My friend Stuart Archer lives in St. James, Barbados with his wife Sharon and their son Isaiah. He has recently made a recovery from bowel cancer and we have supported each other on our living with cancer journey.
Stuart plays American Football – about which I know nothing – except it helps to be tall and handsome, with strong shoulders. All of which makes up Stuart.
He is the kind of Community and Youth Worker young people need, especially right now – insight gained from experience of life and from working as a team always. Community and collaboration.
Here’s what he wrote to me the other day when the US was in flames and I could find no words…
“…As for the States, I can’t even go there. The amount of times I was arrested as a boy in London growing up, then released with no charge as I looked like someone who had committed a crime or on the street, ‘at the wrong time’.
Taken down to the station, questioned, put in a cell, usually til the next day, then told ‘You are free to go’.
Then as a man in London and Manchester, being pulled over, searched myself and the car, questioned – and all in the public eye. The humiliation and feeling of powerlessness was unreal. I guess I should accept that I live to tell the tale, unlike some of my brothers and sisters.
We continue to strive for acceptance and not tolerance of all forms of marginalisation underpinning discrimination.”
Here’s the poem I wrote for Stuart when I got the letter about his cancer diagnosis, saying he was ‘unwell’.
All Will Be Well
Sitting in the Christie
thinking of you
Stuart.
Thank you for your letter
with the news
Stuart.
It seems to me “unwell”
means pain
Stuart.
Awaiting the decisions
for treatment
Stuart.
And you were never one to make a fuss.
Mix your courage with humility
And you’ll be strong.
Let others love you now
Stuart.
It’s a very active challenge…
All about changing
the tactics
in the American Football game
against this new team.
Are you a player?
Or a linesman?
Or a coach?
Or a manager?
Or the boy in the crowd, inspired?
Leigh Cook
