Binge-worthy boxsets
I’m rewatching O.J.: Made in America, the documentary, which is a complete and utter masterpiece. It’s an incredible portrait of an individual whilst also being a portrait of a nation that gives us an opportunity to look at America and its racism through the lens of celebrity. The only thing I can think of that comes close to it is Ken Burns’ Jazz documentary series, which uses music to look at race in America. I’m obsessed with that. Myself and my children have watched all of the Studio Ghibli films. They’re most famous for Spirited Away but this weekend, we watched Princess Kaguya, which I think is their masterpiece. It had my son Albert, who is eight, in tears. And myself, Albert and Esme were all spellbound and incredibly moved. I would urge anybody, adults or children, to watch it. It is one of the greatest animated films I’ve ever seen. It’s very special.
Read all about it
I’m reading Motherwell by Deborah Orr, the late Guardian journalist. It’s a portrait of a childhood and a place and a relationship – I can’t really articulate it, but it is an extraordinary book. And I’m also loving re-reading the Manchester poet Lemn Sissay’s book, My Name Is Why. He is incredible.
The soundtrack to my isolation
I’ve managed to source from Japan a boxset of Soul Train, which was this massive black American music programme in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. You’ve got people like Marvin Gaye, Al Green and Curtis Mayfield performing in studio with the famous Soul Train line dancers, and that, during these times, is tremendously uplifting. Like the box set of The Old Grey Whistle Test, it functions both as a provider of musical gems, but also a social document. Q Tip from The Roots wrote a book about it, where he talks about finally seeing people who look like him on television in America – there are chapters about his favourite episodes, their impact on him, and their impact on the black community in America. It chimes a lot with the OJ Simpson doc. Probably because I am a white boy who grew up in a working class area on black music in the 60s, I’ve always been fascinated by the the music’s impact socially and culturally.