I hesitate to an ‘ism’ to the end of my post title as I am not sure if that is exactly the category a certain phenomenon I have recently uncovered falls under.
As some of you know, about 6 months ago I wrote an article about how I with my wife brought Pan to Poland, and how it is developing (sometimes through struggle). The feedback was almost all positive and encouraging and then around December we spread a little through the Pan world on Facebook with a film of our rendition of various Star Wars themes for the Premiere of ‘Force Awakens’ played at a local Polish cinema (falling just shy of 30,000 views). The film went from one side of the globe to the other and also, the comments were mostly positive, if not coloured a little with an element I had yet to come upon in our Pan adventure.
Comments like: ‘Do these kids even know where Pan comes from?’ and one especially one caught my attention (from a Trinidadian): ‘The day will come, and I would rather not live to see it, but will come never the less, where the white kid will out-play the black kid on a Steel Pan’. The fact that all our players are: a. Young and b. White comes completely from the fact that quite simply, Polish society is still predominantly white, and even if it weren’t, I am of the personal belief that the colour of our skin is in no way a factor when determining the musical talent or potential of an individual – especially a youngster who at that stage of life has the whole world before him/her and can accomplish absolutely anything they want with the right motivation and mind-set. These were not the only two comments in reference to race or education – but the more questionable comments ranged somewhere between those two factors. I to this day do not necessarily feel ‘hated’ upon or anything like that – and I am not sure of the motivation (positive or negative) behind these comments.
I can only assure all Trinidadians that we have the utmost respect for your culture and the amazing invention that is Pan, and our kids DO know where the instruments come from – they can even probably point to Trinidad on the map (possibly more than most Trinidadians could point out Poland on the map). With much love and respect we ask to be accepted as part (albeit a tiny part) of the pan community and would encourage everyone not to judge a musical form based on the colour of our skin.
Thanks for reading and God bless.
Adam Mold - Poland
Replies
This WHY the government of T&T should have Cultural Attaches posted in all embassies across the globe to promote our arts and culture. The mis-information that’s being spread can have harmful effects to those wanting to do the RIGHT thing with PAN.
Where’s the education officer at Pan Trinbago or the PRO? As the World Governing body for the Steel Pan here’s an opportunity to do some out-reach.
"World Governing Body for the Steel Pan" is just a PROPAGANDA SLOGAN to fool the LOCALS.
I hope I did not offend you in my posts Claude. You yourself have been nothing but contructive and supportive, and as I stated in the original post, the vast majority of Trinidadians have been the same. My last post was aimed at one individual in particular. The only thing I can say is that I am a musician teaching other musicians - period. Skin color has never entered into the aquation for me so the aggressive attacks from Rudy took me a little by suprise as it is a way of thinking that is alien to me. While I am aware of history and how it played out, we all lose out if we choose to live in it. I have some German children in my English group right now, and I live in Poland. Should I not allow tchem to learn my language because of the atrocities of Auszwitz (which is very real to me having to have to visit it a numer of Times).
My point is, sorry if I have offended you. I have a great respect for your country and culture and the beauty that is Pan. God bless.
Don't let a few people bring you down, they are not worth it.
In my experience most trinidadians are very sharing. They will give you everything. And some don't, and come up with all sorts of stuff that just doesn't make things move. Let them be.
In my book, you are doing a great thing, overthere in Poland. As do many others, all around the world. Whether black or white, trini or not.
Things happen because of the love for pan. Music is played. Nothing is achieved by pointing out the same old mantra that "pan is we ting" and "allyuh tief it from us"...
''In my experience most trinidadians are very sharing. They will give you everything. And some don't, and come up with all sorts of stuff that just doesn't make things move. Let them be.''
Mind you, these statements are being uttered by one white man to another white man, as if their foreparents did not already FORCIBLY STEAL everything from the Trinis already via slavery and colonization and today, through white privilige and neo-colonization.
And they still expect the same people who they STOLE everything from to still ''GIVE'' them ''EVERYTHING''.
This is the same slave-master, entitled mentality based on darwinism that I spoke of earlier. Notice, when white people feel like one of their own is under attack, they unite and come out of the woodwork to defend each other.
You guys take all the fun out of letting me expose you since you do it so readily yourselves!
well said. Thank you - David.
I am totally confused. What does all this irrelevant CHATTER have to do with a person's proficiency at playing any instrument?
I agree.
this topic was not about ''a person's proficiencyat playing pan'', and if you read the topic title you would have understood this.
If you can't keep up, then obviously this discussion is not for you, Masai!
And lack of awareness about history is a big part of the problem, because those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. all of this histor is the history of th steel pan and its modern development. Pan does not exist in a vaccum.
Rudy, I am not going to argue logic with a person who is on the other side of the world. I will however convey your opinions to the people who play in our band that Trinidad doesn't want tchem to be a part of this community. In fact, I invite you to write a letter which I will pass on to our second steel band project call 'Dream Sound' a band made of people wil down's syndrome and autism. I invite you to explain to tchem how they have no right to play on 'your' intrument and how in comparison to tchem and their life situation, YOU feel victimised and oppressed.
I will also gladly pass your letter on the Bursztynowa Przystan, a Children's hospice for whom we play to raise funds (the average life expectancy is 13 -14 years for most kids there). You might want to include your logical reasoning about how the money we have raised for their treatment offends the Trinidadian people and should instead be given to you.
You might also want to include an attacment explaining to the other 13 charitable associations and foundations we will play to help TODAY, how our children's learning on your national instrument is a slap in the face for you personally and for your countrymen. Explain it logically I am sure they will understand.
Last, but not least - please accept my sincere apologies for not using 'logical' comparisons - that is - comparisons that are not in line or challenge your way of thinking. Until this time I was unaware that logic was determined by one person - namely you. I have indeed seen the error of my ways and hope you can find it in your heart to forgive our oppression of you and your people. I thought that living in the past wasn't the same thing as remembering the past, but obviously I am wrong and you don't have a huge breeze block on your shoulder. Have a nice day.
Please feel free to message me privately and ask for the details of those associaitions you feel so violated by so you can voice your concerns openly to tchem.
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