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NOVEMBER, 2023 • ISSUE NO. 1948
Stars celebrate Black excellence at Powerlist › p13 WWW.VOICE-ONLINE.CO.UK
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Black police take a stand › p16-17
BLACK WORLD UNITES Historic conference demands reparatory justice
R
EPARATIONS campaigners from Africa, the Caribbean, the States and the UK issued a joint declaration after an historic two-day conference in London. The event, organised by Bell Riberio-Addy MP (right) and the all-party parliamentary group on Afrikan reparations, featured guests from the African Union, CARICOM and various Black British groups. It comes ahead of another gathering this month organised by the government of Ghana.
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Inside
ROUNDUP NEWSPAPER
THIS MONTH
News, views, stories & videos
The Voice says
THE 10 MOST POPULAR STORIES ON VOICE-ONLINE.CO.UK
Heirs of Slavery Aristocrats ‘profiting all over again’ p6-7
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4. MP barred from British Museum
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5. Racism ‘biggest barrier in education’ Findings from our Black British Voices study
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Powerlist 2023 winners
This issue is 56 pages
Black ‘representation’
GONE ARE the days when any Black political representation was deemed to be progress. Back in the day, it was whispered in hushed tones that certain radical white MPs were better for the Black community than some of the Black ones. Nervousness about expressing this view has all but disappeared. Kemi Badenoch’s gaslighting, questioning our lived experience of racism, and Suella Braverman’s Enoch Powell-esque grandstanding on immigration has seen to that. Labour’s Black MPs are also increasingly subject to a critique of their willingness, or otherwise, to stand up against systemic racism. And many fall short. There are MPs who do take a stand. Bell RiberioAddy and Clive Lewis among them. And the legendary Diane Abbott, currently suspended from the parliamentary party. But the Westminster establishment is not listening to them. It is doubtful this trio would be selected as new candidates under Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour. The same goes for the late Bernie Grant. Labour celebrate him now, with their Bernie Grant Leadership Scheme, but they know he would never get in today. Professor Kehinde Andrews’ searing denunciation of Badenoch and David Lammy will sting. The issue is not about this pair in particular, but about the state of Black representation in general. While Black MPs remain under-represented in the Commons, Andrews reflects a popular view in the community that skinfolk are not always kinfolk. We don’t just want more Black political representation, but better representation. The issues highlighted in our Black British Voices study last month need to be addressed by those in power. If our Black MPs are not tackling racism, or worse still telling us it does not really exist, we can do without them.
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NOVEMBER 2023 THE VOICE
| 5
Big Interview
‘We need revolutionary politics to move forward’
MAKING HIS VOICE HEARD: Kehinde Andrews, founded and teaches the country’s first Black Studies course
The Black agenda must come rst and de nitel ahead o political representation that serves white supremac , sa s pro essor Richard Sudan
K
EMI BADENOCH will be the UK’s first Black prime minister — not in spite of racism — but because of it. That’s the prediction of Professor Kehinde Andrews. “I’d put a bet on it. Go to the bookies. In five years Kemi will be the first Black British prime minister.” If this is not your typical runof-the-mill political prediction, it’s because Kehinde Andrews is not your typical academic. As one of the few Black professors in the UK, he founded and teaches the country’s first Black Studies course at Birmingham City University. Andrews is known for his TV debates with uninformed ‘mediocre white men’ on race — a phenomenon discussed in his new book, The Psychosis of Whiteness. He also argues for a revival of the kind of radical Black revolutionary traditions which once enabled us to navigate and survive the rac-ist hostility of the Windrush era. While Britain has the most diverse cabinet in recent history delivering some of the most racist policies in living memory, indeed, as Andrews reminds me, “the empire has always had Black and brown administrators. “I’d prefer a cabinet that was less diverse but with better politics.” Andrews says figures like Badenoch provide a Black face and a cover for policies which white politicians do not get away with. “They are the Black and brown faces of white supremacy,” Andrews says bluntly. “That’s why the Conservatives are so diverse. Because they have this role for Black and brown people. “And that’s why Labour is not so diverse because they are not sure what the role is.”
Friends of Lammy rejected the accusation, saying his record of standing up for victims of the Windrush scandal, raising his voice about Grenfell and leading a review on race in the criminal justice system spoke for itself. Badenoch declined to comment. Her team said they would not dignify “ad hominem attacks”, but if Andrews came up with constructive criticism they would consider responding. Of course, racism in the UK cannot be simplified as a left/ right issue. Malcolm X once used the famous analogy of the fox and the wolf: The liberal fox might appear to be your friend, while the right-wing wolf makes his intentions clear. Both, however, “are from the canine family and will eat you up,” Andrews points out. He wants the Tories gone. But his view is not an endorsement of Labour. “The Tories will quickdestroy things quick ly, and Labour will destroy things less quickly.” he said. “That’s it. “This system cancan not provide freedom, justice and equality for Black people. We need a revolutionary politics. “Working with Labour or whoever won’t get us anywhere. If we could work outside politics, independently – let’s say we identified 20 winnable seats and utilised our votes – that would be a much better route to political power.” He added: “The left and the right’s function is to basically decide how to divide the spoils of empire among white people.” Politically, many in our communities agree. They feel politically homeless and taken for granted by the Labour party. Black communities must do for self, argues Andrews, accepting that a system which was never built for us, despite being built by us, is never going to work for us. Andrews’ previous book, The New Age of Empire, explored the
ing force beyond repair. “You can’t reform them because they are doing what they are meant to do.” He’s speaking for a potential critical mass of people who feel the same. Andrews’ immediate mission, however, remains as an educator. “I’ve been through all levels of education, and the only time I’ve ever heard the word empire was out of my mouth,” he said. He has undoubtedly schooled many of his adversaries, like Piers Morgan, although Morgan would never admit it.
NO 10 CALLING?: Kehinde Andrews believes politicians such as Kemi Badenoch provide a Black face and a cover for policies which white politicians do not get away with (photo: PA Images)
roots of empire and colonialism, the West, and how Britain’s brutal past continues to shape the modern world. His new book The Psychosis of Whiteness places the spotlight firmly on Britain and examines the mechanisms, individuals and ideas which maintain white supremacy.
DELUDED
So deluded is society, Andrews argues, Black and white collectively, that when it comes to our thinking about race the only fitting description is psychosis. The book’s title is provocative, and deliberately so. Society needs a radical shake-up . In this spirit, Andrews told The Voice, instilling radical Black politics in our young people is how we produce more Bernie Grant’s and less David Lammy’s.
In fact, says Andrews dryly: “When Lammy said he was English, that should have been enough for us.” The point is not really about Lammy as an individual; the findings of the recent Black British Voices survey showed increasing numbers of Black people struggling to identify with Britishness. It’s what’s fuelling the growing popularity of ‘Blaxit’, the idea that Black people see themselves as no longer physically wedded to a country which treats them as second-class citizens. While this is understandable, says Andrews, equipping young people with radical Black politics and a framework with which to think about the world, can provide a counter weight to the existing status quo and create a different future.
There’s hope. “When I talk about revolution it sounds all pie in the sky. But 50 years ago it wasn’t pie in the sky,” he said. “It’s about showing them there are alternatives, and there are.” “Fifty years ago we had communism, movements across Latin America, Pan Africanism, Nasser in Egypt. “If you go back 50 years, it wasn’t really clear that the West was going to win, which is why there was a lot of violence, why there were concessions, and why independence happened.” If Andrews is on a mission to revolutionise our internal community politics, his view of the Metropolitan Police and other forces is clear. He wants to abolish the police, but is under no illusion that this is on the cards anytime soon. He views them as an occupy-
APPETITE
Andrews is thinking about the future too, and is organising a global convention for African people on what would have been Malcolm X’s 100th birthday on May 19, 2025. There’s a huge appetite for this right now, and one would imagine that that appetite will only increase. Such a meeting would be a landmark and watershed moment. The issues facing Black people have never been more critical. White supremacy is a global system that requires global solutions. This thinking is increasingly appealing to Black youth. The political class would do well to catch up. In the meantime, the message is our communities need to revive the old school Saturday school energy which was once so effective. The work starts now.
6 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
News Feature
Slave-owning families
‘Heirs of Slavery’ aristocrats clocking up book and TV deals – while not paying real reparations. By Sinai Fleary
W
HITE PEOPLE whose families profited from the enslavement of Africans who are writing books and filming documentaries about their ‘journey’, were blasted by a leading campaigner who warned the reparations movement would not be ‘hijacked’. Aristocrats were seeking to profit from enslavement once again by presenting themselves as the pre-eminent voice of reparations as a ‘career move’, according to Esther StanfordXosei. Her broadside came as a reparations conference session featuring the white Heirs of Slavery group ended in acrimony, as community radio veteran and edutainer Prophet Kwaku fumed about privileged individuals promoting themselves. Earlier, John Dower, a member of the Trevelyan family who profited from the forced labour of over 1,000 kidnapped Africans, was accused of ignoring pleas to erect a plaque honouring those stolen and brutalised people. The accusation by Gloria Daniel — a descendant of enslaved Africans — was denied by Dower who insisted it was a matter that needed to be discussed by his family first. Heirs of Slavery was cofounded by former BBC journalist Laura Trevelyan and seven others descendants of some of Britain’s most wealthiest slave owners. They back the call for reparatory justice. But descendants of enslaved African people say the movement cannot afford to be derailed by those “accepting tokenistic apologies as repair” and those seeking opportunities to “make themselves look good.” Stanford-Xosei, a renowned reparations campaigner, told The Voice that descendants of enslavers should not be allowed to “now claim centre stage in the narrative.” She asked: “How can a descendant of an enslaver speak for me and my lineage? It is only when you are still a captured people will you allow that.” Trevelyan made a donation of £100,000 to the people of Grenada after she discovered her family owned more than 1,000 enslaved Africans at three plantations on the island. The family say they received approximately £29,000 in compensation for their loss of “property” in 1834 — after slavery
CENTRAL FIGURES: Esther Stanford-Xosei, left, and Laura Trevelyan have been at the heart of the white Heirs of Slavery group debate. Ex-BBC journalist Trevelyn has paid £100,000 of her own money (photo: Getty Images) was ‘abolished’ and that is worth £2.7 million in today’s money. But those figures are wildly inconsistent with what other slavers were paid per enslaved person. For instance, John Austin ‘owned’ 415 slaves, and got compensation of £20,511, which is calculated at nearly £17 million today. Stanford-Xosei is the spokesperson for the Afrikan Emancipation Day March Committee, who have been organising an annual reparations march in London since 2014, and also the coordinator general of Stop the Maangamizi: We Charge Genocide/Ecocide Campaign, which takes its name from a Swahili word meaning annihilation. She described reparations as a “sacred and ancestral cause” and any actions around it should be taken with the utmost respect. Speaking about the Trevelyans, Stanford-Xosei said “the social capital the family have
gained, far surpasses that money” which has been donated. She said the donation is an example of how the Trevelyans were trying to “wash themselves of the stains of history” and stressed “some of us won’t fall for it.” Those who are fully aware of
Gladstone, David Lascelles, the 8th Earl of Harewood, John Dower, another Trevelyan family member, and Alex Renton. Renton, a journalist and broadcaster, is descended from owners of enslaved people on both sides of his family. His maternal ancestors co-owned
How can a descendant of an enslaver speak for me and my lineage? It is only when you are captured you allow that their ancestors’ suffering would not be “accepting tokenistic apologies as repair.” Heirs of Slavery, which was formed in April this year, is made up of descendants of some of Britain’s most wealthiest slave owners, including Charles Gladstone, who is descended from prime minister William
plantations and people in Jamaica and Tobago. At abolition, his ancestors shared £3,591 in “compensation”, which he says is approximately £2 million in today’s money. Renton insists that money is long gone and all his donations to the Caribbean come from his own earnings as a journal-
ist and author. Speaking to The Voice, he said: “Nobody on my mother’s side were enriched in 1836, at the end of enslavement at abolition, by that compensation money.” “I think all of that money had disappeared by the end of the 19th century. There’s nothing left of that money, physically, but I think there is privilege; that is something that has been inherited down the generations.” Renton claims a lot of the compensation his ancestors received went into “debts” and his family’s wealth declined. When asked by The Voice about how much money he has given to the Caribbean in donations, Renton said he and some of his family have been giving “as much as we feel we can afford” for about five years, but declined to say how much. There has been growing criticism that several members of the Heirs of Slavery group have
not given money, and believe that membership of the group enough. Renton said he didn’t want to call his donations ‘reparations’ and said almost all of them are recurring, rather than one-offs, but he doesn’t know the grand total given so far. He told The Voice: “I have given what I was paid for my book and work around it, and a proportion of my annual earnings — several thousand a year.” He added: “The Tobago plantation never really succeeded and the French invaded Tobago in 1781 and seized it, and the family never really got it back.” Renton believes greed and racism was at the heart of slavery. “They quite clearly saw the Africans as less than human beings.” Renton said the Jamaican plantation his family once owned was situated near Morant Bay in St Thomas, and was a “successful sugar plantation”
NOVEMBER 2023 THE VOICE
| 7
News Feature
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DIFFERENT WORLDS: Harewood House, near eeds as built fro the profits of enslave ent above ordon also kno n as hipped eter’ a for er enslaved an sho s his scarred back at a edical e a ination in ouisiana in he scars ere the result of hippin durin his ti e as an enslaved person (photos: etty a es that had already been established for over 100 years by another owner. He said when his ancestors purchased it “there were 160 enslaved people on it and they held that until 1875.” Renton said he was “horrified” to learn that his ancestor who got the compensation money is “famous for building churches and schools for the poor, but built them in Scotland and not in Jamaica and was a senior member of the Church of Scotland.” Renton researched and wrote a book in 2021 about his family’s links to slavery and said he doesn’t want to be in denial about his family’s history and also the on-going consequences of slavery. Renton said since Heirs of Slavery launched, almost 100 people have come forward with “serious enquiries” about their families links to slavery. He claimed the group has received hate mail and extreme online trolling from “white supremacists” who disagree with the idea of reparations. It was put to Renton that the Heirs of Slavery group had appeared in the mainstream media as “the face” of the reparations movement. He responded: “I would be horrified if it was in any way thought we were taking oxy-
gen or detracting from the long struggle that has been going on for decades. That is absolutely not our purpose. “I hope what we are doing is offering allyship and enabling activists for reparations to be better heard.” He admitted the group are “still learning to be the best allies.” He added: “I feel really strongly and I think everyone else in the group also does, we shouldn’t be doing anything that is not directed and called for by people who are descended from the enslaved. “It is not for us to say what reparations should look like, it’s for us to ask and learn. We are the last people who should be designing or having discussions about reparations.” Renton called on the British Government to engage in discussions about reparations and the long-standing legacy of slavery and colonialism. The Brattle Report, published in June this year, calculated that Britain owes a staggering £18.6 trillion in reparations for its role in slavery. Dr Toyin Agbetu is a lecturer in Political, Decolonising and Social Anthropology at University College London (UCL), told The Voice: “I despair when I hear people of African heritage referring to it in compensatory
FIRM VIEWS: le enton far left, from the eirs of lavery roup (photo: aroline rby left lecturer oyin betu describes enslave ent as a reat disaster’ terms. I think that if we fall into the trap of thinking that reparations is just simply compensation — which still too many people do — then we don’t really understand the concept and there’s still much work to do internally as a community and legally on the matter.” Dr Agbetu refers to what happened during slavery using the Swahili term Maafa — which means “Great Disaster”. This term is used to describe the historic and on-going effects of atrocities inflicted on African people. He said: “I use the term Maafa quite specifically because it refers not just to the Transatlantic
enslavement phase but also refers to the colonial enslavement phase and the Saharan enslavement phase. I am in support of reparations for Maafa, I think that it is long overdue.” The Pan-Africanist expressed disappointment that “the ownership of the campaign has moved into a quasi-intellectual phase’” and at times felt “hijacked.” He said: “Some of the people involved mean well, and I am not taking that away from them. “But there is also this selfserving component which I am uncomfortable with and I think that a movement like reparations should always be led by African people.”
Reflecting on The Brattle Report and the fact all of the key authors are not of African heritage, Dr Agbetu said “when you read the report and you see the images of everyone involved in it, there is a glaring omission.” He said the middle class Black community who speak on reparations regularly must meet with activists and groups on the ground. In May, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak rejected calls for the government to formally apologise or pay reparations for Britain’s role in slavery, when he was questioned by Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy. Dr Agbetu said the constant
rebuttals from the British government on the subject of reparations are not good enough and are an insult to the suffering and dehumanisation Black people have endured. “There is something very disappointing and morally repugnant about Britain having one of the most diverse governments – in ethnic terms – in its history for the longest while, yet still perpetuating and supporting colonial crimes during enslavement and times of Empire. “There’s something really disgusting about seeing African faces and Asian faces refusing to actually be ethical actors now they are positions of power.”
8 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
News Feature Justice
Reparations on the agenda
Black world unites to demand reparatory justice By Lester Holloway
R
EPERATIONS EXPERTS from Africa, the Caribbean, the States and the UK have come together to issue a joint declaration in London. Members of the African Union, CARICOM and US campaigners, plus around 700 Black Britons, sent a strong signal to governments in London, Washington and Europe that reparatory justice is inevitable. The conference, organised by a cross party group of British MPs for Afrikan reparations, comes ahead of a gathering of African heads of state in Ghana this month on the same topic. It came exactly 30 years after the Abuja pan-African reparations conference. The joint statement stated that “the damage to African peoples has left an enduring legacy, resulting in global inequalities in inter-
national relations and economic governance, systemic racism and prejudice, unequal experiences in education, employment, criminal justice systems, healthcare and other walks of life.” It added that “the legacy of the enslavement and trafficking of peoples of African descent, colonisation and neo-colonialism will not be fully addressed, nor corrected until full reparatory justice is pursued and achieved.” Speakers included leading UK campaigner Esther Stanford Xosei (above), Diane Abbott MP, Professor Verene Shepherd from the University of West Indies, playwright Kwami Kwei Armah and Adwoa Coleman from the African Union. Labour MP Bell Riberio-Addy, who organised the London conference, said: “We are not free until we are all free. I’m told ‘slavery was a long time ago but it did not end a long time ago.” Shepherd said: “We need a unite front to demand reparations on behalf of our ancestors. we have
a saying: ‘people without knowledge of history is like a tree without roots.’ The Maangamazi was irrefutable, and for our ancestors it continues to be.” Professpor Kimani Nehusi from Temple University in the USA, added: “This is about the politics of self-liberation. We’ve got to lead our own struggle. Noone else must be permitted to colonise our struggle.” No Western government has so far paid reparations for enslavement of Africans, but the Church of England and the Scott Trust, which owns The Guardian, has apologised for involvement and donated significant sums. However, Lloyds of London, which insured slavers in the Middle Passage and paid out for Africans thrown overboard, are believed to be resisting making payments. The Voice was the media sponsor for the conference, and editor Lester Holloway was one of the speakers.
FREEDOM: A statue representing emancipation (Getty)
Education is preparation for reparations By Montel Gordon
THE UK reparations conference offered food for thought pertaining towards African liberation. ‘Stop the Maangamizi’ was plastered on the large poster behind the conference speakers – stemming from the Swahili dialect referring to the chattel slavery of Africans, the colonialism of Africa and the Caribbean, and the continued neocolonial dominance of European powers and companies. At the epicentre of reparations is education. As Jamaica’s first national hero Marcus Garvey said “, A people without knowledge of their history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots”. Education is a weaponizing component towards the fight for reparations.
Since the inception of large pockets of black communities in Britain post-war, education and the school system were a hostile breeding ground for British imperialism and common-sense racism. The ESN scandal pushed academically capable Black kids into special education schools, with ‘culture’ as a precipitation for intelligence. The Rampton Report 1981 highlighted the fallacies of the education system, reporting how, in several London local educational authorities, 98% of Black Caribbean students were leaving with no qualifications. The Swann Report 1985 concluded that low teacher expectations and racial prejudice were prominent among white teachers and British society. In this domain of education, Black people have purposely been miseducated - a tradition
stemming from the colonies and indoctrinated with ideologies proclaiming their cultural, intellectual, and historical inferiority in contrast to Europeans. Still, no change has occurred. And what remains problematic is the current school system. The English education system continues to push Black kids to the Alternative provision/PRU and, unfortunately, at times, to prison, alluding to this schoolto-prison pipeline. But more so, it continues to perpetuate the idea of second-class citizenship for those of African descent. The continued neoliberal assault and academisation of the education system in this era of globalisation of league tables emphasises grades rather than students’ intellectual facilitation. And it is within this assault Black children face the effects of mass exclusion and
social marginalisation. The past can serve as inspiration for the future. Black parents’ activism from the 1970s to the 1990s, with the supplementary school movement, helped combat the racist assaults of the school system that pushed out black kids with little to no qualifications. Above all, the supplementary school movement gave hope. Specifically, those who had no hope with their lived experience. It is difficult to pinpoint what reparations will look like, but for certain Britain and the West as we know it could not exist without our subjugation. Education is needed to better us and to organise us for this fight for reparations.
NEVER FORGET: Onyekachi Wambu of AFFORD (above), and Bell Riberio-Addy MP (left)
NOVEMBER 2023
THE VOICE | 9
Produced in association with HM Government
GP practices are evolving The following group of healthcare professionals to ensure top-quality care may be found working within your GP practice: tailored to your needs Reception Team
ACCESS A RANGE OF HEALTH AND WELLBEING SERVICES THROUGH YOUR GP PRACTICE
T
CASE STUDY
ransformation is underway within GP practices throughout England, as they adapt to deliver better patient care more efficiently. However, if you request care from your GP practice team through online platforms, by telephone, or by visiting the practice - face-to-face visits, GP practice receptionists and a range of expert health professionals recruited to support practice teams are spearheading endeavours to ensure you get the care you need. Across England, over 29,000 more health professionals - from physiotherapists to health and wellbeing advisers - are supporting GP practices, providing a range of new services to the communities they serve, and enabling GPs to provide more appointments to patients who need their care most. When you seek assistance from your GP practice, no matter how you contact them, you will be asked to explain what you need help with. These inquiries -whether through a form on the GP practice website, or via a receptionist’s questions - are designed to help the practice team guide you towards the appropriate
Your GP practice’s reception team is trained to understand the services accessible both within your GP practice and locally. By telling them what help you need, they can ensure you receive the appropriate care from the right health professional, regardless of how you got in touch. They offer assistance by: • Facilitating prompt appointments with a suitable health expert • Identifying services accessible with a GP referral • Scheduling appointments for other types of health help you may not know about.
Care Coordinators
Care Coordinators collaborate with individuals requiring additional assistance to help them find their way through the healthcare system, linking them with the right services or experts at the right time. Acting as a central point of contact, they provide support to help you manage your care.
Social Prescribing Link Workers healthcare expert. The staff in your practice’s reception team are specially trained to know about the services available to you at your GP surgery and locally in your area. The information you provide is treated confidentially and enables them to assess your needs and direct you to the right care with the right professional as quickly as possible. Your appointment or consultation could be in the form of a phone call from one of the practice’s team of health professionals, an online video call, a face to face appointment or a short written message sent by text or email. Your GP practice team and expert receptionists will work with you to ensure you get the care you need.
Working in tandem with medical teams, Social Prescribing Link Workers concentrate on the social, emotional, and physical well-being of individuals. They provide the time and space for individuals to concentrate on their personal priorities, facilitating connections with local groups and services for practical and emotional support. These can include fitness activities, volunteering, financial advice, and housing guidance.
Paramedics
Paramedics work closely with their general practice colleagues to provide patient care... They are trained to manage a broad range of health conditions, from minor injuries to more severe situations like asthma attacks and heart incidents. They handle routine and urgent appointments and conduct home visits.
Physiotherapists
Physiotherapists within general practice are experts in musculoskeletal ailments. They can diagnose, evaluate, and treat intricate muscle and joint conditions, potentially mitigating the need for hospital referrals. They also arrange access to further treatment, investigations, and specialists as required.
Great reception from the start
The Voice spoke to Sharon K. who lives in London and recently had a good experience with her local GP surgery. I had some concerns about my blood pressure and felt that It needed to be checked. So I went to the doctor for an appointment, and the GP reception team was attentive and listened to what I wanted, they looked at the availability, and gave me a
same-day appointment for later that afternoon with a GP locum who had a lot of experience with high blood pressure, instead of me waiting for a week to see my own GP. I was really nervous about my blood pressure potentially being high possibly because of familial factors and slept the whole day leading up to my appointment, I actually overslept and when I woke, I called the Primary Care Trust to see if it would still be possible to be seen, as I
might be a few minutes late or if it would have to be rescheduled. They were absolutely great, and I was reassured that there would be no problem in being seen for my appointment as long as I was within 15 minutes of my appointment time. The GP receptionist told me to relax, don’t worry, and just make my way to the appointment. This really put me at ease and was just what I needed to hear. The appointment went just as well with the locum listening to me and suggesting lifestyle changes before anything more involved. Happy to say my blood pressure is okay and well-controlled.
Physician Associates
Physician Associates diagnose and address a wide spectrum of health conditions. Collaborating with GPs and the broader practice team, they offer care for individuals, with long-term conditions.
Health and Wellbeing Coaches
Health and Wellbeing Coaches assist individuals to improve their physical and mental health based on the individual’s priorities. They foster knowledge, skills, and selfassurance in health management to prevent long-term conditions and illnesses from developing or getting worse.
Clinical Pharmacists
Clinical Pharmacists in general practice teams are experts in medications and work with individuals to keep them well for as long as possible. They offer support to those with long-term conditions like asthma, diabetes, and high blood pressure, as well as individuals on multiple medications, ensuring medication effectiveness. Some Clinical Pharmacists can also prescribe medicines.
Pharmacy Technicians
Pharmacy Technicians play a significant role within general practice, supporting their Clinical Pharmacist colleagues. They update medication records, show individuals how to use their medications and offer other helpful advice and support.
Nursing Associates
Nursing Associates operate under nurse or health professional guidance. They contribute to routine health checks, wound care, and offer patients general health and wellbeing advice. Trust your reception team to get you to the right care, from the right health professional. Visit: nhs.uk/GPservices
10 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
Asari St Hill
Business and Wealth
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Discovering the secrets of effective networking Are Black business owners networking effectively?
H
OW MANY times have you been networking, given out loads of cards and not heard from anyone? A familiar story for all too many. The fundamental mismatch is you leave home looking to sell and everyone attending is not looking to buy! I have been a professional networker for 12 years. It was only after I joined one major networking organisation that I really understood what effective networking was. Now I am building my own networking organisation for Black business owners. While I encourage businessto-business networking within our community, to help us share more business among each other, I also encourage all entrepreneurs in our community to network as broadly as possible. Every networking event aims at a group, either by geography or other demographics, so pick where you think you will get access to your target market. Become a farmer not a hunter! We need to stop looking for clients and selling at networking events. Start thinking of networking as ‘relationship building’. Who asks for sex before the first date? If you want to build a worthwhile business relationship with someone, it usually takes multiple touches or conversations to build the magic — for them to ‘like’ and ‘trust’ you enough to open their contacts to you. Relationship building is like farming. You reap what you sow. Hunters only get what they can ‘kill’ or ‘close’ on the day — usually nothing or ‘roadkill’. When leaving home, ask yourself, can I identify three to five people who I can start a professional relationship with, that could introduce me to my target market? Get access to your contact’s contacts! Once you understand that the
magic of networking is getting access to your contact’s contacts, you will start to be a more effective networker. It is not how many business cards you give out but how many cards or contact details you collect — with permission to call them. Your next task is to followup to get a one-to-one meeting in your diary. Initially, it could be just 15 minutes. If you both think it is worth developing things further, then arrange a longer one-to-one, preferably face-to-face. Don’t just talk business but start to get to know them. Remember, your role is to nurture the relationship so they ‘like’ and ‘trust’ you enough to introduce you to useful contacts that could be a client or introducer. Get a client, eat once. Get an introducer, eat for years. The benefits of being referred to an introducer is that they can access multiple prospects for you over months and even years. This is one of the best kept secrets in networking. For example, if you sell wills, you could be introduced to a mortgage broker. Mortgage brokers spend a lot of time with people buying expensive assets. It is easy for the mortgage broker to ask each client if they have a will. Once the client says no, they can just ask, ‘would you like me to introduce you to someone who can help you with that?’. As a business coach, I can have the same relationship with an accountant. They spend each day working for business owners and know their challenges. It should be easy for an Accountant to refer to me. If you would like business advice from Asari St.Hill — ActionCOACH Business Coach and Founder of the Black Business Club, you can contact him: asarist-hill@actioncoach.com / www.actioncoach. com/asaristhill
MAKE USE OF THE ROOM: Don’t just speak to people you like (photos: Getty Images)
My top 10 tips for effective networking 1. Leave home planning who (or which profession) you would like to meet. 2. Dress to impress. You only get one chance to make a first impression. 3. Bring business cards or contact details but more importantly, bring a pen. 4. Don’t just speak to people you like. Make use of the room. 5. Listen twice as much as you speak – ask curious questions about what they do and who they work with. 6. Write a few bullet points
on their business cards – things to remember them for. 7. If interested, collect their details and ask permission to call them. 8. Follow-up any names or professions you may have missed on the day. 9. Connect with your contacts via LinkedIn. 10. Follow-up each person and explore if it is worth continuing the relationship. Good luck and let me know how you get on.
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12 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
L’Myah Sherae
Join the debate online: voice-online. co.uk/opinion
Living in Britain’s cities? You must be choking!
Black people more likely to be exposed to illegal levels of toxic air in cities like London and Manchester. It’s a race issue
L
LONDON IS an interesting place to say the least. I was born and raised in Nottingham, and I remember when I first started visiting London back in 2010, when my grandma got a new job promotion in the city. Excited to visit somewhere different, I explored London jumping on and off different Tubes, all starry-eyed and adventurous. But notably, I also remember getting a blocked nose and a slight cough whenever I took the Tube, and when I spoke with my mum about this, I distinctly remember her saying that she experienced the same thing, and that it was due to the poor air quality. Fast forward around a decade and I’ve now been living in London myself for about seven years, with an apartment in a busy area in central London. The cough and blocked nose that I used to get when I visited London has obviously subsided, but that doesn’t mean that the air quality has gotten better, or that the issue of air pollution no longer exists. My initial experience of London can be better under-
stood through the statistics. A few years back, Nottingham emerged as the city with the cleanest air in the United Kingdom (I type this with a Cheshire Cat smile on my face despite the fact that I don’t even live there anymore). The ‘UK’s greenest towns and cities’ report by Compare the Market showed Nottingham’s air quality as the best in the country, and this is obviously in stark contrast to the capital city. For example, London reported illegal levels of air pollution since 2010, which contributed to around 6,000 excess deaths in 2019, according to research published in the Lancet Planetary Health journal. The sheer size of London, combined with a dense road network and tall buildings, means central London is one of the most polluted places in the UK. No wonder I used to get a cough and a blocked nose when I first started visiting the city as a teenager — the stats are shocking. But what makes matters even worse is that air pollution is not evenly distributed, and its impact disproportionately affects
TAKING ACTION: A cyclist wearing a pollution mask in London while commuting to work. (photo: Getty Images)
TOXIC: Central London is one of most populated places in the UK (photo: Getty Images)
minority ethnic and low income communities. Black people are most likely to live near busy arterial roads, motorways, and transport hubs. Proximity to other pollution sources, like industrial sites, is often also too close for comfort, and a comparative lack of green assets, such as parks and trees, further compounds the problem. Research by Greenpeace shows that Black people in LonLon don are more likely to breathe illegal levels of air pollution than white and Asian groups. And Black people living in England are nearly four times more likely than white people to have no access to outdoor space at home, whether it’s a garden or a balcony. But not only are Black British Londoners more likely to live in areas with more polluted air, our diaspora immigrant comcom munities also tend to live in places with higher concentraconcentra tions of toxic air too. For ex-
L’Myah Sherae is founder of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Race Equality in Education
ample, despite improvements in Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) concentrations since 2016, average NO2 levels in diaspora communities in London were over eight per cent higher than the London average, and Particulate Matter levels were nearly four per cent higher than the London average in 2019. Road vehicles are the leading cause of London’s air pollution, generating half of the Nitrogen Oxides and Particulate Matter that clog the air and seep into our lungs, according to Transport for London. Even though Black and Asian groups are most affected, we actually contribute least to the problem, with low vehicle ownership common amongst our communities. I think we can all agree that this is not fair by any means, or on any level. If toxic air is having a disproportionate impact on our community, then more attention needs to be paid
Black people are most likely to live near transport hubs to how it can negatively affect children too. Research shows that half of London’s recorded childhood asthma hospitalisations between 2021 and 2022 were from Black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups. The fact that Nitrogen Dioxide levels in Black communities are on average 16 to 27 per cent higher than majority white neighbourhoods is no coincidence here. Air pollution is a race issue. It is a social justice issue too. For far too long, air quality cam-
paigns have been dominated by white, middle class communities, which means important nuances about air pollution’s disproportionate impact have often been neglected or ignored. This needs to change, now. I want to know what the government is doing to address these issues. There should never be a situation where families are allowed to live in locations that have illegal levels of air pollution. It’s against the law for a reason. And the fact that communities living in these areas aren’t aware of the toxic air surrounding them makes the problem even more insidious. If you’re reading this article, please check the levels of air pollution in your local area by visiting uk-air.defra.gov.uk. It’s crucial that we’re all informed, so that we can take the necessary measures to protect ourselves, and our loved ones around us.
NOVEMBER 2023 THE VOICE
| 13
News Feature
Ceremony hails most Stars shine at Powerlist 2024 celebration of Black excellence. By Leah Mahon
T
HIS YEAR’S highlyanticipated Powerlist Celebration of Black Excellence has revealed pioneering and trailblazing people from African, African Caribbean, and African American heritage as the most influential in Britain today. Edward Enninful OBE, is the first Black person to hold the position of editor-in-chief of British Vogue, has taken the top spot for the Black person with the most influence across the UK. Born in Ghana, Enniful moved to London to pursue his career working at magazines like i-D and now serves as the European editorial director of Condé Nast. Although the esteemed creative visionary announced his departure from British Vogue this year, he is still hailed as driving cultural, fashion and political influence through his editorship. The Voice’s own Paulette Simpson, CBE has been acknowledged on the list for another year for her work as executive director of Britain’s only Black newspaper and her position as Deputy CEO of JN Group UK; the first Caribbean bank to operate in the UK. Simpson led her team which steered the Black British Voices Project — the largest survey of Black Britons to date — to be
p
published in collaboration with i-Cubed and the University of Cambridge. She was awarded the top accolade, sponsored by Salesforce; Woman of the Year Award; being recognised as a woman who has demonstrated excellence in leadership. Lord Woolley of Woodford, also known as Simon Woolley, is the first Black principal of Homerton College at the University of Cambridge. He is also the co-founder of Operation Black Vote — a longstanding racial justice organisation. Other names include Dragons’ Den winner Steven Bartlett who is now a regular investor on the hit BBC One programme. The multi-million pound entrepreneur, who is half-Nigerian, is famed for his podcast series Diary of a CEO, where he sits down with famous faces across politics, entertainment and science. Patricia Bright, a social media influencer and entrepreneur, first started out on YouTube but has since amassed a legion of long-time supporters. Expanding her contact from fashion and beauty to now lifestyle and financial management. With the successful The Break podcast and brand deals with the likes of L’Oréal, Bright has gone from strength to strength since her early days on the
THE BRITISH Black Book Festival proved a real page-turner as exhibitors and attendees packed out London’s Southbank. The Voice exhibition stand proved popular, and hundreds flocked to sessions on getting published, plus poetry reading and live performances. Author and book seller Samantha Rumbidzai Vazhure, from Zimbabwe, told The Voice: “It gives us exposure and lets people know we exist. It’s very important and we’re very grateful for it.” Another bookseller, Carolynn Bain, added: “This is about platforming all of those Black British authors out there doing incredible work who are just not getting the platform and spaces for their work.”
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GREAT AND THE GOOD: Clockwise from top left, Colin Jackson, Charlene White, Eva Omaghomi and David Harewood OBE; Paulette Simpson, CBE, with her award; Vanessa Kingori, Chief Business Officer at Conde Nast Britain (left) and Lorraine Pascale; Adjoa Andoh and guest; Jourdan Dunn (left) and Eva Simpson (photos: Getty Images) streaming giant. Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh and Birmingham-born actor David Harewood jointly won the Entertainer of the Year Award which honours the highest standards in the entertainment profession. For the Met Com-
munity Award, individuals or organisations making significant contributions to their community through passion and selflessness, Paul Reid; Head of the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool, took home the gong. Patrick Vernon, a social com-
mentator and campaigner on issues such as the Windrush scandal, was also nominated. The Powerlist was launched in 2006 to showcase Black role models to young people. It is now regarded as the leading authority on issues of Black influ-
ence for the 18th year running. The Powerlist, in partnership with J.P. Morgan, continues to honour incredible men and women across a wide range of industries, including business, science, technology, and the arts.
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The festival ran for four days, and included a well-attended session on Unmasking Brilliance: Black British Voices in the Media, with Dawn Butler MP, Professor Kehinde Andrews (session chair), broadcaster Clive Myrie, and Professor Gary Younge. Myrie spoke about how, as a correspondent based in Japan, he had to tell a company chief executive he was interviewing to look and speak to him rather than his white producer. Author and journalist Younge said: “When I was starting out it was a case of you can only write about race, or don’t write about race at all. It wasn’t ’write about what you’re passionate about.’ No one is professionally Black.”
VOICES OF EXPERIENCE: Paulette Simpson CBE from The Voice introduces panellists Dawn Butler MP, Professor Kehinde Andrews (session chair), broadcaster Clive Myrie, and Professor Gary Younge
14 | THE VOICE
NOVEMBER 2023
Dotun Adebayo
Join the debate online voice-online.co.uk/opinion
Rate him or hate him - you can’t ignore him!
Everyone’s story matters Writing my book was painful but if it was not for the written word reat ures mi ht e or otten You should write your story!
M
Y BRAND new book Effries has just arrived from the printers. I cannot tell you how emotional this is. As a publisher I have printed over 150 books but Effries is my life story, my memoirs, the story that I have bottled up inside me for years. The story I didn’t want to write. Who would want to tell the world that they were once arrested for murder? It’s not the kind of thing that you discuss in polite company. In fact, I had not even mentioned it to my wife. Why would I? It was too painful an experience. Like this excerpt: AGE TWELVE I was there. I remember. Lunchtime. One of the cops jumps out the van and grabs Cliff McDonald by the neck — squeezing and squeezing and another kicks him in the boll*cks then his seed starts to drip bleed. They bundle him in the van and a dinner lady runs up to say she has to go with them cos Cliff is only thirteen even though he looks like he’s nineteen and that big afro makes him look even older. One of the coppers shoves her backwards and she falls over the kerb into the gutter and they drive off laughing. AGE SEVENTEEN Yeah. Remember Cliff McDonald? One moment he’s standing there minding his own business, chatting up the Hornsey High girls on the corner of Weston Park in the N8s, the next moment he’s bundled into the back of a Black Maria by half a dozen coppers. AGE THIRTY-SIX Don’t know what the cops did to him but he’s never been the same Cliff since. To this day. Bumped into him recently. It’s like they did the same thing to him as they did to that bloke in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.
JOOKS Let me shed a little more light on this darkened doorway of my soul. Then it struck me over Black History month in October that we are making history but we’re not writing it. Particularly people of my generation. The way we were back in the sixties, seventies, eighties and dare I say the nineties? It’s all history now. And we are a part of that history. Every one of us. Mostly oral history. Cos things ain’t wot they used to be. It ain’t like that no more. And we keep telling the youngers this by word of mouth instead of putting it in a book and giving them some homework to read. Spoken words are like the air you breathe. In out, in out, you shake it all about. You do the okey-cokey and you turn around… the words you speak are here today and gone tomorrow, whereas the written word is forever. You only have to look at the Bible to see what I mean. You can interpret it as much as you like but the words remain the same, they leave little to the jeopardy of dementia. When in doubt as to the word of God you pull out your Bible. That’s the beauty of writing your story. You put it down on paper for future generations to reference. Your written words bring our history alive. In the days when Black leaders had to be assassinated to make the headlines (the 1960s), Alex Haley managed to get Malcolm X to sit down and narrate his autobiography. It was literally completed just days before Malcolm X was gunned down and it is an abso-
MASTERCLASS: Malcolm X’s autobiography was completed just days before he was gunned down; inset, Dotun with his book
lute masterclass in telling a life story. If it wasn’t for him telling, in his own words, his remarkable story of being a common criminal to becoming righteous, Malcolm X would be little more than a footnote in Black history. And think how much poorer we would be for that. Instead, because we have the written word, his remarkable journey is a rights of passage for every person of colour, I don’t care who you are. When you think of the tens of millions of copies the book has sold over the last 58 years, and the millions it continues to sell annually, you cannot argue that it is the bestselling Black book of all time. But where is the Black British equivalent? It doesn’t have to be about the lives of the great and good. It can be about me or you. Our lives matter too. Our stories are the essence of what matters and why it matters. Thank the Lord that slave narratives like Twelve Years A Slave were written because I suspect
one or two of us would imagine enslavement to have been a walk in the park on the plantation. All we would have of Malcolm X would be the speeches and the TV interviews. It is THE story captured in the ever-best selling Autobiography of Malcolm X that we see the man. The same with Martin Luther King. Letter from a Birmingham Jail would be little more than a series of philosophical musings if it were not for the accompanying Autobiography of Martin Luther King. Without that Martin Luther King is little more than a mouthpiece for the civil rights movement. Think how little we know about Marcus Garvey because we’ve got little more than his Philosophy and Opinions to go by. We need your stories. When I say WE I mean everybody. But in particular WE. For the children of the future it will be like looking through old Black and white and sepia photographs of family dead and gone. Their stories are lost forever. We’re none the wiser. Every story counts. We’ve all got a story to tell. I want to read yours.
Radio Dotun giveaway... TWENTY-FIVE lucky readers will win an hour’s one-to-one online mentoring with Radio Dotun on writing their life story. It could be you! Whether you have started writing your book or not, Radio Dotun will guide you on telling your story the best way possible. This is a masterclass tailor-made for you. With a 30-year trackre or o p is in first time authors with the X Press (Victor Headley Yardie, Patrick Augustus Baby Father Karline Smith Moss Side Massive, Robyn Travis Prisoner To The Streets, Yvette Richards Single Black
Female) there is no better person to talk to about getting your memoirs written. This exclusive one-toone mentorship will help make it a reality. Al you have to do is answer one simple question, what is the title of Radio Dotun’s brand new memoir: Is it: JEFFRIES EFFRIES NEFERTITI e first peop e to answer correctly will win this unique offer. Email lester.holloway@ thevoicemediagroup. co.uk with the subject headline ‘Dotun Comp’
DOTUN ADEBAYO, BRITAIN’S MOST CELEBRATED BLACK BROADCASTER, IS KNOWN AS THE KING OF THE NIGHTTIME AIRWAVES. ALL VIEWS HERE ARE HIS OWN. LISTEN TO HIM OVERNIGHT ON BBC 5 LIVE FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK MONDAY MORNINGS TO FRIDAY MORNINGS 1AM - 5AM, AND ON BBC RADIO LONDON EVERY SUNDAY 7PM - 10PM. FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER: @dotunadebayo
AUGUST 2023
THE VOICE |15
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16 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
News Feature
Top cops are ‘undermining anti-racist plan’
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LACK POLICE experts are furious that a national race action plan is being ‘undermined’ by chief constables with the support of Suella Braverman. Delegates at the annual National Black Police Association convention, in Cardiff, say the plan is being handled very differently across Britain’s 44 constabularies. Some forces, like Greater Manchester where the top cop Stephen Watson denies institutional racism applies to his constabulary, are accused of trying to stifle progress towards anti-racism. Black cops and race equality experts claim senior officers have been given the green light to resist change by the Home Secretary, her department and ministers. The National Police Chiefs Council’s National Race Action Plan is being covertly undermined by an unholy alliance between top cops, Braverman and locally-elected Conservative police and crime commissioners (PCC), critics say. Forces are using a variety of tactics such as introducing their own watered-down plans while ignoring NPCC plan and setting up new ‘staff networks’ to endorse their approach in the face of opposition from local Black Police Associations. NPCC have launched a rearguard action to advise police forces to raise their game on implementing their race plan but are hamstrung by the inability to compel chief constables to take notice because forces are operationally independent and only answer to Home Office ministers and PCCs, the majority of whom are Tory. Frustration at the ‘covert operation’ to destroy the national race action plan comes amid alarm that the Home Office have refused pleas to order transport police to record ethnicity in traffic stops. Several police forces, including the Metropolitan Police, stopped recording ethnicity last year after a study found 56 per cent of traffic stops in the capital were Black drivers. Speaking at the NBPA con-
lac cops claim senior o cers have been given green light to resist change. By Lester Holloway
CHANGE: Abimbola Johnson ference, Baroness Louise Casey — who led the review which found the Met to be institutionally racist, sexist and homophobic — blasted the Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley for denying his force was institutionally racist. She said: “Racism runs deep in many institutions and it runs deep in the police. But they [don’t] accept that because it’s too difficult for the white men at the top who have spent years not getting it sorted. “Don’t come out and tell me that [institutional racism] is a
‘label’ that’s unhelpful. Come out and tell me why. Because I really want to know why it’s in the ‘too difficult’ box.” Casey added that denial of institutional racism was a ‘snowball’ rolling downhill, with each chief constable who denies it encouraging their counterparts in other forces to follow suit. Casey said the history of the Met Police was “a story of woe” on race, and that it was “out of touch” with Londoners. Until there were real improvements the force had “not earnt” the right to use the powers they have. Abimbola Johnson, a barrister and independent chair of the NPCC panel who scrutinised the race action plan, drafted by the NPCC and the College of Policing, said it had been “deprioritised” in different forces amid the “politicisation” of anti-racism work in the police such as use of the term ‘woke.’ She told The Voice: “You have forces that are actively pushing the race action plan, and then you have other forces who really don’t see it as a priority and are not interested in delivering it at all and hide behind the rhetoric that allows
them to do that. Overall, there also needs to be a change in the rhetoric we hear from the government.” NPCC are seeking to directly support officers working across the 44 constabularies as a counterweight to any ‘anti-woke’ rhetoric they may be hearing from their own chief constable. Black officers at the NBPA conference are concerned that the Independent Office for Police Accountability (IOPC) are increasingly turning away complaints and referring them back to the police forces that are alleged to have committed the misdemeanours in the first place. The grassroots Alliance of Police Accountability (APA) organisation has raised concerns with IOPC about this. Leroy Logan, a former chair of the NBPA and current supporter of the APA, told The Voice: “Since 2010 things have gone backwards. We’ve had more extreme Home Secretary’s. In fact, I’d say the current one is a very dangerous person. She’s into operational interference and speaks things that plays itself out on the streets. “And it gives rogue officers, including some chief officers, the opportunity to think they are unaccountable and untouchable. Well, we’ve got to address all of these issues.”
WORRY: Black officers are concerned that the IOPC are increasingly turning away complaints
CONVO: TV historian David Olusoga chats with ITN presenter Sean Fletcher (below), and attendees pose with illuminated NBPA sign (above)
We need a radical c THE ALLIANCE of Police Accountability workshop held at the National Black Police Association conference in Cardiff garnered an overwhelmingly positive response from participants. The workshop, organised by the Alliance of Police and Accountability (APA), and Black Equity Organisation (BEO) alongside other individuals such as Leroy Logan, Janet Hills, Kenya Lamb and Tam Bayonne, came together in a unique collaboration. The APA, an alliance that includes the National Black Police Association (NBPA), is embarking on an ambitious co-production and consultation and community mobilisation project in four cities across England and Wales including Cardiff. The objective is to partner with local community organisations and local Black Police associations (BPA’s) and develop comprehensive five year Black olicin and Public Health Serious Violence Reduction Charters. The APA will establish local police
research observatories and police monitoring groups to enhance police accountability and facilitate community-led public health initiatives. One of the key strengths of the APA initiative is its ability to unite key in uential Black organisations along with individuals who possess valuable insights into the workings of the police. This collaborative effort aims to create a unified voice for chan e a critical factor in in uencing the seemingly impenetrable world of policing. It provides a platform for the exchange of best practices among stakeholders, enabling them to navigate the complexities of engaging with various police organisations effectively. Pooling resources and expertise among diverse groups also eases the burden on any single entity, increasing the collective capacity to achieve something as momentous as this initiative. Lee Jasper, Chair of the NBPA conference APA event, highlighted the magnitude of the APA’s work, characterising
NOVEMBER 2023 THE VOICE
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17
News Feature PROUD: Over 400 Black police attended (below, left), a delegate browses The Voice newspaper, and (right) Dame Louise asey speaks
change in policing
CHAIR: Lee Jasper it as one of the largest Black community consultations ever undertaken. Over the next three years, the APA will engage with Black communities, including women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities, across multiple cities. Their goal is to develop locally and nationally consented Black policing and public health charters that truly re ect the needs and aspirations of those they serve. The formation of local police monitoring groups is integral to this effort, as they are expected to enhance transparency and hold law enforcement accountable. These groups will also facilitate community-led public
health initiatives and violence reduction networks. Ultimately, the aim is to provide irrefutable evidence of the changes needed within police forces to rebuild the trust that has been eroded over time. Action for Race Equality (ARE), as the secretariat for this project, and are wholeheartedly committed to supporting the APA’s approach. This role enables ARE to provide valuable feedback throughout the program’s development. Recently, the APA hosted a launch event that received strong support from a diverse audience includin in uential fi ures like Baroness asey and Mina Smallman. Smallman, who has a personal interest in transforming the relationship between the police and Black communities following the desecration of her two murdered daughters, she spoke powerfully and conveyed great dignity and profound sense of justice during the event. For more info email: tara@ actionforraceequality.org.uk
18 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
Black History
ADVERTORIAL
WESTMINSTER CELEBRATES B
The Black on Board programme cohort with Professor Patrick Vernon OBE
BLACK ON BOARD
W
estminster City Council commissioned award-winning social enterprise, Olmec, to equip staff from a Global Majority background with the skills to become a board member or charity trustee or school governor. Black on Board is a training programme developed by Olmec. Since the programme began in March 2023, a cohort of 20 staff has been learning about topics such as: legal structures, finance, decision making and strategic planning. In October, the first cohort completed the programme. Members recently attended a marketplace event that introduced them to local community and voluntary organisations who were looking to diversify their
boards. Many are now applying for board positions with some having already secured offers. Meanwhile others are achieving promotions within the council. Black on Board participant, Mahbuba Khan said: “This is by far, the best training programme I have attended in my 20 years career in Westminster. “Since joining Black on
Board, I have become a trustee of an educational charity and I feel equipped to use my skills and knowledge as a board member. I will also be using the knowledge learnt in my job as a volunteer manager of the Bi-borough Libraries & Archives to help create opportunities for some of the marginalised communities and empower them to be
active citizens.” Westminster residents also attended the marketplace event to learn more about the Black on Board programme and consider whether to apply to join the 2024 cohort. This Black History Month We kicked off Black History Month with a special Loop Live, the council’s weekly all-staff gathering. As part
The Global Majority Network, Annual General Meeting took place during Black History Month
of this themed meeting, we heard from established author and professor, Dame Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu, who was accompanied by Mia Morris and Juliet Alexander from Black History Maker, an organisation that shares the stories of impactful Black figures. We also heard from staff member Trudy Brown who took part in the Black on Board programme, and from community member Zola who leads the Stay Safe, Stay Creative project, offering knife wound first aid training for Westminster residents and local businesses. To close the month, we will be held a pan-London panel discussion hosted by Eddie Nestor and Juliet Alexander on creating racial equality across different industries and a Black Muslim history walk. The Westminster Youth Council are also holding a night of celebration where they will share their reflections on Black His-
tory Month and hear from a panel including; Serena Simon, Director of Communities at Westminster City Council, Cherron Inko-Tariah MBE, Editor at Black History Month, Bernadette Thompson OBE, Director NHS Foundation Trust and Tanya Hughes OBE from HM Treasury. We will conclude with a night of celebration, ‘A night to celebrate Black excellence – Saluting our Sisters’ on Thursday 2 November. The event will include performances from Shazia Mirza, Poetess Jess and more. Music by DJ Rabiah. Book your free ticket on: westminster. gov.uk/black-historymonth-2023 An update on our antiracism commitments In November 2022, the council committed to becoming an anti-racist organisation. This commitment is a recognition that in order to create an inclusive workplace,
NOVEMBER 2023 THE VOICE | 19
Black History
ADVERTORIAL
LACK HISTORY MONTH 2023
Staff attended a special Black History Month themed Loop Live this month
everyone must feel a sense of belonging. It was a call to action for every employee in the organisation (senior leaders and otherwise) to treat others as they would wish to be treated and to call out racism and discrimination. We have made progress on those actions which includes; publishing our antiracism commitment statement, reviewing our policies and procedures through an anti-racist and intersectionality standpoint, and holding anti-racist training and cultural competency sessions throughout the year. We are continuing to have wider discussions across the organisation on racism and what more need to be done, and in the coming months we will be launching our corporate charter. Annual General Meeting This year the Global Majority Network held its Annual General Meeting, during which senior leaders at the council answered staff questions about its work on antiracism. Genevieve Peattie, Communities Manager and a member of the Global Majority Network’s Steering group, said: “This time last year, the Global Majority network supported the council to declare itself an anti-racist organisation. This was a milestone as it gave us an axis from which we could intersect racial justice with all corners of the organisation’s work, from how we do charity funding to how we implement our internal pay-rise policies. “During the last few years,
navigating a global social justice movement to value Black life and reckoning with the health and racial disparities on our own doorstep in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the network has supported some challenging conversations on how the council must look up from all angles at how it can do better in its mission for social and racial equity. Last week, for our Annual General Meeting, coinciding with BHM, we spoke with some of our senior leaders with the opening question ‘Why are you committed to anti-racism?’ “The conversation gave us insight into what our senior colleagues within the organisation are doing, and why, to promote anti-racism in their respective services. The conversation was part of the network continuing to support the organisation to make meaningful steps to be an actively anti-racist organisation challenging evidence of structural racism and its intentions to shift the landscape.” Radeyah Abbas Saud, Community Development Officer and lobal a ority Network Steering Group member, adds: “It was really reassuring to hear about the work that’s been going on with the council’s antiracism strategy. I’d say that it’s unique to have many senior leaders join and want to provide an update on what’s been done and what’s getting done. I love being a part of the network and feel proud when I look back at all that’s been achieved.” FIND OUT MORE www.westminster.gov.uk
The Westminster team with Mia Morris, Juliet Alexander at a Black History Month themed Loop Live
Staff attended a special Black History Month themed Loop Live this month
Radeyah Abbas Saud, Global Majority Network Steering Group member and Community Development officer
Dame Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu
Genevieve Peattie, Global Majority Network Steering Group member and Community Manager
20 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
News Feature
Black T
HE BRUTAL and senseless death of a Black girl on her way to school that sent shockwaves around the country has been described as an ongoing fight against Black femicide. Elianne Andam, 15, below, stepped off a bus outside the Whitgift Centre on Wellesley Road, Croydon, on September 27. It would be her last morning commute to school before she was stabbed in the neck by a male pupil at 8.30am. Despite the efforts of emergency services, Elianne died at the scene. Across national media, there were calls to eradicate the scourge of knife crime gripping the capital. In the space of just a few weeks, Keelen Morris Wong, Taye Faik and an unnamed 15-year-old male were stabbed. Two of them lost their lives. Women’s rights campaigners, however, continue to hit back at how the reporting of Elianne’s murder failed to look at how the intersections of both race and gender played a part. Black Femicide is the escalating violence that Black women and girls are subjected to because of their gender at the hands of men. The femicide war on Black women and girls is also part of the wider debate on the surge of violence against them, including rape, sexual assault and sexual
Violence against Black women is on the rise. What is behind this trend? By Leah Mahon harassment. According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales, Black or Black British and Mixed ethnicity adults were more likely to experience sexual assault than those of White, Asian or Other ethnicity in the year ending March 2018 to year ending March 2020 combined. In the same time frame, women and girls aged 16-24 years old were more likely to be victims of sexual assault than men. Djanomi Headley, an Independent Domestic Abuse Survivor at Sistah Space, told The Voice the murders of Black women and girls is often
a “missed opportunity” by the media to highlight the intersectionality. “If you’re really from the places, knife crime usually takes a particular pattern...generally it’s street crime and gang culture. In Elianne’s case, it seems to be a domestic issue. “Knife crime doesn’t tend to involve women. Even though civilians and innocent people can be affected by it, it usually takes place in a particular setting and maybe motivated by something in particular,” she says. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there were some 45,000 incidents involving a knife or sharp instrument in England and
Wales in the year ending March 2022 (this excludes Greater Manchester). The West Midlands Police force recorded the highest rate of knife crimes cases, with 152 offences per 100,000 people in 2021/22. Although knife crime rates have not returned to prepandemic levels, it has surged by five percent across the UK. Limz Ali, who now helps young people steer away from knife crime, has been witness to multiple stabbings while growing up. Speaking to The Voice, he described how once the blood of the victim even splattered on him. “I was living at a hostel and I was going to get food to eat and witnessed a fight break out and it just ended up escalating – one guy was just stabbed”. Ali, who runs comedy and acting workshops for countless young people in London, says despite growing up in Tottenham where knife crime was prevalent, he said he never carried a knife or gun, but believes that young people today do because they are scared. “Some of them are scared, some of them do it to follow, because they think I want to be like him. Because he’s buying this and that, people have respect for him. They want to be known, they want to have a reputation,” he says. “Nowadays, it’s not even about
WORKING FOR CHANGE: Djanomi Headley the gang stuff, it’s out of fear, because everyone around you is carrying a knife. I always tell the young people, you’re a foreigner in this country. These are not even your ends you’re defending.” Ali says that young people today need peer support and activities in their local area to help them. Parents also need to play a proactive role in asking how school is going, checking their rooms and teaching young men and boys about respect. Ali added: “She [Elianne Andams] did not deserve to get stabbed. The guy that [allegedly] did it was only 17-years-old; you can’t take someone’s life like that and you’re taking your life away as well… whatever anyone does to you, you can’t swing out like that.” Earlier this year, the Casey
Review labelled the Metropolitan Police services as still institutionally racist and sexist. It reported a litany of evidence of disproportionate stop and search targeted towards the Black community as well as the injustice of evidence from rape victims being destroyed. For Black campaigners, they have called on Black men in particular to become more involved in fighting against Black femicide, calling the “not all men” stigma unhelpful. “We’re not expecting good men to take the rap for bad men. It’s expecting the good men to come and support us,” she says. “To protect us as we protect them. Black men are the closest people that will be able to understand what we go through as Black women, because race comes first; racism comes before misogyny.” Headley adds: “They may not need to understand what it’s like to be a woman, they just need to hear it. You know your fellow Black person is already receiving the same racism that you’re receiving, there’s a level of understanding and compassion that nobody else can give [when it also comes to misogyny].” At the time of going to print, a 17-year-old male had been charged with possession of a knife and with Elianne Adams’ murder.
NOVEMBER 2023 THE VOICE
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News Feature
Code of the elites
PROVOCATIVE: Nicola Rollock’s new book, The Racial Code, below, spotlights a series of fictional scenarios involving a private members club, higher education and an arts institution (main photo: Getty Images)
Upper class use ‘racial code’ to police their privileged space. By Lester Holloway
A
RACIAL CODE blocks Black high flyers from breaking into the upper echelons, one of Britain’s few Black female professors says. Rules exist which serve to police the borders of elite society and executive positions, and are “hidden in plain sight”, according to Nicola Rollock, professor of Social Policy and Race at King’s College London and fellow at the University of Cambridge. Rollock has released a provocative new book, called The Racial Code, which spotlights a series of fictional scenarios involving a private members club, higher education and an arts institution. In the bar of a top London hotel, Rollock spells out why she used the title. “I like the word code because it suggests the sense of something that is hidden but yet present. Sort of hidden in plain sight. “For Black people, it’s to act as a source of affirmation; you’re not going crazy! “Because I think one of the consequences of those subtle forms of racism is that they leave you second guessing yourself. “Did that really happen? Was I really spoken to in that way? Was I really overlooked for a third time? So it’s to provide affirmation.” One of the chapters of her book centres on a character called Miles, a Savile Row-tailored and upwardly-mobile City lawyer on his first visit as a new member of an established private club. From experiencing frostiness from the receptionist to his interaction with the Eton-educated Digbeth Winthorpe-Brown – who boasted that his father and grandfather were both members of the same club — to being mistaken for a waiter by a female member as he departed, the club reinforces elite barriers. The interaction began with Winthorpe-Brown’s nose twitching as Miles proved himself
about to command the conversation, and progressed to Winthorpe-Brown bringing up the issue of race with reference to how indignant he felt to be referred to as white. “You’ll understand what I mean, you seem like a pretty decent type of chap,” he remarks patronisingly. What Miles encounters at the club is a series of ‘filtering mechanisms’ based on class aimed at preserving the space for those born into privilege with an added layer of race. Asked about the chapter, Rollock says: “Digbeth’s manner is a policing one. He’s inquiring about Miles, who’s of mixed heritage, who’s professional and has every right to be, on social class terms, in this private members club. Being middle class is useful because it gives you some access and privilege in society. But if you’re Black it doesn’t mean you are included. “That inclusion is usually based on how white others manage and police that space, whether they feel to include you, and that power dynamic is absolutely crucial.” Rollock said she did not necessarily see her book as a part two of her acclaimed The Colour of Class: The educational strategies of the Black middle classes, but there were common threads.
Being middle class is a privilege that gives you access but if you’re Black that doesn’t mean you’re included
“I think some of us recognise that that game playing is going on, but I worry that we don’t recognise how pervasive that it is. I think that’s part of the same fabric, if you will, that same code of how society operates.” The ‘code’ also differentiates between the “racially palatable”, those who downplay their racialised identity, and “racially salient” Black professionals. As someone who takes pride in her natural hair and holidays in Barbados, Rollock acknowledged she fell in the latter category. “I talk about my cultural identity. I talk about, dare I say, racism. These are subjects that, for the most part, make white people feel uncomfortable, make the organisation uncomfortable.” The code was not just about going to the right school, having the right connections and gaining the ‘social capital’ to fit in, in the top circles. Black professionals are expected to actively downplay their identity, and even then they are still judged by the code based purely on the colour of their skin, despite ticking every other box. “I ultimately think that this is about power”, Rollock adds. “We often think about social mobility only in class terms, without taking account of the fact that class plays out differently depending on your ethnic group.” The Racial Code: Tales of Resistance and Survival is published by Penguin and available in all good book stores in hardback and paperback, plus ebook and audio
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22 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
News Feature
The Kidpreneurs making waves in business world School-age entrepreneurs are inspiring their friends by working for themselves. By Vic Motune
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ART-TIME WORK for kids and teenagers has traditionally been associated with jobs like delivering newspapers or babysitting. However, a new generation of ambitious young people is changing all that. “Kidpreneurs”, young business owners under the age of 18, are making waves as entrepreneurs. According to the Youth Economy Report published last year by GoHenry, the number of young people working for themselves has increased. Meanwhile, the appeal of entrepreneurship has captured the imagination of young and ambitious people all over the country. Under-18s are setting up their own microbusinesses, amassing sizeable online followings, and inspiring their peers while blazing new trails. In the world of business, success often follows years of hard work and experience. However, a new generation of young and innovative entrepreneurs are rewriting the rules of business at an age when most of their peers may be preoccupied with the latest video game or TikTok trend. Among them is 14-year-old Zarah Cole, the creative force behind Heaven’s Delight, a cupcake business that has taken the taste buds of her customers by
storm. She cooks the cupcakes in her family’s kitchen and her recipes range from Classic Vanilla and Red Velvet to Chocolate Devine. The talented Birmingham teenager has been baking cupcakes since she was seven years old. However, she only recently embarked on her entrepreneurial journey. “During lockdown I realised I wanted to make my own money,” she recalls. “I don’t want to be dependent on my parents by the time I’m 18. I thought to myself ‘I love to bake so how can I turn this into money?’”
TOUGH
The answer to that question led to the birth of her company Heaven’s Delight. “I created a business plan in Excel with my mum. The plan really impressed my teacher who had previously paid me for one of my cakes and this made me want to pursue baking as a business.” She quickly found a customer base among friends and members of her local church. The young entrepreneur has also sold hundreds of cupcakes to customers at festivals she has attended across the UK. Zarah says she has faced her Running a business is tough for any first-time entrepreneur, fair share of challenges. But with let alone one who is balancing it the support of her family and a little planning, she’s found a with the demands of school. rhythm. “My mum advised me to make a schedule and stick to it and that has helped. During the exam period or busy school weeks, I don’t take baking orders.” Asked about what advice she has for other teenagers who want to start a business, she says: “Be organised and have a positive mindset. I’d also say balance your schoolwork with your business, as education provides a safety net if the business doesn’t work out.” Eleven-year-old Agnes Larigo comes from a family of entrepreneurs. So the decision to start her own elderflower cordial company, Agnes &Co, felt like a natural progression. However, it was seeing her mum Ade, who runs her own company, speak at the recent SUPPORT: Young entrepreneur Agnes Larigo and her mum Ade Black Business Show in London
INITIATIVE: Zarah Cole, 14, is the brains behind cupcake business Heaven’s Delight (photo: Heaven’s Delight)
And then I thought of my quickly spread and demand grew During the self. mum’s elderflower and realised I after Ade made a short post on make it and sell it to peo- LinkedIn about her daughter’s exam period could ple as a way of earning more business which went viral. It led to product enquiries from as far pocket money.” or busy With unwavering determina- afield as America. As demand has grown there tion, Agnes delved into research, school weeks, learning the art of crafting cor- are plans to expand the busidials and sourcing the finest el- ness including building a greater presence on social media which derflowers. I don’t take With the support of Ade and will help her reach a wider cusother members of the family, she tomer base. orders Her tech-savvy older broth-
that provided the young entrepreneur with the spark to go ahead and launch her own business. Homemade elderflower cordial is a popular family drink and she decided it was the perfect product for her new venture. “My mum started making bottles of elderflower cordial to give away to people during the pandemic times, just to make people a little happier,” she recalls. “But after COVID I started thinking about having a little bit more pocket money to buy things my-
transformed her idea into a comprehensive business plan that would become the cornerstone of her thriving enterprise. Ade, a big supporter of Agnes’ entrepreneurial efforts, helps her daughter gather the elderflower which is in plentiful supply in May and June in their local park in Sutton. They freeze what they collect so they can later make batches of the cordial and bottle it. Initially, Agnes&Co’s customer base was family members, neighbours and local people. But word of Agnes’s business
er will help promote Agnes’s business on platforms like Instagram, sharing glimpses of her production process, from picking the elderflower to bottling the finished cordial. Asked about her top tips for other young entrepreneurs, Agnes says: “When running a business gets hard, keep pushing through, persevere. “Think about what you could do to make things better. And be creative. Don’t just go with what everybody else is doing. If it doesn’t succeed, try again.”
NOVEMBER 2023 THE VOICE |
News Feature
How to be rich forever!
Former Apprentice star and her husband unlock the secrets to their success. By Vic Motune
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EARLY 700 people gathered for a special networking event in central London organised by serial entrepreneur Byron Cole and his wife, former Apprentice star Bianca Miller-Cole. Billed as the world’s largest speed networking event, it also marked the launch of the couple’s third book, Rich Forever: What They Didn’t Teach You about Money, Finance, and Investments in School. The couple have both built several successful businesses, and networking has played a significant part in their entrepreneurial success. The event was aimed at helping new and experienced entrepreneurs make new key contacts that would be useful in building long-lasting, sustainable businesses. It was hosted by popular personal finance expert, author and TV presenter Emmanuel Asuquo. The panel of speakers included people who contributed to the book, such as former So Solid Crew rapper turned entrepreneur and investor Lisa Maffia, financial advisor Ella Weinberg, and award-winning property investor and financial literacy coach for celebrities Debodun Osekita. During the event, both authors spoke about why they wrote the book and what they wanted it to achieve. Cole told The Voice: “Our books are always inspired by questions that people are always asking us about. Among some of the questions that kept coming up were: ‘I’ve got money but what do I do with it?’ or ‘I need money, how do I make it? Or how do I keep it?’ “So we decided to write the book because we realised there is a lot of information about money we are not taught in school such as how to invest your money, maintain a good credit score, the difference between good debt and bad debt and how to create generational wealth. “The book also talks about things such as using property
and stocks and shares to build wealth. So far, we’ve been getting some great feedback.” However, Cole said he and wife Bianca were adamant that the event would be more than just a book launch. “What we really wanted to do was put together an event for like-minded individuals, who are committed to their money, in terms of being rich forever, but who also want to learn and develop,” he added. “Over 90 per cent of our audience is Black and ethnic minority, and mostly women. Bianca and I have some very loyal and dedicated supporters who fly around the world to see us talk. “So we wanted to do an event that, first of all, celebrated our community. But we also wanted something more than an event with us speaking and then a question-and-answer panel. We thought: ‘How can we create an event that helps people get to that next level?’ “I’m a big advocate of networking and I’ve had some big successes as a result of knowing and connecting with the right people. So we thought ‘let’s combine the book launch with a networking event.” He continued: “Entrepreneurs and people in regular jobs know the majority of business or job opportunities are not advertised externally. So networking is a massive opportunity for people to enhance their businesses or careers in many different ways. “One reason we put the event on is because we know in three, five or 10 years’ time, there’s going to be so many businesses formed as a result of our event.” The entrepreneur did, however, concede that some people may be too introverted to feel at ease in a networking setting. “I empathise with people who don’t want to do it. Yes, online networking platforms such as Linked In are great. But there’s nothing better than a physical connection and meeting new people. You can save yourself three to five years by having an incredible network.”
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WINNING PARTNERSHIP: Husband and wife team Bianca Miller-Cole and Byron Cole take the stage at the Rich Forever book launch
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24 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
Lyndon Mukasa
Join the debate online voice-online.co.uk/opinion
Eye on the Diaspora
COMMON CAUSE: The first an frican onference as held in ondon in uly inset an invitation to the conference
This historic summit laid the foundations of independence movements and the anti-racist struggle which continues today
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T THE turn of the 20th century, Africans, people of African descent and the diaspora were arguably at the height of subjugation on a global scale by foreign powers. Most Black people were living in a world where there was no escape from the scourge of White supremacy and formalised Western imperialism. This is what in many ways makes the backdrop of the first Pan-African Conference so important in the history of Black resistance. In 1900, the global state of Africans and the diaspora seemed dire and almost insurmountable. The Pan-African Conference was the first of many forums that would help spark a slow, but consistent chain reaction against the global order that kept Black people in a subordinate state.
IMPROVE
African American clergyman and civil rights leader of the time, Bishop Alexander Walters, described the conference as: “For the first time in history black people had gathered from all parts of the globe to discuss and improve the condition of their race, to assert their rights and organise so that they might take an equal place among nations.” As such it is important to look at how this conference would help shape global resistance to White supremacy, colonialism and influence many contemporary political movements today. The Pan-African Conference was a gathering of various political leaders, intellectuals and activists from across Europe, North America and Africa to discuss and put forward strategies for the liberation of Af-
rican people worldwide. The conference was held in London in Westminster Hall on July 23, 1900. It was built on the ideas of Pan-Africanism-the movement to encourage and strengthen connections and solidarity with peoples of African descent in Africa and the diaspora. This movement goes back in various forms in the 17th century but developed into its modern form in the late 19th century in response to the European colonisation and exploitation of Africa and African people. It was the philosophy of PanAfricanism that informed the first Pan-African conference that aimed to call on powerful nations across the world to fight against racism, grant colonies in Africa and the Caribbean the right to self government and push for more rights for African Americans in the United States. The conference was developed by Trinidadian barrister Henry Sylvester-Williams who formed the African Association in London in 1897 to encourage Pan-African unity throughout the British colonies. This had developed in response to the European partition of Africa that followed the Congress of Berlin 12 years prior in 1884 to 1885. SylvesterWilliams believed that Africans and people of African descent in the diaspora needed a forum to address their common issues. The African Association as a result marked an early response in the development of anticolonialist movements that would later take shape across
the world throughout the first half of the 20th century. The first Pan-African conference meeting was attended by 30 delegates predominantly from Britain and the Caribbean with only a few Africans and African-Americans in attendance. Notable names at the conference included Samuel Coleridge Taylor, John Alcindor, Dadabhai Naoroji, John Archer, Henry Francis Downing and W.E.B. Du Bois with Bishop Alexander Walters of the AME Zion Church chairing the conference. Papers included the social, political and economic conditions of Black people in the diaspora, the importance of independent countries governed by people of African descent such as Ethiopia, Haiti and Liberia, the legacy of slavery and European imperialism, the role of Africa in world history and the impact of Christinanity on the African continent.
It must be said that despite the noble intentions of those involved in the first Pan-AfriPan-Afri can Conference, the nature of the proposals by today’s standstand ards were far too conservative. An emphasis on trying to persuade colonial powers to treat colonial subjects better rather than arguing for the complete abolition of imperialism altogether, might have developed out of a desire to avoid negative attention from the authorities, or it could have been a product of social conditioning at the time, or a realisation of the limitations of Black power and influence during this period.
INFLUENCE
So the goal might have been to build up power and influence in the long term. Whatever the reason, this approach made it easy for European powers to ignore and dismiss the proposals from the conference. However, the conference did facilitate the development of the Pan-African Congress. Under the Pan-African Congress a series of conferences took place in Paris (1919), London (1921 & 1923), New York City (1927), Manchester (1945), Dar
Lyndon Mukasa is a writer and researcher. He studied International Development at the London School of Economics.
es Salaam (1974), and Kampala (1994). It is worth noting the 1945 Manchester conference was notable in that it finally had representatives of political parties from Africa and the Caribbean who challenged the conservative underpinnings that characterised previous conferences. With the new crop of African and Caribbean leaders came much more radical social, political and economic demands. These were mostly African and Caribbean delegates who were working and studying in Britain who had attracted support from workers, trade unionists and a growing radical sector of the African student population who demanded an end to colonialism in Africa, encouraging people in Africa to use strikes and boycotts to end European exploitation on the continent. Many of these delegates would return to Africa with those proposals and implement them in the independence struggles of the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s. The first Pan-African Conference of 1900 would help increase international awareness of racism and colonialism despite lacking financial and
political power. Despite these limitations, the conference and the subsequent congresses that spawned from it would become an instrumental part of facilitating knowledge and resource sharing among African and Caribbean leaders who would later lead their countries to independence.
LEGACIES
One of the most enduring legacies of the conference was the dissemination of Pan-African ideals which has been demonstrated in the Black Power movements in the United States, Negritude in Senegal, the Organisation of African Unity, which later became the African Union, and in recent times Black Lives Matter. These various programmes that have been influenced in some form by Pan-Africanism demonstrate that the work started at the first Pan-African Conference of 1900 is still unfinished, but the initial ideals and principles have influenced movements all over the world and will likely continue to do so until Africans and the diaspora everywhere are liberated and fully empowered.
NOVEMBER 2023 THE VOICE
Darell J. Philip
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Join the debate online: voice-online. co.uk/opinion
How to deal with bullies It can be devastating and have lifelong repercussions. Don’t suffer in silence, speak out!
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HIS MONTH includes Anti-Bullying Week, which runs from Monday November 13. Since 2002, Anti-Bullying Week has grown to become a significant annual UK event in the calendars of children, families and schools with an estimated 80 per cent of schools across England, Wales and Northern Ireland taking part, reaching over 7.5 million children and young people. Officially sponsored and organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, a coalition of organisations and individuals that are united against bullying, this year’s theme is Make A Noise About Bullying. Children, teachers and support staff in schools across the United Kingdom will be showing their solidarity against bullying on November 13, through the wearing of odd socks as a way of celebrating what makes us all unique during the kick off to the week. Designed to be fun, odd socks day encourages people to express themselves and celebrate their individuality as well as what makes us all unique. Last year over five million children, thousands of parents and hundreds of workplaces alongside lots of celebrities and influencers got involved. Singer and songwriter Craig David MBE and retired World and Olympic Gold medalist long distance runner, Sir Mo
Farah CBE, are just two such individuals who through the donning of their odd socks have highlighted the important issue of anti-bullying in a fun way. The Anti-Bullying Alliance and its members, who have an agreed shared definition of bullying based on research from across the world over the last 30 years, put it this way: ‘The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power.’ Bullying can be physical, verbal or psychological. It can happen face-to-face or online’. According to research by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, 30 per cent of children have been bullied in the last year alone. Seventeen per cent of children have been bullied online and approximately one child in every classroom experiences bullying each day. Bullying has a significant impact on a child’s life that could last well into adulthood, with adults who were bullied as children being more likely to experience a range of mental health issues, earn less money, be unemployed and obese. It also increases the chances of having difficulty sustaining stable relationships, and of leaving school without any qualifications. Research even suggests that in some cases the long-term
VICTIM: s a child arell as sub ected to daily physical and verbal abuse
DEVASTATING IMPACT: Bullying has a si nificant effect on a child’s life that could last ell into adulthood
impact of bullying may be even worse than that of child abuse. A person can be subjected to bullying based on their appearance, disability, religion, race and class among other reasons. Having been a victim to bullying myself as a child, I know how devastating its impact can be to the mental and emotional well-being of a person. As a child with a hearing deficit and speech impediment, I was subjected to daily physical and verbal abuse in play the classroom and in the playground. Even at just eight years old, the bullying was always strategic in that it came to me during the times when the teachers were often not around to see it happening. Besides having to overcome bar a speech and language barrier, I also had to overcome the bullying which came my way because of it. Added to my disability at the time were my dentures — I had eight silver fillings put in my mouth, four vis on each side, which were visible every time I opened my mouth to eat or speak.
Darell J. Philip is a Teaching Assistant, Academic Mentor and Freelance Journalist
such because he had ears that It may come as a surprise to Children stuck out, while another friend some — as it still does to me received daily taunts of “fatty now — that for the past 15 years have a right fatty boom boom” because of I’ve been working as a Teaching his weight. Assistant and Academic Mentor to a safe While some may see this as in the same school where I had harmless banter, for those on been bullied. place at home the receiving end the adage onceBullying must not be tolerat“that sticks and stones may ed and should always be chaland in the break my bones but words will lenged whenever it is seen or never hurt me” is untrue be- comes to light. classroom cause I grew up with the words Children have the right to a For those of you born in the 1970s, the classic horror film Jaws directed by Steven Spielberg about a man-eating shark that would cause havoc, attack and chomp on people gathered at the beach, reminded me of my childhood during school playtimes. As I tried to make friends and play with others, they would point and run away from me with echoes of “get away from him, Jaws is coming,” which looking back on it now seems funny but for an eight-year-old at the time was soul destroying. I’ve heard from one friend that he was repeatedly called “trophy” and paraded around as
of my mother stating that, “what is jokes to one is death to another”. Suffering in silence, it was only when one day a classmate of mine — tall and physically intimidating — stood in front of me and told my bully to do to him what he was doing to me that it stopped which then gave me the courage to let my mother and the head teacher know what was going on. We would later find out the bully himself had been subjected to similar such treatment at home which should act as a reminder that they too need to be given as much support and care as the one who is being bullied.
safe space in their homes, classrooms and playgrounds and those entrusted in their care have a responsibility to ensure that this is in place. Children must be encouraged to speak to a responsible adult whom they trust when such issues arise. So as we celebrate anti-bullying week this year, it may be one where children no longer have to suffer in silence but instead we unite with them in taking a stand in making a noise about bullying. For resources on anti-bullying
visit: https://anti-bullyingalliance. org.uk/
26 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
Health
T
OP health experts are warning of a “ticking timebomb” if the government do not take urgent action to tackle race inequality in the health system. The warnings follow the landmark Black British Voices Project (BBV), which found only seven per cent of participants felt that Black people in Britain receive fair treatment within the healthcare system Speaking to The Voice, Chief Executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, Dr Habib Naqvi, said sadly he is “not surprised” by the findings. He said: “We know there are ethnic differences in access to healthcare, in experiences once you have accessed healthcare, and therefore in outcomes from healthcare as well. “We know that these exist in areas as diverse as Genetic Cancelling, Artificial Intelligence, Maternal Health, Mental Health, Sickle Cell Disease, the list goes on.” Dr Naqvi added that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a “disproportionate impact” on Britain’s “ethnic minority communities, so there is a level of urgency to focus on equity and establishing equitable healthcare for all communities.” Dr Naqvi said in order for things to change for Black patients the health sector workforce needs to be “diversifying” at senior and leadership levels “where we know there is no representation from Black and minority ethnic people. “What we don’t want to do is create an issue for us down the line, a ticking timebomb, essentially.”
7%
THE TICKING
TIMEBOMB
organisations need to Only improve, “acknowledge there is an issue” in
of respondents felt that Black people in Britain receive fair treatment within the healthcare system. Dr Naqvi said it is critical that the “causes of the causes” of the inequality that exists within healthcare are also tackled. Issues Black patients face stem partly from clinical trials that are not being representative in terms of their participants. This then leads to “devices, assessments and medication are developed which are not fit for purpose for our diverse communities, in many cases.” In order for the healthcare experiences of Black patients to
the first place. He added: “When organisations, systems and the powers that be, do not acknowledge issues, such as racism, then we have a problem. “Then we will be focusing on surface level issues as opposed to looking at the causes of the causes of the inequality that we get.” The NHS Race and Health Observatory was set up two and a half years ago and works to identify and tackle ethnic inequalities in health and care by facilitating research, making health policy recommendations and enabling long-term transformational change. Going forward, the Observatory will be focusing on maternal health care for Black and ethnic minority women, which was also a huge concern for those who took part in the BBV. Sickle Cell disease is now the most common genetic condition in England, affecting around 15,000 people and predominantly occurs in people of African and A f r i c a n Caribbean origin.
In recent years, there has been several high-profile cases where Sickle Cell patients have received poor treatment and care in hospitals around the UK. The BBV report also found that a staggering 87 per cent of participants said that they expect to receive a substandard level of healthcare because of their race. Speaking to The Voice, John James OBE, Chief Executive, Sickle Cell Society, said the findings of the BBV report show that black patients are getting a “raw deal” from health services. He said: “The really Last month’s The Voice Health page interesting thing that is coming out of your report is whether you have change. He said: “There’s national Sickle or not you get a pretty raw guidelines that people should get deal by and large, which is shocking their pain relief within 30 mins of for 2023.” attending A&E, but the reality is James said sadly for that doesn’t happen in the vast Sickle Cell patients, they majority of Hospital Trusts.” continue to receive According to James, some health inadequate treatment workers are seeing Sickle Cell in Accident and patients as just wanting “another Emergency and dose of ketamine or morphine” this needs to instead of treating patients like u r g e n t l y they have a serious illness. The ‘No One’s Listening’ report John published in 2021, came after an James, inquiry into avoidable deaths of OBE those affected by Sickle Cell.
Health experts warn of disaster if racial disparities are not tackled. By Sinai Fleary
The report included 21-year-old Ethan Nathan Smith, who died after calling emergency services from his hospital bed, after being refused oxygen after developing sepsis – which triggered a Sickle Cell crisis. James said this report, as well as the findings from the BBV, show that things need to change for Black patients across Britain as the poor experiences occur right across the country. “Whether you lived in the north-west, whether that is Manchester, Liverpool, or south-west in Bristol or Bath everybody had the same experience particularly in accident and emergency for Sickle,” he said. He is calling for training and education for healthcare professionals “who are outside of the speciality of Sickle” so that tragedies like what happened to Ethan Nathan Smith never happen again. With Sickle Cell now the fastestgrowing genetic blood condition in the UK, there needs to be “more investment in services for Sickle Cell” because “it has not been funded properly compared
to other conditions which mainly affect white people.” He added: “Sickle Cell is the fastest-growing genetic blood condition in this country and the least well-funded.” James believes there needs to be more investment in community nursing and for organisations like Sickle Cell Society who run essential services. James believes for Sickle Cell patients to have better experiences within the health sector, there needs to be a better range of treatments available. He said: “There is only hydroxycarbamide, blood transfusion and the new drug that was approved 18 months ago but is now under review, it is not as effective as the studies suggested, so it may be withdrawn. “We need more range of choice of treatments, for Sickle there are about three treatments that are approved, for Cystic Fibrosis which is comparable, its genetic, but it mainly affects white people, has over 500.” He added the Sickle Cell Society will continue to advocate for more funding and research into disease to help improve the overall experience of Sickle Cell patients.
NOVEMBER 2023 THE VOICE | 27
Criminal Justice
T
HE Black British Voices survey shone a muchneeded light on the reality of life in Britain for Black communities, confirming much of what we already knew while at the same time amplifying the case for greater change. One of the deeply alarming standouts from the survey was the fact that 87 per cent of participants said they did not trust the criminal justice system. This raises serious questions – especially to those with the power to restore that trust – about where we go from here. The criminal justice system is made up of multiple agencies. Barrister Christian Weaver, speaking to The Voice, expressed his concern about the findings. “This near-unanimous sentiment is undeniably significant and demands our attention. “A major driver of this distrust likely stems from the perception of unequal treatment.
PUTTING JUSTICE 87% IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
of respondents said they did not trust the criminal justice system
“The sentencing disparities, where Black individuals often get harsher punishments for similar offences compared to their white counterparts, are stark and deeply troubling. This inequity not only erodes trust but also questions the system’s commitment to fairness.” According to Weaver, representation also feeds into the problem. “The criminal justice system’s glaring lack of diversity can create an unwelcoming environment, even for seasoned barristers. It’s a harsh reality that most Black barristers have, at some point, been mistaken for defendants — a situation that their colleagues likely wouldn’t face. This underscores the pressing need for change.” He added: “The issue of stop and search is also likely a key driver. Many view policing as an extension of the justice system, and the disproportionate targeting of Black individuals intensifies feelings of injustice and alienation.” On the point of disproportionality, Baljit Ubhey, CPS Director of Strategy and Policy, acknowledged the longstanding issue. “It has long been established that there is an over-representation of ethnic minorities within the criminal justice system. “We are committed to ensuring every victim, witness and defendant is treated fairly. “Racial bias has no place in the criminal justice system. Identifying and addressing disproportionality
is a key priority and we will continue our work to ensure all our communities have confidence in our decision making.” Part of the response also said “We are committed to identifying and addressing disproportionality within the CPS to ensure we lead by example and help build public confidence in the criminal justice system.” In February this year, a CPS research project with Leeds University seeking to tackle disproportionality in sentencing outcomes acknowledged that “there is evidence of disproportionality in the outcomes of legal decision making, with defendants from minority ethnic backgrounds significantly more likely to be charged for a comparable of fen c e than White Br iti sh defendants.” H o w e v e r , Max Hill KC, Director of Public Prosecutions, said:
“We cannot yet identify what is driving the disparities we have found, and therefore we must do further work as a matter of urgency.” Many in our communities strongly believe that racial bias plays a big role in those disparities and this was reflected in the BBV findings. A critical life and death issue also feeding into a lack of trust among our communities is the over policing and disproportionate use of stop and search which impacts Black men in particular. The Metropolitan Police in particular, remain under the spotlight for these reasons. Responding to The Voice about the lack of trust, a spokesperson for the Met said: “We know that we are most effective when we police with the support of the public, Max Hill KC working
together to tackle those causing the most harm. “Used appropriately, stop and search powers save lives and is an important tactic to keep Londoners safe, helping us identify criminality and take dangerous weapons off our streets. However, we know from speaking to members of the community that stop and search can have a negative impact for individuals and communities, particularly when we get things wrong. When this happens we risk losing the trust, confidence and co-operation of Londoners.” The big question of course is what the Met plans to do about the issue to restore confidence. They’ve said they are trialling a new approach called ‘precision stop and search’. The Met’s response to The Voice continued: “Central to all of this will be training for the officers, to ensure that the quality of the Stop and Search encounter is positive and respectful.” The problem here is that where racism is a factor, it is not simply something which can be untrained or reformed. We know this. But the powers that be need to act on it Similarly, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) plays a critical role within
Challenge to police, prosecutors and courts to tackle institutional racism. By Richard Sudan
“The sentencing disparities, where Black individuals often get harsher punishments for similar offences compared to their white counterparts, are stark and deeply troubling.” – Barrister Christian Weaver
the criminal justice system and has an equal role to play in committing to reducing racial disparities, and ensuring we have a system which works for Black communities and which they can trust. The Voice reached out to the MOJ to get their response on the BBV findings. A spokesperson for the government department said: “We are carrying out extensive work to further build trust and tackle disparities – from diverting ethnic minority youngsters away from criminality, to new training to remove bias and increasing diversity in the judiciary.” They went on to highlight their response to the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities Report, with an ‘Inclusive Britain Strategy’ embarked on in 2021, aiming to restore trust and confidence through investing in initiatives to engage with Black communities. Many will be mindful that we’ve been here before. We know how people feel about the criminal justice system and where the cynicism comes from. We have the data. These racial disparities have built over decades; they demand radical action which is needed now.
28 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
Business Our Black British Voices study highlighted the problems facing Black entrepreneurs. The challenge now is to force change. By Vic Motune
WE NEED MORE ACCESS TO FINANCE
B
USINESSES led by entrepreneurs from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds contribute as much as £25 billion to the UK economy according to recent research from the Federation of Small Businesses and Aston University. However, despite the fact that the contribution of Black business owners to the country’s economic wealth has been hailed, they still face significant hurdles, especially when trying to launch their businesses. These challenges include accessing capital which has a direct impact on an entrepreneur’s ability to scale a business and the lack of access to networks that help secure significant contracts. The Voice’s Black British Voices (BBV) report published last month at the House of Commons highlighted the fact that this is an enduring problem, one that needs real, tangible change. Over 10,000 people of African Caribbean heritage were questioned for the BBV research. When asked whether ’Black entrepreneurs are taken seriously by investors and financial institutions’ three-quarters of the respondents (74 per cent) said that they either ’definitely’ (31 per cent) or ’somewhat not’ (43 per cent). The research also found that 41 per cent of respondents
41 %
of respondents felt they had disproportionate i c l in sec rin investment
rom nancial ins i ions
felt Black-led businesses face disproportionate difficulty in securing investment from financial institutions or accessing other sources of funding. Recent years have seen a growing consensus that the government and financial institutions can play a key role in creating a level playing field for Black entrepreneurs. This includes measures such as formulating policies that promote diversity in the business landscape; leading educational initiatives that empower underrepresented entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate
the complexities of securing investment. Other measures include collecting and analysing data on the diversity of funded startups to help shed light on disparities and engaging with business investors, venture capital firms, and business accelerators to encourage more inclusive practices. The government says it is actively working on a range of initiatives to support Black business owners to help them realise their potential. A spokesperson for the Department of Business and Trade told The Voice: “We want to make the UK the best place to start and grow a business, including for the many fantastic black entrepreneurs we have in this country. “We’re working with diverse business leaders to understand the challenges and opportunities that exist for ethnic minority entrepreneurs and our landmark Inclusive Britain Strategy is building on the undeniable progress which we have made for black Britons and all other ethnic minorities.” The British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) says it is also working to achieve a fairer business environment for underrepresented entrepreneurs. For the BCC, data collection is a key strategy. It recently
launched its Workplace Equity Commission which would oversee the collection of information on the challenges faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). “To help create a level playing field in business and in work, BCC’s Workplace Equity Commission is researching the challenges and opportunities that SMEs experience” Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the BCC, tells The Voice. “This year-long, UK-wide inquiry is inviting businesses and experts across society, to highlight the challenges and opportunities SMEs face and how they can be supported to overcome them. Research showing the everyday discrimination that entrepreneurs of African and Caribbean heritage face is very worrying.” Gratton continues: “Everyone’s talent, idea and potential is precious and must not be wasted. More must be done to ensure a level playing field in our workplaces and in the financial eco-systems that underpin them. “To grow our economy, we need to nurture and support the ambition, skills and potential of every entrepreneur and business leader from all parts of our community.” She adds that chambers of commerce across the UK are helping people to start and grow successful businesses, source
oc s is s or in e an in ro i in ar e e ini ia i es an ro rammes os or lac en re rene rs
– Khalia Ismain, Black Entrepeneurs Manager, Lloyds Banking Group
grants, and finance, and connect with mentors and peer networks. Among them is the London Chamber of Commerce of Industry (LCCI) which has lobbied government ministers on behalf of London’s Black-led businesses. James Watkins, Head of Policy at LCCI, highlighted the chamber’s on-going campaign to boost support for these businesses particularly in the realm of public procurement. Government contracts steady a revenue stream, enhance a business’ credibility, and help to foster its growth. “Through our recent procurement campaign with the Greater London Authority, there’s been a significant shift” he tells The Voice. “The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has now pledged to monitor contracts awarded to ethnic minority-owned businesses, marking a major step forward in diversifying procurement opportunities across various entities. “These tangible changes mean that money is being directed towards Black-owned businesses. Significant progress is occurring in London and
NOVEMBER 2023 THE VOICE | 29
some at the national government level, albeit not as much as we’d like but they are steps forward. Watkins continued: “Our next campaign will focus on improving access to finance. MPs from all parties acknowledge the financial sector’s potential to do more and we’re challenging them to take action in the coming year.” Some of the UK’s largest banks have also recently recognised the barriers Black-led businesses face and have developed initiatives to help tackle them. Among them is Lloyds Bank. In July 2020 it launched its Race Action which was developed to tackle the specific challenges faced by Black businesses. Expanding on this the bank partnered with the Black Business Network (BBN) and sponsored the Black, British, In Business &Proud (BBIBP) report. Khalia Ismain, Black Entrepreneurs Manager at Lloyds Banking Group says: “The research and insights gained through this initiative directly inform Lloyds Bank on where they can make a meaningful impact. Several tailored initiatives have been launched, these include the Immerse programme in partnership with Foundervine, an organisation which is focused on empowering diverse founders to build, grow and scale businesses “There has also been the creation of the role I’m in
Entrepreneurship at Aston University says that it’s crucial that the whole of the UK banking sector recognises the need to support entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds. “Banks such as Lloyds and NatWest are doing some really useful work in this area and that’s to be welcomed” he says. “But I still think there’s a lot more that needs to be done and we need to see this across the whole of the banking sector. “It needs to be evident in the way they work with business owners and also that they have people of colour on their teams. I hope that’s going to be the case but we need to keep the pressure on.” But as the government and organisations, such as the
The Voice October edition now, the Black Entrepreneurs Programme Manager, where my focus is supporting the bank in providing targeted initiatives and programmes to support Black entrepreneurs.” Ismail added that Lloyds has also launched initiatives to provide support with mentorship and networking and has developed a Black Business Hub that offers information on financial products and trainer-led resources on a range of business topics. While welcoming Lloyds’ work on this issue Professor Monder Ram, Director of the Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority
“The government an nancial ins i ions can la a e role in crea in a le el la in el or lac en re rene rs
40 years of Black British Lives as told by the only national Black newspaper
British Chamber of Commerce, are exploring ways to level the playing field for Black business owners in their pursuit of funding opportunities, there’s a wave of other entrepreneurs spearheading innovative solutions that help drive change. Recent years have seen the emergence of Black-led venture capital companies such as Impact X Capital, Foundervine and Black Seed. And then there are companies like Focused for Business which runs a programme to help underrepresented entrepreneurs overcome the challenges they face in attracting funding and making them investment-ready. Its 90-day program has three focused phases. These are helping entrepreneurs collect the type of information investors will need from them; techniques to attract the type of investor that will be the best match for their business and thirdly, helping these entrepreneurs negotiate and close the deal after finding an investor. “We believe funding should be available to entrepreneurs from all backgrounds,” says Focused for Business founder Hatty Fawcett. “At the moment, we live in a world where it’s not a level playing field so that’s why we are particularly focused on giving underrepresented founders a process so that they understand how to raise investment.”
The Voice
as part of its legacy; it has published the
Black British experience
through the pages of
the news a er
reflecting on
what has changed and what has remained the same
30 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
LGBTQ+ Rainbow families now a normal part of life but discrimination persists. By Leah Mahon
CHURCH SHOULD EMBRACE BLACK GAY AND LESBIAN CHRISTIANS
B
LACK BRITONS believe that LGBTQ+ equality in the UK has progressed, but questions remain about how lasting policy change will transform the landscape for people that identify as both Black and LGBTQ+. The Black British Voices Project (BBV) found that 56 per cent of respondents said LGBTQ+ acceptance had improved in the last 10 years while conversations about same-sex relationships, marriage equality and “rainbow families” have become more normalised among Black Britons. However, in what is described as “double trouble,” 59 per cent of respondents agreed Black LGBTQ+ faced “additional layers” of discrimination in conjunction to their race and sexuality orientation in comparison to their heterosexual counterparts. Respondents said even discrimination in white LGBTQ+ spaces also persists. Despite the 2010 Act, Black LGBTQ+ people still continue to experience disparities in healthcare, education and threats to their safety. Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, also known as Lady Phyll, is the founder of UK Black Pride and Executive Director of the Kaleidoscope Trust, a charity advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. In their March 2023 manifesto, which the LGBTQ+ activist has been a key leader on, the reports acknowledged the “remarkable resilience and determination of individuals and organisations who have tirelessly worked, served and advocated’’ for LGBTQ+ rights
59%
of respondents agreed Black LGBTQ+ faced “additional layers” of discrimination in conjunction to their race and sexuality orientation in Britain. However, it calls for a systemic change in policy. The manifesto is challenging the UK government to invest in sustainable and stable funding, create multilateral leadership on LGBTQ+ human rights and address violence and discrimination. It is challenging UK leaders to raise global standards through making active steps in their homeland and setting up steps for economic inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community. In particular, they have called for new processes in place to monitor, assess and address data collection
from their communities and the churches they once belonged to. The Black church, a cornerstone for African-Caribbean families since arriving in mass numbers to Britain, still often embrace Christianity brought to their homelands through British colonial era laws. Rev. Jide Macaulay is the founder of the House of Rainbow, a community for LGBTQ+ people to fellowship together. He told The Voice the equality for the community varies “quite widely” for Black churches in the UK. “Some Black churches are becoming more inclusive and supportive, here in the UK and mostly in the global North,” says Rev. Macaulay. “In the global South, there is some progress, but it’s quite challenging because one of the ways is engaging in conversations and initiative for equality. To start, we’re looking at scriptures differently.” For churches that are not in agreement with LGBTQ+ acceptance, many as the BBV research discovered turned to Leviticus which condemns samesex relations as an abomination. However, Rev. Macaulay believes there is nothing in the Bible from “Genesis to Revelations” that is anti-LGBTQ and instead religious leaders need to teach their congregation about interpretation of scriptures, particularly in the New Lady Phyll, founder of Testament. UK Black Pride “The first thing is to ensure that they’re safe spaces for pastoral care, support and conversation. It is incumbent on the religious
around discrimination and methods to collect evidence on the experience of LGBTIQ+ communities. According to the Office for National Statistics, hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation are still up by 112 per cent in the last five years, despite this year’s slight decrease of just six per cent. In particular, transgender hate has also surged by 11 per cent in a year and by 186 per cent in the last five years. “Beginning by collecting and understanding data is key to developing the comprehensive government approach needed to promote the protection of human rights, fosters inclusivity, and addresses the specific needs of LGBTI+ communities,” the report reads. “However, no effort in data collection, programming, execution and evaluation, should take place without the participation of the persons, communities and populations concerned by them.” Disappointingly, BBV participants agreed by 84 per cent that Black LGBTQ+ people still experience discrimination in the Black community. Many respondents retold the stories of being ousted
“In the global South, there is some progress, but it’s quite challenging because one of the ways is engaging in conversations and initiative for equality. To start, we’re looking at scriptures ifferen l – Reverend Jide Macaulay, founder of the House of Rainbow
leader or the faith leader within those communities to learn more about LGBT persons in a more positive way, as opposed to outright condemnation,” he says. “It is also time to ensure that we begin to look at our theology. Now, there are great understandings of theology today that are inclusive of LGBT persons.” In July 2018, the government released its LGBT Action Plan and proposed “to strip away the barriers” in over 75 areas of commitment including safety, health, education and employment. The report, the largest survey results of its kind, set out to eradicate conversion therapy, improve police response to LGBT hate crime and appoint a health adviser to address LGBT health inequalities. MP Penny Mordaunt, the former Equalities and Women’s Minister, was behind the report which met targets to create an LGBT advisory board and appointed a National Advisor for LGBT Health. Despite a pledge to make it an annual report, only a progress report was published in 2019. The Voice approached the current Equalities and Women’s Minister, Kemi Badneoch, for comment, but she did not respond. An Equality Hub spokesperson said: “Ensuring that LGBT people are treated equally is a priority for this government. We are taking steps to improve healthcare, extended same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland, reduced the cost of applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate and moved the process of applying online.”
MAY 2023 THE VOICE |35
BLACK WORKERS CONFERENCE 2023
24 • NOVEMBER 2-8, 2023
THE WEEKLY GLEANER
32 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
Midlands News
By Veron Graham
Roots Rad rocks the room Radman Rock’s TV bootcamp helps local youths develop skills
A
COVENTRY MAN who met the Mayor of the West Midlands while working as a photographer on the BBC’s drama Doctors, has done so again, this time in recognition of the success of his TV production company. Radman Rock, 21, set up Radman TV in July 2022 as a oneman band but within 18 months, Rock was joined at the company by a team of ten with a client base that includes Birmingham City University and Coventry Building Society. The driver behind the company’s success is graduating from the ‘bootcamp’ which is co-designed by industry to meet sector specific skills needs. Funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), it is managed by Create Central, an industry body set up to build the region’s TV, film and gaming industries. The bootcamp is an intensive month-long programme aimed at assisting local people to develop their digital media skills. It trains students in basic filming and editing, enabling trainees to produce professional standard content for corporate websites and social media. Trainees also gain an understanding of business, marketing and how to make a company’s brand appealing through the content they create. “Attending Create Central’s content creation bootcamp equipped me with the skills I needed to take my business to the next level,” said Rock. “Not only have I developed my digital production skills, I have also learnt about the legalities of running a business and how to lead a team successfully,
enabling me to build a team of ten young people. “We now have the systems in place to deliver on larger scale projects and deal professionally with bigger corporate clients. Being able to support other young people in developing their skills so they can flourish in the creative industry really helps me feel I am contributing and giving back. “I’d like to thank everyone at Create Central and Solihull College for their support in equipping me with these higher level skills and helping my business to reach and exceed its potential.” Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, who is also Chair of the WMCA, said: “A key part of my mayoral mission is to help ensure local people have the skills they need to succeed. “Radman’s personal story is a wonderful example of that – a driven entrepreneur who benefitted from this specialist bootcamp, has grown his business and is now employing others keen to join the creative industries. “Radman’s experience demonstrates the success of this approach which I’m sure will generate plenty more opportunities for local people right across our region in the months and years ahead.”
OPPORTUNITY: Radman TV’s team includes, left to right; Debbie, Grace, Fabrizio, Radman, Valeria and Margaret; left, Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, meets Radman Rock
Accolade for Denise A GLOBE-TROTTING Walsall-born photographer has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts by the University of Wolverhampton, from where she emerged to snap some of the world’s most famous people. With the likes of Kanye West, Stormzy, Barack Obama and Usain Bolt in her portfolio, Denise Maxwell has also added this accolade. Speaking at the ceremony, Denise, right, said: “I’m really, really happy to have been awarded an Honorary Degree today. All of my
family have graduated from the University of Wolverhampton, including my husband, so I have lots of links with Wolverhampton. “Even though I studied Women’s Studies and Social Policy, my degree has led me somewhere completely different. “I had always been interested in photography, was always that friend taking pictures, and I wondered if I could make a career out of it. “And now my career has just gone to places that I’d never imagined.”
Salon boss Nicole A MIDLAND entrepreneur has seen the next steps of her business drea s fulfilled recently Nicole Foster, owner and founder of utton oldfield’s Bro bility specialists in brows and surfacelevel lip neutralisation, has opened a co-working space in West Bromwich for beauty professionals in which several businesses offer a range of services. Foster, who also doubles as a beauty coach, is keen to see further professionalisation of the beauty
industry, improve its customer services and enable cosmetic businesses offered by Black women for Black women. ‘Salon Ability’ opened at the end of September and its offering includes facials, massages, waxing, chemical peels and semi-permanent make-up. Earlier this year Nicole was na ed as a re ional finalist in the UK Hair and Beauty Awards 2023 for Best in Brows SPMU and Entrepreneur of the Year.
NOVEMBER 2023 THE VOICE
| 33
Midlands News JA rail get on track with visit to stations TRANSPORT links and regional connectivity look set to be a key issue in the General Election following the cancellation of the proposed HS2 northbound link from Birmingham to Manchester. That decision was predated by plans to reinstate part of the Second City’s disused railway network with the support of Jamaican academics, courtesy of a partnership with the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Railway Research and Education. Building on its expert advice on the delivery an efficient zero-carbon rail line at home, the academics – from the University of echnolo y ( tech a aica e into Birmingham on a three-day fact findin ission to itness the progress made on the construction of new stations in Moseley Village, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road as part of the Camp Hill Project in south Birmingham. Set to open this autumn, the new stations will see the restoration of passenger rail services across the locality for the first ti e since the 1940s. The School of Engineering at Utech Jamaica has been at
the centre of the island nation’s engineering education for nearly 60 years. It is working to restore Jamaica’s rail network, including a three-and-a-half mile route through and an upgrade of the capital city’s station, whose operations ended in 1992. “This partnership with the University of Birmingham is what the country needs to find a rail solution to the broader transport challenges we face and provide the basis for development across the sector,” said Oneil Josephs, head of the School of Engineering at Utech Jamaica. “Seeing the development of new stations here in Birmingham and how passenger services are coming back after decades, gives us the encouragement to achieve a similar outcome in Jamaica. This technical rail tour of Birmingham is an opportunity to build on the Government of Jamaica’s intention to rehabilitate rail in the country. We look forward to the positive outcomes of this UK tour and our continued partnership with the UoB.” The delegation also visited
FACT-FINDING MISSION: Delegates from Utech Jamaica at the site at Pineapple Road Station nearby University Station where the new buildings are currently being partially constructed. Prof Clive Roberts, director of the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education at the University of Birmingham, said: “We are proud to have hosted our Jamaican colleagues in Birmingham and to share our knowl-
edge and experience with them. ere e seek to find ays to share our research and innovation activities with the global rail industry, and this collaboration is an excellent example of that.” Liam Brooker, project sponsor for the West Midlands Rail Executive and Transport for West Midlands,
said: “Although Kingston and Birmingham are far apart, we have the co on ai of benefitin our citizens by investing in ra. “We are making great progress on building our new stations and we were delighted to share our experience with our guests and take the opportunity to learn from their re ections
Rwanda project’s policy experts sent to Coventry
C
OVENTRY UNIVERSITY (CU) continues to build on its burgeoning relationship with Africa through innovative projects in Rwanda and Ethiopia. CU has signed memorandums with Rwanda Polytechnic, the European Business Chamber of Rwanda (EBCR) and the African Leadership University (ALU) to benefit UK students and those aligned with its new African partners. Together the agreements are exploring a raft of opportunities: the development of joint undergraduate/ postgraduate degree programmes; providing opportunities for internships, placements, jobs with member companies; identifying joint funding opportunities and exchange programmes for staff/ students plus other activities such as work experience placements, field trips and guest lectures.
Collaboration helps develop research opportunities
EBCR is a network of 150 institutions, investors, businesses, organisations, entrepreneurs and individuals active in Rwanda while the ALU is a university established to educate the next generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders. Establishing these strategic collaborations is down to CU’s Africa Hub which was opened in Kigali in 2021. Professor Silas Lwakabamba, Managing Director of CU’s Africa Hub, said: “We were thrilled to open Coventry University’s Africa Hub in Rwanda, our goal is to build exciting new collaborations, develop research opportunities and enable the spreading of best practices. “Coventry University’s aim is to provide job-ready gradu-
ates with the competencies to enhance their communities and our collaboration with Rwanda Polytechnic helps us to do that.” Meanwhile, CU is also supporting the development of Ethiopian professionals’ leadership skills through a fellowship commissioned by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The Chevening Ethiopia Leadership Fellowship is a CU-hosted programme in which delegates from Ethiopia visit the UK for eight weeks for a series of workshops, visits, networking opportunities and experiences. The programme is designed to give participants first-hand experience of how public policy is designed, developed and evalu-
PROGRAMME: The latest visiting cohort from the Chevening Ethiopia Leadership Fellowship in Coventry ated at UK and other European institutions. In addition to expert tutor-led sessions and interactive workshops, the programme includes specialist guest talks from experienced public and government leaders and policy makers, as
well as formal and informal networking opportunities. The idea is that participants will use these skills and experiences to help their organisations in Ethiopia. Those taking part this year were professionals from within the Ethiopian health
sector, Ministry of Justice, a women’s disability group and environmental organisations. The programme is an opportunity for them to further develop their field of expertise. Coventry University has been delivering the Chevening Ethiopian Leadership Programme on behalf of FCDO for the past three years, during which 24 participants have taken part. Carly Wonder, Senior Programme Officer for Chevening Fellowships, said: “The Chevening Fellowship programme wouldn’t be made possible without the expertise and commitment of our valued participating institutions, such as Coventry University. The Fellowship brings together Ethiopia’s best and brightest public servants and government officials for a challenging course of lectures, projects and visits to UK and European institutions.”
If you have a story for the East or West Midlands, call/text Veron Graham on 07954 572 988, email veronpgraham@gmail.com, or find him on Facebook, LinkedIn and X
34 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
Business
BUILDING THE FUTURE AWARDS: YOUNG PEOPLE IN CONSTRUCTION Co-founders Zoe Bennett, BEM and Errol Lawson
T
HE HIGHLY anticipated Building the Future Awards, inaugural celebration of excellence in the construction industry, is set to showcase deserving talent. This prestigious event is a beacon of recognition for the vibrant diversity within the sector, shining a spotlight on the exceptional talents and contributions of professionals from all walks of life. Celebrating Diversity Building the Future Awards take pride in celebrating this diversity. This year, the awards will once again honor and amplify the voices of individuals, companies, and projects that exemplify the unity in our industry. Embracing Multicultural Talent Building the Future Awards offers a platform for multicultural talent to shine. To engineers
to contractors and designers, the awards acknowledge the incredible work of individuals who bring a wealth of diverse perspectives to the industry. Awards Highlights The awards will showcase a multitude of categories, recognising achievements across 13 categories within the construction industry namely: Young Apprentice of the Year, Young Architectural Professional of the Year, Best Employer of the Year, Young Construction Professional of the Year, Excellence in Education and Training, Young Engineer of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Most Innovative Company of the Year, Outstanding Achievement, Young Project Manager of the Year, Rising Star of the Year, Role Model of the Year and Young Site Manager of the Year. There’s a category to celebrate
“Incredible work of individuals who bring a wealth of diverse perspectives to the industry” every facet of excellence. Some of the finalists highlighted below from a few of the categories represents the very best of this
multifaceted industry, embodies the spirit of innovation and above all, dedication. Special recognition will be
given to sponsors, who play an integral role in making the Building the Future Awards possible. Co- headline sponsors South and City College Birmingham, and Birmingham City Council have come aboard for this year’s event, marking their commitment to a diverse and prosperous construction industry. The awards also hold educational and mentoring initiatives, fostering growth and development for the industry’s next generation. This year, young professionals will have the opportunity to connect with established leaders, benefiting from the wealth of knowledge and experience on offer. Building the Future Awards aims to inspire future generations to join the industry, showcasing the endless possibilities it offers. The awards are more than a ceremony; they are a testament to the exciting future
of construction. About Building the Future Awards The Building the Future Awards is an annual celebration of excellence in the construction industry. It serves as a platform to honour outstanding contributions and to highlight the diverse and multicultural nature of the sector. Embracing innovation, inclusivity, and talent, the awards continue to push the boundaries of what can be achieved in the construction industry. For further information: E. info@buildingthefutureawards. co.uk W.www.buildingthefutureawards. co.uk
SOME OF THE FINALISTS
FINALIST Young Apprentice of the Year
FINALIST Young Architectural Professional of the Year
FINALIST Young Construction Professional of the Year
FINALIST Young Engineer of the Year
Mason Brewster-Clarke - a remarkably talented bricklaying apprentice who has emerged as a valuable asset within the construction industry. Highly recommended by Birmingham City Council’s Employment Access Team.
Sharaye Campbell - has seamlessly transitioned into the role of a part two architectural assistant in Birmingham. Her journey has been characterized by a remarkable dedication to community-driven projects and fostering diversity and inclusion within the architectural sphere.
Adelle Okei’s - journey as a young surveyor has been marked by impressive strides in an incredibly short span of time. Her tenacity, passion, and co it ent to her field ha e propelled her to achieve feats that belie her years of experience.
Keavan Myers - has overcome diverse obstacles, seizing opportunities, and continuously investing in his own development. His story illuminates the power of perseverance and lifelong learning on the path to realizing one’s ambitions.
NOVEMBER 2023 THE VOICE | 35
Health
ADVERTORIAL
PROSTATE CHECK SAVED MY LIFE surgery. To overcome this, I am using a special pump and prescribed medications and with every day it is getting a little bit better. Today, I am cancer-free, by the grace of God. I want to share my story and tell other Black men about the importance of getting regular PSA tests. We are at higher risk than other men, so it is even more important that we get tested regularly. I have seen friends who got
Getting tested is worth it. Don’t suffer alone, says Henry
P
ROSTATE CANCER is a daunting challenge that can catch anyone by surprise. I’m Henry, a 60-year-old Londoner with deep connections to Ghana. My journey with prostate cancer began in October last year, when I was experiencing pain in my legs and back. These were familiar symptoms that I had faced seven or eight years earlier. Back then, I had similar complaints, and I was tested for bowel cancer.
DEVASTATING
The doctors reassured me that I was in good health. However, this time, I went to my family doctor. He conducted a blood test called a PSA test, promising me results within a week. To my surprise, I received a phone call the very next day, and it delivered devastating news - I had
prostate cancer. I was referred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for a biopsy, a specialised test. The biopsy was painful, and I had blood in my pee for some time afterwards. Worst of all, it confirmed that I had prostate cancer, and I was referred to Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital for treatment. Initially, the team considered treating me with radiotherapy, but it turned out to be unsuitable for me. So, in May 2023, I underwent surgery to have my prostate removed, to eliminate the cancer. However, the surgery came with side effects, including leakage. I did special pelvic floor exercises to address this issue and am pleased that six months later the leaking has now stopped, although I still wear special pads just in case. After my surgery, I also faced difficulties getting erections, a common problem after prostate
men with prostate cancer. This support reminded me that I was not alone in my struggle. There is also a new website called the infopool, which has been set up to help Black men with prostate cancer. The infopool would have been helpful when I was diagnosed.
HELPED
I would have found the dozens of stories from other Black men and their partners especially
Today, I am cancer-free, by the grace of God. I want to share my story and tell other Black men about the importance of getting regular PSA tests sick because they didn’t catch it early, and I have two friends who are being buried in Ghana because they didn’t. I count myself blessed to have Christian siblings and family who prayed alongside with me and to have had support from a group called “Brother 2 Brother” at St Guy’s which helps Black
useful. It would have helped me feel prepared for the challenges ahead. Don’t suffer alone, use the resources out there. I hope my journey with prostate cancer will help those who may find themselves on a similar path. Remember, get tested regularly, because if it is found early it can be cured.
1 in 4 Black men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime Visit THE INFOPOOL website. Learn about the risks and find out what tests you might need. Compare treatment choices and their side effects. Find real stories from other Black men and women talking about how they coped.
www.theinfopool.co.uk Find out more – Click to play the video
Visit the infopool Prostate Cancer Research is a registered charity in England and Wales (1156027)
36 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
Sadé Thomas
Join the debate online voice-online.co.uk/opinion
The Gospel Truth
The Kingdom Choir: eflecting on ears Karen Gibson says when the rain comes, we all grow
READY TO CELEBRATE: The Kingdom Choir are preparing for their 30th anniversary concert at the Southbank Centre on November 30
W
HETHER YOU have Christian roots or not, most would agree that gospel choirs offer any listener the opportunity to feel inspired and uplifted. The Kingdom Choir is clear evidence of this. Celebrating 30 years, Karen Gibson, choir leader and founder of The Kingdom Choir, reflects on the choir’s origin, its 30-year impact, and its accomplishments. Sadé: From singing at Harry and Meghan’s royal wedding to signing a record label to Sony music, it’s clear Kingdom Choir have achieved and accomplished so much, but where did it all begin? KG: The Kingdom Choir actually began as a nameless host choir for a radio programme called The Gospel Train. Members from the Londonwide choir of the Church of God of Prophecy that I attended would be brought in as ringers to join choirs of the various black majority churches from where the shows were broadcast. This went on for some time, and one day we were approached by Songs of Praise to sing for their 35th birthday show. When they asked me for a name, I had none, and so I was instructed to get one by the next day when they would be ringing me back. When I went to bed that night, I dreamt of the name The Kingdom Choir. I didn’t understand it, and I didn’t even like it, but I couldn’t think of anything else, so that was the name I gave when they called! That was when we became a proper entity. Sadé: How has the choir grown since its origin? KG: The choir works by connection, and so people who
have joined are folks that I have known personally over the years. These are friends, fellow singers, family, and even young people I have taught in school.
KG: I would say so, yes. There is always a lot of joy with each other off stage and on. I have always said that love makes a choir feel like family — that is the best kind of choir.
Sadé: What are some of your Kingdom Choir highlights? KG: Apart from singing at the royal wedding itself, it has been a privilege to go on tour, specifically in the UK and twice in the US. It was a blessing to sell out the Royal Albert Hall in 2019 and to sing at the Hollywood Bowl. Other highlights included supporting the legendary Gladys Knight, performing at the Invictus Games in Australia, and being invited to Monaco by Prince Albert himself.
Sadé: What have been some of the most touching moments? KG: We love live performances, and some of the most incredible moments have been on tour. The testimonials of what people have gained from the shows have been incredible. It’s a blessing to be a part of that. I also remember one
Sadé: Having watched the choir sing, it seems like you really are a family, not just people who sing together. Is that right?
particular instance when a youth choir joined us on tour. None of the parents of the youths were able to attend, and so we asked members of the audience to stand if they wanted to take their place. It felt like nearly half of the audience stood up. The young people were in tears. It was a very powerful moment.
INSPIRATION: The Kingdom Choir is down to Karen Gibson
Sadé: With gospel music being associated with moving people, has being in the choir helped you in hard times? KG: Gospel music is incredibly powerful, joyful, and speaks to all of life’s circumstances. It touches the listener but also the performer because of its themes. Gospel music brings about release and hope in hard times, and I am a personal witness to that. I am thankful to be able to see blessings and transformations through the medium of singing, not only in the lives of others but also in my own. Sadé: To mark 30 years, you are holding a celebratory concert on November 30. What can people expect on the night? KG: Of course, we will be singing some of our classics, such as Stand by Me, as well as some of our new music and originals.
There will be some surprises thrown in, too. There will be something for everyone. Sadé: In addition to celebrating 30 years, congratulations on your new single, Let It Rain. As it is very much a feelgood song, what message do you want people to get from this? KG: This song reminds us that even though hard times will come, we have the resilience and strength to keep going. We don’t have to let the ‘rain’ defeat us. It is important to stay positive, despite life’s ups and downs. Rain will come, but through it we can grow and become our best selves. or tickets to ingdo hoir s th anni ersar concert, head to their website, kingdo choir.co shows, and check out their latest single, et it ain, which is now a ailable on strea ing latfor s
AUGUST 2023
THE VOICE |37
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38 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
Muyiwa Olarewaju
Nothing But Truth and Light
Join the debate online voice-online.co.uk/opinion
Lord save us from social media!
Getting online with God will preserve our sanity in this digital age and help navigate negative elements on social media
Y
OU MAY be like me and you’re trying your level best to convert from your analogue way of life to being on the digital super highway. You take pictures on your fancy smartphone and spend half the day arguing with yourself if it’s worth posting, asking yourself who really wants to know! If your face cracked a smile then we’re in this together. I recently endured something that I’m told is very traumatic but to be honest I’ve found it deeply enlightening. My Instagram, with over 100,000 followers, was hacked and taken over by a man who later got in touch wanting a healthy sum to release the account back to me. The variety of responses from people helped me to see how emotionally reliant we have become to these platforms. While I understand there is an important layer of commerce and wealth creation / community empowerment, which some of these platforms have brought us, I couldn’t help but notice how deeply needy people are when it comes to their social media. So let’s delve deep into the world of social media, dissecting its dual nature - a power-
ful tool to celebrate our heroes in the Black community and a potential rabbit hole that could drain our time and energy. Drawing inspiration from the wisdom of 1 Corinthians 10:31, Matthew 22:37, and Romans 11:36, we’ll explore the profound impact of social media and how to wield it to honour our heroes while safeguarding our sanity. In this digital age, social media is a megaphone that can amplify the voices of those who inspire us. 1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us to do everything for the glory of God, and social media is a platform where we can honour heroes who embody this principle. From activists to artists, entrepreneurs to athletes, these individuals deserve recognition, and social media is our channel to ensure they receive it. Matthew 22:37 also challenges us to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. If observed, our social media doesn’t become our first love but truly a tool. When we use social media to highlight heroes who exemplify love, compassion, and resilience, we’re living out this biblical instruction in the digital realm. Social media isn’t just about
likes and follows; it’s about being a beacon of positivity and setting an example of loving our neighbours on a global scale. Paul in the book of Romans 11:36 teaches us that all things are from, through, and for God. Which means utilising social media to uplift heroes, means we align our actions with this divine purpose. It’s not about self-promotion; it’s about making the digital world a better place by showcasing the excellence and impact of those who inspire us. We have to be very mindful in Navigating the Social Media Maze. The question is how do we tread carefully through the digital landscape. Social media has its dark corners and pitfalls, and it’s essential to maintain a healthy relationship with it. Setting boundaries is vital. Designate specific times for engaging with social media to prevent it from consuming your day. As Matthew 22:37 emphasises, loving God with your mind includes the discipline of allocating time wisely. Fact-checking is your best friend. Just as you wouldn’t believe everything you hear, don’t accept everything you see on social media at face value. Be diligent in verifying informa-
tion before sharing it, aligning with the idea of seeking truth in Matthew 22. Remember that life extends beyond the digital realm. Romans 11 reminds us that all things are for God, but not everything happens online. Cultivate meaningful, offline connections, and be present in the real world. Self-awareness is key to navigating social media effectively. Like 1 Corinthians 10:31 suggests, ensure that everything you do in the digital sphere serves a higher purpose. Regularly disconnect, engage in selfcare, and maintain a grounded perspective. We have an unprecedented opportunity to celebrate our heroes in the Black community and promote positive change on a global scale. By aligning our actions with the wisdom found in scriptures mentioned earlier, we can use these platforms to shine a spotlight on excellence and love, fostering unity and understanding. However, let us never forget that life’s most meaningful moments occur offline. Maintain a healthy balance, set boundaries, and prioritise real-world connections, for it is there that we truly honour our heroes and make a lasting impact.
Muyiwa Olarewaju OBE is Station Director at Premier Gospel Radio, a TV & Radio Broadcaster, and Principal of gospel group Muyiwa & Riversongz
No sour grapes in the kingdom of God
THE PARABLE of the vineyard paints chief priests as bad tenants who don’t produce any fruit for the owner. But even worse than that, whenever the owner sends someone to inspect the vineyard and its harvest, the tenants attack them. Jesus ends the parable by telling the chief priests: “The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.” The chief priests are offended because this warning from Jesus challenges the way they see themselves. They trusted in their family connections as proof of their closeness to God. But the warning at the end of this parable shakes them at their foundations. Jesus is telling them God doesn’t care about their long list of credentials. He’s not interested in our a ifi ations an e s not focused on how eloquently
By Shirley Morgan (or not) we can deliver a sermon. God wants a people that produce the fruits of the kingdom. God tells us that the fruit he is looking for, the fruit he expects to see in his people, is justice and righteousness. We’ve all been given vineyards to take care of. Our vineyards are the people, relationships, circumstances and events of our lives. God calls us to fall on Jesus, this cornerstone, and to be broken to pieces. He wants us to encounter Jesus and lose our egos, shake off our self-righteousness and be found in Christ.
NOVEMBER 2023
THE VOICE | 39
40 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
Community
Chasing dreams with ferocity
FORCE OF NATURE: Selina Brown is on a mission to revolutionise UK publishing
Selina Brown tells of her journey organising the Black British Book Festival while juggling demands.
A
S PART of Black History Month, last month London’s Southbank Centre played host to the vibrant and empowering celebration of Black British literature as the Black British Book Festival returned for its third year. This extraordinary event has rapidly evolved into a cultural gem in London’s scene, drawing in over 4,000 enthusiastic attendees. At the forefront of this remarkable initiative is Selina Brown, a force of nature who not only organised this exceptional festival but did so while expecting her third child. Selina’s journey serves as a testament to the power of determination, shattering barriers, and steadfastly believing that women can successfully balance family and career. Her story resonates as a resounding message to young women everywhere: with the right mindset, anything is achievable. “I aim to demonstrate to the world that as women, as mothers, and as Black creators, we are not bound by societal expectations. “We can pursue our dreams with ferocity, celebrate our
POPULAR: The Black British Book Festival returned to the Southbank Centre
multidimensional lives unapologetically, and firmly believe in the boundless realm of possibilities. I’m on a mission to revolutionise UK publishing, and our festival represents our commitment to nurturing inclusivity and providing a platform for diverse voices to be heard” says Selina. She embarked on her remarkable journey when she took the reins of organising the Black British Book Festival in 2021, all while being pregnant. Initially, she kept her pregnancy concealed, reflecting the pressures society places on working women, especially in female-dominated fields such as publishing. Nevertheless, Selina’s dedication to her vision and her unapologetic celebration of her multifaceted life began to rewrite the narrative. At eight months pregnant, she curated a Black literature event alongside George the Poet at Glastonbury, underscoring that women should not be forced to choose between family and career. Throughout the festival’s organisation, Selina had her fiveyear-old and two-year-old children by her side, even inviting them into the VIP green room at the prestigious Hay Festival.
This powerful gesture not only showcased her commitment to her family but also conveyed a clear message to her children — they belong in these spaces just as much as anyone else. A cornerstone of Selina’s mission is her advocacy for working women during pregnancy and early motherhood. She challenges the expectation to conceal pregnancies in professional circles, emphasising that women should not need to sacrifice their careers for their families. As an employer and influential figure in the creative realm, Selina is unwavering in her commitment to celebrating the multi-faceted lives of women in 2023. Her work shines a spotlight on the positive shifts in workacknowledg life balance while acknowledgpro ing that there is still much progress to be made. Furthermore, Selina is on
a crusade to transform the landscape of publishing in the UK. She aims to reshape an industry historically characterised by its lack of diversity and representation by championing Black British authors and voices. The partnership between the Black British Book Festival and London’s Southbank Centre for its third edition serves as a testament not only to the festival’s growing prominence but also its profound influence on the literary arena. The festival’s headline sponsors, including Pan Macmillan and Audible, alongside renowned publishers like Hachette, Simon Schuster, Penguin, and Sage, underscore the industry’s recognition of its significance. The internationally acclaimed musician Leigh-Anne Pinnock exclusively launched her book, Believe, at the festival, adding star power to the event.
Headline authors Clive Myrie, Oti Mabuse, Gary Younge, and Candice Braithwaite shared their experiences and insights with attendees, enriching an already exceptional lineup of literary talent. The Black British Book Festival persists in dismantling barriers for Black British writers and offering a platform for emerging talents. It challenges conventional norms and celebrates the richness of Black British literature. With an unwavering commitment to engaging marginalised communities and revolutionising the literary landscape, the festival stands as a beacon of change and inspiration. Selina’s dedication to her vision and her unapologetic celebration of her multifaceted life serve as a compelling example for women everywhere. Her ability to balance the demands of motherhood
and a successful career in the creative world is a testament to her resilience and determination. Selina’s story reminds us that women need not choose between their families and careers and that, with the right mindset, anything is attainable. The Black British Book Festival is an extraordinary showcase of the UK’s finest Black authors, alongside leading content creators, influencers, and journalists. Selina’s journey is a reminder that women can shatter barriers, challenge societal norms, and create a more inclusive and diverse literary world. Her legacy will undoubtedly inspire generations of women to come, proving that they too can achieve their dreams while celebrating all facets of their lives. For more information, please visit www.blackbritishbookfestival.com
Lifestyle Ghanaian El Anatsui takes over Tate’s Turbine Hall p44
Find out why the talented Kalungi Ssebandeke is a triple threat p45
LAWMEN: BASS REEVES
From enslavement to law enforcement p42-43
Who’s the new head of Sadler’s Wells East? p47
42 |
THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
Lifestyle
A man of integrity and faith Born into slavery, Lawmen: Bass Reeves tells the amazing story of one of the first African American US Deputy Marshals. By Joel Campbell
C
ONFLICT AND chaos internally con ict and chaos externally. Conict and chaos every here But fro the con ict and chaos co es clarity you ust have to ride the peaks and troughs, sometimes, whether you have a horse na ed istol or not. here’s no trou h deeper than bein enslaved e peaks hi her than bein the first huan bein ever to achieve a feat. hat’s the story bein told in a en: Bass eeves, which hits our screens on ove ber ith t o episodes courtesy of ara ount The series follows the amazin tale of eeves’ rise to beco e one of the first frican erican eputy arshals the first est of ississippi iver and his first fe years in service Born into slavery in
eeves as raised to be a an of inte rity and faith despite battlin the internal con ict of bein forced to find har ony ith the inherent de ons that co e ith havin to accept bein the property of another human being. s he re older he beca e a arks an eventually findin favour fro his o ner illia eeves by innin hi oney in turkey shootin co petitions ue to the e traordinary circu stances and a turbulent time in America’s history, eeves later found hi self forced to fi ht alon side illiam’s son George for the Confederates in the ivil ar yet ore con ict tarrin ultiple olden lobe B and y no inated actor and producer avid yelo o as Bass eeves the ford born actor has lon had an affinity ith the story
of eeves reated for by had eehan the ho runner riter and ecutive roducer said hile he’d al ays heard about the story of eeves ro in up in erica the fervour to e plore the le end further as only stoked hen he et Oyelowo. ro in up in e as heard a lot of stories about Bass eeves they ere al ays akin to a di e novel hero ith incredibly fanciful ourishes of a unslin in la an pursuin the ost hardened outla s in the ild est o e here in y childhood that yth of Bass took fir root in y consciousness and never left. hen one day not too lon a o avid yelo o invited e to dinner ver the course of our eal he e plained his seven year journey to tell Bass’ story, where the myth of the man both
@thevoicenewspaper
“That myth of Bass took firm root in my consciousness and never left” conver ed ith and separated fro reality and hy Bass’s life as ore relevant than ever i ediately ent ho e and scoured the internet read books and listened to podcasts beca e obsessed ith hat didn’t kno ith all of the nooks and crannies of Bass’ rearkable life that aren’t re ularly shared as ell as ith revisitin the often told tales throu h a no adult lens hat spark of obsession orphed into a ra in fire of deter ination fuelled by y desire to play a role no atter ho
@thevoicenews
bi or s all and assist avid in honorin the le acy of eputy arshal Bass eeves yelo o first heard about Bass eeves’ story in and as uickly captivated by the noble lawman. hen you conte tualise eeves’ life ith se inal oments in American history, of lavery the ivil ar econstruction and i ro and to have had that level of success and notoriety his story is ust e traordinary says yelo o t’s still unclear to this day ho eeves ained his freedo but historians have reported that eeves’ late dau hter lice clai s he ed fro slavery after an altercation with George eeves durin a card a e n e pert on the life of eeves idney ho ason who is also the series historical consultant, notes that there are accounts of hi participatin in
voicenews
the Battles of ea id e ( hicka au a ( and issionary id e ( An element of the series that akes for a refreshin take on a estern is the co it ent to de onstratin that in order to fi the chaos of the ti e it took the effort trust and ood ill of everyone no atter ho con icted they felt. fter a tre endous a ount of research as co pleted a isrepresentation often seen that eehan and yelo o ere eager to correct was history’s depiction of a lack of inte ration between white, African American and ative erican races and cultures in ndian erritory eehan stated: ur ission as to e plore the authentic huan connection of every race in the sho o acco plish this task eehan recruited o Brin s lenty ( ello stone as the sho ’s
www.voice-online.co.uk
NOVEMBER 2023
THE VOICE | 43
Lifestyle
Legendary tale brought to life by star’s brilliant performance
‘SPECTACULAR’: The title character of Bass Reeves is played by David Oyelowo
CREDIT WHERE it’s due, this one feels like the whole team involved went the extra yard in telling a legendary story we should all have known already. Get the popcorn ready, writes Joel Campbell. Everyone loves a TV programme that is brilliantly shot, nothing spared, every moment and detail matters. Add to that a subject matter and cast that can deliver and you are ticking a lot of the right boxes. That’s Lawmen: Bass Reeves in a nutshell. A standout element of the narrative for me, is that progressive mindsets can be born in even the most regressive and asinine of situations. Acknowledging the achievements, life and times of Bass Reeves is only possible because of the mindset of a white man who was disconnected enough from the morally unhinged status quo of the time, that he was able to identify genius when all around him only saw ineptitude. That’s how Reeves is able to be celebrated today as one of the first first frican erican eputy arshals the first est of ississippi River. Whether the history books (which detail Reeves arresting over American Indian Affairs Coordinator. “If you look back at the true history, you’re gonna see American Indian folks in many aspects helping everyone that has ever come into this country,” says Mo Brings Plenty. The series features diverse representation that paints an authentic picture of the melting pot that was the American Wild West. History as a medium to portray is always very complicated as there are gaps due to oral histories, the lack of docuentation and often con ictin accounts. As a result, works of historical fiction can never be co pletely accurate and, at times, take creative liberties necessary to help weave a story. “There’s actually a lot of information on Bass Reeves, but it’s all the same information,” says yelo o o there’s a lot of colouring-in to do between
these legendary tales. But, there are real gaps. No biographer is going to know what the conversation between Bass and Jennie Reeves was on any given night, so that’s where you have the creative license.” The character of Jennie Reeves is played by Lauren E. Banks hile e i in leton plays ally eeves Bass’s eldest daughter. Bank’s delivers an assured performance as the matriarch of the Reeves family, described as the glue that holds them together. in leton ho is best kno n for her powerful on-screen perfor ance as erena illia s in King Richard, admitted that as a high school student, she made an early observation during her audition process that she hadn’t learned about Bass Reeves in any of her history classes. Feeling the importance of needing to tell his story in leton ho es-
tablished herself as a Broadway star aged 10-years-old when she joined the cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s chool f ock – The Musical on Broadway for nearly a year before joining The Lion King on Broadway as Young Nala, was very excited at the opportunity to educate the orld about her character ally The family dynamics in all of its innocence and complexity are brilliantly executed by Oyelo o Banks and in leton in a story that until now has been buried. n the first and rippin episode Bass rides into hell. It’s the be innin of the con ict and chaos but also the beginning of a journey toward clarity. Lawmen: Bass Reeves is strea in on ara ount undays from 5th November. * David Oyelowo and Chad Feehan were speaking before the strike
3,000 outlaws during the course of his career) exist to accurately reference how Reeves came to have the position or not, matters little. It’s fairly clear he would have needed to get the nod from a group of white men. ettin to one side for a second whether or not their intentions in promoting Reeves was for genuine reasons or just a self-serving agenda, the idea that together they were stronger, garnered greater momentum towards a common goal than remaining divided. Everyone who played a role in this was great but a special mention must go out to lead actor and Executive Producer David Oyelowo, left. From literally the first scene he eans business Before even reading about how extensively he’d researched Bass Reeves, it was clear this matters. Reading the following from show creator, writer and Executive Producer, Chad Feehan, didn’t surprise me. s e near the finish line of post-production, my being honoured and humbled is only overshadowed by my gratitude for David Oyelowo. His performance is spectacular, his will is eternal, his collaborative spirit is graceful.” I concur. He’s brilliant.
REFRESHING TAKE: Feehan and Oyelowo were eager to correct history’s depiction of a lack of
integration between white, African American and Native American races and cultures in Indian Territory
44
| THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
Lifestyle
MONUMENTAL INSTALLATION: El Anatsui’s Behind the Red Moon at
the Tate Modern is made of thousands of metal bottle tops and fragments
A journey of movement
A
S THE Hyundai Commission at Tate Modern kicked off last month, El Anatsui told Lifestyle that it was easy for him to conceptualise the exhibit. The sculptural installation, El Anatsui: Behind the Red Moon, by the internationally acclaimed Ghanaian artist, took pride of place in the museum’s Turbine Hall during Black History Month. It follows in the footsteps of some great artists who have benefited fro the partnership between Tate and Hyundai, which was brought about in 2015 with a shared commitment to worldwide innovation. Anatsui, pictured right, revered for his highly innovative approach to sculpture, said he was grateful to have been invited to participate in the commission joining some esteemed names to have done so. “If for instance you are an athlete or a runner and you race with Usain Bolt, it should give you a good feeling or if you were a footballer and you have played with or against Messi or Ronaldo, it should give you a good feeling,” he enthused. El Anatsui: Behind the Red Moon is staged in three acts which visitors are invited to move bet een he first han in titled
l Anatsui s installation at the ate Mo ern focuses on the mi ration of oo s an people urin the transatlantic sla e tra e. By Joel Campbell The Red Moon, resembles the majestic sail of a ship billowing out in the wind, announcing the beginning of a journey across the Atlantic Ocean. Red liquor bottle-tops form the outline of a red moon, or ‘blood moon’, as it appears during a lunar eclipse.
RESTLESS
The second sculpture, The World, is composed of many individual layers that evoke human fi ures suspended in a restless state. The ethereal appearance of these fi ures is achieved using thin bottle-top seals wired together to create a net-like material. When viewed from a particular vantage point, these scattered shapes come together into a single circular form of the Earth. n natsui’s final han in The Wall, a monumental black sheet of metal cloth stretches
fro oor to ceilin t its base pools of bottle tops rise from the ground in the form of crashing waves and rocky peaks. Behind its black surface, a delicate structure of shimmering silver is revealed, covered in a mosaic of multi-coloured pieces. This combination of lines and waves, blackness and technicolour, echoes the collision of global cultures and hybrid identities that Anatsui invites us to consider throughout his work. t asn’t difficult to start to conceptualise,” Anatsui said. “Any time you have anything that concerns Europe, we know the link between Africa and America, it’s iconic. So anybody that is brought in from Africa to do a project will certainly have something with things that link continents. “This is the Tate museum. Tate and Lyle was the sugar brand that was in my country in the
tinguished career as both artist and educator – serving as Professor of Sculpture and Departmental Head at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka – Anatsui has embraced a wide range of forms and materials including wood, ceramics and found objects. He has experimented with liquor bottle tops since the late 90s and continues to push the medium’s boundaries in novel ways, creating radical, transformative sculptures which assume new shapes with every installation.
time I lived there during the colonial period, from 1944 when I was born until independence. It was a little while after that I saw another brand of sugar. “So being invited to do something in a museum that Tate had made available, was easy for one to do things which relate to or talk about the history and the link between us.” He added: “It (the exhibit) has links with the history of the place. You make drinks out of sugar, to me the caps represent the drinks because you have to open it before you can drink. All the gin, brandy, whiskey, they have a relationship with the space.” Over his long-lasting and dis-
DISCIPLINE
In 2015, Anatsui was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 56th International Art Exhibition of the Biennale di Venezia and his work is held in major collections around the world. But where did it all begin and how? “I think within the discipline and practise of art one of the things that I like about it is the freedom that it gives you, not only freedom but license. “You have the license to do certain things and get away with it.” He added: “Growing into an artist was very organic for me. “I developed interest in it as
a child. It continued into school and art school and after that practising and teaching. “I travelled the world with my art and eventually got invited to do projects here and there.” He added: “I certainly was an artistic person. One’s environment and what it throws up, that’s one of the things that I have constantly worked with and when I was teaching I encouraged my students to look around, search around them and do something that talks about their environment and them. “That’s what has led me into working with the kind of materials that I have including the bottle caps which I have used for this project.” Ahead of the big reveal last month, Frances Morris, Director of Tate Modern, said: El Anatsui is responsible for some of the most unique and unforgettable sculptures in recent times and we are delighted that he will tackle the Turbine Hall this autumn for the annual Hyundai Commission.” Hyundai Commission. El Anatsui: Behind the Red Moon for Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall. On until April 14, 2024 — Tate Modern, London
NOVEMBER 2023 THE VOICE
| 45
Lifestyle
Ssebandeke is reaping the fruits of his hard work An acclaimed writer and actor, Kalungi Ssebandeke has just ebute his first ma or or as a director at the Orange Tree Theatre in south-west London. By Joel Campbell
F
OCUS AND determination has given Kalungi Ssebandeke deserved recognition and success over the last couple of years, but a quick look at what he’s done so far and it’s easy to come to the conclusion that he is still very much just getting started. Last weekend Ssebandeke debuted his first a or ork as a director, Meetings, at the Orange Tree Theatre in south-west London. A poignant comedy exploring identity and belonging, the Mustapha Matura production premiered at Hampstead Theatre in 1982. The present day cast sees Kevin N Golding play the character of Hugh, Bethan Mary James as Elsa, and Martina Laird as Jean. Suited, booted, and stuffed with American burgers and fries, Hugh walks out of a meeting and buys a mango on the street. To the bemusement of his highyin ife ean u h beco es obsessed with the foods of his Trinidadian childhood and hires a cook, Elsa, to indulge his nostalgic passion.
DISCOVERY
Ssebandeke explains: “Meetings by Mustapha Mutara will be running from October 14 until November 11 at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond. “It’s a play that had its premiere in Hampstead Theatre in 1982, the cast back then was Rudolph Walker, Angela Wynter and Corinne Skinner-Carter. It’s a play about living your authentic self.” He added: “The character of Hugh, who is married to Jean, is living this middle class bliss in Port of Spain, Trinidad, in the 1980s. “Hugh gets this wild idea that he should eat more of his old Trinidadian food after he tastes a an o for the very first ti e his takes him down a rabbit hole of self discovery, much to the chagrin of Jean who is very much
into this western, commercialised way of living.” Ssebandeke came to the UK from Uganda at the age of 10. In the last six years the 33-yearold has won the Bush Theatre’s Passing The Baton (2018), the Roland Rees Bursary (2020), and the prestigious 2023 JMK Award. The latter award was founded in memory of James MenziesKitchin, a young director of great promise who died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 28, to give opportunities to theatre directors of similar ability and vision. Each year it gives one prestigious award to enable an outstanding applicant aged 35 or under to create their own production of their choice of text. There’s no doubt about it, Ssebandeke was a worthy recipient. Speaking on his journey to this point in his career, he enthused: “Yeah, I came from Uganda to the UK and dived straight into south London and I guess I was lucky and privileged to be a part of a lovely family, my mum and dad and my siblings. “They always supported and nurtured our creativity and allowed us to express ourselves creatively but also academically. as able to do y first professional play when I was 17 at the Lyric in Hammersmith. From there I managed to get an agent before going to university and I’ve pursued acting for the past 16 years. “And then I added an extra string to my bow in 2013 when I was 23. “I started playwriting and I was privileged enough to have Talawa Theatre support what I was doing with the help of Michael Buffong and Daniel Bailey and my debut foray into writing received a staged reading. “My play, My Darling Wife, was read by two incredible actors, Ashley Zhangazha and Adelayo Adedayo, both of whom are doing incredible things right now on screen and stage, and that again catapulted me into doing more
DETERMINED: Kalungi Ssebandeke came to the UK from Uganda at the age of 10
“To get all of the recognition I have in different fi s s t m writing and in the end I got my first proper professional production staged at the Gate Theatre and that was called Assata Taught Me. “It was directed by Lynette Linton and starred Adjoa Andoh and Kenneth Omole, so that was the acting and writing making its way. More recently I jumped on the directing train, so to speak, and here we are. ’ directin y first ever production courtesy of the JMK Award and the Orange Tree Theatre.” As you can tell, he is a busy man. Driven. On a mission. The writer and actor recently
directed Attempts on Her Life, by Martin Crimp for the newly formed drama school Bristol School of Acting founded by Stuart Wood with co-artistic director Nancy Medina, the incoming Artistic Director of Bristol Old Vic Theatre. Prior to that, he worked as Director in Residence at Tonbridge School, while also directing NT Connections play Remote by Stef Smith for White City Youth Theatre at Lyric Hammersmith. He is also returning to the OT after performing in Blood Knot and writing Prodigal, a short play for their Inside/Outside series. His further acting credits include Othello (The Watermill heatre is fil credits include Columbite Tantalite and for television Dr Who. As a writer, his debut play Assata Taught Me and Prodigal are published by Bloomsbury and Nick Hern Books respectively. He’s done
a bit and appreciates that the industry is taking note of his endeavours. Speaking about the value he has managed to eek out of the recent awards and where they sit in terms of enabling future progression, he said: “To get all of the recognition I have in different fields is actually uite humbling, but it also gives a sense of validation if I am honest.
BURSARY
“For example, the Roland Rees Bursary came about during lockdown and it is something that I have admired from afar, I’d submitted my plays before and been long listed for the Alfred Fagon which works in conjunction with Roland Rees as well as the Mustapha Mutara Award, and it came about at the right kind of time for me. “We were in lockdown and creatively, we were all doing different things and to get that sup-
port, to get that bursary at that tough time, was exactly what I needed. “I appreciate not only the Roland Rees Bursary but also the Alfred Fagon Award who helped to administer that alongside the Mustapha Mutara Award. “These are all awards that champion young writers and directors and emerging talent. Emerging Black, African and Caribbean talent in Britain.” He added: “It’s all moving at the right pace and it’s allowing me to express all of my creative ventures and endeavours, but also it’s given me the support that every creative needs. You do need that financial support but you also need that creative support, which is what the awards provide when they are given out.” Meetings runs at the Orange Tree Theatre until November 11, 2023. Check out the full interview on: www.voice-online.co.uk
46 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
Lifestyle
REPRESENTATION MATTERS Mainstream media, television, film and theatre still failing to adequately promote Black talent. By Joel Campbell
I
N RESPONSE to the various data captured in the Media and Arts section of the Black British Voice Survey, revealed last month, Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe MBE, says more effort should be poured into understanding the ‘sense of purpose at the heart’ of grass roots organisations which provide solutions as far as representation is concerned.’ Anyiam-Osigwe, the founder of the British Urban Film Festival, established in 2005, noted significant and positive changes had occurred, specifically in his area of vocation and expertise, TV and film, where representation and inclusion were concerned over the last decade, but had a collective effort been established many years prior, there remained every possibility that some of the gripes that have stifled that objective, needn’t have been experienced in the first place. The percentage of survey respondents who felt the UK film industry was not adequately representative of Black people and cultures was significantly higher than in theatre or publishing, at 81 per cent. Widespread disappointment in the inability of mainstream media, television, film, theatre and publishing to adequately promote Black talent or represent Black lives and experiences was compounded by frustration with those images of Black people which were popularly represented, such as those depicting Black people as victims rather than as survivors.
81 %
el e lm industry was not adequately representative of Black people and cultures.
Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe MBE Giving Lifestyle his thoughts, Anyiam-Osigwe wrote: “Back in early 2019, I had the distinction of running the London bureau of Channels Television news whose studios are a stone’s throw from BBC New Broadcasting House. “I was tasked with the brief to attract key talent to the station, securing the likes of Joyce Ohajah and Juliana Olayinka. We also had people like Linda Egwuekwe and
Wil Njobvu come through our doors with a view to developing new shows and establishing a footprint in the UK broadcast news market. “It was a bold and refreshing outlook on how to re-imagine Black British culture which, with more time, would’ve revolutionised the broadcast landscape and made a lot of the comments that have been made in the survey largely redundant. “A lot has changed in the four years since I was in the TV world and largely for the better in my opinion. “Channel 4’s Black to Front was a timely reminder as to how Black people and culture could be represented fairly. “We have shows like Sorry I Didn’t Know, Know still on the air (produced by Triforce Productions); we have film organisations such as the Windrush Caribbean Film Festival (WCFF) and We Are Parable, the latter of which recently celebrated 10 years in operation, showcasing Black film talent. “And then you have BUFF, a BAFTA and BIFA accredited film festival (with its own film studio) now based in Yorkshire which this year, brought the story of David Oluwale to the big screen for the very first time. The festival will be 20 years old in 2025. “Consistency and a sense of purpose lie at the heart of these organisations, providing a solution of sorts as to how the ceiling can be broken as far as representation in media and the arts is concerned.” Download a copy of the British Black Voices Survey on our website.
NOVEMBER 2023 THE VOICE
| 47
Lifestyle
Hip hop heads to Sadler’s Wells M EET NIQUELLE LaTouche. The artist-educator is heading up Academy Breakin’ Convention, the new hip hop theatre school that’s one of the major initiatives at Sadler’s Wells’ fourth London venue, Sadler’s Wells East. A groundbreaking project, young people are being invited to apply for Academy Breakin’ Convention’s two-year course for 16- to 19-year-olds, where there will be intensive, practical training in hip hop performing arts and a focus on live performance and theatre production at an international standard. Students will achieve a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performance and Production Arts, specific to hip hop theatre he course will cover all the artistic elements of hip hop theatre, including classes in breaking, in e ceein raffiti hip hop social dance, music production and popping. In hip hop’s 50th anniversary year and ahead of the first Olympics to feature breaking as a sport, the new pathway for
ChristmasRAH2023_TheVoice 1
Next generation ready to be inspire at Aca emy Brea in Convention. By Joel Campbell
talented performers, which kicks-off next year, has been greatly received. “As the Head of Academy Breakin’ Convention, I will be ensuring the young people at the academy are taken care of first and fore ost and their wellbeing is looked after,” LaTouche enthused. “But also that they are nurtured in a way that facilitates them to explore their artistry to expand and explore themselves as individuals within the current climate we’re in, but also that they are supported in a way that allows them to fully expand their hip hop experience and apply it to the theatre world.” LaTouche, 29, has been writing poetry since she was 14 and really began to take dance seriously in 2009. Invested in creating spaces of creative collaboration and to-
getherness, She is the founder of Niquelle LaTouche Arts (2014) and It Takes a Village Collective (2020) which are hubs for empathy building, challenging normative ideas and encouraging proactive social change. a ouche is a trained fine artist, choreographer and English specialist spanning supplementary, language schools and mainstream secondary education. Speaking on why the role appealed to her, she said: “I’ve mixed a lot of the artforms in my artistic background, but also in the education world I’ve been involved since I was 17.” She continued: “The role appealed because I have been using my practises as an artist and as an educator, and I feel like pedagogy across both really support each other. “I know half of my practise as an English teacher is a re-
FIGUREHEAD: Multi-talented Niquelle LaTouche is taking charge sult of me as an artist and vice versa, and I think we don’t often get chances to share practise, and the arts could easily support education and vice versa, and I don’t actually think they are separate worlds, but there aren’t many translators between
the worlds. “I do think Academy Breakin’ Convention is a real space to facilitate the crossover between both.” Applications for Academy Breakin’ Convention are due to open next year as part of
the East Bank development in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Artistic Director Jonzi D, founder and Artistic Director of Breakin’ Convention and a Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist, said: “I dreamt of this when I was 15. “I imagined a theatre school like Fame, the TV show, but set in east London, featuring talented young people of a variety of ethnicities and social backgrounds, all with a shared passion and desire to achieve excellence in hip hop culture. “In the same year that breaking is represented in the Olympic Games, Academy Breakin’ Convention will nurture the next generation of hip hop theatre artists, leaders and game changers. “I’m especially excited and proud to welcome Niquelle LaTouche as Head of Academy Breakin Convention. With her experience as an English teacher, poet, dancer and artistic leader. She is very well equipped to lead this organisation to greatness.”
26/10/2023 17:09:07
48 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
Lifestyle
How were we to know it would be this good!
STAR TURN: Emeli Sandé will wow the fans with How Were We To Know, and is the headline act at the Royal Festival Hall on November 11 (photo below: Giulia Savorelli)
meli San s ne album sho s she s at her spectacular best. By Joel Campbell
Y
OU’RE GOING to be blown away by Emeli Sandé’s new album, How Were We To Know. The project is the Scottish artist at her spectacular best, and she’s drawn from a personal place to deliver it. Love can make you giddy. It breaks your heart. Makes you a little crazy. Sends you into dizzying highs and crashing lows. This is what Sandé dives into on her subli e fifth albu “How Were We To Know is like a reconciliation after the relationship has fallen apart,” Sandé told Lifestyle. “You know when you fall in love, it’s senseless, there’s that naivety, no one would ever get into a relationship if they could see into the future and it doesn’t work out. So it’s kind of like be-
ing in the present and enjoying love in that moment, but then not looking back in anger. “Not carrying that hate or upset as you move through life because I think that can weigh people down. It’s kind of like, giving you and that other person a break. We tried our best, how were we to know? But you’re still going through the hurt. “That’s why I really wanted to call the album that, because it’s not just in relationships, but also in life that we can’t see into the future. “But if you’re always living so cautiously you never give yourself fully to anything. If you’re never present, fully, then I think you can waste your whole life. “So, you have to be kind to yourself in some sense because how were we to know what was
going to happen? At least we gave it our best shot basically.” Navigating love’s curious contradictions is a particularly dominant theme in the album’s lead single There For You. Emeli’s timeless voice balances strident determination and soft vulnerability in a stirring soul-pop song full of subtle Eighties textures: from the thrum of the bass to the thump of the beats, as well as the classic sound of the Yamaha DX7 and a euphoric saxophone solo. Co-written with music manager and writer Daniel Caruana and produced by Daniel McKenzie, Emeli says the track “came together so naturally”. She said: “There For You is about how I’ll always have love for the people I’ve been with. “Even if I’m pissed off with them for a couple of years, I’ll always care for them, I’ll always Bewant to know they’re OK. Be cause once you’ve committed to that love with someone, it doesn’t just go away.” How Were We To Know’s 11 encountracks explore intimate encoun ters with love in all its forms, along with the risk required to pursue it. “Once you’ve been hurt, it’s very hard to pick up the pieces again and allow yourself to be vulnerable,” Sandé says. “So I think these songs explore the bravery of love, and loving others but also yourself. “These songs were pieces of a puzzle I had to put together, and now feels like the right time to share them.” Speaking on the ease of pulling the album together, Sandé enthused: “It was strangely
@thevoicenewspaper
quite easy, when you’re charged up and your emotions are on a high, that’s when the music comes out so effortlessly.” She added: “I was in there with Chris Loco, who is a producer, and Finley, who was on keys, the chorus starting going around, I was given a mic, and that’s why I love engineers that are recording while you are writing because you can capture these really special moments that you can recreate. “It really felt very cathartic. I was just saying how I felt, and it all came out super easy. I usually find the son s that are the ost powerful or end up connecting are those ones that have that natural o How Were We To Know is beautifully consistent, but that doesn’t mean Sandé stays in the same lane. Far from it. The dramatic theatrical spectacle of the title track is one of her finest vocal perfor ances her resolution growing from a fragile falsetto to the soaring, un-
@thevoicenews
“When emotions are on a high, that’s when the music comes out effortlessly” filtered e otion of its cli a My Boy Likes To Party couldn’t be more different, with Sandé’s husky croon atop an alt-pop banger with trap-tinged beats, hile the ospel avoured Nothing We Can’t Handle is an uplifting hymn of support, and True Colours applies similar qualities in a defiant e pression of self love. The album’s intimacy was further unlocked as Sandé called on trusted collaborators, including Mac and Phil and Jonny Coffer and Ollie Green. Sandé is driven by the empowering words she sings on How Were We To Know. “It takes
voicenews
a lot in this industry to maintain hope and optimism,” she says. “What keeps me going are these kinds of messages... and being able to get them out there to others. Because if you hear a piece of music that touches your soul it reignites your spirit, and awakens something within. I hope this album inspires people in the same way.” She added: “I feel like I picked the songs that I felt told the story without it being repeated. “I hate being boxed into any specific kind of enre of usic I always want my voice and my lyric to be familiar to people, but I love being able to explore.” and is confir ed to headline the Royal Festival Hall on November 11 as part of this year’s EFG Jazz Festival London. Fans who attend are in for a treat! How Were We To Know will be released on November 17. Watch the full Emeli Sandé interview on our website
www.voice-online.co.uk
NOVEMBER 2023 THE VOICE
This is Brukout!
SPICE
| 49
by Seani B
JADA KINGDOM
CARNIVAL REVELLERS
Celebrating our talent
Yours truly had a night to remember at the inaugural Caribbean Music Awards
I
WAS HEADING to the Notting Hill Carnival after a crazy weekend touring the UK when I got the call: “I hope your case is packed as you’re going to New York on Wednesday to present an award at the Caribbean Music Awards.” A few rums later it kinda sunk in that summer wasn’t quite over for me, as I was going to the Big Apple and it was also their Labor Day weekend, which meant another carnival but this time in Brooklyn on the eastern parkway. The Brooklyn that I returned to was not the same place I last saw over 15 years ago. Dare I say it, Brooklyn looked like Manhattan with the new skyline of skyscrapers. But I wasn’t here for sightseeing, I was here to see wha gwan for the inaugural Caribbean Music Awards that on paper looked like the start of
SEANI B and DJ SPLACKAVELLI
something special. I’m not one to get to excited over events like this as I am usually left a little disappointed, and this was the general feeling from the few I had spoken with. Hosted by Wyclef Jean of the Fugees, with a stellar lineup of performers and presenters at The Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, this promised a whole heap and I have to be honest it truly delivered, albeit with lots to learn from. Arriving for the red carpet entrance, I knew this wasn’t “someone trying a ting” as I saw Wyclef and his carnival dancers giving a red carpet treatment that the media assembled probably have never witnessed before. This was truly a Caribbean experience with stars in attendance
including Kes, Morgan Heritage, Spice and Kranium. Many had criticised the awards for poor promotion as few people had an idea that a ceremony like this was happening to celebrate t h e
KRANIUM
WYCLEF JEAN
achievements of artists from across the diaspora. But you would have never believed this when I entered the grand Kings Theatre. It seemed liked they had sold out the venue and there was an energy attached to this. The audience responded with huge cheers when they saw some of their favourite artists like Machel Montano and the queen of the dancehall taking her seat. Dressed in her trademark blue, it felt different to see her get this adoration from her community in these settings. Dressed like a gentleman, I was ready for a great evening, but it didn’t seem like it wanted to get going. This was the main issue for me! As grand as the production looked, you could tell the organisation was
lacking. It felt like the show was littered with big gaps, but the host Wyclef kept us entertained while admitting this is how we are in our community, which was met with a round of honest laughs. he sho as filled ith very special moments, and the opening set the tone. A soca medley of hits performed by Alison Hinds, Rupee, JW performing Palance and Skinny Fabulous bringing it home and this as ust the first five minutes. I think we needed a gap to recover. Something else that we will never see on any other awards show was the Elite Icon Award that was received by Beres Hammond. But before he was able to get his hand on it we had to sit through some of his classics performed by Romain Virgo, Kranium and Dexta Daps… like really!!! But it was
former Miss Jamaica Toni-Ann Singh that surprised all from that quartet with her phenomenal vocals. Machel Montano, who was in attendance with his wife and children, also received a long overdue award for 30 years of service he has given to soca and Caribbean music. Even though Machel won an award for service to the music, it felt like everyone in attendance won an award for service to the music as this ceremony felt like the first rand a ard sho for the music from the Caribbean. To hear Dexta Daps say “this is the first a ards ’ receivin is absolutely wild to me, but I guess nobody is gonna do for us other than us, so that’s why I congratulate the organisers for even attempting to pull this off. BTW the Labor Day parade was nice, but it ain’t no Notting Hill… hahahahahha!
TINA aka HOODCELEBRITYY
50
| THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
Lifestyle
Sugar and Slate still has appeal
Williams feels bittersweet that little has changed since the book was released. By Joel Campbell
A
UTHOR CHARLOTTE Williams says it’s “fabulous” her award-winning book Sugar and Slate still receives rave reviews over two decades since it was first published but she does feel “sad” that the themes still resonate as strongly today as when she first rote the Though the conversation with Lifestyle hich you can atch on our ebsite delves into the heavier elements of writing the revered classic – such as the e otional peaks and trou hs she e perienced durin the ritin process illia s ants to hi hli ht that it’s a li ht’ read Sugar and Slate tells the fascinating story of her journey of self discovery toin and froin between the small north Wales to n here she re up frica and the aribbean Blending memoir with histori-
cal research Sugar and Slate delves deep into Black elsh history revealin the nation as ho e to one of the first interracial arria es in Britain in and a site of Britain’s first a or race riots in o erful lyrical and intiate illia s’ e perience the
daughter of a white Welshfa speakin other and a Black father fro uyana casts li ht on ales and elshness illu inatinat ing what it is to be racially marmar inalised ithin a co unity which is itself marginalised within Britain and offerin a uni ue inin si ht into the co ple Black hishis tory of ales s afore entioned the conversation with Lifestyle ets deep and even then it only captures a snapshot of hat illia s as pourin into this te t hen she rote it t’s no surprise it on ales Book of the ear neither is it surprisin that in ilil liams was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for services to ethnic minorities and e ual opportunities in ales Sugar and Slate is also a title in the Black Britain: Writing Back series selected by Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine
RECOGNITION: Charlotte Williams has won awards for her book – and has also received an OBE (photo: ina orsfall varisto he series rediscovers and celebrates pioneerin books depictin Black Britain that re ap the nation Presenting a hidden but very real face of Britishness that feels esoteric yet relatable at the sa e ti e Sugar and Slate is an amalgamation of education and entertain ent personified t’s a very easy read think illia s says y ain a bition as that people ould like it en a e ith it and ant to read it “Those big ideas that we’ve talked about they ust co e
throu h think throu h the stories that tell t’s ore in the storytellin that it pro pts people to think about those kind of wider issues o for e a ple the openin chapters ’ ust talkin about being on that voyage as a little irl oin to frica o sa frica at the a e of si o it sort of re ected to e that as very British ’ also very proud of y father’s ork because y father’s an artist e’s dead no but as of very recently his work is in the per anent collection of ate
Britain as one of the pioneers of bringing the Caribbean to the British art scene o it’s an interestin story and lots of scholars of y dad ennis illia s have approached e about Sugar and Slate because it tells a ore personal story about so ebody ho’s si nificant in ter s of all our history as aribbean people in the o yeah ust encoura e people to read it because it’s li ht t’s not heavy but it’s ot those big themes that we will all reco nise
Clive Myrie explains why Everything is Everything to him By Joel Campbell anchor and presenter live yrie has revealed to Lifestyle that his book Everything is Everything is a ‘love letter to the Windrush eneration’ yrie’s deeply personal memoir tells how his family history has in uenced his vie of the orld Introducing us to his Windrush eneration parents a reat randfather ho helped build the ana a anal and a great uncle who fought in the irst orld ar later to beco e a pro inent police detective in a aica yrie has had any inspirations that have helped shaped ho he has beco e In verythin is verythin he re ects on ho bein Black has affected his perspective
RESPECTED: live
yrie
on issues he’s encountered in years reportin so e of the biggest stories of our time ( ost recently fro the iddle ast sho in us ho those e periences ave hi a better idea of what it means to be an outsider e tells of his pride in his roots and why he will forever be indebted to his parents y parents ere indrush
eneration hey ca e a little bit after the pire indrush docked at ilbury they arrived in and y dad sailed to outha pton fro Jamaica and my mum arrived by plane yin fro in ston to eathro heir early e perience in Britain has shaped y attitude to the world and to being Black in this country hey faced difficult ti es they faced racis hey faced bi otry hey kept their heads do n as do n as their ay of dealin ith it “But I’ve always felt that racis and bi otry is frankly the ill and the proble of the persecutor of the person ho is actually engaging in these thin s ’ Black and ’ Black verythin is everythin that’s ust the ay it is that’s ho od ade e and a proud of that f you’ve ot a proble ith that that’s your tou h
luck y parents tried to avoid it kept their heads do n in a ay to deal ith it nd have decided certainly in this book that it needs to be confronted t needs to be taken on head on He added: “They (my parents ere decent people as so many of the Windrush eneration ere hey didn’t deserve the abuse they got on occasions o one does any of the indrush generation had fought for this country they ere illin to put their lives on the line for this country and they were willing to help rebuild this country And that sense of decency and honesty and pride in ho they are hope is so ethin that ’ve ana ed to carry ith e throu hout y life ’ very proud of the This book is a love letter to the indrush eneration n
their strength and resilience in dealing with the issue that they faced hen they ca e here “But all in the service of furthering the cause of their o n fa ilies i provin their lives and their children’s lives but also helpin to rebuild this country at a time when some didn’t ant to “Two million whites left this country at the end of the ar hey uite ri htly in their inds didn’t want to be around bombedout rubble buildings and ration books and all of the proble s that there were at the end of the econd orld ar hey didn’t ant that either so they ere lookin for a ne life
so they ent to anada they ent to ustralia they ent to e ealand outh frica “But that left a worker shortage here and that was the hole the ap that the ingeneradrush genera tion filled and they should be honoured for that role eople recshould rec ognise just ho i portant they were to a nascent to British ail to the buses to rebuilding Britain physically ith their hands on buildin sites up and do n the country That sense of hard work and decency hope ’ve ana ed to get a little bit from my indrush eneration parents
NOVEMBER 2023 THE VOICE
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TOP SPORTS COVERAGE 24/7 VOICE-ONLINE.CO.UK/SPORT
OF SPORT NEWSPAPER
Breaking down barriers Natasha Jonas makes history om t first r Black female boxing manager in the UK. By Rodney Hinds
KEEP BELIEVING: Natasha Jonas is a two-weight world champion; far left, Natasha on the cover of Sky Sports Editions
T
RAILBLAZING BOXER Natasha Jonas continues to write history as she beco es the first Black woman to obtain a manager’s licence from the British Boxing Board of Control. A pioneer in women’s boxing, Natasha hails from a sporting family – her sister plays professional football – and made history as the first fe ale bo er on ea B and the first o an to represent Great Britain in boxing when she entered the ring at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. She made history yet again last year when she became the first o an to in the presti ious British Boxer of the Year award from the British Boxing Board of Control, following the likes of Lennox Lewis, Naseem Hamed and other British boxing legends. The two-weight world champion continues her trailblazing tradition by obtaining a manager’s licence to begin guiding the career of her young protege Mikie Tallon, who made his professional debut last month. “All my life I’ve always believed in myself and I’ve never
allowed myself to give up. I’ve not consciously set out to be first to do anythin ust kne that I wanted to break down barriers and not be scared to do anythin ust because it hadn’t been done before,” said Natasha. “That being said, one thing do like about bein first is that it makes you part of history and nobody can take that away from you.” In addition to her illustrious career in the ring, Natasha is deeply involved in the comunity fulfils parental duties and holds a prominent role as a pundit and commentator for Sky Sports Boxing.
Natasha’s latest groundbreaking achievement is especially poignant as it coincides with Black History Month and this year’s theme of ‘Celebrating ur isters ’ onas’s ourney – marked by resilience and triumph – stands testament to her
indomitable spirit and of women in sports. Having defeated Kandi Wyatt earlier this year to capture the IBF World Welterweight crown and become a two-weight world champion, Jonas is looking forward to getting back in the ring
and further establishing herself as one of the leadin fi ures in British boxing. Jonas is the focus of the latest episode of Sky Sports series Editions – released today on the Sky Sports YouTube channel.
Sky Sports Editions is a ne social first series that tells the must-know stories of elite sportswomen in a way that’s unique to them, as they are given the chance to style and direct their very own cover shoot.
Former Olympic champion aiming to inspire new generation of stars By Richard Prescott OVER 150 local school children attending the latest Sport In Your Futures (SIYF) session at SportsDock in October got to meet an Olympic champion! The SIYF programme, which is aimed at encouraging primary school children to participate in and en oy sport et Bei in ly pics old medallist and London 2012 silver medallist, Christine Ohuruogu MBE, who spent an hour talking to them about her athletics career and offered them words of encouragement and advice about the takin their o n ourney through sport. Christine, a former World and Comon ealth cha pion said:
“I lost a lot of races before I won any medals, so please keep trying and do your very best.” The children got to see Christine’s Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals and have their picture taken with the Team GB star, who also spent time looking at some items of Olympic memorabilia at SportsDock, which had been sourced and displayed by the University of East London archive team. The items included an Olympic torch fro the Bei in ly pic a es where Christine won her gold medal. After meeting the school children, Christine met some of UEL/East London Sports Scholars, while the children took part in a range of sports including indoor cricket and skipping.
‘DO YOUR VERY BEST’: Christine Ohuruogu with the school children at SportsDock (photo: Ernest Simons)
52 | THE VOICE NOVEMBER 2023
Sport companies. Aluko told the Voice of Sport: “Racism has definitely reduced within football, but it hasn’t gone away – football is a microcosm of society so if it hasn’t gone away in society then it hasn’t gone away in football. “Football has actually helped to change it. You have so many backgrounds and different races and religions, so it really helps to create more harmony amongst different types of people. But it
Former England star Eni Aluko says change can only happen if Black community leads from top. By Rodney Hinds
F
“Racism has e ni el reduced within football, but it hasn’t gone away – football is a microcosm of society so if it hasn’t gone away in society then it hasn’t gone away in football.”
ORMER footballer Eni Aluko is of the opinion that the Black community needs to serve on sporting boards in order to truly affect change. The recent Black British Survey (BBV) revealed the dissatisfaction amongst respondents in regards to how sporting authorities were dealing with racism in sport. Aluko was the first sporting director for Angel City FC of the American National Women’s Soccer League and formerly held the same position at Women’s Super League outfit Aston Villa from January 2020 to June 2021. Her experience, she played for Birmingham, Chelsea and
BBV respondents indicated that racism was still a key issue that was not being handled e cien l by sporting authorities... Juventus among others, tells her that positive change will only come if we are at the top table making key decisions. Speaking at the recent Leaders Meet Diversity Forum in central London, the ex-England player who gained 102 caps said: “When I was sporting director, I was committed to making changes and people expected me to.” Her advice to those on boards, or seeking to do so, was simple: “Do not be afraid to make changes as opposed to just existing on your own. It’s on you most of the time to create that diversity. “You have to challenge people and ask them if they are actually listening to what you are saying. Aluko playing for Chelsea
– Eni Aluko
WE NEED REAL PRESENCE IN BOARDROOMS “It’s also important to talk about the culture of the organisation to find out what inclusion and diversity on the board really means in practice. And then it’s a case of asking if there is space for more diversity. It’s about expanding the board in order to get more representation. “Those that get onto boards can’t just say that we’ve done our job and then take up the ladder and not allow others to get their chance too. “We have to replicate on sporting boards, and wider, what has happened in the Premier League in terms of diversity. There are now some 43 per cent of players from a diverse background in playing in the top-flight. “Now it’s a case of just how do we shift the conversation that
Aluko and Chelsea women’s manager Emma Hayes Black and brown people are not seen as leaders in the boardroom. If the current decision makers want the very best people on their boards that has to include our community as well.” Aluko admitted that “it was a lonely road” in her role as a sporting director. To that end she
was keen to praise her mentors, Chelsea women’s manager Emma Hayes and former Chelsea sporting director Michael Emanalo. BBV respondents indicated that racism was still a key issue that was not being handled efficiently by sporting authorities and the respective social media
certainly hasn’t gone away – you will always have people who try and create divisions between others which is a societal problem. “I definitely think football is an amazing tool and platform to keep changing that. “I think the only thing you can do is what society has always done which is create massive deterrents for behaviour that is not acceptable. I think that’s where we’ve had a huge problem for a long time. Racism hasn’t been taken seriously enough in terms of the punishments. “For example, there are harsh punishments with match fixing or corruption within the game, and people don’t do it or you never hear about it. It’s the same for doping – you can never play the game again if you take drugs. “So, the same level of punishment needs to happen when it comes to racism. It won’t stop people from thinking it, but it may stop them from outwardly expressing it. “A lot of things need to happen behind closed doors; I think there’s a risk of a lot of anti-racism initiatives becoming just a visual thing or people ticking the box, or thinking ‘Ah, they took the knee and so everything is okay.’ “That’s how it works, and I know that from my own life and my own career. I would like to see more activity behind the scenes between players and decision makers and people who make the money in the game to make sure that racism is not something we have to take the knee for.”
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Sport
FORCE FOR CHANGE: Driven By Us CIC was unveiled in Bicester at Motorsport UK
Engineering real change V
ISIONARY JAMES Dornor, a former Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team electronics support engineer working with the likes of Sir Lewis Hamilton MBE, has set up Driven By Us CIC, which aims to represent ethnic minorities already present within the sport, but also to pave the way for others wishing to enter. Unveiled during the summer in Bicester at Motorsport UK as a recognised club, Driven By s is already in uencin great change and making a difference in local communities across the country. Dornor spoke to Voice of Sport about the organisation, the need for the initiative and the legacy they hope to leave behind. MC: What is Driven By Us? JD: We’re here to provide a safe space for minority groups working within the motorsports industry, and also provide
Driven By Us founder James Dornor is opening up the world of Formula 1 to ethnic minority groups. By Matthew Chadder support and advice for those who aren’t already working in the industry who are seeking motorsport careers. What we’re aiming to provide through this platform is a network, which offers a range of activities, programmes in schools and events for the community. We hold monthly meetings to discuss the current barriers that people are facing going into the industry, sharing personal experiences, and also discussing what we wish to see in the future and what we want the club to work towards, in the short term, and the long term. e have five key values: loyalty, honesty, integrity, respect, and accountability. If we don’t
hold ourselves accountable, then nothing will get done, it will just be all talk and no action. The vision is to break down the barriers and lead the way in championing diversity in the UK and beyond. MC: Why is there a need for Driven By Us? JD: Motorsport in the past hasn’t been that diverse. It’s been an industry where you have the top personnel from various universities or academia, entering the sport. Ethnic minority groups are not necessarily aware of the roles and jobs in motorsport. I think the legacy is to keep the pipeline going, inspire the
those diverse folks working in their organisations. In addition to that, for those who don’t want to necessarily be role models, just make sure that they have the psychological safety and are supported in that manner, so that their careers are progressing as they wish in the industry.
next generation of our community which has now already been established What we’re doing is raising the awareness for parents and educating children in less af uent areas and increasing accessibility. There’s all sorts of roles in motorsports and we want to make sure that everyone knows the roles and what they entail. MC: How are you getting the Driven By Us name out there? JD: I’ve done several presentations, volunteering work as an individual myself promoting in less af uent areas ’ve done quite a few talks in the southwest of England, London, Milton Keynes, Manchester, Birmingham, all over the UK just to promote my career in the industry. We at Driven By Us want to ork ith schools in less af uent areas around the UK, work with local authorities, sporting organisations, and foundations.
POSITIVE IMPACT: James Dornor MC: What impact do you hope that Driven By Us can leave behind? JD: I think the legacy is to keep the pipeline going, inspire the next generation of our community which has now already been established, and hope that we can have a positive impact working with the organisations involved in motorsports to change their culture, in order to make them more inclusive for
In July 2023, Dornor was awarded the prestigious Points Of Light by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Awarded before the British Grand Prix 2023 by Dame Andrea Leadsom DBE for its pioneering work, he was recognised for creatin the non profit organisation and for becoming the first otorsport recognised club, which is ethnic minority led. The award highlighted their innovation in the delivery of STEM motorsports activities for young people in underprivileged areas in person, remotely and off-site locations.
Racing group teams up with Stephen Lawrence Foundation By Rodney Hinds THE ARENA Racing Company, the UK’s largest horse racing group, has partnered with the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation to create a series of apprenticeships at in field ark racecourse. The partnership, brought together by he acin ath ay is the first of its kind in horse racing and will build an employee pipeline with diverse lived experiences and cultures, as well as supporting succession into more
senior roles within the business. The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation exists to inspire a more equitable and inclusive society, and to foster opportunities for marginalised young people in the UK. The Foundation is committed to creating a fairer society in which all young people, regardless of their backround have the opportunity to ourish. By providing mentoring, coaching, work experience opportunities, and bursaries for education and training, the foundation broadens young
people’s views of what’s possible, and creates pathways into education and career opportunities which might not otherwise be open to them. The apprenticeship programme at in field ark is the first step in a deeper and longer-term partnership between the business and the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, a partnership which will evolve to support the future needs of the wider Arena Racing Company and its 21 venues, while continuing to serve the ambitions of the Foundation.
osh piafi founder of he acin ath ay said: ollo in racin ’s ide support of Stephen Lawrence Day in April, we were delighted to facilitate the introduction of the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation and ARC. This enabled a new partnership, which is creating opportunities for young people via four apprenticeships at in field ark racecourse. t is e citin to see he acin Pathway strategy aims to create opportunities in racing for people from all parts of society.”
APPRENTICESHIPS: Stephen Lawrence
54 | THE VOICE AUGUST 2023
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