Caught in the System & The Virgin Ho

About the Book

Most parents, no matter what their colour, fail to understand their teenage children and vice-versa. Fractious kids, whoever they are, tend to be anti-police. Teenagers are not rebelling against the police, specifically but against any form of control as they feel they are not given enough respect. Social services are doing their best with a difficult age group tainted by being young and black in a white society. Most grow up to be decent citizens, but this book will help parents, police and social services understand this part of society, whilst at the same time show that someone can identify as a fellow black teenager with the determination to put pen to paper.

About the Author

BORN in the leafy suburbs of St Albans but living most of my life in London, I have led a somewhat comfortable and cosseted life, unlike my black grandparents that travelled over from Barbados with the promise of a better lifestyle. Boy, did they have a shock coming, like many Caribbean’s of their generation. They were met with the harshness of the weather and the big city culture. Caribbean’s aren’t all the same any more than Europeans. More than that people’s attitudes are determined by how close they live to each other and therefore country folk are considered softer and more caring than big city folk. It’s interesting that when the Celts emigrated to the USA they often went to places that reminded them of home and that is why there are some Scottish traditions in South Carolina. Likewise Brixton is a typical enclave of those from Kingston, Jamaica and people from Barbados (Bajans) are drawn towards the likes of Reading or St Albans. So my naivety came to an abrupt end when I started to mix with other teenagers in the club scene. Ok this happens no matter who you are but you begin to understand the extra burden of many young blacks in a white society that do not have the benefit of a good education or warmth of a close family unit. Hence this explains the background of my story. Fiction, but based on truth. Most parents, no matter what their colour, fail to understand their teenage children and vice-versa. Fractious kids, whoever they are, tend to be anti-police. Teenagers are not rebelling against the police, specifically but against any form of control as they feel they are not given enough respect. Social services are doing their best with a difficult age group tainted by being young and black in a white society. Most grow up to be decent citizens, but this book will help parents, police and social services understand this part of society, whilst at the same time show that someone can identify as a fellow black teenager with the determination to put pen to paper. Abbie Samuel