Caricom began life as a series of essays that I felt I had to write as I wasn't seeing specific conversations being covered in the mainstream media. I used to write a lot about football in relation to race, but more for therapeutic reasons rather than aiming to get it published. I didn't ever feel it would resonate with an editor, and I didn't want anyone to dismiss my words. In that sense, after writing the essays I came to the conclusion that I didn't want to risk having to dilute my language or ideas – something that I knew would happen if I pitched them to a newspaper or existing football magazine. It was then I decided that the best format for them would be setting up my own publication. I got together with a friend of mine, Shawn Sawyers, who is a graphic design student, and together we created the first issue of Caricom.
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(Image credit: Stuart Ruel)
The reason Caricom exists is to explore the space where football and race intersect, and I notice a massive shift happening in football at the moment. In the US they have done quantitative studies discussing how commentators discuss black males, especially in the NFL. This is something no one has done in the UK yet, though it is definitely bubbling under the surface. People are starting to notice the way black players are discussed in reductive terms: phrases like 'look at his power' or 'he's a beast' are common, yet with a white player there will be references to the player's intelligence. I can tell you no black player has ever been told he has 'a cultured left foot' as commentators don't talk about technique, they only refer to physical attributes. These are the conversations I explore in the current issue.
As we were set up by a kickstarter campaign, I've been lucky enough to have money to get us off the ground. The first issue of Caricom has laid the groundwork for the issues to follow, establishing the framework that we are going to work from in the future. For one of the lead stories in the current issue, we worked with photographer Chris Baker. Chris launched his book Sunday Football through Hoxton Mini Press, and I first met him at the launch party – this was a year prior to contacting him for Caricom. Chris's book really captured the essence of Sunday league football; it was almost like a love letter to it. As someone who used to play Sunday League football, what stuck out to me was the fact he had captured so many black players, and they looked incredibly comfortable.
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The next issue will pivot on four central themes, one of which will be celebration as activism, which gives some insight into where my mind is in terms of combating injustice. Fighting injustice by celebration of culture is equally as important as critically resisting. We are going to look at historical incidents, as well as contemporary ones. There will be more photography, and hopefully some partnerships in there as well.
At present, Caricom only exists as a printed publication. I personally prefer printed matter and on the whole people who buy printed publications are forming a bond with that magazine that is lost in the digital format. I don't think there is a magazine in any genre that caters exclusively to black males. I think that is an unexplored space, and sometimes separation is good to explore something thoroughly.
As well as being stocked in London, Manchester, New York and Miami, I've now shipped the magazine to Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The reactions have been overwhelmingly positive so far, and I feel like we've been met with solidarity and support. I can't make judgements outside the big cities, but I feel black people are more likely to connect with the magazine where minorities are more prominent, so my next aim is to be stocked in Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
CALUM JACOBS is the founder of Caricom, an independent bi-annual publication which explores the space where football and race intersect. The next issue of Caricom will be released this summer; caricom.uk
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