Keep ya head up Born in the borough of Lambeth in southwest London and raised in the Lewisham borough, specifically in a neighborhood called New Cross, which is right next door to Deptford, I grew up surrounded by a rich tapestry of urban cultures, predominantly influenced by Caribbean and African heritage. In the 1980s, our communities were more divided; however, growing up in a Rastafarian household instilled in me a profound understanding: we are all Africans, connected by history, scattered by slavery, and united through our DNA. My mother and stepfather believed that education was a crucial aspect of our development. As one of the first generations of our family born in England to Jamaican immigrant parents, they emphasized that we are Africans first and foremost. They taught us never to forget our roots and culture, imparting the wisdom that a man without knowledge of his heritage is like a tree without roots. My parents drew inspiration from great leaders and thinkers such as Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Bob Marley, Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah, and Fela Kuti, among many others. We were fortunate to attend the Moonshot Community Centre, also known as the Pagnell Street Centre, which opened in 1971 as one of the first purpose-built community centers for Black people in the UK. Every Saturday, along with a few evenings during the week after school, we learned about our culture, history, traditions, and heritage. The Centre fostered a spirit of community and unity, exposing us to the diverse African and Caribbean cultures. We engaged in activities such as weaving baskets, arts and crafts, crafting African jewelry, playing drums, and embarking on various excursions. These experiences were integral to our development. Such experiences instilled in us a sense of pride, community, and belonging a safe haven amidst the challenges we faced. However, upon leaving that building, we were confronted with a different reality. I lived on Milton Court Road, SE14, in the heart of what we called "The Ghetto," later known as the "Blue Borough." To gain insight into what life was like in New Cross and Deptford, you can watch the blockbuster film *Blue Story* (2019), produced by Deptford's very own star, RAPMAN. The movie reflects the gang culture prevalent in New Cross, Deptford, and Peckham, depicting the everyday life of many children growing up in those areas a reality still faced by many today. The struggles and hardships surrounding young people in these environments during that time were palpable, as captured in films like *Babylon* (1981). *Babylon*, filmed in New Cross, Deptford, and Brixton, portrays the blatant racism faced by Black British youth from employers, neighbors, and law enforcement, while also highlighting sound system culture. The music from our area reflects the realities of growing up in these challenging environments. Artists like Craze 24, with tracks such as "Ghetto Hotels," "Young Guards," and "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometimes," encapsulate the struggles of inner-city life and paint a vivid picture of our experiences. Big Ven's and South Soldiers song "Heads Up ( Listen Up" ) is a poignant reflection on family members lost to senseless violence, while Millz’s track "Grimy" mirrors the lifestyle many young people feel they must adopt to survive in their communities. Other notable artists from Lewisham, often referred to as the Blue Borough, include Blak Twang, Yizzy, Merky Ace, Novelist, P Money, Blade, and the legendary reggae star Maxi Priest, who began his career with Saxon Sound. Local rap group 814 is also linked to the Ghetto Boys of New Cross. Despite the abundance of talent in our area, the challenges we faced were immense. Poverty, overcrowding, a lack of educational opportunities, and insufficient funding for community projects contributed to a sense of frustration. Many people felt they had nothing to lose, especially as they watched their parents work two or three jobs yet still struggle to make ends meet. This cycle of hardship often led to rising crime rates and the growth of a lawless society, where nobody truly wins. If you research the New Cross Fire, which tragically resulted in the deaths of 13 people, or explore The Battle of Lewisham, along with the documentary *Blood Ah Go Run: New Cross Fire 1981* available on YouTube, you will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by our community. Life in New Cross was not easy. Like many Black or urban communities, we were surrounded by ghettos, council estates, and overcrowded neighborhoods plagued by poverty, crime, and gangs. New Cross was no exception. Our community often felt forgotten by a government that only seemed to care about us when it was time to seek votes or collect taxes. It was a concrete jungle, abandoned by the very system that had created these conditions, forcing people to carve out their own paths to survival in a harsh reality. The outside world frequently feared entering our neighborhood, but this was our home. Employers were hesitant to hire individuals from our postcode, and taxi drivers avoided our streets. Despite the stigma, this was a place where we asserted our identity and resilience. The government designed these areas for immigrants and their children to reside. As a Black researcher who has traveled around the world, I have observed that the blueprint remains the same. Systems of inequality persist, evident in practices such as redlining and discriminatory housing policies. From Brazil to Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Harlem, and London, Black urban minority neighborhoods share a common framework of struggle. I can still remember as a child, every time an airplane flew past, I would wish on it, dreaming of flying into the sun. Like Martin Luther King Jr., I too have a dream But my begins in Africa and the Caribbean, envisioning a united future for all people of African descent. And part of this starts with my projects promoting unity for BlackHistory and culture identity. Time to build change it won’t be easy but with your help all is possible my family. Let’s build something with meaning together and break the mould culture.