A Walk Into The Gardens Of My Mind

For some time now, I have become associated with sleek black hair and a messy bun, big hoop or door knocker earrings and the best gloss on my lips! While I have earned myself this urban image and reputation, my personality and views are quite the contrary. I live in a beautiful, big seven-bedroom house in a quiet residential street, and I would beg to differ that at any point given in my life, I have been engaged in 'hood life'. However, whatever I say or do, people don't just assume that I'm involved in some sort of urban disadvantages, but that I am not Muslim! That is one thing that I am finding it difficult to cope with, everything else is getting easier. Two weeks ago,  I visited a local corner shop in  Brixton, picked up a packet of sweets and kindly asked the shopkeeper, ' Are they halal ?'. The shopkeeper looked at me in shock horror, before, saying ' Why would it matter to you if the sweets were halal or not? ' , to which I very firmly replie...

Immigrants are usually blamed for less jobs, less houses and not enough school places for children, and the good they bring to London is quite often overlooked. Recently, a report on UK immigration was leaked to Newsnight. It concluded that the influx of EU migrants has had a largely positive result- They have a good work ethic and are less likely to use benefits, in comparison to Britons. Immigrants are actually boosting London's economy, findings from University College London's migration research unit, found that, European immigrants have contributed up to 34% more in tax, then they have in benefits for a period of ten years. Quite impressive really, what is highlighted here, is that immigrants understand the importance and productivity of paying their way for essentials and luxuries during their stay in foreign countries. Not only is immigration developing London's monetary economy, but it is assisting London's cultural and social economy. London is only exc...

The police watchdog claimed yesterday that the Metropolitan police are guilty of abandoning gang youths in their rivals' areas, knowingly and decisively. The watchdog is taking these allegations very seriously and urging anyone that has experienced this misconduct by the police, should get in touch and come forward. The Independent Police Complaints Commission has been told on many occasions that suspects have been detained on the grounds of gang inclusion and then left to their devices in different areas, which happen to be places of threats to gang youths. I am absolutely appalled at these allegations, as you would only think after the Mark Duggan case and the investigation into the conspiracy within the research into Stepehen Lawrence;s family, that the Met would wake up and make a positive change. Both young and elder people, are loosing trust in the Met to bring justice and peace in society, due to their lack of professionalism and institutionally racist and prejudice...

Tyrone Moore, 25, is a social entrepreneur, aiming to create a positive path for the disadvantaged youth of his community. Moore was raised by a single mother and his granddad, who was ultimately his father figure and whom he took to as an inspiration during his former years. Having huge respect and admiration for his granddad, Moore was hugely involved with being an army cadet when he was young. Thereafter, he decided to join the army, follow in the footsteps of his family and make his granddad proud. He went on to study sports science at Brookes University, and now he's also got a BA in Youth and Community under his belt.  Moore went on to describe himself as ' a bright individual' . "The positive path is what I needed," he claims. Speaking on why he eventually joined the army at the age of 17, he said, "I wanted to do something different, so I joined the army. It taught me a lot of lessons, how to cook, clean. I learnt a lot whilst being part of...

Solomon Smith, 28, from Brixton, always had an interest in supporting the homeless people in his community, in whatever means possible. When he was in his late teens, he was very much involved with the community. "I've been working for Lambeth youth service for 12 years now. I have been doing it as I just had an urge to work with young people," he told me. It was clear to me that Smith had a burning desire to help the needy from the start of his journey. He recalled, "When I first had the epiphany in my head, I just got up and I started writing stuff down on a sheet I had stuck up in my room. I said to myself, 'I'm going to go into centres, with no plan, and say this is what I want to do.'  Smith initially ventured out by driving around , delivering donations of clothes and offering hot drinks to people. "All I could afford at the time was tea. I started getting clothes, some cups, and started giving out tea. I was working at the Marcus Lipton ...

Clarke, is a multi-talented writer,director, producer and actor, hailing from West London. He is most notably known for writing UK urban films for Kidulthood and Adulthood .  But he hasn't limited himself to being only involved with socio-realist films, as he has has gained commercial recognition by starring in Doctor Who and landing a role alongside Benedict Cumberbatch in the Hollywood Star Trek sequel. One of Clarke's tattoos bears the thought-provoking saying, 'be the change you wish to see in the world'. Speaking of how he would change the world, he said, "There's loads of things that are bigger that I can do. The fact that people don't have clean water is ridiculous. Politicians have real power, but they're not doing anything about it." It was refreshing to hear such a comment by Clarke, as the rate of inequality really surfaced in my brain juxtaposed with the wealthy lifestyles lead by government officials. Trinidadian born Clarke,...

Among suspects aged from 14-25, two schoolboy brothers aged 14 and 15 were among them, in a dawn raid, involving two addresses on the Churchill Gardens estate in Pimlico. According to The Metro, "'they are said to live 'chaotic lifestyles, only occasionally attending school .." Police were motivated to lead this raid, after crying pleas from local residents for action against gang-related violence and drug-dealing on the estate. The action came after a 5-month investigation from tip-off's of local people living in the Pimlico estate. As police battered down the second address, bags of cannabis and loose cash were thrown out of the window, and into the bushes below in desperation. A total of 19 people were arrested, most in their teenage years as well as a 50 year old woman, in relation to possession of Class A Drugs, namely crack cocaine, heroine and MDMA. I think what the recurring themes that these arrests and the investigation high...

I have been meaning to create this post since like two weeks ago, but I've been debating with myself whether or not I would possibly get chucked out of Uni, as a result of bringing things out in to the open. So yeah, it was a normal weekday, I've just come into the seminar room after having a very busy break, torn between eating so quickly my digestive system was crying along with catching up with my long-lost cousin ( I may write a post about that). Anyway, I stroll in and take a seat at the rear end of the classroom. The Seminar leader, (whom I am actually scared to name), gave each of us a worksheet with bullet points for discussion around the reading we was prescribe earlier on in the week. The seminar discussion starts, as always I have my hand up ready to answer each and every question, counter-act each and every statement and show off my intelligence to the class. I mean they all look shocked when  I use my top-of-the-class vocabulary within the appropriate conte...