Friday 21 October 2011

BLACK WOMEN SHOULD MARRY OUT OF THEIR RACE

"Part of the reason African Americans marry less, I determined, is that as black  women have moved ahead, black men have fallen behind."

 A Professor of Law at Stanford university has written a book suggesting African American women need to marry more out of their race, to reach the equality in social class strata amongst their white peers.

"The struggles of black men, for reasons not of their own making, creates a predicament for black  women."
Harvard & Stanford graduate, Professor Ralph Richard Banks seems to suggest black women are marrying "down" due to lack of educated black men to match the new wave of educated and highly cultured black women.
"Many women would do well to expand their options in the same way people of other races have, and look beyond black men in their search for a partner."

 Read more about it here

Saturday 15 October 2011

CHINYERE INYAMA- FIRST BLACK BRITISH CORONER

Source: The Voice

“I might be the first black coroner but that’s not something I am going to dwell on. My aim is to be the best coroner full stop. As a black man, you often feel you have to be twice as good to get half the praise, and only half as bad to get twice the criticism.” 

 Fifty year old married father of six and of Nigerian heritage Chinyere Inyama has become The UK's first black coroner. Newly appointed in February to oversee Walthamstow Coroner's Court, Coroner Inyama is not incognizant to the issue of race, stereotypes and prejudice which plagues modern day multicultural Britain when he remarks:
“I went to a meeting of the Coroners’ Society earlier this year and, even in 2011, it was a case of the room hushing when I walked in. I stuck out like a sore thumb, but I'm proud of that and very proud I had my black wife next to me.”

Coroner Inyami with wife and four of their six children earlier this year at his swearing in ceremony.
 A fully qualified solicitor,Coroner Inyami grew up in North West London and attended the Marylebone Grammar School. He obtained a Bsc in Pharmacology and Biochemistry from Leeds University before going on to acquire an Msc in Experimental Pathology.This is in accordance with being a Coroner, where both medical and law qualifications are peremptory.

Somewhat perturbed and dismayed by the lack of black mental health Lawyers, Inyama set up his own practice in 1996 which ultimately pushed him to forge a career as a Coroner where he is able to have the power and autonomy in making live saving potential recommendations to the system.


The issue of black mental health is an open sore. Rates of black men being sectioned are still too high. There is still this ‘big, black and dangerous - lock them up’ mentality. It’s a crying shame. There are more black psychiatrists. Doctors are black. Nurses are black. But these institutions are still filled with black people. If I do things right and pick up where things are going wrong and what people are dying of, I can report it to the Department of Health. It can mean better targeting of health resources.”


According to judiciary.gov.uk, there are approximately 110 separate coroner's jurisdiction in England and Wales. They are barristers, solicitors or medical practitioners who resume their normal legal day to day duties when not in court. There is no doubt Coroner Inyama has joined the clerisy and bon-ton of an elite group.


“However, there's still not enough black people in the judiciary. There are a lot of very good black lawyers who still aren't getting the jobs they deserve. It is time for the black community in this country to finally play a significant role in accordance with their qualities. I don't like people who say ‘I can't’. I like people who say ‘I can’. That just about sums me up."
A relaxed Coroner Inyama in a private family picture

Thursday 13 October 2011

JAIL BIRD ROHAN CLARKE WINS AWARD AT KOESTLER TRUST



Reformed burglar Rohan Clarke has managed to turn over a fresh green leaf after achieving two separate awards for his distinctive art pieces.Clarke managed to pick a Platinum Award for his drawing aptly named "Out of Darkness" and also secured a Bronze Award for "Cry of a Caged Bird".


Cry of a Caged Bird
Former inmate  Rohan Clarke

The annual display of Art by Offenders supported by the Koestler Trust is currently  taking place in The Royal Festival Hall. This year saw a flood of entries from over 7,000 applicants with only 150 picked to be displayed.
For more information and to visit the series of art exhibitions by reformed offenders, visit The Koestler Trust
Clarke exhibits until November 20th. Proceeds from the sale goes to the Payback unit of the  criminal justice system.

Friday 7 October 2011

SIXTY SECONDS WITH KYLA FRYE


In celebration of Black History Month, our poster girl  is the multi talented award winning black British actress/model/performer Kyla Frye.


Blessed with an infectious megawatt smile which could instantly light up a remote Scottish village; the 24year old black British beauty is one to watch out for. Her radiant positivity beams brilliantly than the scorching hot summer sun, spreading quickly as a wild bush fire in the Australian outback such that anything or anyone Kyla Frye comes in touch with has the golden touch of Midas. Not only is her inner personality enchanting, but so too is her physical beauty. These days it is uncommon to find such a combination of beauty, talent, grace and good manners. It is almost as rare as finding a hen with teeth.

So who is Kyla Frye?

Born in  East London 1987,  Kyla's early brush with success, fame and celebrity came  at the tender age of three when she scooped the crown for TV Toddler of the Year in 1999. Hosted by Eammon Holmes, it signalled the start of Kyla's career in the arts industry. With the support of her parents(Mom Adrienne Fry was a former hair and beauty model while dad John Frye was a professional singer whose career has seen him work with Julios Iglesias, Freddie Starr, etc...and yes she was raised by both parents.), Kyla's acting career continues to go from strength to strength, flourishing like a palm tree with firm roots deeply embedded by the river bank.


She has starred in countless theatre productions, films and TV whilst modelling on the side. Nomination for Best British Actress at the 2009 Black British Filmmakers Award for her role in The Hydra ensued, while winning last year's BEFFTA Award for best model. This year has seen her clinch two nominations for Black Youth Achievement Award 2011 and BEFFTA  Award for Best Actress in Film.

MsEthnicMinorityUK meets up with Kyla Frye:

What challenges are there for you and any other black actresses/actors in 21st century Britain?
 I think the main challenge for Black British actors at the moment is the fact that there are very few Black "Gate Keepers" i.e. writers/directors/producers etc. within the mainstream industry and as a result, we find ourselves playing to the stereotype. Fortunately enough that is slowly changing and what is more, the "Urban" film industry is really taking off at the moment too, meaning we're seeing a lot of new faces and hearing a lot of new voices. The future of the industry and for Black British actors is very exciting and I am so looking forward to being a part of that new dawn.


Why is there a lack of Positive Black British on our screens and in the media as whole? Popular soaps such as EastEnders, etc help fuel this negative stereotype.
I think it goes back to what I was saying before, about a lack of Black British writers/directors/producers etc. who are not able to document the Black British experience accurately thus relying on what they "know" from what's available to them through the images that are already out there. I also think that we, as Black British creatives, have a duty to ourselves to not play up to or further push this negative stereotype, as it would be seem that we "endorse" such images and that it is acceptable for them to be recreated. I do believe like I said earlier, that this is slowly changing and we will see more films like 'Zion', written by Sheila Nortley, that do well to accurately portray the Black British experience.

Are you happy with your career up to date? Do you think race has played a part in where you are today or where you wish to be?
I am very happy with my career to date! Like you say, it's a career and a career takes time to build. I am still young and I have been so fortunate to have received the blessings I have had in my career so far. I don't think that my race has played a huge part in shaping my career as I believe that every role I have had so far, I was meant to have and I believe that going forward, there will be more "colour- blind" casting as this is more representative of society on a whole.

 
Any advice to anyone wishing to pursue acting?

Don't be defined by other people's opinions of you! This is a very tough business where you are judged on your appearance and where you will hear the word "No" A LOT! You have to keep your faith in God, believe in yourself and KNOW that this is the path that has already been laid out for you. It will be difficult but then if it was easy, EVERYBODY would be doing it! Remember... NOTHING is IMPOSSIBLE!




Where can we see more of you in theatre?
My next performance will be at the Oval House Theatre on Saturday 1st October, "Give Me A Voice: Not A Label" which will be a creative response to the riots. Following that, I will be performing as Alice in Writer's Avenue's "The Next Stage: Obsidere" at Soho Theatre on Saturday 12th November. Currently, I am in rehearsals for a play called "Bag Ladies" written by Babi Isako and features a fantastic cast. It reminds me of the classic, "Set It Off", except it is young and British. Definitely not to be missed!

Your best quote/words of wisdom?

BELIEVE and ACHIEVE... POSITIVITY breeds POSITIVITY... Darkness always comes before dawn but the dawn ALWAYS comes!



For further information about Kyla Frye and to keep up to date, visit : http://www.kyla-frye.com
To vote for Kyla Frye in 2011 BEFFTA Award, visit: http://www.beffta.com