Wow, who would have thought I would sit down in my garden writing my first blog entry during the last week of September in 81degree heat wave. I now know anything is possible!

Although a fews weeks have passed since the feelings of discontent over the Mark Dugan shooting sparking off riotous behaviour involving the young and old, black and white, up and down the country; I now feel compelled to comment on it.

On the Saturday night in question I was at a barbeque in Tottenham and as it happened heard the incident unfolding while drinking homemade cocktails and doing the candy dance on the lawn. Despite our host having to turn up the music on various occasions to drown out the helicopter blade hovering above us, we had no idea what was really unfolding 500 yards down the street.

There have been many attempts at processing and explaining reasons for the riots. England witnessed similar scenes to what Paris experienced in 2005, Los Angeles in 1992 and Broadwater Farm & Brixton in 1985.  What they all have in common is the quality of police intervention and initial action e.g. what they did or failed to do; appear to have been the trigger. I don’t know about you but I have yet to hear anything that provides acceptable explanation for the lack of leadership initially in protecting these communities .

In regards to what triggered the riots I only have one question – the police complaints committee apologised for the lack of explanation and support given to the Dugan family immediately following the shooting; it makes you wonder whether this is how they behave with all families whose cases are referred or just the ones from minority groups.  If Mark Dugan was from a “white middle class family”, would his family receive similar treatment?

I must say I remain on the fence as to whether Mark Duggan’s death was truly the tipping point for the carnage that unfurled in front of our eyes or whether as some say ‘this was a situation waiting to happen’. What I cannot understand is why so many people felt it right to get involved without any thought of the consequences – on them, local communities and ultimately the society they live in. It is likely there are numerous reasons that contributed to the situation. TD Jakes cited the absence of parental care and guidance, lack of male role models, low self esteem, poor funding of educational and youth facilities etc  – it most likely are all these and more.

Whilst I believe the issues are complex, again to quote TD Jakes, ‘a multifaceted approach is needed for a complicated problem.  We must reinforce personal responsibility while challenging system wide injustices.’

                                                                  Peace & Love

 (The site of the Sitting Budha – Hong Kong – Nov2009)

Okay, I think that’s enough of the serious stuff for now.

Let’s talk about carnival.  By carnival I mean the only real one left – Leeds. London has long since become a street festival, and that’s fine, but Leeds still hangs on to the real true meaning of Carnival – albeit without Steel pans!

‘Jouvert’ was great this year.  Leeds people are probably saying its great every year.  Well since I’ve managed to miss the last four, it was great being able to experience it this year.  The name Jouvert originates from the French ‘jour ouvert’, meaning day break or morning and signals the start of the bacchanalia which is carnival – for those who are not sure – including myself! Leeds is the only Carnival, as far as I’m aware, that has one in England and as such I think deserves national rather than just local coverage  – what do you think?

I really enjoyed the carnival, the troops were excellent as usual, and I even managed to walk the whole route – again something I haven’t done in a few years. All in all an excellent time was had.  Well done Carnival committee but please, please bring back the steel pans.

And so to the Kelis issue – I’m sure you all heard about the racist verbal abuse she endured at an airport in Spain, perpetrated by dare I say it ‘ one of our own’ – an English man! This led Barbara Ellen (Observer 18.9.11) to question whether “non whites are probably quietly putting up with more than anyone realises”.  I have to say the answer to her question is yes they are.  She is correct in that this type of overt racism is nowhere as common as it was back in the 70’s and 80’s but covert racism, perpetrated by what I describe as the ‘New Labour Middle Class’ is alive and present in our communities. To me this particular brand of racism is more dangerous; I’ve been subject to this kind of racism on numerous occasions often smug, patronising and dressed in disguised contempt.  This behaviour is no longer only levelled at ethnic minorities however but increasingly against the ‘white underclass’.    The “charity luvees” looking down ones nose as they barely touch your fingers as they shake your hand and tell you about the amount of money they’ve raised to help the ’vulnerable in society’. So I guess in a sense Kelis was right, everything is swept under the rug – only this rug is virtual and in the guise of middle class superiority. 

Finally, the Docu – Drama film – The Story of Lovers Rock is probably in a cinema near you this week please, please check it out. An excellent beginning to charting a piece of Black British culture, little known about outside those of you who lived it!

And so at last what you’ve been waiting for, the first two pages of my upcoming book.  Let me have your thoughts!

 Justice for All

Judge Chambers, looked at his watch for the last time, and buzzed the usher to enter. A nervous freckled, red faced young woman appeared in the doorway. “Has the solicitor for the defendant arrived yet?” he asked.

“No sir, I mean your honour.” It was Janice’s first day in her new role. She had worked her way up from administrative assistant, the post she took up three years ago, now she was usher in court one.

“Is the barrister here?” he inquired.

“Yes”

“Then I’m afraid we must proceed, it’s already eleven o’clock, and this means all the cases in my court today have been delayed long enough. The Jury’s ready, everyone’s waiting, I think it’s time to bring this case to a close. Please assemble the jury in the court”.

“Yes your honour”, and with that Janice disappeared. 

Judge Chambers hated starting even a minute late. He was well known in the court circuit for two reasons, his punctuality, and always handing down the maximum sentences.

“Will the foreman please stand” Judge Chambers ordered. The school teacher, who had been elected foreman, stood to his feet. Despite the fact that he had been use to teaching classes as large as fifty on occasions in his inner city school, somehow being in a court room on the right side of the law gave him butterflies.

“Have you reached a verdict which you have all agreed on?”

“Yes” The foreman replied.

“Defendant please rise” 

Jason Cane rose to his feet showing no emotion. He looked into the eyes of the foreman. Every available seat in the court wa filled with reporters and relatives of the accused.

“On the first count, Jason Cane has been charged with the murder of Paul Oldroyd; do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty?”

“Guilty your honour”

“And on the second charge, the murder of Mr Dave Reed, guilty or not guilty?”

“Guilty”

“And on the third charge, the murder of Ms Floreen May?”

“Guilty”

“Thank you, you may sit down. Let me take this opportunity to thank all the jurors for your assistance in this case. You have been patient with the court process, which at times has proved a little trying and somewhat tedious, and despite the fact that this case has gone on for more than three weeks, all of you have been alert and attentive throughout.” On that he turned to the defendant, removed his glasses, and said “You have been found guilty by a jury of your peers, and I’m afraid that by statute I have no alternative but to sentence you to three terms of life imprisonment. You will serve not less than fifteen years for each guilty verdict, making a total of forty five years in prison to run consecutively. Do you have anything to say before you are taken down?”

“I have no regrets”, the defendant mumbled, and turned to leave.

Judge Chambers turned to the jury, “Once again I thank you for your assistance in this case, you are dismissed.” Janice motioned to them to follow her.

Once they had left the court Judge Chambers summoned Errol to the bench. “Have you heard from Josephine Thompson?”

“No sir”, Errol replied.

“I have a good mind to report her to theLegal Commission. In the three weeks that this case has been going on, she has been late on four occasions, and today is the most significant of all. I would have thought the defendant would have liked to have his solicitor present for the verdict at least. Tell her that I would like a satisfactory explanation by five this afternoon, or I’ll speak to the Legal Commission about this? Although he knew it was way beyond his jurisdiction.

At eleven thirty Josephine was just approaching Liverpool Street, chastising herself for not leaving at nine o’clock as planned. Her decision to have one last coffee with Anise could now result in her having Judge Chambers as an enemy. I couldn’t have left Anise in that state, she thought. When the tears started rolling, she realised that it came down to a toss up between Anise and Judge Chambers, and of course Anise won. She hoped Errol had the good sense to cover her back. Somehow she knew that this was a thought wasted.

Ellen Johnson – Justice for All (work In progress- Oct 2011)