https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/22569788.tributes-pour-icolyn-ma-smith-fed-citys-homeless-three-decades/ Sad news- the death of Icolyn Smith .
I was honoured to cast away Icolyn (Ma ) Smith on Oxtopia. Food flowed through her story like a river powered by love . The editor, Tim Metcalfe, titled the feature, ‘One in a Million’ and how right he was – Icolyn was an exceptional human being. When Nancy Mundenyo Hunt and I wrote our novel, Not so Black and White, we named a character Icolyn because she was modelled on her. (She gave us permission). My memoir is titled Food of Love, cooking up a story across gender class and race. Each chapter ends with a recipe and Icolyn sent me one of hers. I invented a word communescence and Icolyn would have loved it. It means ‘eat together and come together’. I’m sad that she didn’t live long enough to receive her copy.
I posted this blog about Icolyn on her 90h birthday
I mention Icolyn in the video lecture I was asked to give, on Oxford Castaways, to the Oxford Guild of (tour) Guides. When her husband died, Icolyn took on three jobs to keep her family afloat Despite having no money, no savings she started the Cowley Road Soup Kitchen which mostly feeds homeless white men. She knew hardship and prejudice. She once rescued a little white boy who was about to run in front of a car but his mother shouted at her, ‘Get your filthy black hands off my boy.’
Icolyn responded to hate with love. I also mention Euton Daley who was also born in the Caribbean but has made such a wonderful contribution to Oxford (Town) life. There is still a huge gulf between town and gown and it needs bridging! Here is Icolyn’s story! Icolyn Smith
This is the castaway video which shows how Oxford life and culture has been enriched by immigrants from five continents. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NvrzUnGE50
Fear and scapegoating of desperate people is pedalled by heartless politicians who are devoid of empathy. The broadcast below should be compulsory listening for the likes of Suella Braverman and Pritti Patel . Waheed arrived as an illegal refugee, and has not only given wonderfully to this country but has saved lives around the world and continues to do so. This refugee boy became a UN Global Hero.
[…] Yesterday I attended the Pharos lecture at the Sheldonian theatre. (Lord) Jonathan Sumption talked on the subject ‘The New Roundheads: politics and the Misuse of History.’ At the end of his eloquent address, I knew that the label ‘roundhead’ applies to me. But why is it we must label each other? He suggested that modern days ‘Roundheads’ who want to de-colonise history are intolerant. I dislike the term ‘de- colonise’ because it cements divisions. I prefer ‘telling the whole story.’ Spearheading the desire to tell the whole story are the Windrush generation & I don’t know of any group of people who are more tolerant. https://www.sylviavetta.co.uk/2022/09/23/icolyn-smith-an-inspirational-example-of-how-the-windrush-p… […]