Virtual pan yard shows Dancehall icon joins the Black Lives protest
ed a “Virtual Pan Yard”, where
it conducts live steel pan sessions;
dee jays, featuring calypso
and soca; and podcasts,
discussing steel pan playing,
as well as community issues,
according to MyLondon.
Eversley “Breeze” Mills, the
band leader, told MyLondon
on Tuesday that the cancellation
of Notting Hill Carnival is
“unknown territory,” but it’s
important to interact with the
community at a time like this.
“Metronomes has a long
and proud history of serving
the community, and we’re not
going to desert them now,” he
said.
MyLondon said the 47-yearold
band has been broadcasting
weekly to its community of
steel pan lovers from the comfort
of their homes, adding that
the sessions “hope to celebrate
Caribbean heritage, reduce
social isolation and bring the
community together.”
“The coronavirus outbreak
is a huge challenge for everyone,
and Metronomes is no different,”
Mills said. “The virus
is disproportionately affecting
people from a BAME (Black,
Asian and Minority Ethnic)
background, economically and
in terms of health, and this
only adds to the pain the community
Caribbean L 24 ife, June 12-18, 2020
is suffering.
“But we have faced crisis in
this community before, and
we are not easily defeated,” he
added.
Metronomes, which is based
in Ladbroke Grove, North Kensington,
teaches, performs and
runs community projects that
celebrate the Caribbean heritage
of steel pan music, MyLondon
said.
It said the band was officially
formed in 1973 by Phil
Dubique and Irvin Corridan
but existed prior to this under
different names.
As a family-based group,
MyLondon said Metronomes
plays “an important role in the
local Caribbean community
by bringing families together
with special attention to
elderly members who may be
in isolation and at risk young
people.”
lective hearts, when put to
positive action, could start the
wheels of change. Real change
has started with you – this new
generation of high school and
college graduates who we celebrate
today.
Beyoncé said while she did
not get to experience college like
some of the graduates, or the
campus parties that left them
the next day struggling in class –
“although that could’ve been fun
– her parents, however, taught
her the value of education, “how
to be authentic in my actions,
and how to celebrate individuality,
and the importance of investing
in myself.”
“Dear graduates, please
remember to take a little bit
of time to give thanks to your
family members, and the community
who has been such a
big support system for you,” she
urged. “You are achieving things
your parents and grandparents
never could imagine for themselves.
You are the answer to a
generation of prayers.
“Now, some of you might be
the first in your family to graduate
from college,” she added.
“Maybe you did not follow the
path that was expected of you,
and you probably questioned
everything about your decision.
But know that stepping out is
the best thing you can do for
self-discovery.”
Beyoncé said she knew how
hard it is to step out and bet on
oneself, stating that there was
a pivotal turning point in her
life when she chose to build her
company many years ago.
“I had to trust that I was
ready, and that my parents and
mentors provided me with the
tools I needed to be successful,”
she said. “But that was terrifying”
She said the entertainment
business is still very sexist and
very male-dominated, and that,
as a woman, she did not see
enough female role models given
the opportunity to do “what I
knew I had to do.”
Beyoncé said she ran her label
and managed her company – to
direct her films and produce her
tours.
“That meant ownership. Owning
my masters. Owning my art.
Owning my future, and writing
my own story,” she said. “Not
enough Black women had a seat
at the table, so I had to go and
chop down that wood and build
my own table.
“Then, I had to invite the
best there was to have a seat,”
she added. “That meant hiring
Beyonce reacts after winning the entertainer of the year
award in 2019. REUTERS / Mario Anzuoni
women, men, outsiders, underdogs,
people that were overlooked
and waiting to be seen.”
Beyoncé said many of the best
creative and business people,
“who although supremely qualified
and talented, were turned
down over and over as executives
at major corporations because
they were female or because of
racial disparity.
“And I’ve been very proud to
provide them with a place at my
table,” she said, stating that one
of the main purposes of her art
for many years has been dedicated
to showing the beauty of
Black people to the world – “our
our history, our profundity and
the value of Black lives.”
Beyoncé said she has tried
her best to “pull down the veil
of appeasement to those who
may feel uncomfortable with our
excellence.
“To the young women, our
future leaders, know that you’re
about to make the world turn,”
she said. “I see you. You are everything
the world needs. Make
those power moves. Be excellent.
“And to the young kings, lean
into your vulnerability and redefine
masculinity,” she added.
“Lead with heart. There’s so
many different ways to be brilliant.
I believe you and every
human being is born with a
masterful gift.
“Don’t let the world make you
feel that you have to look a certain
way to be brilliant,” Beyoncé
urged. “And no, you don’t have
to speak a certain way to be brilliant.
But you do have to spread
your gift around the planet in a
way that is authentically you.
“To all those who feel different.
If you’re part of a group
that’s called ‘other,’ a group
that does not get the chance
to be center stage, build your
own stage and make them see
you,” she added. “Your queerness
is beautiful, your Blackness
is beautiful.
“Your compassion, your
understanding, your fight for
people who may be different
from you, is beautiful,” she continued.
“I hope you continue to
go into the world and show them
that you will never stop being
yourself. That it’s your time now,
make them see you.”
Continued from Page 23
Continued from Page 23
enough,” she added. “Being a
Black woman, she felt compelled
to hit the streets of
her home, Atlanta, which is
known as the new era city
of Black renaissance, to let
the city and world know that
Black lives do, indeed, matter.
Spice said: “My fellow Black
men and women have been
killed for no reason and have
been victims of a system
against us for far too long.
“It’s 2020, and we are still
protesting for our basic rights,”
she added. “I’m tired, exhausted
from living in a world that
cares very little about us.
“They want our culture
but not us,” Spice continued.
“Well, no more, I’m protesting,
and I encourage everybody
to join me in arms as
we take on a system, which
only appeases to rich white
people.
“Black will forever be beautiful!”
she said. “This world
needs to see that and embrace
us for who we are!”
Driven said a couple of
years ago, Spice appeared to
bleach her skin to show the
adverse effects that colorism
has on the Black community,
which was later revealed to be
a make-up job.
“The message she sent back
then shocked the world,” she
said. “With the picture of her
looking nearly white resonates
today more than ever –
‘the lighter you are the father
you go.’
“Embracing the Blackness
of her skin complexion and
her peers is something Spice
wants the world to accept,”
Driven added.
“With the recent uprising
going around the world
calling for equality for Black
people, it’s refreshing to see
celebrities with the worldwide
pull, such as Spice, leading
the charge for positive
change,” she continued. “The
sort of change always comes
with unity. Now, Spice has
been added to the mix, and
it’s diversified dramatically.
Black Lives Matter, forever.”
Continued from Page 23
TRIBUTE TO GEORGE
Spice (left, in white T-shirt) protests in Atlanta. Marie Drive /
PlaybookMG