The Myth Of Escaping The Ghetto | Yinka Bokinni | TEDxPeckham

Yinka Bokinni has an interesting story to share about what it’s like living on different sides of the same coin of Peckham
DJ, Blogger and Radio Presenter. Yinka Bokinni hosted Breakfast with Yinka on Rinse FM for over a year and more recently has become the Capital Extra drive time presenter.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@rionfield8798]

People have been discussing gentrification here, after Yinka Bokinni's TEDx talk. Three years later, on 28.10.2020, she had her first documentary shown on Channel 4. It's about Peckham, and about one of the kids she grew up with for a while, Damilola Taylor. He was killed aged 10. Speaking about the estate, her happy childhood there, and the reality of violence in the 'ghetto', she says: "Two things can be true at the same time. I can have my nostalgia, my summers and my Christmases while also accepting that terrible things happened there, that is was a violent place." As I'm writing this, capital-driven hyper-gentrification is bulldozing through Brixton, a neighbourhood next to Peckham. Brixton has long been infamous for deviance drugs and violence, and famous for music and a good Caribbean infrastructure from a food market to hair stylists for others. Money has moved in. Traders were evicted. Pubs and bars replaced. Council estates demolished. New buildings, new shops, skyrocketing rents and property prices, art on the tube station, lots of tourists. The "two things" Yinka speaks about are gone. Or, as Mike Urban said in another TEDx talk, "worlds are not colliding anymore". Brixton is cleaner now, more expensive, but is it safer? The brutality of social cleansing is slower than the murder of a child. But is it really less violent? Does "urban regeneration" really need to take the form of relentless gentrification? Does it need to destroy what Paul Gilroy called "conviviality", the neighbourly co-existence of different communities? It's happening in Peckham, Brixton, Hackney, in parts of Berlin and probably every major city of the world. Yinka kept her connection to Peckham going. People like her, who have one foot in the broken, double-faced 'Ghetto', and the other in the world of successful professionals, can make a huge difference - and keep the worlds colliding in a good way.

[@panasheg833]

It's truly an African mentality. Education really is the way out for many Africans

[@AR-dr1sb]

as long as you have money

[@georgeorwell3532]

Panashe Gadaga here's me thinking it was a world mentality not an African one. Education has always been the key!

[@oluwasegunoriola9834]

Tripzki Smith but yet, we believe it a lot more due to our circumstances.

[@georgeorwell3532]

Segun Oriola what circumstances? Poverty?

[@oluwasegunoriola9834]

Tripzki Smith crime, corruption, etc. Go to most European countries and you barely have to work hard, technology makes them lazy af.

[@damionscott6254]

I disagree with the gentrification part because it does not help the people in the ghetto to "progress". Instead they just move to a new location with as little money and economic knowledge as they had before. BUT everything else she said I 100% agree on, and I live in the U.S. this talk really spoke to my love of Pan-African unity and realising how we are all connected.

[@grime_garage]

New Griot Stratford and Tottenham are good examples of the Gentrification process. Now that poor people are moving out suddenly the council are finding money to clean the borough up.

[@biancarosembert7472]

I agree the new businesses and facilities are not for the poor.. they cater to those who can afford them. The poor people are then forced out of those neighborhoods and a "new ghetto" is formed

[@kuroichan101]

Exactly. Wynwood, a now art place in miami, kicked out all the poor people. Those poor people just spread to a near by neighborhood that was even worse, overtown. Gentrification doesnt change anything.

[@kierrahaywood4857]

kuroichan101 I was about to bring up Wynwood, and how although business is booming, the sad reality of the Overtowners is overlooked. Glad to know that someone from Miami recognizes the gentrification! Not many people do.

[@gisar.6539]

White City is another example of gentrification

[@shukriyy6368]

Dear yinka bokini, if you ever read this, then I would like to tell you I enjoyed this ted talk more than many many other ones. ❤️

[@Wanderer25]

She seems so likeable and engaging. Kind of person you have some interesting convos over a few drinks...Her topic was on the mark. Rather than "escaping the ghetto" we should invest in it so that when gentrification comes we don't get priced out and our kids don't get the opportunities they need and deserve.

[@serinamoyo3142]

She is so likeable. Go Yinka!

[@tzach6745]

Instant love first three sentences and I have a new little sister.

[@catnoir4461]

Idk if yinka will ever read this, but on the rare chance you do, I'm so proud of you and how far you've come! I've been around since you were just starting with your blog site and radio gig, and you've just blossomed so much from then! This was an awesome talk. ❤

[@ruqayathime8546]

I really feel this. Im from tower hamlets, immigrant bengali parents, 5 kids in total, 2 bedroom flat. My whole life was about escaping the ghetto. Im studying architecture rn but im starting to realise its a myth. Nothing has changed and i did everything you're 'suppose' to except invest in myself or my area. Makes me very bitter and sad.

If everyone is grown and you have 7 ppl who all work, you could easily afford to move out of the ghetto. Pool your resources

[@olusegunafolabi3732]

that's a Nigerian mentality, education is the way outta poverty.

[@dugebuwembo]

Olusegun Afolabi it's an African mentality, I am Ugandan and that's the way.......

[@Geraldbux0401]

African Mentality

[@georgeorwell3532]

How is education as a means to escape poverty a Nigerian mentality? That's the purpose of education! African, Asian, European whatever people use education as a means to improve their lives!

[@Geraldbux0401]

Well, as it turns out, education is severely overrated because the bottom-line is that it nothing but a product on shelf. There is no guarantee of employment or of successes from that formula but rather it systematically undermines creativity in its original form. The pursuit of education without a clear understanding of self and without a developed ideology or philosophy of life becomes pointless. More alarming is the lack of vision that most graduates leave school with. There are other ways of escaping poverty without the waste of time and raking up huge household debt.

[@grime_garage]

Olusegun Afolabi Education is key but you assume just because you went to university and sat in lectures makes you more educated than a person who did not. Ive met plenty of self educated people when I go to book festivals. My dad never went uni instead he went into mechanics and engineering., my granddad told him you will never be unemployed with a career in that field and you can make money and be financially stable even when Britain had a recession.

[@foreverMelloYT]

"Invest in yourself, please." Yesss!

[@snapbacktothepast]

This mentality is universal. She speaks for us all. Amazing talk, Yinka.

[@teegraciela1065]

This is great. Education CAN be a means to escape poverty but so can't entrepreneurship and ingenuity. Those characteristics are undernourished in immigrant communities.

[@Papa123-k1i]

So very true

[@coiledbydesign1270]

You're so very right! You might've already seen the Ted Talks with Maggie Anderson but if not, check her out.

[@treroney4720]

That would explain why they are poor

[@jamesjames9193]

Generally speaking, it is the mentality of most parents, to want better for their children, thus many of the financially poor parents believe that 'a good - formal - education' will ensure this for their child(ren). However, like many have already stated, obtaining certificates often results in little more than debt, and great disappointment because there is no guarantee that one will ever get to work in the field that they have studied for, and for those that do, many go on to realize that their chosen career does not make them happy. So, what parents should be telling their children to do is: be happy, do whatever it is that makes you happy - so long as it does not hurt or harm anyone else; and life is short, so make the most of it.

[@pipopipo6477]

Success is not about the amount of money you earn or what kind of degree you have or in what neighborhood you life. For me it's only about how much happy you are! Many so called "successful" people are not happy at all!

[@marcelchalobah7946]

Pipo Pipo so true a lot of people waste their time going to college/university end up in dead end jobs and debts living in regret.

[@JaggedEdgeBouldering]

its true. you also are able to say this because you or your family one or a few generations back achieved some sort of lower-middle class status to chill out a bit and aspire to 'be happy.' people starting from less (financially, socially) than that still are going through that :)

[@Dimz30]

Pipo Pipo true

[@Dimz30]

marcel chalobah very true it's a Business

[@Dimz30]

JayoJay it's a power thing for them it opens doors. But it's not everything

[@skooosan]

We would be lying if we all disagree and just say it's a mentality. Education has an important place in our being. With it, find something worth doing and once your candle is lit, light others. I think that's what she's saying in a nutshell

[@jo.onthego]

Gentrification is different from the impacts of honest urban revitalization or community investment. Gentrification push out the people who are from that community by increasing the cost of living. If a neighborhood gains certain attractions, it becomes "prime" real estate which makes developer build condos and rises with expensive rent and the old landlords are forced to increase their rent. So then a family that has been living with affordable rent for years suddenly gets a huge spike in the rent payments and simply can't afford to live there.

[@sophiamyambala1405]

If I knew there had been a TED talk in Peckham, I definitely would have shown up.

[@u7617]

She was brought up the cookie cutter Nigeria way. This is how we are all taught as Nigerians. FOCUS ON YOUR STUDIES AND BE THE BEST.

[@makaleaburton6037]

And the "rural" African American way. (In my culture)

[@markyrwd9692]

Lovely girl and deserves all the luck in the world.

[@drewstar8611]

I grew up in Peckham, opposite ‘yellow brick estate’ as they called it. And I’ve seen a lot, I love seeing Peckham residents prosper. Shout outs to Yinka.

[@bluemethbunny]

She thought her jokes were bombing but everyone was just too invested in the story to laugh. Yinka, you're brilliant

[@echakamonjok]

This was truly inspiring.I wasn't born in the ghetto but I was born in the city of calabar (Nigeria) and Nigeria is honestly not the best place to live right now but it's important to be proud of where your from.... Ps this is so pretty and I love british accents lol

[@arlinegeorge6967]

Her opinion n perceptions. Very honest. Vulnerable. Hard working. Great talk. Thank you, bless you. All your dreams come true.

[@YasminYoruba]

Not just African mentality, anyone with foreign parents that live in the west now will get this. But she's right and this is what I've been trying to preach now to my community but people won't listen...

[@oliviasflowers4042]

Very proud of you Ms Lawyer children are a blessing not poverty. Bless you

[@Jojohumf]

Education is the only way out, if you pick the right option at University (normally NHS) you won't go wrong. Picking options like business will often leave you jobless

[@gloryodion672]

Well said!

[@ellaregan4307]

Good point, Dwight ! How's Dunder Mifflin?

[@jessicahylton-waller8959]

I love Yinka, we tune in every morning for her banter and good vibes

[@Queen42097]

These "close knit communities" within places like peckham are the reason so many kids mess up their futures. My parents never let us play with the kids in my neighbourhood Peckham, we had friends from other places and yes my childhood was fun. Those same kids in my neighbourhood that played together grew up, got involved in drugs, alot of the guys ended up in prison, dead, shot stabbed, literally all the girls my age got pregnant young (im only 20) these girls had babies at 15-18. And Beat up in good for nothing relationships.Yes ive lived in peckham all my life 20yrs. I am going to move as soon as i can . Its not the be all and end all and the world is a big place. My point is its not about "leaving the ghetto" its about not getting yourself rooted into the ghetto, parents need to check the influences they expose their children to, then maybe their future will be like mine "free" from the "ghetto" way of life.

[@daredevil1189]

best thing to do is invest in the hood from outside the hood....the environment matters..what you see around you affect you mentality. unless you are very strong mentally and emotionally, you don't want to be around things that bring you down.

[@mountainman6172]

Tjay Nónii eloquently put.

[@rebeccastack8459]

You are a "kind of" silly, incredibly delightful human being...and you get it. Right on and thank you so much for being you. I bet your radio show is just a blast. Good luck with everything. Hey, put in a community garden (I did ours for seven years), flowers always make a difference.

[@lavbcottage7768]

I partially agree with her, education is your plan B. You think I like studying Finance, but its because I have work experience in that field and a qualification is a plus. You can not fully rely on your " dreams", its good but always create plan B for yourself. No offence because Iam also African, but us Africans need to strive for better and that means leaving the "Hood"

[@lavbcottage7768]

That is true JayoJay, I mean we have bills to pay, it is not really smart to leave everything behind just to follow your dream, and that is what some people fail to realise. They see others "pursuing their dreams and being successful in it, so they think that it might apply for them. If it works for you fine but if not, what would you fall back on? We live in a very competitive world.

[@lavbcottage7768]

Yep and that is what some people fail to realise. You need something to fall back on just incase " following your dreams" don't work

[@pastordonkoh7692]

I disagree on the last part. I like the examples of some African Americans who are RETURNING to the hood, buying property there and renovations. Improving those areas. Because if everyone leaves the "hood" for good how is it going to be better? any place can easily regress into a hood. It's plays on the same parallel as Africans who find success and want to leave their country for good. Sure, everyone should be free to do as they please but the brain drain is real. It's not going to go away.

[@lavbcottage7768]

I agree with you, My opinion is that Africans should invest in their continent and that is what I am planning on doing. Yes you can go ahead and invest in the hood, but my issue is that you can not grow when you are living in the hood, that is the truth, you become very discouraged when you live in a mentally unhealthy and unstable environment were you also feel limited to thinking. You need to strive for better. but as you mentioned there is nothing wrong in investing and improving were you come from and that is good.

[@shaunm5233]

I have a degree in Biochemistry and now I run my own video production company. Do what inspires you.

[@britneyrenee2252]

Yessss I love Yink and I'm American. She's beautiful inside and out

[@songbirdasu]

This was a good topic and I really enjoyed her story.

[@Imanifaith93]

I needed this right now. Thank you.

[@OptimisticKTV]

This is a great discussion

[@Servant_of_TMH]

This was wonderful!

[@LondonsCloset]

amazing yinka xx

[@rqueenwilliams9588]

That’s not African mentality that’s a colored people mentality because our parents in the ghettos of America tells us the same thing, and it’s true we have to invest into ourselves in order to escape the ghetto. The ghetto isn’t a person, place, or thing, it’s a way of thinking!✊🏾

[@sharnayapril2571]

credit to her just to stand up and say that she actually cares about the coming generations, but no matter what background you come from your destiny is already written xo

[@makehumanitygreatagain8128]

FOH

[@tashboog]

I love this 🙌🏾

[@junior_nxumalo]

This girl is actually beautiful

[@alasangaye7464]

l love you yinka, is nice to follow you girl, blessed up

[@elenagisa1318]

she should try stand up comedy

[@simrantakhar2520]

Yes Yes Yinka 💯

[@lovebird91112]

So inspirational.

[@vanessakabunda3241]

this exactly made so much sense.

[@kokoforbes]

nice one yinka

[@adedamolaadeleke1316]

Brilliant way of speech yinka.

[@josieabby5281]

such a wonderful personality !!!

[@johnkeithrobinson7399]

i like that keep up the good work

[@melissamcindoe]

she's fantastic

[@driver1022]

I AM thinking she is beautiful

[@j.p.6716]

she is 😍😍😍

[@Jojohumf]

Education is the only answer it opens many doors nothing else

[@watchforlife]

Dwight So everyone who has achieved success and accomplished a lot on this planet had degrees or couldn't have done so without a degree?!!

[@makehumanitygreatagain8128]

There is more to education than degrees, deegaulle. However, if your education doesn't make you successful then you are insufficiently educated - simple.

[@joanmuraguri1382]

As much as I agree, I am a bit sceptical with this statement. Education gives you an edge or rather more informed, if you have passion, talent and education as an added bonus then you will get there. Let's not forget God in the whole process.

[@screwfaceclub]

big up yinka

[@FaraBrown]

Loved this

[@makehumanitygreatagain8128]

Because you love her or because it was actually a good talk.

[@oliviasflowers4042]

I think you are at the top you speak with love and wisdom

[@reeflarkin1919]

I'm not African descended but I grew up in a very poor area and it's the same for me. My mum always said we have to do well at school and we have to get a degree and work our way out but I'm in my last year of uni and I'm seriously depressed, I'm barely getting through but I don't know what to do or where to go now. I totally agree with this sentiment- you don't need to 'get out' we should invest in ourselves and our towns- the old town of Hastings (my town) has such a bad rep, it's not even being gentrified because the rich people don't like it's trendy but I love it so much and I want to raise my kids there- I'm studying to be a teacher and I know that's what I want although uni is hard, I believe I can do a lot of good with it and that's important and fulfilling to me.

[@jackieannesinclair7148]

It is also a West Indian mentality. At the end of the day we are all the African race whether West African or West Indian. We need to get out of the divided groups.

[@LionOfKingston]

Happiness is the greatest success!

[@oliviasflowers4042]

It's a state of mind being content. Education is key you can buy a lovely home in Peckham. Peckham is a nice place.

[@miriamloreen9565]

She was 28 four years ago 😳😳😳😳😳😳wow. Just wow👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@goodstuff880]

theres nothing wrong with parents having a lot of kids as long s they know how to raise them. the problem is the parents, not the amount of kids they have.

[@grovegreen123]

go yinka!!

[@curtisajike]

Respect

[@ParsimoniousTV]

I know this isn't really related to the content of the video but I LOVE her accent. It isn't the kind of English accent I usually hear, it's soooo much better. Just wow. So pretty to listen to

[@graceallen7542]

ParsimoniousTV a lot of people from London have this accent

[@maxdondada]

I'm in love

[@amanteahmed6965]

Looking pretty thanks 😍

[@ivorycelt]

I think Yinka that you have discovered success, that makes you a smart girl Government education is directed toward creating little tax generating producers - who can pay for Government to do all the useful things it does. Education is not designed for you to become wise, smart, sassy, rounded, confident and fulfilled - that is something you have fiqured out for yourself, is something you have to do for yourself, and looks to me like you are on the way to being successful at it!.. Its a path and you are succeeding already Mwahh x

[@lkng4332]

there it is...

[@jessgillis4103]

Found this trying to find the beautiful woman from the CASISDEAD video

[@benkatz3067]

Yinkas so cute

[@enzoseven2944]

I strongly agree

[@keepingupwithkudzai]

🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@Artezzio]

I feel like African parents, Nigerian especially, want to impress their counterparts with their kids to 1 up each other. Not realising the child won't be living their truth. It's a very counter-productive mentality.

[@COLDoCLINCHER37]

Lmao, I swear this is so true.

[@user-xp4ov5od8t]

Many use their children as a future investment fund...and if you do not have money to help them they will disown you.

[@haychhh6809]

Yinka is the love of my life

[@edembonifacioanthony4110]

Yinka my secret admirer good talk ❤️👌

[@yinkakostelijk2168]

Same name🙋🏼‍♀️❤

[@QWERTYneworder]

She’s really cool

[@kalzzmitchell7704]

💯

[@4dimensi895]

11:56 - 12:13 ❤️

[@adedamolaadeleke1316]

I saw the day damilola taylor was walking home on 27 november in 2000

[@adedamolaadeleke1316]

Like damilola taylor of course as well damilola's remembered friend

[@adedamolaadeleke1316]

He was always smiling definitely i knew.

[@RahimAli-bw4kw]

Yinka you are soo beautiful ❤️

[@cordyantoine163]

Trust me you never been to a ghetto May I reiterate there is NO GHETTO IN the Western world!!!!! GREAT SPEECH

[@PeteS_1994]

There is homelessness in the Western world though

[@harrymail7]

Cordy Antoine you don't understand the definition of a ghetto. It doesn't have to be a third world slum. It's any urban community that has high rates of poverty and houses a particular ethnic group

[@anonamous6968]

Six brothers and sisters to a single mom living in poverty. Gotta stop doing that. That is at least part of what I heard here. I think this is a huge contributor to poverty. Hard to get anywhere when you are trying to pay rent, utilities etc all by yourself instead of splitting it with another. Imagine how expensive it is to raise six kids alone. Or how hard for that matter, without having someone to lean on. Why??? It happens way too much.

[@marisol3518]

I love you

[@adedamolaadeleke1316]

Damilola taylor was loved by everyone pretty much i heard

[@jonathanwaters1847]

what ghetto - you mean a council estate?

[@ZoofSkillzFishing]

Having 7 kids in a 3 bedroom flat... The only thing that is pitted against you is the lack of contraception!!!

[@oneluvLevz]

27??????????!!!!!!!

[@justwatchit5165]

It’s mad she’s 30 in February I thought she was like 21 it’s mad

[@freetruth6265]

Dw about Gentrification buy your house & invest in yourself..

[@zeea6507]

Follow the process, the results will come. 2020

[@kareemismail510]

You realize w h at while with him saying you radio up the town

[@max-nm6qx]

"FROM BROKEN TO BLESSED "BY TAJ PACLEB POWERFUL WATCH TRUE AMAZING STORY FROM HAWAII ENJOY UNMISSABLE WATCH ❤

[@ally4623]

I don't think it's an African mentality because my parents were the same way, making sure I finished high school and got a good education so I could be successful so I wasn't poor my whole life like my parents were.

[@13realmusic]

West Africa represented! Wheres she from?

[@user-fl8ng9np7v]

Nigeria

[@carolynsmith9172]

Sounds just like Adelle

[@kareemismail510]

Yes you just said it all I will listen to it again sis Irish also give birth to those with pendant on neck

[@kareemismail510]

Remember you piece of it of whole English land not a common immigrants but we son of tower infact Buckingham palace is my inherentance

[@adedamolaadeleke1316]

I actually am from nigeria.