Film: Schwarzfahrer - Racism in a German tram

I spotted the film on the blog Afro-Germanica Online. It's a short film about black man who endures racist talk from a German woman.

Schwarzfahrer (also known as Black Rider) is a 1993 German 12-minute short film directed by Pepe Danquart. It won an Academy Award in 1994 for Best Short Subject. The topic of the film is the daily racism a black man endures in a tram. The title is a word-play: literally, "Schwarzfahrer" means "black rider" in German, but is also translatable to "fare-dodger". This word-play forms the punch line of the short film. (Source: wikipedia.)

An interesting film with a O. Henry twist, so bare with it and you will laugh at the end.

Black athlete carries Dutch flag in Olympic procession Winter Games

Dutch bobsledder Timothy Beck carried the Dutch flag in the Olympic procession at Winter Games in Vancouver. He was chosen for his achievements as a team builder. It’s Beck’s third Olympics.

For Dutch flag bearer Timothy Beck the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Vancouver became a special night with many emotions.

When the French Canadian musician Garou played the song "Un peu plus haut, un peu plus loin", (A little higher, a little further) Beck’s thoughts were with his deceased parents for a moment. Beck: "I thought: you have done well, that your son is now standing here".

Moments earlier there was a one minute silence for the Georgian luger Norad Koemaritasjvili, who crashed earlier that day.

"This is of awful of course. It already casts a shadow over the Olympics."

For Beck the lugar accident is an extra warning, because he will also start on this track with his bobsled team.


Afro-Europe

Discussion: Racism in sports and academic institutions (Berlin)

Panel discussion: structural racism in sports and academic institutions, February 15th in Berlin (Germany)

The AFROTAK TV cyberNomads panel discussions are a part of Black History Month 2010, they are linked to last year’s panel on identity, and the future prospects of the African Diaspora in Germany .

Focus of the panel is an entertaining examination of the perspective of black protagonists. The experts discuss themes ranging from the Berlin Africa Conference of 1884, the reunification of Germany, the commemoration of the 125 years of colonial dispossession in Africa in 2009, to the World Cup in South Africa 2010.

Invited experts:

Aretha Schwarzbach-Apithy/ ADEFRA e.V.
•Anetta Kahane/ Amadeu Antonio Stiftung
•Anthony Bagette/ Clear Blue Water e.V.
•Jean Paul Rwasamanzi / Migrationsrat Pankow
•Biplab Basu/ Reach Out e.V.

Moderator

• Adetoun Kueppers-Adebisi / TV AFROTAK cyberNomads


15.02.2010 - 18.00h

Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung e.V.
Schumannstr. 8, Berlin
(Metro: U-Bahn Oranienburger Tor)

See German press release here

Black Europeans competing at the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver

The black European athletes at the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver 2010

France

Vanessa James - Figure skating
James (22) is a French-British figure skater who has competed internationally as both a single skater and pair skater. She has competed internationally for Great Britain as a single skater and for France as a pair skater. James is born in Bermuda.

Yannick Bonheur - Figure skating
Bonheur (27) is a French pair skater. He competes with Vanessa James, with whom he teamed up in 2007. They are the 2010 French national champions. He is born in France and is from Martiniquean descent .



The Netherlands

Timothy Beck - Bobsleigh
Beck (33) is a Dutch sprinter. He won a bronze medal in 4 x 100 metres relay at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics. Beck also competed as a bobsledder Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in the 2002. He is Dutch born from Surinamese descent.



Urta Rozenstruik - Bobsleigh
Rozenstruik (34) is a former sprinter who reached the finals at the indoor Dutch Championships in 1999. She was born in Surinam and raised in the Netherlands.





Great Britain

Henry Nwume - Bobsleigh
Nwume (33), doctor in the armed forces, has been selected to represent Team GB in the four-man bobsleigh. Nwume got involved in bobsleigh via the Army Novice Ice Camp where he took a trial. He was born in Great Britain to a Nigerian father.




Sweden

Johnny Oduya - Ishockey
Oduya (28) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman of partial Kenyan descent who plays for the Atlanta Thrashers of the National Hockey League.

UK film: Freestyle - Official Trailer - In cinemas Feb 26

UK film Freestyle in cinemas Feb 26.

Synopsis
Ondene (Lucy Konadu) is beautiful, talented, and destined to study law at Oxford if she gets the required A-Levels. Nothing less will satisfy her domineering mother, Hyacynth (Suzann McLean). When a basketball court is set up near her private school, Ondene is charmed by a charismatic, good-looking freestyle basketball player, Leon (Arinze Kene), and they decide to enter a competition.

From a deprived background, Leon dreams of going to university and needs to win to pay his way. Ondene deceives her mother to be with him, and romance blossoms, only to be crushed when Hyacynth finds out. Balancing her future prospects and her newfound passion, Ondene has to make tough decisions about her family, education, and the man she loves.



Website Freestylemovie

See the interesting pre-review of this film on Shadow and Act: Love And Basketball, London Style

I spotted the film on Madnews, who called the film "Cheesy".

Harry Belafonte talks about racism in Germany

Copyright Brothers Keepers: QuietStorm, Harry Belafonte, Tyron Ricketts, Adé Bantu

The artist and UNICEF ambassador Harry Belafonte visited the Amadeu Antonio Foundation in Berlin to discuss right-wing extremism and racism in Germany. And to inform himself of the situation of victims of right-wing violence. He emphasized the responsibility of artists and musicians of organising themselves against racism and other forms of oppression. The visit was on February 1st.

The Amadeu Antonio Foundation, is an German organisation that has been working in numerous ways to strengthen a democratic civil society. The aim is to resist neo-Nazi violence, racism and anti-Semitism

In the conference room of the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, he met with Brother Keepers frontman and singer Ade Bantu, filmmaker Tyron Ricketts, rapper Quiet Storm, and many others. Brothers Keepers is a German-based transnational anti-racism project, bringing together hip hop, reggae and soul musicians.

Belafonte had many questions: why is racism is so prevalent in Germany and who is doing what about it? With what is Amadeu Antonio Foundation successful?

He made it clear that he sees racism as a global problem, also in Africa or the USA. He was shocked about the fact that there are "no-go areas" for blacks and other people who do not fit into the worldview of Nazis, and that politicians don’t action against. Or that black in big cities are often seen as drugs dealers by the police.

His visit to Germany and the Amadeu Antonio Foundation is part of his project to learn more about racism in the different countries. After Berlin he will travel to London and Paris. He will accompanied by camera team. Read full story here (German)

See also the post the German anti-racist organisation Brothers Keepers Meeting with Harry Belafonte

Website Brothers Keepers

See also Afro-Europe: Adé Bantu: rapping about the Afro-German identity

Craig David ft. Lynnsha - "Walking Away" (French version)

"Walking Away" is a song by British singer Craig David from his debut album Born to Do It (2000). The popular song was re-recorded for David's Greatest Hits compilation, released in November 2008 in the United Kingdom. The song was released in different versions, one of them was the French version with R&B and Zouk singer Lynnsha.

"Un Geste pour Haite" - A Gesture for Haiti

Remember the earthquake in Haiti? It seems like old news. On January 22 French celebrities recorded the clip "Un Geste pour Haite" (A Gesture for Haiti).The clip was made to support the people of Haiti. All profits of the entire project are donated to the Red Cross to support its actions in Haiti

Un geste pour Haïti

French celebraties in the clip:
Anthony Kavanagh (former comedian, and television host)
Lynnsha (singer)
Lilian Thuram (former football player, and activist)
Harry Roselmack (news anchor)
Noémie Lenoir (model and actress)
Zazie (singer)
Gregory (singer)
Micheal Drucker (Journalist)
Daan junior (singer)
Thierry Cham (singer)
Alibi Montana (rapper)
Erik (singer)
Sonja Rolland (actress and former Miss France)
Sarah Riani (singer)
Pit Baccardi (rapper)
Ophélie Winter (singer)
Cesária Évora (Folk singer)
Perle Lama (Zouk singer)
Mr Toma (singer)
Stomy Bugsy (rapper)
Charles Aznavour (singer)
Jacki (singer)
Passi (singer)

ISD-Bundestreffen 2010 - Annual German Black community weekend

Photo and copyright Tina Bach: Group photo ISD-Bundestreffen 2008

The Black German organisation ‘Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland’ (ISD) or Initiative of Black People in Germany will organise its annual Federal meeting, the “Bundestreffen”, on August 12-15 2010 in Helmarshausen.

In November 1985 for the first time Black women and men in Germany called for a nationwide meeting in Wiesbaden, to step out of the at that time experienced isolation in a white society. Many followed this call. It was the start of a nationwide (at the time the time being the old West Germany) movement of black people in Germany. A novelty in a Germany after the Nazi period.

An interview with an African-American exchange student at the ISD-Bundestreffen 2008


But much has changed since those early days. From a manageable number of contacts it grew to a broad and divers network. Black people work on topics with each other to create discussion forums, create knowledge, make their private and public space. There are workshops, lectures, discussions, exchanges, information stands, children's program, and there is lots of room to self initiative.


In the evening there's pure culture, e.g. Films, performance / reading, DJ and live music. And of course you can dance on regga, soul, Soukouss, hip hop, and everything else is that is fun to dance on.

Themes at the federal meetings are black history, black people in education and employment, blacks networks, Black Identities in Germany, empowerment of children and young people, assertiveness in everyday life, and much more ... (Source: website ISD.)

Information about ISD-Bundestreffen 2010
Blog with pictures and posts of the "ISD-Bundestreffen 2008"
Blog of ISD Hamburg

An Afrotak video of ISD

UK film 'Shank' - In cinemas march 26

Shank. If your not one of us, you're a victim

“An action film for the youth generation, set in a decaying future London. A gang set out on a chase to avenge the murder of one of their own. “ I wonder if there is also a European release of this flick.

On madnews I read that UK rapper Bashy and Kidulthood/Adulthood star Adam Deacon are some of ‘Shank’ stars.

http://www.shankthefilm.com/

You can also read an interesting review on the film blog Shadow and act

MIZIK'ART presents Sango (France)

Tony Chasseur ft Sango, 13th February 2010, 12 rue Cantagrel - Paris 13ème M Bibliothèque F. Mitterand, in France.

MIZIK'ART is a musical event where an artist with a recording career sponsors an artist with a similar music style. Zouk singer Tony Chasseur will kick off the initiative by sponsoring singer-songwriter Sango. Sango will be on stage for an hour and a half and will be joined by Tony Chasseur and Lary La Nouvelle Star.

Although Sango will release his first single in the upcoming days, he is a successful musician in the music industry. He worked with numerous artists including Noel Ekouabi, Ophelia and Michael Winter, Nathalie Cardone, Les Nubians, Raul Paz, Princess Erika, David Charvet, and Ayo.

He’s now preparing his first new album which will be a mixture of afro, soul, pop, rythmn & blues. His first single will be released shortly before his concert.

IZIK'ART will also exhibit the work of Hatian painter Gary Legrand

Sango on Myspace.

British Acid Jazz band Incognito - Nights over Egypt

I've heard that the London Acid Jazz band Incognito is coming to the Netherlands. Incognito is one of UK’s famous Acid Jazz bands. I've never seen them live. But there's one song I want to see and hear them play, Nights over Egypt. Because I never bought that Fender Rhodes stage piano, this song will always haunt me. The song is from The Jones Girls (1982).

I have also found a very good American live version from a singer named Maysa.



An update. I didn’t recognise her, but this is Maysa Leak, the former lead singer of Incognito! Check out the website of Maysa Leak

Ethnic minority staff paid 10% less than white workers at Trevor Phillips’ equality watchdog (UK)

On the blog Madnews I read that the Government’s controversial equality watchdog was accused of ‘rank hypocrisy’ for flouting its own policies on fair pay. The chairman is black politician, journalist and writer Trevor Phillips.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has angered business leaders by ordering a crackdown on hard-pressed companies that fail to pay the same rates to employees doing similar work.

But official figures show that more than two years after it was set up to stamp out discrimination, the commission is paying its own ethnic minority workers almost ten per cent less than white staff – an embarrassment for its black chairman Trevor Phillips. Read full story

Trevor Phillips is controversial. Everyone agrees that he's great communicator, but critics say his management style is his biggest problem. Read: Trevor Phillips: a career in crisis