4HE .ERVE #ENTRE $ERRY .ORTHERN )RELAND
! .ERVE #ENTRE IN .ORTHERN
)RELAND #AN -USIC "RING
$OWN THE 7ALLS OF $ERRY
0ATRICK 2AYMOND -
$ERRY
-Y BOSS AT THE .ERVE #ENTRE THIS SUMMER *OHN 0ETO TOLD
ME UPON MY ARRIVAL IN $ERRY FROM .EW 9ORK THAT hMANY
PEOPLE CONSIDER $ERRY THE BIGGEST VILLAGE IN .ORTHERN )RELANDv
4HOUGH $ERRY IS THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN .ORTHERN )RELAND
WITH A POPULATION OF ONE ALMOST ALWAYS HAS THEIR LIVES
INTERTWINED WITH SOMEONE THEY SEE IN THE LOCAL SHOPS ON THE
STREET OR IN THE LOCAL PUBS $ERRY VERY MUCH HAS AN ATMOSPHERE
OF A MODERN VERSION OF A SMALL )RISH VILLAGE 7HEN ) LANDED IN
$ERRY *OHN GREETED ME AT THE AIRPORT WHICH WAS NOT MUCH
OF AN AIRPORT BY !MERICAN STANDARDS $ERRYS AIRPORT HAD ONLY
ONE LANDING STRIP AND ONE TAKE OFF STRIP 4HERE ARE ONLY ABOUT
SEVEN mIGHTS BOTH ARRIVING AND DEPARTING FROM $ERRY AIRPORT
EVERYDAY .OT MANY PEOPLE VISIT $ERRY AND NOT MANY PEOPLE
LEAVE
7HEN *OHN PICKED ME UP FROM THE AIRPORT WE IMMEDIATELY
DROVE TO THE .ERVE #ENTRE SO THAT HE COULD GIVE ME AN EARLY TOUR
OF BOTH MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THE SUMMER AND $ERRY IN
GENERAL !S WE DROVE FROM THE AIRPORT TOWARDS THE .ERVE #ENTRE
) NOTICED THE STEREOTYPICAL )RISH SCENERY GREY SKIES ROLLING GREEN
HILLS OLD MEN WITH WOOL HATS RIDING BICYCLES AND SHEEP RESTING
ALONG THE ROAD .ORTHERN )RELAND AND THE 2EPUBLIC OF )RELAND
BOTH SEEM TO BE COVERED WITH A GREEN BACKDROP THAT ALWAYS
REMINDS YOU THAT YOU ARE ON THE %MERALD )SLE 4HE RIDE IN *OHNS
6OLKSWAGEN FROM THE AIRPORT TOOK ME THROUGH THE OUTSKIRTS
OF $ERRY ON NARROW TWOLANE HIGHWAYS UNTIL WE REACHED THE
FORTIlED CENTER CITY
$ERRY WAS BUILT WITH THE INTENTION OF SEGREGATING
#ATHOLICS FROM 0ROTESTANTS 4HE CITYS MOST NOTABLE LANDMARKS
ARE THE CITY WALLS $ERRYS CITY WALLS STAND FEET TALL 4HEY
WERE BUILT IN WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE "RITISH GOVERNMENT
TO HELP PROTECT THE LOCAL 0ROTESTANTS FROM THE MAJORITY #ATHOLIC
POPULATION AND THE ATTACK OF +ING *AMES 4HOUGH THESE WALLS
WERE BUILT NEARLY FOUR CENTURIES AGO THE SPIRIT OF SEGREGATION
AND RELIGIOUS ISOLATION THAT THESE WALLS ORIGINALLY REPRESENTED IS
4HE !RT OF #OEXISTENCE%THICS AND #OEXISTENCE 3TUDENT &ELLOWS
STILL PREVALENT IN $ERRY TODAY 7ITHIN THE WALLS BRICK BORDERS
LIES THE CITY CENTER THE ECONOMIC EPICENTER OF $ERRY 4HE CITY
CENTER CONTAINS TWO MALLS SEVERAL SMALL BOUTIQUES RESTAURANTS
SMALL BUSINESSES A POLICE STATION AND THE CITYS ONLY STAR
HOTEL
$ERRYS WALLS DONT HOLD THE SAME SIGNIlCANCE TODAY THAT
THEY ONCE HAD $URING THE 3EIZE OF $ERRY IN THE TH CENTURY
THE #ATHOLIC +ING *AMES OF %NGLAND HAD SENT TROOPS TO ATTACK
THE CITY WALLS THAT PROTECTED THOUSANDS OF 0ROTESTANT AND
0RESBYTERIANS FROM HIS RULE 4HE WALLS STAND TODAY AS A TESTAMENT
OF TIME AND HONOR FOR MANY WITHIN THE CITY BOTH #ATHOLIC
0ROTESTANT AND TOURISTS
7ALKING AROUND THE CIRCULAR MILE WALL YOU SEE MANY
SIMILAR SITES CHURCHESˆBOTH #ATHOLIC AND 0ROTESTANTˆSMALL
HOUSES AND LOCAL BUSINESSES 4HOUGH THE SITES MAY LOOK THE
SAME THE ATTITUDES AND PEOPLE CHANGE WITH NEARLY EVERY STEP YOU
TAKE ALONG THE WALL 9OU COULD WALK FEET AND CHANGE FROM A
#ATHOLIC NEIGHBORHOOD TO A 0ROTESTANT ONE AND THE ONLY WAY
YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE IS BY THE mAGS BEING
mOWN THE MURALS ON HOUSES OR THE COLORS ON THE CURBS 4HE
CITYS WALLS GIVE ONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAZE AT $ERRY FROM ALL
DIRECTIONS
4HE WALLS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE .ERVE #ENTER WHICH
) ATE LUNCH ON NEARLY EVERY DAY LOOKED ONTO THE "OGSIDE 4HE
"OGSIDE HAS BEEN THE MOST NOTORIOUS AND VIOLENT NEIGHBORHOOD
OF $ERRY FOR THE PAST CENTURY MAINLY BECAUSE IT IS HOME TO A
DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF WORKINGCLASS AND POOR #ATHOLICS
&ROM THE WALLS LOOKING ONTO THE "OGSIDE ONE CAN SEE A
#ATHOLIC CHURCH THAT STANDS TALL ABOVE THE THOUSANDS OF SMALL
CONNECTED HOUSES THAT LOOK LIKE LOWLEVEL HOUSING PROJECTS
OF THE SOUTHERN 5NITED 3TATES /N MANY OF THESE MINISCULE
HOUSES ARE MURALS DEPICTING THE HISTORICAL EVENTS OF THIS GHETTO
4HE MOST STRIKING AND VIVID MURAL IS OF A YOUNG MAN WITH
HIS FACE COVERED BY A BANDANA HURLING A PETROL BOMB TOWARDS
INCOMING 2OYAL 5LSTER #ONSTABULARY 25# OFlCERS DURING
THE "ATTLE OF THE "OGSIDE 4HE "ATTLE OF THE "OGSIDE WAS ONE
OF $ERRYS MOST VIOLENT AND lERCE BATTLES OF THE TH CENTURY
4HE CONmICT PLACED "OGSIDE RESIDENTS AGAINST THE 2OYAL 5LSTER
#ONSTABULARY .ORTHERN )RELANDS INFAMOUSLY ANTI#ATHOLIC
POLICE FORCE 4HE "OGSIDE RESIDENTS WERE lGHTING FOR CONTROL
OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS FROM THE 25# WHICH SIGNIlED
%NGLISH RULE 4HE INTENSE BATTLE LASTED FOR THREE DAYS AND NIGHTS
LEAVING THE 25# COMPLETELY OUTNUMBERED AND EXHAUSTED
4HE SITUATION FORCED THE "RITISH ARMY TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE
SITUATION PROMISING NO FURTHER VIOLENCE OR %NGLISH FORCES IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD
$URING THE "ATTLE OF THE "OGSIDE PETROL BOMBS AND
ROCK WERE THE MAIN FORMS OF RESISTANCE RESIDENTS USED AGAINST
THE 25# 4HE MURAL APPEALS TO MANY IN THE AREA BECAUSE A
LARGE PORTION OF THE RESIDENTS PARTICIPATED IN DEFENDING THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD 4HIS CELEBRATION OF GUERILLA WARFARE HELPS TO
REMIND "OGSIDE RESIDENTS OF THE STRUGGLE FOR SEGREGATION AND
THE NEED FOR SELFDETERMINATION AMONG #ATHOLICS IN .ORTHERN
)RELAND
) FOUND THE hPETROLBOMBERv TO BE AN EXTREMELY STRONG
IMAGE BECAUSE ) FELT AS IF THAT MURAL WAS WHAT THIS AREA WANTED
TO BE REPRESENTED BY 4HE STRONGEST AND MOST APPARENT IMAGE
FROM $ERRYS WALLS LOOKING ONTO THE "OGSIDE WAS THIS PICTURE
OF A YOUNG MAN TRYING TO KILL OR INJURE ANOTHER IN THE DEFENSE
OF HIS HOME 4HIS SYMBOLISM WAS SOMETHING THAT FOLLOWED
ME THROUGHOUT MY WORK IN $ERRY ! CLEAR AND CONCRETE
REPRESENTATION OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU BELIEVED IN WAS
SOMETHING THAT ) KNEW ) NEEDED TO ESTABLISH DURING MY TIME
HERE BECAUSE ) KNEW PEOPLE HERE TOOK THEMSELVES THEIR HISTORY
THEIR OPINIONS AND THEIR IDENTITIES VERY SERIOUSLY
/N THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL ONE LOOKS ACROSS THE &OYLE
2IVER WHICH SEPARATES THE TWO SIDES OF THE CITY 4HE WATERSIDE
IS MAINLY 0ROTESTANT AND THE CITYSIDE IS MAINLY #ATHOLIC
4HERE ISNT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE IN LANDSCAPE OR SIGHTS "OTH
ARE MARKED BY STEREOTYPICAL IMAGES OF hURBANv )RELAND WITH
STEEP HILLS SMALL HOUSES NARROW STREETS AND OLD MEN RIDING
THEIR BICYCLES &ROM THE TOP OF THE WALL LOOKING ONTO THE
WATERSIDE YOU SEE CANNONS AIMING TOWARDS THE &OYLE 2IVER TO
WARD OFF +ING *AMES &ROM THIS SAME POSITION AT NIGHT YOU
CAN SEE HORDES OF PEOPLE CROWDED INTO THE CITY CENTER AND THE
PERIPHERAL AREA TO MAKE THEIR NIGHTLY VENTURE INTO THE PUBS
4HE .ERVE #ENTRE
7ALKING UP THE HILLS OF -AGAZINE 3TREET ) AM SURROUNDED BY THE
CITYS WALLS ON MY RIGHT AND SMALL BUSINESSES ON MY LEFT 4HE
.ERVE #ENTRE IS ABOUT HALF WAY UP THE HILL )T IS COMPRISED OF TWO
BUILDINGS ONE OF WHICH IS A CONVERTED HOSTEL 4HE BUILDINGS ARE
HOME TO A CAF£ A CONCERT VENUE REHEARSAL SPACE FOR LOCAL BANDS
OFlCES COMPUTER CLUSTERS RECORDING STUDIOS AND A MOVIE THEATRE
!LL OF THESE SPACES ARE USED TO PROMOTE CREATIVE LEARNING FOR
THOSE WITHIN $ERRY AND .ORTHERN )RELAND 4HE MAIN BUILDING
OF THE #ENTER IS HOME TO #AF£
.ERVOSA THE MOVIE THEATRE AND
.ORTHERN )RELAND AND THE
A MUSIC VENUE 4HE LOBBY SEEMS
TO BE A MEETING SPOT FOR $ERRY
2EPUBLIC OF )RELAND BOTH
YOUTHS AS WELL AS A PLACE WHERE
SEEM TO BE COVERED WITH
ONE CAN LEARN WHAT IS GOING
ON THAT MONTH IN THE #ENTRE
A GREEN BACKDROP THAT
AND IN OTHER ARTS RELATED EVENTS
WITHIN $ERRY AND .ORTHERN
ALWAYS REMINDS YOU THAT
)RELAND $URING MY lRST DAY AT
THE #ENTRE *OHN PARADED ME
YOU ARE ON THE %MERALD
AROUND THE OFlCES AND BUILDINGS
INTRODUCING ME TO NEARLY
)SLE
EVERYONE WHO WORKED IN THE
.ERVE #ENTRE AND GIVING ME A
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEIR JOBS AND A FEW EXTRA TIDBITS ABOUT THAT
PERSON
!FTER THE TOUR WAS OVER *OHN TOOK ME BACK TO OUR OFlCE
THE CONVERTED HOSTEL WHICH LOOKS AS IF IT HAS BEEN ABANDONED
FOR MANY YEARS /UR OFlCE WAS ACROSS FROM THE TWO COMPUTER
CLUSTERS THAT ARE USED TO TEACH COMPUTER CLASSES TO $ERRY YOUTHS
AND THOSE SEARCHING FOR TECHNICAL TRAINING 7HEN *OHN AND )
lNALLY RETURNED TO OUR OFlCE ) WAS OVERWHELMED BY THE VAST
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT JOBS AND AMOUNT OF WORK DONE AT THE
#ENTRE ) HAD JUST BEEN INTRODUCED TO MUSIC PRODUCERS TEACHERS
MUSICIANS CARTOONISTS PROJECT MANAGERS $*S AND MANY PEOPLE
OF VARIOUS OTHER OCCUPATIONS 7ITH THIS CONFUSION AND CURIOSITY
) ASKED *OHN h7HAT DO YOU GUYS DO AT THE .ERVE #ENTREv *OHN
RESPONDED BY STATING h 7E DO EVERYTHINGv &ROM MY lRST DAY
AT WORK ) REALLY FELT AS IF THE .ERVE #ENTRE TRULY DID EVERYTHING
4HEY HAD THEIR GRASP ON SO MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE CULTURE
AND LIFE IN $ERRY THAT ) WAS CONFUSED AS TO HOW THE #ENTRES
WORK RELATED TO THE lELD OF COEXISTENCE *OHN CONTINUED HIS
DESCRIPTION OF THE WITH DETAIL AND CONVICTION IN THE WORK DONE
THERE h4HE .ERVE #ENTRE IS ALL ABOUT CREATIVE LEARNING AND
)NTERNATIONAL #ENTER FOR %THICS *USTICE AND 0UBLIC ,IFE GIVING LOCAL YOUTHS AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY
TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN MANY VARIOUS ARTISTIC FORMS 0EOPLE IN
$ERRY ARE SO SICK OF COEXISTENCE AND PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE THE
SAME BORING IDEAS THAT THESE KIDS HAVE BEEN THROUGH THEIR ENTIRE
LIVES 4HE #ENTRE GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO DO WHAT
THEY WANT WITH VIRTUALLY NO INTRUSION IN DEALING WITH CREATIVE AND
INNOVATIVE FORMS OF EXPRESSION #OEXISTENCE IN .ORTHERN )RELAND
HAS BECOME SO TABOO BECAUSE OF THE CONmICT HERE THAT OUR JOB IS
TO TRY AND CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE COMMUNITY HAS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVESv *OHN SAID ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT THE #ENTRE IS THAT IT IS INCLUSIVE
AND THAT NO MATTER WHAT RELIGION RACE ETHNICITY SEXUALITY GENDER
OR HANDICAP IT IS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES IN ALL OF $ERRY THAT FOSTERS
AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS OPEN TO ALL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY
4HOUGH *OHN GAVE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK DONE AT
THE #ENTRE ) STILL DIDNT REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY DID UNTIL )
BEGAN GOING TO WORK EVERYDAY AND BEING MORE INVOLVED "UT AT
THIS POINT ) DID UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR MISSION WAS TO PROMOTE
CREATIVE LEARNING AND CREATIVITY TO ALL MEMBERS OF $ERRY REGARDLESS
OF RELIGION OR RACE THE GREAT DIVIDERS OF )RISH SOCIETY 4HE .ERVE
#ENTRE WENT BEYOND EMBRACING JUST RELIGIOUS DIVERSITYˆWALKING
AROUND THE #ENTRE ) WAS INTRODUCED TO THE ONLY PEOPLE OF COLOR )
HAD SEEN IN .ORTHERN )RELAND UP TO THAT POINT
!ND IT WASNT JUST THAT THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE OF A SIMILAR
COMPLEXION TO ME THAT MADE ME FEEL AS IF THE #ENTRE PRACTICED
WHAT THEY PREACHED -Y BOSS *OHN 0ETO WAS AN %NGLISHMAN
) WASNT EXPECTING MY BOSS TO BE AN %NGLISHMAN ) HAD lGURED
THAT SINCE ) WAS IN A #ATHOLICMAJORITY CITY THE #ATHOLICS WOULD
BE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO WOULD REALLY BE CONCERNED WITH THE
ISSUES OF COEXISTENCE AND EQUITY BECAUSE IT WAS IN THEIR BEST
INTEREST TO CREATE CHANGE IN THAT SOCIETY (AVING *OHN AS MY BOSS
IMMEDIATELY BROKE DOWN MY PRECONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE %NGLISH
AND THE 0ROTESTANTS IN .ORTHERN )RELAND (IS GOOD NATURE AND
HUMOR ALLOWED ME TO FURTHER PROBE HIM ABOUT THE REASONS WHY
HE DECIDED TO COME TO .ORTHERN )RELAND (E SAID THAT HE GREW
UP IN A WORKINGCLASSMIDDLECLASS NEIGHBORHOOD IN A SMALL TOWN
IN .ORTHERN %NGLAND AND SAID THAT IN HIS YOUTH THE ONLY THING
HE KNEW ABOUT $ERRY AND .ORTHERN )RELAND WAS THE CONmICT
h'ROWING UP IN %NGLAND ) DIDNT REALLY HAVE ANY CONCERN OVER
.ORTHERN )RELAND BECAUSE ) DIDNT FEEL AS IF WHAT HAPPENED
THERE AFFECTED MEv (IS INTEREST IN .ORTHERN )RELAND AND $ERRY
CAME DURING HIS STUDIES IN %NGLAND WHERE HE CONCENTRATED IN
SOCIOLOGY AND )RISH HISTORY )T WAS THROUGH HIS STUDIES AND WITH A
SCHOLARSHIP TO A MASTERS PROGRAM IN 0EACE AND #ONmICT 3TUDIES AT
THE 5NIVERSITY 5LSTER -AGEE IN $ERRY THAT HE BECAME IMMERSED
IN THE CONmICT AND HOW IT AFFECTS BOTH %NGLISH AND )RISH SOCIETY
4HIS INTEREST LED HIM TO THE #ENTRE *OHN ENJOYED THE LAIDBACK
ATMOSPHERE THAT SEEMS TO BE OMNIPRESENT IN $ERRY AND AFTER
STUDYING AND LIVING THERE FOR A FEW YEARS HE RECEIVED A JOB FROM
THE #ENTRE (E NOW HOLDS THE TITLE OF PROJECT MANAGER AT THE
#ENTRE BUT HIS DUTIES INCLUDE MUCH MORE (E DRIVES TO $UBLIN
OR "ELFAST AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH TO TRY TO ACQUIRE DONATIONS AND
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS IN
ORDER TO FUND MANY OF THE PROJECTS AT THE #ENTRE )N BETWEEN
4HE !RT OF #OEXISTENCE%THICS AND #OEXISTENCE 3TUDENT &ELLOWS
MONTHLY TRIPS TO )RELANDS MAJOR CITIES *OHN IS EITHER lLMING A
DOCUMENTARY FOR HIMSELF OR THE #ENTRE RUNNING PRESENTATIONS
ON VARIOUS SOCIAL ISSUES IN .ORTHERN )RISH SOCIETY OR JUST SINGING
AND DOING PAPER WORK IN HIS OFlCE *OHN IS LIKE THE UTILITY PLAYER
ON A BASEBALL TEAM HE DOES EVERYTHING YOU NEED !ND ITS NOT JUST
*OHN MANY PEOPLE AT THE #ENTRE PERFORM DUTIES THAT GO BEYOND
THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION 4HE VARIOUS TASKS EVENTS PRESENTATIONS
lLM SERIES AND ELECTRONIC MUSIC FESTIVALS ARE DONE WITH A VAST
AMOUNT OF TEAMWORK %VERYONE SEEMS TO PITCH IN WITH THEIR
EXPERTISE OR WHATEVER HELP THEY CAN PROVIDE
)N THE .ERVE #ENTRE PEOPLE WORK AT THEIR OWN PACE
7ORKERS IN THE OFlCE TEND TO COME INTO WORK AS THEY PLEASE
AND DEADLINES ARE NOT AS STRESSED HERE AS IN !MERICA 4HE RADIO
WAS ALWAYS ON IN OUR OFlCE AND IT SEEMED AS IF A CONVERSATION
WAS ALWAYS TAKING PLACE 4HIS RELAXED ENVIRONMENT GAVE ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MY COWORKERS WHILE GETTING
WORK ACCOMPLISHED AT THE SAME TIME
*OHN SEEMED TO ENJOY LIVING IN $ERRY BUT HE ALWAYS
COMMENTED NEGATIVELY WHEN WE DROVE THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT HE CONSIDERED hTO HAVE IDENTITY ISSUESv 4HESE WERE
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE EXCEEDINGLY NATIONALIST OR UNIONIST
4HESE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE LITTERED WITH EITHER THE UNION JACK AND
ITS COLORS OR THE )RISH TRICOLOR )N .ORTHERN )RELAND OF ALL
NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE A DEMOGRAPHIC THAT IS EITHER 0ROTESTANT
OR #ATHOLIC 4HE DIVIDE IN THESE COMMUNITIES IS TREMENDOUS
TO THIS DAY THE VAST MAJORITY OF GRADE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS GO TO SEGREGATED SCHOOLS 4HESE ASPECTS OF LIFE IN $ERRY
ALWAYS SEEMED TO AGGRAVATE *OHN 4HE AREAS HE DEEMED hTO HAVE
IDENTITY ISSUESv HE FELT CONSISTED OF PEOPLE WHO CARED MORE
ABOUT DISLIKING THE OPPOSING GROUP RATHER THAN HOLDING TO THEIR
TRADITIONS AND LOVING THEIR OWN CULTURE (E WOULD CONTINUE BY
SAYING HOW hSICK PEOPLE AROUND HERE AREv PEOPLE CARE SO MUCH
ABOUT UPHOLDING THEIR IDENTITY THAT THEY NEGLECT THE SEGREGATION
THAT THIS PRIDE CAUSES 4HE BEST OPPORTUNITY MOST PEOPLE IN $ERRY
HAVE TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH SOMEONE OF ANOTHER RELIGION
IS IN INTEGRATED SCHOOLS AT A BLUECOLLAR JOB OR IN THE SERVICE
INDUSTRY 3EGREGATION IN .ORTHERN )RELAND IS REAL AND THE DIVISION
BETWEEN BOTH GROUPS RUNS DEEP 4HE HISTORIES OF SEGREGATION AND
HATRED TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER HAVE LEFT THIS COUNTRY IN A SITUATION
WHERE ISOLATION IS ACCEPTED AND OFTEN LOOKED AT IN A POSITIVE LIGHT
*OHN CONTINUED TELLING ME OF SOME MORE NEGATIVE ASPECTS
OF $ERRY AND HE WARNED ME OF THE POSSIBLE RACISM THAT ) WOULD
ENCOUNTER IN MY TIME HERE (E TOLD ME THAT hMOST PEOPLE
ARENT RACIST THEY JUST HAVE NEVER SEEN OR MET A BLACK PERSON IN
THEIR LIFEv ) FOUND HIS HONESTY REFRESHING BECAUSE ) DID NOTICE
MANY PEOPLE BLATANTLY STARING AT ME DURING MY lRST FEW WEEKS
IN $ERRY 7HEN ) ARRIVED IN $UBLIN THE ONLY RACIAL MINORITIES
) SAW WORKED WAGE JOBS AND OFTEN FACED VERBAL AND PHYSICAL
DISCRIMINATION $ERRY RESIDENTS SEEM TO BE COMPLETELY FASCINATED
BY PEOPLE WITH A NATURAL TAN BECAUSE THE MINORITY POPULATION
IS SO MINISCULE *OHN TOLD ME THAT WHEN HIS COUSIN WHO IS HALF
*AMAICAN AND HALF %NGLISH VISITED HIM IN $ERRY DURING ONE
SUMMER HE NOTICED PEOPLE STARING AND MAKING RUDE COMMENTS
ABOUT HER HAIR AND SKIN COLOR (IS CANDOR ALLOWED ME TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND MY SURROUNDINGS AND ASSURED ME THAT PEOPLE REALLY
WERE STARING AT ME WHILE WALKING DOWN THE STREET 4HERE ARE SO
FEW NONWHITES IN $ERRY THAT TO SEE A PERSON OF COLOR ON THE
STREET IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD STAND OUT IN ONES DAY 4HOUGH
) WAS CONSCIOUS OF MY ETHNICITY THE ENTIRE TIME ) WAS IN $ERRY
) WAS NEVER VICTIM TO BLATANT VERBAL OR PHYSICAL HARASSMENT
(OWEVER MANY PEOPLE OF COLOR IN .ORTHERN )RELAND FACE SUCH
HARSH TREATMENT EVERY DAY
&IELDTRIP
!FTER GETTING ACCUSTOMED TO THE LAIDBACK ATMOSPHERE THE
SHARP ACCENT AND CARS DRIVING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET
) VENTURED OUT WITH 'ARY AND .ILE A CARTOONIST AND A MUSIC
DIGITAL PRODUCER FROM THE #ENTRE TO A 0ROTESTANT ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL MINUTES OUTSIDE OF $ERRY CITY "EFORE THIS lELDTRIP
THE WORK ) HAD DONE IN THE #ENTRE FOCUSED ON GETTING ME MORE
ACQUAINTED WITH THE CONmICT AND CULTURE OF .ORTHERN )RELAND
7E ARRIVED AT THIS SEGREGATED 0ROTESTANT SCHOOL AT AROUND AM
4HE SCHOOL WAS A ONE LEVEL STRUCTURE THAT HAD A LARGE FOOTBALL
PITCH ADJACENT TO THE SCHOOL WHERE WE WERE GREETED BY STUDENTS
KICKING A FOOTBALL AROUND WHILE WEARING THEIR GREEN AND BLACK
SCHOOL UNIFORMS
4HE REASON FOR THE TRIP WAS TO lNISH UP AN ANIMATION WHICH
THESE KIDS CREATED DIRECTED DREW AND FOR WHICH THEY PRODUCED
THE MUSIC 4HIS WAS THE lRST TIME ) REALLY SAW AND UNDERSTOOD
WHAT THE #ENTRE WAS ALL ABOUT )T IS A PLACE THAT REALLY PROMOTES
CREATIVE LEARNING FOR ALL CHILDREN IN .ORTHERN )RELAND ITS THE KIDS
WHO COME UP WITH THE CONCEPTS OF THE STORY THEY WANT TO TELL AND
HOW THEY WANT TO TELL IT 4HIS IS WHAT ) LIKE MOST ABOUT THE WORK
DONE THERE IT PLACES A GREAT DEAL OF RESPONSIBILITY ON THE KIDS
TO LET THEIR CREATIVITY SHINE INSTEAD OF HAVING A BUNCH OF ARTISTS
TELLING KIDS WHAT THEY SHOULD DRAW AND HOW THEY SHOULD DRAW IT
4HE ANIMATIONS DONE BY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN .ORTHERN )RELAND ARE
MAINLY SPONSORED BY 0EACE AND 2ECONCILIATION GRANTS WHICH THE
%UROPEAN 5NION HAS GIVEN TO .ORTHERN )RELAND 4HE SPONSORSHIP
OF THESE PROGRAMS BY GOVERNMENT OFlCIALS THROUGHOUT %UROPE
GIVES MANY CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR IDENTITY AND
CREATE THEIR OWN STORIES
!T THE 0ROTESTANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THE GUYS TOLD ME
THAT WE HAD TO RECORD THE MUSIC FOR AN ANIMATION WHICH THESE
STUDENTS HAD PRODUCED !T lRST ) WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE THESE
KIDS WERE NO MORE THAN SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS OLD YET THEY WROTE
ANIMATED AND EVEN PRODUCED THE MUSIC OF THEIR VERY OWN
CARTOON 7HAT SURPRISED ME EVEN MORE WAS THAT THE CARTOON
HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CONmICT OF .ORTHERN )RELAND 4HE
ANIMATION WAS DONE TO SUPPORT THE CREATIVE LEARNING OF THESE
KIDS 4HESE KIDS WERE ABLE TO USE THEIR IMAGINATION IN ANY WAY
THEY WANTED WITH VIRTUALLY NO INTRUSION BY THOSE FROM THE
#ENTRE )N THE 3TATES MANY PEOPLE WOULD lND THIS MONEY
WASTEFUL BECAUSE IT DIDNT REALLY HAVE A PURPOSE IN THE SCHOOLS
CURRICULUM "UT IN .ORTHERN )RELAND TEACHERS STUDENTS AND
PARENTS lND THESE SORTS OF ACTIVITIES TO BE A POSITIVE INVESTMENT
INTO THE COMMUNITY
) WAS RECEIVED EXTREMELY WARMLY BY THE STUDENTS PARTLY
BECAUSE ) WAS A FOREIGNER ) HAD THOUGHT THAT THESE KIDS WOULDNT
BE VERY ACCEPTING OF ME BECAUSE OF MY .ATIONALIST NAME 0ATRICK
BUT IN REALITY THE RECEPTION ) GOT WAS PHENOMENAL 4HE KIDS
WOULDNT STAY QUIET THEY KEPT ASKING ME WHO ) THOUGHT WOULD
WIN %URO OR IF )D COME BACK MORE OFTEN ) GUESS ) HELD MORE
PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS ABOUT THESE KIDS THAN THEY HAD OF ME ) AM
GLAD THAT THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE IT SHOWED ME THAT NOT EVERYONE
LIVING IN .ORTHERN )RELAND THOUGHT OF THE OTHER SIDE AS THEIR ENEMY
4HE WARM EMBRACE ) GOT FROM THESE SCHOOLCHILDREN OPENED ME UP
TO THE IDEA THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES DONT HATE ONE
ANOTHER AND WOULD RATHER LIVE IN A PEACEFUL MANNER
!FTER THIS SOMEWHAT INSPIRING TURN OF EVENTS AND ONCE THE
MUSIC FOR THE ANIMATION WAS RECORDED 'ARY THE ANIMATOR AND
) VENTURED OFF TO AN INTEGRATED SCHOOL )NTEGRATED SCHOOLS ARE
A FAIRLY NEW CONCEPT IN .ORTHERN )RELAND WITH THIS SCHOOL IN
EXISTENCE FOR ONLY YEARS )NTEGRATED SCHOOLS MEANS THAT BOTH
#ATHOLICS AND 0ROTESTANTS ATTEND THE SCHOOL BUT AT THE SAME TIME
) NOTICED MANY MORE RACIAL MINORITY STUDENTS AS WELL (ERE OUR
JOB WAS TO ENGAGE AN ARTS CLASS TO BEGIN THINKING OF AN ANIMATION
THEY WOULD LIKE TO CREATE THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SCHOOLS
YEAR ANNIVERSARY 4HE STUDENTS IN THE CLASS WERE AROUND
OR YEARS OLD AND WERE ALL EXTREMELY TALENTED ANIMATORS
4HEY ALL WANTED TO DO SOMETHING HUMOROUS TO INSULT TEACHERS
0ROTESTANTS AND #ATHOLICS SHOWING HOW IGNORANT ALL SIDES WERE
DURING THE CONmICT AND IN THE PRESENT )N BRAINSTORMING FOR
IDEAS THE STUDENTS BEGAN TO TELL ME WHY THEY CHOSE TO COME TO
AN INTEGRATED SCHOOL 4HEY ALL HAD SIMILAR ANSWERS THAT IN ORDER
FOR SOCIETY TO PROGRESS THEY FELT THAT THESE SORTS OF INSTITUTIONS
WERE NECESSARY TO HELP BREAK DOWN STEREOTYPES AND TO REALLY BEGIN
TO COEXIST 4HEY WERE ALL VERY GLAD TO GO TO INTEGRATED SCHOOLS
BECAUSE THEY FEEL AS IF NOW THEY HAVE MORE FRIENDS THAN THOSE
WHO GO TO SEGREGATED SCHOOLS AND THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY
WERE VERY PROUD OF 4HE KNOWLEDGE OF THESE KIDS WAS INCREDIBLE
THEY ALL KNEW AND FELT THAT THEY WERE PART OF HISTORY AND PROGRESS
BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY FELT AS IF INTEGRATED SCHOOLS WERE
THE RIGHT THING TO DO 4HE OPTIMISM EXPRESSED BY THESE SKATER
PUNK TEENAGERS WAS IMPRESSIVE 4HEIR VISION OF AN INTEGRATED
SOCIETY WAS SOMETHING WHICH THEY HOPED THEY WOULD SEE IN THEIR
LIFETIME BUT IN REALITY FELT WOULD NEVER COME TO FRUITION
4HE !RTS AND #OEXISTENCE
/N THE CAB RIDE BACK FROM THE INTEGRATED SCHOOL 'ARY AND
) BEGAN TALKING ABOUT WHY HE WORKS AS AN ANIMATOR WITH THE
#ENTRE 'ARY A #ATHOLIC SAID h) LIKE WORKING WITH KIDS BECAUSE
THEY ARE MUCH MORE HONEST THAN ADULTS 4HE CANDOR OF KIDS )
FEEL ALLOWS THE ISSUES OF PEACE AND INTEGRATION TO BE EXPRESSED
WITHOUT ANY FEAR OF BEING POLITICALLY CORRECT IN ORDER TO APPEASE
SOMEONE ) LIKE WORKING ON ANIMATION PROJECTS BECAUSE WE GIVE
PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THEIR CREATIVE JUICES IN ORDER TO
EXPRESS THEMSELVES HOWEVER THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO .EXT WEEK
)LL BE TRAVELING TO 2AMALLAH 0ALESTINE FOR A FEW WEEKS TO AID
IN ANIMATION PROJECTS WITH YOUNG 0ALESTINIAN ARTISTS 4HE ARTS
)NTERNATIONAL #ENTER FOR %THICS *USTICE AND 0UBLIC ,IFE EVEN IN AREAS OF CONmICT PROVIDE
PEOPLE WITH A CREATIVE OUTLET IN
WHICH THEY ARE ABLE TO EXPRESS
FOR PEOPLE TO EXAMINE
THEMSELVES AND THEIR IDEAS
INSTEAD OF TAKING UP ARMS !ND
AND QUESTION THE SOCIETY
SOMETIMES WHEN ART REACHES ITS
GREATEST POTENTIAL IT IS ABLE TO ACT
THAT ONE LIVES IN
AS A FORM OF RESISTANCE WITHOUT
RESORTING TO VIOLENCEv 'ARYS
INITIATIVE IN PROMOTING THE ARTS AS
A FORM OF RESISTANCE AND A WAY TO PREVENT FURTHER VIOLENCE IN AREAS
OF CONmICT DEMONSTRATED THE STRENGTH OF MANY PEOPLES CONVICTION
IN THE ARTS (E DISCUSSED THE ARTS AS A TOOL OF HEALING AND EXPRESSION
THAT HAS A POWER THAT OFTEN EXCEEDS THAT OF POLITICAL BUREAUCRACIES
(IS BELIEF IN THE ARTS LED HIM TO ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS AREAS
IN THE ENTIRE WORLD 0ALESTINE WHERE THE LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE IS OFTEN
OVERLOOKED BY THE 7EST 'ARYS DEPARTURE TO 0ALESTINE PROVIDED ME
WITH FURTHER HOPE IN THE ARTS AND IN COEXISTENCE ) HAD lNALLY BEEN
WITNESS TO AND FRIENDS WITH SOMEONE WHO CONTINUALLY RISKED HIS
LIFE BY TRAVELING TO EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PARTS OF THE GLOBE TO TEACH
ANIMATION AND ENCOURAGE ARTISTIC EXPRESSION WITHIN MANY OF THE
WORLDS MOST OPPRESSED AND SUBORDINATED PEOPLE
4HE ARTS PROVIDE A SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO EXAMINE AND QUESTION
THE SOCIETY THAT ONE LIVES IN )N $ERRY THE .ERVE #ENTER IS A
PHYSICAL SPACE THAT PROMOTES THE USE OF THE ARTS IN BOTH THE
0ROTESTANT AND #ATHOLIC COMMUNITIES 4HE #ENTRE IS A MEDIATOR
IN THE ARTISTIC EXPRESSION OF $ERRY
4HE ARTS PROVIDE A SPACE
!RTISTS CAN SERVE AS MEDIATORS )N DIVIDED COMMUNITIES
WHERE VIOLENCE HAS IMPAIRED PEOPLES CAPACITIES TO LISTEN ARTISTS
CAN USE THE QUALITIES OF RECEPTIVITY TO FACILITATE EXPRESSION
HEALING AND RECIPROCAL UNDERSTANDING 4HE QUALITIES OF
LISTENING ASSOCIATED WITH AESTHETIC ATTENTIONALERT BUT CALM
EMOTIONAL BUT COGNITIVELY AWARE ENGAGED BUT DETACHEDnARE
PRECISELY THE KINDS OF PRESENCE THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE PUT THEIR
EXPERIENCES INTO WORDS !LSO ARTISTS LISTENING TO THOSE WHO
HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED BY VIOLENCE CAN BEGIN TO RESTORE A
VICTIMS CAPACITY AND WILLINGNESS TO HEAR THE STORIES AND
EXPERIENCES OF THE OTHER #OHEN 4HE #ENTRE ACTS AS A MEDIATOR SIMILAR TO THAT OF AN ARTIST
BECAUSE IT IS AN INSTITUTION THAT ENCOURAGES CREATIVITY AND HEALING
THROUGH THE ARTS BY ITS INITIATIVE OF CREATIVE LEARNING TO INTEGRATE
$ERRYS COMMUNITY
!FTER SPENDING SEVERAL DAYS TRAVELING TO SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT
$ERRY #OUNTY AIDING STUDENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF THEIR
ANIMATIONS ) RETURNED BACK TO THE #ENTER TO CONTINUE LEARNING
MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY AND CONmICT IN .ORTHERN )RELAND
PARTICULARLY IN $ERRY 4HE HISTORY OF SEGREGATION IN $ERRY IS
SOMETHING THAT HAS COME TO SHAPE AND DElNE THE CITYS IDENTITY
&ROM THE TH CENTURY WHEN 0ROTESTANTS LOCKED THEMSELVES
WITHIN THE CITYS WALLS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THE #ATHOLIC
+ING *AMES TO THE GREAT SEGREGATION IN $ERRYS COMMUNITIES
TODAY NAMELY THE "OGSIDE AND &OUNTAIN SEGREGATION HAS ALWAYS
BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE A PREVALENT PART OF THE SOCIAL FABRIC
4HE !RT OF #OEXISTENCE%THICS AND #OEXISTENCE 3TUDENT &ELLOWS
)N ALL OF $ERRY RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC SEGREGATION ARE THE WAY
OF LIFE AND MANY PEOPLE VIEW LIVING IN HEGEMONY AS THE ONLY
WAY TO LIVE PEACEFULLY .EARLY EVERY AREA OF $ERRY IS MARKED TO
INDICATE WHICH RELIGIOUS GROUP HAS THE STRONGHOLD OF THE AREA
)N #ATHOLIC SECTIONS YOU WOULD SEE GRAFlTI SAYING h&5#+ 4(%
15%%.v OR h"RITS /UTv OR YOU WOULD SEE CURBS PAINTED WITH
THE ORANGE WHITE AND GREEN OF THE )RISH mAG )N 0ROTESTANT AREAS
ONE WOULD lND 5NION *ACKS WAVING OFF OF mAGPOLES AND GRAFlTI
CELEBRATING THE HISTORY OF 0ROTESTANTS IN .ORTHERN )RELAND )T
SEEMED AS IF $ERRY WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY CLOSED OFF TO THE IDEAS
OF INTEGRATION 4HE ONLY PLACE IT SEEMED THAT PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT
RELIGIONS AND ETHNICITIES INTERACT AND WORK WITH ONE ANOTHER
OUTSIDE OF INTEGRATED SCHOOLS AND WAGE LABOR JOBS WAS IN THE
#ENTRE
"ACK AT THE #ENTRE ) BECAME VERY INTERESTED IN THE ISSUES
AND IDEAS AROUND SEGREGATION IN $ERRY ) WANTED A PERSPECTIVE
OUTSIDE THAT OF LOCAL $ERRY PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE CONmICT AND
SEGREGATION ) FELT AS IF ) WAS HEARING THE SAME STORY FROM BOTH
SIDES -EMBERS OF BOTH COMMUNITIES WOULD TELL ME THAT hWE CANT
TRUST THESE PEOPLE THEY HAVE HISTORICALLY PARTICIPATED IN TERRORISM
AGAINST MY PEOPLE AND MY FAMILYv 4HE HEAT AND INTENSITY OF THOSE
) SPOKE TO ON THE ISSUE OF SEGREGATION WITHIN $ERRY REMINDED ME
OF THE FEAR MANY WHITES HAD OF INTEGRATION IN SCHOOLS AND OTHER
PUBLIC FACILITIES IN THE S AND S WITHIN THE 53 4HIS
PARALLEL INTERESTED ME IN GAINING THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOMEONE WHO IS
NONWHITE AND LIVES IN THIS CULTURE AND SOCIETY 3O ONCE AGAIN ) WAS
DRAWN BACK TO THE .ERVE #ENTRE THE HOME OF INTEGRATION WITHIN
$ERRY ) FOUND A BLACK %NGLISHMAN NAMED +WAME ONE OF THE
LOCAL $*S AND MUSICAL TECHNICIANS WHO WORKS AT THE .ERVE #ENTRE
+WAME AND ) HAD A STRONG RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE WE WERE THE ONLY
TWO BLACK GUYS WHO WORKED IN THE #ENTRE AND AT TIMES IT FELT AS IF
WE WERE THE ONLY TWO BLACK PEOPLE IN ALL OF $ERRY
+WAME WAS AROUND v WITH THIN LONG DREADLOCKS (E
WAS KNOWN AS THE BEST $* IN TOWN AND ALSO AS ONE OF THE MOST
POPULAR PEOPLE IN TOWN (E WAS IN HIS LATE TWENTIES AND A SELF
PROCLAIMED NOMAD (E WASNT REALLY SURE WHY ) HAD ASKED HIM TO
MEET OVER A PINT OF 'UINNESS -Y INTENTIONS WERE TO ASK HIM A
FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT .ORTHERN )RELAND 7E MET AT 3ANDINOS MY
HOME AWAY FROM HOME WHERE WE SAT ALONGSIDE h&REE 0ALESTINEv
mAGS AND MURALS OF #H£ 'UEVARA IN THE POORLY LIT UPSTAIRS CORNER
OF THE BAR (E ORDERED AND PAID FOR BOTH OF OUR PINTS AND AS HE
APPROACHED OUR TABLE WITH THE BEERS HE SAID TO ME WITH A WARM
SMILE hWHATS THE CRACK BROTHERv IN A STRONG %NGLISH ACCENT )
SIMPLY ASKED HIM hWHY ARE YOU HEREv (E RESPONDED BY STATING
h) AM HERE BECAUSE ) LOVE MUSIC ) THINK THAT MUSIC IS A TOOL IN
HEALING PEOPLE AND IF ) COULD HELP SPREAD HEALING AND LOVE IN THIS
AREA OF THE WORLD ) FEEL AS IF ITS A GOOD THINGv ) WAS SURPRISED BY
HIS ANSWER BECAUSE ) THOUGHT HE WOULD HAVE A MUCH DEEPER AND
MEANINGFUL RESPONSE BUT LIKE MY QUESTION HE KEPT IT SIMPLE (E
CONTINUED BY DISCUSSING WHY HE CHOSE .ORTHERN )RELAND h)VE
BEEN SPINNING RECORDS SINCE ) WAS A WEE LAD AND $ERRY HAS BEEN
SO WARM TO ME MY ENTIRE TIME HERE )VE WITNESSED THE TROUBLES IN
THE S AND ) HAVE SEEN THE IMPACT MUSIC CAN MAKE ON PEOPLE
4HOUGH PEOPLE LIVE VERY SEGREGATED MUSIC IS ONE OF THOSE FEW
PLATFORMS IN WHICH PEOPLE FROM ALL COMMUNITIES COME TOGETHER
IN A CASUAL MANNER AND JUST HAVE A GOOD TIME -USIC IS THE ONLY
WAY INTEGRATION TAKES SHAPE HERE ITS AT THE #ENTRE OR HERE IN
3ANDINOS WHERE PEOPLE COME GET DRUNK AND DANCE TO MUSIC
WITHOUT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION RELIGION RACE OR ETHNICITY
4HATS WHY )M HERE )M TRYING TO BETTER OFF SOCIETY BY A LITTLEv
(IS WORDS STRUCK A CHORD WITH ME 4HOUGH HE WASNT DOING THE
MOST INTELLECTUAL WORK HE WAS PROVIDING A VITAL SERVICE TO THE
COMMUNITY BY FACILITATING EVENTS THAT CATER TOWARDS INTEGRATION
IN AN OTHERWISE SEGREGATED SOCIETY !T lRST IT SEEMED TO ME AS IF
HIS WORK WAS JUST A SUPERlCIAL ATTEMPT TOWARDS BRINGING PEOPLE
TOGETHER WITHOUT MUCH INTELLECTUAL JUSTIlCATION TO SUPPORT HIS
CLAIMS 4HOUGH MUSIC HAS THE ABILITY TO BRING RIVAL FACTIONS
INTO THE SAME BUILDING FOR A FEW HOURS IT DOESNT SOLVE ANY OF
THE POLITICAL OR SOCIAL ILLS OF THE COMMUNITY 4HE CONVERSATION
THAT ) HAD WITH +WAME MADE ME QUESTION HIS INTENTIONS AND
MOTIVATIONS FOR WORKING IN $ERRY 4HOUGH HIS MIND AND HEART
WERE IN THE RIGHT PLACE ) WASNT CONVINCED IN THE POWER OF MUSIC
!S A HARDHEADED INDIVIDUAL ) DONT FULLY BELIEVE IN SOMETHING
UNTIL ) WITNESS IT AND THE ACCOUNT +WAME GAVE ME OF MUSICS
RELATION TO COEXISTENCE WAS SOMETHING ) LOOKED AT CYNICALLY AND AS
A SUPERlCIAL FORM OF INTEGRATION
.OT BEING WHITE IN $ERRY
)N MY CONVERSATIONS WITH +WAME AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERENT
OF %UROPEAN DESCENT ) DISCOVERED THAT ) WASNT ALONE IN MY
FEELINGS OF LATENT RACISM WITHIN THE .ORTHERN )RELAND SOCIETY
*OHN THOUGH A WHITE %NGLISHMAN HAD ALWAYS MENTIONED
HOW HE HAD CONTINUALLY BEEN WITNESS TO RACISM WITHIN )RISH
SOCIETY ESPECIALLY AFTER HIS COUSINS VISIT (E ALSO TOLD ME OF
HOW #ATHOLICS AND 0ROTESTANTS REFER TO THE 0OLICE 3ERVICE OF
.ORTHERN )RELAND AS THE "LACK "ASTARDS ) FOUND THIS PHRASE TO BE
VERY OFFENSIVE BECAUSE IT IS IN SO MANY WORDS CALLING THE POLICE
NIGGERS AND THIS WAS A TERM USED WIDELY BY MANY IN $ERRY AND
THROUGHOUT .ORTHERN )RELAND -Y mATMATE THIS SUMMER 4OSHI
WAS A *APANESE STUDENT WHO WAS WORKING FOR HIS 0H$ IN 0EACE
AND #OEXISTENCE 3TUDIES AT THE 5NIVERSITY OF 5LSTER (E WAS OFTEN
THE VICTIM OF VERBAL DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE OF HIS *APANESE ACCENT
AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS 4HOUGH HE TOOK IT IN STRIDE ) ALWAYS
HAD THE URGE TO ATTACK THE FOOL WHO OPENED HIS MOUTH
)N $ERRY EVERY BLACK PERSON ) SAW EITHER GAVE ME A SIGNAL OF
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OR CAME UP TO ME AND STARTED TALKING TO ME
4HE lRST TIME ) REALLY NOTICED THE IMPORTANCE OF ACKNOWLEDGING
ONE ANOTHER IN SUCH A SMALL COMMUNITY WAS WHEN ) WAS WALKING
DOWN &OYLE 3TREET THE MAIN STREET IN TOWN ) SAW A BLACK
WOMAN WITH HER TWO CHILDREN ONE BOY AND ONE GIRL IN THEIR
SCHOOL UNIFORMS (ER SON TURNED TO LOOK IN MY DIRECTION AND
SAW MY LARGE !FRO AND WHEN HE SAW ME HE STARTED TO SMILE AND
PROCEEDED TO TAP HIS SISTER ON THE SHOULDER POINTING OUT TO HER
THAT THERE WERE OTHER BLACK PEOPLE IN TOWN !FTER HE GRABBED HIS
SISTERS ATTENTION HE THREW UP A lST IN THE AIR FOR BLACK POWER
SO ) THREW A lST RIGHT BACK AT HIM ) FOUND THIS TO BE A NICE
INTERACTION BETWEEN A COUPLE OF COMPLETE STRANGERS AND ME /UR
RACE HAD BONDED US IN AN AREA WHERE WE ARE SO FEW 4HAT MOMENT
HELPED ME TO REALIZE THAT ALL OVER THE GLOBE MANY BLACK PEOPLE
STILL HAVE A CERTAIN APPRECIATION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF A
SIMILAR STRUGGLE ENDURED BY OTHERS DESPITE LOCATION
%VEN THOUGH ) AM )RISH AND ) TAKE PRIDE IN MY )RISH HERITAGE
) DONgT LOOK )RISH AND IN $ERRY PEOPLE DIDNT PERCEIVE ME TO BE
)RISH 4HIS IN MANY WAYS HAS TAKEN AWAY FROM MY PRIDE IN BEING
)RISH "EING BOTH )RISH AND BLACK IN )RELAND HAS SHOWN ME THAT
THE )RISH HAVE MANY RACIST STEREOTYPES AND FEARS OF BLACKS 4HE
RACIST TENDENCIES ) ENCOUNTERED IN .ORTHERN )RELAND MADE ME
REJECT MANY ASPECTS OF MY )RISH IDENTITY
4HE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION THAT EXISTS PROMOTES STEREOTYPES
THAT ) AS A BLACK MAN WAS RAISED TO REJECT ) STILL KNOW AND
BELIEVE THAT MANY )RISH PEOPLE ARENgT RACIST AND ITS THROUGH
THESE PEOPLE THAT ) TAKE PRIDE IN MY )RISH HERITAGE
-USIC $ERRYS 'REATEST )NTEGRATOR
4HE WEEK FOLLOWING MY CONVERSATION WITH +WAME THE #ENTRE
BEGAN ITS ANNUAL #ELTRONIC FESTIVAL IN WHICH ELECTRONIC ROCK
JAZZ HIPHOP PUNK METAL BANDS AND MANY OTHER MUSIC
GROUPS COME TO PERFORM FROM ALL OVER %UROPE 4HIS EVENT
HELPED ME TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT +WAME WAS TALKING
ABOUT BECAUSE UNTIL THIS POINT THE GREATEST LEVELS OF INTEGRATION
) FOUND ANYWHERE IN $ERRY WERE AT THE INTEGRATED SCHOOLS )
VISITED $URING ONE OF THE lRST NIGHTS OF THE FESTIVAL A FRIEND OF
MINE .ILE A HIPHOP $* AND HIS CREW THE 3ILENT !SSASSINS
TOOK TO THE STAGE 4HIS WAS AN UNUSUAL CREW FOR $ERRY NOT
ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS A HIPHOP GROUP IN AN AREA DOMINATED BY
GUITAR ROCK BUT ALSO BECAUSE THEY WERE AS RELIGIOUSLY DIVERSE AS
YOU CAN GET IN )RELAND BEING A #ATHOLIC A 0ROTESTANT AND A
-USLIM 4HEY STEPPED ON STAGE LOOKING A LITTLE NERVOUS IN FRONT
OF A CROWD OF 4HE HOT AND STICKY CLUB ON THE TOP mOOR OF
THE #ENTRE WAS PACKED WITH $ERRY LOCALS IN BOTH #ELTIC AND
2ANGERS JERSEYS WHICH SEEMED STUNNING TO ME 4HE LAST TIME
) WAS IN A BAR WITH ADULTS WEARING OPPOSING TEAM JERSEYS THERE
WAS A lGHT THAT LED TO THE POLICE ESCORTING HALF OF THE BAR TO A
LOCAL PRISON )T WAS STRIKING THAT &OUNTAIN AND "OGSIDE LOCALS
WERE THERE WITH NO REASON TO ANTAGONIZE ONE ANOTHER BUT THE
MOST STUNNING THING WAS THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THE
CLUB WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 4HE YOUTH WERE MORE ACTIVE
THAN THEIR ELDERS IN PARTICIPATING IN INTEGRATED EVENTS 7HY
DOES A GROUP OF OR SO )RISH KIDS HAVE GREATER POWER THAN
THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WERE 0ROTESTANTS
AND #ATHOLICS CAN HANG OUT PEACEFULLY %VEN AFTER MY TRIP )
AM NOT SURE IF ) AM ABLE TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION "UT REGARDLESS
OF THE FACT THAT THIS INTEGRATION MAY BE SUPERlCIAL BECAUSE
IT IS DRIVEN BY INTOXICATION AND LOUD BASS IT IS IMPORTANT
TO RECOGNIZE MUSICS STRENGTH IN ENABLING PEOPLE OF BOTH
COMMUNITIES TO COME TOGETHER UNDER THE SAME ROOF "EFORE THE
#ENTRE THERE WERE VIRTUALLY NO CONCERTS OR MUSICAL EVENTS IN
$ERRY BECAUSE IF THE EVENT WAS HELD IN A CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD
PEOPLE FROM THE OTHER GROUP WOULD FEEL INTIMIDATED AND
UNWELCOME 4HE #ENTRES NEUTRAL LOCATION WITHIN THE WALLS OF
)NTERNATIONAL #ENTER FOR %THICS *USTICE AND 0UBLIC ,IFE $ERRY AND POLICY OF NONDISCRIMINATION CATERS TO MEMBERS OF
BOTH COMMUNITIES )N THIS INSTANCE MUSIC MAY NOT HAVE BEEN
AS GREAT OF A FORCE IN CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT OF INTEGRATION AS
THE POLICIES LOCATION AND MISSION OF THE #ENTRE
7EST "ELFAST
4HOUGH ) RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A VAST AMOUNT OF SEGREGATION
WITHIN .ORTHERN )RELAND ) DONT THINK THAT IT IS COMPARABLE
TO THE APARTHEID AND COERCIVE SEGREGATION THAT MANY BLACKS
FACED IN 3OUTH !FRICA AND OTHER !FRICAN NATIONS )N .ORTHERN
)RELAND IT IS MUCH HARDER TO TELL WHO YOUR ENEMY IS THAN IN
3OUTH !FRICA "OTH #ATHOLICS AND 0ROTESTANTS ARE WHITE AND
HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF INVISIBILITY BEING UNABLE TO PHYSICALLY
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN WHO IS OF WHAT RELIGION 4HE BEST WAY TO
DETERMINE SOMEONES IDENTITY IS BY WHICH FOOTBALL JERSEY THEY
WEAR OR WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD THEY ARE FROM .EIGHBORHOODS
THROUGHOUT .ORTHERN )RELAND ARE SMALL GHETTOS OF PEOPLE OF
THE SAME IDENTITY WHO LITTER THEIR STREETS CURBS WALLS AND
BUILDINGS WITH DECORATIONS THAT REPRESENT THEIR IDENTITY )N MY
TRAVELS IN )RELAND ) FOUND NO BETTER EXAMPLE OF SEGREGATION
AND FRUSTRATION THAN IN 7EST "ELFAST /N ONE OF *OHNS MANY
TRIPS INTO "ELFAST FOR THE .ERVE #ENTRE HE GAVE ME A TOUR OF
THE HOME OF THE )2! AND 56& DURING THE TROUBLES %VERY
BLOCK IS LINED WITH IDENTITY MARKERS 4HE 0ROTESTANT SIDE WAS
lLLED WITH RED WHITE AND BLUE mAGS HANGING OVER THE STREETS IN
PREPARATION FOR THE TH OF *ULY THE DAY OF THE /RANGE /RDER
0ARADES 4HE #ATHOLIC AREAS HAVE MANY MURALS DEPICTING VARIOUS
EVENTS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE OF IMPORTANCE TO THAT COMMUNITY
SUCH AS THE #HRISTLIKE DEPICTION OF THE HUNGER STRIKER "OBBY
3ANDS ) REALLY GOT AN ODD FEELING WHEN ) WAS WALKING THROUGH
BOTH AREAS BECAUSE ) KNOW OF THE GREAT HISTORY OF VIOLENCE THAT
OCCURRED ON THE STREETS IN THE AREA /N NEARLY EVER CORNER THERE
WAS A PLAQUE IN DEDICATION TO SOMEONE WHO WAS KILLED ON THAT
STREET 6IOLENCE THERE AT LEAST THE HISTORY OF VIOLENCE THERE
IS INESCAPABLE )T TRULY WAS EVERYWHERE BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO
THE PLAQUES ON EVERY CORNER THERE WERE MURALS DEPICTING LOCAL
PARAMILITARY lGURES AS ICONS THAT SHOULD BE WORSHIPPED AND
ADORNED BY THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY
) lRST WALKED AROUND 3ANDY 2OW THE 0ROTESTANT STRONGHOLD
IN 7EST "ELFAST 4HE MURAL THAT WELCOMES YOU TO 3ANDY 2OW
SHOWS A PARAMILITARY SOLDIER STANDING WITH A GUN CLAIMING THAT
THE 56& WILL ALWAYS DEFEND 5LSTERS 0ROTESTANTS 4HIS MURAL
WAS STRONGER THAN THE ONES THAT ) HAD SEEN IN $ERRY AND A TRUE
ADVOCATE OF VIOLENCE -ANY MURALS IN THIS AREA WERE OF LOCAL
PARAMILITARY MEMBERS WITH GUN IN HAND 4HROUGH THESE MURALS
) DISTINGUISHED THAT THE PEOPLE THERE HAVE HAD A LOT TO DEAL WITH
DURING THE TROUBLES AND THAT THIS WAS A PLACE WHERE MUCH OF THE
TROUBLES OCCURRED !NOTHER INTERESTING ASPECT OF CULTURE IN 7EST
"ELFAST THAT ) NOTICED IN 3ANDY 2OW WAS AN )SRAELI mAG HANGING
FROM A BAR WHICH ) DID NOT SEE IN #ATHOLIC COMMUNITIES
)N 3ANDY 2OW AND IN OTHER 0ROTESTANT COMMUNITIES WITHIN
.ORTHERN )RELAND PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT )SRAEL WAS A LEGITIMATE
STATE AND SIDED WITH )SRAEL ON THE ISSUE OF THE -IDDLE %AST
4HE !RT OF #OEXISTENCE%THICS AND #OEXISTENCE 3TUDENT &ELLOWS
)N THE 2EPUBLICAN STRONGHOLD OF 7EST "ELFAST HOWEVER )
SAW GRAFlTI THAT READ h&REE 0ALESTINE "OYCOTT )SRAELI 'OODSv 4HE
#ATHOLIC COMMUNITIES IN .ORTHERN )RELAND BELIEVE THAT )SRAEL
IS AN OCCUPIER OF 0ALESTINE AND FEEL A CERTAIN LEVEL OF SYMPATHY
WITH THE 0ALESTINIANS BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT THE #ATHOLICS AND
0ALESTINIANS ARE IN THE SAME BOAT #ATHOLICS FEEL THEIR SITUATION
IS PARALLEL TO THAT OF 0ALESTINIANS BECAUSE THEY FEEL AS IF THEY HAD
THEIR LAND STOLEN FROM THEM AND ARE AN OPPRESSED MINORITY
WITHIN THEIR SOCIETY 4HOUGH ) CAN SEE HOW BOTH SIDES TAKE THEIR
POSITIONS ) FEEL THAT MANY PEOPLE FROM BOTH COMMUNITIES
BELIEVE IN SOME OF THEIR BELIEFS AS PART OF THEIR IDENTITY WITHOUT
CONSIDERING THE FACTS OF THE SITUATION
!T ONE POINT IN 7EST "ELFAST IN A 2EPUBLICAN AREA *OHN
POINTED TO A BAR AND SAID hDURING THE CONmICT IN ORDER TO HAVE
GONE YOU HAD TO HAVE SERVED A POLITICAL SENTENCE IN JAILv 4HAT IS
HOW CRAZY THE SITUATION WAS IN 7EST "ELFAST ,OCAL INSTITUTIONS
WIDELY ACCEPTED AND SUPPORTED PEOPLE DOING VIOLENT ACTS TOWARDS
THE OPPOSING COMMUNITIES AND IN MANY WAYS PRAISED PEOPLE FOR
THESE ACTS 4HE BAR WAS ONE OF THE NICEST BARS IN THAT PART OF 7EST
"ELFAST THOUGH IT WAS SECURED TO THE TEETH WITH HUGE FENCES AND
SECURITY GUARDS WITH BALDHEADS WHO WERE SO MUSCULAR IT APPEARED
THAT THEY DIDNT HAVE NECKS STANDING OUTSIDE GUARDING THE BAR
4HE BAR MUST HAVE BEEN THE PLACE THAT MANY YOUTHS ASPIRED TO
GET INTO )N ORDER TO GO TO THE hCOOLv BAR YOU HAVE TO KILL OR DO
SOMETHING REALLY BAD WHILE IN THE 3TATES IN ORDER TO GET INTO THE
hCOOLv BAR YOU HAVE TO DRESS WELL AND HAVE PRETTY GIRLS WITH YOU
"EING IN THE HEART OF HOSTILITY AND CONmICT IN .ORTHERN )RELAND
MADE ME QUESTION IF INTEGRATION IS EVER GOING TO SUCCEED IN THIS
DEEPLY DIVIDED SOCIETY
4HIS FEAR WAS SUPPORTED BY THE EVENTS OF THE VERY NEXT DAY
*ULY TH THE BEGINNING OF THE MARCHING SEASON IN .ORTHERN
)RELAND 4HE MARCHING SEASON IS OFTEN A TIME MARKED WITH
VIOLENCE AND COMMUNITY TENSIONS /N THIS DAY 0ROTESTANTS
CELEBRATE +ING 7ILLIAM DEFEATING THE #ATHOLIC +ING *AMES IN
5LSTER 4HE CONmICT ON THIS DAY HAPPENS BECAUSE 0ROTESTANTS
OFTEN MARCH THROUGH #ATHOLIC AREAS TO SIGNAL THAT ALL OF 5LSTER IS
0ROTESTANT 4HIS IS WHAT MY )RISH #ATHOLIC FRIEND #HRIS DESCRIBED
AS A BIG FUCKYOUWESTILLRUNTHISPLACE TYPE OF THING TO DO
!ND YET THIS DAY IS ALSO A DAY OF PICNICS AND FAMILY CELEBRATIONS
FOR MANY OTHERS !T THE SAME TIME MANY #ATHOLICS FEEL THAT
SOME OF THE MESSAGES OF THE PARADE ECHO A SENTIMENT OF CULTURAL
SUPERIORITY AMONG 0ROTESTANTS
4HIS YEAR IN 7EST "ELFAST ) WITNESSED #ATHOLICS RIOT AGAINST
THE POLICE AFTER A MARCH IN 0ROTESTANT 7EST "ELFAST 4HE /RANGE
/RDER WASNT ALLOWED TO MARCH DOWN THE MAIN STREETS IN THE
#ATHOLIC AREAS OF 7EST "ELFAST 4HOUGH THE MARCH ITSELF DIDNT
PROGRESS THROUGH 7EST "ELFAST THE POLICE DID ALLOW FOR THE
PARADES SUPPORTERS TO MARCH DOWN THE STREETS OF THE 2EPUBLICAN
STRONGHOLD WHILE DRUNK 7HAT IRRITATED THE #ATHOLICS WAS THAT
THESE PEOPLE WERE FORBIDDEN TO WALK DOWN THESE STREETS DURING
THAT DAY BUT WERE AFTERWARDS PROTECTED BY A POLICE AND ARMY
ESCORT !T THIS POINT IN THE DAY BOTH SIDES WERE DRUNK AND WHEN
EMOTIONS ARE HIGH AND MIXED WITH ALCOHOL VIOLENCE IS ALMOST
INEVITABLE -ANY #ATHOLIC YOUTHS FOUND THE POLICE ESCORT TO BE
AN INSULT BY THE POLICE AND 0ARADE #OMMISSION OF .ORTHERN
)RELAND 7ITH THESE FEELINGS OF RESENTMENT MANY #ATHOLICS TOOK
TO VIOLENCE TO DEFEND THEIR TERRITORY )T STARTED OFF WITH ROCKS
THEN ESCALATED INTO A MOB OF TEENS AND ADULTS lNDING ANY MEANS
POSSIBLE TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER INTRUSION BY THEIR ENEMIES
0EOPLE RAN UP TO COPS AND BEAT THEM WITH BOTTLES THE POLICES
OWN BATONS AND WITH WHATEVER SHANK THEY COULD lND 4HE RIOT
CONTINUED WITH PEOPLE mIPPING OVER COP CARS AND EVENTUALLY AS
IS TYPICAL IN .ORTHERN )RELAND SOCIETY A NUMBER OF PETROL BOMBS
WERE HURLED AT THE POLICE VEHICLES IN THE HOPES OF PUSHING THE
POLICE OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS
4HAT NIGHT ) TOOK MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DAYS EVENTS
TO 3ANDINOS IN ORDER TO TRY TO COME TO TERMS WITH WHAT ) SAW
AND FELT !S SOON AS ) MET UP WITH MY FRIENDS #HRIS A $ERRY
LOCAL AND 0AUL WHO HAD JUST RETURNED FROM ,IBERIA AS AN )RISH
PEACEKEEPER THEY IMMEDIATELY STARTED DISCUSSING THE EVENTS OF
THE DAY 0AUL BEGAN BY SAYING THAT HE THOUGHT THAT SEGREGATION
WAS A FEASIBLE AND NONVIOLENT WAY TO CREATE COEXISTENCE (IS
COMMENTS SHOCKED ME AFTER A SEMESTER OF LISTENING TO HOW
INTEGRATION AND GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER IS THE BEST WAY TO
CREATE RELATIONSHIPS WHICH FOSTER INTEGRATION AND CHANGE IN MY
COEXISTENCE CLASS 0AUL WAS SOMEONE WHOSE WORD ) TOOK SERIOUSLY
BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN OUT THERE IN THE lELD WORKING AND lGHTING
FOR PEACE IN !FRICA (IS BELIEF THAT INTEGRATION IS MORE HARMFUL
THAN GOOD SHOCKED ME ) FOUND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT PEACE
SITUATIONS SUCH AS ,IBERIA AND 2WANDA WERE ONLY CREATED THROUGH
THE USE OF FORCE AND IN SOME CASES VIOLENCE BY INTERNATIONAL
PEACEKEEPERS
!FTER 0AUL TOLD ME ABOUT HIS WORK IN ,IBERIA WE BEGAN TO
FURTHER DISCUSS COEXISTENCE (E TOLD ME SOME OF HIS IDEAS WHICH
WERE CONTRADICTORY TO WHAT ) FELT 7E WERE TALKING ABOUT THE
ISSUE OF COEXISTENCE AND WHAT ) THOUGHT WOULD BEST HELP CREATE
COEXISTENCE IN .ORTHERN )RELAND !LMOST INSTANTLY ) BEGAN
TALKING ABOUT INTEGRATION AND CREATING GREATER INTERCOMMUNITY
RELATIONSHIPS ) TOLD HIM THAT PEOPLE MUST BETTER UNDERSTAND ONE
ANOTHER TO LIVE PEACEFULLY AND MUST BE INVOLVED IN ONE ANOTHERS
COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO CREATE A CERTAIN DEGREE OF COEXISTENCE )T
WAS FUNNY BECAUSE THOUGH HE THOUGHT WHAT ) SAID WAS INTERESTING
HE COUNTERED BY STATING THAT HE THOUGHT SEGREGATION IS THE BEST
WAY TO KEEP AND MAINTAIN COEXISTENCE 4HIS WAY EACH GROUP WAS
ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEIR IDENTITIES AND NOT BE BOMBARDED WITH THE
OTHER GROUP (E GAVE ME THE EXAMPLE OF 2USSIA AND THE 53
DURING THE #OLD 7AR /NE OF THE GREATEST FEUDS BETWEEN NATIONS
EVER BUT SINCE THEY WERE AT SUCH A DISTANCE FROM ONE ANOTHER
NOTHING OF SIGNIlCANCE EVER HAPPENED ) FOUND IT EXTREMELY
INTERESTING TO HEAR WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT SEGREGATION AS A
POSITIVE METHOD TOWARDS COEXISTENCE BECAUSE HE HAD WORKED ON
THE GROUNDS OF A CIVIL WAR TO TRY TO CREATE PEACE IN ,IBERIA (E
MADE ME QUESTION WHY ) BELIEVE IN INTEGRATION AND AT THE SAME
TIME OPENED ME UP TO ANOTHER WAY OF THOUGHT #AN A DIVIDED
COUNTRY IN CONmICT BE CURED OF ITS ILLS BY SEPARATING ENEMY GROUPS
FROM ONE ANOTHER
) LEARNED IN MY TIME IN $ERRY AND .ORTHERN )RELAND THAT
ISOLATION AND SEGREGATION ONLY PERPETUATE STEREOTYPES TENSIONS
AND A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING AMONG COMMUNITIES )N A SOCIETY
WHERE INTERRELIGIOUS MARRIAGE IS LOOKED DOWN UPON ANY EFFORTS
FOR INTEGRATION SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED AND ALTERNATIVE FORMS
OF COEXISTENCE RELATED ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE FURTHER SPONSORED
4HE WORK ) WITNESSED BY THE #ENTRE IN TRYING TO PROMOTE NEW
OUTLETS OF COEXISTENCE AND INTEGRATION SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS A
MODEL THROUGHOUT THE NATION IN PROVIDING COMMUNITIES WITH
OPPORTUNITIES TO PROMOTE INTEGRATION /THERWISE .ORTHERN
)RELAND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A SOCIETY STRICKEN WITH THE CONTINUAL
FEAR OF VIOLENCE AND A SOCIETY THAT IS PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND
PHYSICALLY DIVIDED
4ELLING THE &ACTS
$URING MY LAST FEW WEEKS AT THE #ENTRE *OHN AND A GROUP OF
#ENTRE lLMMAKERS HAD A DOCUMENTARY OF THEIRS AIR ON ""#
4HE "ATTLE OF THE "OGSIDE WHICH *OHN BRAGGED ABOUT WEEKS
IN ADVANCE TO ITS SHOWING 4HE lLM PORTRAYED THE EVENTS OF
THE CONmICT THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH KEY PLAYERS IN THE BATTLE
AND THROUGH FOOTAGE OF THE EVENTS FROM THOSE DAYS 4HIS lLM
GAVE lRSTHAND INSIGHT FROM BOTH 0ROTESTANTS AND #ATHOLICS
4HE lLM PORTRAYED THE CONmICT AS OBJECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE WHILE
HIGHLIGHTING THE ISSUES AND REASONS FOR THE BATTLE
4HE DOCUMENTARY WAS EXTREMELY VIVID PLACING THE
AUDIENCE IN THE HEART OF THE lGHT 4HIS lLM REPRESENTED THE
.ERVE #ENTRES MISSION OF PROVIDING AN ARTISTIC PRODUCTION AND
CREATIVE DESCRIPTION OF KEY EVENTS OF THE AREA TO ALLOW FOR ALL TO
ATTEMPT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEMSELVES AND THEIR hENEMIESv
4HE DOCUMENTARY WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF #ATHOLICS AND
0ROTESTANTS WHO MADE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO GIVE BOTH PERSPECTIVES
AND REALITIES DURING THE CONmICT 4HOUGH MANY HARDCORE ,OYALISTS
FELT AS IF THE DOCUMENTARY WAS TOO CRITICAL OF THE 25# AND
"RITISH GOVERNMENT MORE FELT AS IF THE MOVIE GAVE AN ACCURATE
DEPICTION OF THE EVENTS
4HE .ERVE #ENTRES APPROACH TOWARDS COEXISTENCE IS TO
EDUCATE THROUGH CREATIVITY 4HE NONINTRUSIVE APPROACH OF
COEXISTENCE AT THE #ENTRE ALLOWS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK OF
FORCEFED OLDFASHIONED COEXISTENCE PRACTICES 4HE #ENTRE
CREATES AN EXTREMELY CASUAL ATMOSPHERE THAT DOESNT PRESSURE
PEOPLE TO CHANGE THEIR OPINIONS OR PERSPECTIVES $ERRY IS A
PLACE OF STRONG CONVICTION AND THE #ENTRE ALLOWS PEOPLE TO
EXPRESS THEMSELVES CREATIVELY WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY CREATING
AN INTEGRATED COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ARTS %VERYONE ) MET IN
$ERRY WHETHER #ATHOLIC 0ROTESTANT -USLIM !SIAN "LACK OR
7HITE ALL LOOKED AT THE #ENTER AS A POSITIVE INVESTMENT IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES %VERYONE IN $ERRY APPRECIATED THE EDUCATIONAL
VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF THE .ERVE #ENTRE )N A PLACE WHERE
SEGREGATION IS A WAY OF LIFE THE .ERVE #ENTRE PROVIDES AN OUTLET
WHERE INTEGRATION COEXISTENCE AND CREATIVITY ARE ACCOMPLISHED
EVEN IF THEY ARE ACCOMPLISHED ON A SMALL SCALE
)NTERNATIONAL #ENTER FOR %THICS *USTICE AND 0UBLIC ,IFE "IBLIOGRAPHY
+ELLY 7ILLIAM -URALS 4HE "OGSIDE !RTISTS $ERRY 'UILDHALL
0RESS "RIAN ,ACY 3IEGE #ITY 4HE 3TORY OF $ERRY AND ,ONDONDERRY
"ELFAST 4HE "LACKSTAFF 0RESS #HAYES !NTONIA AND -ARTHA -INOW )MAGINE #OEXISTENCE
2ESTORING (UMANITY !FTER 6IOLENT %THNIC #ONmICT ! 0UBLICATION OF
THE 0ROGRAM ON .EGOTIATION AT (ARVARD ,AW 3CHOOL #AMBRIDGE
*OSSEY"ASS ,AWRENCE,IGHTFOOT 3ARA AND (OFFMANN$AVIS *ESSICA 4HE !RT
AND 3CIENCE OF 0ORTRAITURE 3AN &RANCISCO *OSSEY"ASS 2YDER #HRIS 4HE &ATEFUL 3PLIT 4HE &AILURE OF 0OLICING IN .ORTHERN
)RELAND $UBLIN -ETHUEN 0UBLISHING 4HE !RT OF #OEXISTENCE%THICS AND #OEXISTENCE 3TUDENT &ELLOWS