Barbican - Exhibit B - My response. My Voice.

In the UK the Barbican attempted to put on an 'art' show that caused a storm of protest from the Black community. 

My blog today  is in response to an articles comments that was reported by  The Stage News on 3 October 2014 . The title of the article is  “Arts leaders unite against ‘moronic’ threat to free speech” and can be found in full at link below.

 http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2014/10/arts-leaders-unite-moronic-threat-free-speech/

When I started to write my response to this article I found myself searching for information to back up my responses. I then realised.  My voice is enough.

I didn't need to see the mentioned cancelled show, at the Barbican, in order to feel its degradation upon the skin of my ancestral history.   You may use the term ‘art’ to justify the objectification of the so called ‘other’ but the protest, and its protesters,  said that this was not acceptable.  You found supporters, both black and white, to defend this piece of work and they echo your thoughts. That is democracy, freedom of speech and they and you now enjoy the limelight and the stage.  But I find it interesting,  that  not once did you ask me,  a black British person from the diaspora, how I actually might have felt about this ‘show’ being staged. I didn't need to see it to feel uncomfortable at the sight of black men and women shackled willingly or not for the sake of someone paying £20.00 to see them in this way. The UK education system has taught me their version of slavery and I have researched more for my own sake. So no the idea of seeing black people shackled for me is not 'art'. For all your intellectualising I found it rude,  no bad mannered,  of you not to at least touch base with the the normal 'man' on the street for his/her view point.  Or did you ask your supporters for thier view points and they gave you the responses you sought ? 

I heard someone say if a German artist, such as this South African person, had created a show recreating the gas chambers of the Second World War. Then got Jewish actors to lie down, slump or re-enact being gassed while the public paid £20.00 to watch.  There would be an outcry!  I felt sick. Why do we have to make comparisons like this in order for you to understand how I as black person might feel?  Regardless of history books I know that my people suffered a ‘holocaust’ during the years of slavery when millions of undocumented black men, women and children were thrown overboard into the ocean to die.

By using terms such as " moronic" devalues my intellect, my history, my expression and my freedom of speech. I am not a Moran. The media's attempt to spread a false image of this  protest is to be expected. I think it was naive of the board, and its supporters, to think  that there would not have been an outcry or backlash from the Black community here in the UK.  In fact I think you did not believe that a woman, like Sara Myers, would have rallied over 25,000 or more signatures to object to the show. I think you were not prepared for the expression or outcry and if there was to be some objection,  I believe, that you thought it would be from the usual suspects ( ie activists such as  Lee Jasper et al). These are people who you were aware of and for whom you had responses ready and prepared.

Yes the protesters made noise and made it  feel uncomfortable for members of the board, and others,  to enter the 'art show' without knowing how they felt. Did anyone get arrested for shouting or making noise? I think not. Did anyone get arrested for preventing people from entering the event? I think not. Did anyone get arrested for getting physical with those entering the event. I think not. This was an organised event that clearly left you in no doubt how the protesters felt. This protest showed the power of collective action and collective expression not "moronic"  action or expression. 

So am I interested in controlling your life or your thoughts? No! I’m interested in exercising my right to speak out and if that results in your ‘show’ closing that just a consequence. Another consequence is that I am now interested in where the Barbican spends the 55% of City of London funding that it receives (remember this is public funding)  and whether they promote and support Black British ‘Art’ in the same way they appear to promote and support South African.