Ricky Bishop Rally

I attended the Ricky Bishop Rally held in Brixton outside, it was very emotional and empowering.  There were the usual distractions Brixton Police were unbelievably busy, there were sirens screeching up and down even a van of officers which even for Brixton on Saturday afternoon was very unusual.  We even had the presence of the the Brixton Ethnic Minority Liaison officer he stood by the side just by the banner almost endorsing our protest, we should of thanked him.  As I have mentioned before deaths in custody is a problem within the police force and also the mental health industry.  Too much force at the wrong time snuffing the life of an undesirable ? a mentally ill person? not sure what the criteria is, whatever it is, it has to stop.

I was privileged to be able to share my poem 'Lynching Tree'.


I wrote a poem for Ricky's sister who visited Brixton Police station on 22nd November 2013 which was the actual day 12 years ago when her brother was arrested and detained in the station.


I posted this poem on her timeline

Poem for Rhonda Marie-Bishop

I sit here

where you sat

I put myself in your shoes

scared

tired

frightened

of the unknown

I sit here

where you sat

all those years ago

I will be allowed to leave

you were not

we mourn

we grieve

you would be so proud of me now

of what I have become

we have pulled together

we have remained strong

we will always love you

in our hearts is where you belong

(she printed it out, and it was pinned onto the tree (The Lynching Tree))

then he was experiencing breathing difficulties so they rushed him to Kings College A and E department, is that why we now have a reality show based in Kings college hospital??? That sadly is where he died from a massive drug overdose.  Yes it is alleged that this clean living regular attending gym person was actually a drug dealer? and had his stash concealed in his mouth? The amount that was found in his body was a substantial amount, not an amount that he would have been able to speak with, if it was in his mouth.  Look it doesn't add up, it doesn't make sense and I wasn't there.  There were nine officers who were and they have been the ones we have rely on to inform us as to what happened.  Oh yes there is the cctv in Kings college hospital, where Ricky appears to be fine communicating quite well despite the huge quantity of crack cocaine in his mouth.
posted fb 24/11/13

#290 The reality about Ricky Bishop

The reality is

Ricky Bishop went out one evening

and he never returned

there has been no explanation

don’t you think that is absurd?

don’t you think that is wrong?

the family have been left

to pick up the pieces

left to struggle on

I feel we are closer to the truth

despite the cover ups

and the system not being accountable

and everyone acting aloof

‘I wasn’t there’

‘it wasn’t on my time’

there are a group of officers

As I understand nine

who know what happened

what went wrong

a man in their custody

a man in their charge

now he is no longer

they expect us to forget and move on

what can I say

they got this one wrong!.

When you get it all wrong

posted fb 20/11/13

#287 Perspective

From your perspective

I’ve got it all wrong

I tried to do everything

I could to make time move on

I am saddened to find

it appears I have failed

from your view point

it was a version of hell

despite all that I have done

you were not happy with it

I got it all wrong

according to Google psychologist

Yahoo says I am great

we cannot go back in time

apparently it is too late

so now we have the end result

someone I thought I knew

apparently I don’t

not sure where it spiralled

so out of control

I have comfort

in knowing I tried

despite your view point

this is not Good Bye!

Shopping in Romford

Today  I visited Romford, just to past time really.  The week before I had sat opposite a lovely woman in Mc D's she explained it was 2 years to the day that she had lost her husband, we spoke about many different things.  We first were amused and puzzled as to the elderly couple negotiating the underpass with a wheelchair, first we saw the woman in the wheelchair, then we saw the man virtually hurl himself into the chair before getting on a bus.  It was very funny to watch.  I looked up and noticed she was smiling so I said 'That's what you need, a man with wheels'.  The other half was almost oblivious to my joke, I think he has no idea how funny I really am.

Anyhow I had secretly hoped to meet up with her today, she said she regularly came out to break up the day.  She was up beat I liked that. Anyhow on my way home whilst leaving the centre.  I noticed a group of people gathering around an elderly lady that had fallen.  I with my crutches (Long story don't ask) realised there was nothing I could do.  I remeber walking past a woman in a bright yellow hi vi she would know what to do.  I turned around it said 'Senior cleaning,..,,' well she worked for the centre so she may have been trained in first aid or something.  She quickly ended her conversation she was having with her friend then came out and took charge.  I couldn't help but I felt smug as I had saved the day.  ok I had helped save the day


posted 22/11/13

#289 Fallen

She fell

and no one knew what to do

they looked on

transfixed

concerned

yet helpless

to move

or to keep still

no one with the expertise

around to assist

I wanted to stay

and keep her company

that position was covered

I got the lady who

was incharge

of keeping the streets clean

she would know what to do

I done my bit

then moved on

yet she stayed with me

in my thoughts

who was she?

why had she fallen?

help came

lets hope it was not too late

Leaving Africa

posted fb 21/11/13

#288 Momma gonna whoop your behind

You watched us sail out to sea

never to return

now you find us

there is scorn

and disdain

you sold us

you made us this way

what we have been through

you could never do

they took everything

stripped us

disorientated

we still long for home

when we see what you have done

when we see what Africa has become

has it all been in vain

all I know is

momma gonna whoop your behind!

you have spent your time

in cahoots with the west

they don’t have your interest at heart

they educated you in their ways

this is what you have learnt

they give you guns

to fight their wars

to keep you occupied

you invade those that don’t have

you rape you pillage you mane

momma gonna whoop your backside!

the corruption runs deep

the things you honour

are the things you reap

you let them steal from the coffers

until it is dry

trust me

momma gonna whoop your behind!

Perfect beings

posted fb 16/11/13


#283 Your perfection makes me blue



You are so perfect so efficient


You are tall and statues


Me short and squat


I am just a smudge


To be rubbed out 


I am lke a midge, a gnat, a moth


You are superior 


I can see why God made you


Me I question my existence


Whenever I am next to you

Everything you do you do well

Life for me is a mystery

Wondering if I have wandered into Hell

Waiting for a bell

To ring to signify my purpose

As I begin to believe I am truly worthless

The Lead role for a Black Actor is full of expectations

Tell me you haven't noticed, I will say you are lying.  I watch a fair amount of tv some would say too much.  I have noticed there is this trend to paint Black characters as stereotypes of themselves then send them up and ridicule them.  What this does for the perception of that person in the real world, I can only speculate.  It is fine for those who live in an environment where they encounter many different cultures and can get a chance to make their own assessment.  lets hope everyone is giving a fair chance and whatever they have seen on tv does not influence how they treat that person.

posted fb 17/11/13

#284 The lead

How do they do it

I don’t need to ask why

they can make us the ‘star’

making us the lead guy

if we are not killed in the opening lines

we sit and wonder why

we are subjected to this degradation

of another black guy

we sit and cringe

and wish we wasn’t there

to bare witness to his fate

they will send him up

and humiliate

take Will Smith

in ‘last man alive’

(I am Legend)

he was the hero in our eyes

until it turns out

it was all  vain

he didn’t have the complete story

so his struggle was unnecessary

now I know we don’t control the media

but can we not control our greed

leaving legacies for the young

is an important need

The Jealous ones

posted 14/11/13

#280 The jealous ones

Jealousy is such an ugly trait

it makes people feel inadequate

makes others simply hate

hate everything you do

they cannot find a kind word

to say about you

they want to get the details

so they can compare

they don’t wish you good things

just hope you fail

holding jealousy in their heart

until the friendship finally breaks

then you realise

it wasn’t real

it was all fake

and when you thought they had your back

they really ain’t

waiting for you to fall

keeping in touch

so they could just recall

to whomever will listen

whoever you might know

to tell them that your achievements

aren’t that special

and there is something  they should know

all that glistens is not gold

life is good for those that are bold

so continue on

don’t let the jealous ones

hold you down

for when you are on your way up

they will still be on the ground

still masking your steps

still chatting behind your back

So much rubbish has been said

posted fb 14/11/13

#279 Rubbish breeds rubbish

It’s funny how people who don’t know you

have lots to say

what they don’t know, they will fabricate

be on their merry way

not realising that they are doing permanent damage

rubbishing your reputation

rubbishing your name

for their time in the spotlight

for their five minutes of fame

for the little information

they have

goes a long long way

They continue repeating what they think they know

if they stopped for a minute to think

they will realise that nothing they say

makes any sense

and the story they tell, doesn’t go so

the people who listen are equally to blame

can’t they just say ‘Stop!’

have you got your facts clear?

what you’re saying sounds like a whole pack of lies

if this person is your friend

shouldn’t you at least try

to go back and get your facts straight

for obviously there was a time

when you thought highly of this person

when you thought they were great

Yet these people will continue to repeat

pouring oil on the fire

as they run and retreat

you question how they were ever allowed in

were you really that desperate

that you were scraping the bottom of the bin