Kwaku Interview

Kwaku is an over 40 year old male who does not describe himself as black or others but as Africans (he is African). He went to a public school and he got into the music business. Kwaku has done a programme on role models.
In my opinion Kwaku is a very inspirational person who believes in what he says and he knows what he is talking about. He has a lot of knowledge about black history. He has a lot of ideas about how we can change thoughts about black people in the media, why people are racist and why (black) teenagers/young adults are portrayed negatively in the media.
For instance media influences the way their audience think and behave. There are many types of media such as: TV (news), music, radio, newspapers/magazines and more; this means people controlling these things have access to billions of people and they can easily get their message out to the masses.
The media stereotypes African/black teenagers and young adults. They show them as bad people who are involved in crime, stabbing (knife crime) and more. This is why people also stereotype black people. For example, if you’re walking home and you see a black teenager in a hoody you would stay away from him.
Kwaku said if the media is stereotyping Africans you can turn this around by not believing it. You can also overcome racism as an individual and not believing the negatives of media.
Nowadays you see kids, teenagers, young adults out of home, causing trouble, in Kwaku’s point of view this is because parents don’t have a lot of control over their children in these countries. A lot of guidance comes from parents so parents need to discipline their children. Kwaku said in African countries the children are more disciplined, this is not because parents or carers have the freedom to cane their children, there are other ways of discipline. Such as if your child is behaving badly then take away their play station for a week or until they have learnt their lesson or confiscate their phones for a week.
Kwaku has never experienced direct racism, he also never experienced bullying or racism at school as he went to a school in his own country. Kwaku thinks if he or an African person was brought up in a more white predominant area it is possible of more racism. In addition to this he thinks if he was white certain things in life would have been easier. Kwaku believes it is not only about skin colour that people experienced racism but about class and attitude.
He hasn’t gone through any hard times because of his nature. Kwaku does not live the perfect life or in the perfect house or in a wealthy family but he lives comfortably and things are up to his standards. Religion has got him out of things. If ever he was in a bad situation or had a bad thought, he had faith in religion to get him out of it or away from it.
Kwaku does not have a role model because he has a strong character and follows his own path; he believes he does not need a role model or an inspirational person.
Some websites Kwaku is involved with are: Britishblackmusic.com btwsc.com
Written by - Tahmeena Miah
Interviewed by Tahmeena, Nadiyah and Luke

Interview with Devon

Self-motivated “DEVON” came to the UK at the age of 7 years. Brought by his Father who was a very important man in his life. Who after coming to the UK found a Job working with trains which supplied them with enough money for them to all move to the UK. He lived in Brixton, (but his family was very spread, having uncles that served in the Air Forces), DEVON had just found a new Home.
He soon started school at Ewfna junior school, but had started in 2years below. He also soon began to receive an amount of racial discrimination in many of his school years from other children. But his life was based on “VALUES AND PRINCIPALS” So got on with school and did Very well.
After leaving junior school he tried to get into grammar school but was rejected because it was full weirdly enough his friend who was white normally got into the school the next week this was no surprise to DEVON though. To be hit by this misfortune did not put him down or let him sit there and accept the way him and fellow black friends were being treated, so they grouped up and started a Youth Club which was not funded by the government, but their own fundraising and contribution to build up their club to which soon grew and grew to 2,000 members and even more. They also introduced extra curriculum games such as football, netball, cricket, basketball and more.
Another feature added to the club was Poetry which was introduced by a friend of DEVON that led to a Radio Station. The club reached a lot of people extending to travelling to many countries and camping.
Later on DEVON received his A-levels but his father then died leaving him to have to look for a job and got a housing manager Job for 2years.
A lot of his life was inspired by Malcolm X also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, he was an African American Muslim minister and human rights activist. Malcolm X expressed his beliefs which were one of the reasons why his life story (the book) guided DEVON through Important bits of his Life though Malcolm X was shot in 1965.
“DEVONS” life was based on Values and Principals from a young self-motivated boy to a known Role Model of today
Written by Moyin Oluwajoye 9D