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Has SOAS really shaken off its colonial past? Then why does their SU still shelter and foster racism?
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Author: Mpegwa Mwakang'ata
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On Friday the 3rd of October, at the first SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) SU UGM (Union General Meeting) of the 08/09 Academic year, a motion calling for the banning of music containing "the racist and offensive word "nigger".... being played in the Unions Public spaces" was defeated by an overwhelming majority of approximately 100 to 3!
During a lively, extremely entertaining and somewhat surreal meeting, which determines the policies of the Union, the speech against a motion entitled "No Racism in Our Union", condemning the NUS' investigation into the infamous Chris Mullins and Craig Cox "bring back slavery" saga and its decision to absolve the former. And resolving to "fully support the attempts of students at Kings" to force his removal, was shockingly taken by the SOAS anti-racism officer!!!
His excuse for this travesty, was his suggestion that students vote against that motion, so that someone else, he didn't say who, (despite a lengthy and farcical investigation by the NUS revealing nothing but incompetence) could have a chance to do "a proper investigation" into the matter, despite the fact that the NUS have recovered and are holding as evidence the sign with the words bring back slavery and the Mullins incident took place during a conversation with current NUS President Wes Streeting and the incident was witnessed by approximately 150 people!!
The episode became even more bizarre when, during another motion to support the work of the newly formed Afrikan and Afrikan-Caribbean Youth and Student Action group, the President of the Union spoke against supporting AA-CYSA based upon his dislike and misunderstanding of the word "conspiracy". His reason for using his considerable influence to call for parts removing support for AA-CYSA's work was based upon him receiving a request to join the Facebook cause "Afrikan Re-unification & Self-determination". That cause asserts that there is a conspiracy (i.e. plan) to undermine Afrikan peoples and to destroy their cultures; however, it also calls for respect and unity amongst all humanity based upon honouring our common Afrikan Ancestors. Although he did not speak against any other motion, he saw it fit to use his considerable influence against AA-CYSA, according to him, based upon his dislike for the word conspiracy and because he spoke to a few Afrikan students who along with him disagree with AA-CYSA's assertion that the concerns of Afrikan students as a whole and, certainly comparatively to other groups, are neglected! Though he conceded that the union work with AA-CYSA's partner www.minoritystudents.co.uk!
Although the Mature students Officer did manage to get some good motions fighting racism passed, e.g. calling for Wes Streetings' immediate resignation. Given the historical colonial past associated with this institute, the overall consequences of this decision to move to defeat this progressive motion against the use of the word "N****r" in, particularly this University's, public spaces, and the negative implications it now has for the Unions' Public Image and reputation of actively fighting for justice and for championing cultural diversity have been completely disregarded or, at best, greatly underestimated and/or overlooked.
Why and how could this happen you may ask yourself? Especially at the School of Oriental and African Studies! A specialist School, with a leading and enviable worldwide reputation? A school recognised as an elite institution, a school that is part of the Russell Group (the top 20 Universities in the UK)! If the status quo remains, these graduates will end up ruling and presiding over our children!
But, in all honesty, what do you really know about SOAS?
What does SOAS really specialise in?
For those who view this episode from an Afrikan centred perspective, the answer is evident, even in the question. SOAS' past is rooted in Imperial racism. Fact, most Afrikan peoples, especially under the age of thirty, living within a twenty five mile radius of this Elite institute will have never even heard of its existence! As a result, they will never have the opportunity to study here. Although European and other students from throughout the world come to learn about African history and culture at what is reputed to be the Leading institute and authority throughout Europe on disseminating information, training and policy formation regarding Afrika. As a result, these marginalised youth have been debarred from both their immediate and distant culture and history and must therefore look for answers to their condition in other places. Is this a coincidence?
If you surveyed the same demographic, however, regarding their knowledge of Fifty Cents, Dr Dre, Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls, P Diddy and their "n****r" infested lyrics, the vast majority would be well acquainted. I am sure they will say that they are attracted to the life styles promoted by these individuals and the European owned corporations, who own them. But is it a solution or a perpetuator of their well publicised condition. Is this another coincidence?
I like Hip-Hop, and understand why it appeals to the suffering enslaved youth. But what many of this MTV generation seem to have forgotten, or been made totally unaware of is that, Hip-Hop was created by Afrikan revolutionaries on street corners trying to figure out ways that they could emancipate themselves and their communities from their apparent condition. Hip-Hop was created by the likes of Afrika Bambaata to inspire his people, to uplift, to set free.
The School of Oriental and African Studies was set up in 1916 in order to train Colonial Administrators in the languages and cultures of the natives of the colonies. In order to conquer, exploit, divide, rule and make subjects of (civilise) the "backwards" natives living in the various colonies so that they might add to the Wealth, Splendour and increase the depravity of the British Empire. A tradition that continues, via the United Nations, The World Bank, The IMF, Royal Dutch Shell, The International bankers, The Vatican, The African Union, The Arab League, etc. to this day. The evidence of their activities is on campus. If you can stomach it, sit through an Economics or Development Studies lecture, and after emerging from the twilight zone you may feel like you have just escaped from an economic and financial terrorism training camp! Handbooks, sorry text books are for sale in all good bookshops (legally)!
When viewed from a fact based Afrikan centred perspective, this result must be seen as a victory in all quarters. As what this supposed "left-wing" Unions decision to trample on the concerns of the powerful, yet silent, Afrikan majority's concerns once again proves, is what so many Afrikan centred writers and activists of the past century have asserted.
What this Union fails to understand is that there are thousands, if not millions of parents from all cultures, all faiths, and backgrounds who will find the fact that their children, in any, much less a higher education institute of learning, may be arbitrarily subjected to listening to and thus accepting the use of the word "N****r" whilst sitting in the common room or purchasing a pencil or a snack, abhorrent. Effectively excluding or subjecting those students who do not prescribe to using and/or take offence to the use of that word in an area designated a "safe space". But a safe space for whom?
UK Home office reports show that 50% of all UK homicide victims are from the Afrikan community, although they make up less than 3% of the population! As a minority at the university and in UK society Afrikan students need and are entitled to the most support and protection from racism by their union, although this a duty it clearly feels it can disregard.
Under this global capitalist SYSTEM of White supremacist racism, its racist ideals and practices and its blatant and unrepentant demolition or demotion of all cultures, languages, issues and all things overtly Afrikan (some of us have been tricked into believing we are black and/or white) or "non-white", to the position of irrelevant subculture is in fact part of the routine required to maintain and is what, in turn, will eventually destroy this current world order.
This decision in fact further proves these assertions. Offering undeniable, documented, official evidence that racism is not confined to "the right-wing". Racism is ingrained throughout this society, on both the left and the right. Both Communism and Capitalism are rooted in the same unholy soil. What society must come to terms with is the truth about the role of the British State and its international allies and supposed enemies in the worlds' distantly remembered, hidden and ongoing atrocities and crimes against humanity. Crimes like those that have been committed against the Afrikan peoples known as the Chagos Islanders amongst many, many others. The ruthless corruption, double standards, hypocrisy and lies filter down throughout society, dispensed from the highest levels.
Remember, there are those who will march, protest, fight, even kill for the rights of animals who they will remind us, "have feelings too". They will take radical action, blowing up laboratories where animals are being tested on and they will campaign to shut down factory farms where animals are reared in horrific and "in-humane" conditions. Yet, they know not or care not for the concerns of their fellow humans, Afrikans, who have had their fertile land, culture and all other wealth stolen, they, like the Afrikans who were victims of Hurricane Katrina have been made refugees in their homeland. Humans who, as a result, are now concentrated together to die like in Hitler’s death camps and infamous "research" institutions were, and still are, being used as guinea pigs for vaccines and a host of other toxic chemicals.
As a result Afrika has become a testing ground and secret cash-cow for many huge Multi-national drug companies and their agents. A place where they can kill three birds with one stone; making a fortune by rigging the stability of the supply and the price at which they peddle their toxic killer drugs like AZT through corrupt governments and supposed NGO's alike, further impoverishing and enslaving (indebting) governments and those under their jurisdiction causing further economic destruction, and through creating and causing avoidable pandemics, implementing globalisation through the hideous, genocidal, depopulation policies and agenda of terrorist agencies like the UN, EU, G8, WTO, CFR, WHO.
These Multi-nationals have been embroiled in hundreds of court battles and although many, unsurprisingly, have concluded favourably for them, they have also paid out millions of pounds in compensation and out of court settlements; just not enough to make a dent upon their multi-billion pound profit margins.
What Western Society, of all hues must come to terms with is, that Afrikan peoples have suffered and continue to suffer the unspeakable horrors of the Mangamizi (the Afrikan holocaust) at the hands of their forefathers, the hands of their current rulers and by their own hands. A responsibility, often shirked meaning that simply through their actions as consumers and as apathetic tax-payers, they are complicit, hence these crimes have been perpetrated by themselves, ourselves, and at the very least with our permission, cooperation and assistance.
If you feel strongly about this issue and would like to take affirmative action, or simply would like to discuss this issue further, please join our Facebook Cause “No Room 4 Racism in Academia” and become a fan of the “Liberation Parties” and “AA-CYSA” pages.
What next? Protest? Debate? Demonstration?
Action......I am sure that we have not heard the last on this matter.
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Author: Mpegwa Mwakang'ata
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Date Created:
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