Since I started the Crippen cartoon resurrection project, where I’m recreating those old cartoons produced in greyscale format from the 1980’s, I keep uncovering bits of our history that I’d completely forgotten about.
Take the Greater Manchester Coalition for Disabled People (GMCDP) as an example. I remember various groups and organisations protesting about the BBC’s Children in Need (CIN) appeal, but I’d forgotten about the protest that GMCDP held in Manchester City Centre back in 1993.
They’d actually been invited to attend by the BBC who were looking to involve some local Crips in their Pity Fest. What they hadn’t bargained for was a large crowd of GMCDP members turning up carrying banners and shouting about Rights not Charity!
I think that it was mainly down to this particular protest that the BBC took another look at how they were presenting disabled children. They’ve still got a long way to go but at least they’re now involving disabled people and disabled children in their campaign.
But there still remains the underlying issue about disabled people having to rely on charity to get what the non-disabled public take for granted. I would imagine that if they just halved the defence budget for example, the money saved would go a long way to ending our charity focussed society.
Description of cartoon for those using screen reading software
The scene is set around the large fountain in Manchester’s City Centre. A large banner proclaims, ‘The BBC television Children in Need’ appeal. A small crowd of GMCDP members are positioned around the front of the fountain, some carrying banners which read ‘GMCDP demand rights not charity’ and ‘Nothing about us – without us!’. Another sign reads ‘Children in Need – of what?!’ One of the disabled protester is saying to the others: “When the BBC asked us to come along and join in their Children in Need appeal, I’m not sure that this is what they expected!”
You can still contribute to Crippen’s Cartoon Resurrection Project by leaving a donation at his Go Fund Me site where you’ll also find more information about the Project. To add your name to the distribution list for the Project Newsletter then just drop him a line – daveluptoncartoons@live.co.uk
Crippen Cartoons 