This is what blacks what to buy.....so this is what companies will sell.

Parris its seem like u still havent grabbed the whole thing!!

in america, the white man/government will see u as an american but black or african american BUT in britain they believe they are all immigrants even though most of them are born here and lived here all their life....theres no point just claiming or openly sayin ur black bristish

one of my friend that goes around sayin he's british born n bred was asked by one of his lecture mate- "are u an illegal immigrant as in you came from another country when you were young"

the first thing ur employer ask you is -what country are u from?

p.s i think black people should start complaining more especially when it comes to the media

Le Moor wrote:

Parris - i think you need to live in britain to actually understand what it is to be black in this country.

Whatever you call yourself over here, people will always say, but where are you from originally.Untillwe have been here for hundreds of years, we will never be seen as british, but children of immigrants. Most of us couldn't give a damn, cos who wants to belong toa small cold stiff upperlip island anyway! LOL!

But that aint got jack to do with it, black people are born and bred HERE. those that migrate contribute to society, therefore, we have a right to be represented properly. How many asian people would say they are british, but yet they have an entire network dedicated to them.

Don't blame us for the lack of representation. British society is MESSED UP.

Also i agree with DM, 1xtra is a youth music station, and it actually reflects quite well YOUTH music culture.

Parriss - no time at the moment to respond to you fully.

But i will say this. How people see us is just a part of the story. How we see ourselves is what counts. It may be a bit of a contradiction, but many of us are not proud of britain, for so many reasons - namely history, racism etc. So we will hold on to our parents homeland, because we can. We can trace our culture, our names our heritage. And many of us are a lot prouder of being Nigerian, Jamaican etc than being british. Who the hell wants to be british. But we are here, and we do pay our license fee, as do asians. So therefore if we contribute then we should be served properly.

some of us don't want ownership of this country, no way. But we do want to be recognised as being contributors. contradiction?yep, but thats how it is.

But you cannot compare america to britian. We always say this, time and time again. Your history is different. I'm sure it didn't take black americans 50 years to be at the stage you are now. It was a steady but slow struggle. When black people in this country cannot trace back their roots, then maybe people will feel more british. But that is besides the point. THAT WILL NEVER BE THE REALITY of my children though. I would hate to have them think this foolish island is their heritage. Let them bask in glory of african not british history. let them feel like they are a part of things, not outsiders that are just guests.

Asian's are not that much more than black people in this country. Black people need their own media anyway, waiting for the white media won't work.

Dont mean to labour this point Parris but it is important in the content of things i feel.

Lets hope and pray it what we want, because if we buy its just because its beings old, it makes us look weak and pathetic, mindless drones.


PaRrIs

Cant agree with you on that point. You cant attack the problem at the consumers. We have a natural lust to consume what is being sold to us. That beingwhether you're white or black. If i package up a lump of dog shite with bows and ribbons on then im sure i'll find a buyer somewhere. Its the marketeer who holds the responsibilty of the tone of the message, hence its them we should complain to when they get it wrong.

In the case of BET maybe the problemstarts long before its black executives pass the buck.Maybe itstartswhere the shit's being producedof which then they are buying into.............. This definately makes us look like mindless drones.

Of course you're right it is about money money money, but that doesnt mean it should be at our expense or that the deffermation of our characters wontbe thrown in there somewhereby a bad mind................so we need to take a stance.

Since you aren't British you don't have the "right" to demand anything.....nada....nothing....zilnch...and this is why I say having you guys not say you are British plays into the hands of the British Government....its beautiful really. .................................................. ...............ra ra


PaRrIs



You made a good point here one which i agree with the principles attached to your message.

In my eyes the term 'beingBritish' personally isone which turns me off. I would like to be labelled something else with the exactly the same rights and one where everyone understood i had the same rights. I dont mind the term Black British or Afro Carribean origin as there is no mistaking who i am or what im entitled to.

If certain Black people say we are not British it doesnt mean they are forfeiting all their rights or contributions, it meansthey like the white British -who love to provide labels for them,acknowledge mutally whothey are. Its merely a label not a compulsion to exclude us from our rights, which im sure the British government could never sell to anyone anyway.