root for
phrasal verb of root
support or hope for the success of a person or group entering a contest or undertaking a challenge.
reprise
verb
repeat (a piece of music or a performance)."he reprises his role as the vigilante architect"
The podcast is here! Well, for my paid subscribers. Everyone else it’ll be with you tomorrow don’t worry! The first episode of the podcast features BAFTA winning producer Tobi Kyeremateng and I’m so excited for you to listen.
The format of the podcast is me and a guest exploring the themes from a preexisting Sugar Shot. As you may have guessed, or seen, the shot Tobi and I reprise is root for. I wanted to talk to Tobi for this episode because when I think of rooting for Black people I think of Tobi.
I’ve been on the receiving end of Tobi’s championing and it feels great. She’s an incredibly supportive person and character. Her rooting doesn’t begin and end with hype at an event however. Tobi is a person of action and her actions have edified many lives, particularly Black lives.
I was privileged enough to see the genesis of the Black Ticket Project. Great plays like Misty by Arinzé Kene and Barbershop Chronicles by Inua Ellams were in theatres and Tobi wanted to make sure black kids saw them. So she set up Black Ticket Project. She facilitated young black people going to the theatre and BTP is on job to this day.
What I loved about my conversation with Tobi is the recognition that rooting for black people means rooting for your friends. It means rooting for and supporting the black people in her life. She talks about buying flowers and just doing what you can for those you love.
I’m very proud to be opening with this episode of the podcast. This season of Sugar Shots is blackity black black. I didn’t even notice it was all black until now. I chose each person because they inspire me and I knew we’d have beautiful meaty conversations. Black people inspire me.
From this point forward till the end of season one each Sugar Shot will be a reprise like this one. The original shot will follow and you’ll get to have a refresh before you listen to the podcast. I think it’s a fun set up so I hope it works for you.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. The podcast is coming and I promise you it’s worth the wait.
root for
phrasal verb of root
support or hope for the success of a person or group entering a contest or undertaking a challenge.
This week I was minding my business when a friend sent me a voice note. In the voice note he told me that he’d got his grades back for an essay in which he’d used one of my poems to make his argument. He was arguing that art should be used to talk about the world in a substantial way.
The poem of mine that he used was I’m Rooting For Everybody Black which was commissioned by the Barbican in 2018 as part of their Subject to Change series. As far as I’m aware this is the first time my work has been referenced in an essay and it was very humbling. I was very spun and the voice note I sent in reply wasn’t particularly coherent.
Of course, (because we all have small small narcissistic tendencies right?), I went back and found the poem. It lives here on the Barbican website accompanied by an interview I did to go with it.
A lot has happened since February 2018 but one thing that hasn’t changed is that I’m rooting for everybody Black, always. Returning to this poem and interview has reminded me how rewarding that is. The friend that I reference who was taking their GP exams is a GP now. I’m still rooting for him, it’s just what I’m rooting for has changed. Him and his wife are expecting their first child so now I’m rooting for him as a parent.
Every artist that I referenced is prospering to an even greater degree than they were 3 years ago. The poem almost feels dated because of how much they’ve prospered. I celebrate Michaela Coel for being in an episode of Black Mirror. This week she’s just won a BAFTA for I May Destroy You which she created, wrote, co-directed, executive produced and starred in for BBC and HBO. It’s beautiful to see growth and be able to celebrate at each point of a journey.
Being an artist with other artist friends I often have the privilege of seeing growth. There are so many people I know at different stages in their career that inspire me for various reasons. I want to see my people prosper.
In particular I want to see Black people prosper. I’m rooting for everybody Black, always… with no apology, word to Popcaan.
I’m Rooting For Everybody Black
always.
Mostly that means I don’t want the black character to get dead off first. My hope is a poke at the swaying Jenga tower. It doesn’t always fall, sometimes the black character get dead off second.
I’m rooting for everybody black
always.
Mostly that means screaming when I see a black face. One you recognise is sweeter; a British one is sweetest. Like the taste of my shout when I saw Michaela Coel on the USS Callister.
I’m rooting for everybody black
always.
It looks like he’s singing and dancing, but this brother’s taking enormous chances. Kendrick finishes. The audience rise to their feet applauding, white froth from every ocean gathered in that room to clap.
Pastor came and preached the same sermon two years ago. Rockface hits water over and over hoping at some point they listen.
I’m rooting for everybody black
always.
Mostly that means paying to see Black Panther more than once. So much black on a Hollywood screen, I must soak my eyes in it. I would drown in black like a satellite floating in space.
I am hoping against sense that Hollywood is the same. I am done seeing blackberries drowned in milk.
I’m rooting for everybody black
always
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