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West England Bylines
Home News World

It’s just the colour

A short while ago, an Anti-Apartheid icon passed on. When listenign to one of his tracks, Martin Griffiths was inspired to write.

Martin GriffithsbyMartin Griffiths
27 March 2021
in World
Reading Time: 2 mins
A A
Johnny Clegg stands on stage holding a squeeze box and surrounded live performance equipment and 2 other performers

Johnny Clegg performs at Fête de l'Humanité in 2007 - Source: Cécilia D. on Wikimedia Commons

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It’s just the colour of my skin.
It’s not a coat
I bought to wear.

I also feel the sun,
Smell the earth
And hear the birds sing.

I work and play,
Dance and eat
And hold my child’s hand

I kiss, I love,
I smile, I cry
And if I’m pricked, I bleed.

It’s just the colour of my skin.
It’s not a coat
I bought to wear.

Ed: Listen to Johnny Clegg singing “Colour of my Skin” here.

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Martin Griffiths

Martin Griffiths

Martin grew up on a small farm on the Herefordshire/Worcestershire borders where he seemed to spend all summer picking fruit and all winter chasing lost sheep. After College he set up a successful ceramics workshop in Cirencester but after travelling in Africa he took on a teaching post including Art, Drama and Sports before eventually becoming a Housemaster and wearing a suit and tie every day! He spent the next few years teaching mainly Art, Photography and Literacy part time at an FE College and combined this with being a Barman, Chef, Photographer and Food Writer. He moved back into full time teaching with posts in Greece, Switzerland and France, mainly teaching Literature, and now combines examination work for the International Baccalaureate with making Ceramics, Drawing and Writing. He remains Chair of Tewkesbury for Europe.

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