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| Adam Regis - 17.03.2007 ©Priscilla Etienne Funeography |
One week ago marked twenty years since the murder of Stephen Lawrence. for me, it was the first murder of this kind involving a young person to hit the headlines. To hit me hard enough that it prompted me to do a racism workshop within my youth club at the time (The Youth House) in East London.
I remember the widespread sadness most parents felt and the overwhelming urge to protect their children.
Who would have thought in the years to follow, we would be protecting our young people from themselves. Since then I have described the frequent, tragic murders of young people as genocide. Which will eventually culminate in a complete loss of a generation.
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| Michael Simon Wright - 19.02.2009 ©Priscilla Etienne Funeography |
The racism workshop I did with a group of young people involved taking them to the Stephen Lawrence enquiry, a bold move for youth work at the time. The fuelled and highly emotional atmosphere stirred a wealth of reaction from the group. They were scared, surprised and angry. Some of the words they used to describe the experience.
Many years later I was to revisit the same subject at university with two colleagues Andre Laing and Ken Kamara, but this time the reasons were mixed.
The three months we spent listening to the events leading up to the deaths of their children were difficult to hear but we were more focused on their well being during the whole project. We were grateful they spoke to us and built a good level of trust with us. When we were not discussing how to work with what they gave us, we were crying together. Every waking moment became about them. This is how we came up with the title for the project "Them"
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| Terry Booker - 14.11.2000 ©Priscilla Etienne Funeography |
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| Kiyan Prince - 18.05.2006 ©Priscilla Etienne Funeography |
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| Robert Levy - 16.09.2004 ©Priscilla Etienne Funeography |
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| Stephen Lewis 24.01.2009 ©Priscilla Etienne Funeography |
I have watched the tireless fight by Doreen and Neville Lawrence in the quest of justice for Stephen and the fight is still continuing, just as it is for the parents and families of the young people I have mentioned. I can only hope that Doreen and Nevilles long journey will come to an end with the full results they seek.
As it was then and as it is now, my utmost respect and empathy is with them and their family.
I dedicate this blog to Stephen Lawrence.
See you at the next posting.
