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Beyond the music
"2023 WINDRUSH75..."BORN-TO-BE-LEGENDS""
Britain called, and you answered. 75 years ago, on 22 June 1948… the Empire Windrush docked at Tidbury, Essex. On board was 492 passengers from the Carribean countries.
Brought to UK, to support the shortage of labour in UK. Full of hope, and courage to begin a new life. This is a story about strivers and heroes. We call you the Windrush Generation. You brought – music – colour – and life.
Today, we have an estimated of 500,000 people in the UK who arrived between 1948 – 1971 are from Carribean countries. Many has become true legends to this day.
We are here because you were there.
Thanks to you, we are BORN TO BE LEGENDS too!
Bandjamm wishes you… Happy 75th Windrush Day.
#windrush #amplify #borntobelegends #legends #windrush75 #bandjamm
"It's #3am. I have survived another night"
#DomesticViolence is not an easy topic to discuss, and even more difficult to listen to. Everything that is tagged to it, is just plain ugly. And it doesn’t help that the conversations in the media have also labelled those who has gone through or going through a domestic violence as ‘victims’ or ‘survivors’. But can you imagine being #intheirshoes? As an outsider looking in, you will – never – truly understand how they feel. They have the utmost strength that no one on the outside can see, because those on the outside can’t, or won’t, see past the horror, the violence and the trauma.
As a friend, you might think it’s easy to just walk away, as it is pure madness not to. As a career woman in today’s world, you will never allow yourself to experience that kind of helplessness. As a man, you will never in a million years think that this could also happen to you. No one can imagine what it feels like to see what you normally watch on TV, movies – happening right in your house, in your living room… to you. This is not some random stranger lunging at you… this is someone who said they love you and this is what you “deserve”. And you close your eyes, hoping it was just a dream – not a #RepeatedDailyReality.
In the corporate world, many are reluctant to speak up about their domestic violence experience as they risk being penalised for career advancement or being labelled as emotional, unpredictable and somewhat broken. Many has been sent by HR/ line manager to OHS or to the doctors/ therapy as immediate action, and their workload reduced or responsibilities removed. This course of actions could be the worst thing to do to them, as they have already been made to feel like a failure at home and to be treated in the same way at work, makes it even worse.
At Bandjamm, we want to #ChangeTheStory… to “allow” a more #OpenConversation on domestic violence, without invoking the usual fear and horror. Our #LeapingPoint is based on a very powerful insight which has been overlooked in all the discussions about domestic violence… “Just because I am still in it, does not mean I am not planning to leave – everyday. Leaving is the most dangerous thing if I am not ready. If I leave and I am not strong enough, I will come back and it will be worse for me.“
Our campaign is a rally call for #Prevention and #Empowerment. In a relationship… the need to overpower the other person can only happen, if the other person is feeling vulnerable or having doubt of his/her self-worth. So, #StayStrong – emotionally, mentally and physically – #DontLoseFocus. We also want to “empower” those going through domestic violence… help them to #GetStrong enough – to reach that tipping point – faster – so they can leave and walk away. #ReclaimThemselves.
We at #Bandjamm, made a commitment to amplify you in everyway. So, let’s amplify the strength in all of us. #IAmStrong #WeAreResilient
The global theme for domestic violence awareness month this year 2021 is #WeAreResilient, a reminder of survivor’s resiliency as well as the collective resiliency of the domestic violence movement.
#proudtobeyourfriend, in celebration of black history month
In today’s world, our view and understanding is very much influenced by what we consume in media…maybe even tainted. We start to form an opinion and judgement, before we even take the opportunity to actively engage and find out for ourselves. We need to take a moment to remind ourselves that everything we see on media is not just a story, sometimes it’s someone’s real life.
To drive a more positive conversation on #BlackLivesMatter, we need to change the way we consume media stories of the black community. To encourage acceptance of each other within the society, we cannot start the conversation by pointing out the obvious, the things we see… the colour, the stories.
Try this for a change… close your eyes and start to truly listen. Get to know the person, by allowing the person to come into your personal space. Basically, open your heart, your ears, your mind… be a friend first, then open your eyes. By then, colour may no longer matters… and stories become reality.
At #Bandjamm, we take pride in our brand promise… ‘meeting Bandjamm is like meeting family, coming to Bandjamm is like coming home’. In line with the #BlackHistoryMonth2021 global theme #ProudToBe, we would like to share with you – our Bandjamm campaign #ProudToBeYourFriend.
Thank you to CNo, Mr. M.A.R.S, Simone and Sarah for sharing your stories with us. We, at Bandjamm is extremely proud to be your friend.
Mr M.A.R.S
MEET OUR FRIEND, Mr. M.A.R.S ... THE JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN
Think back to when you were 18 years old. You probably legally brought your first drink or was trying to decide which university would define your uni days. In M.A.R.S story, we learnt how he was inspired by his grandfather’s life when he was 18 going on 19 years of age. His grandfather was able to take a journey into the unknown, to return to his home country, to help rebuild the nation
when it was freed.
Mr M.A.R.S grandfather was at 18 years old residing in Mozambique that was under Portuguese colonial rule. This was during a time
when Portuguese settlers took the economic opportunities denied to African’s.
Mr M.A.R.S grandfather in the 1950’s at the same time was hearing in his home nation of Zimbabwe there was a growing dissent amongst
people against its colonial British rulers. He decided to leave Mozambique to repatriate to Zimbabwe in order to help rebuild his country. He left in not knowing the language, anyone there or what he would find but yet at 18 years old undertook that journey.
To voluntary take a journey into the unknown sounds terrifying but especially when not knowing how life would turn out.
Today we hear of stories of refugees or migrants making the journey to the UK but rarely the circumstances or of their bravery to
undertake the journey.
Still Mr M.A.R.S grandfather left and was not only able to help rebuild the country but happily found love, a family and his bravery
is able to inspire his entire family including Mr M.A.R.S to always take journeys into the unknown.
Again think back to when you were 18 years old or even now would you take a journey into the unknown?
At
#Bandjamm we are proud to share Mr M.A.R.S’s story and we are extremely
#ProudToBeYourFriend.
CNo
MEET OUR FRIEND, CNo... JAMAICAN ROOTS, LONDON BORN AND AMERICAN MADE
So what does the US prison system have to do with hearing the life experience of rapper CNo in 2021. Part of his life is that, he
was born and lived in London till the age of two and has Jamaican heritage. However, hearing the other part of his story illustrates despite being incarcerated in the US prison system, as a standard rite a passage for a young black man, he was able to find
other opportunities outside this system to rise.
The origin of the rite’s of passage for a young black man in America to be incarnated, started in 1865 when the 13th Amendment to the US constitution abolished slave labour or involuntary servitude except as a punishment for a crime. The abolition of slavery although resulted in the loss of African American’s as slave labour, however the 13th Amendment resulted in this labour being regained as prison labour. Tough punishments and arrests were administered in order to gain this prison labour.
Today it’s a highly profitable & lucrative system for private companies. Uncompensated labour make goods for private sale. This varies
from manufacturing, clothing, books, to US military items. Although 1 in 5 of the world’s prisoners are in the US, the majority of this labour are black males, whereby, 1 in 3 black men will spend time in prison vs 1 in 17 white men. It’s a rite of passage for a young black man indeed.
For CNo although incarcerated and released he returned again, like others who return time and again. But why do they return? Although
released, they still hold a criminal record against their name, which has a negative and discriminatory impact when making applications such as for employment. Effectively moved from the seat of those considered employable, to those who are considered unemployable
and then thrown back into the community to make them feel like there is no other option in their life but to return.
In first asking CNo about his experience of this, rebellion is what first came to his mind. Rebellion against a suppressing system
that creates a perception that there are limited opportunities once incarcerated.
However, it was upon his returned incarnation and in the moments of stillness in prison, he was able to grow his spirituality, his
physicality and his mentality of seeing every challenge and obstacle as an opportunity to rise. To find answers to his own questions, to observe his situations and to navigate a way out for himself. Ultimately, to realise his opportunities in life were limitless.
At
#Bandjamm we are proud to share CNo’s story and we are extremely
#ProudToBeYourFriend.
Simone
MEET OUR FRIEND, SIMONE... A JOURNEY FROM PAIN TO PROMISE
For Simone, the answer to Endometriosis was not medication. Despite the doctors first dismissing her pain and finally telling her
there was no cure, she was adamant there was a way out. In Simone's story we learnt that through opening up, a change of mindset and with the help of natural remedies, she was able to reverse her symptoms and find a way out of the pain.
Endometriosis, is defined by the NHS as a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb start to grow in other places such as the ovaries and bowels. It can cause significant pain and it affects 10% or 190 million of reproductive women and girls globally.
There is according to the NHS no cure for this condition.
Before Endometriosis could be identified as the cause of Simone's pain, the pain she experienced was just dismissed by the doctors
as period pain, failing to recognise there was an underlying reason. This was despite it causing debilitating monthly pain. Her pain was minimised and as a result she suffered for over a decade and a half causing it grow into chronic daily pain. During this
time, there was frustration that the pain still had no name and had intensified to the point she was rushed to A&E.
At A&E she had numerous scans and tests and the doctors still did not know the cause. Following surgery the doctors finally identified
the cause was Endometriosis. She later had major open surgery and rather than ease her pain, it made it worse. She ended up out of action for a year following surgical complications. Furthermore, her periods pains returned with more intensity and was advised
by every doctor that only strong pain relief medication was the answer to ease her condition. She hit crisis point and rather than just take the medication, she tapped into her spirit to find the answers on her own to her condition.
Simone began to share her story and open up to others about her condition. In doing so, she discovered natural remedies. At first
she was sceptical and apprehensive it could work. She decided to give it a try and in the end natural remedies reversed her symptoms.
The medical professionals did not have the answers she needed and rather than accept their responses she changed her mindset to heal
from her pain.
For Simone, hearing time and again there was no cure only propelled her to find a different truth. From her experience she realised
the power of sharing stories, speaking up and also the onus being on ourselves to find the answers we need.
At
#Bandjamm we are proud to share Simone’s story and we are extremely
#ProudToBeYourFriend.
Sarah
MEET OUR FRIEND, SARAH... FINDING A SENSE OF BELONGING THROUGH FAMILY
No dogs, no blacks, no Irish was a media snapshot of the anti-immigrant attitudes in 1950’s and 1960’s Britain. Today we have the
Windrush scandal and Piri Patel stating “people across the country do not want their communities and way of life to change beyond recognition”.
Then and now the media report anti-immigrant attitudes and policies but rarely the experiences or impact anti-immigrant attitudes
are directed towards. For Sarah, born following a period of 60’s anti-immigrant attitudes, although such attitudes for Sarah was more subtle, there was still an impact on her feeling connected to Britain. Sarah is British born and was residing with parents
in London, however a sense of belonging and identity for Sarah was discovered at the age of 7 in St Lucia.
The attitudes towards immigrants including those 2nd generation immigrants in Britain was negative and fuelled by the media and politicians
notably by Margaret Thatcher in 1978 whom stated the following:
People are really rather afraid that this country might be swamped by people with different culture and, you know…people are going
to react and be rather hostile to those coming in.
Such attitudes created for Sarah a feeling of unwelcomeness and no sense of belonging with British society.
At home for Sarah when residing with her parents as a child, home was a still a place of safety from the outside. However, a sense
of belonging could neither be formed here due to a unsettled marriage between her parents.
In Sarah’s story a sense of belonging and identity was discovered at the age of 7 when meeting her great grandfather in St Lucia.
Sarah was able to reconnect not only to her great grandfather and to discover his love, but she was also able to connect with other relatives residing in St Lucia. Meeting them, hearing their stories and journeys, inspired her and formed a sense of her identity
as she got to know of the footsteps of those who had come before her.
Despite anti-immigrant attitudes in British society, Sarah’s story is able to illustrate how a sense of belonging and identity can
be formed from family ties and heritage. The black cultural archives in Brixton for instance was founded in 1981 to collect, preserve and celebrate the histories of Afro-Caribbean people in order to give strength to individuals, communities and societies.
These stories like Sarah’s are a powerful tool in feeling like you belong in the face of feeling unwelcomeness.
At
#Bandjamm we are proud to share Sarah’s story and we are extremely
#ProudToBeYourFriend.
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