SuAndi

 International 
Performance Artist

"Like any person of African descent, I not only survive but celebrate my life."

Sussed "slavery was not a recognised position in old England, so many slaves on landing discovering this would flee. This was particularly true of the young boys who were captured as pets for "ladies". The trade of Africans went on and the newspapers often carried articles on runaway slaves. Many of those who did escape remained hidden with the help of local people in rural areas. Many began businesses using the skill their captives had taught them. Indeed, many married and the name Morrison originally was Moorson, son of a Moor, a Blackamoor, an African. The Queen became fed up with having so many dark skinned people about and instructed parliament to "rid fair England of the Blackamoors". Poverty was rife, so Parliament brought out Parish relief (this is now social security or welfare in the USA). In order to make a claim, you had to prove that you were born in the parish. If you could not do this, you were sussed and sold back into slavery. During the late eighties, when insurrections were going on, a police chief said, that if a Blackman was walking through Wilmslow ( a sort of Baldwin Hills area), he would be arrested of thinking to commit a crime - Sussed Laws became the vogue with the law. We have now reclaimed the word for ourselves. Being Sussed in our knowing of who we are."