One Love Two Colours

Bobby Smith and Margaret Oshindele-Smith

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Why I wrote this book

One Love was written because both of us were frustrated at seeing mixed marriages cast in a negative light, in the media and in general discussions. It was obvious, to us at least, that people were relying on myths and hearsay as to why they were doomed to fail. We wanted to show that they are not doomed and, in actual fact, can help two people appreciate a different culture and way of life.
   So how ‘different’ are we? Well, as you may have gathered by the sub-title, I am a hardcore English punk rocker, whilst my wife is a God fearing, Methodist, Nigerian woman! Because of our differences people have often asked us how we have made a success of a marriage – given that we have been married for ten years. Our answer is always the same: do not have a fear of the unknown. Rather than be scared of someone who looks ‘alien’ to you, reach out a hand of friendship and get to know the individual, as opposed to the stereotype. This was part of our motivation for writing One Love. We also wrote it as we want a better world for our children to grow up in, where expectation is not stymied because of race or religion.    
  This makes the book sound like a lefty ‘love in’, I know, but nothing could be further from the truth! Oh no, we wrote the book as a personal celebration but political condemnation of the policy of multiculturalism, as seen by a couple who live it at the sharp end. This was ably demonstrated to me when I was asked to leave a London bus, due to my not being Somali! So, from that moment on, we widened the scope of the book to include issues normally ignored by the media, such as: non-Muslim segregation, black self-hate, colour-grading, sex and identity. We show how all these areas affect couples such as ourselves.
  In addition, we wanted to reflect the unique problems experienced by black women/white men partnerships, as they are hardly ever discussed. Normally, when accounts of mixed marriages are published, it is from the other ‘side’, by that I mean white women/black men partnerships. The black woman/white man voice, prior to our book, has never been heard. We thought it was time to put that right.
  Lastly, it should be admitted that humour is never far from our story – and, to be frank, anyone wearing the sort of clothes I wear must have a sense of it!

Synopsis

‘It will never work.’
‘They are just too different.’
‘Sleep with a white man? No thanks.’
‘Look at the state of him, those clothes!’

Just some of the comments directed at Margaret and Bobby Smith during their ten-year marriage. Why? Because Bobby is a white, cider-bellied punk rocker and Margaret a black, Methodist Nigerian.

One Love Two Colours is a book that shows the reality of inter-racial love. Through the eyes of Mr & Mrs Smith we see how two people can conquer prejudice, intolerance and hate. A hate that comes from both sides. Written from their dual perspectives, they honestly debate the issues that affect those who marry out of their culture. The result is a book that challenges previously held views on multiculturalism.

During One Love, Margaret and Bobby discuss all aspects of their marriage, from the kitchen, the bathroom, and finally, the bedroom. As such it gives us a voyeuristic account of their relationship, with all its ups and downs. 

Taking their relationship as a starting point, the authors also explore wider issues such as: segregation, self-hate, sex and identity. Crucially, the book addresses the unique problems experienced by black women/white men partnerships. Problems that, in many cases, date from the legacy of slavery.

What makes the book original is that Margaret herself used to be a black racist - a woman who despised white ‘devils’. How her opinion changed is a central part of the story.

A mixture of social comment and personal experience, One Love shows the true level of prejudice that exists in modern day England. It delves into the underbelly of inter-racial relationships and discusses the pain, pleasures and pitfalls of such liaisons.
It is a book to make you think differently about the world we live in.
However, it is also a sign of hope.

About the Author

Bobby is a veteran of the punk rock and football fanzine scenes from the past fifteen years – being a mainstay of the Wolverhampton Wanderers fanzine A Load of Bull. He has also contributed chapters in books about football and wrote the History of German Streetpunk. Bobby is still a man who thinks the world can be changed for the better by three-chords, a pint of cider and a flash of Robbie Dennison magic. Oi! Oi! Oi!

Margaret is a local earth woman famous for her impersonations of the rich and famous. An infectious character, she has a passion for justice and righting the wrongs around the world.

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