do I look like a spy now I asked this because when I was doing my PhD and a
because when I was doing my PhD and a
because when I was doing my PhD and a PhD is a three-year piece of research I
PhD is a three-year piece of research I
PhD is a three-year piece of research I wanted to study black education that
wanted to study black education that
wanted to study black education that wasn’t in the university right wasn’t in
wasn’t in the university right wasn’t in
wasn’t in the university right wasn’t in schools so I went to what we call the
schools so I went to what we call the
schools so I went to what we call the black supplementary school movement
black supplementary school movement
black supplementary school movement which has existed for about 50 years in
which has existed for about 50 years in
which has existed for about 50 years in the UK and because of the racism the
the UK and because of the racism the
the UK and because of the racism the black children face in the mainstream
black children face in the mainstream
black children face in the mainstream schools the parents the teachers the
schools the parents the teachers the
schools the parents the teachers the churches organizations set up these
churches organizations set up these
churches organizations set up these different spaces outside the mainstream
different spaces outside the mainstream
different spaces outside the mainstream Saturday schools supplementary schools
Saturday schools supplementary schools
Saturday schools supplementary schools so I wanted to research those spaces and
so I wanted to research those spaces and
so I wanted to research those spaces and to see what was done differently and
to see what was done differently and
to see what was done differently and what could we learn and I went to I
what could we learn and I went to I
what could we learn and I went to I picked out one of the most radical
picked out one of the most radical
picked out one of the most radical Saturday schools I could find has a long
Saturday schools I could find has a long
Saturday schools I could find has a long history one of the oldest Saturday
history one of the oldest Saturday
history one of the oldest Saturday schools and I went to this organization
schools and I went to this organization
schools and I went to this organization first day I got there this man comes up
first day I got there this man comes up
first day I got there this man comes up to me he’s got his finger in my chest
to me he’s got his finger in my chest
to me he’s got his finger in my chest and he’s saying you’re a spy
and he’s saying you’re a spy
and he’s saying you’re a spy you’re a spy for the white man why are
you’re a spy for the white man why are
you’re a spy for the white man why are you here right and I’m like I’m young at
you here right and I’m like I’m young at
you here right and I’m like I’m young at the time I’m like wow that’s this that’s
the time I’m like wow that’s this that’s
the time I’m like wow that’s this that’s deep it’s a misunderstanding like I’m
deep it’s a misunderstanding like I’m
deep it’s a misunderstanding like I’m trying to do good stuff right but that I
trying to do good stuff right but that I
trying to do good stuff right but that I swear that has been really important as
swear that has been really important as
swear that has been really important as my career’s gone on and thinking about
my career’s gone on and thinking about
my career’s gone on and thinking about Black Studies and what we’re trying to
Black Studies and what we’re trying to
Black Studies and what we’re trying to do because it wasn’t a misunderstanding
do because it wasn’t a misunderstanding
do because it wasn’t a misunderstanding he was mad and he was suspicious for
he was mad and he was suspicious for
he was mad and he was suspicious for good reason the university is
good reason the university is
good reason the university is historically one of the most racially
historically one of the most racially
historically one of the most racially racist institutions that we have it was
racist institutions that we have it was
racist institutions that we have it was university knowledge that proved that I
university knowledge that proved that I
university knowledge that proved that I was not actually a person that justified
was not actually a person that justified
was not actually a person that justified the slave trade racial science eugenics
the slave trade racial science eugenics
the slave trade racial science eugenics the university is as institutionally
the university is as institutionally
the university is as institutionally racist as the police force
racist as the police force
racist as the police force never forget that so when I’m going
never forget that so when I’m going
never forget that so when I’m going around with PhD dr. this etc etc in many
around with PhD dr. this etc etc in many
around with PhD dr. this etc etc in many ways I may as well be showing a badges
ways I may as well be showing a badges
ways I may as well be showing a badges as West Midlands Police and carrying a
as West Midlands Police and carrying a
as West Midlands Police and carrying a truncheon that’s how some people view
truncheon that’s how some people view
truncheon that’s how some people view you and they’re not wrong and things
you and they’re not wrong and things
you and they’re not wrong and things haven’t really changed as much as we
haven’t really changed as much as we
haven’t really changed as much as we would like to think right so that’s why
would like to think right so that’s why
would like to think right so that’s why when I talk to you for a bit now how can
when I talk to you for a bit now how can
when I talk to you for a bit now how can we reconcile this how can you do radical
we reconcile this how can you do radical
we reconcile this how can you do radical Black Studies that community-engaged
Black Studies that community-engaged
Black Studies that community-engaged work when I represent what I currently
work when I represent what I currently
work when I represent what I currently represent
represent
represent an institution which is historically
an institution which is historically
an institution which is historically rooted in the very racism that my whole
rooted in the very racism that my whole
rooted in the very racism that my whole entire life’s work is trying to combat
entire life’s work is trying to combat
entire life’s work is trying to combat right so going back to the Saturday
right so going back to the Saturday
right so going back to the Saturday school stuff lamenting school movement
school stuff lamenting school movement
school stuff lamenting school movement it was really important there to learn
it was really important there to learn
it was really important there to learn about the importance of Black Studies
about the importance of Black Studies
about the importance of Black Studies the importance of having a space which
the importance of having a space which
the importance of having a space which is outside the mainstream because in the
is outside the mainstream because in the
is outside the mainstream because in the mainstream schools the kids were
mainstream schools the kids were
mainstream schools the kids were complaining about not being taught but
complaining about not being taught but
complaining about not being taught but also what they were not being taught mel
also what they were not being taught mel
also what they were not being taught mel savannah is an academic in this remove
savannah is an academic in this remove
savannah is an academic in this remove hampton says that it’s not possible to
hampton says that it’s not possible to
hampton says that it’s not possible to supplement what does not exist and
supplement what does not exist and
supplement what does not exist and literally you go to the curriculum now
literally you go to the curriculum now
literally you go to the curriculum now you go to university curriculum now you
you go to university curriculum now you
you go to university curriculum now you ain’t gonna find no black studies on it
ain’t gonna find no black studies on it
ain’t gonna find no black studies on it you ain’t gonna find yourself in it i
you ain’t gonna find yourself in it i
you ain’t gonna find yourself in it i mean we have literally been raised to
mean we have literally been raised to
mean we have literally been raised to the point that we no longer exist right
the point that we no longer exist right
the point that we no longer exist right that’s why you have the student
that’s why you have the student
that’s why you have the student movements why is my curriculum white
movements why is my curriculum white
movements why is my curriculum white roads must fool because we’re just not
roads must fool because we’re just not
roads must fool because we’re just not there an impact of that on young people
there an impact of that on young people
there an impact of that on young people are learning on how you and how you go
are learning on how you and how you go
are learning on how you and how you go through that whole process of your life
through that whole process of your life
through that whole process of your life never actually seeing yourself reflected
never actually seeing yourself reflected
never actually seeing yourself reflected in the curriculum cannot be
in the curriculum cannot be
in the curriculum cannot be underestimated
underestimated
underestimated we’ve been erased literally biologically
we’ve been erased literally biologically
we’ve been erased literally biologically culturally socially generally just
culturally socially generally just
culturally socially generally just totally good right so having this space
totally good right so having this space
totally good right so having this space of black studies and black studies
of black studies and black studies
of black studies and black studies briefly is the perspectives experiences
briefly is the perspectives experiences
briefly is the perspectives experiences and contributions of the african
and contributions of the african
and contributions of the african diaspora is vitally important to put
diaspora is vitally important to put
diaspora is vitally important to put that back to change the way that we
that back to change the way that we
that back to change the way that we think about the world to change the way
think about the world to change the way
think about the world to change the way that young people also think about
that young people also think about
that young people also think about themselves i saw also importantly black
themselves i saw also importantly black
themselves i saw also importantly black studies we’ve had the first black
studies we’ve had the first black
studies we’ve had the first black studies degree and it was bruce lee nice
studies degree and it was bruce lee nice
studies degree and it was bruce lee nice to hear that hear that and put out lee
to hear that hear that and put out lee
to hear that hear that and put out lee but black studies has existed in the UK
but black studies has existed in the UK
but black studies has existed in the UK for decades it’s existed outside the
for decades it’s existed outside the
for decades it’s existed outside the university and what we’ve tried to do is
university and what we’ve tried to do is
university and what we’ve tried to do is to pay homage to that stuff outside the
to pay homage to that stuff outside the
to pay homage to that stuff outside the university but to bring it inside the
university but to bring it inside the
university but to bring it inside the institution right to say there are there
institution right to say there are there
institution right to say there are there ways we can learn and connect to that
ways we can learn and connect to that
ways we can learn and connect to that history and that politics to really
history and that politics to really
history and that politics to really change what we do to change the
change what we do to change the
change what we do to change the relationship of the university to the
relationship of the university to the
relationship of the university to the community so that people were next time
community so that people were next time
community so that people were next time someone goes into a community
someone goes into a community
someone goes into a community organization and want to do some
organization and want to do some
organization and want to do some research they’re not accused of being a
research they’re not accused of being a
research they’re not accused of being a spy right so we have those those
spy right so we have those those
spy right so we have those those relationships one of the ways i always
relationships one of the ways i always
relationships one of the ways i always think about this is people is i think
think about this is people is i think
think about this is people is i think just think to yourself how many times
just think to yourself how many times
just think to yourself how many times have you been into a university
have you been into a university
have you been into a university we’re either you weren’t a student you
we’re either you weren’t a student you
we’re either you weren’t a student you know you weren’t paying to be there or
know you weren’t paying to be there or
know you weren’t paying to be there or you weren’t being advertised at
you weren’t being advertised at
you weren’t being advertised at university so I can open it I ask people
university so I can open it I ask people
university so I can open it I ask people this all the time and most of the time
this all the time and most of the time
this all the time and most of the time never the answer is never
never the answer is never
never the answer is never even today even though you go you’re
even today even though you go you’re
even today even though you go you’re gonna pay your fees the universities are
gonna pay your fees the universities are
gonna pay your fees the universities are publicly funded institutions they are
publicly funded institutions they are
publicly funded institutions they are taxpayer funded institutions they are
taxpayer funded institutions they are
taxpayer funded institutions they are your institutions so why is it that
your institutions so why is it that
your institutions so why is it that nobody ever goes into them unless
nobody ever goes into them unless
nobody ever goes into them unless they’re paying to be there or advertised
they’re paying to be there or advertised
they’re paying to be there or advertised so they can pay to be there in the
so they can pay to be there in the
so they can pay to be there in the future right
future right
future right so this is one of the things you tried
so this is one of the things you tried
so this is one of the things you tried to do straight away you say well let’s
to do straight away you say well let’s
to do straight away you say well let’s break down this artificial barrier
break down this artificial barrier
break down this artificial barrier between me as an academic PhD etc and me
between me as an academic PhD etc and me
between me as an academic PhD etc and me as a person in the community
as a person in the community
as a person in the community let’s bring people in for the first time
let’s bring people in for the first time
let’s bring people in for the first time to the University space and we’ve been
to the University space and we’ve been
to the University space and we’ve been really successful at that with this over
really successful at that with this over
really successful at that with this over the last two years we have events I have
the last two years we have events I have
the last two years we have events I have that a black panthers black education
that a black panthers black education
that a black panthers black education for liberation black feminism
for liberation black feminism
for liberation black feminism we’ve bought hundreds of people locally
we’ve bought hundreds of people locally
we’ve bought hundreds of people locally nationally internationally into the
nationally internationally into the
nationally internationally into the space and that’s really important I
space and that’s really important I
space and that’s really important I recommend you come into the space to see
recommend you come into the space to see
recommend you come into the space to see the space do this place do different
the space do this place do different
the space do this place do different stuff right we’ve also said it’s
stuff right we’ve also said it’s
stuff right we’ve also said it’s important that we we use the resources
important that we we use the resources
important that we we use the resources of the university again publicly funded
of the university again publicly funded
of the university again publicly funded institutions taxpayer funded
institutions taxpayer funded
institutions taxpayer funded institutions so let’s put the resources
institutions so let’s put the resources
institutions so let’s put the resources of the university to work for the
of the university to work for the
of the university to work for the community and as projects we work with
community and as projects we work with
community and as projects we work with local organizations like the Harambee
local organizations like the Harambee
local organizations like the Harambee organization for black unity when
organization for black unity when
organization for black unity when students come on to do the degree they
students come on to do the degree they
students come on to do the degree they have to go and do a placement because
have to go and do a placement because
have to go and do a placement because what we’re saying to you is you have to
what we’re saying to you is you have to
what we’re saying to you is you have to go and work in the community black
go and work in the community black
go and work in the community black studies isn’t just about learning about
studies isn’t just about learning about
studies isn’t just about learning about black people it isn’t just about come
black people it isn’t just about come
black people it isn’t just about come and do a uni degree the same way you do
and do a uni degree the same way you do
and do a uni degree the same way you do over another degree it’s a bad same how
over another degree it’s a bad same how
over another degree it’s a bad same how do we put you to work in the community
do we put you to work in the community
do we put you to work in the community how do we do this how do we challenge
how do we do this how do we challenge
how do we do this how do we challenge the things that have gone forward except
the things that have gone forward except
the things that have gone forward except to researcher so we’ve really tried to
to researcher so we’ve really tried to
to researcher so we’ve really tried to say let’s link this and let’s build a
say let’s link this and let’s build a
say let’s link this and let’s build a radical community of practice that
radical community of practice that
radical community of practice that spreads across not just the Uni but the
spreads across not just the Uni but the
spreads across not just the Uni but the community organizations the the
community organizations the the
community organizations the the institutions other places etc right now
institutions other places etc right now
institutions other places etc right now this has gone pretty well it’s been sort
this has gone pretty well it’s been sort
this has gone pretty well it’s been sort of successful we’re very proud of what
of successful we’re very proud of what
of successful we’re very proud of what we’ve achieved as well and we always
we’ve achieved as well and we always
we’ve achieved as well and we always have to recognize the platform that the
have to recognize the platform that the
have to recognize the platform that the institution gives us right as much as I
institution gives us right as much as I
institution gives us right as much as I will say and I have said I’m got in
will say and I have said I’m got in
will say and I have said I’m got in trouble for saying that universities are
trouble for saying that universities are
trouble for saying that universities are like slave plantations in many ways this
like slave plantations in many ways this
like slave plantations in many ways this is true every institution we have is
is true every institution we have is
is true every institution we have is like a plantation
like a plantation
like a plantation it’s rooted in racism historically
it’s rooted in racism historically
it’s rooted in racism historically problematic citrus legislature blah blah
problematic citrus legislature blah blah
problematic citrus legislature blah blah blah right but the university offers as
blah right but the university offers as
blah right but the university offers as a space to do things a little bit
a space to do things a little bit
a space to do things a little bit differently what other job could I write
differently what other job could I write
differently what other job could I write a book about black radicalism or could I
a book about black radicalism or could I
a book about black radicalism or could I go around and spend hours and hours and
go around and spend hours and hours and
go around and spend hours and hours and hours of my week in a community
hours of my week in a community
hours of my week in a community organization what can I just be here
organization what can I just be here
organization what can I just be here randomly on a day doing this kind of
randomly on a day doing this kind of
randomly on a day doing this kind of work there’s no other job that gives me
work there’s no other job that gives me
work there’s no other job that gives me that kind of freedom to do so that means
that kind of freedom to do so that means
that kind of freedom to do so that means I have a responsibility then to do that
I have a responsibility then to do that
I have a responsibility then to do that kind of work right but as long as I
kind of work right but as long as I
kind of work right but as long as I recognize the the position I have the
recognize the the position I have the
recognize the the position I have the platform that I have I also have to be
platform that I have I also have to be
platform that I have I also have to be critical of that platform as well
critical of that platform as well
critical of that platform as well because two years ago
because two years ago
because two years ago nobody wanted to know what I was talking
nobody wanted to know what I was talking
nobody wanted to know what I was talking about I was saying that basically the
about I was saying that basically the
about I was saying that basically the same things I say there and nobody cared
same things I say there and nobody cared
same things I say there and nobody cared right what changed what change was I got
right what changed what change was I got
right what changed what change was I got promoted I got a bit more profile the
promoted I got a bit more profile the
promoted I got a bit more profile the institution’s tired to say oh yeah let’s
institution’s tired to say oh yeah let’s
institution’s tired to say oh yeah let’s put him on TV and do this stuff right
put him on TV and do this stuff right
put him on TV and do this stuff right and now people want to listen right
and now people want to listen right
and now people want to listen right that’s good and I can do some
that’s good and I can do some
that’s good and I can do some interesting stuff but the fact that
interesting stuff but the fact that
interesting stuff but the fact that that’s the way that we listen to people
that’s the way that we listen to people
that’s the way that we listen to people today should tell us that you tell us
today should tell us that you tell us
today should tell us that you tell us the whole problem with the way that we
the whole problem with the way that we
the whole problem with the way that we approach knowledge right we sanctify the
approach knowledge right we sanctify the
approach knowledge right we sanctify the people from the institutions we give
people from the institutions we give
people from the institutions we give them the voice but actually if you look
them the voice but actually if you look
them the voice but actually if you look at the people we want to be listening to
at the people we want to be listening to
at the people we want to be listening to it’s probably more you than it is me
it’s probably more you than it is me
it’s probably more you than it is me it’s more people outside institution
it’s more people outside institution
it’s more people outside institution than inside the institution the person
than inside the institution the person
than inside the institution the person who is my theoretical political
who is my theoretical political
who is my theoretical political inspiration is Malcolm X Malcolm X will
inspiration is Malcolm X Malcolm X will
inspiration is Malcolm X Malcolm X will tell you more about racism than any
tell you more about racism than any
tell you more about racism than any hundred books written by academics about
hundred books written by academics about
hundred books written by academics about racism because he’s got it he was
racism because he’s got it he was
racism because he’s got it he was fighting it he was in the struggle
fighting it he was in the struggle
fighting it he was in the struggle against it and he articulates his idea
against it and he articulates his idea
against it and he articulates his idea about racism better than anybody else
about racism better than anybody else
about racism better than anybody else right nowadays you wouldn’t even think
right nowadays you wouldn’t even think
right nowadays you wouldn’t even think about Malcolm because he ain’t got a PhD
about Malcolm because he ain’t got a PhD
about Malcolm because he ain’t got a PhD Malcolm didn’t finish school right so we
Malcolm didn’t finish school right so we
Malcolm didn’t finish school right so we have to really challenge this and say
have to really challenge this and say
have to really challenge this and say well actually let’s try and find those
well actually let’s try and find those
well actually let’s try and find those voices that we don’t like to put on a
voices that we don’t like to put on a
voices that we don’t like to put on a pedestal let’s try and find those voices
pedestal let’s try and find those voices
pedestal let’s try and find those voices outside the institution because the
outside the institution because the
outside the institution because the uncomfortable truth is and our state is
uncomfortable truth is and our state is
uncomfortable truth is and our state is honestly you cannot trust academics to
honestly you cannot trust academics to
honestly you cannot trust academics to do that radical work you cannot trust me
do that radical work you cannot trust me
do that radical work you cannot trust me to do that radical work why because
to do that radical work why because
to do that radical work why because institutions change people people do not
institutions change people people do not
institutions change people people do not change institutions I tell you right now
change institutions I tell you right now
change institutions I tell you right now I’ve been in the University for a long
I’ve been in the University for a long
I’ve been in the University for a long time and just what you have to do the
time and just what you have to do the
time and just what you have to do the structures of it how it works how you
structures of it how it works how you
structures of it how it works how you get promoted it’s so internally so much
get promoted it’s so internally so much
get promoted it’s so internally so much a bubble it’s so much separated from
a bubble it’s so much separated from
a bubble it’s so much separated from everything you would ever think was
everything you would ever think was
everything you would ever think was useful all right and you have to do that
useful all right and you have to do that
useful all right and you have to do that work so if you leave it to me and you
work so if you leave it to me and you
work so if you leave it to me and you leave it to us we’ve done this you have
leave it to us we’ve done this you have
leave it to us we’ve done this you have to have this audience you spend all this
to have this audience you spend all this
to have this audience you spend all this time you get paid quite quite good
time you get paid quite quite good
time you get paid quite quite good salary you were very comfortable here a
salary you were very comfortable here a
salary you were very comfortable here a very pampered if you leave it to us to
very pampered if you leave it to us to
very pampered if you leave it to us to do radical work absolutely guarantee you
do radical work absolutely guarantee you
do radical work absolutely guarantee you they ain’t gonna be no radical work
they ain’t gonna be no radical work
they ain’t gonna be no radical work produced I’ve got to be honest about
produced I’ve got to be honest about
produced I’ve got to be honest about that that’s that’s like me saying a
that that’s that’s like me saying a
that that’s that’s like me saying a hundred percent so what we have to do
hundred percent so what we have to do
hundred percent so what we have to do then is we have to build a radical
then is we have to build a radical
then is we have to build a radical community of practices when black
community of practices when black
community of practices when black studies started in the 60s in America
studies started in the 60s in America
studies started in the 60s in America what made it different was that they
what made it different was that they
what made it different was that they said we’re going to have the science of
said we’re going to have the science of
said we’re going to have the science of liberation this is going to be for
liberation this is going to be for
liberation this is going to be for community change the point of this is
community change the point of this is
community change the point of this is how do we make things better and you
how do we make things better and you
how do we make things better and you know why that was it’s because they had
know why that was it’s because they had
know why that was it’s because they had the black panther play even a civil
the black panther play even a civil
the black panther play even a civil rights movement black women’s groups
rights movement black women’s groups
rights movement black women’s groups were all pushing for Black Studies we’re
were all pushing for Black Studies we’re
were all pushing for Black Studies we’re all saying we have to have this and
all saying we have to have this and
all saying we have to have this and change this and the academics didn’t
change this and the academics didn’t
change this and the academics didn’t have a choice because we oh they owed
have a choice because we oh they owed
have a choice because we oh they owed their jobs their livelihoods everything
their jobs their livelihoods everything
their jobs their livelihoods everything to those movements so the way that you
to those movements so the way that you
to those movements so the way that you have the radical politics in an
have the radical politics in an
have the radical politics in an institution is to make sure you have
institution is to make sure you have
institution is to make sure you have those connections outside and this is my
those connections outside and this is my
those connections outside and this is my challenge to you we put Black Studies in
challenge to you we put Black Studies in
challenge to you we put Black Studies in the institution but we need those
the institution but we need those
the institution but we need those radical movements outside to hold our
radical movements outside to hold our
radical movements outside to hold our feet to the fire and keep us to account
feet to the fire and keep us to account
feet to the fire and keep us to account thank you
you
you [Music]
”
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