Theme: Theme: Young, British and Black
On 12 November 2020 we gathered to discuss Tristan’s Young, British and Black themed selections. I say gathered, we were back on Zoom as we are now in the midst of a second national lockdown.
Not for the first or last times we were grateful to Tristan
Would we have read this without it being chosen? The answer was probably not for most of us and yet it is really interesting.
The first few chapters cover black history in Britain and we were amazed at how much we learnt. This stuff really should be taught in schools.
The book also explores how racism, in all its forms, especially structural, stops our societies being as meritocratic as we would like, and to understand how and why established power structures are so resistant to change, and why change will, ultimately, benefit us all.
Other chapters explore feminism and class.
Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race is a book that all British people should probably read and brings the reader up to speed about all the issues surrounding race in Britain. It's illuminating and inspirational.
Nick 7.5 / Tristan 8 / Nigel 8 / Keith 7 / Roland 8 / Robin 7 / Hamish 7
Listening: Made in the Manor (2016) by Kano
Surprisingly good innit? At least that was the view of most of us. Roland was unimpressed.
Most of us were seduced by the variety, the light and shade, and the hooks
Reminded some us a bit of both Plan B and The Streets
Watching: Gone Too Far (2013) Dir by Destiny Ekaragha (Netflix)
We enjoyed it to varying degrees except who Nick who thought it was rubbish. Some of us also concluded it was a bit repetitive, implausible, and ridiculous. It was a good fit with the theme and we were particularly interested in the anti-African sentiment amongst some of the characters with West Indian heritage, along with themes around masculinity. It also struck us there was some fairly broad brush stereotypes. Overall, a fun film with likeable characters and universal themes of belonging and acceptance. 
Nick dissing the film
Endorse It
Juliet, Naked (2018) - a film directed by Jesse Peretz (Netflix)
East West Street by Philippe Sands (Book)
Ivor Cutler by KT Tunstall (2020) (Documentary on Sky Arts)
The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
The Social Dilemma (2020) US docudrama dir by Jeff Orlowski (Netflix)
Mark Steele (BBC Radio 4)
Black AF (Netflix)
White Riot (2019) (documentary about Rock Against Racism) - Directed by Rubika Shah (Sky Arts)
I Wanna Be Yours (2020) by John Cooper Clarke (Book)
Carpurnium (Amazon Prime)
Intrigue (BBC Radio Four)
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe (Book)
Industry (BBC iPlayer)
Birthmarked (Netflix)
A United Kingdom (BBC iPlayer)
