Written Mirror Welcomes Everyone…
I’m Jay Mullings and I do not hate white people. What I do hate however, is racism, classism, ageism, tokenism or any sort of Babylonian practice. Right now, I am crystal clear on my hate for what Anthony Lennon represents; a bold as daylight mockery of blackness at a time when the very idea of being a black man in the creative industry is one filled with struggle and questions of sanity. Stick a pin in that we shall return to it…
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This Month The Theme Is…
Deep reflections! That will in two forms:
- Mirror Mondays
- Written Wednesdays
Look out for the various posts and if this is popular it will become a main fixture across the site along with all the other surprise content. Do let me know what you think in the comments or by sharing the posts.
Future Bame Leaders…
Anthony Who?
Yes pardon the presumption on my part, I thought you heard. Anthony Lennon the ‘Born Again African’ white man who pretended to be Black in order to secure work and grants! Amazing right? Sorry I need to brush up on my sarcasm. The links are below if you’re interested.
Are They Sure They Did Enough To Seem Empathetic?
My word! I couldn’t get that amount of empathetic press if my pants fell down in public and exposed the crown jewels whilst everyone filmed the event…
It’s funny to me just how delicately this is being handled. So much so that when I offered my own response on this to the media at large. It has largely been left in a state of will they won’t they. Let’s be honesty they won’t! Tyre kicking if you like…
Hello Guardian my old friend I’ve come to talk with you again…
Upfront and Personal
So here’s the low down! This guy is not an empathetic figure. He didn’t leave it at self identifying, he decided to go the whole hog and take funding away from genuine people who’s careers might depend on it. You called yourself mixed for heavens sake! Born Again African? Yet there is the press coaxing along this lie that you were upfront about being purely white. In your personal circles sure, I believe that. Maybe even when you got familiar with certain acquaintances from your theatre career. I also believe that, however, you mean to tell me that whosoever, read your application decided yeah White man identifies as Black sure let’s fund that! What could possibly go wrong? By the way not to throw another spanner in the works, but the funding was explicitly intended for ‘FUTURE LEADERS’.
What type of leader takes away opportunities from others better qualified than themselves? I’m just saying…
This Dropped Just After BHM haha…
Who Processed The Application?
Are we ever going to find out who rubber stamped his application? Of course not! That would be too pragmatic. Was the application recommended to Mr Lennon or did he find out about it himself. Seems a bit wink wink to me but then again I like finding out things from beginning to end to see how to eradicate the problem going forwards. Should whosoever processed the application be fired? Possibly! Let’s be honest it’s gross incompetence IF it really was declared that, “I’m a white man that identifies with the Black struggle on the form” I may be paraphrasing slightly…
Breaking News White Man Pretends To Be Black And Prospers…
Granting in England
I don’t think the granting system is as useful as it ought to be, or indeed, even structured to be anything other than a means to point at and say, “Look we help, we do our part!”
No one wants to get on the front lines and find out how to really improve the pathway for ethnic minorities. Nobody really listens. It’s always a grant, token award or a new scheme with minimal impact or opportunities to shine. Never anything on a wider scale and no one willing to dig any deeper to uproot the bad seeds. Then when a person from the culture tries to contribute, he/she is accused of tokenism or being incendiary to other races for not including all. This happening on the heels of Black History Month, was something I predicted but never would I have thought it would take a white man pretending to be black to have some attention brought to the actual real life plight of black people in Britain…
https://writtenmirror.com/final-lessons-from-uk-black-history-month/
Just here to keep it a buck…
The ‘F’ is Silent in ‘Arts’
The Arts Council and all the organisations like it are inherently hard to navigate. They have a genuinely off-putting amount of red tape and baked in loopholes to deny authentic people access to the very funding and opportunities they serve to create. Personally, I have always been a little sceptical of them, but yet it is almost solely the perceived wisdom of my peers that this is where you go for help. Shocking then it is, only to be awoken by the sobering reality that you won’t be getting said help. Maddening to find out it’s for reasons beyond the quality of your approach/proposal/project. Better dot your I’s and cross your T’s…
The casual jedi mind trick!
Finally The Colour Question…
Anthony Lennon is the answer to the colour question. I am always asked is race an issue in Britain? Is it harder being a Black creative? Yep! Yes! Yessir! Clearly if the very nature of race can be used and abused in pursuit of ones own gain and to the detriment of others. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again,
nothing will change in Britain with the fossils in charge and while the people appointed to foster change are incompetent.
Promising people from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds are routinely held back at the whims of thieves and charlatans. Anthony Lennon and those like him are proof you can get away with the manipulation of black culture in particular unimpeded for the most part because it is not a serious priority here. There is a serious problem when a white man can pose as black and still get the best of the black experience while real black people cannot even get the benefit of the doubt. This is deeply upsetting and Mr Lennon should be ashamed of himself and yet I don’t think he was ever self-reflexive about what he represents. Born again African? This is how much of an easy target black culture is. Anyone can waltz in and take what they want from it without fear of retribution.
These comments give me life!
Ancestry DNA
Racism is a vile thing that shouldn’t exist! There you go I’ve said it EXPLICITLY. However, the idea that an ancestry DNA test indemnifies white people against claims of racism is ridiculous. “Oh but being 5% African means…” What it means is that you should respect its people and not try to excuse your shameful behaviour by claiming you hold an affinity to that 5%. You don’t!
Also can we stop giving passes to people who appreciate our inherited culture? If I hang around with Indians for instance, it doesn’t make me Indian. Speaking in their accent around my Indian friends doesn’t make me Indian. If I start swaying my neck when I respond, it doesn’t mean I understand what it’s like to be Indian. Playing spin like Sachin Tendulkar doesn’t make me Indian. Using spices that Indians use in the kitchen, doesn’t make me ‘Born Again Indian’. Liking Bollywood movies and let’s say, I was to even write a few; guess what? Still not Indian. Stop giving passes to these phoneys and allowing them to feel comfortable portraying their faux identities. Stop it!
Real Use of Ancestry DNA
Ancestry DNA is really about showing the world is both big and small. Not only that, but generations of immigration has been lost to bad history bookkeeping. I mean if you mean burn records when you sack towns…
There was a world before slavery and two world wars. Seems obvious but yeah DNA is indelible ink you can’t hide where your ancestors have been. What it isn’t, is the cure for racism, especially as it comes without context. Just be mindful of that, especially, all who seek it out as a means of seeming more interesting at parties…
Self Identifying…
AKA Pandora’s box! Where does the ability to determine ones own identity stop? I’d say when you’re taking opportunities away from people who genuinely fit the criteria. Is that liberal enough? You’re not here to box food out of the mouths of the genuinely hungry because you identify as starving on a full stomach. That can’t run, let’s draw the line there for now. People much more intelligent and empathetic can get into the finer details, but when you’re faced with the dilemma of is this intended for me? It’s time to pack it in. If this notion upsets anyone; good luck with that, I mean it!
Cheers Tony!
Maybe we should thank the imposter? We can no longer sit and debate quietly amongst ourselves about what it’s like to be a black man in Britain.
A white man can have a better life as a black man, than a black man being himself. Think about that for a moment; that is some very strong tea indeed!
Now can we reopen the debate about how it’s not just paranoia and self-limiting prophecy holding us back? Is it okay to be mad now? Or should we wait until Black history month next year? Maybe then we can see some supposed growth in opportunities on mainstream platforms spreading awareness of what is real so the fakes can stay in their lane.
My pen is overflowing right now and I hope anybody reading this understands that this is a rallying call to my people, protect your culture, your hunger, your pride and don’t let people call you crazy for it. Carnival and BHM is about all we have here and people want to slowly take that from us too. Don’t let them…
Phase 3 BOLDER than ever…
Put It In Park…
I suppose all good things must come to an end. That’s it for now. Thank you for sitting through my release of thoughts. Do let me know if you agree/disagree in the comments…
About Jay Mullings
Multiple Award-winning Screenwriter, Author, Blogger, Film Director and Founder of Written Mirror Ltd. Jay is an ambitious but humble creative who wants to connect with audiences all over the world. Born in London but raised in Jamaica, Jay carries his experiences of both cultures and lends it to his work with his unique but authoritative voice which, he admits not seeing represented enough growing up.
Enquiries…
I can be reached for serious comment and article contributions via email jay@writtenmirror.com if it’s a formal request. There is no tweeting from me for the rest of the year @writtenmirror so please don’t contact me via twitter if it is urgent. Instagram I have a public business page @writtenmirror where I can be contacted if need be. For any public speaking opportunities kindly use the above mentioned communication methods. 
