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Today's Calls, Part 4: I call out for a new world

from Today's Calls: Pandemic Pieces on BBC Radio Devon by Kimwei

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Today’s Calls Part 4

Today I call for a new world for the black girl who grew up in Devon who was called names, who rocks and sticks were thrown at, who grown men made monkey noises at, who was always blamed by her teachers, who was told she was stupid for little things that no-one else was told they were stupid for, who as a young woman was asked by a white man to be his black conquest one time and another time had a boyfriend who was ashamed to be with a black girl, and who was told every time that this wasn’t racism, but it was. If anyone tries to do it again they are going to have to come through me.

Today I call out for a new world, for the trans woman who grew up in Devon, who’s father flat out won’t accept her as a “she” and whose mother keeps saying she does and then pretending to forget, who was told not to use the women’s toilets because she wasn’t a real woman and then got punched in the face by a man in the men’s, who’s wife was convinced that her desire to transition was a mental illness and so left her, who then qualified as a primary school teacher during her transition (10 years ago now) and yet has never passed a job interview and each time was told that it wasn’t transphobia, but it was. If anyone tries to do it again they are going to have to come through me.

Today I call out for a new world, for the disabled who have not been considered by Supermarkets to need their groceries delivered during lockdown, to the poorest of workers who cannot afford to stay home, even if their work place cannot keep true social distancing, and who are told they are being treated fairly, but they aren’t. If anyone tries to do it again, they are going to have to come through me.

Today I call out for a new world for myself, who growing up as Chinese trans-child was moved schools aged 5 because of the stones being thrown at me and my mother on our daily walk there, who on arriving aged 21 to Devon as a music teacher was told by my supervisor to beware that “many of these kids have never seen a half-caste lesbian before”, who was asked to leave a Dartmoor pub for kissing my partner on the cheek and who still has many well meaning friends who won’t call me “he” because they say “I see you as a girl”, and who is told it’s not discrimination... but it is. Call me and tell me that if anyone tries to do it again they are going to have to come through you.

Today I call out for a new world - After all, it’s possible for the whole world to change completely - the pandemic has proven that to us at least.

So I stand on the front line for those who have been harmed and say enough is enough. Today I call out to you and ask you to stand with me, for those who I stand up for, and so that you can stand up for me.

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from Today's Calls: Pandemic Pieces on BBC Radio Devon, released May 15, 2020

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Kimwei Exeter, UK

Pre-order Anthems For Change at kimwei.com !

Where is the soundtrack for the climate revolution? I believe it is down to us all to make it. This year I've teamed up with folk musicians Chris Dance, Lisa Rowe & Anita Clarinet to make the songs of tomorrow’s history: music that births change - a lush landscape of vocal harmonies, guitar, strings & woodwind to surround and transform you. ... more

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