What do you mean you have no culture girl?... pt 1

I had a chat with a friend yesterday about lots of things. The way we as a people interact was one; the way we as women interact with each other was another( she walked past two women on the street recently, both of which looked her up and down and gave her dirty looks !??!)jeesh. The subject of culture came up, along with personal stuff, the queen’s jubilee, and community development stuff.
We took our usual trip down memory lane (we grew up round the comer from each other, know each other since 14 15 yrs... maybe younger) talked about current shenanigans.

Anyway. My friend is black British, born and raised for a while in Montserrat, the Island of my parents also.
We talked about the disunification of the ‘black community’ (a misnomer if I ever heard one), and she presented this personal view point.
Black Britain’s have no culture.
My friend was clear that she identifies, with her carribean-ness, she also identifies with her African- ness, but other than that what is there!?!. She said that Africans (very broad but stay with me) have an identity, based on the region they are from. Many don't even say African... rather Nigerian, Ghanaian, Kenyan, Ethiopian, Somali, and so on...
'So what?’... I asked her...'That's regional. You too can identify with a region... it’s just that you choose not to. You spent the majority of your time in London. You ... are a Londoner'.

I urged her not to assume that just because a group of people say they are from a particular region... that it equals unity. Look at Nigeria for example. Whilst I’m no expert on Nigerian history... I can remember reading of the shit that got kicked out of someone during the Biafra war. ( horrible business)
So... on and on we went.

Then I asked her to look back at all her childhood experiences (the ones that brought a sense of joy and stability) and tell me you have no culture.
Think about the games we used to play, Hop Scotch, King Ball, Kiss-chase, Jacks, Double Dutch, What’s the time Mr Wolf...and then tell me, if you meet another with those shared experiences you won’t feel a sense of identity.
My girl has a culture. It’s an amalgamation of African, Caribbean, and British. She’s lucky, as It can and has enriched her life... if she chooses.. or is able to recognise it. Some can’t see outside of their little box of country of origin, or region... plus...as it stands I told her... she can if she really wanted to, lay claim to practically any African country she chooses ( who can prove otherwise?) , and quite frankly the same goes for the Caribbean.
Why limit yourself? get in touch with the Brit within girl and own that thing.
So... in no particular order... here are some of the shows we used to watch, growing up with long socks 'white' knees, ribbons plaits..in Stoke Newington.

Just William
Jackanory
Jim’ll Fix it
John Cravens newsround
Lassie
HR Puff’n’stuff
Ivor the Engine
How
Look and Read
Hong Kong Phooey
Help! It’s the hair bear bunch
Dastardly and Muttley
Crackerjack
Captain Pugwash
The Clangers
Button moon
The Brady Bunch
Bill and Ben the flowerpot men
Blue peter
Bagpuss
Andy Pandy
The amazing Spiderman
The magic roundabout
Mr Ben
Flintstones
Yogi Bear
Noggin the Nog
Paddington
Play school
Rainbow
Thunderbirds
Rhubarb
Runaround
Record breakers
Rentaghost
Sesame Street
Scooby doo where are you
Swap Shop
Why don’t you
Take Hart
Tarzan
Tizwas
Tomorrow’s people
Wilo the Wisp
The Wombles
Worzel Gummidge
Grange Hill
Banana Splits
Top Cat

Enjoy...