0:00:01 > 0:00:11This is Free Speech. Your chance to have your say about what matters to
0:00:11 > 0:00:38
0:00:38 > 0:00:42CHEERING AND APPLAUSE You know what, if Prince Charles
0:00:42 > 0:00:47carries on like that I will be out of a job! Good evening and welcome
0:00:47 > 0:00:55to Free Speech. I'm Jake Humphrey and tonight we're live in Bristol!
0:00:55 > 0:01:04CHEERING I thought that might get quite a
0:01:04 > 0:01:08big round of applause, or to be precise we are live in one of the
0:01:09 > 0:01:15city's biggest nightclubs, we are in Motion. There's a lot Hoare for
0:01:15 > 0:01:21us to discuss. Here's what's coming up tonight. Drugs - Russell has had
0:01:21 > 0:01:26his say. Time to legalise? Young, black and unemployed, is it time to
0:01:27 > 0:01:34change the law and give young black men the first crack at job
0:01:34 > 0:01:38vacancies, and rap - why does it sound so bad to young women. This
0:01:38 > 0:01:42debate is your debate. When you send us a message Michelle de
0:01:42 > 0:01:47Swarte will read it. If she loves it she might decide to share it. A
0:01:47 > 0:01:51big round of applause for Michelle de Swarte, who is with us again.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55APPLAUSE Michelle there are so many ways to get in touch with you there
0:01:55 > 0:02:00is no excuse for someone not to bother is there? Exactly. We want
0:02:01 > 0:02:10to know what you guys think. You can get on touch online, good and
0:02:11 > 0:02:19
0:02:20 > 0:02:27Who are you going to be getting in touch with? It's time to meet our
0:02:27 > 0:02:33panel. From BBC Three she is the reporter who loves the show. She's
0:02:33 > 0:02:39got drunk, got pregnant, got married and invited the cameras
0:02:39 > 0:02:45It's Cherry Healey! APPLAUSE And we were joined by three-times Best
0:02:45 > 0:02:48Comedian at the Black Entertainment Awards, it's Kojo! APPLAUSE UKIP
0:02:48 > 0:02:55isn't only about Nigel Farage. Alexandra Swann has just quit the
0:02:55 > 0:03:03Conservatives to join them and tonight she joins us. Good evening!
0:03:03 > 0:03:09APPLAUSE A mixed reception. You might have your work cut out
0:03:09 > 0:03:15tonight Alexandra. The Times called him one of the most influential
0:03:15 > 0:03:22entrepreneurs of his generation and his YouTube channel has had over
0:03:22 > 0:03:27100 million hits. It's Jamal Edwards! APPLAUSE
0:03:27 > 0:03:33OK, that's our panel but which one is on your wavelength? This is the
0:03:33 > 0:03:40show where from your chair you judge the panel's opinions, without
0:03:40 > 0:03:47-- with our Power Bar. You loved having the power at your fingertips
0:03:47 > 0:03:51didn't you? I love it, I love it, yes. Free Speech is the only show
0:03:51 > 0:04:01where your opinions matter live on air. And this is how you can let
0:04:01 > 0:04:09
0:04:09 > 0:04:12That's the Power Bar and tonight you have the power. But it's not
0:04:12 > 0:04:17just tonight where you're in control. This month you've been
0:04:17 > 0:04:21second us all kinds of messages about drugs, prompted no doubt by a
0:04:21 > 0:04:26certain Russell Brand who told a committee of MPs that drugs should
0:04:26 > 0:04:30be decriminalised and addicts should be treated as victims.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34think some people can safely take drugs. As long as its doesn't turn
0:04:34 > 0:04:39them into criminals or harm their health, I don't feel like it's any
0:04:39 > 0:04:43of my business. For me what's more significant is the way that we
0:04:43 > 0:04:47socially regard the condition of addiction. It's something that I
0:04:47 > 0:04:52consider to be an illness and therefore more a health matter than
0:04:52 > 0:04:55a criminal or judicial matter. I can see areas in fact where
0:04:55 > 0:05:01decriminalisation might be considered useful and more
0:05:02 > 0:05:06efficient. Again, mate, what we need to identify is a degree of
0:05:06 > 0:05:12authenticity and compassion in the way that we deal with this problem,
0:05:12 > 0:05:18otherwise you don't know what you're talking about. I guess the
0:05:18 > 0:05:23word "mate" isn't used too much in that context. I wouldn't have worn
0:05:23 > 0:05:28what he wore, but that's a different story. Our first question.
0:05:28 > 0:05:33We've tried the war on drugs. Is it not time to give people the freedom
0:05:33 > 0:05:39to choose? OK. Cherry, some people argue that part of the glamour of
0:05:39 > 0:05:45drugs comes from the fact that it's illegal. I think this is a really
0:05:45 > 0:05:49terrifying subject to speak openly about and it's really complicated.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54I do agree with what Russ said about changing the way that we talk
0:05:54 > 0:05:59about and view people who takes drugs. Not everyone who takes drugs
0:05:59 > 0:06:03turns into a criminal and a menace to society, but I do think that
0:06:03 > 0:06:06addiction is complicated and it's caused by loads of factors. Yes,
0:06:07 > 0:06:12the way we deal with drugs at the moment is really, really severe. Is
0:06:12 > 0:06:17it working? I don't know. I don't see, it is not really some ofing
0:06:17 > 0:06:22the problem. I think if we really want to deal with drugs we have to
0:06:22 > 0:06:26look at why people taking them. People do it because they are self-
0:06:26 > 0:06:30medicating. If you get them off drugs, great, but are you not
0:06:30 > 0:06:33sending them back into that same situation, back on to drugs? We as
0:06:33 > 0:06:40a society need to be compassionate to those severely affected by drugs
0:06:40 > 0:06:45and we need to ask why are people getting into that state? APPLAUSE
0:06:45 > 0:06:49Kojo, is that the problem - we are focusing on people taking drugs
0:06:49 > 0:06:54rather than why? Me personally, I don't really have much thought for
0:06:54 > 0:06:59why you would need to take drugs. Maybe because I've never taken them.
0:06:59 > 0:07:07However, I do understand what Russ is saying to a certain degree. For
0:07:07 > 0:07:12example in Holland, weed is like cigarettes. From my background, I'm
0:07:13 > 0:07:18from Hackney. My issue with drugs is drug dealers. Their making money
0:07:18 > 0:07:23from it and harming younger people and getting them involved in the
0:07:23 > 0:07:29system. If the Government take ownership of it like cigarettes,
0:07:29 > 0:07:34which hill people, maybe they can control nit areas where I'm from.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37So are you saying legalise cannabis? Not other drugs but
0:07:38 > 0:07:43possibly cannabis. CHEERING If you are going to legalise something the
0:07:43 > 0:07:46aim is to regulate it. Cannabis can be made up of 400 different
0:07:46 > 0:07:50chemicals. It is a difficult one to regulate. Is that the answer?
0:07:50 > 0:07:54are two issues. First about the legal issues of drugs and the
0:07:54 > 0:07:58second of how you deal with people who are taking drugs. First of all,
0:07:58 > 0:08:02Russell Brand is right to say that drug addiction is an illness not
0:08:02 > 0:08:08crime. You need to protect, educate and rehabilitate people, not put
0:08:08 > 0:08:12them into Prince. Putting people with drug progs into prison won't
0:08:12 > 0:08:15help them or society and it will cost taxpayers money. The war on
0:08:15 > 0:08:20drugs, just because it isn't working, doesn't mean we should
0:08:20 > 0:08:25embrace the enemy. To suggest a blanket ban or legalisation of
0:08:25 > 0:08:29drugs is wrong. It's too black and white. There are arguments for
0:08:29 > 0:08:33legalisation, for things like cannabis, you can regulate and
0:08:33 > 0:08:38reclaim some of the cost of treating drug addiction. But with
0:08:38 > 0:08:44crack or heroin, no-one wants a situation where you can walk into a
0:08:44 > 0:08:47news agent and say, "I want 20 Marlboro Lights and a few grams of
0:08:47 > 0:08:52heroin." If people have a chance to try them because they are there to
0:08:52 > 0:08:55be tried kit do a hell of a lot of damage though their lives. As a
0:08:55 > 0:08:59libertarian I say do what you want to yourselves but drugs are about
0:08:59 > 0:09:05family and society. It doesn't just affect the individual who takes
0:09:05 > 0:09:09them. But drugs are illegal and it isn't stopping people from taking
0:09:09 > 0:09:15them. Cigarettes and alcohol are legal and kill thousands every year,
0:09:15 > 0:09:20so how will it solve the problem? I'm not saying to legalise it or
0:09:20 > 0:09:25saying it is alright, but I don't agree with people being put into
0:09:25 > 0:09:29prison for maybe having a spliff. It ruins their life. They know the
0:09:29 > 0:09:33law don't though? I know, but other people out there are killing people
0:09:33 > 0:09:38and stuff like that. For example, if you're inside prison and you are
0:09:38 > 0:09:46speaking to someone and you say, "What are you in for?" And they are
0:09:46 > 0:09:51in for murder, and you say, "I'm here because he a spliff." There
0:09:51 > 0:09:54should be something set up for people inside and help them to
0:09:54 > 0:09:58reform. Michelle, there's been loads of comment online on the Free
0:09:58 > 0:10:04Speech website. Is it buzzing already? Let me tell you about the
0:10:04 > 0:10:13online debate. It has run into the hundreds and it's been going on for
0:10:13 > 0:10:19literally weeks. People en have -- people have been going ballistic.
0:10:19 > 0:10:29Are you ready for the twitterati verdict? Let's look at the Power
0:10:29 > 0:10:31
0:10:32 > 0:10:36At the moment, nothing! That's what you get on live TV. This is
0:10:36 > 0:10:40brilliant. However, we might not be on the Power Bar yet but we are
0:10:40 > 0:10:45trending already. I say that's well done, Bristol. CHEERING
0:10:45 > 0:10:50We'll come back to the Power Bar in a moment.
0:10:50 > 0:10:56I don't want the panellists to think we are getting off lightly
0:10:56 > 0:10:59with the Power Bar. That will be moving tonight. Zoe I'm sure you
0:10:59 > 0:11:04found that chat on drugs interesting because I know you have
0:11:04 > 0:11:14your own personal story about drugs. Are you cool to share that with us?
0:11:14 > 0:11:16
0:11:17 > 0:11:26Yes. Off you go. When I was 14 I was smoking cannabis. I stopped for
0:11:26 > 0:11:36a bit and then my nan died at the age of 16 and she was only 54, only
0:11:36 > 0:11:36
0:11:36 > 0:11:46young. I was smoking it for quite a bit and then I kind of went off the
0:11:46 > 0:12:21
0:12:21 > 0:12:26asleep and that. I was just What helped you? My little boy. If
0:12:26 > 0:12:30it wasn't for my little boy I would probably would be on harder stuff
0:12:30 > 0:12:36today. When you see our panel and they are talking about the ways of
0:12:36 > 0:12:41trying to some of these problems, you are in here with personal
0:12:41 > 0:12:45experiences and I'm sure you are not the only person here with your
0:12:45 > 0:12:50experience. What's your advice? think you should legalise weed but
0:12:50 > 0:12:57not the other things. Why would legalising cannabis or weed make a
0:12:57 > 0:13:03difference? Because some kids goes for hard time and hard in life and
0:13:03 > 0:13:07you just think, well, that can sort of help out. OK. Are you almost
0:13:07 > 0:13:11condoning it if you legalise it? In some ways, if people are taking
0:13:11 > 0:13:15drugs and they are still holding down regular jobs and have no
0:13:15 > 0:13:18issues in they are lives they think everything is fine and they are
0:13:18 > 0:13:23still taking cannabis. We know there are mental health and
0:13:24 > 0:13:32physical issues associated with it? Yeah, there can be, yeah. It makes
0:13:32 > 0:13:38you paranoid. OK. So yeah. Let's hear from George. Where's George? I
0:13:38 > 0:13:48would like to hear from him. What do you think? It should -- there
0:13:48 > 0:13:53
0:13:53 > 0:13:58health and it can't be good for society as a whole. I think it's a
0:13:58 > 0:14:08Governments and doctors and pharmacists are best placed to deal
0:14:08 > 0:14:31
0:14:31 > 0:14:36think Hollywood has played a large What did you think? I'm just
0:14:36 > 0:14:40wondering what about alcohol? That seems to be the biggest drug and it
0:14:41 > 0:14:44is legal. People that smoke weed can hold down a job the they choose
0:14:44 > 0:14:48to. If they don't choose to they are losing out on a big opportunity.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52What about alcohol? It is legal, it is in Tesco, all the way down to
0:14:52 > 0:14:56the floor. Kids see it. That really should have a limitation on it as
0:14:56 > 0:14:59well as cannabis, because a lot of people end up on the streets
0:14:59 > 0:15:09because of drinking because they drank their life away.
0:15:09 > 0:15:10
0:15:10 > 0:15:14Anybody else think we should regulate alcohol? I agree with that,
0:15:14 > 0:15:19but I think you need to go further, if you are thinking about
0:15:19 > 0:15:25regulating things, look at what is in the foods, and also look at
0:15:25 > 0:15:31caffeine. My dad has the story, he says that it was because he started
0:15:31 > 0:15:40drinking coffee when he was six years old, he is really short. I
0:15:40 > 0:15:44don't know if there is much truth to that argument. But He numbers,
0:15:45 > 0:15:51they're all linked with cancer, you have to look at all those things,
0:15:51 > 0:15:55they are available for kids to get right off the shelves, and there is
0:15:55 > 0:15:58no restriction on that. It feels that what people are saying is that
0:15:58 > 0:16:03there are a lot of things that are not good for people, so you cannot
0:16:03 > 0:16:08ban everything in it is likely bad for you. There is an overwhelming
0:16:08 > 0:16:13response. In response to the lovely young lady with the blond hair at
0:16:13 > 0:16:23the back, we have "cannabis should be legalised, it is less dangerous
0:16:23 > 0:16:27
0:16:27 > 0:16:35Another one, "drugs should be banned, simple. Why would we want
0:16:35 > 0:16:39to legalise them?" another one says drugs should be legalised and tax,
0:16:39 > 0:16:44and we should make a profit. The biggest response seems to be about
0:16:44 > 0:16:49Russell Brand's outfit! That is what people are talking about? What
0:16:49 > 0:16:54do we think on the panel? It seems to be a general feeling about more
0:16:54 > 0:16:58control. The lady you spoke to, or might issue with that is we are
0:16:58 > 0:17:02living in a society where if you have a problem, you turn to drugs
0:17:02 > 0:17:08immediately. Cocaine is something that, visually, you can see the
0:17:08 > 0:17:14effect it has on people, you can see people deteriorating every day.
0:17:14 > 0:17:22But people still choose to take that, what happens to friends, what
0:17:22 > 0:17:25happens to family, what happens to people who can help you? I agree
0:17:26 > 0:17:30entirely, and I think if you legalise something, people are
0:17:30 > 0:17:34still taking drugs when they are illegal, but if you legalise them,
0:17:34 > 0:17:39you are sending the wrong message. If you are feeling down, just take
0:17:39 > 0:17:44some drugs. Anti-depressants are prescribed so easily, what about
0:17:45 > 0:17:48talking to your family and friends, take some polls, whatever it is. It
0:17:49 > 0:17:52is really difficult, because if people are allowed to just take
0:17:52 > 0:17:58drugs, then whilst alcohol can be its huge problem in people's lives,
0:17:58 > 0:18:02at the same time, drugs might make you happy for a few hours, making
0:18:02 > 0:18:06them legal just makes them more available. Who would like to see
0:18:06 > 0:18:11all drugs legalised here? Some people believe that if we could
0:18:11 > 0:18:16legalise drugs can we can control the supply, remove the illegal
0:18:16 > 0:18:21element and the criminal underworld adamant. I just wanted to talk to
0:18:21 > 0:18:25you about what the lady mentioned when her gran died, that is what
0:18:25 > 0:18:30made her end up on drugs, and I had the exact same thing. My flat mate
0:18:30 > 0:18:34died, he was 20, that made me turn to cocaine. If my baby hadn't come
0:18:34 > 0:18:42along, I would be dead now. People need to focus more on bereavement,
0:18:42 > 0:18:48that is a common reason why people end up so deep into drugs. So focus
0:18:48 > 0:18:51more on the emotional element? completely. We have to look at drug
0:18:51 > 0:18:57treatment, because you treat a heroin addict with methadone, which
0:18:57 > 0:19:02is more addictive. You have the idea that if they relapse and use
0:19:02 > 0:19:05heroin again, their mortality rate increases, so why is it OK to treat
0:19:05 > 0:19:10someone with something that is state-controlled and more harmful,
0:19:10 > 0:19:14as opposed to giving them the drug, and weaning them off it? Why is it
0:19:14 > 0:19:21more functional to give them something that is statistically
0:19:21 > 0:19:31more dangerous? When I mentioned legalising drugs, someone shouted
0:19:31 > 0:19:35no, who was that? People get addicted to it and stuff like that,
0:19:35 > 0:19:39the main thing people forget is that we need a support network,
0:19:39 > 0:19:43funding, and that is one thing the government don't do. They throw
0:19:43 > 0:19:48them straight in prison, they are back on the streets again. We need
0:19:48 > 0:19:52to sit people down and ask why they are doing it for. It is expensive
0:19:52 > 0:19:58putting people in prison. Russell Brand has been through it, that is
0:19:58 > 0:20:05what you need to do it. The same with alcohol, they'd just say, take
0:20:05 > 0:20:10this. The same with depression. You need to tell your doctor, and ask
0:20:10 > 0:20:17them, what do when needed to? would like to say thanks to you all,
0:20:17 > 0:20:24and thanks to his tally for sharing her story. It is important to point
0:20:24 > 0:20:30out that there is evidence Dist suggest that despite paint is a
0:20:30 > 0:20:37carcinogenic chemical. What is happening on-line? Ball seems to
0:20:37 > 0:20:41think that Russell Brand is right. He says, "where drugs are concerned,
0:20:41 > 0:20:45I believe education is the answer, but telling kids drugs are bad will
0:20:45 > 0:20:55ruin your life, it is not the way to do it, they need the truth and
0:20:55 > 0:21:05the facts." they got off lightly a minute ago. That was a test run.
0:21:05 > 0:21:16
0:21:16 > 0:21:19A popular panel! It is not a contest. It kind of his. I think we
0:21:19 > 0:21:26have some friendly viewers watching this evening. Just to remind you,
0:21:26 > 0:21:36if you want to get involved and want to help us power up the Power
0:21:36 > 0:21:39
0:21:39 > 0:21:44It is important that people get involved this evening. Yes, please
0:21:44 > 0:21:48do, we are listening! Thank you, and thank you for your comments at
0:21:48 > 0:21:52home. Now we are going to talk about unemployment. Despite
0:21:52 > 0:21:58announcements that UK unemployment has fallen today, there are still
0:21:58 > 0:22:02more than 1 million unemployed young people in Britain. 20.8 of
0:22:02 > 0:22:12young white men are unemployed, that figure for young black men is
0:22:12 > 0:22:14
0:22:14 > 0:22:24a staggering 56%. Can we feasibly introduce positive discrimination
0:22:24 > 0:22:32
0:22:32 > 0:22:35in favour of black minority ethnic I think we can, I think personally,
0:22:35 > 0:22:41it stems from the whole university system in general, you spend a lot
0:22:41 > 0:22:47of time going to university, and the people who study For four or
0:22:47 > 0:22:52five years have no guarantees, whatever race you off. I find with
0:22:52 > 0:22:58young black men, especially from my background, where I grew up, a lot
0:22:58 > 0:23:02of them want to be entrepreneurs. A good one is Jamal, he is a good
0:23:02 > 0:23:06example of people who want to work for themselves, they hear their
0:23:06 > 0:23:10parents talking about hating their jobs, so that feeds into us, and
0:23:10 > 0:23:15from a young age, we want to be our own bosses. But do you believe in
0:23:15 > 0:23:20positive action, that black men should jump to the front of the Ku?
0:23:20 > 0:23:25No, I believe in equality in jobs, the right person should get the
0:23:25 > 0:23:30right job, but I find that the right person, especially in the UK,
0:23:30 > 0:23:34seems to be white people over any other ethnic minority. Alexandra?
0:23:34 > 0:23:38think positive action is an nice way of saying positive
0:23:38 > 0:23:44discrimination, discrimination it is terrible in all forms. Just
0:23:44 > 0:23:48discriminating against a particular gender or ethnic Crump -- Group, it
0:23:48 > 0:23:51is divisive at best, and is definitely not the answer. You need
0:23:51 > 0:23:57to look at the reasons why black people are less likely to be
0:23:57 > 0:24:04employed, a lot of that will come down to the state education sector,
0:24:04 > 0:24:07in the cities, and the sadistic about black graduates not doing as
0:24:08 > 0:24:12well, to look at white graduates and black graduates is not good
0:24:12 > 0:24:18enough. You could have five graduates coming from any of the
0:24:18 > 0:24:24City or gender, you could have five people, regardless of where they
0:24:24 > 0:24:28are from, a graduate will do better. A few people say it would be a good
0:24:28 > 0:24:34idea to have an all-woman shortlist, but I would be so offended if I
0:24:34 > 0:24:38felt I needed to be a woman to get elected. It is so patronising for
0:24:38 > 0:24:47people to think I'm so held back that I cannot override that, it is
0:24:47 > 0:24:51patronising and wrong. 43% of young black men anticipate discrimination
0:24:51 > 0:24:58before they apply for a job. Is that part of the problem? I don't
0:24:58 > 0:25:04think it is part of the problem, I think the problem is a motivation,
0:25:04 > 0:25:11and people need to get out of the kind of... I think unemployment is
0:25:11 > 0:25:19a disgrace all over the board, not just for black people, and I worked
0:25:20 > 0:25:24in pop man for five years before I could earn anything from my channel,
0:25:24 > 0:25:31and all my boys were like, I think they want it fast and were not
0:25:31 > 0:25:36prepared to work for it. Maybe it is the people you surround yourself
0:25:37 > 0:25:41with, as well. In school, I used to surround myself with the Football
0:25:41 > 0:25:47lot, and the music lot, it is a different social group, but it is
0:25:47 > 0:25:51all about the motivation. So how do we foster entrepreneurship and get
0:25:51 > 0:25:57young black people do think they can do their own thing? In schools,
0:25:57 > 0:26:04it is about starting early. Key stage three people, they were
0:26:04 > 0:26:07teaching them how to sew and staff, but it is not too early, when you
0:26:07 > 0:26:14get to college, that is when there tell you about your business, I
0:26:14 > 0:26:19didn't know anything about my business, tax, all of that... To
0:26:19 > 0:26:25does that not leave us with a lost generation, if we start looking at
0:26:25 > 0:26:30eight year-old can what about the guy is now? The guy is now, I think
0:26:30 > 0:26:36there needs to be some sort of initiative, I never used to have an
0:26:36 > 0:26:43office, but there is one in Camden for a lot of different styles, I
0:26:43 > 0:26:53think it should be applied to the North, West, Keith -- east and
0:26:53 > 0:26:54
0:26:54 > 0:27:00south. Comment on line? Well, one person says, "a person a keynote
0:27:00 > 0:27:06agree with positive discrimination, whether it is positive or negative,
0:27:06 > 0:27:10it is still discrimination". What do you think? I totally agree, if I
0:27:10 > 0:27:15felt I got a job because I was ticking a box, it takes away all
0:27:15 > 0:27:20your pride. But if you are sending someone into a job and they are not
0:27:20 > 0:27:26fully equipped, it is like throwing someone to the lions. So what is
0:27:26 > 0:27:30the answer? It is about going in, equipping, encouraging young men to
0:27:30 > 0:27:33reach for those jobs, to go into the interview fully prepared, to
0:27:33 > 0:27:39feel like they can go for those interviews. I think we should
0:27:39 > 0:27:46educate employers, there should be awareness. I would want to know
0:27:46 > 0:27:51that I was being self-aware, when I have people walk into the interview
0:27:51 > 0:27:55room, how might you ring them? think in an ideal world, that is
0:27:55 > 0:27:59fantastic, but I have been given jobs because I know the person. I
0:27:59 > 0:28:04may not have been the best person for the job, but if somebody is the
0:28:04 > 0:28:08best person for the job and they are going Behrend are presenting
0:28:08 > 0:28:14themselves, being young and black, what do you say to that person? All
0:28:14 > 0:28:17they are doing is applying for the job. It is nice to say, this is
0:28:17 > 0:28:23what they should be giving, but they are doing that and still are
0:28:24 > 0:28:27not getting work. How do you know that is the reason? At the same
0:28:27 > 0:28:32time, there are a lot of business is about employed black people.
0:28:32 > 0:28:37There are places, I feel more comfortable with this kind of race,
0:28:37 > 0:28:45that is what happens. It is easy to say it is not happening, but I have
0:28:45 > 0:28:49seen it. But the thing that is also helping black people? You asked
0:28:49 > 0:28:55about why we feel defeated, before we even tried, but it is because
0:28:55 > 0:28:59they have experienced it themselves. If I was in a position where I was
0:28:59 > 0:29:03qualified to do everything, whatever the criteria was, and kept
0:29:03 > 0:29:13on going for interviews, I would get deflated. Let's have a look at
0:29:13 > 0:29:31
0:29:31 > 0:29:36It is moving as we speak. I love the Power Bar. A comment from
0:29:36 > 0:29:41Jonathan describing people as black and white is racist. Just describe
0:29:41 > 0:29:46them as human beings. We've spoken about what it might be
0:29:46 > 0:29:50like if you are young and black and looking for work. Freddie and Chin
0:29:50 > 0:29:55are living that life. This is the film they made for us.
0:29:55 > 0:30:01Hello, I'm Freddie and I'm following up on a job application
0:30:01 > 0:30:11form I sent into you guys. Oh, so the job's been filled then? OK,
0:30:11 > 0:30:38
0:30:38 > 0:30:44yeah. Thank you for your time Did you get any good replies?
0:30:44 > 0:30:54places were optimistic. It's hard to motivate yourself. What are you
0:30:54 > 0:31:21
0:31:21 > 0:31:25doing now? Hand out more CVs. I APPLAUSE
0:31:25 > 0:31:30Well done! Thank you so much for sharing that with us. How sad
0:31:30 > 0:31:34though that you feel you need to rap about the fact that your skin
0:31:34 > 0:31:38makes you a misfit. Is that really how you feel? I just think
0:31:38 > 0:31:44personally, there's so many statistics out there, and I don't
0:31:44 > 0:31:48want to be trapped like another black man, whatever. I just want a
0:31:48 > 0:31:53job really. That's all I really want. And you feel you're doing
0:31:53 > 0:31:55everything? We've heard here that young black men need to feel
0:31:55 > 0:32:00empowered and this they can achieve their dreams. Did you feel that you
0:32:00 > 0:32:03can do that but you are not getting the opportunities? You wake up in
0:32:03 > 0:32:08the morning and you see that statistic, 56%. That's generation.
0:32:08 > 0:32:14That's like a dad and a son with no job. I've done everything. I've
0:32:14 > 0:32:20volunteered for years at this youth centre. I'm only just now getting
0:32:20 > 0:32:23an apresentistship for it. Last year I went for it and they said I
0:32:23 > 0:32:27was overqualified. It is ridiculous, 56%. Sometimes I think it is better
0:32:27 > 0:32:32for me to go out and look for jobs in person, because then they see
0:32:32 > 0:32:39what sort of person you are and they might like your personality.
0:32:39 > 0:32:44When I'm doing CVs only, if if they see my first name, because it is
0:32:44 > 0:32:48Nigerian, they might think, "He can't speak good English." The
0:32:48 > 0:32:53hardest thing in the morning is getting up and motivating yourself.
0:32:53 > 0:32:59I have to be consistent and going to the same place all the time.
0:32:59 > 0:33:03this resonating with you Jamal? Yeah. One, the video, yeah, it's
0:33:04 > 0:33:12cool but for one I would never go into a shop wearing a hood.
0:33:12 > 0:33:17APPLAUSE Two, you are saying you are going into the same place over
0:33:17 > 0:33:22and over again. I walked up Ealing Broadway every day after school and
0:33:22 > 0:33:26I was dressed smart, but people need to get into their mind, if you
0:33:26 > 0:33:30are not getting in somewhere, if you are watching a show, for
0:33:30 > 0:33:34example I'm watching EastEnders, I'm watching the credits. I'm
0:33:34 > 0:33:40looking at all the assistant producers and editors and thinking
0:33:40 > 0:33:48how I will contact those people I Google, I search their name. It
0:33:48 > 0:33:57goes down to the point that I find out where they are. If it says they
0:33:57 > 0:34:02are in Ealing, I make sure goi to Ealing and bump into them -- go to
0:34:02 > 0:34:05Ealing and bump into them. Parents not working, try something
0:34:06 > 0:34:09different. When you are young you don't necessarily know the right
0:34:09 > 0:34:14way but there seems to be a difference notice opportunities
0:34:14 > 0:34:16that are there for young black men, Kojo? I would say about the
0:34:16 > 0:34:21appearance thing. You can be qualified and good at your job but
0:34:21 > 0:34:25if you don't know how to present yourself, no matter what colour you
0:34:25 > 0:34:29are, you don't deserve the job. I don't know you and you come into my
0:34:29 > 0:34:34place of business dressed inappropriately. When I watched the
0:34:34 > 0:34:39video I was like, I wouldn't have given him a job. So whatever the
0:34:39 > 0:34:43colour of your skin, do the job justice. Yes, and smile. Be
0:34:43 > 0:34:50confident. APPLAUSE I agree with what you are saying about going
0:34:50 > 0:34:56into a job prepared and dressing smartly and not going in with a bad
0:34:56 > 0:35:02attitude. You instead that video and -- you said in that video that
0:35:02 > 0:35:06you wake up and think I'm a statistic. Who does that? So many
0:35:06 > 0:35:09young people in this country are unemployed, because the last
0:35:09 > 0:35:14Government did very little. This Government is doing very little. We
0:35:14 > 0:35:17need to boost the economy and do well. Cutting taxes and regulation.
0:35:17 > 0:35:21Something needs to be done by the Government and nothing's being done.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25None of the three main parties seem to know what they are doing. So
0:35:25 > 0:35:30many people, regardless of whether they are black or white, are
0:35:30 > 0:35:36suffering. Something needs to be done. It sounds like maybe you need
0:35:36 > 0:35:42to do more to help yourself. That video was completely staged. We had
0:35:42 > 0:35:48to go out looking how we did. APPLAUSE This is what I'm saying
0:35:48 > 0:35:52though, in my head I knew that but that video is now representing you.
0:35:52 > 0:35:56There was certain things I couldn't even say, I don't know if I am
0:35:56 > 0:36:01allowed to say it. The service there is for the unemployed don't
0:36:01 > 0:36:06help. I'm not going to do work experience for 8 weeks in a place
0:36:06 > 0:36:11where they can pay for for 8 weeks. Where is Amy? I want to hear from
0:36:11 > 0:36:15Amy on this. Hello. Something that made me really angry is that you
0:36:15 > 0:36:20are going to try to give these people jobs over other people.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24you say these people you mean young black people? Sorry, yes. What
0:36:24 > 0:36:30right do they have, just because they don't have a job? I don't have
0:36:30 > 0:36:35a job. Give me a job if you want. It is ridiculous, because if they
0:36:35 > 0:36:41are thinking they can pick any job they want they are not going to try.
0:36:41 > 0:36:51You described that as comedy. is more than comedy b
0:36:51 > 0:36:52
0:36:52 > 0:37:02lurksdfrpblgts what kind -- this is more than comedy blud. You have
0:37:02 > 0:37:02
0:37:02 > 0:37:06people saying they are statistics blud. You know what I'm saying?
0:37:06 > 0:37:11This lady is saying, so they are going to give black people better
0:37:11 > 0:37:15jobs? We've got no jobs in England, innit. Unless you are some kind of
0:37:15 > 0:37:18graduate or common purpose or some kind of course like that, yeah,
0:37:18 > 0:37:22where you spent money to meet people, you are not going to have a
0:37:22 > 0:37:28job, you are going to be stuck in a job where you work hard and to make
0:37:28 > 0:37:35you work hard every day you get low pay to make you dependent on that
0:37:35 > 0:37:43job. And if not, innit, like you are going to fail innit there are
0:37:43 > 0:37:48no jobs like? What I can show you is ten black people, ten white
0:37:48 > 0:37:51people and all of them is educated past the standards of your spurious
0:37:51 > 0:37:58educational SATs and all these things and none of them have jobs.
0:37:58 > 0:38:03So the problem is there's no jobs for anyone. APPLAUSE You cannot
0:38:03 > 0:38:10break it down to division, blud. Division is written on money. The
0:38:10 > 0:38:16�20 note. Manufacturing. Now you are bringing into it this show. How
0:38:16 > 0:38:24dare you? Seriously blud. All I'm doing is discussing the facts.
0:38:24 > 0:38:33There's no jobs. That's the fact. Say that is true. We can stop this
0:38:33 > 0:38:37dumb debate about division. (Inaudible) I'm human. Absolutely.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41I think you are undermining the issue by talking about appearance
0:38:41 > 0:38:45and clothing and the way you should approach interviews. The fact is
0:38:45 > 0:38:5056% of young black men are unemployed. You shouldn't be
0:38:50 > 0:38:54looking at what they are doing not to get those jobs but why do they
0:38:54 > 0:38:59have to work twice as horde to get a job and that's the issue. That's
0:38:59 > 0:39:04what shoe be debating. I totally agree with everything you just said,
0:39:04 > 0:39:10but so what? My thing is that. I have known from five years old that
0:39:10 > 0:39:15I had, in my house we were told you have to do twice as much as a white
0:39:15 > 0:39:22person. However, so what? It is called hard work. At the end of it,
0:39:22 > 0:39:26hold on! What I'm saying to you is what's wrong with being twice as
0:39:26 > 0:39:31good at the end? And you still get turned away. I understand what you
0:39:31 > 0:39:36are saying, but at the end, if you are positive, I'm going to be twice
0:39:36 > 0:39:43as good in the end. Everyone is living life innit. You can't be
0:39:43 > 0:39:48twice as good at living unless you are got two hearts, blud, the you
0:39:48 > 0:39:52get me? No matter what the colour of your skin. APPLAUSE It is about
0:39:52 > 0:39:58achieving what you want to do. What's your objective. It is not
0:39:58 > 0:40:04about being better than anybody. Thank to SB TV, people are thinking
0:40:04 > 0:40:09I have I want a job I want to make it in the music career. You get
0:40:09 > 0:40:13what I'm saying? Let's find out what people are saying online.
0:40:13 > 0:40:19Michelle, a snapshot of public opinion. Only the debate is gect as
0:40:19 > 0:40:22heated as it is here in the studio. Sean is saying racism exists to
0:40:22 > 0:40:25suit certain people's needs when they don't get their own way. I
0:40:25 > 0:40:29would like to say that the overwhelming response online is
0:40:29 > 0:40:34saying we are all humans at the end of the day. Do you know what I
0:40:34 > 0:40:38mean? I would also like to say we are trending number three on
0:40:38 > 0:40:42Twitter. Please move us up to number one. And do keep your
0:40:42 > 0:40:52questions coming in as well. Michelle there are all kinds of
0:40:52 > 0:40:55
0:40:55 > 0:40:59All this is important because Free Speech is not just a TV show. We
0:40:59 > 0:41:04are online and if you get in touch with us you can shape what happens
0:41:05 > 0:41:11in the studio. We have something called the hot
0:41:11 > 0:41:14five, where you can help us decide to topics that we cover. Last week
0:41:14 > 0:41:19one thing was a controversial debate about the Education
0:41:19 > 0:41:23Secretary. Online on our web It was about
0:41:23 > 0:41:28Michael Gove. He went to a private school, Robert Gordon's College,
0:41:28 > 0:41:35yet he says it is morally indefensible how many privately
0:41:35 > 0:41:39educated people get top jobs. feel that private schools divide
0:41:39 > 0:41:43class and promote inequality, because it is unne'er a child who
0:41:43 > 0:41:47might be extremely talented might not get to excel because their
0:41:47 > 0:41:51standard of education is dictated by their background. I didn't go to
0:41:51 > 0:41:55a public school. My parents couldn't afford it. Why is it that
0:41:55 > 0:41:58when only 7% of schools in this country from private, that majority
0:41:58 > 0:42:04of influential and successful people across all fields, including
0:42:04 > 0:42:08the industry I work in, are privately educated? That's the
0:42:08 > 0:42:12problem. Let's hear from Tom Vaughan? Our next question. Does
0:42:12 > 0:42:18the panel agree that the only conclusion of Michael Gove's recent
0:42:18 > 0:42:23speech on schools that private education should be banned? What do
0:42:23 > 0:42:29we think, panel? Should private education be banned? Your hand went
0:42:29 > 0:42:33up quickly. What's been shown is that private school gives better
0:42:33 > 0:42:38opportunities to people who can afford it. Now, what we should be
0:42:38 > 0:42:42looking at, I don't think you should bring something that's doing
0:42:42 > 0:42:48better down. You should bring the state system up. Selection is a
0:42:48 > 0:42:53dirty word. APPLAUSE It is not just private schools. There are so few
0:42:53 > 0:42:57decent state schools that parents who can afford it are buying up
0:42:57 > 0:43:02houses in the catchment area. It is a dirty word, selection, but if
0:43:02 > 0:43:08kids are going to be selected in one way it should be on academic
0:43:08 > 0:43:12ability. Cater for those who aren't so academic. Have grammar schools.
0:43:12 > 0:43:18Don't ban private schools have. Choice. Were you privately
0:43:18 > 0:43:22educated? I was and I appreciate that, but my father is from a
0:43:22 > 0:43:27council estate and a grammar school. When you look at changing the
0:43:27 > 0:43:31education sments producer, not consumer-led. It is run by the
0:43:31 > 0:43:36teaching unions. Grammar schools in Kent. Kids and parents are fighting
0:43:36 > 0:43:40for grammar schools. Teaching unions only care about keeping the
0:43:40 > 0:43:44status quo. Cherry? I went to private school and I can understand
0:43:44 > 0:43:49how frustrating it must be to have that massive divide and that the
0:43:49 > 0:43:52jobs do go to primarily people at private school. It is absolutely
0:43:52 > 0:43:58the wrong answer to ban them. That's a really sexy political
0:43:58 > 0:44:02statement. It wins votes, but it is way too unsophisticated. There's a
0:44:02 > 0:44:07divide in quality between private and state, but I agree - don't get
0:44:07 > 0:44:11rid of the stuff we do really well. The UK is amazing at education. We
0:44:11 > 0:44:16are internationally looked at as an example of how to educate. I think
0:44:16 > 0:44:22let's take what's happening in private schools and let's share it
0:44:22 > 0:44:30with everybody. Let's get more bursaries, more shared lessons and
0:44:30 > 0:44:34facilities. Let's break down the boundaries and share it. Lets bring
0:44:34 > 0:44:42what's not working up. Hands up who thinks privately educated people
0:44:42 > 0:44:47have it easier in this country? A quick point why you think that?
0:44:47 > 0:44:51I'm 2 2. I've dropped out of two college courses. I've completed one
0:44:51 > 0:44:59and I hope to start one in September. In the time I have been
0:44:59 > 0:45:07doing that I could have had 700 UCAS points by now. I grew up with
0:45:07 > 0:45:13own brand cupboards full. I've got no silver spoon in my mouth. I
0:45:13 > 0:45:16could have got the UCAS points and gone to Oxford. Not on the back of
0:45:16 > 0:45:22mother and father's gravy Chin. haven't had the opportunity that
0:45:22 > 0:45:26people have had I have had the opportunity. The courses have been
0:45:26 > 0:45:36funded. There is not anybody nels this room who hasn't got the same
0:45:36 > 0:45:40
0:45:40 > 0:45:50tuefpblts It is not strictly true, if you
0:45:50 > 0:45:52
0:45:52 > 0:45:55want it, you will work for it. was just going to say, the majority
0:45:55 > 0:46:03of prime ministers that we have had in the UK have been from the same
0:46:03 > 0:46:08school. I don't think it is a bad thing to have private education for
0:46:08 > 0:46:14those people who can afford it. Private schools also sponsor state
0:46:14 > 0:46:19schools, which brings the quality up, and I think also, if I was
0:46:19 > 0:46:23paying 30 Grande year or something to have my kid in private education,
0:46:23 > 0:46:28I would really push for them to achieve as much as they can come
0:46:28 > 0:46:31and make the most of my money. interesting point, because what
0:46:31 > 0:46:35people are saying is that there are people who have been to private
0:46:35 > 0:46:42schools, and that is fine, if you have got the money, the real topic
0:46:42 > 0:46:46here is, are people who have been to private schools are getting the
0:46:46 > 0:46:50opportunities, is that because of an old boys' club? I think parents
0:46:50 > 0:47:00are going to be switched regardless, they are going to send their kids
0:47:00 > 0:47:02
0:47:02 > 0:47:07wherever. -- which were Dardis. -- reached regardless. I don't go to
0:47:07 > 0:47:13private school, but I'm against, I want to show everyone, you can go
0:47:13 > 0:47:17to a state school, I have been boat -- put in front of David Cameron
0:47:17 > 0:47:25and Ed Miliband, I would show them you don't have to go to private
0:47:25 > 0:47:31school to go in front of people like that. I think, at you go into
0:47:31 > 0:47:39private school, you go to a -- going to either is not going to
0:47:39 > 0:47:44guarantee you anything. I do agree with these two on the fact of,
0:47:44 > 0:47:48raising up the public school education, and getting it on a par
0:47:48 > 0:47:52with the private school, because if you can afford to get a little bit
0:47:52 > 0:48:02extra for your child, you should be able to do that. Michelle, some
0:48:02 > 0:48:07
0:48:07 > 0:48:16comments? He has, Liam says, it is A really nice point, "money
0:48:16 > 0:48:26separate upper-class from the lower class, it stops equality". How is
0:48:26 > 0:48:28
0:48:28 > 0:48:32the Power Bar moving? Led to fire up the Power Bar. Seen as you are
0:48:32 > 0:48:39so popular, it said, it is not what you know, it is who you know, but
0:48:39 > 0:48:44that is regardless of education, isn't it? What do you think? I had
0:48:44 > 0:48:52to graft to get to know people. I wasn't really in the scene, but I
0:48:52 > 0:48:55was waiting outside nightclubs, now I know people. It is half and half.
0:48:56 > 0:49:04At the end of the day it is down to the person. If you wanted, you will
0:49:04 > 0:49:14get it. So you created your Dugit around you? Yes. You can get in
0:49:14 > 0:49:19
0:49:19 > 0:49:22We would like you to get in touch. No moment we will ask why Rio
0:49:22 > 0:49:28Ferdinand will be watching the Euros on the BBC rather than
0:49:28 > 0:49:33playing. -- in a moment. But first, something else that has got youth
0:49:33 > 0:49:39fired up. British music is taking over the world. There is Adele, a
0:49:39 > 0:49:44Jessie J, making waves, they are women. Us Open music scene is
0:49:44 > 0:49:54represented by the likes of Tinchy Stryder, Tinie Tempah, all talented,
0:49:54 > 0:50:01
0:50:01 > 0:50:10all men. It is -- is it tougher for Urban culture is a bit of a boys'
0:50:10 > 0:50:14club, because the main icons that come to mind on men. A I have heard
0:50:14 > 0:50:17a lot of be males that are better than a lot of men I have heard, and
0:50:17 > 0:50:25a lot of men that are better, I don't think it should be down to
0:50:25 > 0:50:33sex, it should be down to who is musically better. The whole idea of
0:50:33 > 0:50:39a female rapper in the UK, I don't think it is pushed as much. If you
0:50:39 > 0:50:45had a song that had a 100% we all words, and everybody can relate to
0:50:45 > 0:50:50it, that is one thing. But if you have one about doing certain things
0:50:50 > 0:50:55two guys, it will get more, and that is wrong. I think the females
0:50:55 > 0:51:03in the rap industry in the UK are on and up. I have experienced
0:51:03 > 0:51:08sexism, just because I am a Pom Boyd. -- tomboy. People have said
0:51:08 > 0:51:17that to me before, why do you dress in a certain way, why don't you
0:51:17 > 0:51:21sexy up yourself? I don't care what man I have to look at. A everybody
0:51:21 > 0:51:31thinks about what the consumer is going to think, what the consumer
0:51:31 > 0:51:34
0:51:34 > 0:51:39There we go, the thought of three talented young ladies. The question
0:51:39 > 0:51:46from Felicity. Are there fewer female rappers because of the way
0:51:46 > 0:51:52they are depicted by male rappers? A good one for you, Jamal. What is
0:51:52 > 0:51:56the problem, why are there not more women? I think some female artists
0:51:56 > 0:52:03may be a bit scared to try and jump in, because it is so male-dominated,
0:52:03 > 0:52:13but I have always said, regardless, I will be to have been well if they
0:52:13 > 0:52:14
0:52:14 > 0:52:18want to get on my channel. -- I will feature a female. I spoke to
0:52:18 > 0:52:22one in 2009, she feels it is a male orientated, she cannot get out
0:52:22 > 0:52:27there, and I have a platform to try and push it more, but did you get
0:52:27 > 0:52:34other people who come in and try and talk a load of madness, and
0:52:34 > 0:52:41that shows other people... That is a bad reflection of the girls and
0:52:41 > 0:52:48have been grafting, talking sense, but she smashes it. In America, if
0:52:48 > 0:52:54they did that, it would do well. we need more opportunities, what do
0:52:54 > 0:52:58we think? At the end of the day, if people have got a story to tell,
0:52:58 > 0:53:03that women can relate to, of course we are going to listen, and of
0:53:03 > 0:53:08course we are going to find that on the internet, and there is
0:53:08 > 0:53:13definitely a scene there for the Underground female MC's. It to you
0:53:13 > 0:53:20feel under-represented? definitely do, because I am not a
0:53:20 > 0:53:24plastic model, not singing about my chain, I have not got a fake bomb.
0:53:24 > 0:53:32I think a lot of women -- rap centralisers women rather than
0:53:32 > 0:53:35promoting good things, and I think that is a bad thing. I think it is
0:53:35 > 0:53:43interesting that Jamal spoke about having a platform of four women, so
0:53:43 > 0:53:45it is OK to positively discriminate for women, but why is it not OK to
0:53:45 > 0:53:51recognise white privilege for young black men and positively
0:53:51 > 0:53:57discriminate for them? Or one of the point. Did you think that music
0:53:57 > 0:54:01is an industry which is big, but talking about it is really uncommon
0:54:01 > 0:54:09for most young people, because I don't listen to music that much.
0:54:09 > 0:54:19The fact is that rap music is dull. Can you give us one comment from
0:54:19 > 0:54:26
0:54:26 > 0:54:29Thank you for your comments. On to our final topic. This is the last
0:54:29 > 0:54:33Free Speech until after the European Championship. I'm
0:54:33 > 0:54:40personally keen to get one away hear about football. This is my
0:54:40 > 0:54:44question. Rio Ferdinand is out, John Terry is in, is that the right
0:54:44 > 0:54:50call? We cannot discuss the court case that is pending, but we can
0:54:50 > 0:54:55talk about the decision. I reckon personally that neither of them
0:54:55 > 0:55:00should be there, they should take a young team and play with young guys.
0:55:00 > 0:55:07I disagree, I think John Terry is amazing, why cannot he played for
0:55:07 > 0:55:13his country? What do you think? think it depends on merit, Rio is a
0:55:13 > 0:55:19past it, I think John Terry should go. Would you agree? You have
0:55:19 > 0:55:21changed your mind? If I worked in a school and I had a case pending for
0:55:21 > 0:55:31paedophilia or something, I wouldn't be able to go to work
0:55:31 > 0:55:35until that is finished up. Very quickly... That is my point, I
0:55:35 > 0:55:39understand that none of them should go, Rio is injury-prone and hasn't
0:55:39 > 0:55:47been playing much, John Terry has a case going on, I don't think he
0:55:47 > 0:55:55should have gone. Michel? A we are trending on Twitter globally.
0:55:55 > 0:56:04you very much indeed. Once again, it has blown by. You can join us on
0:56:04 > 0:56:09line at any time. He has been very badly behaved. You will be on