An Open Letter to Mark Steyn, Simon Heffer, Milo Yiannopoulos, Breitbart (London), and His Grace, Archbishop Cranmer

We are rapidly approaching the 50th anniversary of Enoch Powell’s Birmingham speech on immigration, more popularly known as the Rivers of Blood speech (April 20, 1968). Powell spoke out against unlimited immigration to England from Commonwealth nations. Because at that time such immigrants were predominantly West Indians and Asians, many saw Powell’s speech as covertly racialist. [Link to BBC documentary on the 40th anniversary—it was surprising balanced for the BBC]

The history of that speech and its time is contested. 

Here, I would like to mention one lesser known incident relating to Powell’s speech. Millie Small, the pop & reggae singer—famous for a 1964 recording of My Boy Lollipop—recorded a song called Enoch Power, mocking Powell’s speech.

Enoch Power

I arrived from Kingston Town

And now live at the bullring

Got to go to Wolverhampton

Help my brothers do a thing

They work all week

To keep the British country running

Weekend it’s reggae time

And the neighbours find it funny

So we all sing

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell, Lord, Lord

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell, Lord, Lord

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell

The kids all stomp their boots so much

The dance floor’s really shaking

They're having fun then going Dutch

I feel my poor heart aching, so we all sing

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell, Lord, Lord

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell, Lord, Lord

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell

One day there’ll come a time

When all men will be brothers

They’ll talk as well as dance

And live and love with each other

And they’ll all sing

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell, Lord, Lord

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell

One day there’ll come a time

When all men will be brothers

They’ll talk as well as dance

And live and love with each other

So we’ll all sing

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell, Lord, Lord

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell, Lord, Lord

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell

Enoch, Enoch, Enoch Powell.

My understanding is that Small is now about 70 years old, in good health, and living in England.

Please, please—will not someone—anyone—in England interview Ms Small, and ask her what she now thinks about Powell’s Rivers of Blood speech?

Mark Steyn?

Simon Heffer (journalist & Powell’s official biographer)?

Milo Yiannopoulos?

Breitbart (London)?

His Grace, Archbishop Cranmer? 

Seth

Welcome Instapundit and Chicago Boyz readers!

My prior post is here:
Seth Barrett Tillman, Why The Debate on “Office” and“Officers” Matters, The New Reform Club (Dec. 29, 2015, 2:21 PM)

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SethBTillman  ( @SethBTillman )