Jen York (RMT Learning) describes the event that took place on a weekend in November in Brighton...

Day One

09.30 Saturday morning and the music is vibrating through the doors at the Komedia in Brighton. Ten Young RMT members make there way into the studio and on the Decks are KMT aka Ian Solomon and Dave Smith, TUC tutor from the College of North East London.

Ian introduces himself and talks about his DJ career and the work he does as a Hip Hop teacher. He explains how he uses Hip Hop as a way of creating social cohesion and to fight against racism and intolerance. Hip Hop is used to get people talking, creating and working together. Dave then kicks the course off with a music quiz putting in context the history of music fighting back against racism. The group looked at how the likes of Sam Cook, Dusty Springfield, The Specials and Miss Dynamite have all stood up to fascism and what the effect was.

Everyone is then asked about the stereotypes of Hip Hop and what it means to them. From the answers each person then creates a sound or come up with a word. Before we know it we are up on our feet beat boxing using the words and sounds. Everyone takes turns orchestrating the sounds counting through the beat of two, in and out and loud and soft.

Ian talks about rhythms and explains that nursery rhymes are the origins of rap. We are then asked to think about a word that rhymes with our names. Going around the group everyone starts to rap their names ‘My name is Ian and I am human being’. ‘My name is Dave and I like a rave’, ‘my name is Lori and I aint’ Sorry’, ‘My names Emma and I am in dilemma’, ‘My name is Rob and I make ya sob’. Everyone is asked to note their name rap for later and then over lunch Ian gives a quick demo on how to use the decks. One by one we have a go and learn to scratch.

In the afternoon we looked at what RMT stands for, such as equality, community, fairness and rights. Everyone was then handed a British National Party manifesto to compare with. It was shocking to see what exactly the BNP plans to do if they come into power. The BNP manifesto outlined plans for registering anyone who is not white for removal from Britain.

Woman should be encouraged to stay home and raise children, homosexuality and abortion would be illegal. The atmosphere within room changed rapidly from beats of Hip Hop to silence and disgust. Dave showed us a film on how musicians, music and concerts have always been used to raise awareness of fascism.

Day Two

Sunday morning and the group make their way to Brighton Learning Centre and have a talk on RMT Learning and how to get involved. RMT learning can help all members who wish to learn by signposting them to their ULR or offering financial help through the RMT bursary scheme. Learning should be fun, orthwhile and can be anything from attending a Hip Hop course, up skilling in Maths or English or taking up a course with Open University. After doing some research on the computers everyone heads back to Komedia.

After lunch Dave and Ian talked through LoveMusicHateRacism and how to organise a music event to raise awareness and unite people against racism. Ideas included using mates who are in Bands and who can DJ, looking at small local venues and haggling to get the price down. To fund any events everyone talked about taking teams to work behind the bar at the festivals next year and any earnings then go into the Young Member pot for events. Hopefully there will be RMT Young Members events happening in London and Plymouth.

It was soon time to work on the final rap and Ian gets everyone warmed by doing some vocal exercises and playing some energy games. We went back to our names raps and the beat boxing. Then getting back into small groups some work is done on the raps written yesterday and all the groups practices before hoping up on stage to perform. An example is below:

“An injury to one is an injury to all, united we stand divided we fall Went to bluewater buying goodies, can’t go in wearing a hoody. Is it cause I am young, trying to have fun. Oh well I will to go Westfield to get my shopping done. An injury to one is an injury to all, united we stand divided we fall. Painting me a stigma, calling me a gangster. I ain’t no criminal, committed no crime. They issued me an ASBO cause they didn’t like this rhyme. An injury to one is an injury to all, united we stand divided we fall. Everyone here stand up with me, put your hands in the air just like me. Now put your finger up and say. An injury to one is an injury to all, united we stand divided we fall. “

What did everyone think?

“It was good to find out more about the active movement against BNP and how we can help make a difference” Rob Stonehouse

“The course has built my confidence up and has given a lot of information about RMT and the anti racist movement” Hayley Gaskell

“I didn’t know what to expect on this course, it’s great to meet other Young Members and learn the enthusiasm is still alive within the union” Adrian Rowe