THE AWAKENING
OFF THE RAILS Magazine, Issue 16
Photography: Darrel Hunter @modehunter, Chris Swainston @swainstagram, Kevin Sanon @bykevinsanon,
Josh Beech @joshbeech, Michael Julius @bymichaeljulius
Produced by, Keil Jr.
Artist perspectives, from within the BLM protests of London, New York and LA…
The Awakening
By, mikeflo - New York
Greetings World,
In the midst of global chaos lies an opportunity to go inside oneself. Who are you? What are your true values? How free is your mind? How healthy is your body? How honest is your spirit? How open is your heart?
These times allow for each and every individual to make significant choices that affect the world created for self and also for the globe moreover.
Do not romanticize change.
It begins with you.
Today.
NOW.
Question EVERYTHING.
Trust your innate intuition.
Become the change you desire.
BLACK POWER for all Africans at home, throughout the diaspora and worldwide.
and Allies OVER Agents.
Period.
SKATE & DESTROY RACISM
By, Chris Swainston - Los Angeles
No Justice, no peace.
This is a real movement calling for real change, not some social media fad for people to post about. Living in Downtown LA, one block from the police precinct and the City Hall, I’ve been at ground zero for the DTLA protests from the beginning.
Police and theNational Guard have surrounded the buildings almost day and night. I’d walk outside of my apartment to see military convoy trucks unloading riot gear, gas masks and batons. The National Guardsmen were armed with M16 rifles and the police were armed with rubber bullets, teargas and large canisters for mace/pepper spray. At night sirens echoed through the streets and helicopters circled the neighbourhood. The tension and anxiety was very high and all of this was the city response to peaceful protesting.
I’ve marched with tens of thousands of people over these past three weeks and not once have I witnessed an outbreak of violence or rioting from the protesters. Any aggression I’ve seen has been provoked by the police themselves. But, I don’t want to focus on that, what I’m really seeing and experiencing is unity, education, progress, pride and love as so many communities are coming together to stand up for justice and speak out against the police brutality and racism that has been running rampant in our country for decades.
As much as these issues have been known about, they haven’t been addressed and as horrible as George Floyds death was, it is a metaphorical straw that broke the camels back pushing these issues into everyone’s face, pushing it to the forefront of people’s awareness. I’ve learned a lot in the last few weeks and will continue to educate myself because the call for change starts with the people
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My Generation
By, Keil Jr. - London
The unity of youth gives me hope for my generation.
It's time for honest reflection. It's time to rectify the system, to recognise and embrace black power. It's time to address the miseducation of our own history in society. It’s time to get real, never mind the bollocks.
We’ve no time for false preachers. Live the lifestyle, not the trend.
The time is NOW.
WE ARE NOT ALONE THIS TIME
By, Kevin Sanon - New York
I've only attended the protests during the day because the night seemed like a war zone. The media would only show the negative side of the protests but when I was at these protests it was nothing but peace until we were redirected like herds of cows by the police. Nonetheless, I felt great being a part of such a movement, such a ground-breaking time in my generation, such a time that I couldn’t help but document.
During the first protest as I was on my way to union square on the bike, I was stopped by a protest at the beginning of Prospect Park, Ocean and Parkside. I was taking photos. I was listening. I was chanting. I was stuck in amazement on how this experience was compared to what’s shown on the news. We all decided to march down Flatbush. I marched with everyone but forgot my bike was parked on Parkside, so as I was walking back I noticed an older gentleman named James. I stopped to ask to take photos of him. He didn’t mind but he was talking to me about how amazing this was to him.
“With all my years of living this is not the first protest that I have witnessed because of social injustice. This is the largest involving all kinds of people, you see all kinds of races, ethnicities and cultures. We are not alone this time”
This was one of the things he said and it kept repeating in my mind as I continued going to other protests.
We are not alone this time . . .
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100 YEAR PLAN
By, Ouigi Theodore - New York
100years of Protest ahead of us. Growing up in America as a Black man you would think my first outward experience with racism would be in America-but no it was in London. I had to go to where the institution of racism was created-the UK. America simply perfected it.
Love and Hate can never be friends: Here I come with love and not hatred. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow I all the days of my life. I kept repeating that as I looked at videos of the injustice and reflected on my own experiences.
Our open support of The Black Lives Matter movement is to put an end to police brutality, blatant injustice, mass incarceration and racism NOW. What part of that do we need anyone’s approval on?
None, nada, pouin final!
SOME CONTEXT ON HUMAN POTENTIAL
By, Kevin Gracia-Ramirez - New York
This is a moment in a journey towards our human potential that existed before us and will exist after us. Not because struggle is perpetual but rather that our definition of fair and equal continues to expand and we have to do more to meet the standard.
Make sure not to fall into traps of exceptionalism, this has been a complicated struggle from its inception. This generation did not create the infrastructure for political insurrection, peaceful or otherwise. We are not descendants of simple minds, who did not conceive the context they functioned in. These existential elements have always been pivotal. We have more tools for unity and communication, new terms and self definitions continue to emerge and work their way into the lexicon at a faster pace than ever before.
We can say that Black LivesMatter and understand that in noway diminishes any other race’s progress but simply names the North American dichotomy for what it is, directly opposition alto black sovereignty. The facts of that are laid bare by institution failures, initiatives characterized by overpromises and conspicuous failures (DARE, NCLB, Stop&Frisk, Public Housing, CharterSchool, 3 strikes law, Rule 50-A,etc.) Black Lives Matter not only speaks for the conquered peoples of this North America Empire but also fully contextualizes the North American populous movement globally.
USA citizens are seeing themselves for the first time in no way an arbiter of right or wrong, or even as apologists for the actions of their government/military but as fellow survivors and victims of Evangelical Capitalist culture that devalues our contribution to facilitate an uneven balance of resources.
In a time in which more people have a voice than ever before the barometer for leadership has transformed. This new level of mutual awareness we have found as global citizens is the foundation to build an undeniable understanding of what is right and what is fair. Not framed by cultural and sociological differences but by a shared aspiration towards our collective potential.
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THE STREETS OF LONDON
By, Sam Lambert - London
You can feel the pressure in London. Lots of people are showing their true colors, just a couple of days ago fascist football hooligan groups went to disturb the peaceful protest of BLM in Trafalgar square in London.
The protests do feel different to previous coz you could see more of the youth energy and that unification of force created an amazing supportive atmosphere. Lots of people from different backgrounds were there all fighting against injustice.
Black is our way of life. The Black Power movement was all about giving the power to the people and to protect those in vulnerable positions. Kind of the same as the S.H.A.R.P skinheads who were fighting against discrimination and protecting the underdog.
TIRED, YET HOPEFUL
By, Lamique Farrell - New York
At this point, exhaustion doesn't even articulate the depth of weariness, dread, and anger that conjures up each time there's a death of a black man, woman, or child. As a black woman, the expectation to be “fine” angers me and the burden to be the "strong" one wears me down. The fact of the matter is, that as you read these words there's probably another life that has been sifted like wheat under the callousness of the ones who are supposed to “protect & serve” along with the eyes of the complicit.
I’m tired of the banging on the table asking for a seat, I’m sick of being asked to relive traumatic experiences to educate others, and yet I am hopeful.
Hopeful that our marches, our words, and hearts will be the catalyst of change that is so desperately needed. I'm hopeful that “Black Lives Matter” will be more than a branding strategy or a trending topic but rather a societal consciousness that permeates every aspect of our lives. May we see black lives matter in our schools, hospitals, parks, media and government offices. I’m looking forward to the day when we sing “we shall overcome” knowing that we’ve already arrived.
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BLACK, QUEER AND BRITISH
By, Vincent Bugg - London
I am a black, mixed ethnicity, queer British citizen and I have lived in several British citys'. I have also had the opportunity to travel and work all over the world. I am 33 years old and ever since I can remember not a month has gone by where I haven't received racial or homophobic abuse.
For me the BLM movement is not only to make a stand on the racial inequality that happens globally but also the LGBTQ+ movement within ethnic communities where we are seen as a disrespect to our culture.
There is also a divide within the LGBTQ+ community where ethnicity seems second best, with lots of racial shame on queer websites and apps. I hope to educate and grow within all of the above areas so tomorrow can be a better future for all.
FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT
By, Josh Beech - Los Angeles
Now is the time to end racism. Use your voice, use your social media for real purpose no one wants to see what you had for lunch anymore, fight for equality and look after each other.
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THIS ISN’T JUST AN AMERICAN ISSUE
By, Darrel Hunter - London
Standing up and protesting is a strong display of solidarity and show of conviction, but it doesn’t stop here. This cold hearted execution and abuse of Black people is unfortunately not new. The recent murder of George Floyd once again brought the reality that there is a system built to convince us our lives do not matter. We have heard stories before, seen it played out in front of our eyes, on our televisions, on our devices and on our streets. Many have not suffered the fate of death, but have faced daily discrimination, verbal abuse, emotional suffering, financial restrictions and much more based solely on the color of our skin.
Simply, we are fed up.
Here in the UK we realize this isn’t just an American issue but a global issue. We are not exempt. Injustice against one, is an injustice against all and we are united in a commitment to change.
We stand with all the families still grieving from the untimely loss of their loved ones. We stand against the racial injustices of our brothers and sisters not just today but always. This fight is not confined to protests and just one court case, we must use everything we have in each space we occupy. Whether it is donating, speaking, teaching or anything else. Use your voice, help your communities, stand up in your jobs.
