Author: Frederique
Capitalism is the key to understanding why black people DO NOT get what they deserve and worse why we are still enslaved.
Richard Wolff explains that the idea of living in a capitalist country implies that everything is about “maximising profit” (1. www.youtube.com, n.d.).
By agreeing to attend a workplace during the best “hours”(www.youtube.com, n.d.) of their days against a salary that is not increasing Professor Wolff is clear, as an employee you give up your rights to make any decisions about how the company in which you spend most of your time evolves.
Your ideas, intellect and creativity are not yours and the employer keeps you at bay by maintaining their right to dismiss you without any explanation. You are an asset !!! Like the desk or the computer or the chair or the uniform or the machine found in your workplace.
How does the capitalist concept affect black people?
Well, in the UK the IT (including softwares and computer services) sector has the most businesses owned by ethnic groups reaching 14% (2. Statista.n.d.).
Below this comes the Gaming industry with 10% of BAME owning a business and the lowest percentage are 4 and 3. Those last 2 percentages are found in the Film (including TV, video, radio and photography) for the latter and Museums (including library and gallery) for the former (2. Statista.n.d.).
The Music industry is also affected by the lack of representation of BAME’s and “86% of all Black music creators agree that there are barriers to progression”(2. Statista.n.d.)
This has been discussed by Pharrell Williams and Steve Stoute. During the conversation they both agreed that having a vision or an idea is easy but the hardest part of getting what is rightfully yours is to dedicate the effort that you need to develop your business idea. Of course you need others because you may not have all the skills/ talents to do it all by yourself (3.www.youtube.com, n.d.).
What I am keeping from that conversation is that if “black people do not have a voice” and this element influencing on our psyche and our economic power negatively because “we are not owners of our work” ( 3.www.youtube.com , n.d.),then we (black people) must work toward creating fairer opportunities for ourselves.
Thus, the necessity to focus on the ” For Us By Us” – FUBU- concept.
Thanks for reading,
Frederique
Reference
1. www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Richard Wolff on Shelter & Solidarity. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
2. Statista. (n.d.). Ethnic diversity in creative industries in UK 2019, by sector. [online] Available at: https://www.statista.com/
3.www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Pharrell Williams & Steve Stoute on Thriving in The Music Business and Black Ambition. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Below are a few campaigns related to the harsh renting market place that needs to be changed.
I encourage you to sign those that you find interesting and helpful:
2. GMTU – Ant-Racism Statement (tenantsunion.org.uk)
3. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: Demand better from renting | Campaigns – Shelter England
4. Help us end housing benefit discrimination for good | Campaigns – Shelter England
Thanks,
Frederique
The below is a template of a letter that you can send to your MP in order to request the resignation of the current Prime Minister.
Dear,
I am writing to you today because I am so exhausted by the way in which the Tory government is treating the most vulnerables.
was utterly disrespectful and a disgrace. The PM has no facts/stats to provide but He is only able to aggress others without giving a concrete answer to ANY of the questions asked.
One of his Tory colleague even allowed himself to say publicly that despite the death of hundreds of thousands of people in the UK only due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we should not question the PM and move one.
The bravado and the arrogance of the Tories are unbearable to watch especially after all the lies and the current MET police investigation.
Enough is enough,
We the people need more social housing, less inflation, more opportunities to live decently. This includes having access to shelters, warmth during the winter, nourishing food, adequate working conditions (working from home), less discrimination & racism & violence toward BAME’s and free education.
Boris Johnson needs to go NOW!
Thanks,
Reference
www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Boris Johnson makes Commons statement following Sue Gray “partygate” report – watch live. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnDqyyGcjuk [Accessed 31 Jan. 2022].
Audio and Video Version
