I was freelancing at The Voice, Britain’s biggest black newspaper at the time. Immediately I headed backstage and entered a nest of icons in pre-show repose: Lou Reed chewing a carrot stick, Neil Young tuning a guitar. I approached Lou Reed. “Lou, a great day for Britain’s black community, no?” I chirruped gamely. “Michael Odell, acting music editor of Britain’s biggest black newspaper,” I said to Mandela.

Source: The Guardian October 08, 2017 04:52 UTC