Dear Eleanor Smith (Newly-elected Wolverhampton South West MP) ,
I am writing this open letter to you regarding The Black Country Flag design.
In my opinion I find it very distasteful that you brand the flag with racist connotations , you do realise this was created by a 12 year old girl Gracie Sheppard? She took elements of The Black Country and brought it together in a brilliant design. So let's break it down for you, the chains represent the chain makers a big part of our history, something we were known for yes, chains were used to keep slaves in shackles and yes, this is unfortunate but do you really think that was going through Gracie's head as she was designing this? No, because she was a 12 year old girl.
If you're worried about chains and what they represent in history take off the jewellery round your neck.
Gracie cleverly took a quote from Elihu Burret in 1862 “black by day and red by night” this was said because in the day furnaces would churn out smoke covering the area with soot and then in the night they would keep on burning giving The Black Country a glow. Gracie even added the Redhouse Glass cone, because we're known for our glass blowing skills .
The design is well balanced , but no you're concerned about and to quote you "The white on black imagery " nobody uses language like that if you pointed to a zebra and asked me " what colour is that ?" I'd say it's black and white !
Coventry is a prime example of how they used black and white in their designs , the two tone movement that represented blacks and whites coming together to make wonderful music and giving up fighting and uniting , not white on black , or black on white. Black and White. Equals.
So let's wrap this letter up....I think it's a shame that you think the flag has racist connotations , I think it very sad that you refused to pose with the flag, a flag that represents The Black Country and it's people , the people who you are representing.
But the thing that annoys me the most and it really, really annoys me is you have taken away a proud moment for Gracie Sheppard a young girl who probably ran back home from school excited to inform her parents that she'd won a competition and you have tried to tarnish her design.
I hope you take in what I've said , I'm not trying to be confrontational , The world is a shitty place at the moment , we don't have to make everything a race issue especially in something where there isn't one. we all need to unite and be as one. As the great Bob Marley said One love.
And to Gracie if you're reading this well done bab, it's a bostin design and I hope you are successful in everything that you do.
Okse
Ps. And if you think that I'm coming from this as white person who knows nothing about race. I'm not , half Chinese , half English , brought up in the Black Country and proud of where I am from. I also know a bit about design too.
Pps, Eleanor , please pop to The Black Country Museum , you could learn quite a bit...their chips are really good too... oh and the suck.
To read what prompted this open letter please go here.
Mark Parton says...
Hope the people of Wolverhampton have the good sense to send this “Lady” to the job centre come the next election. I doubt she would have been elected had she come out with this nonsense before the polls.
July 18, 2017
Stuart pope says...
What is it with these people,when they get in to a position of power
They deside that they can throw in the race card.
This flag is far from that it is all about our heritage.
You should enhance this or resign.
Young children have no race issues only Adults.
July 18, 2017
Gary says...
Yet again another MP who is as dumb as a rock
July 17, 2017
Andy says...
https://twitter.com/Eleanor_SmithMP/status/886701707828367361 Here’s the response from Eleanor Smith. May I suggest that the E&S is just a lying right wing rag?
July 17, 2017
John Donnelly says...
It always amazes me how the people who shout racist or racism are usually people who attain a position through being voted on by all races. I think that this MP for Wolverhampton South West should step down. It’s obvious to me being coloured herself that she only wants to represent her race and not the multi race society that voted for her in the first place. I also think she should apologise to the young person who designed the flag who at the time racism never even entered her mind. I bet her school friend are multi race and multi lingual an not one of her friends bring racism into class they’re all friends together no matter the colour. If the so called do gooders didn’t keep brining racism up at every chance they get it would die out. I worked with
A couple is coloured lads and they called me ‘HONKY’ I didn’t scream racist I just laughed and gave them verbal back and they didn’t screamed racist. We went outside and had a game football. Ordinary people don’t scream racism only the do gooders.
July 17, 2017
Steve says...
You can choose to interpret racism into anything if you so desire. However, your interpretation is so wrong it’s beyond belief. I would take it back and apologise unreservedly if you want to represent the folks of Wolverhampton and the Black Country
July 16, 2017
Dave Bull says...
Spot on!
July 16, 2017
Joyce groucutt says...
Well said we are proud to fly our flag
July 16, 2017
Andy hipgrave says...
Well said , total over reaction and very sad you bring it down to such a level , there is nothing racist about this , yet another "PC " over reaction, and I would question your abilities to represent me in parliament if you can’t see that or know enough about our local history , definitely would not vote for you whatever party , so out of touch , and ignorant , pathetic really , just scoring political points which have no foundation , this is how race issues become blown out of proportion with no foundation whatsoever for your ill informed statement .
July 16, 2017
Phil says...
I’m really saddened by this MP’s take on the flag, I’m even more upset because I voted for her. Had I have known her feelings about the flag before Election Day I definitely would not have voted for her. I’m sick to death of this stupidity of so called educated people who can turn an innocent flag celebrating our heritage here in the Black Country into being something racially motivated. Needless to say if her views do not change she will not get my vote next time.
July 16, 2017