I’ve just watched Back to Brixton, a documentary which a black family are transported “back in time” to understand what their parents endured when they first arrived in London from the Caribbean. It was the usual embarrassing, patronising drivel we’ve come to expect from the BBC, though it was good to see a brief cameo from Janet Kay. When I was at school, I worked part-time at the local cinema with an usherette called Anne whose best friend was Janet Kay. With such an astonishing voice, it was only a matter of time before Janet appeared on Top of the Pops but watching it at the time, I remember thinking “Oh Christ, she’s doing this live; she’s never going to hit that high note” But she did. Because talented black people – like talented white people – will always hit the heights. They don’t need to be patronised by the BBC.
Very silly games.

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