Here’s how W.H. Davies in his ‘The Autobiography of a Super-tramp‘ written in 1908, describes Cockneys:
“Cockneys make good beggars. They are held in high esteem by the fraternity in America. Their resource, originality and invention, and a never faltering tongue, enables them to often attain their ends where others fail, and they succeed where the natives starve.”
W.H. Davies
What does Cockney mean to you?
That’s a big question. And sometimes it’s difficult to know where to start.
Cockney Cultures, with the support of the University of Warwick and the British Library, have produced ‘Have a Cockney Conversation Cards’ to enable anyone to have a ‘Cockney Conversation’ to explore what does ‘Cockney’ means to them.
The pack of 10 cards consists of 5 cards protraying positive images of the evoving story of Cockney heritage, along with 5 cards portraying negative stereotypes about Cockney. They are designed to provoke deeper thinking and exploration of what it means to be ‘Cockney’
You can use the cards by yourself, or even better, in a group. Pick any card. Reflect on what it means to you, and share your feelings, experience or story of what it means being ‘Cockney’.
5 cards of the positive, evolving story of Cockney
5 cards of negative stereotypes about Cockney
How was your Cockney Conversation?
Is Cockney an exclusively white working-class, even racist, identity?
Or is it a 660 year-old identity of the ‘common Londoner’? An identity based on positive inclusive values that evolves with every generation of newcomers? One that now includes a Cockney Diaspora – whether first, second, third generation or beyond – with an affinity with the Cockney identity and its proud heritage of standing up for yourself and standing together to overcome adversity?
What’s your story of Cockney?
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