multibeautiful

The early termination of last week’s theme was caused by the torpedoing of my intentions by an avalanche of work and illness. I’m taking this week off, as I didn’t have the energy to prepare at the weekend (see: work and illness). My apologies.

I hope, however, that this entry might keep some of you amused for a little while. Remember a few weeks ago when I mentioned the three-part BBC television series called Mixed Race Britannia? It traced the evolution of the profile of mixed race people in modern Britain. I watched all of them and wrote them up. The series put a rather rosy spin on the acceptance of mixed race couples and mixed race people in the UK today that I didn’t think was entirely justified, but it did provide rich historical coverage from the early 1900s to the present, focusing primarily on London and Liverpool.

Mixed Race Britannia: 1 of 3
Mixed Race Britannia: 2 of 3
Mixed Race Britannia: 3 of 3

Paul Robeson was an American singer, actor and early civil rights activist. In 1930, he played Othello opposite actress Peggy Ashcroft (Desdemona), a role which required him to kiss her on stage. It was not a performance he could have made at home. Robeson and Ashcroft took their liaisons off-stage as well - a romance that would flame periodically for decades.



( +6 )

Reginald D. Hunter is a black American comic who has made his name as a comedian performing in the UK. He often partners with Paul Merton on Have I Got News for You, and they make a great duo. I first saw him at a comedy club in Camden when he was just on the cusp of becoming quite well known. One of his favourite themes is contrasting US and UK culture.



( +4 )

Racism in America v racism in the UK (YouTube, 01:06)
English swearing (YouTube, 00:26)
On the BBC Breakfast show talking about being an expat (YouTube, 03:38)

Wynton Marsalis is an exceptional musician even in a family of exceptional musicians. Trumpeter, composer and music educator.



( Dimples! )

Wynton Marsalis - Carnival of Venice (YouTube, 03:45, a dizzying demonstration of technical talent.)

Hosea Gear is a New Zealand rugby union team player. He is of the Ngati Porou iwi (family group) and has played for the Maori team as well as the All-Blacks. Also, he is pretty.



( Hosea Gear is expressive, cheeky, oh and rather good at rugby )

Jonathan Ionatana Falafesa “Tana” Umaga is a former captain of the New Zealand All-Blacks. He played 74 test matches, in which he scored 36 tries, and under his captaincy the All-Blacks won 19 of their 21 games. He looks fierce in this first photo and, obviously, when doing the haka*, but most of the time he is smiling in his lovely crinkly-eyed way with his dreadlocks flying everywhere. ♥



( Tana Umaga doesn’t look that fierce all the time. )
Tana Umaga leads the haka before a rugby match. (YouTube, 00:55)

* Scary ancestral pre-battle war dance performed by the Maori that the All-Blacks always do before rugby matches. Other Polynesian groups have similar dances, such as the Tongan Sipi Tau.

Korean-American symphony conductor. Artistic director of the Orchestra Nova San Diego. (Sorry friends, I’m having a deadly week at work and I don’t have the spoons to write a more detailed summary.)



( +3 )

Virtuoso cellist whose career spans decades. He is probably the most globally famous of the musicians I’ll post this week. He’s won multiple Grammy awards, recorded a gazillion CDs and film scores, and plays an eclectic range of styles, including traditional Chinese melodies, bluegrass and strange melancholy noodling with Philip Glass. He was a child prodigy who can be said to have fulfilled all of his early promise and more.



( +4 )

Yo-Yo Ma plays a Bach cello suite in the middle of a building site (YouTube, 03:10)
Yo-Yo Ma adds to the ominosity factor of Philip Glass’ Naqoyqatsi (YouTube, 07:58)

Another three-time Olympian, Chinese gymnast Yang Wei won gold both in the all-around and the team final in the 2008 Beijing Games, as well as silver on the rings. He is known for his daring and extremely difficult routines.



( +5 )

Yang Wei performs a difficult rings routine, scores 16.400 (YouTube, 01:30. "He is fit, isn't he. Mmm." Well, quite.)

Samoan-British rugby union player. The youngest of seven brothers, six of whom play rugby, he is in England’s World Cup team this year. He’s only 20 and he’s so cute, it burns. I want to feed him chicken adobo and pat him on his enormous back.


( Manu Tuilagi scores tries. Gleefully. )

Somalian-British middle distance runner. Has won multiple gold medals in the European Athletics championships and recently won silver in the 10000 m at the World Athletics championships.

“I'm a Muslim, so I observe the five pillars of Islam. During Ramadan fasting isn't always the easiest thing for a sportsman. It's quite difficult to fit it in with your training. But that's what you have to do. You learn self-control.”



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