Change Ready or Not

Rooftop: we arrived So  a friend and I went to a rooftop party in the neighbourhood around July. This was the second time that I had attempted to go to this event.   I was glad that this time I  had made it and had some good  company. You know good company is priceless because even if the party is rubbish you can still have a good time chatting, laughing and dancing to whatever music  they manage to play that gets your feet moving. Music promised to be 'tight' , in other words good, and I was wearing flats (a bonus). I was ready to throw down.  The days of dancing in heels is over for me. Sad but true. Anyway had free ticket,  had to get in there by a specific time and was raring to get into the party spirit. Whilst I'm not fussed about paying I think that I have reached that point now where I really want to access some good stuff for free. I mean for the years of contributing and paying I am due some freeness and good free events at that ! ...

The other night I went to listen to Diane Abbott MP deliver a Redmond O'Neill Memorial Lecture: From Ferguson to London Black Lives Matter. Ms Abbott gave a good lecture. She historically contextualized the psyche that has implicitly linked Black people to the concept that we are somehow inhumane. This false conceptualisation has encouraged some white people to view black people as 'animals' and as such has allows black people to be treated and perceived as animals therefore never having to refer to our humanity (crudely stated but you get my meaning). Whilst listening I wondered how could we move forward from this current place. I mean what could I expect in a half hour lecture? Yes unity and solidarity in numbers against injustice is a good tactic. Unite with others who suffer this same stigma gives us common ground to fight against state oppression. But how can we expect to change the state and its way of dealing with diversity and those who are different?   (Mm...