Threads 18.06.20 – We Have Sound 20.6

Threads 18.06.20

We Have Sound 20.6

Music

John Coltrane – Alabama

Moor Mother – Waiting Time / Wading Time

Beverly Copeland – Good Morning Blues

Heroes are Gang Leaders – London Butterfield

Matthew Bourne – Dave Black

Pink Siifu – We Need Mo Color. Abundance

Celer – Laughing Waters

Krzyzis – Ain’t No Grey Skies at Night

Reggae George – Three Wicked Men (Version)

Love Joy’s – All I Can Say

Love Joy’s – All I Can Say (Version)

Quelle Chris & Chris Keys – Mirage (feat. Earl Sweatshirt, Denmark Vessey, Merrill Garbus & Big Sen)

Moor Mother – Sound Is Fossil Poetry

Kami-O – Aura (Argo Remix)

Ago – Blur

Commodo – ContrabandLogan – Black Power

Logan – All Together

Antconstantino – Éok

Jynxstarr – Chaos Theory Instrumental

Sporting Life – Please Just Be

LyeForm – Waking Life

Actress – Raven

Ikonika – Your Body

Manga Saint Hilare & Murkage Dave – Weird Kid In The Ends (Mike Skinner Demo)

Digital Mystikz – Anti War Dub

Kendrick Lamar – Alright

Change

We live in fast moving times, a sense of unrest was palpable even before the outbreak of Covid 19. 

In these days of uncertainty, I have found that taking a longer view – and reading about related historical events to contemporaneous unfolding situations can provide a clarifying perspective. This distance can be more useful in finding reason than trying to engage, bleary eyed with the turbulent moment. 

However, considering recent events in the United States of America; and the conversations they provoked worldwide like this offered little clarity. Taking a longer view only showed us that for some people in our societies, the turbulence has been unrelenting. The truth is, that there was no moment here – just the world we live in, laid out in front of us to see. We live in fast moving times, but some things have been allowed to drift into backwaters and have grown deep roots there.

 

Change isn’t easy, and identifying what we need to in ourselves, and society could be a life’s work. It is clear we have so much more to do. We can not take comfort in the small progress made – because the acknowledgement of work to be done is the acknowledgement that we ask some people to suffer discrimination whilst we make things right. 

I put this show together thinking about these things . I felt events were not those that could be overlooked – however, my voice is not one that needs to be heard right now. By sharing some voices that I think do offer something important and pertinent I hope to have (within the limitations of this radio show) contributed something useful to someone. Sources of the samples on the show are shared below for further reading and listening.

Sources

Reverend Jesse Jackson meets with elected officials and faith leaders in Minneapolis, and holds news conference on the death of George Floyd.

As well as looking historically to find some perspective or understanding, I also find that listening to voices I do not usually listen to can be useful. I am not religious, but much of what I heard seemed to speak so clearly about how people were feeling in those days in late May.

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“Rev. Jesse Jackson has not left his home for 70 days and he came to 38th and Chicago”

Audio from this Tweet recorded by someone who has connected with me over the years I have been doing radio felt an important inclusion.

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Darcus Howe on London civil unrest in 2011

I have used audio from Darcus Howe before on this show, his unique voice spoke with clear truth on these issues in the UK for decades.

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Mangrove Nine

This short documentary of the landmark Mangrove Nine case in 1970 is uncomfortable but essential. 

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Denzil Forrester on Talk Art

I was introduced to the art of Denzil Forrester last year at a Jah Shaka even, when I saw him sketching in the gallery at Subterania. After the event I found more about his art (which it turns out I had already seen many times at Brixton Underground Station). As I began to think about police brutality in the UK recently – some of the stories he told on this podcast about his experiences and influences came very much to the fore.

 

Marcia Rigg speaks about Sean Riggs death in police custody. 

As I thought about the story Denzil Forrester tells of the tragic killing of Winston Rose – I was startled into considering the unpleasant similarities in Macia’s account of Sean Rigg’s killing.

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Akala speaks about education

As much as we must address things that need immediate attention, the work of making these changes consensual, wilful and lasting requires us to educate the next generation better. How we consider and frame history, who’s stories we tell and the perspective we think of them from are things we should all think about. Akala put forward some insightful thoughts about this, along with so many others in this essential conversation.

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John Boyega in Hyde Park

The passion of John Boyega addressing the crowd at a Black Lives Matter protest in London, which I am sure many have already seen speaks for itself.

 

Beverly Glenn-Copeland

I have been mesmerised by his music, which I have discovered far too late, but it has been a real source of light and beauty in recent times. It was sad to read about the financial situation he currently faces.

Donations in support can be made here – or of course buying music is another great way to get money to an artist.