over records. This was inspired by Jamaican acts such as , but taken to new levels by Saxon MCs (deejays). Eventually Smiley Culture was signed by the London-based

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 3 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com reggae label Fashion Records.

Tippa Irie In September last year (2010), however, he appeared at Croydon magistrates' court, charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine. At the time of his death he was out on bail but due to face trial next Monday. The police raid on his home at Warlingham, Surrey, came after 2 kilos of cocaine were recovered from a drugs mule who had been apprehended trying to enter Britain – allegedly as part of a separate plot in which Smiley Culture was implicated. After his chart success, he was signed by Polydor, A police source claimed that the singer asked to be although his debut album, Tongue in Cheek, and allowed to make a cup of tea and killed himself with accompanying single Schooltime Chronicle (1986) a carving knife while he was in the kitchen. The did not sell well. He made a cameo appearance Police Complaints Commission is to same year in the film Absolute Beginners performing investigate his death. a lyrical version of Miles Davis's So What. He also hosted the television show Club Mix in Source: 1986 and 1987. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/cultur e-obituaries/music-obituaries/8386589/Smiley- Culture.html

Papa Levi Apparently stung by the lack of financial reward for his work, he quit the music business soon afterwards. David Emmanuel Last summer he told that he had gone Then: Early-80s reggae MC Smiley Culture into gold and diamond mining in Africa after "serious Now: Diamond mine manager businessmen in the East End" had given him money My hit single Police Officer was a true story – the to make investments. He also claimed to have been police used to take my weed. It was better than given £1 million to promote a record for the being arrested, and I made that into a hit. With government of Azerbaijan. Cockney Translation I was a Black man talking cockney. I integrated cultures even though I didn't understand it at the time. I was invited to meet the Queen, who said she listened to my records in the

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 4 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com palace. Although I paved the way for people like the 30, 1926) was an American civil aviator. She was the Streets and Dizzee Rascal, I left the music business first Black female pilot and the first Black person to because I wasn't rich. hold an international pilot licence. I first became aware of the possibilities for mining Elizabeth was born on January 26, 1892 in Atlanta, after visiting Grenada, where my mother comes Texas, the tenth of 13 children to sharecroppers from. Cockney Translation had endeared me to a lot George and Susan Coleman. Her father was part of serious businessmen in the East End of London, Cherokee. Elizabeth began school at age 6 and had and because of the records, I'd met a lot of influential to walk 4 miles each day to her all-black, one-room. people who helped me get investment. At school I thought diamonds came from vaults: now I've got gold and diamond mine concessions in , , , and the Congo, and I'm promoting a record for the Azerbaijan government. Recently, I bought an expensive car in cash, which resulted in a visit by the police. It was like Police Officer all over again.

Despite sometimes lacking such materials as chalk and pencils, Elizabeth was an excellent student. She loved to read and established herself as an outstanding maths student. Coleman completed all eight grades of her one-room school. Every year, Elizabeth's routine of school, chores, and church was interrupted by the cotton harvest.

Source: In 1901, Elizabeth's life took a dramatic turn: George http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/sep/23/p Coleman left his family. He had become fed up with op-stars-musicians-jobs-careers?INTCMP=SRCH the racial barriers that existed in Texas. He returned to Oklahoma, or Indian Territory as it was then called, to find better opportunities, but Susan and the Elizabeth “Bessie” children did not go with him. Coleman

At the age of 12, Elizabeth was accepted into the Missionary Baptist Church. When she turned eighteen, Elizabeth took all of her savings and enrolled in the Oklahoma Coloured Agricultural and Normal University (now called Langston University) in Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman Langston, Oklahoma. She completed only one term before she ran out of money and was forced to Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman (26 January 1892 – April

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 5 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com return home. Elizabeth knew there was no future for France her in her home town, so she went to live with 2 of Elizabeth Coleman took French language class at her brothers in Chicago while she looked for a job. the Berlitz school in Chicago, and then travelled to Paris on 20 November 1920. Elizabeth learned to fly Chicago in a Nieuport Type 82 biplane, with "a steering In 1915, at the age of 23, Elizabeth moved to system that consisted of a vertical stick the Chicago, Illinois, where she lived with her brothers thickness of a baseball bat in front of the pilot and a and worked at the White Sox Barber Shop as a rudder bar under the pilot's feet."[6] manicurist. There she heard tales of the world from pilots who were returning home from World War 1. They told stories about flying in the war, and Elizabeth started to fantasize about being a pilot. Her brother used to tease her by commenting that French women were better than Black women because French women were pilots already. She could not gain admission to American flight schools because she was Black and a woman. No Black US aviator would train her either.

Nieuport Type 82 biplane On 15 June 1921, Coleman became not only the first Black woman to earn an international aviation license from the Fédération Aéronautique, but the first Black woman in the world to earn an aviation pilot's license. Determined to polish her skills, Elizabeth spent the next 2 months taking lessons from a French ace pilot near Paris, and in September sailed for New York. Robert S Abbott Airshows Founder of the Chicago Defender Elizabeth Coleman quickly realized that in order to make a living as a civilian aviator—the age of Robert S Abbott, founder and publisher of the commercial flight was still a decade or more in the Chicago Defender encouraged her to study abroad. future—she would need to become a “barnstorming” Elizabeth received financial backing from Jesse stunt flier, and perform for paying audiences. But to Binga (a banker) and the Defender, which capitalized succeed in this highly competitive arena, she would on her flamboyant personality and her beauty to need advanced lessons and a more extensive promote the newspaper, and to promote her cause. repertoire. Returning to Chicago, Elizabeth could find no one willing to teach her, so in February 1922, she sailed again for Europe. She spent the next 2 months in France completing an advanced course in aviation, then left for the Netherlands to meet with Anthony Fokker, one of the world's most distinguished aircraft designers.

Jesse Binga

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 6 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com Expeditionary Force of World War 1.

Members of the World War 1 all-Black 369th American Expeditionary Force Held at Curtiss Field on Long Island near New York City and sponsored by her friend Abbott and the Chicago Defender newspaper, the show billed Elizabeth Coleman as "the world's greatest woman flier" and featured aerial displays by 8 other Anthony Fokker American ace pilots. She also travelled to Germany, where she visited the Six weeks later she returned to Chicago to deliver a Fokker Corporation and received additional training stunning demonstration of daredevil manoeuvres— from one of the company's chief pilots. She returned including figure 8's, loops, and near-ground dips—to a to the United States with the confidence and large and enthusiastic crowd at the Checkerboard enthusiasm she needed to launch her career in Airdrome (now Chicago Midway Airport). exhibition flying. In September 1921, she became a media sensation when she returned to the United States. "Queen Bess," as she was known, was a highly popular draw for the next 5 years. Invited to important events and often interviewed by newspapers, she was admired by both Blacks and Whites.

But the thrill of stunt flying and the admiration of cheering crowds were only part of Elizabeth's dream. Elizabeth never lost sight of her childhood vow to one day "amount to something." As a professional aviator, Elizabeth Coleman would often be criticized Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" biplane by the press for her opportunistic nature and the flamboyant style she brought to her exhibition flying. She primarily flew Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" biplanes and However, she also quickly gained a reputation as a army surplus aircraft left over from the war. In Los skilled and daring pilot who would stop at nothing to Angeles, California, she broke a leg and 3 ribs when complete a difficult stunt. her plane stalled and crashed on 22 February 1922. She made her first appearance in an American Through her media contacts, she was offered a role airshow on 3 September 1922, at an event honoring in a feature-length film titled Shadow and Sunshine, veterans of the all-Black 369th American to be financed by the Black American Seminole Film

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 7 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com Producing Company. She gladly accepted, hoping the publicity would help to advance her career and provide her with some of the money she needed to establish her own flying school. But upon learning that the first scene in the movie required her to appear in tattered clothes, with a walking stick and a pack on her back, she refused to proceed. "Clearly," wrote Doris Rich, "[Bessie's] walking off the movie set was a statement of principle. Opportunist though she was about her career, she was never an opportunist about race. She had no intention of perpetuating the derogatory image most whites had of most blacks." Lieutenant William J. Powell (right) at the Bessie Coleman Aero Club Death On 30 April 1926, Coleman, at the age of 34, was in Jacksonville, Florida. She had recently purchased a Curtiss JN-4 Jenny in Dallas, Texas, and had it flown to Jacksonville in preparation for an airshow. Her friends and family did not consider the aircraft safe and implored her not to fly it. Her mechanic and publicity agent, William Wills, was flying the plane with Coleman in the other seat. Coleman did not put on her seatbelt because she was planning a parachute jump for the next day and wanted to look over the cockpit to examine the terrain. About 10 minutes into the flight, the plane did not pull out of a planned nosedive; instead it accelerated into a tailspin.

Lieutenant William J. Powell serving in France in 1917 Coleman would not live long enough to fulfill her greatest dream—establishing a school for young, Black aviators—but her pioneering achievements served as an inspiration for a generation of Black American men and women. "Because of Bessie Coleman," wrote Lieutenant William J. Powell in Black Wings 1934, dedicated to Coleman, "we have overcome that which was worse than racial barriers. “We have overcome the barriers within ourselves Chicago Defender 30 April 1926 and dared to dream." Powell served in a segregated unit during World War 1 and tirelessly promoted the Elizabeth was thrown from the plane at 500 feet and cause of Black aviation through his book, his journals, died instantly when she hit the ground. William Wills and the Bessie Coleman Aero Club, which he was unable to gain control of the plane and it founded in 1929. plummeted to the ground. Wills died upon impact and the plane burst into flames. Although the wreckage of the plane was badly burned, it was later discovered that a wrench used to service the engine had slid into the gearbox and jammed it, causing the plane to spin out of control. Experts noted at the

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 8 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com time that gears in more modern planes had a protective covering — an accident like this need not have happened. Legacy and honours Her funeral in Jacksonville, Florida on 2 May 1926 was attended by 5,000 mourners. Many of them, including Ida B Wells, were prominent members of Black society. Three days later, her remains arrived in Orlando, Florida, where thousands more attended a funeral at the city's Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Her last journey on May 5 was to Chicago's Pilgrim Baptist Church. An estimated 10,000 people filed past the coffin all night and all day. After funeral services, she was buried in the Lincoln Cemetery. Over the years, recognition of Coleman's accomplishments has grown. Coleman's impact on aviation history, and particularly Black Americans in aviation, quickly became apparent following her death. In 1927, Bessie Coleman Aero Clubs sprang up throughout the country. On Labour Day, 1931, Mae Jemison these clubs sponsored the first all-Black American Mae Jemison, physician and former NASA astronaut, Air Show, which attracted approximately 15,000 wrote in the book, Queen Bess: Daredevil Aviator spectators. That same year, a group of Black (1993): "I point to Bessie Coleman and say without American pilots established an annual flyover of hesitation that here is a woman, a being, who Coleman's grave in Lincoln Cemetery in Chicago. exemplifies and serves as a model to all humanity: Coleman's name also began appearing on buildings the very definition of strength, dignity, courage, in Harlem. integrity, and beauty. It looks like a good day for flying.”

In 1989, First Flight Society inducted Coleman into their shrine that honours those individuals and groups that have achieved significant "firsts" in aviation's development. A second-floor conference room at the Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, DC, is named after Elizabeth Coleman. In 1990, Chicago Mayor Richard M Daley renamed Old Mannheim Road at O'Hare International Airport, "Bessie Coleman Drive." In 1992, he proclaimed 2 May "Bessie Coleman Day in Chicago."

In 1995, she was honoured with her image on a US postage stamp and was inducted into the Women in Aviation Hall of Fame. In November 2000, Coleman was inducted in The

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 9 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com Texas Aviation Hall of Fame She is the subject of 3 March 1877 – Garrett Morgan, inventor, born (1877 Barnstormer, a musical that debuted 20 October – 1963). 2008 at the National Alliance for Musical Theater Festival in New York; the book and lyrics are by Cheryl Davis and the music is by Douglas Cohen. In 2004, a small park in the Southside Chicago Hyde Park neighbourhood was named "Bessie Coleman Park." Additionally, the Bessie Coleman park council was formed in 2005 as one of many responses to a serious increase in crime, shootings, and disorderly loitering in and near the park, at 54th and Drexel.[14]

Fatima Whitbread 3 March 1981 – Fatima Whitbread, athlete and 1984 and 1988 Olympic medalist, born. 4 March 1770 – Crispus Attucks died (1723 – 1770).

In 2007, a street in Gateway Gardens, Frankfurt am Main, Germany was named after her. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessie_Coleman Dates to Remember for Black History (March)

Eddy Grant 5 March 1948 – Eddy Grant, musician, born.

Joyce Jee Esien 2 March 1979 – Joyce Jee Esien, actor and comedian (3 Non Blondes), born.

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 10 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com Andrew Young 12 March 1932 – Andrew Young former UN ambassador and former Mayor of Atlanta, born. 13 March 1794 – Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin, based on the ideas and plans of a slave. Viv Richards 7 March 1952 – Viv Richards, Cricket player, Somerset, and West Indies captain, born.

Ben Challenger Baroness Valerie Amos 7 March 1978 – Ben Challenger, athletics high 13 March 1954 – Baroness Valerie Amos, politician, jumper, born. born. 9 March 1913 – Harriet Tubman, "engineer" of the 13 March 1977 – Fanie Lou Hamer, freedom fighter, Underground Railroad, died (1821 – 1913). died. 11 March 1789 – Benjamin Banneker with L'Enfant began to lay out Washington in the District of Columbia, 1789. 12 March 1773 – Jeanne Baptiste Pointe de Sable founded settlement now known as Chicago, Illinois.

Tessa Sanderson 14 March 1979 – Tessa Sanderson, athlete (the

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 11 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com javelin), born.

Courtney Pine 18 March 1964 – Courtney Pine, Jazz musician, born. 18 March 1970 – Queen Latifah, actor and musician, born. Samuel Cornish and John Russwurm 19 March 1883 – Jan Matzeliger invented the first 15 March 1827 – Freedom's Journal, first Black machine to manufacture entire shoe. newspaper, published by John Russwurm and Samuel Cornish. 16 March 1806 – Norbert Rillieux, inventor of sugar refining, born (1806 – 1894). 17 March 1885 – William F Cosgrove patents automatic stop plug for gas and oil pipes. 17 March 1890 – Charles B Brooks patents street sweeper. 17 March 1932 – Carmen Munroe, actor, born.

Lee Scratch Perry 20 March 1936 – Lee Scratch Perry, musician, born.

Dr Frances Cress Welsing 18 March 1935 – Dr Frances Cress Welsing, author of The Isis Papers, born.

Spike Lee

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 12 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com 20 March 1957 - Spike Lee, film director, born.

Dr Walter Rodney Freema Agyeman 23 March 1942 – Dr Walter Rodney, politician, born 20 March 1979 – Freema Agyeman, actor, born. (1942 – 1980). 21 March 1990 - Nambia gained its independence from South Africa. 21 March 1492 - Alonzo Pietro, pilot, sailed with Columbus. 21 March 1965 – Selma Freedom March, 1965

Floella Benjamin 23 March 1949 – Floella Benjamin, television presenter, born.

Alvin Kalicharran, 21 March 1949 – Alvin Kalicharran, cricket player, , West Indies International and Kenya team coach, born. 22 March 1898 – J W Smith patents lawn sprinkler.

Robbie Gee 24 March 1970 – Robbie Gee, actor, born.

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 13 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com Ellery Hanley Angelica Bell 27 March 1961 – Ellery Hanley, rugby league player, 24 March 1976 – Angelica Bell, television presenter, England International and coach, born. born. 28 March 1870 - Jonathan S Wright appointed the 25 March 1931 – Scottsboro Boys arrested, Point first Black State Supreme Court Justice in South Rock, Alabama. Carolina. 26 March 1872 – Thomas J Martin awarded patent 29 March 1898 – W J Ballow patents combined hat for fire extinguisher. rack and table. 26 March 1937 – William Hastie, first Black US Federal judge, appointed.

Diana Ross 26 March 1944 - Diana Ross actor and singer, born. Olaudah Equiano 31 March 1797 – Olaudah Equiano died. 31 March 1986 – Christopher Clyde-Green, actor, born. 31 March 1988 – Toni Morrison wins Pulitzer Prize for Beloved.

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 14 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com England’s Smartest Family

To Peter and Paula’s parents, this is nothing new. Chris Imafidon said he and his wife have been through this before: they have other super-gifted, overachieving children. Peter and Paula Imafidon Peter and Paula's sister, Anne-Marie, now 20, holds the world record as the youngest girl to pass the A- Meet the "First Family of Education" in England. level computing, when she was just 13. She is now They are black. studying at arguably the most renowned medical school in the United States, Johns Hopkins Peter and Paula Imafidon, 9-year-old twins from University, in Baltimore. Waltham Forest in North East London, are a part of the highest-achieving clan in the history of Britain's Another sister, Christina, 17, is the youngest student education. The 2 youngest siblings are about to to ever get accepted and study at an undergraduate make British history as the youngest students to institution at any British university at the tender age ever enter high school. They astounded veteran of 11. And Samantha, now age 12, had passed 2 experts of academia when they became the rigorous high school-level mathematics and statistics youngest to ever pass the University of Cambridge’s exams at the age of 6, something that her twin advanced mathematics exam. That's on top of the siblings, Peter and Paula, also did. fact they have set world records when they passed the A/AS-level math papers.

Chris Imafidon, their father, said he’s not concerned about his youngest children’s ability to adapt to secondary school despite their tender age. “We’re delighted with the progress they have made,” he said. “Because they are twins they are always able Chris Imafidon migrated to London from Nigeria in to help and support each other.” West Africa over 30 years ago. And despite his children’s jaw-dropping, history-making academic achievements, he denies there is some “genius gene” in his family. Instead, he credits his children’s success to the Excellence in Education programfor disadvantaged inner-city children.

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 15 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com explorer, writer, and an abolitionist who lived in 18- "Every child is a genius," he told British reporters. century England. He published an autobiography "Once you identify the talent of a child and put them titled The Interesting Narrative in March 1789; it was in the environment that will nurture that talent, then a best seller, and went into nine editions to 1794. He the sky is the limit. Look at Tiger Woods or the worked alongside other abolitionists including Williams sisters (Venus and Serena) — they were Granville Sharpe, Thomas Clarkson, and William nurtured. You can never rule anything out with them. Wilberforce. The competition between the two of them makes them excel in anything they do." Former Customs & Excise Senior Officer receives New Year's Honour Arthur Torrington

Sam King MBE

From being relatively unknown to many millions of people in the UK, Arthur took the leading role in working to make Olaudah Equiano become a household figure. He and Sam King MBE (the first Black Mayor of the London Borough of Southwark) This month (March 2011) Arthur Torrington receives a founded The Equiano Society in 1996, and by 9 CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) February 2009, the name of Equiano (also known as honour from Her Royal Highness for outstanding Gustavus Vassa, for most of his life) was enshrined service to the community, especially for his work in on a plaque in St Margaret’s Church, Westminster conserving the memory and writings of Olaudah Abbey, where he was baptised 250 years before. Equiano. The award was announced in the Queen’s New Year’s (2011) honours list. Arthur is now working on a new project, EQUIANO in EUROPE, which would see Equiano featured as a key figure in Britain, The Netherlands, Germany and Russia, because The Interesting Narrative was published in English, Dutch (1790), Germany (1792), and Russian (1794).

Olaudah Equiano Jamaican immigrants aboard Equiano was a former enslaved African, able the ship SS Windrush seaman, war-veteran (Royal Navy), businessman,

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 16 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com The Equiano Society also publicises the life and The NIV is a popular translation of the Christian Bible. times of Ignatius Sancho and Ottobah Cugoano An updated translation was released this month. The (Black Britons) who made significant contributions to translators said 95% of the 1984 translation remains African literary and cultural heritage. the same. But the committee of scholars made a move to be more gender-inclusive in their translation Arthur received an OBE in 2002 for his service into English from the original Hebrew and Greek community relations and to Windrush Foundation, a texts. charity that publicises the history and heritage of African Caribbean men and women who settled in According to the Committee on Bible Translations the UK after WWII, and who laid the foundation here website: In general, much more often than not ... for other migrants. Windrush Foundation also "People” and "humans” (and "human beings”) were promotes good race and community relations. widely used for Greek and Hebrew masculine forms referring to both men and women. ... "Ancestors” was regularly preferred to "forefathers” unless a specific, limited reference to the patriarchs or to another all- male group is intended. PETA is hoping the move toward greater gender inclusiveness will continue toward animals as well. “When the Bible moves toward inclusively in one area ... it wasn’t much of a stretch to suggest they move toward inclusively in this area," Bruce Friedrich, PETA's vice president for policy, told CNN.

Political Correctness Corner Don't call animals “it” in the Bible

Bruce Friedrich Friedrich, a practicing Roman Catholic, said, "Language matters. Calling an animal 'it' denies them something. They are beloved by God. They glorify God. God’s covenant is with humans and animals. God cares about animals," Friedrich said. "I would think that’s a rather unanimous opinion among biblical scholars today, where that might not have been the case 200 years ago.” Friedrich, who is also a vegan and suggests the Bible promotes vegetarianism, puts a religious face on PETA's ethical arguments. “What happens in slaughterhouses mocks God,” he said. People know The lion and the lamb intuitively that "animals are 'who' not 'what.' ... Acknowledging it would better align our practices PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of with our beliefs.” Animals, is calling for a more animal-friendly update to the Bible. The group is asking translators of the New International Version (NIV) to remove what it calls "speciesist" language and refer to animals as "he" or "she" instead of "it."

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 17 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com Noah's Ark "It’s a little bit misleading given the fact in English the David Berger gender of the pronoun means something. It refers to David Berger, the dean of Yeshiva University’s the masculinity of the person or the animal that’s Bernard Revel graduate school of Jewish studies, being referred to. In Hebrew in most cases its just said making the shift in English PETA is requesting sort of an accident of the masculine or feminine of would be difficult given the nature of ancient the pronoun to which it referred," Berger said. Hebrew. “In Hebrew all nouns are gender-specific. So the noun for chair is masculine and the noun for earth is feminine. There’s simply no such thing as a neutral noun," Berger told CNN. “It’s unusual to have a noun that would indicate the sex of the animal.”

David Lye Jeffrey Donkey David Lyle Jeffrey, a distinguished professor of “In Proverbs it says, 'Look at the ant oh lazy person. literature and the humanities at Baylor University, See its ways,' " Berger said, quoting the English teaches about ancient texts and the Bible's transition from the Book of Proverbs. "In Hebrew it’s relationship to literature and the arts. 'see her ways.' That's because the word for ant in Hebrew happens to be female. It’s not intended to exclude male ants as far as I know. It’s just an accident the Hebrew word happens to be feminine.” He said that verse and many others are not intended to single out one sex or the other of the animals.

Sheep

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 18 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com “I agree with their contention that God cares for all of creation," Jeffrey said. "It is true that we have a responsibility to reflect that affection. In gender- inclusive Bible translation the generic terms for humankind, let's say, are then replaced with an emphasis on he or she. Instead of the generic he, you say he and she. I don’t quite see how that would work with animals," Jeffery said.

Goat PETA's Friedrich said his group's position has been bolstered by the creation care movement, in which many evangelicals are becoming more conscience about the environment. Camel "Do we need to know the gender of the lion Samson slew? What would it give us there?" he said. "You could try to specify that, but you would be doing so entirely inventively if you did. It's not in the original language. ... Nothing is made of it in the story."

Serpent Swine "The creation care movement is certainly helpful,” he Jeffery said he sympathizes and agrees with PETA's said. “Whether their arguments will be enough to position that God calls for humans to care for sway the translators is yet to be seen.” Friedrich said animals, but he said, "When you get to the point he has yet to hear back from the Committee on Bible when you say, 'Don’t say it, say he or she' when the Translation. text doesn’t, you’re both screwing up the text and missing the main point you addressed."

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 19 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com be worrying about at the moment. I think it's much better to discuss and debate issues of political correctness like golliwogs than to let them fester."

Dove

Source: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/23/pe ta-dont-call-animals-it-in-the-bible/ Tories pose with golliwogs in Bill Etherington political correctness stunt Mr Etheridge has since joined the United Kingdom Independence Party, and will stand against the Tories in the May council elections. A spokesman for the Conservative Party said: "Following a complaint by members of the voluntary party in the area, two Conservative members have resigned." Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ conservative/8399925/Tories-pose-with-golliwogs- in-political-correctness-stunt.html

Star Etherington Two prospective Tory councillors quit the party after posting a picture of themselves posing with a golliwog toy on Facebook to "provoke a political correctness debate". Bill and Star Etheridge, a married couple from Dudley, West Midlands, resigned after they were suspended following a complaint about the picture, which the Tories said "might bring the party into disrepute".

The couple, who are members of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, claim to have posted the picture to promote a "healthy debate." Mr Etheridge, 41, said: "We both thought that the Conservative Party would have had bigger issues to

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 20 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com BLACK HISTORY WALKS

What does KOLA mean? KOLA means ‘Keeping Our Links Alive.’ KOLA was first started in 1992 as a Support Group for Black For more details visit (African, Asian and Caribbean) members of staff in www.blackhistorywalks.co.uk the (former) Customs and Excise who were concerned with their personal career development, BE A COMPUTER USER FIRST their training needs and many other Equal Opportunity issues. From a Support Group, KOLA soon developed into a Black member’s staff network. Computer Problems? Need Training and Advice? KOLA identified the needs of its members and developed its own appraisal workshops to enable Black staff to fully understand and appreciate how Contact the appraisal system can benefit their career paths. KOLA has also organised skills seminars with the aim Beacuf of enhancing the life skills of its members. KOLA is an external organisation and continues to Keep Our Links Alive.

IT Consulting Training Computer Repair Virus and Spyware Removal Data Recovery FEEDBACK KOLA E-Zine welcomes constructive feedback. If you would like to make a positive contribution to this E-Zine, please send your articles, comments, letters, Linux consulting etc. to the editor at the following e-mail address: Linux is free quality software for your computer. Suitable for home and business use. Linux is an alternative to Microsoft Windows which works very thespecialenvoy @googlemail.com well on both modern and older PCs. No need to throw away that ageing computer give it a new lease of live with Linux. To avoid any threat of disciplinary action, please do Conversion service not circulate the contents of this E-Zine on any of the Convert your old audio and video tapes to CD, DVD, MP3 or Hard Drive storage. Department's e-mail systems. Qualified Trainer, IfL Registered Disclaimer KOLA does not claim credit for any images featured on this site, unless otherwise noted. Usually we try to give credit when and where we can. All visual content, copy and images, is copyright to its 07939 884 900 [email protected] respectful owners. We are neither responsible, nor have we control, on content of any external website links. Information featured on this site can contain errors or If you cannot read the above advertisements, inaccuracies, although we try all in our power to please increase page size with the 'Zoom' factor avoid this. If you own rights to any of the featured images and articles and do not wish to appear here, please don’t hesitate to contact us for direct removal.

KOLA E-Zine March 2011 Issue 4 21 http://kolanetwork.wordpress.com