Thanks Donald

Authenticity is the journey of figuring out who you are through what you make

- Donald Glover

27 PLAYLIST

Here you will find the playlist for 27
These chosen tracks have had an influence on my life, on my journey and on the writing and creating of 27.
So Enjoy!

And try to figure out if any tracks partner specific pieces - Just a thought

Hammond Drive Artwork by Brooke Hiscocks

HAMMOND DRIVE

Hammond drive just off Cromwell road

is where my story first got told

Acting bigger than big and dreaming bold

Our ambitions were like currency but never sold

Houses were cold

Mums couldn’t afford gas or electric

So you’d have to chuck on another hoody or another blanket

Days were spent in the big car park

With a group of friends and a football

Motorbikes revving up and down the street

A football with the patches torn off at our feet

No fathers around so all we had was each other

Just us and our single mothers

There were no locked doors in Hammond drive

In and out of each others houses we went

Days spent

Acting up and playing tough

Childhood dreams drawn out with chalk on concrete

Dreaming of and acting out what we could potentially be

Jaffa having a fire in his back yard

Whilst wannabe gangsters rolled around

Trying to act all hard

On odd days we’d take ourselves to Kemp Park

Surrounded by Basketball hoops, goalposts and fields of grass 

We were more than an estate.

We were a family.

My mum would always invite everyone round for tea

A community.

Wanting to break free

Of the bullshit stereotypes and adverse poverty

It moulded me into who I’d grow up to be.

That much I now see.

See, Hammond drive is where I grew up

The place everyone said was so rough

The estate was what made me so tough

But the estate was also full of so much love

A lot of shit went down in Hammond drive

The estate it made me strive

Made me dream

Of a better life

There was never a dull moment in hammond drive

Fighting in the street and screaming in the neighbours face

Was all normalised in this place

We’d have front row seats to the drama that would be kicking off

Like we were all living in a modern day checkov

Drug dealers and gangsters were some of the first superheroes to us.

Making more of your life than the stereotypes, was a must

We had more chance of being like them than we did of being legit

Getting a good education, a well-paid job and shit

Making more than the £50 a week on the dole

Or falling into a depressive hole

Where you contemplate selling your soul

That black magic shit

Whilst single mums are in their kitchens

Tightening the band and injecting their latest hit

 It’s sad because they won’t quit

And their baby dads won’t commit

to what they created

So, the only escape they got is falling deeper and deeper into that pit

Hammond drive, where you’d walk around with a knife

Not understanding the impact it could have on your life

Too young to process the consequences

Too young to even care

It wasn’t fair

But the cards were already dealt

Many many absences already felt

And others were beaten by belts

Whilst the potency of weed was smelt

I always had a vision that it would be different

I always had a vision I was gifted

That I wouldn’t be another statistic

I would rise way above all of this

All around the Port people love to bitch and moan

But Hammond Drive is more than an estate

Hammond Drive is my home

Miracles Artwork by Ellen Groves

MIRACLES

Its funny when I look up to the stars

People always say “Wow, I feel so small”

I’m the opposite

I feel so BIG.

In a world of 7 billion people, within a universe of infinite possibilities, planets, stars and suns.

I. AM. HERE

I AM A PART OF ALL THIS

I feel so big because I’m here living this life.

Amongst billions of other people, who have billions of stories, experiences, love and laughter to give.

I’m among that.

I’m a miracle.

We all are.

Little science lesson quickly….

During sex when the male ejaculates he releases millions of sperm which race like Grand Prix drivers into the female vagina,

through the uterus,

through a series of tunnels called fallopian tubes, 

to the finish line of ovaries where the eggs are waiting for the winner and the prize is fertilisation.

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(Obviously don’t quote me as I’m not a scientist, but it’s along those lines

And I bet when you started reading this you didn't think you'd be having a science lesson either ....) 

That means there’s literally millions of possible outcomes of a life racing towards the finish line to attach to the egg.

I guess if a different sperm attached to my mums egg then maybe a different Connor would’ve been born…

One that wasn’t writing this collection of words, or had an afro, or saw the world the way I do but I’m getting distracted by sex talk and going off my initial point.

It’s all connected though, trust me, so stick with me…

The point I’m making is about miracles and how we are all one.

Every single one of us who walk this earth are beautiful, unique miracles.

There’s no one in the whole world like me.

No one who can bring what I bring

There may be others who share the same name - Connor Allen BUT there is only one me.

There’s no one who can write the way I write or tell the stories the way I tell them

There’s no one who can love as intensely and passionately as me

Who can laugh like me

Affect others like me

Emote like me

Because I’m unique.

I’m individual.

And so are each and every single one of you.

No one can bring to the world what YOU bring

There may be people who have the same name as you but there’s no one who can do the things you do, react the way you react,

love the way you love,

feel the way you feel and so much more.

BECAUSE YOU ARE YOU

And with that comes our own way of looking at the world and the lives we all live

Each and every single one of us have stories to tell

and each and every one of those stories are a unique view on how we see/react to the world.

If 10 of us were all given the same theme/stimulus - write a story about a bunch of flowers,

we’d have 10 different stories about a bunch of flowers,

all of which would represent the brilliantly beautiful world that we live in

because we are all different and all carry different energies and views.

What am I  getting at?

Well..

Simply put, welcome who you are and accept that YOU ARE ENOUGH

Just the way you are

You’re a miracle

You're valid

You’re unique

Embrace that

There’s power in stories

So own it.

Your story holds power and influence and so do you.

John York says in his book ‘Into The Woods’ …

“ We crave stories like a drug -

for it is only through story that we are able to bring our inner selves into line with the external world.

In that process some kind of sense is made, and if we're lucky, some kind of truth discovered.

Stories appear to be both as simple - and complex - as that.”

Cheddar Man Image sourced by Fez Miah

BLACK performed by Andrew Ogun

GRIEF

I wanna talk about grief

And I’ll try and keep it brief

Because as we speak

About a feeling

that is so universal yet so individual.

Grief

that feeling, it’s with us for the long haul.

They say it comes in different stages

If your life is a book

It seems to fill up most of the pages

Starts off with denial

Then anger creeps in

This raging fire from deep within

Like a juggernaut

Consuming your every thought

Then you start arguing

As the stages proceed to bargaining

And you feel yourself hardening

As you’re on the edge of this cliff.

That is grief.

And before you know it you’re falling

Not speaking to health professions

You fall into a deep depression

Because the loss you’ve suffered

has left a giant impression

On your day to day.

On your life.

Thinking why do things have to be this way?

And eventually you find the strength to swim,

through the submerged sea

of your internal thoughts

That you’ve been drowning in

for some time

And as you wade through the sea

and all the way to the shore

You feel it right down in your core

The memories of what was before

The remembrance

And you look up

and you know,

you’ve finally got acceptance.

I was ten when I lost the closest friend to me.

As close as brothers, he was a branch on my family tree

So next I’m going to tell you a story

About what his death did to me

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Grief Artwork by Amy Moody

Grief Continued Artwork by Suzanne Hunt

GRIEF (CONTINUED)

“He’s no longer with us. He died this morning”

With those words, which I can still remember as clear as day all these years later it was real.
He was gone.
I ran from the living room

Up the stairs, my mum in pursuit.
I ran straight to my bedroom and moved my wardrobe in front of the bedroom door

then I moved the bed behind the wardrobe and then the chest of drawers in-between the bed and the furthest wall.
I barricaded myself in my bedroom.

No light, my mum banging on the door and pleading to be let in.
But I just sat in the corner
For 2 days
And cried and cried.
Didn’t go school.
Didn’t eat.
Just sat there in the dark.

That’s all I can really remember about that period of those 2 days.
Just crying and grieving in a way.

Processing the information as Lloyd, my best friend at the time, was the first person of mine to be taken.

This feeling of loss and grief.  And later guilt.

Well this was the first time for me see.
It’s like falling in love at a young age, you have all these emotions inside of you,

they are all new and you don’t know what to do because they are all new.
That was my grief.

All these new feelings, thoughts and emotions like uncontrollably crying

and trying to figure out how to go forward without a brother or a best friend.

Two days later I emerged from my bedroom

went to school and it was as if nothing had changed.
Even at Lloyds funeral I looked around,

saw my mum and my aunty and many other parents and pupils all crying

but no tears left my eyes and I felt bad for that.

Like I should be crying right now.
But I had done all my crying whilst I was locked away.

I had no more tears left to give in a way.

So Lloyd, my best friend at the time died of a brain tumour.
That was untreatable.
And I should have saw the signs but at aged 10/11 how are you meant to know what a brain tumour is?
What chemo is?
What death is?

All those questions I can look back now and answer but at the time I had no idea

All I had was fear.
Fear of what the future would bring because everything in my life was changing

And even if I couldn’t articulate how or why, I knew.

Lloyd was losing his hair

And being pushed around in a wheel chair.
But I remained hopeful that he was going to get better,

Death hadn’t even entered the equation.

Naively, I thought that when mum told me “he’s gone” I thought he would be coming back.

Death is a complex thing at any age,
But try explaining it to kids at an early stage
No grasp on what it means

in its true complexities.

THAT was my grief.

Not knowing what it meant
That I’d no longer be playing K’nex

Or going to swimming lessons without my fellow swimmer friend

That he wouldn’t be coming back

And I’d have to go forward in life without him.

That’s hard.

Picturing a life without someone you were so close with.

That’s where the guilt crept in and stayed for years.

Just subtly at the back of my mind

Guilt that he was taken and I wasn’t.

As silly as that was

But that’s what I thought

- Out of the two of us he wouldn’t say boo to a goose,

was the kindest, politest kid ever and I was this “problem” child

constantly getting in trouble and being a pain in everyone’s ass.

I should’ve been taken as he clearly had a better chance of success in life.

I had guilt that I was going to experience life in its fullest and he now wouldn’t.

Guilt that I got to go to university

Guilt that I traveled the country pursuing my passion of acting

Guilt that I got to fall in love

Guilt that I got to experience teenage relationships and teenage love and all that comes with that

Guilt that I got to lose my virginity

Guilt that one day I’ll have kids

Guilt that one day I’ll get married

Guilt that I get to laugh and joke with my nearest and dearest

Guilt that I can see my mothers pride in me

Guilt that I can see my nieces and nephews growth

Guilt that I was here and he wasn’t.

That guilt was part of my grief.

Manifested over years and years.

As I write this and you read this, I now know that’s what I had to go through to get to this place.

I just am so lucky to be here and to be potentially effecting people with my experiences and stories.

I can’t carry the weight and burdens of my lost loved ones.

I know that now.

All I can do is be the best version of myself that I can be.

Try to make them proud.

And yes I’m not perfect, none of us are.

There will be days when I’m not at my best, I’m only human after all BUT I’ll learn from that and do better.

I’ll be better.

And that’s what I say to each and every one of you.

Guilt will consume you

Freedom will release you

There’s no timeframe to grief

So be kind to yourself and those around you going through it

Because it takes time

Be free to make mistakes and learn from them

Be free to know that the people you loved and lost are looking down on you keeping you safe

Be free to know you’re a miracle and have the potential to change so much in the world.

Be free to just be YOU, Flaws and all because they make you who you are.

FUCK YOUR MICROAGGRESSIONS

 Fuck your microaggressions and the way you look at me different

Fuck your microaggressions and your subtle dig at my light skinned complexion

Fuck your microaggressions and your judgements at my parentage

Fuck your microaggressions and your “you’re not really black though”

Fuck your microaggressions and your “where are you from…Like really from”

Fuck your microaggressions and comparing skin tones because I’m light

Fuck your microaggressions and your perceptions of who I am because I “look white”

Fuck your microaggressions and clutching your bag tighter when I enter a lift

Fuck your microaggressions and thinking I’m going to shoplift, following me around Morrisons your whole shift

Fuck your microaggressions and thinking I’m just being sensitive for calling it out

Fuck your microaggressions and what comes outta your mouth

CHANGING THE NARRATIVE

Growing up I always remember sporadically watching casualty on a Saturday night with my mum. 
Some of the earliest conversations about life and the complexities around that came from the sofa of our living room watching casualty. 

Little did I know how these conversations would shape my future and allow me to question the world and the many things about it in an open and honest way. 

Watching the episodes play out I always remember naively thinking that these people (the actors) must have amazing houses and materialistic things and lots of money because they are on TV. 
They’re famous after all and famous people are in a different stratosphere of society right? 
(Oh how the world changes when we grow up) 

For a kid in the cheap seats of a council estate the TV opened up a pathway to a world far different from the one I grew up in. 
Imagine being on TV I would say to myself.

Like those people are proper famous and again they are on TV.

Like it was this sort of gold standard of societal triumph by making it onto TV. 

You could afford a better life 
A better life than the one I was experiencing.

Think how big their houses must be.
Like I bet they have big posh gates at the front because most famous people have gates at the front surely?

The voice of my prepubescent self is hugely naive and still so innocent to the fact that’s just not how it all works. 

The reason I write this is because many months ago I was walking back through my estate

and a group of youngsters screamed over excitedly to me

“oh Con you were on TV ini” “I saw you the other night on TV on BBC” 
And I just nodded,

replied “yeah, safe” and carried on to my mums. 

It didn’t occur to me what that meant for them at that time. 
It didn’t occur to me that I was once one of those youngsters,

fascinating over the magic of TV and what that meant for the people experiencing it. 
To me nowadays it’s just part of the great job and adventure I get to take part of as an actor. 

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Naively I saw my first black barbie and first disabled barbie whilst working a shift in Argos recently.

It bought so much joy to me in the fact knowing that there are so many young children who will grow up playing with them and feel like they are accepted and represented and have a place for their imagination to run wild.  
They’ll grow up feeling like they belong and that is more powerful and appealing that you can begin to imagine. 
That’s changing the narrative. 
That’s changing children’s futures.

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Growing up I loved my action men.

Mum bought me loads and I’d spend hours creating elaborate storylines

where action man climbed through the deadly jungle of my bedroom to defeat Dr X.

I never grew up with a black action man though or even a brown action man.

And at the time of course it wasn’t a massive deal because I didn’t fully understand the deep deep significance of my ethnicity and skin colour.

But looking back .. I would have loved a black action man.

An action man that represented a part of me that I loved and longed to be more like.

It may seem silly and like they’re just toys but never underestimate the power of toys

and the power of children’s imaginations.

They’re two of the most powerful things on earth.

And when you can see yourself in the toys you play with,

 you can start to imagine stories where you’re accepted in the narrative.

That shit can change your life.

It’s such a big deal for children everywhere knowing that they can see themselves in what they play with

 and the stories they create.

For them on my estate it meant more than just seeing my face on TV.

It meant another route was possible.

It meant that there was a route away from all this that didn’t involve crime or drugs.

I’m now living proof of that.

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It meant they could achieve and aspire to be more than what they know.

It was changing the narrative for them.

A narrative that has been dominated by drugs and the dole for so many years

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And we don’t need to become the stereotypes that society perpetuates on us.

We can change the narrative.

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I remember being at the front of the pyramid stage, watching Stormzy headline Glasto.

The whole thing was truly out of this world and one that changed the narrative for me personally.

Not only what it meant for me but what it meant for so many others all over the world.

Our representation was there for the world to see. 

Grime music was on show

Black culture was on show 

Black energy was on show 

This attitude and energy that I carried from a youth on the streets back in the early 00s was there. 

That moment was progress.

That moment was beautiful. 

Because future generations can look back to that moment

and see passion, determination and celebration all there on that stage.

It was all there in a black man breaking barriers and creating history.

And as I was there amongst hundreds of thousands of souls,

with my partner, singing along to COLD

and thinking one day this will be a positive inspirational story to tell our daughter

(when she’s eventually here - we really want a baby girl)

I can look back to that moment and tell my child that their father was part of the energy crew.

He was part of a culture that many youths of his day identified with. 

The lyrics, The beats, the clothes. It all represented us and gave us a voice.

And that representation was their when Stormzy became the first grime artist to headline the pyramid stage.

His performance was a statement and wasn’t apologetic for anything.

It embraced everything with both hands

and showed so many black and mixed race youths that we can aspire to be on that stage one day,

We can aspire to be ballerinas with ballet shoes that match our own skin tone.

And thats what i’ll instill in my offspring.

That confidence that they can achieve whatever they want because the leaders and role models before them have paved the way. 

Stormzy showed me that at Glasto.

And thats invaluable.

Thats truly changing my outlook and approach.

Thats changing the narrative.

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I pride myself on the fact I went to university and not drama school as I’m living proof

that through hard work and determination you can make it in this industry.

I also pride myself on the fact I come from a council estate because with that pride, I bring hope.

Hope that a better life is achievable.

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And I’m proof of that.

So remain hopeful and don’t let nothing dim your dreams and ambitions because it’s those that will propel you beyond the stars.

Anything is possible

And your background, environment and where you come from are NOT barriers if you believe!

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Its your dreams and ambitions that will change the narrative.

DEAR JAMAICA

Hey Jamaica

Can we talk?

I feel like we ain’t spoken in ages

And even though we still haven’t met I can picture you in my head.

But doing that, at times

Fills me from head to toe with dread.

You’ll travel there one day is what was said

Even though if I’m honest I feel like a fraud

And years and years have passed since then

I’m starting to think maybe it’s too late.

I picture my heritage,

My lineage

All there on your back.

You’ve carried them for generations

And I guess I just want to say

Thank you.

Because if it wasn’t for you

I guess I wouldn’t be here.

Shedding these tears

Because the fears of acceptance are real

And the lack of identity is what I used to feel.

And I thought maybe, well, hopefully, you could give me some answers.

I got told stories of you when I was younger

They made me smile.

And occupied my thoughts for a while.

Smiling at the hope that one day I could set foot on your back and we could finally meet.

One story was that many people buried newborns’ umbilical cords beneath trees, as it’s said to give the baby a permanent connection with their homeland.

If so what does that mean for me?

I mean I want a piece of that freedom

Some part of that connection.

You make up so many branches in my life

From your food to your music

To my actual family relations

The ones who aren’t caucasian.

If we ever met would you accept me?

Even though my mum’s white and you only make up half of me?

If I flew to the tiny island in the sea

Would some part of my identity finally be free?

Would you love me?

Like I was one of your children

Because you’re the motherland to many of my family tree

So surely that makes you part motherland to me?

I guess deep down I’m just scared

Because that’s not what a lot of people will see.

I’m scared of what it’ll actually mean

For me.

I really do hope we get the chance to meet one day

I mean that

Because I’ve got so much that I want to say

And it just can’t all be articulated in a letter

But when we do finally meet, it’ll make me feel better

About where I fit in the world

my place among it all.

Because being mixed race has been a rollercoaster

A confusion of identity and not fitting in

And you may not have all the answers

to the questions that I want to ask

But be patient with me, please

Because I’m only now taking off my mask.

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Dear Jamaica Artwork by Delyth Evans​

MY THOUGHTS AND FEARS

For anyone who remembers the original 1994 Lion King there’s a scene that I’m sure you’ll all remember

Mufasa: Simba, I'm very disappointed in you.

Simba:  I know.

Mufasa: You could have been killed. You deliberately disobeyed me. And what's worse, - you put Nala in danger!

Simba: I was just trying to be brave like you.

Mufasa: I'm only brave when I have to be. Simba ... being brave doesn't mean you go looking for trouble.

Simba: But you're not scared of anything. Mufasa: I was today.

Simba: You were?
Mufasa: Yes ... I thought I might lose you.

Simba: Oh. I guess even kings get scared, huh?

Mufasa: Mm-hmm.
 

Well…

Not so long ago I was on the train to Cardiff with my best friend Jace and as we were playing our usual silly, made up games that make no sense to anyone bar us.

We had our own lion king moment on the train to Cardiff….

He turned to me and said “Con you’re not scared of anything are you” and I laughed and said “what makes you say that”

He just shrugged

I said “Everyone scared of something at some point in their lives”

And we continued to play our game as the train approached Cardiff Central.

But It really got me thinking.

Like I do get scared

Of course I do

I’m human.

At times I’m a hypocrite too.

I have loads of these thoughts and fears.

For example, the older I’ve got the more I understand grief and death but also the less I understand too.

I’m scared of death.
Well, Like more specifically dying.

I’m scared of dying.

And I know that’s generic and many people, if not most people are afraid of dying.

Makes sense.

But its deeper than that.
For me anyway.

Its deeper than just simply dying.

That happens to us all eventually. It’s inevitable.

Like breathing in a way.
Inhaling life through our nostrils to fill our lungs with the breath of air that is so crucial to our survival.

Something that is beyond tribal.

The clock of time runs down for us all.
Like a shadow we can’t escape no matter how far we travel, or how much wealth we accumulate.
It’s there.
And I get that.

I guess I just don’t want to die before I achieve all I want to achieve.

All I’m capable of achieving.
Whatever that is
In life.

In my life.
Before my potential is realised, I don’t want my flame to simmer.

My candle to go out.
Because I’ve had loved ones in my lifetime who have had their candles blown out too soon

R.I.P Chloe & Lloyd to name a few

They never got to reach and we never got to see the heights their potential could reach.

I want to reach my full potential of what I can achieve in this life. Good or bad.
To make a difference and have an impact in some capacity.

I want my life to mean something to the people in it.
I want the experiences of me and my being to mean something.

To those experiencing it.

I want the love I hold to be felt in every way possible.

In my jokes
In my banter
In my anger

If I’m a pebble, I want my ripples on the river face to last forever.

To continue rippling
Forever crippling
The thoughts and feelings of those in my life.

All this is, is a universe of my thoughts swimming around in my brain

Articulating them on paper before they get flushed down a drain
But along with that flush of thoughts would go my pain.

I'm scared of the struggles the next generation will have to endure.

The benefits, the poverty, the selling drugs that are so pure

Anything for a little extra cash
To try to get by

When the world around you cuts you off

The struggles of grief because no doubt they’ll lose brothers too soon

To the streets, to the game or of a brain tumor one afternoon.

But it’s those struggles that make us who we are

That mould and bend us into who we are to become.

In this life.

But with that struggle comes fear.

I’m scared of becoming my father
And never being around
I look in the mirror and see him
in my reflections of new and old.
And that scares me because I want to be the opposite

But is it in my DNA to be just like him.

We share the same chromosomes some might say

Like chromosomes, we are 2 dots connected by a line.
A life line.
A birth dot and a death dot and the line connecting the two is our life.

My Thoughts and Fears Artwork by Jasmin Allen

And that scares me because what am I meant to do during this line? 
What is anyone meant to do?

I’m scared of not being a great role model to my little brother 
I’m scared I’ll never get forgiveness from my mother 

I want my mum to hold my kids
I want my nan to be around to see my kids. 
To see their growth
See their maturity too
I’m optimistic about the future
Because I want my kids to see her.
I’m scared of losing my mum 
Because of the journey we’ve been on.
From birthing me to now
I take a second and think wow.
That woman has raised me and taught me to care 
Even when my dad wasn’t there 
To show me how to fix my hair.

And all through my life to lead me she’s built me this chariot 
Always asking now “have you married her yet”
When talking about my Rach
Because all she wants is to see me happy 
And I guess pass on that responsibility.
Of being my friend and being there for me 
But she’s my mum
So I know she always will be.
There for me.
I have all this emotion bursting inside of me 
Inside of my mind playing hide and seek 
Spontaneous tears bubble on my eyelids 
Listening to music and taking me back to being that kid.
I have all this emotion inside of me
It’s making my heart feel heavy
Like it’s tryna test me 
Making me care 
And it’s not fair.
I have all this emotion inside of me and I don’t even know why 
But I have to try
To make sense of it
Even for just a little bit.
I feel heavy when I look up to the stars and see my sister 
Because damn I miss her 
Even though I never met her 

And I know mum does too 
And that ain’t cool.
I feel heavy when I carry the weight of the loved ones I’ve lost 
And I look up too the stars and know they’re looking down too 
Its true when I say I have all these fears 
But man am I grateful to still be here! 
 

HAIR

Hair Is a big factor in anyone’s identity Im sure you can agree

          But what we are constantly presented with is a great question of what that    

          TRULY represents?

          What that actually means.

          On the wider scale

            It is so easy nowadays for people to dismiss conversations about hair as

          something foolish or silly

without really or truly understanding the deep, deep

          significance of hair for many, many people.

          The prevalence of racism and micro-aggressions centred around BLACK

          hair can indeed be confusing and alienating at times

and does indicate that we are 

 maybe not as progressive as we like to think we are in 2020.

          Stick with me though.

          A little history lesson this time

            I want to take you back centuries to early African civilisations.

          See, back then just about everything about a person's identity

could be learned by looking at their hair.

          Hairstyles could indicate a person's family background, tribe and social status.

Hair Artwork by Alexandra Roberts

          Now…

          BLACK hair has been an integral feature of BLACK history and Identity for decades

 with the likes of Dreadlocks and The Afro to name a few.

      The Afro for example being a symbol in the 60’s of rebellion, pride and empowerment

          Most famously rocked by one Angela Davis.

          As BLACK people took to protest against oppression and segregation during this period,

The Afro became an assertion of BLACK Identity in contrast to

previous trends that were inspired predominantly by fashions that just weren’t BLACK

          It was a symbol of who they were as human beings.

          It was a symbol of self empowerment. 

It was a symbol of BLACK identity.

          So, BLACK hair and BLACK identity are intrinsically linked together

          And what I’m posing is that If BLACK hair and BLACK Identity are intrinsically linked,

          What happens in many cases like mine?

          It’s so hard to forge an identity when the BLACK Identifier isn’t there

          Like you’re missing a piece of who you are

          What makes you YOU, I guess.

          In a life that is confusing enough as it is

          Where you’re too white for your black friends but too black for your white friends

          And you’re constantly asking yourself ‘where do I fit’?

          Your hair shouldn't be another confusing factor.

          Your hair is part of who you are and part of your DNA that makes you, YOU.

          It’s part of your identity and part of a complex thread of multi-cultural parentage

and building blocks that should be welcomed 

Embrace that beauty.

          Because people’s opinions and judgements need to change

You and your hair don't.

 As I said in Miracles, There is no one like you

​

​

​

          And to quote E.E Cummings -

“The hardest challenge is to be yourself in a world 

that is trying to make you like everyone else”

​

Dear Connor,

You don’t know me (yet)

But one day you will.

I’m just writing this letter to send some reassurance your way because I know how lost you feel right now.

I don’t even know if I can say too much and I’m sure you’ll understand because of all the Doctor Who you watch.

Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey

You get it.

I knew you’d understand.

But anyway I digress...

What I can say is that you,

at this point in your life have so much anger and confusion

and its being misdirected to places that I know you don’t want it to be.

You’re approaching a crossroads in your life

where you can take responsibility for the mistakes you’ve made

and the mistakes that you are going to make

and have a second chance to be better,

To learn and grow from all that you go through

OR

You can go the opposite way and become the person,

the stereotype that people think you are going to be.

In jail, like many teachers have predicted.

You need to carry all your failures and burdens with you.

Look at them as being a part of you.

Who you are and what makes you, YOU.

It’s just about being right for yourself

Stop looking for approval because it’s YOUR actions that make what happens.

It what you want that will shape your future.

To me, writing this now,

It seems like I can only justify who I am by my reactions to my past self and choices. Always looking at who I was instead of who I could be - but you find someone who changes all that.

Someone who enlightens you on all that you can possibly be and achieve.

And you do find that.

And it changes you to your core.

You find that person who makes you see that there’s more to life than just being angry.

Who makes you see all your potential and all that you can achieve when you fall in love and you believe.

And all that you go through is totally worth it.

Trust me.

I know your relationship with your mum isn’t great but I have a funny feeling that one day you’re going to be more than mother and son, you’re going to be close friends - And I can see you eye rolling as you read this but trust me.

You’ll both go to hell and back

But it’s through that journey that you both rise like a pair of phoenixes

I also know a secret, about why you're so angry

It’s because the one person you want in your life isn’t around and can’t be bothered

And I know it’s easier said than done but I promise you,

He is the one missing out.

He misses out on the rise and the change you go on.

The journey you go through

He misses out your highs and your lows

Your triumphs and your defeats.

And you don’t have to take my word for it

But one day you’ll understand what I mean

As for Blade,

You’re siblings.

I know you know you love him deep down so go easy on him.

It's not his fault.

He's going through the same stuff that you are.

He just deals with it different to how you do.

There will be times that you feel defeated and you feel like giving up

but stay strong and stick with it because by doing so

you end up becoming the man that writes this letter.

SPOILER!

And through all his fuck ups

(sorry for swearing, you’re only young)

he turns out pretty alright.

Nah, he turns out more than alright

Not gonna lie,

He rises

And becomes a King

See you soon

x