Black Radio Plays

I find that listening to radio plays has allowed me to hear more historical and everyday content, whilst I am travelling working or just taking it easy.

Many radios I listen to are UK based, and they range from historical events being recreated to things that happen in society everyday.

There are many people who post information have websites and information about black history and black peoples, way of life. I have at times listened to some plays which are based on black lives in the UK and I have learned alot from these as well, as I am able to relate to them. There is a difficulty in the UK in getting these radio plays produced and released as they are through the BBC, who broadcast them on the radio.

If these black people were to make radio plays it could be released through blog talk as many black people who make shows know how to utilise blog talk. It is also cheaper to produce a radio play than a film as you can be inventive in the way in which you make sound effects since all the actors can be in one room despite the different settings which may exist and you can create an atmosphere which can expand the imagination.

Its only a suggestion for those who might know how to use media and have ambitions to make programmes. If you have a lot of knowledge, put it to the test with some friends and create a pilot with that infromation you have.

Our people dont listen to the radio but you wouldnt be looking at everyone just a large proportion of people, who do, I suppose.

Local Community Sponsorship and Business Growth

Recently, I have been working with a black local community organisation and they are sponsored by a black themed business which is not owned by black people.

Initially I thought this was a bad idea but it made me realise that there are very few businesses in the UK, which have established themselves to a point where they can provide a great amount of funding to such a prevalent cause which affects black people in the UK.

It is a case of black people in the UK looking at themselves especially those who have run or are running businesses. I myself will look to be accountable to this also. If we build a business we should be able to generate income over a number of years to be able to expand into a chain which this business is and make it applicable to different audiences.

Even in the case of black companies making a great amount, very few will likely put their tax breaks or donate some finances to causes such as this one as they are worried of being too black or too affiliated with a cause that affects their own people. Some black businesses may not be interested in funding a community cause unless it is a international or universal cause.

In the UK black people have been here anything between 70 and 40 years and we should be looking at having chains of shops and services, rather than having small businesses which cannot support community needs.

If we are to develop stronger businesses amongst our smaller communities in the UK, we can look at different creating networks of businesses and liaise with community groups and organisations on how they can work together in a partnership where both parties get something out of the agreement.

This will mean organisations like the one I am currently working with will be self-sufficient and will be able to remain exclusively black rather than relying totally on public funding and can do what they set out to do with businesses having a similar ideology supporting and providing resources to make this happen.

Social Economics

You may have heard much talk about creating your own economy. In Africa, even today, we have an economy based on the exchange of goods in rural and some town areas. Rather than the exchange of goods for money.

The most popular version of this is the exchange of a wife for a douri, i.e. where a man would give 10 or more cows or livestock in exchange for a mans daughter. This is designed to show respect and demonstrate your intentions for their daughter.

After being in South Africa, I learnt this was for the man to show the father of the bride to see how the man has nurtured and maintained the live stock as these qualities are required to take care of his daughter.

In regards to markets and trading traditionally, we (as Africans) have not always used coins in exchange for goods. It has been items in exchange for items and if we do not have a item which is the exact price of the item then we negotiate i.e barter to get a price which both parties will settle for.

There has been talk of black people, especially in America taking up this type of economy for items as some whites are beginning to do this. Looking from a UK example there has been attempts to do this but there is a downside.

This being mainly middle class and affluent people who have the security of money to do this can do it, whilst bills and utilities cannot be p0aid for with batering or through a social economy – reciprication.

There is also the possibility of developing a underground market where people can be exploited so someone will exchange labour or favours for goods and there will be no definate time or point where this will be repaid.

Despite these reservations a social economy could work but it would be more beneficial in Africa where we belong rather than in the west as, we do not have the infrastructure to fully take advantage of such a economy in the US or where ever black people are outside of Africa.

(Image Source:

https://jaunehibiscus.wordpress.com/2010/06/29/african-print-and-pagne-cheap-or-cheap/)