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 reggae 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 Top of the Pops, 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 sound system 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 Ranking Joe, 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 Maxi Priest 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 the Independent 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 Channel 4 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 the Guardian 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 Ghana, Uganda, Liberia, Kenya 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.