|
Connecting
Chord: London, England
Connecting Chord
a police and
community program with
American writer, teacher, consultant Christine Hemp
Seattle
Times article from Wed October 15, 2001
The
Port Townsend Leader article, February 2003:
HOPE MAGAZINE article
London
Metropolitan Police Force
& Youth At Risk
write, talk, perform and bridge gaps.
Brixton,
Borough of Lambeth, London, England
February 28th - March 3rd
Sponsored by Lambeth Crime Prevention Trust
“Christine
Hemp brought her talents to us and brought something very wonderful
together with a group of people who have not spoken to each other, in
fact didn’t understand one another at all. We’ve come a long
way...Thanks to Christine Hemp for this great legacy.”
--
Councilor Stephen Bourne, Mayor of Lambeth, London
“When you
have a milestone event like this, you want to continue; you have
something at the end of the tunnel. This is where it all begins.”
--Simon
Foy, Chief of Police
London Metropolitan Police
Brixton, Lambeth, London
“When we
thought of inviting American poet Christine
Hemp to cross the Atlantic to Atlantic Road in Brixton, to
write poetry with a mixed group of police officers and young people we
had no idea whether anyone would take us seriously. This was the first
time anyone had tried to use poetry for preventing crime.
What
follows illustrates just what a powerful exercise this has been.
Sitting in a
cold and dingy room above the Dogstar Pub, eight police officers and
eight young people have spent the week exploring whether creative
writing can build bridges between police and local youth in Lambeth.
The result is
“Connecting Chord” and you can judge for yourself whether any
bridges have been built...”
--Simon
Keyes
Director
Lambeth Crime Prevention Trust
BEFORE
AND AFTER:
CONNECTING
CHORD WEEK
BEFORE:
Community
Impressions of the Brixton Police Force:
“Fuck Dem.
They don’t help us blacks.”
“They suck.”
“Some are
decent, but the bad ones have a massive difference in my perceptions of
the force. If think of
them, I think corrupt, racist...even if they’re not all like that, the
bad ones bring the whole force down.”
“A half and
half mass of variety with some that greet the police and others that
hold a distaste and conditioned hatred.
“Quiet soldiers, misplaced ideas and sadness. Together in their world,
protection gone from creative notions of the universe.”
“Most
of them just judge me because of the way that I dress and walk.”
“Police
for me is we need them. All time, for protection...”
“The
police force has too many crooked cops.”
“What
the police think is they try to help but sometimes they fuck up black
people...”
BEFORE:
Brixton
Police Impressions of the Community:
“Racists: not
willing to accept we are new police, not the old police that gave us
this reputation.”
“General
unwillingness to listen, change, or accept making the first move.”
“Very bitter.
Takers not Givers. Small minority seem to influence the majority causing
unrest and unwillingness to change.”
“The majority
are decent, hard-working and respectful. A minority are lazy,
disrespectful and think the world owes them. It’s easy to blame others
rather than turn the light on yourself.”
“Unwilling to
change.”
“Disinterested
and fractured. Everyone with their own agenda.”
AFTER:
COMMUNITY
RESPONSE
“Feeling safe
to open up. Sharing. Laughing. Seeing others’ points of view clearly.
Seeing the young people attempt to listen. Safety of input. The ability
to speak and not feel judged. To hear, to listen, to acknowledge.
To recognize
that we are all learning. The responsibility of communication.”
“Talking and
honesty. Expressing each other without fear. Opening our minds up.
Laughing. Seeing the police without uniforms.”
“Today was
good talking to the police face to face. I had fun. Thank you.”
“Getting to
know the police better. Understand their feelings.”
“The good
thing about today is that I was talking to and about police and to tell
you the truth it was interesting to know how the police think.”
“Good to be
together, police and community. Help understand problems between people.
Talk about racism, drugs, black people ideas about police. Nice every
one has been honest.”
AFTER:
POLICE
RESPONSE
“Talking as
people – not as ‘police’ and the community. interacting with each
other, being positive about negative issues. Asking questions and
listening to the replies – not assuming the answers.”
“The [good
things were] the behavior of my officers. Christine’s amazing
tolerance. I wore a warmer jumper. Andrew’s honesty.”
“With the
community and colleagues sharing views, opinions and experiences. I feel
happier in my self. The poetry therapy helped. Talking to Sgt. Hull
helped to resolve the changing team issue. I was encouraged by Lola’s
comments.”
“No
belittling of others. No hatred but a collective of laughter.
Understanding through discussion of problems on both sides. Realization
that everyone is just human regardless of what job or what clothing is
worn.”
“I think it’s
been a good opportunity for people to air their view if they want –
but also just to sit and listen. It’s good if we take away something
from this and convince at least one person in this room that we are more
than just ‘police officers.’ I can see why there is so much
animosity amongst the community but it’s ‘Good to talk. The Smarties
were nice.”
“I got to
meet some people from where I work. That’s neat. I got to eat some
smarties they were very sweet. We sat around in a circle and spoke about
our lives. We discussed about our feelings towards each other...”
“It was good
that everyone could speak openly, not allowing preconceived barriers to
get in the way...”
“No insults.
No abuse. No blind accusations. An open and friendly forum. No dancing.”
UNLOCK by
Genine Marr (youth)
Escape from
Brixton
because the shoe-heart
laughs like a box of cigarettes.
Yellow fearful blood pours from police.
I am full of forgiveness.
DO BRIXTON
POLICE HAVE A HEART?
by Lola Adesioye (youth mentor and Lambeth Crime Prevention Trust
organizer)
Do Brixton
police have a heart we
Ask as blood of our people spills on the street.
As we escape from one life and come to
the “promised” land, we have to escape
again from the fear of being punished for
who we are. Our dreams appear to die like a
smoldering cigarette never to be re-ignited, like
white wallpaper that has faded to a dirty
yellow. But sometimes I have to laugh as I look at
reality and remember that I control my own destiny and
not those in power. I forgive them because as far
as I am concerned, I put on my own shoes
and I tie my own laces.
BRIXTON IS A
PLACE by Keith Tucker
(youth)
Brixton is a
place to
Escape. The policeman’s
Shoes are yellow. I have
No fear. My heart is filled with
Blood. I laugh at the
man smoking cigarettes
and weed.
I forgive them. They don’t know
Brixton is my town,
My city, my word.
I LOST A
SHOE by Tanya Mills (Youth Mentor)
I lost a shoe.
I saw her fumbling in
her pocket and pulling out
a cigarette.
I lit it. The yellow flame
reminded me of the
eyes that had captured and
gripped me.
Fear rolled in my tummy.
My blood ran cold.
I heard laughter behind –
I at the top of Brixton Road.
My heart beat so fast.
I turned to see
silver glints of
the police uniforms looking at me.
No questions I wanted
to answer.
I had to escape as
he had said to report or I
would be dead.
Will I ever forgive
and who?
ON THE RUN
by Marvin Gordon
Running through
the back streets of Brixton
My heart pounds
Police everywhere
I need a cigarette
to ease the fear
My yellow trousers
covered in blood
My shoes covered in mud
Forgiveness I hate
I always escape
DESPERATELY
COLD by Dawn Hull (Sargent)
Desperately
cold but
After awhile
William arrived with heaters.
Never seen him before.
He seems ok,
unusual, needs a wash.
Looks like a local.
Lives in Lambeth
I CARE TOO
MUCH ABOUT PEOPLE by Helen Harmon (police)
I care too much
about people.
If Red really does mean danger
then I’m faced with it every day
If Pink is really the color of girls
then there’s nothing more to say.
If Blue is how we all sometimes feel
then that means life is ticking by.
If we all laugh at least once an hour
then that gives us the chance to cry.
If Rachel’s favorite film is “Air Force One”
then it’s great she feels she can admit it.
If Matt’s imagination is as vivid as it seems
then the coat rail may runaway with it.
If all the people in this room are cold
then I’m sure their hearts are warm.
If the beer pumps would let the lager flow
then I’m sure here we all would swarm.
If Garry thinks he’s guilty of no sin
then please don’t let him be blamed for anything.
If Joy was what we all could feel
then my heart would definitely sing.
LIFE by Lee
Jellis (police)
Life on the
Edge is always
Exciting, especially
Jumping off the
Edge of cliffs watching
Life pass before you and
Light shining directly
Inside of your mind.
Simple. Unbelievable.
POEM by
Garry Johnson (police)
I care too much
about people.
If they are sea blue
then I would sail on them.
If they were calm
then Garry raised a glass.
If by chance
then light shone onto a bald head.
If only he had a cap...
then music started.
If only I knew where from,
then I turned around and saw a snowman on a turntable.
I only I could have a go....
MY DREAM by
Tania Robinson
My dream is to
be a rapper....like my dad, music is deep to me because without music, I
would be so unhappy. Sometimes a song can tell someone a lot and I wanna
sing so that I can talk about where I’m from and how hard it is to be
me and how hard it is to for all my niggas. When I make it I’m gonna
bring my family and friends wid me.
|
