A child of the state - Lemn Sissay
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having<00:00:16.560> spent<00:00:16.960> our<00:00:17.440> 18<00:00:18.000> years<00:00:18.800> as<00:00:19.119> a<00:00:19.279> child<00:00:19.600> of
having spent our 18 years as a child of
having spent our 18 years as a child of
the<00:00:19.840> state<00:00:20.320> in<00:00:20.560> children's<00:00:20.960> homes<00:00:21.359> in<00:00:21.840> foster
the state in children's homes in foster
the state in children's homes in foster
care<00:00:22.960> you<00:00:23.119> could<00:00:23.359> say<00:00:23.519> that<00:00:23.680> i'm<00:00:23.840> an<00:00:24.000> expert<00:00:24.480> on
care you could say that i'm an expert on
care you could say that i'm an expert on
the<00:00:24.720> subject
the subject
the subject
and<00:00:26.320> in<00:00:26.640> being<00:00:27.119> an<00:00:27.279> expert<00:00:28.160> i<00:00:28.320> want<00:00:28.560> to<00:00:28.720> let<00:00:28.880> you
and in being an expert i want to let you
and in being an expert i want to let you
know<00:00:29.279> that<00:00:30.000> being<00:00:30.480> an<00:00:30.720> expert
know that being an expert
know that being an expert
does<00:00:32.480> in<00:00:32.640> no<00:00:32.880> way<00:00:33.520> make<00:00:33.840> you<00:00:34.079> right
does in no way make you right
does in no way make you right
in<00:00:35.760> light<00:00:36.079> of<00:00:36.239> the<00:00:36.399> truth
in light of the truth
in light of the truth
if<00:00:38.399> you're<00:00:38.640> in<00:00:38.800> care
if you're in care
if you're in care
legally<00:00:40.719> the<00:00:40.879> government<00:00:41.680> is<00:00:42.000> your
legally the government is your
legally the government is your
parents<00:00:43.520> local<00:00:44.320> parents
parents local parents
parents local parents
margaret<00:00:46.320> thatcher<00:00:46.960> was<00:00:47.200> my<00:00:47.440> mother
let's<00:00:50.239> not<00:00:50.480> talk<00:00:50.719> about<00:00:51.039> breastfeeding
let's not talk about breastfeeding
let's not talk about breastfeeding
harry<00:00:54.079> potter<00:00:54.399> was<00:00:54.640> a<00:00:54.719> foster<00:00:55.120> child
harry potter was a foster child
harry potter was a foster child
pip<00:00:57.360> from<00:00:57.600> great<00:00:58.039> expectations
pip from great expectations
pip from great expectations
was<00:01:00.399> adopted
was adopted
was adopted
superman<00:01:02.480> was<00:01:02.719> a<00:01:02.800> foster<00:01:03.280> child
superman was a foster child
superman was a foster child
cinderella<00:01:05.920> was<00:01:06.159> a<00:01:06.240> foster<00:01:06.720> child
cinderella was a foster child
cinderella was a foster child
elizabeth<00:01:09.280> salander<00:01:09.760> the<00:01:09.920> girl<00:01:10.159> with<00:01:10.320> the
elizabeth salander the girl with the
elizabeth salander the girl with the
dragon<00:01:10.960> tattoo<00:01:11.840> was<00:01:12.080> fostered<00:01:13.119> and
dragon tattoo was fostered and
dragon tattoo was fostered and
institutionalized<00:01:15.040> batman<00:01:16.159> was
institutionalized batman was
institutionalized batman was
orphaned
orphaned
orphaned
lyra<00:01:19.759> balaqua<00:01:20.320> from<00:01:20.560> philip<00:01:20.880> pullman's
lyra balaqua from philip pullman's
lyra balaqua from philip pullman's
northern<00:01:21.920> lights
northern lights
northern lights
was<00:01:23.680> fostered
was fostered
was fostered
jane<00:01:25.439> eyre<00:01:26.159> adopted
jane eyre adopted
jane eyre adopted
roald<00:01:27.840> dahl's<00:01:28.400> james<00:01:28.880> from<00:01:29.119> james<00:01:29.439> and<00:01:29.600> the
roald dahl's james from james and the
roald dahl's james from james and the
giant<00:01:30.159> peach
giant peach
giant peach
uh<00:01:32.000> matilda
uh matilda
uh matilda
moses
moses
moses
moses
moses
moses
moses
uh<00:01:40.240> the<00:01:40.560> the<00:01:40.720> boys<00:01:41.119> in<00:01:41.280> michael<00:01:41.680> moore<00:01:41.920> purgos
uh the the boys in michael moore purgos
uh the the boys in michael moore purgos
friends<00:01:43.119> or<00:01:43.439> foe<00:01:44.159> uh<00:01:44.400> alum<00:01:44.799> and<00:01:44.880> benjamin
friends or foe uh alum and benjamin
friends or foe uh alum and benjamin
zephaniah's<00:01:46.320> uh<00:01:46.640> refugee<00:01:47.360> boy<00:01:48.159> luke
zephaniah's uh refugee boy luke
zephaniah's uh refugee boy luke
skywalker
skywalker
skywalker
luke<00:01:51.040> skywalker
luke skywalker
luke skywalker
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[Music]
[Music]
twist
twist
twist
uh<00:01:55.759> cassie<00:01:56.240> in<00:01:56.320> the<00:01:56.479> concubine<00:01:57.040> of<00:01:57.119> shanghai
uh cassie in the concubine of shanghai
uh cassie in the concubine of shanghai
by<00:01:58.000> hong<00:01:58.240> king
by hong king
by hong king
uh<00:02:00.079> celie<00:02:00.880> in<00:02:01.520> in<00:02:01.759> in<00:02:01.920> alice<00:02:02.240> walker's<00:02:02.719> colour
uh celie in in in alice walker's colour
uh celie in in in alice walker's colour
purple<00:02:03.600> all<00:02:03.759> of<00:02:03.840> these<00:02:04.159> great
purple all of these great
purple all of these great
fictional
fictional
fictional
characters<00:02:07.439> all<00:02:07.600> of<00:02:07.759> them
characters all of them
characters all of them
uh<00:02:08.800> who<00:02:09.360> were<00:02:09.679> hurt
uh who were hurt
uh who were hurt
by<00:02:10.800> their<00:02:11.039> condition
by their condition
by their condition
all<00:02:12.560> of<00:02:12.720> them<00:02:13.360> who<00:02:13.760> spawned<00:02:14.640> thousands<00:02:15.280> of
all of them who spawned thousands of
all of them who spawned thousands of
other<00:02:15.840> books<00:02:16.640> and<00:02:16.879> other<00:02:17.200> films<00:02:18.160> all<00:02:18.400> of<00:02:18.480> them
other books and other films all of them
other books and other films all of them
uh<00:02:19.760> were<00:02:20.080> fostered
uh were fostered
uh were fostered
adopted
adopted
adopted
or<00:02:23.040> orphaned<00:02:23.520> it<00:02:23.680> seems<00:02:24.000> that<00:02:24.400> writers<00:02:25.200> know
or orphaned it seems that writers know
or orphaned it seems that writers know
that<00:02:26.560> the
that the
that the
child
child
child
outside<00:02:29.760> of<00:02:30.000> family
outside of family
outside of family
reflects<00:02:33.120> on<00:02:33.280> what<00:02:33.519> family<00:02:34.080> truly<00:02:34.720> is<00:02:36.160> more
reflects on what family truly is more
reflects on what family truly is more
than<00:02:36.640> what<00:02:36.879> it<00:02:37.120> promotes<00:02:37.760> itself<00:02:38.239> to<00:02:38.480> be
than what it promotes itself to be
than what it promotes itself to be
that<00:02:40.400> is
that is
that is
they<00:02:41.519> also<00:02:42.080> use<00:02:42.480> extraordinary<00:02:43.599> skills<00:02:44.480> to
they also use extraordinary skills to
they also use extraordinary skills to
deal<00:02:44.879> with<00:02:45.239> extraordinary<00:02:46.480> situations<00:02:47.680> on<00:02:47.840> a
deal with extraordinary situations on a
deal with extraordinary situations on a
daily<00:02:48.840> basis
daily basis
daily basis
how<00:02:50.720> have<00:02:50.959> we<00:02:51.280> not<00:02:51.599> made<00:02:52.000> the<00:02:52.160> connection<00:02:53.200> and
how have we not made the connection and
how have we not made the connection and
why<00:02:53.920> have<00:02:54.160> we<00:02:54.480> not<00:02:54.720> made<00:02:55.040> the<00:02:55.200> connection
why have we not made the connection
why have we not made the connection
between
between
between
how<00:02:57.360> has<00:02:57.519> that<00:02:57.760> happened
how has that happened
how has that happened
between<00:02:59.360> these<00:02:59.760> incredible<00:03:00.480> characters<00:03:01.200> of
between these incredible characters of
between these incredible characters of
popular<00:03:01.840> culture<00:03:02.640> and<00:03:02.959> religions<00:03:04.159> and<00:03:04.400> the
popular culture and religions and the
popular culture and religions and the
fostered<00:03:05.360> adopted<00:03:06.319> or<00:03:06.560> orphaned<00:03:07.360> child<00:03:07.920> in
fostered adopted or orphaned child in
fostered adopted or orphaned child in
our<00:03:08.239> midst<00:03:09.120> it's<00:03:09.360> not<00:03:09.840> our<00:03:10.159> pity<00:03:10.879> that<00:03:11.040> they
our midst it's not our pity that they
our midst it's not our pity that they
need
need
need
it's<00:03:12.800> our<00:03:12.959> respect
it's our respect
it's our respect
i<00:03:15.280> know<00:03:15.599> uh<00:03:16.239> famous<00:03:16.720> musicians<00:03:17.519> i<00:03:17.760> know
i know uh famous musicians i know
i know uh famous musicians i know
uh<00:03:19.360> actors<00:03:20.080> and<00:03:20.319> film<00:03:20.640> stars<00:03:21.120> and
uh actors and film stars and
uh actors and film stars and
millionaires<00:03:22.080> and<00:03:22.239> novelists<00:03:22.959> and<00:03:23.200> top
millionaires and novelists and top
millionaires and novelists and top
lawyers<00:03:24.159> and<00:03:24.800> television<00:03:25.519> executives<00:03:26.239> and
lawyers and television executives and
lawyers and television executives and
magazine<00:03:27.040> editors<00:03:27.519> and<00:03:27.680> national
magazine editors and national
magazine editors and national
journalists<00:03:28.560> and<00:03:28.720> dustin<00:03:29.120> men<00:03:29.599> and
journalists and dustin men and
journalists and dustin men and
hairdressers<00:03:30.879> all<00:03:31.200> who<00:03:31.360> were<00:03:31.519> looked<00:03:31.840> after
hairdressers all who were looked after
hairdressers all who were looked after
children<00:03:32.640> fostered<00:03:33.360> adopted<00:03:34.159> or<00:03:34.400> orphaned
children fostered adopted or orphaned
children fostered adopted or orphaned
and<00:03:35.120> many<00:03:35.519> of<00:03:35.599> them<00:03:35.920> grow<00:03:36.239> into<00:03:36.480> their<00:03:36.720> adult
and many of them grow into their adult
and many of them grow into their adult
lives<00:03:37.920> in<00:03:38.239> fear<00:03:39.200> of<00:03:39.519> speaking<00:03:40.080> of<00:03:40.239> their
lives in fear of speaking of their
lives in fear of speaking of their
background<00:03:41.360> as<00:03:41.519> if<00:03:41.680> it<00:03:41.840> may<00:03:42.560> somehow
background as if it may somehow
background as if it may somehow
weaken<00:03:44.080> their<00:03:44.480> standing<00:03:45.120> in<00:03:45.280> the<00:03:45.440> foreground
weaken their standing in the foreground
weaken their standing in the foreground
as<00:03:46.319> if<00:03:46.400> it<00:03:46.560> were<00:03:46.720> somehow<00:03:47.680> kryptonite<00:03:48.480> as<00:03:48.640> if
as if it were somehow kryptonite as if
as if it were somehow kryptonite as if
it<00:03:48.879> were<00:03:49.120> a<00:03:49.680> time<00:03:50.000> bomb<00:03:50.720> strapped<00:03:51.280> on<00:03:51.440> the
it were a time bomb strapped on the
it were a time bomb strapped on the
inside<00:03:52.720> children<00:03:53.360> in<00:03:53.760> care<00:03:54.319> who've<00:03:54.560> had<00:03:54.799> a
inside children in care who've had a
inside children in care who've had a
life<00:03:55.360> in<00:03:55.519> care<00:03:56.159> deserve<00:03:56.799> the<00:03:57.040> right<00:03:57.680> to<00:03:58.000> own
life in care deserve the right to own
life in care deserve the right to own
and<00:03:58.799> live<00:03:59.280> the<00:03:59.519> memory
and live the memory
and live the memory
of<00:04:00.560> their<00:04:01.280> own<00:04:02.000> childhood
of their own childhood
of their own childhood
it<00:04:04.000> is<00:04:04.560> that<00:04:05.280> simple<00:04:05.680> my<00:04:05.920> own<00:04:06.080> mother
it is that simple my own mother
it is that simple my own mother
and<00:04:07.760> i<00:04:07.840> should<00:04:08.080> say<00:04:08.319> this<00:04:08.640> here
and i should say this here
and i should say this here
she<00:04:10.239> came<00:04:10.400> to<00:04:10.560> this<00:04:10.720> country<00:04:11.120> in<00:04:11.360> uh
she came to this country in uh
she came to this country in uh
in<00:04:12.239> the<00:04:12.319> late<00:04:12.640> 60s<00:04:13.360> and<00:04:13.680> she<00:04:14.239> uh
in the late 60s and she uh
in the late 60s and she uh
she<00:04:15.280> was<00:04:15.439> you<00:04:15.599> know<00:04:15.680> she<00:04:15.840> found<00:04:16.000> herself
she was you know she found herself
she was you know she found herself
pregnant<00:04:17.120> as<00:04:17.280> women<00:04:17.600> did<00:04:17.840> in<00:04:17.919> the<00:04:18.000> late<00:04:18.239> 60s
pregnant as women did in the late 60s
pregnant as women did in the late 60s
you<00:04:18.880> know<00:04:18.959> i<00:04:19.040> mean<00:04:19.199> they<00:04:19.359> found<00:04:19.680> themselves
you know i mean they found themselves
you know i mean they found themselves
pregnant
pregnant
pregnant
and<00:04:21.919> um
and um
and um
she<00:04:22.880> sort<00:04:23.040> of
she sort of
she sort of
she<00:04:24.080> had<00:04:24.400> no<00:04:24.720> idea<00:04:25.280> of<00:04:25.440> the<00:04:25.600> context<00:04:26.320> in<00:04:26.479> which
she had no idea of the context in which
she had no idea of the context in which
she'd<00:04:26.960> landed
in<00:04:30.080> the<00:04:30.160> 1960s<00:04:31.120> i<00:04:31.199> should<00:04:31.759> give<00:04:31.919> you<00:04:32.080> some
in the 1960s i should give you some
in the 1960s i should give you some
context<00:04:33.040> in<00:04:33.120> the<00:04:33.199> 1960s<00:04:34.000> if<00:04:34.160> you<00:04:34.240> were
context in the 1960s if you were
context in the 1960s if you were
pregnant
pregnant
pregnant
and<00:04:36.080> you<00:04:36.240> were<00:04:36.479> single<00:04:37.280> you<00:04:37.440> were<00:04:37.600> seen<00:04:37.840> as<00:04:38.000> a
and you were single you were seen as a
and you were single you were seen as a
threat<00:04:38.639> to<00:04:38.800> the<00:04:38.960> community
threat to the community
threat to the community
you<00:04:41.120> were<00:04:41.360> separated<00:04:42.320> uh<00:04:42.639> from<00:04:42.960> your<00:04:43.440> uh
you were separated uh from your uh
you were separated uh from your uh
family<00:04:44.639> uh<00:04:44.800> by<00:04:45.040> the<00:04:45.280> state<00:04:46.160> you<00:04:46.320> were
family uh by the state you were
family uh by the state you were
separated<00:04:47.040> from<00:04:47.199> your<00:04:47.360> family<00:04:47.840> and<00:04:48.080> placed
separated from your family and placed
separated from your family and placed
into<00:04:49.040> uh<00:04:49.440> mother<00:04:49.759> and<00:04:49.919> baby<00:04:50.320> homes<00:04:50.960> you<00:04:51.120> were
into uh mother and baby homes you were
into uh mother and baby homes you were
appointed<00:04:51.840> a<00:04:51.919> social<00:04:52.400> worker
appointed a social worker
appointed a social worker
uh<00:04:53.919> the<00:04:54.160> adoptive<00:04:54.720> parents<00:04:55.199> were<00:04:55.520> lined<00:04:55.919> up<00:04:56.160> it
uh the adoptive parents were lined up it
uh the adoptive parents were lined up it
was<00:04:56.479> the<00:04:56.720> primary<00:04:57.600> purpose<00:04:58.240> of<00:04:58.400> the<00:04:58.639> social
was the primary purpose of the social
was the primary purpose of the social
worker<00:04:59.520> the<00:04:59.759> aim
worker the aim
worker the aim
to<00:05:00.880> get<00:05:01.120> the<00:05:01.280> woman<00:05:01.840> at<00:05:02.080> her<00:05:02.400> most<00:05:02.800> vulnerable
to get the woman at her most vulnerable
to get the woman at her most vulnerable
time<00:05:03.919> in<00:05:04.080> her<00:05:04.320> entire<00:05:04.960> life<00:05:05.759> to<00:05:06.080> sign<00:05:06.800> the
time in her entire life to sign the
time in her entire life to sign the
adoption<00:05:08.000> papers
adoption papers
adoption papers
uh<00:05:09.280> so<00:05:09.919> the<00:05:10.080> adoption<00:05:10.400> papers<00:05:10.720> were<00:05:10.800> signed
uh so the adoption papers were signed
uh so the adoption papers were signed
the<00:05:11.440> mother<00:05:11.680> and<00:05:11.759> babies<00:05:12.080> homes<00:05:12.320> were<00:05:12.479> often
the mother and babies homes were often
the mother and babies homes were often
run<00:05:12.960> by<00:05:13.199> nuns<00:05:13.919> um
run by nuns um
run by nuns um
the<00:05:15.039> adoption<00:05:15.440> papers<00:05:15.759> were<00:05:16.000> signed
the adoption papers were signed
the adoption papers were signed
the<00:05:18.160> the<00:05:18.479> the<00:05:18.720> child<00:05:19.120> was<00:05:19.280> given<00:05:19.520> to<00:05:19.680> the
the the the child was given to the
the the the child was given to the
adoptive<00:05:20.240> parents<00:05:20.720> and<00:05:20.800> the<00:05:20.960> mother<00:05:21.759> shipped
adoptive parents and the mother shipped
adoptive parents and the mother shipped
back<00:05:22.400> to<00:05:22.560> her<00:05:22.800> community<00:05:23.759> to<00:05:24.000> say<00:05:24.160> that<00:05:24.320> she'd
back to her community to say that she'd
back to her community to say that she'd
been<00:05:24.720> on<00:05:24.880> a<00:05:24.960> little<00:05:25.280> break
been on a little break
been on a little break
a<00:05:27.120> little<00:05:27.520> break
a little break
a little break
um
um
um
a<00:05:29.919> little<00:05:30.560> break<00:05:31.440> the<00:05:31.680> first
a little break the first
a little break the first
secret<00:05:33.360> of<00:05:33.600> shame<00:05:34.160> for<00:05:34.320> a<00:05:34.400> woman<00:05:35.199> for<00:05:35.360> being<00:05:35.919> a
secret of shame for a woman for being a
secret of shame for a woman for being a
woman
woman
woman
a<00:05:37.280> little<00:05:38.240> break
a little break
a little break
um
um
um
the<00:05:40.479> adoption<00:05:40.880> process<00:05:41.360> took<00:05:41.600> like<00:05:41.759> a<00:05:41.840> matter
the adoption process took like a matter
the adoption process took like a matter
of<00:05:42.320> months
of months
of months
so<00:05:43.520> it<00:05:43.680> was<00:05:43.759> a<00:05:43.840> close<00:05:44.080> shop<00:05:44.400> you<00:05:44.479> know
so it was a close shop you know
so it was a close shop you know
seal<00:05:45.759> deal
seal deal
seal deal
an<00:05:47.360> industrious
an industrious
an industrious
uh<00:05:49.199> utilitarian
uh utilitarian
uh utilitarian
solution
solution
solution
government<00:05:54.240> the<00:05:54.400> farmer
the<00:05:57.520> the<00:05:57.919> adopting<00:05:58.479> parents<00:05:58.960> the<00:05:59.120> consumer
the the adopting parents the consumer
the the adopting parents the consumer
the<00:06:00.720> mother<00:06:01.360> the<00:06:01.600> earth
the mother the earth
the mother the earth
and<00:06:02.720> the<00:06:02.960> child<00:06:03.680> the<00:06:03.840> crop
and the child the crop
and the child the crop
um<00:06:05.840> it's<00:06:06.240> it's<00:06:06.400> kind<00:06:06.639> of<00:06:06.800> easy<00:06:07.360> to<00:06:07.919> patronize
um it's it's kind of easy to patronize
um it's it's kind of easy to patronize
the<00:06:09.039> past
the past
the past
to<00:06:10.400> forgo<00:06:11.199> our<00:06:11.560> responsibilities
to forgo our responsibilities
to forgo our responsibilities
in<00:06:13.360> the<00:06:13.520> present
in the present
in the present
what<00:06:15.759> happened<00:06:16.240> then<00:06:16.960> is<00:06:17.120> a<00:06:17.280> direct
what happened then is a direct
what happened then is a direct
reflection
reflection
reflection
of<00:06:19.360> what<00:06:19.840> is<00:06:20.319> happening
of what is happening
of what is happening
now<00:06:22.000> everybody<00:06:22.960> believe<00:06:23.440> themselves<00:06:24.080> to<00:06:24.319> be
now everybody believe themselves to be
now everybody believe themselves to be
doing<00:06:24.800> the<00:06:25.039> right<00:06:25.440> thing<00:06:25.840> by<00:06:26.160> god<00:06:26.960> and<00:06:27.280> by<00:06:27.520> the
doing the right thing by god and by the
doing the right thing by god and by the
state<00:06:28.560> for<00:06:28.720> the<00:06:28.960> big<00:06:29.440> society
state for the big society
state for the big society
fast<00:06:31.600> tracking
fast tracking
fast tracking
adoption
adoption
adoption
um<00:06:35.360> so<00:06:35.520> anyway<00:06:35.840> she<00:06:36.000> comes<00:06:36.240> here<00:06:36.479> 1967.<00:06:37.840> uh<00:06:38.080> she
um so anyway she comes here 1967. uh she
um so anyway she comes here 1967. uh she
she's<00:06:38.800> uh<00:06:39.199> she's<00:06:39.520> uh<00:06:39.840> pregnant<00:06:40.560> um
she's uh she's uh pregnant um
she's uh she's uh pregnant um
and<00:06:41.759> um
and um
and um
she<00:06:43.280> comes<00:06:43.520> from<00:06:43.759> ethiopia<00:06:44.800> that<00:06:45.039> was
she comes from ethiopia that was
she comes from ethiopia that was
celebrating<00:06:46.160> its<00:06:46.560> own<00:06:47.199> uh<00:06:47.600> jubilee<00:06:48.160> at<00:06:48.319> the
celebrating its own uh jubilee at the
celebrating its own uh jubilee at the
time<00:06:48.720> under<00:06:48.960> the<00:06:49.199> emperor<00:06:50.080> haile<00:06:50.560> selassie
time under the emperor haile selassie
time under the emperor haile selassie
and<00:06:51.680> um<00:06:52.479> she
and um she
and um she
lands<00:06:54.080> months<00:06:54.560> before<00:06:55.039> the<00:06:55.280> enoch<00:06:55.759> powell's
lands months before the enoch powell's
lands months before the enoch powell's
speech<00:06:56.560> the<00:06:56.639> rivers<00:06:56.960> of<00:06:57.120> blood<00:06:57.440> speech
speech the rivers of blood speech
speech the rivers of blood speech
she<00:06:58.720> lands<00:06:59.199> months<00:06:59.599> before
she lands months before
she lands months before
the<00:07:00.800> beatles<00:07:01.280> released<00:07:01.759> the<00:07:01.919> white<00:07:02.240> album<00:07:03.120> uh
the beatles released the white album uh
the beatles released the white album uh
months<00:07:03.759> before<00:07:04.160> martin<00:07:04.560> luther<00:07:04.880> king<00:07:05.120> was
months before martin luther king was
months before martin luther king was
killed<00:07:05.680> it<00:07:05.759> was<00:07:05.919> a<00:07:06.000> summer<00:07:06.319> of<00:07:06.479> love<00:07:06.800> if<00:07:06.960> you
killed it was a summer of love if you
killed it was a summer of love if you
were<00:07:07.280> white<00:07:08.000> if<00:07:08.160> you<00:07:08.319> were<00:07:08.400> black
were white if you were black
were white if you were black
it<00:07:09.680> was<00:07:09.840> a<00:07:09.919> summer<00:07:10.240> of<00:07:10.400> hate
it was a summer of hate
it was a summer of hate
so<00:07:12.479> she<00:07:12.800> goes<00:07:13.120> from<00:07:13.759> oxford<00:07:14.840> uh<00:07:15.919> she<00:07:16.240> sent<00:07:16.560> to
so she goes from oxford uh she sent to
so she goes from oxford uh she sent to
the<00:07:16.880> north<00:07:17.120> of<00:07:17.280> england<00:07:17.599> to<00:07:17.759> a<00:07:17.840> mother<00:07:18.160> and
the north of england to a mother and
the north of england to a mother and
baby<00:07:18.639> home<00:07:18.880> and<00:07:19.039> appointed<00:07:20.000> a<00:07:20.720> social<00:07:21.120> worker
baby home and appointed a social worker
baby home and appointed a social worker
she<00:07:22.800> it's<00:07:22.960> her<00:07:23.199> plan
she it's her plan
she it's her plan
you<00:07:24.800> know<00:07:24.960> i<00:07:25.039> have<00:07:25.199> to<00:07:25.280> say<00:07:25.440> this<00:07:25.680> in<00:07:25.759> the<00:07:25.840> house
you know i have to say this in the house
you know i have to say this in the house
it's<00:07:26.720> her<00:07:26.880> plan
it's her plan
it's her plan
to<00:07:28.000> have<00:07:28.240> me<00:07:28.479> fostered<00:07:28.880> for<00:07:29.039> a<00:07:29.120> short<00:07:29.440> period
to have me fostered for a short period
to have me fostered for a short period
of<00:07:30.000> time<00:07:30.639> while<00:07:30.960> she<00:07:31.199> studies
of time while she studies
of time while she studies
but<00:07:32.960> the<00:07:33.120> social<00:07:33.440> worker<00:07:34.319> he<00:07:34.560> had
but the social worker he had
but the social worker he had
a<00:07:35.759> different<00:07:36.160> agenda
a different agenda
a different agenda
he<00:07:37.680> found<00:07:38.160> the<00:07:38.319> foster<00:07:38.800> parents<00:07:39.840> and<00:07:39.919> he<00:07:40.080> said
he found the foster parents and he said
he found the foster parents and he said
to<00:07:40.479> them
to them
to them
treat<00:07:41.759> this<00:07:42.160> as<00:07:42.400> an<00:07:42.560> adoption<00:07:43.120> he's<00:07:43.440> yours
treat this as an adoption he's yours
treat this as an adoption he's yours
forever
forever
forever
his<00:07:45.280> name<00:07:45.759> is<00:07:46.080> norman
his name is norman
his name is norman
norman
norman
norman
norman
norman
norman
um<00:07:53.840> so<00:07:54.160> they<00:07:54.479> uh<00:07:55.199> they<00:07:55.520> they<00:07:55.919> they<00:07:56.160> took<00:07:56.400> me
um so they uh they they they took me
um so they uh they they they took me
i<00:07:57.840> was<00:07:58.080> a<00:07:58.160> message<00:07:58.720> they<00:07:58.879> said
i was a message they said
i was a message they said
i<00:07:59.840> was<00:08:00.080> a<00:08:00.240> sign<00:08:00.639> from<00:08:00.960> god<00:08:01.360> they<00:08:01.520> said<00:08:02.400> i<00:08:02.560> was
i was a sign from god they said i was
i was a sign from god they said i was
norman<00:08:03.840> mark
norman mark
norman mark
greenwood
greenwood
greenwood
now<00:08:06.800> for<00:08:07.039> the<00:08:07.120> next<00:08:07.360> 11<00:08:07.759> years<00:08:08.080> all<00:08:08.319> i<00:08:08.479> know<00:08:08.720> is
now for the next 11 years all i know is
now for the next 11 years all i know is
that<00:08:08.960> this<00:08:09.120> woman<00:08:09.599> this<00:08:09.919> birth<00:08:10.479> woman<00:08:11.039> should
that this woman this birth woman should
that this woman this birth woman should
have<00:08:11.360> her<00:08:11.520> eyes<00:08:11.680> scratched<00:08:12.080> out<00:08:12.240> for<00:08:12.400> not
have her eyes scratched out for not
have her eyes scratched out for not
signing<00:08:12.960> the<00:08:13.039> adoption<00:08:13.440> papers<00:08:13.840> she<00:08:14.000> was<00:08:14.080> an
signing the adoption papers she was an
signing the adoption papers she was an
evil<00:08:14.479> woman<00:08:15.039> too<00:08:15.199> selfish<00:08:15.680> to<00:08:15.840> sign<00:08:16.080> so<00:08:16.479> i
evil woman too selfish to sign so i
evil woman too selfish to sign so i
spent<00:08:16.960> those<00:08:17.199> 11<00:08:17.599> years<00:08:18.240> kneeling<00:08:19.039> and
spent those 11 years kneeling and
spent those 11 years kneeling and
praying
praying
praying
i<00:08:20.879> tried<00:08:21.440> praying<00:08:21.919> i<00:08:22.160> swear<00:08:22.560> i<00:08:22.639> tried<00:08:23.039> praying
i tried praying i swear i tried praying
i tried praying i swear i tried praying
god<00:08:25.120> uh<00:08:25.360> can<00:08:25.599> have<00:08:25.680> a<00:08:25.759> bike<00:08:26.000> for<00:08:26.160> christmas
god uh can have a bike for christmas
god uh can have a bike for christmas
but<00:08:27.919> i<00:08:28.000> would<00:08:28.240> always<00:08:28.720> answer<00:08:29.039> myself
and<00:08:34.320> then<00:08:34.800> i<00:08:34.959> was<00:08:35.120> supposed<00:08:35.440> to<00:08:35.519> determine
and then i was supposed to determine
and then i was supposed to determine
whether<00:08:36.320> that<00:08:36.479> was<00:08:36.719> the<00:08:36.800> voice<00:08:37.120> of<00:08:37.279> god<00:08:37.760> or<00:08:38.000> it
whether that was the voice of god or it
whether that was the voice of god or it
was<00:08:38.240> the<00:08:38.320> voice<00:08:38.560> of<00:08:38.719> the<00:08:38.880> devil<00:08:40.159> and<00:08:40.399> it<00:08:40.560> turns
was the voice of the devil and it turns
was the voice of the devil and it turns
out
out
out
i've<00:08:42.159> got<00:08:42.320> the<00:08:42.560> devil<00:08:42.880> inside<00:08:43.360> of<00:08:43.519> me
who<00:08:47.839> knew
who knew
who knew
so<00:08:50.320> anyway<00:08:50.880> two<00:08:51.200> years<00:08:52.000> sort<00:08:52.160> of<00:08:52.320> passed<00:08:52.720> and
so anyway two years sort of passed and
so anyway two years sort of passed and
they<00:08:52.959> had<00:08:53.200> a<00:08:53.279> child<00:08:53.600> of<00:08:53.680> their<00:08:54.000> own<00:08:54.240> and<00:08:54.320> then
they had a child of their own and then
they had a child of their own and then
another<00:08:54.800> two<00:08:54.959> years<00:08:55.120> passed<00:08:55.360> and<00:08:55.440> they<00:08:55.600> had
another two years passed and they had
another two years passed and they had
another<00:08:56.000> child<00:08:56.240> of<00:08:56.399> their<00:08:56.640> own<00:08:56.800> and<00:08:56.880> then
another child of their own and then
another child of their own and then
another
another
another
time<00:08:59.200> passed<00:08:59.440> and<00:08:59.519> they<00:08:59.680> had<00:08:59.839> another<00:09:00.160> child
time passed and they had another child
time passed and they had another child
that<00:09:00.480> they<00:09:00.640> called<00:09:00.959> an<00:09:01.120> accident<00:09:01.600> which<00:09:01.839> i
that they called an accident which i
that they called an accident which i
thought<00:09:02.160> was<00:09:02.320> an<00:09:02.480> unusual<00:09:02.880> name
thought was an unusual name
thought was an unusual name
and<00:09:05.600> i<00:09:05.680> was<00:09:05.839> on<00:09:06.000> the<00:09:06.240> cusp<00:09:06.560> of<00:09:06.959> sort<00:09:07.120> of
and i was on the cusp of sort of
and i was on the cusp of sort of
adolescence
adolescence
adolescence
so<00:09:09.360> i<00:09:09.440> was<00:09:09.519> starting<00:09:09.760> to<00:09:09.920> take<00:09:10.160> biscuits<00:09:10.560> from
so i was starting to take biscuits from
so i was starting to take biscuits from
the<00:09:10.800> tin<00:09:11.040> without<00:09:11.519> uh<00:09:11.920> you<00:09:12.000> know<00:09:12.160> without
the tin without uh you know without
the tin without uh you know without
asking<00:09:13.200> i<00:09:13.360> was<00:09:13.519> starting<00:09:14.000> to<00:09:14.240> stay<00:09:14.560> out<00:09:14.720> a
asking i was starting to stay out a
asking i was starting to stay out a
little<00:09:15.040> bit<00:09:15.200> late<00:09:15.519> et<00:09:15.600> cetera<00:09:15.839> et<00:09:15.920> cetera
little bit late et cetera et cetera
little bit late et cetera et cetera
now<00:09:17.200> in<00:09:17.279> their<00:09:17.519> religiosity
now in their religiosity
now in their religiosity
in<00:09:19.279> their<00:09:19.519> naivety<00:09:20.320> my<00:09:20.560> mum<00:09:20.800> and<00:09:20.880> dad<00:09:21.120> which<00:09:21.360> i
in their naivety my mum and dad which i
in their naivety my mum and dad which i
believe<00:09:21.760> them<00:09:21.920> to<00:09:22.000> be<00:09:22.240> forever<00:09:22.800> as<00:09:22.959> they<00:09:23.360> said
believe them to be forever as they said
believe them to be forever as they said
they<00:09:23.760> were
they were
they were
um<00:09:25.120> my<00:09:25.279> mum<00:09:25.440> and<00:09:25.519> dad
um my mum and dad
um my mum and dad
conceived<00:09:27.680> that<00:09:28.000> um
conceived that um
conceived that um
that<00:09:28.880> i<00:09:28.959> had<00:09:29.200> the<00:09:29.360> devil<00:09:29.760> inside<00:09:30.160> of<00:09:30.240> me
that i had the devil inside of me
that i had the devil inside of me
um
um
um
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
i<00:09:33.760> should<00:09:33.920> say<00:09:34.080> this<00:09:34.320> here<00:09:34.480> because<00:09:34.720> this<00:09:34.880> is
i should say this here because this is
i should say this here because this is
how<00:09:35.120> they<00:09:35.360> engineered<00:09:35.920> my<00:09:36.080> leave-in
how they engineered my leave-in
how they engineered my leave-in
they<00:09:37.200> sat<00:09:37.360> me<00:09:37.519> at<00:09:37.680> a<00:09:37.760> table<00:09:38.640> uh<00:09:38.880> my<00:09:39.040> foster<00:09:39.360> mum
they sat me at a table uh my foster mum
they sat me at a table uh my foster mum
and<00:09:39.600> she<00:09:39.760> said<00:09:39.920> to<00:09:40.080> me<00:09:40.160> you<00:09:40.320> don't<00:09:40.560> love<00:09:40.800> us<00:09:40.959> do
and she said to me you don't love us do
and she said to me you don't love us do
you<00:09:41.360> at<00:09:41.519> 11<00:09:41.920> years<00:09:42.160> old<00:09:42.560> they've<00:09:42.720> had<00:09:42.959> three
you at 11 years old they've had three
you at 11 years old they've had three
other<00:09:43.360> children<00:09:43.920> i'm<00:09:44.160> the<00:09:44.320> fourth<00:09:44.800> the<00:09:44.880> third
other children i'm the fourth the third
other children i'm the fourth the third
was<00:09:45.279> an<00:09:45.440> accident<00:09:46.000> and<00:09:46.160> i<00:09:46.240> said<00:09:46.720> uh<00:09:46.959> yeah<00:09:47.120> of
was an accident and i said uh yeah of
was an accident and i said uh yeah of
course<00:09:47.519> i<00:09:47.600> do<00:09:47.839> because<00:09:48.160> you<00:09:48.320> do
course i do because you do
course i do because you do
my<00:09:49.920> foster<00:09:50.240> mother<00:09:50.480> asked<00:09:50.640> me<00:09:50.800> to<00:09:50.959> go<00:09:51.120> away<00:09:51.440> to
my foster mother asked me to go away to
my foster mother asked me to go away to
think<00:09:51.839> about<00:09:52.080> love<00:09:52.320> and<00:09:52.399> what<00:09:52.560> it<00:09:52.720> is<00:09:52.880> and<00:09:52.959> to
think about love and what it is and to
think about love and what it is and to
read<00:09:53.360> the<00:09:53.600> scriptures<00:09:54.080> and<00:09:54.160> to<00:09:54.320> come<00:09:54.480> back
read the scriptures and to come back
read the scriptures and to come back
tomorrow<00:09:55.120> and<00:09:55.200> give<00:09:55.760> my<00:09:55.920> most<00:09:56.240> honest<00:09:56.640> and
tomorrow and give my most honest and
tomorrow and give my most honest and
truthful<00:09:57.200> answer<00:09:58.080> so<00:09:58.320> this<00:09:58.480> was<00:09:58.640> an
truthful answer so this was an
truthful answer so this was an
opportunity<00:09:59.600> um<00:10:00.080> if<00:10:00.160> they<00:10:00.320> were<00:10:00.560> asking<00:10:00.800> me
opportunity um if they were asking me
opportunity um if they were asking me
whether<00:10:01.200> i<00:10:01.360> love<00:10:01.519> them<00:10:01.680> or<00:10:01.839> not<00:10:02.000> then<00:10:02.160> i
whether i love them or not then i
whether i love them or not then i
mustn't<00:10:02.640> love<00:10:02.800> them<00:10:02.959> which<00:10:03.200> led<00:10:03.360> me<00:10:03.519> to<00:10:03.680> the
mustn't love them which led me to the
mustn't love them which led me to the
miracle<00:10:04.160> of<00:10:04.320> thought<00:10:04.480> that<00:10:04.640> i<00:10:04.720> thought<00:10:04.880> they
miracle of thought that i thought they
miracle of thought that i thought they
wanted<00:10:05.519> me<00:10:05.680> to<00:10:05.839> get<00:10:06.000> to<00:10:06.240> i<00:10:06.399> will<00:10:06.640> ask<00:10:06.880> god<00:10:07.120> for
wanted me to get to i will ask god for
wanted me to get to i will ask god for
forgiveness<00:10:08.000> and<00:10:08.160> his<00:10:08.399> light<00:10:08.640> will<00:10:08.800> shine
forgiveness and his light will shine
forgiveness and his light will shine
through<00:10:09.360> me<00:10:09.519> to<00:10:09.680> them<00:10:10.080> how<00:10:10.320> fantastic<00:10:11.200> this
through me to them how fantastic this
through me to them how fantastic this
was<00:10:11.519> an<00:10:11.680> opportunity<00:10:12.480> the<00:10:12.640> theology<00:10:13.200> was
was an opportunity the theology was
was an opportunity the theology was
perfect<00:10:13.920> the<00:10:14.160> timing<00:10:14.560> unquestionable<00:10:15.519> and
perfect the timing unquestionable and
perfect the timing unquestionable and
the<00:10:15.839> answer<00:10:16.320> as<00:10:16.480> honest<00:10:16.880> as<00:10:17.040> a<00:10:17.120> sinner<00:10:17.519> could
the answer as honest as a sinner could
the answer as honest as a sinner could
get<00:10:18.000> i<00:10:18.160> mustn't<00:10:18.640> love<00:10:18.800> you<00:10:19.040> i<00:10:19.120> said<00:10:19.360> to<00:10:19.519> them
get i mustn't love you i said to them
get i mustn't love you i said to them
but<00:10:20.640> i<00:10:20.720> will<00:10:21.040> ask<00:10:21.360> god<00:10:21.600> for<00:10:21.760> forgiveness
but i will ask god for forgiveness
but i will ask god for forgiveness
because<00:10:23.680> you<00:10:23.839> don't<00:10:24.160> love<00:10:24.320> us<00:10:24.560> norman<00:10:25.279> clearly
because you don't love us norman clearly
because you don't love us norman clearly
you've<00:10:25.839> chosen<00:10:26.240> your<00:10:26.480> path
you've chosen your path
you've chosen your path
24<00:10:28.399> 24<00:10:28.959> hours<00:10:29.279> later<00:10:29.760> my<00:10:29.920> social<00:10:30.240> worker<00:10:30.560> this
24 24 hours later my social worker this
24 24 hours later my social worker this
strange<00:10:31.040> man<00:10:31.279> who<00:10:31.360> used<00:10:31.519> to<00:10:31.600> visit<00:10:32.079> me<00:10:32.640> every
strange man who used to visit me every
strange man who used to visit me every
couple<00:10:33.120> of<00:10:33.200> months<00:10:33.440> he's<00:10:33.680> waiting<00:10:34.000> for<00:10:34.079> me<00:10:34.240> in
couple of months he's waiting for me in
couple of months he's waiting for me in
the<00:10:34.480> car<00:10:34.800> as<00:10:34.880> i<00:10:35.040> say<00:10:35.200> goodbye<00:10:35.600> to<00:10:35.760> my<00:10:35.920> parents<00:10:36.640> i
the car as i say goodbye to my parents i
the car as i say goodbye to my parents i
didn't<00:10:36.959> say<00:10:37.120> goodbye<00:10:37.440> to<00:10:37.680> anybody<00:10:38.399> not<00:10:38.560> my
didn't say goodbye to anybody not my
didn't say goodbye to anybody not my
mother<00:10:39.040> my<00:10:39.200> father<00:10:39.519> my<00:10:39.680> sisters<00:10:40.079> my<00:10:40.160> brothers
mother my father my sisters my brothers
mother my father my sisters my brothers
my<00:10:40.640> aunts<00:10:40.959> my<00:10:41.200> uncles<00:10:41.519> my<00:10:41.680> cousins<00:10:42.079> my
my aunts my uncles my cousins my
my aunts my uncles my cousins my
grandparents
grandparents
grandparents
nobody
nobody
nobody
on<00:10:45.680> the<00:10:45.760> way<00:10:45.920> to<00:10:46.079> the<00:10:46.160> children's<00:10:46.640> home<00:10:47.279> i
on the way to the children's home i
on the way to the children's home i
started<00:10:47.680> to<00:10:47.839> ask<00:10:48.079> myself<00:10:48.880> what's<00:10:49.120> happened<00:10:49.360> to
started to ask myself what's happened to
started to ask myself what's happened to
me
me
me
it's<00:10:51.440> not<00:10:51.600> that<00:10:51.760> i'd<00:10:51.920> had<00:10:52.160> the<00:10:52.320> rug<00:10:52.640> pulled
it's not that i'd had the rug pulled
it's not that i'd had the rug pulled
from<00:10:53.200> beneath<00:10:53.680> me
from beneath me
from beneath me
as<00:10:54.560> much<00:10:54.800> as<00:10:54.959> the<00:10:55.120> entire<00:10:55.920> floor<00:10:56.320> had<00:10:56.480> been
as much as the entire floor had been
as much as the entire floor had been
taken<00:10:57.040> away
taken away
taken away
um
um
um
when<00:11:00.959> i<00:11:01.040> got<00:11:01.279> to<00:11:01.440> the
when i got to the
when i got to the
for<00:11:03.519> the<00:11:03.600> next
for the next
for the next
four
four
four
five<00:11:06.880> years<00:11:07.440> i<00:11:07.519> was<00:11:07.839> held<00:11:08.640> in<00:11:09.040> four<00:11:09.279> different
five years i was held in four different
five years i was held in four different
children's<00:11:10.240> homes
children's homes
children's homes
um<00:11:12.880> on<00:11:13.040> the<00:11:13.200> third<00:11:13.760> children's<00:11:14.160> home<00:11:14.399> at<00:11:14.640> 15
um on the third children's home at 15
um on the third children's home at 15
um<00:11:16.079> i<00:11:16.240> started<00:11:16.560> to<00:11:16.720> rebel
um i started to rebel
um i started to rebel
and<00:11:18.079> what<00:11:18.240> i<00:11:18.320> did<00:11:18.480> was<00:11:18.720> i<00:11:18.880> got<00:11:19.200> three<00:11:19.839> tins<00:11:20.160> of
and what i did was i got three tins of
and what i did was i got three tins of
paint<00:11:21.120> airfix<00:11:21.760> paint<00:11:22.000> that<00:11:22.160> you<00:11:22.320> use<00:11:22.560> for
paint airfix paint that you use for
paint airfix paint that you use for
models
models
models
and<00:11:24.079> and<00:11:24.240> i<00:11:24.320> was<00:11:24.480> it's<00:11:24.720> a<00:11:24.880> big<00:11:25.120> children's<00:11:25.680> big
and and i was it's a big children's big
and and i was it's a big children's big
victorian<00:11:26.399> children's<00:11:26.720> home<00:11:26.880> and<00:11:26.959> i<00:11:27.040> was<00:11:27.120> in<00:11:27.200> a
victorian children's home and i was in a
victorian children's home and i was in a
little<00:11:27.600> turret<00:11:27.920> at<00:11:28.079> the<00:11:28.160> top<00:11:28.320> of<00:11:28.480> it<00:11:28.800> and<00:11:28.959> i
little turret at the top of it and i
little turret at the top of it and i
poured<00:11:29.519> them<00:11:30.000> red<00:11:30.560> yellow<00:11:31.040> and<00:11:31.279> green<00:11:32.000> the
poured them red yellow and green the
poured them red yellow and green the
colours<00:11:32.560> of<00:11:32.880> africa
colours of africa
colours of africa
down<00:11:34.240> the<00:11:34.399> tiles
you<00:11:37.279> couldn't<00:11:37.440> see<00:11:37.600> it<00:11:37.680> from<00:11:37.839> the<00:11:37.920> street
you couldn't see it from the street
you couldn't see it from the street
because<00:11:39.040> the<00:11:39.200> home<00:11:39.440> was<00:11:39.680> surrounded<00:11:40.160> by<00:11:40.399> beech
because the home was surrounded by beech
because the home was surrounded by beech
trees<00:11:42.079> for<00:11:42.240> doing<00:11:42.560> this<00:11:43.200> i<00:11:43.360> was<00:11:43.600> incarcerated
trees for doing this i was incarcerated
trees for doing this i was incarcerated
for<00:11:45.680> a<00:11:45.839> year
for a year
for a year
in<00:11:47.440> an<00:11:47.600> assessment<00:11:48.320> center<00:11:49.120> which<00:11:49.279> was
in an assessment center which was
in an assessment center which was
actually<00:11:50.079> a<00:11:50.240> remand<00:11:50.800> center
actually a remand center
actually a remand center
it<00:11:52.399> was<00:11:52.640> a<00:11:52.880> virtual
it was a virtual
it was a virtual
prison
prison
prison
for<00:11:55.519> young<00:11:56.160> people
for young people
for young people
um
um
um
by<00:11:58.720> the<00:11:58.800> way<00:11:59.120> years<00:11:59.360> later<00:11:59.680> my<00:11:59.839> social<00:12:00.160> worker
by the way years later my social worker
by the way years later my social worker
said<00:12:00.640> that<00:12:00.800> i<00:12:00.880> should<00:12:01.120> never<00:12:01.360> have<00:12:01.440> been<00:12:01.600> put
said that i should never have been put
said that i should never have been put
in<00:12:01.920> there<00:12:02.079> i<00:12:02.160> wasn't<00:12:02.399> charged<00:12:02.720> for<00:12:02.880> anything<00:12:03.200> i
in there i wasn't charged for anything i
in there i wasn't charged for anything i
hadn't<00:12:03.519> done<00:12:03.920> anything<00:12:04.320> wrong<00:12:04.560> but<00:12:04.720> because<00:12:05.040> i
hadn't done anything wrong but because i
hadn't done anything wrong but because i
had<00:12:05.760> no<00:12:06.079> family<00:12:06.720> to<00:12:07.040> inquire<00:12:07.600> about<00:12:07.920> me
had no family to inquire about me
had no family to inquire about me
they<00:12:10.320> could<00:12:10.560> do<00:12:11.040> anything<00:12:11.519> to<00:12:11.680> me
i'm<00:12:14.320> 17<00:12:14.959> years<00:12:15.279> old
i'm 17 years old
i'm 17 years old
and
they<00:12:19.120> had<00:12:19.279> a<00:12:19.440> padded<00:12:19.839> cell
they had a padded cell
they had a padded cell
they<00:12:21.519> would
they would
they would
march<00:12:22.720> me<00:12:22.959> down<00:12:23.680> corridors<00:12:24.639> in<00:12:24.880> la<00:12:25.120> size<00:12:25.680> order
march me down corridors in la size order
march me down corridors in la size order
they
they
they
i<00:12:28.480> was<00:12:28.720> put<00:12:28.880> in<00:12:29.040> a<00:12:29.120> dormitory<00:12:29.760> with<00:12:29.920> a
i was put in a dormitory with a
i was put in a dormitory with a
confirmed<00:12:31.120> nazi<00:12:32.000> sympathizer
confirmed nazi sympathizer
confirmed nazi sympathizer
all<00:12:33.839> of<00:12:33.920> the<00:12:34.160> staff<00:12:34.800> were<00:12:35.120> ex-police
all of the staff were ex-police
all of the staff were ex-police
interesting<00:12:36.959> and<00:12:37.200> ex-probation<00:12:38.079> officers
interesting and ex-probation officers
interesting and ex-probation officers
the<00:12:39.600> man<00:12:39.839> who<00:12:40.079> ran<00:12:40.320> it<00:12:40.639> was<00:12:40.800> an<00:12:40.959> ex-army
the man who ran it was an ex-army
the man who ran it was an ex-army
officer
officer
officer
every<00:12:43.040> time<00:12:43.360> i<00:12:43.519> had<00:12:43.760> a<00:12:43.839> visit<00:12:44.320> by<00:12:44.480> a<00:12:44.560> person<00:12:44.880> who
every time i had a visit by a person who
every time i had a visit by a person who
i<00:12:45.279> did<00:12:45.440> not<00:12:45.680> know<00:12:45.920> who<00:12:46.079> would<00:12:46.320> feed<00:12:46.639> me<00:12:47.040> grapes
i did not know who would feed me grapes
i did not know who would feed me grapes
once<00:12:48.320> every<00:12:48.639> three<00:12:48.959> months
once every three months
once every three months
i<00:12:50.079> was<00:12:50.320> strip<00:12:50.720> searched
i was strip searched
i was strip searched
that<00:12:52.560> home<00:12:52.880> was<00:12:53.200> full<00:12:53.519> of<00:12:53.760> young<00:12:54.000> boys<00:12:54.399> who
that home was full of young boys who
that home was full of young boys who
were<00:12:54.720> on<00:12:54.959> remand<00:12:55.519> for<00:12:55.680> things<00:12:56.000> like<00:12:56.399> murder
um
um
um
and<00:13:01.600> this<00:13:01.839> was<00:13:02.000> the<00:13:02.160> preparation
and this was the preparation
and this was the preparation
that<00:13:03.680> i<00:13:03.760> was<00:13:03.920> being<00:13:04.240> given<00:13:04.880> after<00:13:05.360> 17<00:13:06.160> years
that i was being given after 17 years
that i was being given after 17 years
as<00:13:07.360> a<00:13:07.519> child
as a child
as a child
of<00:13:08.639> the<00:13:08.800> state
of the state
of the state
i<00:13:10.639> have<00:13:10.880> to<00:13:11.040> tell<00:13:11.200> this<00:13:11.440> story
i have to tell this story
i have to tell this story
i<00:13:13.279> have<00:13:13.440> to<00:13:13.680> tell<00:13:13.920> it<00:13:14.320> because<00:13:14.639> there<00:13:14.800> was<00:13:14.959> no
i have to tell it because there was no
i have to tell it because there was no
one<00:13:15.519> to<00:13:15.680> put<00:13:16.000> two<00:13:16.240> and<00:13:16.480> two<00:13:16.800> together
one to put two and two together
one to put two and two together
i<00:13:18.880> slowly<00:13:19.279> became<00:13:19.600> aware<00:13:20.000> that<00:13:20.240> i<00:13:20.480> knew<00:13:20.880> nobody
i slowly became aware that i knew nobody
i slowly became aware that i knew nobody
that<00:13:21.920> knew<00:13:22.240> me<00:13:22.959> for<00:13:23.200> longer<00:13:23.519> than<00:13:23.760> a<00:13:23.839> year
that knew me for longer than a year
that knew me for longer than a year
see<00:13:25.920> that's<00:13:26.160> what<00:13:26.399> family<00:13:26.880> does
see that's what family does
see that's what family does
it<00:13:28.240> gives<00:13:28.480> you<00:13:28.639> reference<00:13:29.200> points
it gives you reference points
it gives you reference points
i'm<00:13:30.560> not<00:13:30.720> defining<00:13:31.279> a<00:13:31.360> good<00:13:31.680> family<00:13:32.000> from<00:13:32.240> a
i'm not defining a good family from a
i'm not defining a good family from a
bad<00:13:32.560> family<00:13:32.880> i'm<00:13:32.959> just<00:13:33.120> saying<00:13:33.360> that<00:13:33.519> you<00:13:33.600> know
bad family i'm just saying that you know
bad family i'm just saying that you know
when<00:13:33.920> your<00:13:34.079> birthday<00:13:34.480> is<00:13:34.560> by<00:13:34.720> virtue<00:13:35.040> of<00:13:35.120> the
when your birthday is by virtue of the
when your birthday is by virtue of the
fact<00:13:35.519> that<00:13:35.920> somebody<00:13:36.320> tells<00:13:36.480> you<00:13:36.639> when<00:13:36.720> your
fact that somebody tells you when your
fact that somebody tells you when your
birthday<00:13:37.200> is<00:13:37.279> a<00:13:37.360> mother<00:13:37.600> a<00:13:37.680> father<00:13:37.920> a<00:13:38.000> sister<00:13:38.240> a
birthday is a mother a father a sister a
birthday is a mother a father a sister a
brother<00:13:38.480> an<00:13:38.639> aunt<00:13:38.800> an<00:13:38.880> uncle<00:13:39.120> a<00:13:39.200> cousin<00:13:39.440> a
brother an aunt an uncle a cousin a
brother an aunt an uncle a cousin a
grandparent<00:13:40.079> it<00:13:40.160> matters<00:13:40.399> to<00:13:40.560> someone<00:13:41.040> and
grandparent it matters to someone and
grandparent it matters to someone and
therefore<00:13:41.519> it<00:13:41.600> matters<00:13:41.920> to<00:13:42.000> you<00:13:42.240> understand
therefore it matters to you understand
therefore it matters to you understand
i<00:13:44.320> was<00:13:44.560> 14<00:13:44.880> years<00:13:45.200> old<00:13:45.600> tattooing<00:13:46.079> myself<00:13:46.720> into
i was 14 years old tattooing myself into
i was 14 years old tattooing myself into
myself<00:13:47.680> and<00:13:47.760> i<00:13:48.000> wasn't<00:13:48.480> touched<00:13:49.200> either
myself and i wasn't touched either
myself and i wasn't touched either
physically<00:13:51.200> touched
physically touched
physically touched
i'm<00:13:53.279> reporting<00:13:54.000> back
i'm reporting back
i'm reporting back
i'm<00:13:55.600> reporting<00:13:56.160> back<00:13:56.560> simply<00:13:56.959> to<00:13:57.120> say
i'm reporting back simply to say
i'm reporting back simply to say
that
that
that
that
that
that
when<00:14:01.040> i<00:14:01.199> left<00:14:01.440> the<00:14:01.519> children's<00:14:02.000> home<00:14:02.480> i<00:14:02.959> had
when i left the children's home i had
when i left the children's home i had
two<00:14:03.440> things<00:14:03.680> that<00:14:03.839> i<00:14:03.920> wanted<00:14:04.240> to<00:14:04.320> do<00:14:04.639> one
two things that i wanted to do one
two things that i wanted to do one
was<00:14:06.240> to<00:14:06.560> find<00:14:06.800> my<00:14:06.959> family<00:14:07.360> and<00:14:07.440> the<00:14:07.519> other<00:14:07.680> was
was to find my family and the other was
was to find my family and the other was
to<00:14:08.079> write<00:14:08.320> poetry<00:14:08.959> in<00:14:09.279> creativity<00:14:10.240> i<00:14:10.480> saw
to write poetry in creativity i saw
to write poetry in creativity i saw
light<00:14:11.760> in<00:14:11.920> the<00:14:12.079> imagination<00:14:12.959> i<00:14:13.040> saw<00:14:13.279> the
light in the imagination i saw the
light in the imagination i saw the
endless<00:14:14.560> possibility<00:14:15.680> of<00:14:16.000> life<00:14:16.720> uh<00:14:17.360> the
endless possibility of life uh the
endless possibility of life uh the
endless<00:14:18.320> truth<00:14:18.880> the<00:14:19.120> permanent<00:14:19.920> creation<00:14:20.959> of
endless truth the permanent creation of
endless truth the permanent creation of
reality<00:14:22.720> the<00:14:23.360> the<00:14:24.000> the<00:14:24.560> the<00:14:25.040> um
reality the the the the um
reality the the the the um
the<00:14:27.279> place<00:14:27.680> where<00:14:28.079> anger<00:14:28.560> was<00:14:28.720> an<00:14:28.880> expression
the place where anger was an expression
the place where anger was an expression
in<00:14:29.600> the<00:14:29.839> search<00:14:30.160> for<00:14:30.320> love<00:14:31.120> a<00:14:31.279> place<00:14:31.600> where
in the search for love a place where
in the search for love a place where
dysfunction
dysfunction
dysfunction
uh
uh
uh
is<00:14:34.560> a<00:14:34.720> true<00:14:35.040> reaction<00:14:36.000> to<00:14:36.720> untruth<00:14:37.839> uh<00:14:38.160> i've
is a true reaction to untruth uh i've
is a true reaction to untruth uh i've
just<00:14:38.480> got<00:14:38.639> to<00:14:38.720> say<00:14:38.880> to<00:14:39.040> you<00:14:39.199> all<00:14:39.440> i<00:14:39.600> found<00:14:40.000> all
just got to say to you all i found all
just got to say to you all i found all
of<00:14:40.320> my<00:14:40.560> family<00:14:41.120> in<00:14:41.279> my<00:14:41.440> adult<00:14:41.839> life<00:14:42.480> i<00:14:42.639> spent
of my family in my adult life i spent
of my family in my adult life i spent
all<00:14:43.120> of<00:14:43.199> my<00:14:43.360> adult<00:14:43.600> life<00:14:43.839> finding<00:14:44.240> them<00:14:44.399> i've
all of my adult life finding them i've
all of my adult life finding them i've
now<00:14:44.720> got<00:14:44.880> a<00:14:44.959> fully<00:14:45.279> dysfunctional<00:14:46.000> family
now got a fully dysfunctional family
now got a fully dysfunctional family
just<00:14:46.480> like<00:14:46.720> everybody<00:14:47.279> else
just like everybody else
just like everybody else
but<00:14:48.880> i'm<00:14:49.040> reporting<00:14:49.680> back<00:14:49.920> to<00:14:50.079> you<00:14:50.240> to<00:14:50.480> say
but i'm reporting back to you to say
but i'm reporting back to you to say
quite<00:14:51.279> simply<00:14:52.079> that<00:14:52.240> you<00:14:52.399> can<00:14:52.560> define
quite simply that you can define
quite simply that you can define
how<00:14:54.560> strong
how strong
how strong
a<00:14:56.000> democracy<00:14:56.959> is<00:14:57.680> by
a democracy is by
a democracy is by
how<00:14:58.880> its<00:14:59.199> government
how its government
how its government
treats<00:15:01.760> its<00:15:02.160> child<00:15:02.800> i<00:15:02.959> don't<00:15:03.120> mean<00:15:03.279> children<00:15:03.839> i
treats its child i don't mean children i
treats its child i don't mean children i
mean<00:15:04.079> the<00:15:04.240> child<00:15:04.720> of<00:15:04.800> the<00:15:04.959> state<00:15:05.279> thanks<00:15:05.600> very
mean the child of the state thanks very
mean the child of the state thanks very
much<00:15:06.000> it's<00:15:06.079> been<00:15:06.240> an<00:15:06.399> honor
[Music]
you
Lemn Sissay, TEDx, TED, TED-Ed, TED Ed, TEDEducation, poetry, playwright, TEDxHousesofParliament, foster children, adopted children, literature, Moses, Cinderella, Oliver Twist, Harry Potter