'TOP BOY' & 'BLUE STORY': drugs. gangs. crime. - my experience growing up in the hood.

Firstly, big up the actors and the playwrights for Top Boy who all did an incredible job of curating this masterpiece that touched on so many significant modern-day issues. Additionally, big props to Rapman for his film, ‘Blue Story’. The film itself is about two friends named Timmy and Marco who then become rivals in a postcode war between South London’s Peckham and Deptford. This film focuses on the harsh realities behind some of the gang rivalries that occur in London and the hardships that come with this lifestyle. Both stories are so raw and honest and exposes people’s truths beautifully. It demonstrates the reality and difficulties of life, voicing the stories of people that rarely get heard. The story is told by those who were raised in these areas which just increases its significance. You can hear the truth and pain behind their narration. The aim of reflecting on these issues is in hope that it will drive change, help those that are facing these struggles and are leading this lifestyle and provide a voice for those that have been silenced.

There are many reasons involved as to why people may take refuge into gang culture; minimal economic resources being one of them. Poverty and perceptions of a blocked opportunity structure leave the youth at a high risk of getting involved in violent and criminal activities. Also, often, the climate in the household that an individual is living in and history of physical abuse in the home are related to the respondent’s violent behaviour. Furthermore, the education system has miserably failed a lot of people, particularly those who come from BME backgrounds. Black students are far more likely to be excluded from school in comparison to white students due to the bias against black students and also those from underprivileged backgrounds. The lack of support from schools is seen when Stefan goes to parents evening with his older brother Jamie. The judgement and underlying racism was blatant on his teachers face. The educators are failing us. Due to the failure of the system and the lack of support young black males are given, some are drawn into life of drugs and gangs and soon that becomes their norm and all they know. Also, once you are released from prison, it can be difficult to be accepted into a job because society views you differently due to your past convictions. They therefore see the world of drugs as the easiest escape and source of money. They feel displaced and so this lifestyle becomes their safe haven. They begin to lack a purpose and identity and therefore they take refuge into gang culture. Now ask yourself, is it because they love this lifestyle or is it because they have been left with little choice but to take refuge into this lifestyle?

Moreover, there have been many complaints about Top Boy as it has been labelled as glorifying crime and gang culture. London Hughes tweeted, criticising the show, “Ugh why did Drake decide to bring back Top Boy … if there’s one show Britain doesn’t need back, it’s that! Oooh gangs, drugs, guns, baby-mums!”. She also stated that it reinforces negative black stereotypes. When this piece of criticism was raised on Good Morning Britain, Top Boy’s Ashley Walters responded, “there’s a lot of negative things which happen in the show, we’re not trying to lie about that, that’s the beauty of Top Boy, it’s unapologetic”. This just comes to show that this is real life. It is actually happening and unfortunately, this is how people are living due to the corrupted system which has failed many, therefore leading them to this lifestyle. People that criticise the show in this manner must take time to understand the deeper meaning behind the story. The show is more than just gang culture; drugs, crime and violence. Top Boy touched on mental health within the black community, drug use, immigration, brotherhood, PTSD, racism, gentrification, poverty, displacement, pride and masculinity, LGBTQ community and so much more! Many people are implying that all Top Boy did was glorify gang culture and crime, but there is more to the story that they clearly aren’t seeing. It was not glorifying; it was narrating the truths behind the lives of many. Most of the characters were suffering from mental illness, poor health, were poor, constantly looking over their shoulders, and are living miserably. It also touches on child grooming. The way they utilise young, innocent children and groom them into selling drugs and committing other illegal activities for them. This shit is really happening.

brotherhood

After Blue Story came out, there was an incident that occurred in Birmingham involving a number of youths carrying knifes as they went to watch Frozen 2. As a result of this, Blue Story has been banned from all Vue cinemas. Does this even make any sense? You can't ban real life. This just comes to show that institutional racism is still very much prevalent in our society and this senseless decision was made on their negative bias on blacks. Vue claim that they made this decision with careful consideration. This is literally their way of masking the reasoning behind why they really banned it; they haven’t revealed any evidence as to why these actions were taken. Furthermore, people that have commented on the film, stating that it is glamorising gang culture, clearly watched it blindly. This film is definitely not glamorising gang culture. Rather, it is reinforcing the message that it is not worth your life. Blue Story is a story about love not violence as Rapman himself stated. It is such an incredible film with a powerful message and has the opportunity to change the lives of many. It depicts the emptiness of the gangster lifestyle and has a sensitive representation of how friendships can be broken and tested by the pressures of gang life. It also shows how good kids can be derailed by a pointless act of violence. I strongly urge everyone to watch Rapman’s ‘Blue Story’. It holds an important cultural message which, rather than taking inspiration to join the gang life, would deter the youth from following. It is a story that tackles codes of masculinity amongst the youth, mental health issues suffered by victims of trauma and the social issues that arise due to poverty which all accumulates to the endless cycle of gang violence. How is this possibly seen as the glorification of gang culture when it is people's truths? Downplaying the importance of these types of shows/ films is making you a part of the problem. It is all we have to voice our struggles.

I see young black people, that I grew up with, or just in general, trying to make something of their life, but already, we are placed at a disadvantage due to our background. It is as though there are already these preconceived notions about you.

As someone who was raised in the ‘hood’, watching both Top Boy and Blue Story was an experience to say the least. You learn a lot of things, growing up in this type of environment. Having lived in Hackney pretty much my whole life, I slowly watched the neighbourhood I grew up in get gentrified. As soon as you tell someone that you’re from Hackney, they ask you, “Is it safe? Is there a lot of crime?”. It’s not entirely like the Hackney that is depicted in the media, however there is still a large amount of crime and poverty that exists. There is no hiding that in the past and now, Hackney is regarded as the slums and one of the most deprived boroughs. Despite all this, Hackney is a community. It encapsulates the beauty of multiculturalism. I’ll walk through my estate and I see young children interacting with one another in harmony showing the innocence of youth because of the simple fact that they share the same borough - this is far from violence. Of course, there are shitty neighbourhoods all over London, but people often forget the underlying sense of community that is built in these neighbourhoods.

Many of the people that lived in my estate growing up are from BME backgrounds, so in that sense, we share similarities. We were all on low incomes together, therefore there was a strong sense of support. However today, the polarisation between the wealthy and the poorer is slowly deteriorating the sense of community that once existed within Hackney. Hackney has now become appealing to the upper-middle class. The whole food stores opening all over the borough, selling food for overly expensive prices shows the power of gentrification– as perfectly depicted in Top Boy’s scene where Dushane goes to a coffee shop in Broadway Market. The McDonald’s in Dalston is literally the spot for schoolchildren, the young, the old and everyone in between, providing cheap food. It is a known link up point for everyone that goes to Dalston. Just around the corner is the Arcola Theatre, the central spot for Hackney’s creatives to enjoy nights out; drink expensive drinks and food. These two buildings are representative of the division in Hackney and the difference in class of the people that utilise these buildings. They encompass the differences between the people that live in the borough today. The lack of the communal feel between the old and new communities now existing in Hackney, contributes to me no longer feeling entirely at home as I walk down Kingsland High Street. I almost feel like an outsider.

I really care about the area that I grew up in, and as someone who has seen the first hand effects of it, I am extremely passionate in helping those that were raised in low income areas like myself, to excel!

My girls also wrote a piece below on their individual experience watching Top Boy (their social media links are below). Hope you enjoyed this read!

Yours,

Yohanna x

GISELLE: The thing that spoke the most to be when watching Top Boy is the lack of support from the education system. Often in these scenarios, school is an escape for many children and it is the only means of comfort or guidance they receive in life. I think it is essential to have people that look like you (skin colour) in education – especially in places of power and people that are relatable. Skin folk definitely are not kin folk and I have learnt this through first hand experience on how those who you think are on your side, are not. This is what fails (young black boys in particular) at the first hurdle.

Instagram: @gisellebeverley

Twitter: @gisellebeverley

SARON: To the rest of the UK, we are a monolith. Inner city London and its inhabitants are all shoved into this one narrative that screams “gangs, knives and loads of BME people”. We are seen, almost as this burden that will hopefully be wiped away by the tides of new pretty, apartment buildings and trendy coffee shops. And media outlets intensify this by demonising our communities. So much so, that the nation stands desensitised- apathetic toward bringing development and healthy change to our city. These are the same communities where you’d share meals with neighbours, celebrate big occasions together, cry together in hard times.

That’s something I really respected about Top Boy. Yes, it did not mask the issue of crime that does pervade the streets of London. But this narrative was placed within a truthful context that showed the impacts of economic disparity and constant governmental failures, for instance. I was so glad to see how on job they were with humanising groups of people that are so often vilified nationally. Whether it was young black men, immigrant families or the working class. When we are praised, it’s for being this “happy-clappy”, meritocratic and multicultural safe haven which to an extent is true. But this often ends up causing the repression of real-life pain, real life lack and inequality that still exists within London.

The masterpiece behind this show lay in its’ blatant exposure of truth. It wasn’t about living up to the stereotypes of “ends”, or trying to glorify gang culture. But it was just about representing the valid and honest experiences of the different intersections of our society. For example, I was able to feel this closeness to Ats and Amma’s story because of the way it reflected elements of my own. But the beauty of Top Boy was that a young black boy from Peckham, a young queer person from Shepherd’s Bush, or a young girl living in gentrified Dalston, were given the chance to feel the same connection.

Instagram: @saaaronnn

Twitter: @asmaraani_