The Voice Newspaper September 2020

SEPTEMBER 2020 • ISSUE NO. 1910

WINDRUSH

HELPLINE

campaign launched

NEWSPAPER

Arrivals Waterloo Station 1948

SEE PAGE 4 - 5 £2.50

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TRIBUTE TO

LORD MORRIS OF HANDSWORTH OJ From shop steward to the people’s hero

SEE PAGE 23-27

OUR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION

IS IN OUR HANDS

Following lockdown black parents are discovering that homeschooling is a way to challenge the low expectations and racial disparities of mainstream schools SEE FULL STORY INSIDE

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Inside

ROUNDUP

THIS MONTH

Spotlight

News, views, stories & videos

Keona Maduforo and her mother Uju

THE 10 MOST POPULAR STORIES ON VOICE-ONLINE.CO.UK

'They're letting kids down,' says Dr Patrick Roach

1. Systemic oppression and Wiley

p6

Voice interview with Wiley.

David Olusoga on why Germany has offered reparations for its role in Africa p8

2. The Free Black University is here to change higher education as we know it

The university experience for a black student is incomparable to that of a white one’s.

3. Statement from The Voice on Wiley

The Voice has not, and makes it clear again, supported or in any way condoned the outbursts by Wiley that the Jewish community finds offensive.

4. Montserrat skipper Taylor made for Rangers?

Meet Britain’s brightest black students

Lyle Taylor remains on the radar of Glasgow giants Rangers following strong speculation that head coach Steven Gerrard is resigned to losing his star striker Alfredo Morelos.

p16-17

5. It's Sarkodie – virtually, of course

Ghanaian rap icon, best known as Sarkodie, will be putting on one of the most exciting and innovative outdoor virtual concerts on August 16.

It's time to take a step back with Francesca Blechner

6. Confirmed Black Unity bike ride an annual event for your diary

It was supposed to be a low-key show of black unity for those in the community.

p36

7. UTCAI: Tell everyone we are not Black Lives Matter

United To Change And Inspire tell the real story on how they came to save someone's life.

Gearing up for change p40

8. Met will have to reinstate Robyn Williams if conviction is overturned

Ex-Metropolitan Police superintendent Leroy Logan has responded to the convicted officer's latest efforts to clear her name.

9. Patrick Hutchinson pens a new book

Patrick Hutchinson was hailed a hero after being pictured at a BLM march.

Football Black List honours LGBT+ community

10. Get set for the UK’s first faith-based reality show

Have you ever wondered what pastors get up to when they’re not behind the pulpit?

p46

This issue is 48 pages. The normal 72-page issue will resume soon.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Paulette Simpson E. paulette.simpson@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk CORPORATE AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONS Paula Dyke E. paula@thevoicemedia group.co.uk

ACTING MANAGING DIRECTOR George Ruddock E. george.ruddock@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk NEWS DESK E. newsdesk@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk

ESSEX SCHOOLGIRL Keona Maduforo has combined her love of storytelling and illustration to co-write a book with her mother Uju about her first-hand experience of a Nigerian wedding.

The book, called Uncle Gugi’s Wedding, is aimed at giving people an insight into a key part of African culture.

Keona decided to write the book after she noticed a huge lack of stories about African culture in the books at her school and local library.

She said: “It was my uncle’s wedding in Nigeria, and he’s very special to us all. I thought it would be good to share this special moment with other children around my age so they can learn a bit more about African culture.”

Readers join an excited Keona as she prepares for a trip of a lifetime to discover the wonders of her African homeland. Along the way she learns about her cultural heritage, Igbo customs and language.

Finally she shares in the joy, celebration and complexities of a traditional Nigerian wedding and picks up a few Igbo words along the way.

Mother and co-author Uju said: “I’d always been very passionate about the importance of passing on our culture and language to our children as well as sharing with others as a way of increasing diversity. It was wonderful seeing my culture through her eyes and bringing it to life in this book.

“Educators and parents alike have told me how their children enjoyed learning either about their own or a new cultures. It’s a quick and appealing read, and one that supports the view that culture and representation matters.”

The book has already received several positive reviews on Amazon.

Florence a recent purchaser said: “I give the book five stars because it gives both children and adults the opportunity to participate in a West African wedding and to gain knowledge and understanding of what they’re like. They narrate the story brilliantly, expressing the right emotions and feelings in each situation."

Got a story? email us at yourviews@thevoicemediagroup.co.uk

NEWS EDITOR Vic Motune E. vic.motune@thevoicemedia group.co.uk

SPORTS EDITOR Rodney Hinds E. rodney.hinds@thevoicemedia group.co.uk

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Joel Campbell E. joel.campbell@thevoicemedia group.co.uk

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SEPTEMBER 2020 THE VOICE | 3

News

‘More black families choosing to homeschool’

PRECIOUS TIME TOGETHER: Cheryl Phoenix suggests that there has been a rise in interest in parents teaching their children at home full time

Campaigners say that after lockdown more families are educating their children at home to protect them from racial disparities in the school system

By Vic Motune

B

LACK EDUCATION campaigners say they expect to see the numbers of African Caribbean families wishing to home school their children rise after the COVID-19 lockdown gave them a better experience outside the mainstream school system.

Recent statistics from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) found that more than half of parents questioned say their children have struggled with home-schooling since Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that schools were closing as part of the COVID-19 lockdown.

More than three quarters of those questioned said their youngsters were not motivated enough and 43 per cent of homeschooling parents thought being at home and homeschooling was negatively affecting the wellbeing of their children. However, education activists in the black community say these statistics do not tell the whole story.

According to Cheryl Phoenix from the campaign group Black Child Agenda, pictured inset right, a growing number of black parents are, in fact, more likely to continue with homeschooling after the end of lockdown.

The group went from having just short of 1,000 to 38,000 members during lockdown Black Child Agenda runs a number of homeschooling initiatives.

And the issue of homeschooling is a key feature of the annual Black Child Agenda conference.

However Phoenix says that since lockdown began in March, there has been an exponential growth in inquiries from black parents about how to educate their children at home.

According to Phoenix, they are increasingly taking their kids’ education into their own hands in a bid to protect them from institutional racism and stereotyping in schools and a culture of low expectations of black pupils from teachers.

She told The Voice that the COVID-19 lockdown, had

given many an opportunity to home school and it had provided a positive experience.

“It’s a massive trend. My inbox is filled with messages from parents asking, ‘How do I take my child out school? What do I do?’ Every day I average about five to six messages from parents trying to find out what they have to do go ensure that their child doesn’t go back to school in September.

“I’ve seen a big upsurge in online black home education groups as well as the numbers of people who have joined my home education group on WhatsApp and Facebook.

“I held a big conference last year in south London at the end of September where one of the key themes was home schooling.

Roughly 300 parents attended and off the back of that a lot of them started home educating their children.

GROUP

“Some who attended weren’t too sure but now, because of COVID-19, they and many others have got in touch again telling me, ‘I’m taking my kids out, I’m not sending them back to school’.”

Phoenix continued: “There’s a well known online black home education group that, although based in America, has a lot of people from the UK in it.

“That went from a membership of just over 1,000 to 38,000 parents in two months during this lockdown. It’s something that I’m so happy about.”

Data from the Department of Education, published in early August, found that black students are disproportionately faced with permanent exclusion from schools in England.

Black Caribbean children – as well as those from Gypsy

Roma and Irish traveller backgrounds – were excluded at a rate at least double compared to other students.

They had a permanent exclusion rate of 0.25, the equivalent of 25 pupils per 10,000.

Children with mixed white and black Caribbean ethnicity were permanently excluded at a rate of 0.24.

Both figures are over double the national rate – and the rate at which white British children were permanently excluded – of 0.10.

tism, anxiety, ADHD are being ignored.

“Since the lockdown parents have now realised that they can be responsible for their children’s academic well being wjthout relying on a school system that seems to hate us to look after our children’s best interests which it doesn’t do.”

Many of the reports which have charted the increase in homeschooling have highlighted the fact that parents often feel underqualified to effectively teach their children key aca-

For secondary school children from the most disadvantaged families – where the main parent is not in a professional or managerial occupation, either parent does not work regularly from home and the child has to share a computer with other family members – this increased to a year.

But says Phoenix there are several resources available to parents, which, if used creatively, can overcome any perceived limitations to home schooling.

“There are so many online resources now on teaching subjects like maths, English or science by black educators,” she said.

In the school environment black children are being racially profiled every day. They’re NETWORKING “Or you can go to a tuition being treated more harshly centre. There are also meet and The most common reason for both permanent and fixed-term expulsions was persistent disruptive behaviour.

However school policies that saw black hairstyles, kissing teeth and fist-bumping prohibited also played a part.

Phoenix said that homeschooling provided parents an opportunity to protect their children from these experiences.

“In the school environment black children are being racially profiled every day. They’re being treated more harshly that other children.

“Other pupils are being allowed to bully them without anything being done to discipline the bully.

“And children who have additional needs, for example au-

demic skills.

There is also concern that the closure of schools during the COVID-19 lockdown could have to children’s education, with those from disadvantaged backgrounds most affected.

By comparing the average amount of time children have spent learning at home compared to attending school, researchers from the University of Southampton have calculated that it could take six months for secondary school children from the most advantaged families – where the main parent is at a large employer, or in a managerial or professional occupation, both parents work from home and the child has her own computer - to catch up with where they would be had schools stayed open.

greet networking events where parents can meet at places such as museums, learning centres which accommodate for parents who home educate.

“So, if there are five or 10 of you, with your children coming down, instead of paying £10 on the door you all pay £3/4.

“Not only does it work out cheaper they start to build their own networks, which is what we need in our community anyway.

“Home education can also be about sitting down with your children and teaching them how to trade on Forex.

“When you take your children on trips to Africa, to the Caribbean, all of this is part of the lifelong learning that you will never get in a traditional classroom.”

4 | THE VOICE SEPTEMBER 2020

WINDRUSH SPECIAL FEATURE

New advertising campaign for Windrush helpline

T

he Home Office has launched a new advertising campaign to encourage members of the Windrush generation to get the support and compensation they deserve. The new advertising campaign, announced by the Home Secretary in March, will use a range of channels, such as community radio and press adverts, to increase awareness amongst those most affected around the UK. The Windrush Help Team helps people apply to the Windrush Scheme get the documents they and claim compensation through the Windrush Compensation Scheme. Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “I am driving change to make sure nothing like this can happen again.

“It is essential that people who have been affected by Windrush get the support and compensation they deserve.

“This new campaign will raise awareness of the Windrush Help Team and the support available so that as many people as possible apply.”

The campaign features real people who have applied to the Windrush schemes, and caseworkers from the Windrush Help Team, to show the benefit of applying and the human faces behind the service.

aged her to contact the Windrush Help Team to find out how they could support her. The team helped her get a naturalisation document and offered financial compensation.

Sita Dwyer said: “I’m really glad I found the courage to ring the helpline and get the help. I want to reach people so that they’ll

Government Working Group, in designing the campaign to ensure it encourages as many people as possible to apply.

Bishop Derek Webley, co-chair of the Windrush Cross-Government Working Group said: “The Windrush Working Group is determined to see the wrongs righted and to this

COMMUNITY

Advertising has gone live across media that will reach members of the Windrush generation. Press adverts will run in community publications including Pride, The Trumpet and Asian Voice as well as regional publications such as The Northern Echo and Southwark News. The radio advert will run on stations including Capital Manchester, Panjab Radio, The BEAT and Inspire FM. Digital display advertising will be live across websites including The Voice online, AZ Magazine and The Muslim Vibe.

As well as running advertising, the Home Office are working with specialist community media partners, including The Voice, Sunrise Radio, African Voice, ATN Bangla and local community leaders, to amplify the campaign in order to build trust in the schemes.

DECADES

Sita Dwyer has shared her story for the campaign. Sita came to the UK from Trinidad in 1962, when she was 18 months old. In the late 1980s she heard an announcement on the radio from the Government which requested that all West Indian people in the UK apply for a naturalisation document. She contacted the Home Office, sent the documents it asked for along with the £10 application fee, being sure to get proof of postage. Weeks later, after many calls with the department, the Home Office told her it had lost her documents. Over decades, Sita struggled with both the emotional toll of feeling unwelcome and insecure in her own country and the deterioration of her physical health. She lived in fear of being deported. In 2018, her husband encour-

Citizens Advice. Whilst over 12,000 people have received documentation and a growing number have been awarded compensation, feedback and evidence suggest that there are affected people who are yet to come forward and that some individuals require greater assistance with completing applications.

The £750k campaign will be live until mid-October, across radio, press, digital, paid search advertising and community channels, to ensure that as many people are reached as possible.

come forward and claim what they deserve.

“If I hadn’t sorted out a lot of the documents I needed myself before, the Windrush team would have helped me with that. They would have talked to the DWP and helped me get a new birth certificate. They would have saved me a lot of anger, a lot of tears and frustration.

“My caseworker was amazing, she still calls me to see how I’m getting on. The aftercare has been brilliant.”

The Government has worked closely with stakeholders, including the Windrush Cross-

“

end has collaborated with the Home Office to develop this new campaign which, we hope, will encourage more people to apply to the Windrush Compensation Scheme.

“If you or your family members have been affected by the Windrush Scandal, please do call the helpline and get the support you need to claim your compensation” The Home Office has already undertaken a range of activity to promote the Windrush schemes amongst those affected and support people to apply via the Help Team and support provided by

It is essential that people who have been affected by Windrush get the support and compensation they deserve

”

AUGUST 2020

Start here to see if we could help you confirm your legal status and claim compensation.

Did you come to the UK before the end of 1988?

Yes

Yes Have you struggled to prove your legal status in the UK?

Have you suffered losses because you couldn’t confirm your legal status?

Yes

Here to support you and your family We’re here to help you apply for the Windrush schemes.

Call the free helpline: 0800 678 1925 Visit: gov.uk/WindrushHelpTeam

Your information won’t be passed on to Immigration Enforcement.

THE VOICE | 5

6 | THE VOICE

SEPTEMBER 2020

Opinion

‘THEY’RE LETTING US DOWN’ The government has not done enough to support schools as they re-open after COVID-19 closures, and the impact on the BAME community has been ignored, says Dr Patrick Roach

T

HE PRIME Minister has made clear that it is his priority to defeat the coronavirus, for us to get back to normal as quickly as possible, and to ensure that every school reopens fully to children this autumn.

But getting back to normal must not mean a return to a past laden with inequality – we need new thinking and different outcomes.

Along with the impact of COVID-19, we have seen the continued and devastating impact of racial injustice on our streets and on the frontline in our workplaces, highlighted by the murder of George Floyd and others, and the disproportionate number of deaths of black and Asian key workers, which has rightly led to an international mobilisation, advocating that Black Lives Matter.

PROGRESS

And it should be instructive that in the vanguard of this call for change has been young people.

As teachers, we must be committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure that every child is able to access education, to progress and to achieve as a result of their studies. No ifs or buts. It’s

ing struggle for equality. EnsurWhy is it ing that children can return to schools safely should be a about that concerns advancing racial equality and rahighlighted over cialButjustice. why isn’t the government talking about racial justice when the racialised it comes to its plans to reopen impact of schools?

COVID-19 deaths RISK Why is it that the concerns highdo not appear lighted by Professor Kevin Fenton and others about the racialto have been ised impact of COVID-19 deaths on BAME communities do not acted on? why the NASUWT has been calling on the government to act to support schools to reopen fully and safely at the start of the autumn term. That means putting in place not only additional resources but also the practical support that will really make the difference.

But returning to an education system built on a curriculum that fails to pay attention critically to the realities of Britain’s colonial past, and without a commitment to address the racial inequalities that continue to impact on the lives of black children and young people today – that would be not only a missed opportunity, it would be a further setback to our continu-

appear to have been acted upon by government in relation to its plans for schools?

And why is it that black workers returning to the workplace, including in our schools, are having to put themselves on the line, risking their employment and job security by asking for an appropriate risk assessment to be undertaken and for their health and safety to be taken seriously?

Teachers and support staff in schools are already on the front line and will increasingly be as schools return this autumn.

But black and Asian families will also be concerned about their children’s safety and the safety of their households when children return to school.

Despite very real issues and

CONCERNS: Families may be worried about the return to school; inset left, BLM protests concerns, why has the government not said more and done more to address directly these concerns?

And whilst we await clear leadership for racial justice from

safe about plans for the reopening of schools? And no wonder that more than one in three black teachers say they have experienced discrimination at work in the past 12 months.

We have to ensure that the response does not roll back any progress on racial equality the government, we have to ensure that the government’s response to the pandemic does not roll back any progress we have made on racial equality.

What we have seen from young people themselves is the enactment of the words of civil rights leader John Lewis, who said we “have a moral obligation to say something” and do something whenever we see injustice.

For the NASUWT, that means continuing to speak out about the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 deaths of frontline black workers.

It also means demanding that employers and government recognise and take seriously the concerns of black teachers about their health and safety.

Is it little wonder that black teachers are 50 per cent more likely than their white colleagues to say they do not feel

Calling out racism means calling for concerted and determined action to end the injustice of systemic and institutional racism which continues to stigmatise, exclude and oppress black children, young people and communities.

Whether that means tackling the disproportionate use of stop and search, or the disproportionate use of school exclusion of black boys, or calling time once and for all on the “underachievement” of black pupils in our schools.

And we must also call out the overt racism which still means that black pupils and black teachers experience racist abuse and schools and colleges pay lipservice to tackling the problem.

Racism that, even now, means that black and Asian children and teachers are being attacked, scapegoated and blamed for the

coronavirus. We also need transparency. Because parents have a right to know how their child’s school is planning to address the equality impact of its plans to reopen fully this autumn.

And parents and the public should also be told whether and how the government has considered racial equality as part of its planning and decision-making throughout the pandemic.

CHALLENGING

And that’s why the NASUWT is asking for this information to be made public.

We have been asking. We have been waiting. And we are still asking.

If this year has taught us anything, it is that we listen to the voices of young people; that we make it our priority to raise our voices to call for action on racial justice; and that we call out racism, challenging those who want a return to the way things have always been, as we proudly say that Black Lives Matter.

Dr Patrick Roach was appointed as the NASUWT – the Teachers’ Union deputy general secretary in June 2010. He was confirmed as the next general secretary in December 2019 and formally took up the post in April 2020.

MARCH 2020

THE VOICE| 7

8 | THE VOICE SEPTEMBER 2020

News

‘WE MUST LEARN FROM THE PAST TO MOVE FORWARD’ COMPENSATION: In 2015, thenGerman foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier instructed officials to refer to the atrocities that took place in Namibia as ‘war crime and a genocide’; bottom left, The Voice carried an opinion piece on the removal of the Edward Colston statue written by David Olusoga last month; below, an artist’s impression of the violence in 1904

While Black Lives Matters protests have seen the world stand up and fight our cause, we must also look to the crimes that have taken place over the last two centuries and try to right wrongs, says David Olusoga

T

HE SUMMER of 2020 will be remembered as the summer of Black Lives Matter, a moment of mass protests through which a new generation found their voice.

In the two months since the statue of the 17th Century slave trader Edward Colston was toppled from its pedestal in Bristol our attention, understandably, has been focused on the history of the slave trade and slavery and the struggle for reparations.

In Africa, 2020 may well be remembered for a different reason, as the year in which one nation came a step closer to forcing its former colonial masters to confront their terrible shared history and pay reparations. And that might have consequences for all of Africa and much of Europe.

One hundred and sixteen years ago the Herero people of what is now central Namibia rose up against the violence and abuse of German colonial rule. A year later they were joined in arms by the southern Namaqua people. The German military response was brutal.

Between 1904 and 1908 German forces attacked the Herero people and then drove those they could not kill in battle into the desert to die. Later the German army and civilian administrators established a network of concentration camps

Between 1904 and 1908 German forces attacked the Herero people in which the survivors were worked and starved to death.

The Nama people were sent to those same camps when their leaders believed German assurances of good treatment and surrendered.

Last month, after decades of being pressured, shamed and cajoled, and after years of legal wrangling, the German government finally offered reparations.

ATROCITIES

The money is intended compensation for the crime that Germany military forces and civilian administrators committed in Namibia in the first years of the 20th century; the crime of genocide.

For this catalogue of atrocities - for genocide, for exterminating thousands of people in concentration camps, for carrying out medical experiments on the bodies of the victims - the government of Germany has offered Namibia the derisory s u m of €10 million (£9.045m).

President Hage Geingob rejected Germany’s offer of reparations (a term the German government is keen not to use) stat-

ing that it “is not acceptable to the Namibian government” and needs to be “revised”.

Germany is unable to avoid the judgement of history thanks in part to documents drafted and signed by German officials over a century ago.

In the archives of Gabarrón the capital of Botswana is a crumpled piece of paper known as the Extermination Order. The copy that survives in Botswana was one of many that were attached to the necks of Herero women with twine, before they were driven into the Kalahari desert by volleys of German gunfire.

Those women were expected to either die or to reach Bechuanaland then British territory. Either way they would no longer be a concern for German Empire builders.

The Extermination Order is an almost unique document in history, an overt and written order for the extermination of an entire people.

In the archives in the Namibian capital Windhoek is another horrific document, the death registers for the concentration camps.

REGISTERS

These registers list the genders, ages and names of the concentration camp prisoners. There is also a column titled ‘cause of death’. The registers were printed in Germany but while the columns for gender, age and name were left blank the column listing the cause of the prisoners debts was pre-printed before the register is ever left Germany. That column was filled in with the words ‘death through exhaustion.’

The German authorities were well aware that the concentration camps were places of extermination. They knew how the prisoners were to die and

@thevoicenewspaper

so were able to pre-emptively assigning their cause of their deaths in the registers Although the final death toll is unknowable around 65,000 Herero out of a pre-war population of 80,000 were killed.

of wars, massacres, punitive raids and punishment expeditions the characterised what is euphemistically called the Scramble for Africa.

The German offer of reparations comes after decades

The history of the scramble for Africa is stirring.

In 2020, the lives of our ancestors matter as much of those of our communities Half the Namaqua people were killed, their population falling from 20,000 to 10,000. Along with the brutality that was unleashed in the private colony of the Belgian king Leopold II in the Congo, and the British suppression of the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya (which again resorted to the use of camps) the Herero Namaqua Genocide stands among the worst crimes committed during the decades

@thevoicenews

of political and legal pressure.

Into 2004 a German minister first used the word “genocide” to describe the mass extermination of the Herero and Namaqua people.

Then, in 2015, the then German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier instructed officials that what had taken place in Namibia during those years was to be referred to as “a war crime and a genocide”.

voicenews

In 2020, in the year of Black Lives Matter, the reparations negotiations between Germany and Namibia are being watched by other countries who are debating whether they too should launch similar legal battles to win reparations. And there is another precedent that many African countries are looking to. In 2013 the British government promised to pay out £19.9m in compensation to 5,200 Kenyans who had been tortured in British camps there.

STEPS

Earlier this year Hussein Mwinyi, a minister in the government of Tanzania, another country that was ruled by Germany reported earlier this year that he was observing “steps taken by Kenya and Namibia governments in seeking reparations from Britain and German governments respectively”.

The history of the scramble for Africa is stirring.

In 2020 the lives of our ancestors matter as much as those of our communities.

www.voice-online.co.uk

MARCH 2020

THE VOICE| 9

10 | THE VOICE

SEPTEMBER 2020

News feature

A CASE OF RACIAL PROFILING? Police inspector Charles Ehikioya was driving home from work when he claims that two white officers pulled him over for no reason – but was this is a case of officers doing their job, or targeting another black man, asks Lawrence Davies

D

AWN BUTLER MP and the athlete Bianca Williams have complained of racial profiling by the Metropolitan Police recently.

However, racial profiling became centre-stage last month when two white police officers were cleared of racial profiling, having stopped the car of a black police inspector, Charles Ehikioya, on his way home from work.

On the evening of Saturday, May 23, 2020 Ehikioya was driving home from work in his red Toyota IQ3 car. He used to use public transport but had been avoiding it further to the coronavirus pandemic.

DIRECTION

On his way home from work, when travelling though Croydon, he was followed for about two miles and through over 10 changes in direction by two (white) police officers. They stopped him on Addiscombe Road opposite Shirley Park Golf club, Shirley.

Ehikioya noticed that Officer A had not switched on his Body Worn Video (BWV).

Ehikioya decided to record the conversation with the officer, as there had been no reason to stop him, and the BWV had not been activated to protect him.

Officer A said that Ehikioya had flown through a junction and to the two officers it appeared that Ehikioya had gone through a red light.

He said that Ehikioya had been driving “quite” fast through the back roads and that looked “unusual”. He said that they were entitled to stop Ehikioya under the Road Traffic Act (RTA) for any reason.

He asked Ehikioya to get out of the car.

Officer A said that he wished to check Ehikioya’ insurance and driving licence.

Under

Officer A said that Charles had been stopped because his driving was ‘unusual’, and said he was ‘curious’ to know why that is the RTA there is no power to ask a driver to get out of their car without reason and Ehikioya refused.

Ehikioya disputed that the officers had a genuine reason for stopping him. He had not been speeding and had not driven through a red light.

Officer A said that Ehikioya had been stopped because his driving was “unusual”, and said he was “curious” to know why that is. He asked Ehikioya if he had been on the phone when driving.

Ehikioya asked if the officer had seen him using the phone (the officer had not) and the officer said the phone was on his lap. Ehikioya said that the phone was there because he was recording their conversation.

Officer A then switched on his BWV.

The officer informed Ehikioya that the police car was a road traffic car with a Cleartone camera in it that records “everything”.

The officer said it had recorded Charles driving at speed through the junction and thereafter, and that it looked like Charles had gone through a red light.

DIFFICULT

The officer then admitted he had not seen Charles drive through a red light but claimed the other officer had seen it.

The officer accused Charles of being “really difficult”.

The officer said that he also wanted to check that Ehikioya was not drunk and that he was insured to drive the car, and again asked him to get out of the car.

Ehikioya said that there was no power under the RTA to compel him to get out of his car.

The officer then asked Ehikioya for his licence. Ehikioya said that he did not have it on him.

The officer then said that they were getting to a point at which he may have to get Ehikioya out of the car.

Ehikioya asked him how, if

ALLEGED VICTIM: Charles Ehikioya claims he was unlawfully pulled over by police; below left, Brent MP Dawn Butler says she was a victim of stop and search last month Ehikioya got out the car. At the roadside, Officer B said he wanted to see Ehikioya’ licence and insurance to see that the car was not stolen.

Ehikioya then identified himself as a serving police officer.

The officer whispered under his breath they would remove him from the car, but said, ‘Let’s not let it come to that’ the officer intended to force him. The officer whispered under his breath they would remove him from the car, but said in a normal voice, “Let’s not let it come to that”.

The officer again accused Ehikioya of being “extremely difficult”. Officer B approached and Officer A said that Ehikioya was refusing to get out of the car, did not wish to show the officer his licence (which was untrue), and did not accept the grounds for the stop.

Ehikioya is an Inspector in the Metropolitan Police. Officer B said that he could not say if Ehikioya had gone through a red light. He said that it may have been red but he could not prove it.

He claimed Ehikioya was driving at speed. Ehikioya showed the officers his police badge. They then walked off.

Ehikioya believes that he was followed for two miles and without any valid reason, and that the officers gave different and false reasons for stopping him, and harassed him.

“I believe I was racially profiled and received no apology,” Ehikioya stated. “I spoke up about the incident because I would not like other black people to be treated like this.”

He added that he believes the “Metropolitan Police respect diversity but a few individuals within it do not, and, as in my case, they sometimes abuse their power by racially harassing black drivers. It is unacceptable”.

SUSPICIOUS

The officers later claimed that Ehikioya was suspected of drink driving from the outset and of using a “suspicious route” to return to his home.

The officers also claimed that they had not realised that the driver was black before they stopped him.

However, they admit that they knew the driver was a “male” who may have been “drink-driving”. Ehikioya does not believe that was true.

The investigation was carried out by Croydon Professional Standards Unit.

The Metropolitan Police deny

that but have confirmed that further to an investigation no misconduct was found to be committed by the white officer.

They also stated that it was very unfair to accuse the two white officers of having acted in a racist way.

The police made that decision without viewing the recording from the Cleartone road traffic police car. They said that the police car was not a Cleartone car and had not recorded the incident (as Officer A had claimed).

They offered no apology to Ehikioya. As the police did not refer the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, Ehikioya has done so.

Was this racial profiling, or just police officers doing their job?

Lawrence Davies LLM is the CEO at Equal Justice Solicitors, UK Discrimination Law firm of the Year (2016). The firm has pioneered “affordable representation” to better enable its clients to afford the fight for justice.

SEPTEMBER 2020 THE VOICE | 11

News feature

‘WE MUST NOT LEAVE OUR OLDER GENERATION BEHIND’ INSPIRING: Chief May says she wants older people to take control over how they use the internet

May Agbakoba has won praise for her youth, health and community work in London. But the high achieving Chief May, as she affectionately known, has now set her sights on introducing senior citizens to the world of digital technology

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HERE’S NO doubt that digital technology has transformed the way we live over the last two decades.

The way in which we watch television, do our shopping, work and even maintain our health has radically changed, thanks to the internet.

And internet communication systems such as email and social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter have revolutionised the way we communicate with each other.

Providing more parts of the UK with better broadband services is a high priority for government ministers.

But concern is growing about the group of people who are being left out of the digital revolution.

Research has highlighted the fact that large numbers of older people in the UK feel excluded by technology.

According to recently published statistics, adults over the age of 60 are less likely than younger adults to have internet access at home.

It’s an issue that was highlighted by the 2008 Digital Britain report, which focused on the issue and spurred government ministers to devote significant funding to digital participation initiatives aimed at people over 65.

However, despite these initiatives, there has been little attempt to link the use of technology

Most of the people I work with are worried about change and worried about their health with benefits such as a reduction in social isolation and better health outcomes.

It’s a situation that entrepreneur and community activist May Agbakoba was determined to change.

Since coming to the UK from Nigeria in the early 1970s, Agbakoba, from Greenwich, south east London, has worked in a diverse range of fields that include teaching, youth work, specialist nursing and community work.

But in 2013, inspired by her own use of digital technology to research the many initiatives she is involved in, she decided to set up a company called Osibel which works with local authorities to engage people who may be digitally excluded either through a lack of awareness or resources.

Through the work she did in other areas, Agbakoba could see there were many older people and people living with disabilities in her local community who would benefit from using the internet and t e c hn o lo g y to help them research information about the health conditions they faced.

“We’re moving into

a digital age and very soon people who are not digitally included may be losing out,” she says. “I organise IT classes, I also go to schools and I give people skills to educate them.

“The people I work with – black people in the community, people living with disabilities and elderly people – most of them are worried about change and also worried about their health.

“So I will do home visits. I take along an iPad and a laptop and I use creativity to engage them in what I am trying to do.

“I’ll say things like, ‘Can you press this? Can you do this?’

“Often, by the time my visit is over, they’ll be very happy and will be able to search for information online at a basic level.”

MANAGE

The entrepreneur continues: “What I do is really about encouraging them to take ownership of their health. For example, some people I visit don’t always manage their medications properly.

“They’re supposed to take them in the morning, the afternoon and at night, but they drink all the medicine at the same time. I’ll point them to the right sources of information online and teach them how to use the internet so they can use their medications properly.

“It’s about giving people the skills, educating them with IT classes and enabling them, not excluding them.”

Agbakoba has won plaudits for her work with Osibel.

But caring for people who have been socially excluded is a theme that runs through her life.

While growing up in Nigeria, she was inspired by family members to get involved with caring for people with disabilities and orphaned children, groups who often received no support in the country.

“Helping others became a very important theme in my life because of my great grandmother,” she says.

“Once when she saw a disabled man in the street, she brought him to our house and made sure that each one of us took part in looking after him.

From there sprung my passion to help people who have problems.”

It was this passion to help others that led to her becoming a chief in Nigeria, an honour usually bestowed on men.

Her full official title Chief (Mrs) Ezenwanyi May Agbakoba – Ezenwanyi means Queen in the language of the Igbo tribe which she is a member of.

ORPHANED

Speaking about how her chieftancy came about, she recalls: “I was doing a lot of work with orphaned children in Nigeria with my dad.

“He opened a charity called Onitsha Ado Rising Stars which worked with hospitals to support children who had lost their parents to get through their education. As well as supporting the children, I contributed money to the charity.

“My father decided that because I had helped a lot in the community he would confer a chieftancy on me.

“In Onitsha, in particular,

the area of Nigeria where my family is from, when a woman is made a chief it’s a very prestigious thing. So it was a great honour to receive this title.”

Her title is something she is often asked about by colleagues and people who meet her for the first time – and she never misses an opportunity to talk about and share her Nigerian culture.

One of those occasions came when she attended a boxing match in which her nephew was competing.

“I love to dress up in my chieftancy attire and make an impact” says Chief May, as she is affectionately known.

“When I breezed into the arena where the match was being held, everybody asked ‘who is this lady?’ I’m always happy when I walk into settings like this that are new for me because I feel as though I’ve been empowered to do what I’m doing. I’m not shy, I’m always ready to move in!”

The mother-of-six continues: “When my nephew won the match I went straight to the ring to congratulate him, but people were clapping for me.

“They didn’t know who I was but they admired my chieftaincy dress. And my nephew was so proud because he’d never seen anybody welcome him in the ring like that.”

In 2012, during the London

Olympics, she hosted the Nigerian Paralympic team at her home in Greenwich, with her neighbours looking on in fascination.

OLYMPICS

“During the London Olympics the same thing happened because I made an impact. I was allowed to go into places where people weren’t supposed to go in. That’s how I ended up inviting all the Nigerian Paralympians to my house, and then hosted a big party.”

And Chief May has no plans to slow down any time soon.

She has qualified and worked in a diverse range of fields that includes teaching, (she founded a supplementary school in 1993), youth and social work, peace and mediation, conflict resolution, health promotion, nursing, life coaching, inclusion, diversity, equality and rights in the community.

Her research into the use of digital technologies to improve health and wellbeing has taken her across Europe, Africa, UAE, USA and Asia.

“If I slow down then I’m not living,” she adds.

“People often ask me why am I always travelling to this place or that place?

“I respond: ‘why shouldn’t I go? I like to explore. The world is beautiful and it is my oyster’.”

12 | THE VOICE SEPTEMBER 2020

Dotun Adebayo

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WHAT TAKING THE KNEE MEANS TO ME The symbolic move felt too much like oppression – but I toughed it out anyway

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HAT DOES taking the knee mean to me, my wife, Carroll Thompson, and our two daughters now we’ve all had time to consider our position on this ‘new’ symbol of resistance to hundreds of years of sustained discrimination and oppression of ourselves, our families and black people the world over?

You, I am sure, are as conflicted as I am about the imagery of our subjugation that “taking the knee” confers.

It’s an uncomfortable motif, and an impossible position that we, as a family, found ourselves in nine weeks ago, on June 10, when we deliberated whether it was nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles and, by opposing, end them.

In other words, should we carry on carrying on and taking the blows and the putdowns and the lynchings in broad daylight, in the eternal hope that “we shall overcome” some day? Or should we get up and stand up and unleash a fight for our rights, the likes of

For my daughters, they don’t see it as a weakness which humanity has never seen before?

No doubt you have been deliberating the same thing with your friends and family.

For my daughters Temi and L, this is the struggle of their generation. They’re not conflicted by the imagery. They don’t see it as a weakness.

OBLIGATION

When my mother-in-law, the amazing Daphne Fyfe, declared that she intended to “take the knee” on that evening of the 10th, Temi and L didn’t even hesitate. They would be there with their grandmother, on their knees, at the front boundary of our house.

Mrs Fyfe’s motivation was her discomfort at having gone to a Black Lives Matter rally in our ends, where she was the only black person in attendance. It didn’t sit well with her.

For her, taking the knee is an obligation. For her, it is ensuring that when the story of our fight for equal rights and justice is told, the victory (of which we are certain) would not be snatched from us by well-meaning white folks because we were absent at the last hurrah, the last white Christmas of our discontent, the last white supper.

Just like the ending of slavery which has become a Wilberfarce in which the credit has been given to

some bloke in parliament rather than the heroic enslaved people like granny Nanny of the Maroons who stood up and fought for hundreds of years to make enslavement more trouble than it was worth.

We’ve been robbed of that magnificent struggle of our people because we simply weren’t allowed in the room where it happens when abolition was passed.

In “taking the knee”, Mrs Fyfe intended to break the door down and let us all in.

Moments later, my wife came down the stairs.

“Carroll, your mum and the girls are going to take the knee this evening,” I said.

Without hesitation, she replied: “We should all do it together, as a family.”

You see, for Carroll, who you all know as the Queen of Lovers Rock, “taking the knee” is a family affair.

Not just for our nuclear family, but for our extended family which includes you and all the other positive people out there who know what love is.

She didn’t have to say it, because I could see it in her eyes.

Love is not open for debate in our house. There is no room for my philosophical musings in our house that we fill with love every minute of the day.

CONFLICTED

That same love that we take with us to shower on the world when we step out of our front door.

I was still not sure, though.

It’s so submissive. That’s not what we are as a people.

With all due respect to the incredible and selfless Colin Kaepernick who had to endure the opprobrium of a nation and its president when he went down on one knee in full view of America’s television cam-

PROTEST: Quarterback Colin Kaepernick takes the knee at a San Francisco 49ers game; below left, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raise their fists on the podium at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics

eras during The Star Spangled Banner at a San Francisco 49ers game where he was the team’s quarterback.

Look at the expression on his teammates’ faces. They are as confused and conflicted when he goes down.

As many of Tommie Smith and John Carlos’s fellow athletes were when they raised their black gloved fists in the air on the winner’s podium in the 1968 Mexico Olympics as the American flag was raised above their heads and The Star Spangled Banner was played.

Why didn’t Kaepernick just raise his fist? I would have been okay with that. Instead, to support him, I have to feel like a house negro, rather than the field negro, which is what I am.

Like I say, I could see it in her eyes, she wasn’t ramping.

She had no time to entertain an existentialist critique that I may or may not have garnered from reading Aristotle or Rene Descartes or Jean-Paul Sartre in order to get my degree.

We have since spent several nights, in bed together, listening to the excellent audio recording of Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet, with particular reference to that crucial question in the play, “To take the knee or not to take the knee, that is the question” or, as Shakespeare put it succinctly “To be or not to be...”

STEELY

Black Lives Matter. Black love matters, too. I took the knee when I asked my wife to marry me in full view of hundreds of our friends.

So it should have been easy for our family to take the knee in full view of a handful of neighbours. Nevertheless, it was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

Mrs Fyfe took the knee, keeping her head down with pride.

Beside her, her grand-daughters took the knee with the steely determination that me and their mother have instilled in them, determined to ensure that this was the first and the last time

they would ever take the knee.

And, on our knees, my wife held my hand because she knew how tough it was for me.

In the full eight minutes, to reflect the lynching of George Floyd in that length of time, a myriad of things went through my mind.

The Sharpeville massacre.

The Soweto uprisings. The murder of Stephen Lawrence.

The racist teachers at school.

The racists in the workplace.

The hundreds of years of brave black men and women who never, never once took the knee – on pain of death. Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Garvey, Martin Luther King, Paul Stephenson who led the bus boycott in Bristol, Marvin Gaye...

And the words of my father, “Never give up the fight...”

After eight minutes, I lifted my head up to see the Greek woman who lives across the road taking the knee in solidarity. I broke down in tears.

It’s been emotional.

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 FROM 1-5AM SATURDAY MORNINGS - MONDAY MORNINGS & 1AM - 4AM ON BBC RADIO LONDON (WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY MORNINGS). FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER: @dotunadebayo

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14 | THE VOICE

SEPTEMBER 2020

Guest column

REPORT SAYS RACISM STILL BLIGHTS TEENAGERS’ LIVES

TOUGH TIMES: Evidence suggests that racism within schools is still a huge issue and is a subject that needs to be addressed

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If anyone believed racism within British society is no longer a serious problem, the Black Lives Matter campaign has proved beyond doubt that it is, says Sarah Page

HOUSANDS OF people took part in Black Lives Matter protests in the UK in recent months, not just in solidarity with black people in the US following the murder of George Floyd, but also standing against racism in the UK. However, some people in the UK may assume that racism is not as big an issue in Britain as it is in the US. My latest research suggests otherwise.

With a team of research assistants, we investigated teenagers’ personal experiences of victimisation and the effects this had on their health and wellbeing.

The young people we worked with – who were all from the Midlands region of England – encountered racism and discrimination at school, on social

media, and in their wider community. Our research findings show that racism sadly remains an issue for young people in British society.

School experiences The teenagers reported experiencing racism from both peers and teachers at school. For example, Muslim girls told us about their headscarves being pulled off by fellow pupils, and a teenager told us that he was kicked frequently when playing football at school and that he was a target for racial abuse.

They told us about the effects this had on their wellbeing. A pupil described her hair falling out because of the anxiety experienced from being a victim of racial abuse.

The young people said that schools did not adequately address racist bullying.

They felt that some teachers favoured white students and did not fairly distribute punishment when racist incidents occurred. Some pupils moved school as a result of unresolved racial abuse.

Most teachers in the UK are white and the failings

reported by the teenagers we heard from may stem from their teachers being inadequately trained on issues of racism and unaware of their white bias.

Teachers from ethnic minority groups are unrepresented in our education system, especially in leadership positions.

The lack of diversity in the teaching workforce – as well as failures in the curriculum – have been suggested as contributing factors to the underachievement of black Caribbean pupils in schools. Young people in our study felt that schools did not teach about racism and associated issues enough.

The wider community The teenagers in our study reported that they had experienced racism in their wider community.

They told us that friends with ‘foreign-sounding’ surnames had struggled to gain part-time employment until they changed their surnames on application forms and got straight through to interview.

Other research has shown that minority ethnic people in the UK have to complete significantly more job applications than their white counterparts in order to

get a job. Based on these findings, it is not a surprise that a black person is more likely to be unemployed than a white person.

Young people in our study also talked about experiencing racism which ranged from verbal abuse to being chased and also physically attacked.

to be stopped and searched than white people is evidence that racial bias continues in the police.

Social media Young people in our research described seeing racism and discrimination in social media posts. For example, one college student talked about read-

There was discrimination at school, on social media and within the wider community Alarmingly, they mentioned weapons being carried and used in such confrontations. They also talked about noticing racist graffiti, including Nazi symbols, on community buildings.

The teenagers in our study did not feel the police did enough to combat racism. Our research was conducted 20 years after the inquiry report into the police response to the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence.

The report determined police practice in this case as institutionally racist and recommended measures to improve police practice.

Nevertheless, the fact that Black people are far more likely

ing negative comments on a community Facebook page about ‘eastern Europeans’ being ‘thieves’.

Another talked about noticing racist posts from their relatives on Facebook. They felt that media platforms needed to do better at addressing racism, rather than making it worse.

The extent to which racism is perpetrated on social media is a concern.

During the coronavirus pandemic, increasing numbers of people have relied on social media to connect and keep in touch with others.

It has been suggested by community members in Leicester

that racist comments on social media have increased following the local lockdown imposed on the city. The rise in coronavirus cases in the city has been inappropriately blamed by some on the city’s ethnic minority population.

The young people in our study gave some suggestions for addressing racism, including the use of social media to educate on racism and better school education. Better education is vital. The UK school curriculum doesn’t acknowledge the full impact of colonisation.

This has been criticised by anti-racism campaigners. The campaign The Black Curriculum for instance, calls for Black history to be included in the curriculum. The accounts of the young people in our study suggest that significant change is still needed in the UK to address race inequality and racism.

Sarah Page is senior lecturer in Sociology and Criminology, Staffordshire University. This article originally appeared in The Conversation. Visit the blackcurriculum.com to find out more.

SEPTEMBER 2020 THE VOICE | 15

News

IT’S TIME FOR US TO GLOW

Psychology graduate Rutendo Mhonda is determined to raise awareness of mental health issues in the black community

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PSYCHOLOGY AND counselling graduate has launched a new social media campaign aimed at promoting greater awareness of mental health issues specific to the black community.

Rutendo Mhonda, who recently graduated with a first class honours degree from Abertay University in Dundee, has launched So We Glow in a bid to open up and normalise conversations surrounding black mental health.

So We Glow provides information on a variety of subjects, such as dealing with conversations about race, and coping with the impact of negative perceptions and racism.

The 23-year-old said: “As an aspiring psychologist and a black woman, I had certain mental health-related questions

that I could not find the answer to online. I came to realise that there was something of an information gap, particularly in the UK, and there were likely to be other people out there looking for information that was very hard to find.

ENGAGEMENT

“I wanted to create a resource that would answer these questions, allowing for open and safe conversations about mental health in the black community.”

She added: “Engagement with mental health services in the black community isn’t always as good as it could be, and sometimes the services provided aren’t equipped to address concerns a black person may have.

“So We Glow is a place where people can share experiences in

a constructive way – they can talk about their experiences, what they would find helpful, and also get signposted to resources that they might find helpful.”

Rutendo is hoping So We Glow can help raise awareness.

lem they are dealing with has a specific name and is a recognised issue, and that can make it difficult to seek support and further information.

“The purpose of So We Glow is not to be a diagnostic tool or to provide therapy, but I want to provide information that isn’t easy to find and directions to the kind of support an individual may want or need.

I came to realise there was something DIALOGUE also want them to realise that of a gap in the “Ithey’re not alone.

“When people realise they’re information not alone, they feel more com“I really want to shine a light on mental health issues that black people face, and help them gain greater visibility in the public sphere.

“There are black people who won’t even know that the prob-

fortable talking and it’s through that dialogue that awareness will grow, and that can push forward change.”

For more information, please visit instagram.com/so.we.glow/

SUPPORT: Rutendo Mhonda has launched an online initiative to help those who are struggling with their mental health

16 | THE VOICE SEPTEMBER 2020

Education

MEET BRITAIN’S BEST BLACK STUDENTS Here, we profile the 10 young people shortlisted in the Rare Rising Star Awards, showcasing the incredible determination shown by individuals who truly care about changing their sectors 10. Horcelie Sinda Wa Mbongo Contemporary Art | Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Charity and Social Activism Horcelie is an activist, campaigner and artist.

She moved to the UK with her parents aged nine after being raised in Kinshasa for the early part of her life.

The move was difficult for Horcelie as she only spoke French and her native tongue upon arrival in the UK. A year later, her parents’ separation meant Horcelie had to move to a new primary school, an experience which further affected her ability to settle in. At the age of 11, Horcelie and her mother discovered that she was HIV positive from birth.

Horcelie had developed a passion for art at a young age, and remembers being commended for her work in primary school as the moment which fuelled her interest in the subject.

Her interest developed further in Sixth Form when her art teacher was able to see potential in her work and encouraged Horcelie to apply to Central Saint Martins, a college no one in her class aspired to.

After completing the foundation year, she then went on to Chelsea College of Arts to study her BA in Fine Art. However, during the second year of her degree, she found herself questioning her work and the opportunities available for her within the industry. That summer, she decided to volunteer with the International Citizenship Service in South Africa, which she viewed as a lifechanging experience. Over a

period of three months, she worked in schools with other volunteers, facilitating discussions around HIV/AIDS and sexual reproductive health. Returning, Horcelie was inspired to carry on her community work in the UK. Currently, she is fundraising £,5000 to support the running of a three-week campaign in Ghana, followed by a two-month campaign in Congo.

Horcelie is planning all this whilst completing her Master’s degree, which is partly funded through a £16,000 grant from the Sotheby’s Institute of Art due to her impressive performance at interview.

9. Tanatsei Gambura Intermedia Arts | University of Edinburgh | Art and Youth Activism Tanatsei grew up in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, as the eldest of five siblings.

As a result of the financial challenges she faced growing up, Tanatsei’s education through her early years was sponsored by the Zimbabwean government through a series of grants afforded to her parents.

When Tanatsei turned 14, despite the government funding, school became unaffordable and Tanatsei was forced to spend a year out of education. This was a pivotal moment for Tanatsei, as she realised that she couldn’t continue to be dependent on others for the rest of her life.

When she returned to school aged 15, Tanatsei became heavily involved in theatre and the arts, to the extent that her work was selected by the British Council for a photography and po-

etry residency called These Images are Stories, which ran in London for eight months.

When she was 17, Tanatsei was nominated to receive a generous scholarship to study at the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, where she completed their two-year programme.

Before moving to South Africa, Tanatsei founded the 25 May Movement, a collective of artists, community organisers, social workers and cultural producers collaborating to lead social change in Africa.

Tanatsei was selected as one of eight high-achieving Mastercard Foundation scholarship recipients from Zimbabwe, which enables her to read Intermedia Art at the University of Edinburgh.

There, she has co-founded a project called Ourchives which is an interdisciplinary decolonial project based in Edinburgh that attempts to draw light on urgent debates on the provenance and afterlife of cultural objects from formerly colonised spaces in Scotland and beyond.

8. Leanne Armitage Medicine | St George’s University | Charity and University Access Leanne grew up in a singleparent home on a council estate in Peckham with her mother and four siblings.

She developed an interest in medicine from a young age, intrigued by the frequent

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sound of the sirens of emergency services in her neighbourhood.

Aged 15, Leanne unfortunately witnessed the aftermath of a stabbing in an estate near where she lived.

It was in that moment that Leanne was moved to make a difference, setting herself the aspiration of becoming a trauma surgeon.

Despite not being in the greatest academic environment, she was still able to successfully attain 10 A*s in her GCSEs. Leanne also applied for and was subsequently awarded the A Better Chance bursary from Mill Hill School, where she boarded for sixth form.

After completing her A-levels and achieving three As, Leanne secured three medical offers during her gap year and decided to study at St George’s University of London.

After her second year of medical school, Leanne became very frustrated by the lack of diversity in the student body across UK medical schools.

To make a change, in 2017, she founded Leanne’s Amazing Medics, an outreach programme designed to inspire the self-confidence of students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

In that period, Leanne also took the step to formalise the work she was doing and decided to co-found a charity, The Armitage Foundation, with Daniel Huf. The Armitage Foundation offers a outreach programme to students from under-represented backgrounds with the aim of increasing diversity across UK medical schools.

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7. Onyinye Udokporo Education | King’s College London | Education and Business Onyinye grew up in a one bedroom flat with her three younger siblings and her parents. Her mother stayed at home to look after the four children whilst her father worked as a meter reader.

As much as the family’s funds were low, her mother somehow managed to pay for Onyinye’s extra tuition, since she was determined to ensure her daughter would get into a high-performing secondary school. Onyinye recalls how her mother would often find the brightest teenagers whose hair she would braid and ask them to tutor Onyinye.

After performing exceptionally well in an 11+ exam, Onyinye won a scholarship from the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers. This award enabled her to board at Christ’s Hospital independent school, where she thrived academically and embedded herself in the school community.

Onyinye went on to attend King’s College London, where she read Religion, Politics and Society and was awarded the first ever Student of the Year award for her contributions to the student body.

At the age of 12, Onyinye came up with a smart way to fill her long school summer holidays that would also provide a source of income – a tutoring business. Onyinye started with a few students in English, Maths and the 11+, earning money during the weekends and summer holidays. However, it was when she got to university – and was hit with the financial strain of living in London – that she decided to expand

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the company. But she grew her business into something bigger – an online tutoring platform. Upon her return, Onyinye rebranded as Enrich Learning, created her own website, began marketing via LinkedIn, and hired nine tutors to help run her platform.

She ran the platform throughout her third year and continued to provide face to face tuition every Saturday.

6. Roy Sefa-Attakora Public Policy | Oxford University | Youth Activism Roy was born in Lambeth and raised in Lewisham with his three siblings, in a single parent household.

Growing up in Lewisham, he experienced many of his friends losing their lives and going in and out of prison.

Seeing people that he grew up with end up on the wrong side of the criminal justice system motivated Roy to want to make a change in society.

Alongside his A-levels, Roy started working for Safer London in 2013 to bridge the gap between the Metropolitan Police and his local community.

As a result of this work, Roy was invited in-house to work more strategically with Safer London, holding regular meetings with Prince Charles on how they could improve the relationship between communities and the police.

Following this, Roy was asked to co-chair the Youth Justice Convention in 2015 where he worked with MPs within the Ministry of Jus-

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SEPTEMBER 2020 THE VOICE | 17

Education tice, judges and charities discussing how to improve criminal justice policy for better outcome.

Roy then joined the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales, reporting to the Chairman of the board and the then Secretary of State for Justice, David Gauke and after him, Robert Buckland QC. Roy led a panel to provide ideas and solutions on youth crime prevention that helped to shape both the Youth Justice Board and future government policy. Since then, Roy has also been a part of steering group meetings with both the former Prime Minister Theresa May and the current Prime Minster Boris Johnson, advising on efficient and effective ways to reduce serious violence and re-offending rates in the UK. Alongside all this, Roy was able to graduate with a 1st Class degree from the University of Loughborough.

Last year, he was awarded the 2019 Duke of Cambridge Scholarship given to one student per year and is now undertaking his Master’s in Public Policy at the University of Oxford.

5. Ruth Nyakerario African Studies | Oxford University | Charity and Social Entrepreneurship

Ruth grew up in the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, in a town called Embakasi, with her parents and three siblings.

During that period, her father was unable to find stable work.

As her mother was a primary school teacher, the value of education was never lost upon Ruth. Her mother would borrow books from her students to bring to Ruth to read overnight so her mother could return it the next morning.

This experience developed Ruth’s interest in education and allowed her to perform well in her primary school exams, which in turn enabled her to attend a statefunded boarding school for secondary school.

After high school, Ruth was one of two students to receive a scholarship to attend one of the oldest private universities in Kenya, the United States International University.

At university, Ruth studied International Relations, which opened her eyes to a lot of the issues caused by socio-economic divide that affect people across the African continent.

After reconnecting with some friends from high school, Ruth and her friend, Viney Gisore, decided to cofound their foundation, Out of the Streets.

Out of the Streets is committed to ensuring that homeless children in Kenya get an education, food, empowerment, clothing, and, if possible, can be re-united with their families.

After university, she worked as a research assistant which offered her great mentorship within academia. Following that, she applied for and was successful in receiving a Rhodes scholarship, which is funding her education at Oxford.

In her first year, Ruth read Refugee and Forced Migration Studies and is now undertaking a further Master’s in African Studies.

4. Vanessa Madu Mathematics | Imperial College London | Academics and University Access Vanessa was born in Ilford, East London. As the eldest of four, she believes she was naturally very motivated and driven to do well in her academics.

Vanessa realised she had a knack for Maths aged 13 at a funfair in Ilford when she guessed the number of marbles in a jar (432) after doing a rough calculation of the volume of the jar.

During her GCSEs, her mother suffered with a serious illness which left her hospitalised for periods while Vanessa was preparing for her exams. Despite this, Vanessa was still able to achieve 10 A*s and an A in her GCSEs, the best grades in her year and the best grades her school had seen for a while. Vanessa had hoped to move to a better sixth form for her A-levels but decided not to do so due to personal circumstances at home.

Knowing she wanted to pursue STEM subjects later

on in life, Vanessa asked her school to allow her to take four A Level subjects so she would be able to study Further Maths.

Whilst they agreed, the school was only able to provide her with one external Further Maths lesson per fortnight in Year 12. This meant Vanessa had to teach herself most of the AS modules and all of A2 in Year 13.

Vanessa is now studying Maths at Imperial College London, where she is the only female student of black heritage in her year group.

3. Cianne Jones Human Rights Law | University College London | Social Entrepreneurship Growing up as a working-class girl from a single parent household in East London, Cianne has overcome a number of barriers to get to where she is now.

For her, it was the cherished relationship with her grandmother, who pressed upon her the importance of getting an education, that helped to set her on the right path.

Her mother and brother introduced her to volunteering at a very young age.

Cianne’s volunteer work started through her mother, who was the director of a domestic violence charity in Newham where Cianne gave her time throughout school and university.

She went on to read Law at Brunel University between 2004 and 2007, where she wrote a first-class dissertation on domestic violence and provocation.

In 2011, Cianne applied to the Vodafone World of Difference Programme and was picked as one of 500 UK winners.

Following her work with women’s charities, Cianne was able to secure a training contract with TV Edwards as a Family Law trainee, qualifying as a family solicitor in 2013. But in 2014, Cianne became a Team Leader with Restless Development, a British Youth development organisation. Cianne is now juggling a full time LLM Law course at UCL, whilst working remotely two days per week and most weekends to support her charity.

2. Dr Toluwase Awoyemi Women and Reproductive Health | Oxford University | Charity, Health and Medicine

Toluwase grew up in a rural town in Oshun State near Lagos, Nigeria.

Although his parents prioritised education, Toluwase found he struggled with finding his footing.

Subsistence farming was a part in his life growing up, and Agricultural Science and Biology became Toluwase’s favourite subjects in school.

From secondary school onwards, a combination of inspirational individual teachers and a change in his own attitude, saw Toluwase’s performance in school improve significantly.

As a result, he gained admission into the University of Ibadan medical school, the best medical school in West Africa. Toluwase excelled at medical school, coming third out of 150 in his first professional exam, then first out of 150 in his second, third and fourth.

In total, Toluwase finished his medical school with 20 academic awards: only three other people in the university’s history accumulated so many.

During his studies, Toluwase volunteered for CHECK Medical Missions, a charity which then became an NGO during his time there.

After his undergraduate degree, whilst completing the mandatory National Youth Service Corps, Toluwase instituted and promoted the practice of holistic medicine, exercise and adequate nutrition to all patients seen at the Federal Medical Centre in Ido-Ekiti.

In 2017, Toluwase was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to begin his PhD in Women and Reproductive Health at the University of Oxford.

His PhD research aims to understand why some babies are born prematurely and why a significant number of women develop hypertension while pregnant.

1. Diana Wangari MBA | Said Business School, Oxford University | Healthcare and Business Diana was born in Nairobi, Kenya and lived with her mother, a public servant and her father, a military pilot. Unfortunately, Diana’s parents separated when she was 12, leading to Diana, her mother and sister moving in with her grandmother.

During that separation, Diana had to figure out how to help pay her school fees through doing odd jobs.

Eventually, despite still being a teenager, Diana was able to find a job at the local newspaper as an opinion writer.

Throughout her high school years, Diana wrote a weekly column for her local newspaper documenting her life as a student.

When Diana got a place at medical school, she transitioned her column into a medical student diary and moved over to The Standard Kenya, the second largest paper in Kenya at that time.

These experiences shaped Diana’s beginnings in journalism and sparked her interest in public health communication.

Whilst studying medicine, Diana realised that it was extremely difficult to work within the Kenyan healthcare system due to the enormous systemic issues it faced.

As a journalist, she came across the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium and after speaking to her editors and supervisors, they were able to create a journalist-in-residency programme for her which allowed her to go to Belgium and examine how to communicate public health challenges in the Global South more effectively. This period coincided with the Ebola outbreak of 2014.

As a result, Diana had the opportunity to work on the ground in Liberia and Sierra Lone. Alongside a team of people from the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Diana was able to develop a media communication tool for the Ebola outbreak that went on to be used by the World Federation of Science Journalists.

This tool was also used to train a majority of

science journalists in West Africa on how to adequately report on the outbreak. Diana eventually returned to Kenya to finish her medical degree.

After graduating from medical school, she spent three months with the Reuters Foundation in London before moving back to Kenya and working remotely to figure out her next steps.

It was then that Diana met her co-founder, an African American doctor and former toxicologist.

Together, they decided to form a for-profit social enterprise with the premise of removing the access barriers within healthcare for patients with chronic conditions.

In 2016, Diana and her co-founder created iSikCure, an app that allowed patients to remotely order medication rather than having to queue up in hospital for it.

The duo pitched their startup idea at a competition run by Boehringer Ingelheim and received $250,000 (£190,200) in seed funding.

With that investment, they were able to launch the platform in the capital of Kenya.

In 2018, iSikCure then became CheckUps Medical Centre and launched with eight small clinics in Kenya.

However, demand was so high that the start-up moved to consolidate the small clinics into three major clinics in Nairobi and opened eight smaller pick-up points around the country.

More fundraising efforts from Diana resulted in a $1 million grant from the Asia Africa fund which allowed the start-up to scale further in Kenya.

CheckUps Medical Centre has been recognised at the United Nations Development Programme Social Good Summit in Geneva, at VivaTech in Paris, and has won awards from Get in the Ring (2018) and GlaxoSmithKline (2018).

Diana served as CEO of the company and was nominated for the Top 40 Under 40 Women in Kenya, Management Today 35 Women Under 35 and the Forbes30 Under 30 in Africa 2019.

Diana is currently undertaking an MBA at Oxford University through the Skoll Scholarship for social entrepreneurs.

18 | THE VOICE SEPTEMBER 2020

News

PIONEERING LECTURER WINS AWARD

Judith Francois given prestigious National Teaching Fellowship for promoting the work of BAME nurses in the mental health sector

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NURSING EXPERT from Kingston University and St George’s University of London has been recognised with a prestigious National Teaching Fellowship after setting up a pioneering programme to help black and minority ethnic (BAME) mental health nurses develop the skills and confidence to access more senior roles.

Senior lecturer in clinical leadership and management in Kingston’s School of Nursing Judith Francois is one of 56 new National Teaching Fellows announced by higher education charity Advance HE, as part of an initiative celebrating individuals who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession in higher education.

Francois spearheads the bespoke five-day Harnessing BAME Mental Health Nurses’ Talent Programme, which was

shortlisted for a Royal College of Nursing Institute award last year. The programme offers nurses an opportunity to build leadership skills, as well as providing one-to-one coaching.

Course participants also have the opportunity to undertake work-based learning modules provided by the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education, run jointly by Kingston and St George’s.

ADDRESS

The programme, which is part-funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing and run in conjunction with South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust and South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, was set up to address the under-representation of BAME mental health nurses in senior roles.

Francois said: “As a black woman, I am very aware of the struggles people from BAME backgrounds face in gaining

I am aware of the struggles faced by BAME people to climb the ladder recognition and progressing higher up the ladder, so establishing this programme was an opportunity for me to try and make a difference.

“We work with people from across the profession, providing safe, supportive spaces where they can share their lived experiences and are encouraged to recognise and value their own diversity.”

Around 70 people have so far taken part in the programme, with a number of participants going on to secure promotions using skills they learned.

Francois said this success has led to ideas on how to de-

velop the course further. “I’m now working with South West London and St George’s Trust to see how we can improve the experiences of BAME patients in hospitals.

“We are also looking at how we can make the curriculum within St Georges even more inclusive and ensuring that inclusivity is embedded structurally, which is another focus going forward.”

INCLUSION

She has also been recognised by Advance HE for the work she is doing in her role as Associate Dean of Access and Participation at St George’s, where she aims to ensure accessibility and inclusion are at the forefront of curriculum development.

Francois said that being awarded a National Teaching Fellowship for her work will lead to further opportunities to grow the programme.

“I’m really excited, as it

EXCITED: Judith Francois wants to achieve even more means people have looked at what I’m doing and validated it as good practice,” she said.

“Being part of this creative community of people, who have been recognised for some amazing work, could prove to be really important as I will be able to share more about what I’ve been doing and it opens the door to more opportunities in the future.”

Dean of the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Educa-

tion, Professor Andy Kent, said Francois was richly deserving of the accolade.

“We are delighted Judith’s fantastic programme has seen her recognised nationally by Advance HE,” he said.

“The Harnessing BAME Mental Health Nurses’ Talent Programme helps open the door for nurses who may feel a senior role is out of reach, and it’s brilliant to see it having so much success.”

SEPTEMBER 2020 THE VOICE | 19

News

Concern over police stationed in schools Dedicated officers attached to secondaries may be doing more harm than good, report warns

By Vic Motune

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ONCERNS ABOUT the increase in police officers permanently stationed in English schools have been raised by a report into racism in secondary schools.

Under the Safer Schools Partnership initiative, thousands of schools across the country have dedicated police officers attached to them for the safety and security of pupils and staff and to enable early intervention and help forge good relationships between pupils and the police.

However a report by written by the University of Manchester’s Dr Remi Joseph-Salisbury has found that the increasing presence of school-based police officers will have a detrimental impact upon black and minority ethnic (BAME) pupils.

The report, Race and Racism in English Secondary Schools, comes at a time when Black Lives Matter protests have reignited conversations about racism and the role of the police in society.

Research for the report drew on interviews with teachers from across Greater Manchester, and explored the nature of race and racism in secondary schools. In recent years, the issue of increasing police presence in schools has gained renewed political attention.

Concerns around ‘knife crime’ have led MPs to call for more police in schools.

Last year, a Home Affairs Select Committee on Serious Youth Violence recommended an increased police presence in schools, with a dedicated police officer in “all schools in areas with an above-average risk of serious youth violence”.

Following this suggestion, the Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield published a Manifesto for Children, in which she made a demand for “neighbourhood police officers [to be] attached

I don’t think police have any place in school – it suggests the worst to every school”.

The manifesto said: “Security in schools and neighbourhoods has to be a priority for any government. The Children’s Commissioner wants to see neighbourhood police officers attached to every school.”

However while the debate around knife crime has created fertile ground for an increased police presence in schools, the report said the experience of teachers brings a different perspective on the issue.

Teachers quoted in the report explain how they try to ensure that school is a ‘safe space’ for all of their students, a place of sanctuary, but warn that the presence of police officers in secondary schools can undermine and disrupt the safeguarding ethos, particularly for BAME students from already over-policed areas. The punitive nature of policing, coupled with long-standing experiences of over-policing in BAME communities, means that police can be an intimidating and threatening presence for BAME students. Several teachers spoke of working in schools where BAME young people are ‘stopped and searched quite a lot … and not really on good grounds’.

One teacher said: “It’s just criminalising kids really. I don’t think the police have any place in the school, to be honest with you … it suggests the worst in the students.”

The report said: “Students from those communities are – quite rightly – already wary of police interaction. “ It added: “The proposals for police in schools are particu-

larly targeted at areas of ‘high deprivation’; these areas are more likely to be inhabited by BAME communities. As such, the stigma of police in schools is more likely to be felt by students from working-class and BAME backgrounds.”

The report also warns about the dangers of minor disciplinary issues among students quickly escalating into criminal issues, creating a ‘school-toprison’ pipeline through which students are funnelled directly from schools into prisons.

It also recommends that efforts are made to increase the number of teachers from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, and that ‘racial literacy’ should be considered a key competency for the teaching profession – that is to say, anti-racism should be placed at the heart of the way we think about teaching.

INITIATIVE: Police officers have been permanently stationed in many English schools but a report by a University of Manchester academic says this could have a negative impact on BAME students

FUTURE

The report’s author Dr Remi Joseph-Salisbury, pictured inset left, said: “We urgently need a national conversation about the future of our schools, and we must really question whether police officers stationed in schools should even be part of that future. School policies need to be reviewed in consultation with anti-racist organisations, in order to ensure that policies do not discriminate against black and minority Ethnic students. The report shows us how the transformation of education is key to tackling racism in society.”

Dr Zubaida Haque, interim director of The Runnymede Trust said: “Children deserve to be protected and not over-policed – schools are supposed to be safe places for children, where they are seen and heard, and above all, where they are protected and safeguarded.”

She added: “We should be thinking of more pastoral support and early protection for children struggling with behavioural and discipline issues, or truanting. What we should not be doing is treating children as criminals.”

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20 | THE VOICE SEPTEMBER 2020

Midlands News

by Veron Graham

‘PAULETTE WAS TRULY AN INSPIRATION TO US’ Windrush Action Group members share their tributes after loss of ‘ray of sunshine’ HONOUR: Elwaldo Romeo, centre, with the late Paulette Wilson, right, and fellow campaigners delivering a petition to No 10 Downing Street earlier this year; below, Rev Clive Foster of Nottingham’s Pilgrim Church

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WO FOUNDING members of an advocacy group set up to support those affected by the Windrush Scandal have paid tribute to a late pioneering member.

Words of commendation have been spoken about Paulette Wilson, 64, who was wrongly detained and threatened with deportation by the Home Office.

Plans are being developed to raise funds to erect a memorial to Paulette in Wolverhampton, where she died in July 50 years after arriving in the UK from Jamaica.

The tribute from the Windrush Action Group penned

by Elwaldo Romeo, one of the founding member of Group, read: “Like all of us who knew her we are deeply saddened by her sudden loss and our hearts go out to her family and especially her daughter Natalie who was a constant support by her

side. We had the sincere pleasure of asking Paulette to be an honorary member and help us get the victim voices heard in the positions of power and influence. Paulette was truly an inspiration to the group in taking us forward. It was simply a joy and happy experience to be in her presence and she was always a ray of sunshine to the group.

TOLL

“I was constantly inspired how Paulette was prepared to put herself on the frontline for justice just like she did shortly before her death, when we met up with other Windrush Scandal victims to hand in a petition organised by campaigner Patrick Vernon at 10 Downing St. “I recall how we hugged outside and shed a few tears of joy but I could detect that this journey was taking its toll on her.

Paulette was a source of strength and light during dark days. She was prepared to stand up for victims All victims of the Windrush scandal know the trauma, emotional and mental scars this has had on us.

“Having to live with the contempt and injustice that we have gone through does not leave us unaffected – it was in our comradeship with Paulette that we gained strength.

“Paulette was a source of strength and light during dark

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days. She was prepared to stand up for the victims of the Windrush scandal and put herself out there so that the victims could not be ignored.

“Her story was one of injustice and wrongful treatment which the public had to know about and she did that in her own quiet, dignified unique way.”

Fellow campaigner Rev Clive Foster of the Pilgrim Church, Nottingham, added: “I had the privilege of meeting Paulette at a Windrush engagement meeting in Birmingham organised

by Bishop Desmond Jaddoo last year.

“When I saw the distinguishable Paulette sitting unassumingly amongst the attendees, I picked her out and encouraged all the attendees to give her a warm round of applause because she had become one of the defining faces of the awful injustice perpetrated on the

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Windrush Generation. Paulette’s understated presence at that meeting was typical of the Paulette Wilson we grew to know humble, dignified and unassuming she came for the cause not for the cameras.

“Speaking to her after the meeting I was inspired when she said to me ‘whenever you’re having something in Nottingham let me know I will be there.’

TENACITY

“I thought to myself here is a person so wrongfully treated by the state and yet she was prepared to go anywhere to keep the cause for justice going – it still deeply moves me when I think of her tenacity and commitment to seeking justice for the Windrush victims.

“Paulette may have been small in stature, but she was mighty in action and dignity.

We may ask ourselves why did

voicenews

she keep putting herself forward on the frontline for justice? It was because Paulette knew that despite being personally scarred and wrongfully treated, she had to take action and use whatever opportunity she had to help those like herself like who were silently suffering as a result of the Windrush scandal.

“She personified the very best of the Windrush Generation values of hard work, selfrespect, thankfulness, joy and courage.

“Her diminutive presence yet bold conviction was a reminder to us all ‘not to despise the day of small things’.

“She was a mighty agitator to the state and she challenges us all to move forward in conviction and courage for justice.

May she rest in peace.”

For more on the fundraising effort, visit gofundme.com/f/ remembering-paulette-wilson

www.voice-online.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2020 THE VOICE | 21

Midlands News

YOUNGSTERS’ WMCA APPEAL

Group pens letter to tackle racism in region

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A FORCE FOR CHANGE: Young Combined Authority member Olivia Agbe read the letter to the West Midlands Combined Authority along with fellow YCA member Eman Mowatt

Mayor hails work of Walsall charity A BLACK COUNTRY charity that has been supporting local people since the 1980s has been honoured for its response to COVID-19 while hosting West Midlands Mayor Andy Street during his Community Weekend.

The Walsall Black Sisters Collective (WBSC), which provides support across education, training, welfare, social care and child provision, was singled out for praise by the Mayor for its resilience and the way they have repurposed their community support in the face of the COVID-19 crisis.

Despite being on the verge of possible closure, it rebounded to deliver over 300 food parcels, provide hot, home-cooked cultural meals for residents across the borough and increased its befriending and counselling services in response to the crisis.

Formed initially to address issues affecting black women and their families, WBSC’s

HIGH PRAISE: CEO Maureen, right, with a Black Sisters’ colleague, left, and West Midlands Mayor Andy Street focus has broadened significantly since, to support a much wider demographic than its name suggests, as Maureen Lewis, chief executive officer, explained: “We will respond where there is need.

HONOURED

“This pandemic affects everyone and we have to work together to get through it.

“We were honoured to receive a visit from the Mayor of the West Midlands and to be recognised for the work we are doing here in Walsall.”

Street added: “It’s been bril-

liant to meet Walsall Black Sisters Collective today, to see how their work has changed in response to the challenges of COVID-19 and to see the wonderful support that’s still being provided by such a dedicated team.”

Councillor Garry Perry, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Communities, said: “WBSC have again been a shining example of the resilience of our communities.

“I am pleased Mayor Street gave some his valuable time to recognise their work during his Community Weekend.”

EST MIDLANDS Combined Authority (WMCA) has welcomed a letter from young leaders urging it to continue to fight racism.

Members of the Young Combined Authority (YCA) wrote to the WMCA’s chief executive calling on the authority to keep structural racism and disadvantage high on the region’s agenda.

The West Midlands Combined Authority was created in June 2016 and includes representatives from several local authorities – Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

The youngsters were invited to read the letter to WMCA Board, which follows on from the YCA’s commitment in June to promote Black Lives Matter and asks the Combined Authority to work with other decision makers to tackle racism and in-

equality. In the letter, the YCA calls on positive action to be used so local leaders represent the region’s diversity. They also want local leaders to learn more about the causes of, and effects of, structural racism on people.

INEQUALITIES

The YCA use their letter to call for inequalities in health and education to be addressed, especially following the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus pandemic on black and other minority ethnic communities.

WMCA chief executive Deborah Cadman said: “I would like to thank the Young Combined Authority for writing such a powerful and thoughtful letter and presenting it to WMCA Board today, it was important for us to hear.

The letter was read to the WMCA Board by Young Combined Authority members

Eman Mowatt and Olivia Agbe, who said afterwards: “We are pleased we had the opportunity to put forward our views to the WMCA board and reiterate our views on standing in solidarity against racism and inequality.

It is something that needs to be addressed now and for the future of the West Midlands.”

The creation of the Young Combined Authority was a key recommendation within the West Midlands Leadership Commission’s 2018 report, Leaders Like You. The Commission is refreshing its activity to reflect recent events and context, and the Combined Authority is developing measures to improve diversity and equality.

Formed in 2019, the YCA is a diverse board of young people from across the region.

It plays an important role representing the voice of 16to 25-year-olds in the region, which has one of the youngest populations in the country.

West Midlands Police working to become a ‘fairer force’ THE POLICE and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable have launched Making West Midlands Police a Fairer Force – a programme of work to ensure that West Midlands Police is as inclusive, diverse and as fair an organisation as possible.

The announcement follows on from a commitment to ensure that 1,000 new officers from black and minority groups are recruited over the next three years to accelerate plans to make the force look more like the communities it serves.

The Commission and the force have set out a plan of work to increase the confidence of all the communities of the West Midlands.

Through this work they will examine how they can improve the fairness of recruitment, retention and promotion, as well as ensuring that police powers are used fairly towards everyone in the West Midlands, as part of a wider review of practices.

In a joint statement, Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson, pictured inset, and

Chief Constable Dave Thompson, said: “The worldwide movement we’ve seen here and abroad since George Floyd’s killing in May reminds us that racism, discrimination and racial inequality are real, both in the UK and abroad.

“Structural inequality blights the lives of many black and Asian people.

COMPLEX

“Our country’s history is controversial and complex: at the same time as we remember our nation’s contribution to freeing Europe from fascism, we should also reflect on the legacy of slavery, injustice and inequality that is woven into the country we have become.”

However, the force has been widely criticised for allegedly heavy handed and discriminatory practices that have fuelled the continuation of its poor relations with local black groups.

As a result, community responses to the announcement have been muted.

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 or LinkedIn

22 | THE VOICE MARCH 2020

t n e m e v e i h c Black A 0 2 0 2 e c n e r e Conf 0 2 0 2 r e b o t c O 1 3 y a Saturd m p 5 :4 1 – m a 0 1 : e im T

Get inspired at our Black Achievement Conference!

In celebration of Black History Month we’re inviting you to join us on our online webinar.

Closing date for applications: Sunday 20 September 2020

Free to attend Open to students from state schools and colleges, years 10-13.

We hope to see you there!

Visit lse.ac.uk/blackachievementconference to sign up.

Brought to you by LSE’s Widening Participation Team.

On the day:

• Hear from a great line-up of speakers from the African/Caribbean community including academics

• Learn what you need to do

to ace an LSE application

• Find out about student life If you have any questions: Please contact Nikita Gibbs at widening.participation@lse.ac.uk

Lord Morris of Handworth OJ SEPTEMBER 2020

THE VOICE |23

A Life of Service

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1. Bill Morris visited Bombay, Manchester Jamaica (his birthplace) and presented a donation from British Airways for the health centre. On the plaque he was described as “a son of Bombay”

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2. Lord Morris on becoming a peer 3. Lord Morris receiving his bell as 2001 Chair of the TUC conference ( 2002) 4. Lord Morris visited the Red Cross Centre in Jamaica learn about their preparations for the hurricane and aftermath

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5. In 2004 Lord Morris visited Jamaica and planted a tree in the University garden in recognition of the number of trees lost during the hurricane 6. Lord Morris joins in with the Jazz band at The Stables a small theatre for lovers of jazz at Wavendon, just outside Milton Keyes, UK 7. Sir Bill was knighted by the Queen in November 2003

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8. Chair of the TUC conference in 2001 9. Lord Morris, Chancellor presents Dr. Rae Davis, then President (right), University of Technology, Jamaica to His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, during a visit to the University in 2002. Looking on is Dr. Blossom O’Meally-Nelson, Pro-Chancellor

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10. Lord Morris with Nelson Mandela during his visit to South Africa leading a TUC delegation 11. Lord Morris receiving the Order of Jamaica from the Governor General of Jamaica Sir Howard Cooke (2002) 12. Lord Morris visits a school project in Point Hill St Catherine, Jamaica (2006)

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24 | THE VOICE SEPTEMBER 2020

Tribute

FROM SHOP STEWARD

RIGHTLY HONOURED: Bill Morris was knighted for services to Trade Unions at Buckingham Palace; below left, Morris receives Lifetime Achievement Award during EMMA Awards at Grosvenor House in central London

After six decades of championing the rights of British workers, Lord Bill Morris has retired from public life.

Here, Vic Motune looks at just some of the many things he has achieved

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N A long and distinguished career spanning six decades, Lord Bill Morris has been hailed as one of the most influential black people in Britain.

This ‘Son of Jamaica’, as he is affectionately known, has achieved many firsts as a trade union leader, campaigner, and educator.

The Windrush pioneer became the first black leader of one of Britain’s largest trade unions when he was elected as General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) in 1991.

An influential and widely admired leader, he was praised for championing issues such as racial discrimination by employers, the need for a minimum wage, wider access to education, equal opportunities and the development of policies and services for women trade union members.

His quiet but authoritative leadership, which saw him challenge the more militant elements of the T&G, helped regain respect for trade unions in British public life after decades of conflict.

Lord Morris’s ability as a leader has also been recognized outside trade unionism.

He has been an adviser for a wide range of public bodies, including the Advisory Councils of the BBC, the Prince of Wales Youth Business Trust and the Economic and Social Affairs Committee of the European Union.

In 1998 he was appointed as a non-executive director of the Bank of England.

He was honoured with an OJ (Order of Jamaica) for services to international trade unionism in 2002 and a KBE (Commander of the Order) of the British Empire in 2003.

His tireless efforts in championing the cause for a better Britain are evident in his work in the House of Lords which he joined in April 2006 after being raised to the peerage as Baron Morris of Handsworth.

And his passion for education saw him become Chancellor of both the University of

I often think of my experience as being lonely in a desert Technology, Jamaica and Staffordshire University, England.

Last month Lord Morris retired from the House of Lords, after announcing his decision to step down from public life.

It has been a remarkable journey for the young man who arrived on these shores in 1954 as part of the Windrush Generation.

Bill Morris was born in Bombay, Jamaica in 1938 and lived with his parents (his mother was a domestic

2004

science teacher, his father a part-time policeman) in a small rural village, Cheapside, in the Parish of Manchester.

He was educated at the local Mizpah School.

A passionate cricket fan, he harboured an ambition to play for the West Indies.

However, Morris’ plans to attend a prestigious agricultural college had to be rethought when he joined his recently widowed mother in Britain, living in the Handsworth area of Birmingham.

Upon arriving in Britain, many Windrush Generation members have shared memories of how difficult it was initially to adapt to life in the Mother Country.

CULTURE

For a young Bill Morris, it was no different.

“My mother and other relatives met me at Heathrow airport and then we set off for Birmingham and we got there quite late,” he recalls.

“It was literally a new culture, a new people, new weather, everything was new. I often think of this experience as like being lonely in a desert.”

One particular memory of how different life in Britain was different from the Jamaica he had grown up in stands out.

“I remember my first morning waking up.

“I looked out the window and all I could see was smoke.

I called a family member to tell him that it looked like the house was on fire and that we needed to call a fireman.”

He continues, laughing: “But he told me that it was only smoke coming through the chimney from the fireplace downstairs.”

Finding his way around the city and getting a job provided other hurdles he needed to get over.

“My very first job was with

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2003 the General Electric Company,” he recalls.

“My uncle worked there and he was well known. He persuaded the supervisor to offer me a job. That was a big help for me because, as a newcomer I couldn’t find my way around on my own. It was a learning experience, one which I still look back on today.”

However, after a while, the ambitious future trade union

that I’d finished. He thought I meant I’d finished the tasks for the day but was surprised when I told him I was leaving the company.”

After leaving the General Electric Company Morris found a job at Birmingham engineering company, Hardy Spicers.

His time there proved much happier.

“It was a small company, only about 25 or 30 staff. Most

I decided to leave. I really wanted to learn but nobody wanted to spend time with me leader realised he needed a change of direction.

“I realised I had to make some decisions of my own and decided to leave. It was just the nature of the work. I wasn’t learning anything. I really wanted to learn but nobody wanted to spend any time with me.

“I wasn’t a proper apprentice because the company didn’t really run an apprenticeship scheme. I remember going to the supervisor and telling him

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of them were women who were doing some pretty heavy work and they were very kind and helpful to me,” he recalls.

“They would tell you where the buses were going, how much things would cost. They were concerned not just about what you were dong at work but how you were adjusting to a new environment.

“They were like family, really decent people. Years after I left I kept in touch with them.”It

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was while working at Hardy Spicers that Morris began attending day-release courses in engineering skills at Handsworth Technical College.

His time at the company also marked the start of his trade union career, when he and other co-workers joined the T&G in 1958. A larger company, GKN, had just taken over Hardy Spicers and began to make major changes.

CHANGES

“What was a company with a great family atmosphere changed drastically,” he says.

“They had their own way of doing things and started to make a lot of changes, introducing measures to increase productivity. Many of us decided that we had to join a trade union so that we could speak truth to power.”

Co-workers recognised Morris’ potential for representing workers’ concerns and he was chosen to represent them in meetings with managers.

He was elected a shop steward at Hardy Spicers in 1963 and the following year he was involved in his first major in-

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SEPTEMBER 2020 THE VOICE | 25

Tribute

TO THE PEOPLE’S HERO 1995

1991

1997 dustrial dispute, over the issue of trade union recognition.

A steady rise up the ranks of the T&G followed which saw him hold a wide range of elected positions including membership of its governing body, the General Executive Council.

Morris’ steady rise brought its own challenges. However, his dedication to his trade union work was unwavering.

“A lot of it had to be done in the evenings after work or on a Saturday morning attending meetings or talking with other trade union officials about which direction we should take.

“But all these challenges gave me the opportunity to learn. It was part of a learning experience. And the work was important.

“It was not like today where you have employment laws and rights. If, for example, you wanted to take the morning or the day off to take the children to school or the doctors, it was a request rather than a statutory right. If the request was granted it might mean having to work an extra hour or so.

“The relationship between management and workers was

A CHAMPION OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS: Clockwise, from top left, with then-Labour leader Tony Blair at the Transport and General Workers’ Union Conference in Blackpool; Morris pictured after his election as Deputy General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers’ Union aged 46; the workers’ hero was promoted to General Secretary, replacing Ron Todd, left; Morris stands with two bags of model buses on behalf of 40,000 of Britain’s pensioners in a bid to return £186 million

1986 governed by what you could negotiate across the table or on the shop floor. Over the years, conditions have become better with things like pension schemes and sick pay schemes.”

He was appointed a full-time union officer in 1973, as Nottingham/Derby District Organiser, and later as Northampton District Secretary.

LEADING

In 1979 he became National Secretary of the union’s Passenger Services Trade Group, responsible for leading national negotiations in the bus and coach industries.

Morris rose to Deputy General Secretary in 1986.

Five years later, after a historic postal ballot of members, he was elected General Secretary of the T&G becoming the first black general secretary of a major British trade union.

However, at the time of the election he made it clear he did not want to be known as a black General Secretary. He said: “I am not the black candidate, rather the candidate who is black.”

He was re-elected as General Secretary in 1995. His leader-

ship saw a number of high-profile battles, fought with his trademark quiet determination, a stark contrast to the more adversarial style of some of his predecessors.

In October 1999 he famously challenged Ford over racism at its Dagenham plant saying the company was sitting on a tinderbox of tension.

And when thousands of T&G members faced redundancy at

His thoughts on why he was able to achieve what he did are equally as simple and straightforward.

“You don’t sit down and draw a map and say by this year I’m going to be in this or that position or by that year I’m going to have done this because it doesn’t work. You’re not in total control.

“It’s very simple, you just do the best you can and the people

It was never my intention to become a leading light of the trade union movement BMW’s Longbridge plant Morris called on workers to vote with their pockets and buy Rover cars in favour of BMWs. Was his election to such a high profile post the fulfilment of a long-held ambition?

“Not at all,” he laughs. “It was never my intention to become a leading light of the trade union movement.

“My intention was just to keep earning my daily bread and do my job as best I could.”

who know your strengths and weaknesses will open up opportunities.”

He continues: “Take every opportunity that you can. This is something that I tell my grandchildren. That’s the formula that worked for me. I didn’t set out with a programme of steps.

If you say by this year I’m going to be here or by that year I’m going to have done this it doesn’t work.”

Despite him claiming, after he

was first elected that he did not want to be regarded as merely ‘the black General Secretary’, he was nevertheless seen as a role model in the community.

And he was acutely aware of the weight of expectation that brought, not just from black Britons.

VOICE

Speaking about one of the things he is proudest of as T&G leader he says: “I changed the culture of the union. For a long time we had a union that thought it was bigger than the country.

“I had to remind our members that the government was the government elected by the people and when the people had spoken we had to respect that rather than going over the people’s voice as was happening often.”

He continues: “The first thing you have to do is to shape public opinion out there by your actions, your deeds and your thoughts. That’s how people judge you, not just your members but society as a whole.”

Last month Lord Morris retired from the House of Lords

and announced his decision to step away from public life.

“It will be nice to sit on the touchline,” he says. “I’m glad I won’t have to get up early and rush for the train. It’s been an earned time. I’ve got a big garden so I’m looking forward to spending a bit of time there, going for walks because we live in a beautiful rural area. I’m ready for it.”

Stepping away from public life will also give him to pursue another of his passions, cricket.

The keen West Indies fan, who has been closely following the team’s recent successes says: “I think there’s a team in the building there. I want them to establish a period of consistency. No point winning today and losing tomorrow.

“I also want the youngsters to come in and build a team which recognises the importance of the game, and that when you play for the West Indies you are making a statement. It’s almost a political statement which says we are as talented as anybody.

Although we haven’t got anywhere near the resources that teams like England have got we can still give you a game.”

26 | THE VOICE SEPTEMBER 2020

Tribute

‘A great man of our times’

Influential figures pay tribute to the life and times of the widely respected Lord Bill Morris

‘A true friend to cricket for years’

‘A visionary, a thinker, a change-maker’

Colin Graves, ECB chair

Hon Dorothy Pine-McLarty OJ, DBA (Jon)

“Bill served on the ECB Board for over a decade, and was always a man of the highest integrity and reputation. He was widely respected and has a real love of cricket both at the recreational and the professional level.

“He was an outstanding chair of the Major Match Group, playing a significant role in ensuring there was a thorough process for choosing international venues.

“His work in establishing the group provided the opportunity for more venues to host major matches, resulting in significantly improved facilities across the country. Bill has enjoyed a remarkable career and has been a true friend to cricket for many years. I hope he’s able to continue enjoying the game in his well-earned retirement.”

“It is said of great men that they bring out greatness in others. That by their vision, they turn weakness into strength, obstacles into opportunities and challenges into triumphs. Such a man is Lord Bill Morris. He is a visionary, a thinker, a change-maker, a friend, a teacher and a man of infinite integrity and compassion, all with exceptional humility.

“Though hearing of him in Jamaica, I had the privilege and the pleasure of meeting him at a dinner held in his honour by the UK Gleaner in 1995, when a lasting friendship just seemed to evolve between himself, his partner Eileen and my family.

“Myers, Fletcher and Gordon Attorneys-atLaw from Jamaica had just opened a branch in London. I was the Managing Partner.

“Lord Bill never ceased to extend a hand of friendship by way of suggestions and introductions, which gave me the opportunity to not only observe this great man in action, but to hear others speak of him.

“Shortly after my return to Jamaica, Lord Bill was appointed the first Chancellor of The University of Technology (Utech) in 2000, here in Jamaica, and selected me to act as Chancellor’s Nominee, which provided me with an insight to yet another side of this great man.

“He never ceased to encourage distance learning to facilitate the University’s outreach to people in rural areas, now being extensively developed by Utech to cope with these uncharted times. I will always remember his

exhortations to the students at Graduation on the importance of Education, Education, Education!

“Naturally, on his elevation to the House of Lords, my daughter and I journeyed to London to attend and share with him, Eileen, family and friends as the photo above shows.

“Again, upon his retirement as a Director of the Bank of England, my son and I attended his send-off at 10 Downing Street and were overwhelmed to hear the then Governor of the Bank extol his invaluable contribution.

“Despite his achievements in the UK, I remain mystified at the extent to which this fine son of Jamaica managed to grasp our challenges and become so involved ‘in our big country on a little island.’

“My family and I thank Lord Bill and Eileen most sincerely for their friendship over the last 25 years.

“May God grant Lord Bill many more fulsome years in his retirement from the House of Lords.”

‘He had wisdom – and common sense’ Andrew Bailey, the Governor of the Bank of England “It is an enormous pleasure to have this opportunity to mark Bill’s contribution to the country, and particularly his time as member of the Court of the Bank of England.

“We remember him with great affection and respect. There is a long tradition, going back at least to 1946, of inviting a leading member of the Trades Union movement to sit on the Bank’s Court of Directors.

“Bill joined us in 1998 – after it should be said a break in the tradition that fortunately did not persist.

“It was a critical time for the Bank, which had just been given independence to set interest rates, and was forming the new Monetary Policy Committee consisting of Bank executives on the one side and external experts on the other.

“Bill found himself in the middle of a classic demarcation dispute between the two groups, where the issue had become who controlled

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the economic forecast and who had the researchers. Re-reading the Court minutes from that period, Bill’s contribution was striking for its balance, common sense and determination to understand the views of both sides – and his striving for a solution. “‘There is a difference,’ he commented, ‘between keeping an issue under review and keeping options open’.

“We kept the options open and the problem was solved. We benefitted no doubt from Bill’s wisdom, experience and common sense.

“For his part, he seemed amused and slightly relieved to find somewhat familiar problems to deal with. Bill became the chair of the Bank’s remuneration committee and later led a review of the Bank’s pension scheme.

“One of my memories of Bill is of him attending a Court meeting with a cricket bat.

Among all those who met him or worked with him here Bill is remembered with great affection. I wish him a long and very well deserved retirement.”

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saluting

A GREAT

SEPTEMBER 2020

THE VOICE | 27

Lord Morris of handworth OJ The Jamaica National Group salutes the long and distinguished career of Lord Bill Morris, statesman, philantrophist, advocate and son of our soil. Lord Morris has been hailed as one of the most influential black people in Britain.

This ‘Son of Jamaica’ as he is affectionately known, has achieved many firsts as a campaigner, leader and educator.

The Windrush pioneer was the first black leader of a major British trade union and he fought tirelessly for equality in the workplace. His determined efforts in championing the cause for a better Britain are evident in his work which includes his contribution as a peer in the House of Lords for the last 15 years.

For his outstanding contribution to the advancement of the Jamaican Diaspora, in 2006 the Government of Jamaica conferred on Lord Morris the nation’s fourth highest honour, the Order of Jamaica.

Lord Morris’ numerous awards and honours are only outshone by his deep concern for others, evidenced by his humanitarian contributions through various charities in the UK and the Caribbean.

His passion for education was demonstrated in his service as Chancellor of both the University of Technology, Jamaica and Staffordshire University, England. JN Group is honoured to have had him serve as a director of JN Money Services (UK) and as an advisor to the Voice newspaper (GV Media Group Ltd).

A Tribute to Lord Morris of Handsworth OJ Former Chancellor, University of Technology, Jamaica he Honourable Lord Morris of Handsworth, OJ was appointed the first Chancellor of the University of Technology, Jamaica, (UTech Jamaica) July 12, 2000. As a young university, UTech Jamaica having acquired University status in 1995 was fortunate to benefit from this extraordinary blend of talent, stature and influence.

At his installation ceremony, he envisioned the institution as the “People’s University”, committed to widening access to tertiary education and training for all. As the first officer of UTech Jamaica, from 2000 to 2010, Bill Morris dedicated his time and talents to realize this vision, providing a major source of inspiration and leadership. Under his aegis, the University emerged as a formidable centre of excellence with a merited reputation for innovative teaching and research, community outreach and supremacy in sport.

As Chair of the University’s Council, Lord Morris contributed greatly to the significant and rapid growth of the institution; influencing a dramatic expansion of academic programme offerings, development in research, expansion in service and community outreach as well as expansion in mutually beneficial institutional and international linkages.

Lord Morris took UTech Jamaica to the World and the World to UTech Jamaica.

It was always a pleasure to watch Lord Morris conferring degrees on and presenting awards to over 800 graduands – extending a personal and well received congratulation to each recipient. He performed these duties with aplomb and diligence at the University’s yearly graduation ceremony during his tenure, never losing the common touch. The Hon Lord Morris of Handsworth, OJ has made his mark on the world stage.

The University of Technology, Jamaica is honoured that his footprints are indelibly etched on its soil.

BLACK

LIVES MATTER

As he retires from public life, Unite the Union National BAEM Committee thanks and pays tribute to Lord Bill Morris for all he has done to advance the cause of working people.

A shop steward, officer and General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers’ Union (Now Unite the Union) Bill Morris was the first black leader of a British trade union, elected by the entire membership, and a prominent member of the TUC. He laid important foundations for greater equality and diversity in all its forms, and inspired a generation of black and Asian trade unionists.

www.unitetheunion.org

Susan Matthews – Unite Executive BAEM representative and Chair National BAEM Committee.

Harish Patel – National BAEM Equalities Officer

28 | THE VOICE

SEPTEMBER 2020

Faith

‘HE REALISED THE POWER OF OUR CHILDREN’

J

Senator John Lewis used his sermons to inspire real change, says Rev Joel Edwards

USTICE-LOVERS LOST a great champion when Senator John Lewis died on July 17.

One of the greatest privileges of my life was meeting John Lewis when filming a documentary on the life of Martin Luther King Jnr in 2004.

His passion for ‘good trouble’ rushed at you like a locomotive.

But there was something else.

It was that relentless sense of youthful energy which radiated all around you like sunbeams.

He told me that his passion for justice burst into flames when he heard Martin Luther King Jnr on the radio.

He was only 15 years old.

At 21 he became a civil rights national youth convention. The leader and at 23 he stood by sermon was called God’s Relay King’s side for the march on System.

It’s pretty much what it says Washington. on the tin: ever so often God asks us to pass on the baton to a younger group of people to do an even better job than we accomplished.

After all, what is a leader, if she is not leading?

It reminded me that young people really can lead.

Over 40 years ago I preached a sermon which terminated my annual invitations to a denomi-

INVITATION

Halfway through the sermon, I looked behind at the sea of over-50s church leaders and I knew then that that was to be my last invitation.

But that wasn’t so bad. The pain has been to see the decline of a promising movement, as church leaders suffocated the

REAL LOSS: Senator John Lewis radiated a relentless sense of energy, says Rev Joel Edwards

SEPTEMBER 2020

THE VOICE | 29

Faith

years ago, his church had under-invested in leadership to the sum of 30 years.

The beauty of John Lewis’ life was that he always acknowledged the power of a new generation to push into the future rather than replicate the past.

His final words were inspired by the radical energy of Black Lives Matter activists hours before his death.

talent they had nurtured in Sunday school.

There are many reasons why leaders hold on for too long.

For many of us being in charge is the only way we know how to be ourselves.

In effect, our entire identity and self-worth has been handcuffed to our role as leaders.

Beyond the genuine sense that one has been called to lead lurks a fear of a lost identity.

FUTURE

THRILL

After all, what is a leader, if she is not leading? Apart from the thrill of leading, there really is no abundant life.

But there is also the visceral fear of letting someone half our age exercising leadership in ways we neither understand nor find comfortable.

A millennial or Generation X leader will bring to the table new, unfamiliar and frightening ways of working.

Consequently, we are more likely to accommodate younger leaders only so long as their gifts work within our paradigm of leadership.

It’s rather like allowing your kids to change the TV setting to our favourite programme because we have no idea how to operate the new controls.

So, what is often regarded as ‘allowing the young peo-

LASTING LEGACIES: Mary Seacole, Martin Luther King Jnr and Nelson Mandela have all had profound impacts on the world ple’ to lead turns out to be micro-managed supervision of younger people who we wish to make in our own image and after our own likeness.

In such cases their talent becomes no more than an accessory to the status quo. They add value to old paradigms rather than being given the reigns of leadership to take our movements in new directions. It’s the

tragedy of so many communities – and especially churches – where we have yet to be convinced that anyone under thirty is fit to lead.

And we all know it’s just not true. As a random example, Alexander the Great began his dynasty at 20 and was gone by 33.

Mary Seacole made her first visit to London from Jamaica

when she was 12 and travelled as a seasoned nurse by the age of 19. MLK Jnr was 26 when he led the Montgomery boycott and changed the world by the age of 39 when he was killed.

Jesus died at about 33, and his mother became the ‘bringer of God’ when she was a teenager. And so on.

Ironically, the Windrush heroes who built such powerful

Christian communities between the 1950s and ‘80s were themselves young pioneers who worked against the tides of estrangement, racism and poor resources. As a kid they all seemed old to me – but then, anyone over 25 was old!

In many communities the relay system has strictly been avoided. As one denominational head said to me some

More than ever before, leaders must take a leap into a new future. The new, viral-friendly post-COVID world will urgently demand a new brand of fearless leaders who already inhabit the reality of the new world to come.

They’re no more perfect than their parents, but they are hungry for justice and passionate about authenticity.

They love God and understand better what it means to be black and British.

To be clear, giving away leadership may mean stepping aside into a new role but it need not mean disappearing from the scene.

Nelson Mandela stopped being a president and became an international statesman.

And I suspect that if we let them lead, they will value us even more.

30 | THE VOICE AUGUST 2020

Anna’s Adoption Journey

A

doption Central England (ACE) provides adoption services including adoption support for children and families across Warwickshire, Coventry, Solihull, Worcestershire and Herefordshire. We currently have a wide range of children who are in need of loving and permanent adoptive homes. Our children come from a variety of different backgrounds, experiences and cultures and include young babies, children up to the age of 10, sibling groups, and children who have health and development needs.

If you would like to know more about adopting a child through ACE, please visit the ACE website: aceadoption.com or call the ACE Hub on 0300 369 0556 Anna*, became an adoptive parent eight years ago when she adopted Theodore*, who was nearly eight at the time following four chaotic years with his birth parents and four years in foster care.

Talking about her adoption journey, Anna said: “As a single adopter and Theodore as an almost eight year old, we are not exactly the most typical of adoptive families. Theodore has autism and a moderate learning difficulty along with a great love of school and learning. In the early days we began to bond over our mutual love of theatre, music and cinemas.

“I have really benefitted from a community of fellow adopters. You can’t beat peer support and advice. We are great friends with other single adopter families and we regularly meet up. It’s great for the adults because we all understand the children’s ‘quirks’ and they can be themselves without any judgement.

“Adoption is a hard road to walk. It will take everything you have to give. For me there are no regrets. I have an amazing son who inspires me every day. I love him, he loves me – we are a family and that’s all that matters.” *names have been changed.

It hasn’t always been easy, Theodore understandably had trust issues, I promised him that I would not leave him and over time he began to believe and trust me.

AUGUST 2020

THE VOICE |31

Could you offer a loving and stable home?

Liam is a happy and gentle almost two year old. He loves music and going out for walks with his foster family. In utero, Liam was exposed to substance misuse and displayed some withdrawal signs when he was born. He is used to being around other children and enjoys being part of a busy household. Liam is having some further health investigations as his head circumference is measuring small. He is meeting all is developmental milestones.

Siblings Ben and Ella are looking for an adoptive family where they can live together. Ben is a four year old White British boy described as shy and kind and is gaining more independence and becoming more confident. He has some delay in his speech and language and has extra support in nursery. Ella is three years old of White British and Black African heritage. She has an outgoing personality and likes imaginative play.

Kian is four years old. Kian is giggly and fun and brings a smile to the face of those who know him. He enjoys playing with toy cars and trucks and is an active boy who loves to be outdoors.

Kian has a chromosome disorder and has progressed greatly in his development since coming into foster care. He is delayed in his speech and has extra support for this.

Siblings Rae and Jake are looking for an adoptive family where they can live together. Rae is a four year old little girl of White British and Black Caribbean heritage. She is a very happy girl with a great sense of confidence. She is chatty and caring and loves to sing, dance and perform. Jake is a two year old White British boy. He loves to copy his big sister and join in with her play. He is happiest when playing with balls or balloons and really enjoys climbing. Jake is delayed with his speech and language and has support with this.

George is a six year old boy of White British and Pakistani heritage. George loves learning and is curious about the world. He is happy being outdoors at the park, riding his scooter or bike. He also enjoys helping with baking, playing superheroes and playing with toy cars. He is meeting all his developmental milestones and has no health needs.

Rose (age two) and Mason (age one) are siblings of White British and Black Caribbean heritage. Rose has a lovely little smile and a cheeky giggle. She can be a little bit shy and likes to work people out and get to know them, she also likes to give lots of cuddles. Mason is always very easy to make smile and laugh. He is generally a happy baby and rarely cries. Mason has a chromosome disorder which can be linked to learning difficulties as he grows.

Olivia and Jess are sisters looking for a very special adoptive home together. Olivia is five years old and White British. She is chatty, playful and curious and loves playing with dolls, princesses and unicorns. Jess is two years old of White British and Black Caribbean heritage.

She is full of smiles and meeting all her developmental milestones. Jess loves to copy her sister and enjoys singing and dancing with her.

All of these children have experienced a lot of change and are looking for a stable, loving and nurturing family who can support them and their individual needs.

For more information about any of these children and the adoption process, contact Hazel Howard at hazelhoward@aceadoption.com or call 07787 270405

aceadoption.com // 0300 369 0556

32 | THE VOICE SEPTEMBER 2020

News Feature

‘By making our voices heard, we can experience change’ B

FORCE OF GOOD: Raymond Antrobus’ past experiences have led him to want to help others; below, the cover of Perseverance; bottom left, Antrobus has worked with hearing and deaf schools

Growing up deaf, Raymond Antrobus is no stranger to prejudice – but he hopes to make the world a better place through his writing, says Darell J Philip

RITISH JAMAICAN poet Raymond Antrobus is blazing a trail others in the field of education would do well to follow.

He is the author of the critically acclaimed Shapes and Disfigurements (2012) and To Sweeten Bitter (2017).

But perhaps his most known work is his first full-length poetry collection The Perseverance (2018), which picked up the Ted Hughes Award and was The Guardian’s Poetry Book of the Year in 2018.

Those accolades were quickly followed by Antrobus being the first ever poet recipient of the Rathbones Folio Prize (2019) for the same full-length poetry collection.

His poem Sound Machine was awarded the George Dearmer Prize in 2018 while his poem Jamaican British has been included on the GCSE English syllabus.

And if all that is not impressive enough, the award winning poet is also one of the world’s first recipients of an MA in Spoken Word Education from Goldsmiths University.

However, Antrobus has also received plaudits for his work in schools, raising awareness of the needs of black and minority ethnic deaf children and young people The 32-year-old was born in Hackney to an English mother and Jamaican father during a time when there was a lot of stigma towards race and dis-

Emotional literacy opens up a space for young people ability. “I was around seven years old when my parents first realised that I was deaf,” says Antrobus.

“It strikes me as rather funny that the first deaf school was built in Hackney in 1760, yet I found myself being moved to schools outside of the borough because they were unable to offer the support I needed for my disability.”

SERIOUS

Antrobus admitted that it was only upon looking back at old school reports that he became fully aware of how serious his disability was during his childhood.

“Everything was below average. Reading those comments made my experience at school seem much worse than how I remembered it.

‘To my parents I would be like, ‘Oh, I don’t remember having that bad a time at school’.

But now I know that clearly I was just shielded from it.”

Antrobus also recalls a humorous response from a school he attended upon discovering that his father was Jamaican.

“My dad was born in the Hanover Parish of Patty Hill, Jamaica (he later moved to Kingston).

It’s the early 1990s. When it was established that my dad is Jamaican, the school launch this investigation to find out if my learning is being stunted because I’m

smoking weed at home,” laughs Antrobus.

He continues: “You know, all this kind of madness was said and can actually be found in my school report. But that was just one example of the kind of ignorance towards race, not to mention the added difficulty of there being no understanding of my deafness, too.”

Antrobus attributes the support he did receive in the end from the education establishment to the persistence of his mother.

“My mum was great – she was able to tap into a network of special educational needs teachers and deaf teachers within the Hackney, Islington and Haringey boroughs where I had spent some of my educational life.

“It was my mum’s persistence in pushing for my inclusion and acceptance within schools that saved me. I was given hearing aids, speech and language therapy and ended up having some really great teachers of the deaf who gave both the support and extra tuition needed to keep me on track.”

GIFT

Antrobus, who has won numerous poetry slams, including being crowned the Farrago International Slam Champion in 2010 and joint winner of the Open Calabash Slam in 2016, now uses those childhood experiences alongside his gift of poetry to inspire young people today.

He says: “As a freelance teacher and poet I go into many hearing and deaf schools, universities and sometimes prisons, facilitating poetry workshops and life writing as art therapy.

“The sessions are geared in getting young people to read and engage with poetry in a way that is personal and relevant to them.

“Often my focus is on emotional literacy as it opens up a space for young people to talk about their emotional lives out of which they can then create

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a piece of writing, spoken word performance or the like.”

Through his creative work in schools, Antrobus has seen first-hand the difference it makes in the lives of young people.

He says: “My research and experience in this area has proven that this work has academic as well as social and emotional value. Nurturing creativity and creative communities in schools can boost self-esteem and give participants an opportunity to be heard and understood more deeply by their peers.

Antrobus’ work has also been received favourably not only by educational boards but also by government with the inclusion of his poem – Jamaican British on the GCSE English syllabus in schools across the country.

Yet while this has helped in making an impact in the lives of young people, Antrobus admits that there is still much more that could be done in raising awareness and addressing the needs of BAME deaf children and young people.

He says: “All teachers and staff ought to be deaf awareness trained, especially given

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that d/Deaf young people are commonly mainstreamed into schools with little or no support or role models, especially if they’re black. Learning some basic BSL (British Sign Language) will also help. I wrote a poem called Two Guns In The Sky For Daniel Harris which warns of the danger we’re all in if we fail to understand each other.”

SILENT

For Antrobus, many young people just want to be heard, including those who choose to be silent.

“What the world is lacking right now are individuals who truly know the art of listening.

It’s about being an ear, a heart and a mind to others and not being afraid of silence.

“Once young people, including those with special educational needs, can see that we are willing to speak less and listen more then that is often the key which unlocks hearts and minds and brings out those hidden, inner qualities which can brighten up the world.”

While the premise of his work is on emotional literacy,

voicenews

the area of mental health is also important to Antrobus, who pointed out that in light of recent social injustices – including the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in the US and Grenfell and the Windrush scandal in the UK – that now is the time to make our voices heard on matters too often swept under the carpet.

He says: “I have donated to Black Minds Matter UK which pays for therapy and well-being for black people in the UK but more has to be done.

“Deaf schools and SEN are generally underfunded and there is little room made for emotional and creative work in schools and many of us are leaving education unprepared for living as emotionally healthy and functional human beings.

“However, by making our voices heard, we can begin to experience change.”

Raymond Antrobus’ debut children’s book Can Bears Ski? will be released this November. For more information on Black Minds Matter visit blackmindsmatteruk. com/

www.voice-online.co.uk

Lifestyle What to watch and where p34

Book some time for reading p36-37

There are singers, and then there’s...

LADY BLACKBIRD

The real-life ‘fairy job-mother’ p44

34 | THE VOICE SEPTEMBER 2020

Lifestyle

Entertainment

A SHOW PULLING NO PUNCHES Hard-hitting YouTube programme Blakademik discusses whether black justice will be realised

BY JOEL CAMPBELL

BY JOEL CAMPBELL

F

OR THE first episode of their new season, Blakademik – a panel debate show with black people discussing current affairs issues relating to their culture – asks the question that many do not have the answer to: “Why is it that I can see black people being murdered when I’m eating my cornflakes?”

The cultural YouTube show pulls no punches in their first show since lockdown tackling an issue they see as ‘a big one and an important one’.

This spring has been a very tough one for all, but the deaths of black people – both here in the UK and in the US – have left the black community wondering if racial justice will ever be realised.

One spokesperson told

Focusing on a Hapi economic history lesson

GUESTS: Craig Pinkney, Roberta Babb and Justin Finlayson The Voice: “Even if you’re not directly involved in the loss of our brothers and sisters, the impact has hit us all, with the viral natural of the videos of those killings.

“No one should have to witness an innocent person being murdered on camera, and the after-effects of continuously seeing this imagery is one that for many does have everlasting effects.”

Keen to critically assess the reality, guests on the first episode of the new season discuss

if there are any benefits to sharing these videos. Would the momentum that has been created have come about without the naked and horrific nature of George Floyd’s death?

Psychologist and psychotherapist Dr Roberta Babb, founder of award-winning United Borders, Justin Finlayson and criminologist and urban youth specialist Craig Pinkney made up the panel.

Check out the other episodes at blakademik.com

HAPI FILM presents a snapshot of black economic history spanning from the dawn of civilisation to today.

It begins by investigating the failure of a ‘consumption driven black economy’, systematic poverty, disenfranchisement and the decline of entrepreneurship.

Kush Films, the UK’s leading exhibition and marketing company of black films, has joined forces with AfricanAmerican film director Taaqiy Grant and his Hapi Movement to release his essential new ‘black economics’ documentary film.

Hapi Film, which features Professor James Smalls, had its UK online premiere on August 28, with subsequent screenings on September 3

TAKING THE LEAD: Professor James Smalls features in the new film

and 6 (7pm) and (5.30pm) respectively.

A spokesperson said: “Our goal is to spread economic literacy – essentially creating a dialogue that will enable those to become financially astute.

“Hapi offers economic solutions that are obtainable and easily implemented.

“Additionally, it’s important to note how politics impacts us

economically and then understand how they work in conjunction.

“Hapi isn’t just a lesson in history, it is a tool that can be applied to your everyday life.

“Hapi is more than just a film, it’s “a movement of economic literacy”.

For more information visit hapifilm.com

MARCH 2020

THE VOICE| 35

36 | THE VOICE SEPTEMBER 2020

Lifestyle

Books

It’s time to take a step back

A NEW WAY TO LIVE: After suffering from burnout herself, Francesca Blechner says it is important to focus on ourselves to improve our mental and physical wellbeing

With more of us suffering from burnout, health and lifestyle coach Francesca Blechner has the tools you need to take control with a new book

BY JOEL CAMPBELL

I

N THE midst of the chaos created as a result of the outbreak of the coronavirus and as burnout levels reach new highs in London, holistic health and lifestyle coach Francesca Blechner speaks out via her new book, Self-care for Life in the City.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 602,000 people in the UK suffered from stress, depression or anxiety in 2018/19 and 12.8 million working days were lost as a result over that period.

After 20 years in the wellness industry, Francesca has finally put her ground-breaking methods to paper to assist the UK’s highly stressed city dwellers in achieving mental and physical balance in a fast-paced time.

It is only now, with many city dwellers having lost their jobs or having to work from home, they are forced to slow down and reflect. The Voice caught up with Francesca to talk about her book...

Lifestyle: Before we get into your book, talk about being in the wellness industry for two

“I want to empower people to take ownership of their happiness” decades – that’s not a length of time that many can say they have completed...

Francesca Blechner: I know – I can’t quite believe it myself!

I started off in 2000 studying my diploma in Personal Training and Sports Therapy.

I worked in gyms part time soon after as a Fitness Instructor and teaching classes.

After finishing my degree in Sports Science in 2004, I quickly built up a full time business of personal training clients at a gym I worked at.

I did this for many years and branched out on my own working privately with clients at home, too.

Back then the traditional approach to health was very much based on the physical – ‘lose weight, tone your abs and eat this’. There was little regard to

mental, emotional and spiritual health. Being on the go and working all hours of the day for 10+ years led me to burnout and on a search for a much more holistic approach to health for myself and my clients.

I loved what I did but was exhausted. I went on to train in many modalities, including holistic lifestyle coaching with the CHEK institute, Transformational Breath®, yoga and many bodywork practices that demonstrated how emotional states manifest in the body.

They all had a profound awakening on my journey and on my health that had me re-evaluate my life and the pace at which I was living.

I now work with my clients through my holistic coaching programs to build a strong foundation of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

L: Self-care for Life in the City addresses stress, depression and anxiety, how to deal with them and how to achieve mental and physical balance. Talk about the motivation to write the book?

FB: In the last five to 10 years being in the health and wellness industry, I have seen a monumental increase in poor mental health, chronic fatigue, burnout,

and autoimmune disease. The pace of life and technology has increased immensely over this time, and we have been trying to live at a speed that our human physiology has simply not adapted to.

I’m passionate about helping other’s thrive physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually and to live in alignment with the life they desire.

UNDERSTAND

I want to empower people to take ownership of their health and happiness through the selfcare practices in my book.

To understand how to nourish the mind, body and soul, increase physical and emotional resilience to withstand the stresses of modern day life.

In the introduction of my book I write: ‘Self-care is not an option anymore, nor is it an indul-

Compilation marks 80 years of Puffin power

BY JOEL CAMPBELL PUFFIN HAS been inspiring big dreams for 80 years.

Since 1940, millions of children have grown up dreaming of snowmen coming to life, rivers of chocolate and Borrowers under the kitchen table.

Publishing on September 3, The Puffin Book Of Big Dreams is a collection of stories to mark Puffin’s 80th birthday and embodies Puffin’s past, present and future.

This celebratory book is bursting with over 40 new and imaginative stories, po-

ems and illustrations from a diverse range of beloved Puffin authors and illustrators old and new.

An extract from What’s My Name? by Malorie Blackman features alongside works from Tom Fletcher, Jacqueline Wilson, Jeff Kinney, Humza Arshad, Nathan Bryon and many more.

From caveman-inventors to genius chickens, magical phoenixes to cheesy elephants and environmental clear-ups to the Notting Hill Carnival, the amazing stories and poems featured in The Puffin Book of Big Dreams all tackle the theme of dreaming big.

Some of these dreams are big, some small, some are wild and fantastical, and some are full of love, hope and kindness.

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@thevoicenews

gence; it is a necessity for the human species to survive and thrive.’ Having drafted this a year ago, we are now sitting at that critical point in time for the human species to survive.

L: You’re combining neuroscience, coaching, mindset, nutrition, movement, breath-work, techniques to cultivate life-force and more for a 360 approach to health and well-being. Explain a little about pulling those aspects together.

FB: We are multidimensional beings, made up of mind, body and spirit. We cannot focus on one alone.

This is the limitation of modern science and the allopathic model. We must understand that everything is connected.

Our thoughts influences how we feel, emotions are felt physically in the body.

Our emotional state is linked to how we breathe, not breathing properly affects digestion and organ health. The quality of your food correlates to the quality of your health, cellular function, ability for the body to detoxify, and other things.

Movement acts as a pump facilitating the body’s detoxification pathways, knowing when to work out and what type of movement is critical for those experiencing burnout, adrenal fatigue, auto-immune diseases. I believe it is everybody’s birthright to vibrant and radiant health, getting the foundations in place is the first priority.

were used to, it’s been a challenging time for many to navigate. Is there anything else you want to share with our readers that will help them in this difficult time or moving forward?

FB: Yes, of course in writing this book I had no idea a pandemic would hit which made the release of it so timely. Everything I have written in there is so key and perfect for this time.

CRISIS

Humanity is at a crisis point and I truly believe if that each and every one of us takes time to connect back to self, learn how to nourish their mind, body and soul and come back to their true nature of harmony and balance we will be living in a very different world.

It is down to us, to empower ourselves and become the master of our own health, not only will that have a positive impact on our health but our children, future generations to come and that of the planet.

Check out wholisticbodylife. com for more information.

L: I’d imagine during the COVID-19 lockdown demand for your book increased as people looked for alternative ways to handle being cooped up for longer periods of time than they

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www.voice-online.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2020

THE VOICE | 37

Lifestyle

Books

Embracing lockdown life Being shut up in our homes was difficult even for the most easygoing of us – but Daniella Blechner, founder of Conscious Dreams Publishing, says it was the perfect opportunity to get creative and release another book...

BY JOEL CAMPBELL

P

ASSIONATE ABOUT inspiring and empowering authors to transform their stories, messages and powerful journeys into books of impact and influence, Daniella Blechner is the founder of Conscious Dreams Publishing.

In 2014 Blechner accomplished what she describes as her ‘biggest achievement to date’, when she managed to publish her debut book Mr Wrong. Mr Wrong, which hit three bestseller lists rising above The Joy of Sex and the infamous Steve Harvey’s Think Like a Man, Act Like a Lady within hours of being published.

Over the last three years Conscious Dreams Publishing has published over 80 books and Blechner has mentored over 190 authors and aspiring authors assisting them in developing their skillset in writing, publishing, book marketing, social media, branding, public speaking and confidence.

So, who is this literary angel?

Joel Campbell sat down with her to find out some more...

Joel Campbell: A bit about you, Daniella – I know you like books. Where was that passion born and how did it lead to you founding Conscious Dreams Publishing?

“I loved reading and writing from a very young age and always said I would be an author from the age of four” Daniella Blechner: My passion has always been writing.

I loved reading and writing from a very young age and always said I would be an author from aged four. Setting up a publishing company was never in my vision but more came about organically.

After self-publishing my first book, Mr Wrong in 2014 and beating Steve Harvey’s Think Like a Man, Act Like a Lady on the bestseller list, I had lots of people, mainly women with powerful stories, asking me for publishing advice.

I mentored and helped them publish their books as a labour of love and then it dawned on me…why don’t I fuse my professional as a teacher with my love for literature and books and mentor authors through the publishing process? And thus Conscious Dreams Publishing was born.

JC: You’ve been busy over the last the last few years. Help us to understand what working with a client may look like – what you actually do?

DB: We provide bespoke publishing and mentoring services to authors with powerful messages and stories to share with the world.

We are effectively a partnership publishing company who takes the burden from the author by taking care of the technical side of publishing a book, i.e editing, typesetting, layout, cover design, illustrations, global distribution and everything in

SEEING THE POSITIVES: Daniella Blechner says her latest book is a short but light-hearted read

between. We always work to the author’s vision so that they maintain complete authority over their book. We offer mentoring services such as The Complete Journey, which as the name suggests assist authors with more than just publishing but the entire journey and vision of the book, including press, marketing, promotion, speaking engagements and securing deals with bookstores.

We also create book trailers, run workshops and organise book launches, too.

JC: Lockdown Life, a humorous but reflective exploration of a pivotal period in history, and just one of the titles you’re promoting now. Explain a little bit more about it?

DB: I wrote this during lockdown. As someone isolating alone, and as someone whose life was very busy workwise.

The lockdown gave me time to slow down, indulge in my creative side and observe more.

It’s a humorous but reflective snapshot of this unique period of time called lockdown. And it’s split into three parts.

The first explores the different comical Lockdown Characters such as Lockdown Roadman, Lockdown Teacher, Lockdown Home schoolers and their traits, phrases and demeanour.

Did you know the Lockdown Roadman was an ‘essential worker’? Chirpsing outside Iceland is an essential role? The second part explores the different Lockdown Activities such as learning a new language, revolutionising your business as well as lockdown snacking and lockdown dating! Do you know how many dates took place on a green screen background on Zoom?!

The final section explores ‘Lockdown Lessons’. How can we grow and change as humanity? What have we all learnt from lockdown? It’s a short and light-hearted read. Check it out!

JC: I know you’ve had your hands busy recently running a storytelling workshop for kids promoting diversity – tell us more?

DB: Last year I threw out some stats from the CLPE that stated a mere one per cent of main characters in children’s fiction

were from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds (I personally can’t stand the term BAME as it lumps us as all ‘other’ but I have to use the official terms used in these surveys).

The figure has now risen to five per cent and background characters make up only seven

to plan their five-step narrative, create awesome blurbs and front covers for their books.

They also got to meet two of our 15-year-old authors Naysa-Simone Nwaogwugwu, author of The Other Side and Mekell Angel (Aygare), author of XXIV: Unbreakable as well as

“In 2018, only one book in the top 100 bestselling children’s fiction books contained a character of colour” per cent. In 2018, out of the top 100 bestselling children’s fiction books, only one book contained a character of colour.

That character? Lanky Len the burglar. This is unacceptable. Growing up I never got to see images of heroes and sheroes that looked like me and so subconsciously I believed that I was invisible and my story didn’t matter.

The Storytelling Workshop: Young Voices Matter is a workshop for children of all backgrounds aged nine-13 of and from all over the world. It’s an opportunity for them to come together and learn how to create engaging characters, how

our eight-year old Book Reviewer Miamie-Rae who shared all about her work with us reviewing books at Conscious Dreams Publishing.

My vision is for it to be second nature for them to see and speak to black publishers and authors and read books featuring characters from all different backgrounds. I want them to know that they can achieve whatever their heart desires with no limits. When we are visible the dream becomes achievable.

JC: Top three titles for children that you would recommend from Conscious Dreams Publishing, and why?

DB: The Black History Colouring Book Volumes 1 and 2 are amazing ways for children of all races to learn about the contributions made by black people and have fun whilst doing it!

Curly Kyla is an empowering read for children with curly afro hair all over the world teaching young girls to love themselves and their hair.

As a kid growing up in the 1980s with a huge afro, I stood out. Despite persistent cries to have my hair braided or relaxed like my friends, my mother declined. Instead I was allowed a jheri-curl. I must have been the only kid who looked liked Michael Jackson aged eight. I needed Curly Kyla in my younger days!

Dolly May and the Magical Enchanted Garden, is a beautifully written book set against the beautiful backdrop of rural Jamaica.

Inside this magical enchanted garden, the children get to meet black inventors, scientists, political leaders, NASA advisors, astronauts and literary legends and celebrate their achievements knowing that someday, that could be them.

38 | THE VOICE SEPTEMBER 2020

Lifestyle

Stage

Panto postponed Coronavirus pandemic means Christmas is already cancelled at some of our favourite theatres

HAPPY MEMORIES: Clockwise, from main, Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty took place at Stratford East in 2017 and 2018, while this year’s production of Red Riding Hood has been postponed until 2021 (photos: Scott Rylander)

BY JOEL CAMPBELL

F

OUR OF the biggest pantomimes in London have been postponed until 2021.

The news is a real blow for those who look forward to the season to be jolly and had wanted to round off a bizarre 2020 with some joyful entertainment.

Hackney Empire, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and Thea-

tre Royal Stratford East will not be producing their annual pantos this year due to the continued uncertainty over government guidelines for restarting public performances.

All four theatres have a long tradition of producing high quality and community driven pantos. Last year their four pantos were enjoyed by over 145,000 people, including over 40,500 schoolchildren, many of whom would have been experiencing theatre for the first time.

Each panto is created uniquely for the theatre and its

community, working with some of the UK’s most talented artists and providing opportunities for new talent to make their professional debuts.

IMPACT

These four pantos typically employ over 285 freelance artists, including writers, directors, designers, actors, technicians, stage management and many more, demonstrating the financial impact panto has not only for a theatre, but across the theatre industry.

Yamin Choudury, artistic di-

rector, and Jo Hemmant, executive director of Hackney Empire, said: “Firstly, we want to thank everybody for their passionate and tireless support, particularly over the last five months.

“The donations and messages of love and encouragement we have received have given us the strength we need to keep pushing forward in increasingly punishing circumstances.”

Rachel O’Riordan, artistic director, and Sian Alexander, executive director of Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, said: “We are desperately sad to be post-

poning the Lyric’s 2020 panto Aladdin to 2021.

RISK

“It was a very hard decision but one we had to make to ensure the future of our theatre and manage the unprecedented levels of risk during this difficult and uncertain time. We have a long history of panto at the Lyric; our first was in 1897.

“It is a magical time of year for our theatre, the artists we work with and our community – and we love seeing many generations of families coming

together to experience the joy of panto.”

Nadia Fall, artistic director, and Eleanor Lang, executive director of Theatre Royal Stratford East, said: “Panto has been part of the Stratford East Christmas since 1884 and so it’s with a heavy heart that we have to postpone Red Riding Hood. So many people tell us the Stratford East panto is the first thing they saw as a child, and so many families come every year as their Christmas tradition, and each year over 11,000 school children come to our panto, too.”

London Theatre Company plans to take it to The Bridge LONDON THEATRE Company’s repertoire plans to reopen The Bridge Theatre during September and October, pending government giving the industry the green light.

A phased return for the performing arts will see a host of venues open with a reduced capacity whilst adopting stringent safety measures to encompass socially distanced audiences.

Eight of the actors from the series of Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads, which LTC made for BBC One this summer, will reprise their performances on The Bridge stage.

Three monologues - An Evening with an Immigrant, Quarter Life Crisis and Nine Lives - from Inua Ellams, Yolanda Mercy and Zodwa Nyoni will also run alongside them, the first two played by their authors, the third by Lladel Bryant.

Written and performed by Ellams, The Bridge will present his’ and Fuel’s production of An Evening with an Immigrant, with music selection

by DJ Sid Mercutio.

“To date, many of these experiences have been theatre, whether that is in an actual theatre, on the streets, in community settings, or in purpose-built structures. All of the artists Fuel works with produce shows, performances or experiences which have clear, direct and playful relationships with their audiences.

EMOTIONS Born to a Muslim father and a Christian mother in what is now considered by many to be Boko Haram territory, Ellams left Nigeria for England in 1996 aged 12, and moved to Ireland for three years before returning to London and starting work as a writer and graphic designer.

Littered with poems, stories and anecdotes, Ellams will tell his ridiculous, fantastic, poignant immigrant story of escaping fundamentalist

@thevoicenewspaper

Islam, directing an arts festival at his college in Dublin, performing solo shows at the National Theatre and drinking wine with the Queen, all the while without a country to belong to or place to call home.

Fuel added: “Fuel leads the field in independent producing in the UK’s live performance sector. They work with brilliant artists to make fresh experiences for adventurous people.

@thevoicenews

“They appeal to the emotions and the intellect.

Things that make you laugh and cry. These artists see the world in a different way; they respond to challenges and difficulties with ingenuity and ideas; they create something unexpected which articulates something new to audiences.”

The Bridge Theatre are inviting audiences to book seats with the assurance that, if the season is delayed, there will be automatic refunds for any performances that can’t go ahead.

Check bridgetheatre.co.uk/ for more information on dates and times of shows.

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www.voice-online.co.uk

MARCH 2020

THE VOICE| 39

40 | THE VOICE SEPTEMBER 2020

Lifestyle

Events

Gearing up for change

There’s a stereotype that black people don’t bike – but one ride has smashed that into pieces

WHEEL TO WHEEL: The Black Unity Bike Ride was organised by Team ORIGIN (photos: Emerzy Corbin, Leon Thompson and Lionel Mullin)

BY JOEL CAMPBELL

I

T WAS supposed to be a low-key show of black unity for those in the community who like to ride their bike – but it turned into the biggest ever coming together of black cycling enthusiasts and people who just wanted to be a part of what was going on.

If you were anywhere on the Black Unity Bike Ride (BUBR) route between Walthamstow Central and Brixton tube stations on August 1, you might have wondered what on earth was going on as an extensive peloton weaved its way through London on an absolutely gorgeous summer afternoon.

While mass bike rides aren’t uncommon, seeing close to a

1,000 black people saddled up and moseying along your local high street isn’t an everyday occurrence.

Participants on the day included men, women and children aged between eight and 65, with a host of high-profile community leaders and celebrities getting involved.

SUCCESS

Organisers have said the event was an overwhelming success and confirmed with The Voice that it will now take place annually.

A statement read: “The BUBR was founded by Team ORIGIN on July 17, 2020 and is an alliance of different black cycling/ riding collectives based within the capital.

“The alliance utilises its collective power, network and in-

fluence to execute the annual activation.” BUBR added: “The BUBR is an annual 14-mile cycling activation that encourages more than 1,000 black people to ride a bike through London in solidarity on Black Pound Day.

alising our collective power as a community is important.

“There is a perception that black people do not cycle – this activation proves otherwise and in fact reinforces that black people are boundless.”

One rider who contacted The

“By the time we were in Hackney it was mad – I was in my element, nothing like this had happened before” “BUBR symbolises black unity, black empowerment and black love.

“We live in a society where structural and institutional racism is part of the fabric.

“To counter this reality we believe displaying our unity and re-

@thevoicenewspaper

Voice said he was blown away by the turn out on the day, sentiments repeatedly expressed from those who attended.

Julian enthused: “I couldn’t believe it when I got to Walthamstow, there were about 300-400 people there and the vibe was

@thevoicenews

so nice. There was a police escort all the way to Brixton which was also good.

“The thing that will stay with the most, though, was the way the peloton grew and grew and grew.

“By the time we were in Hackney it was mad.

“I was in my element, nothing like this had happened before.

PROGRESS

“I hope they do it again soon.

The biggest bike link up I ever saw in my community.”

Julian and others will be glad to hear next year’s fixture is already firmly in the diary.

As well as the bike ride itself though, BUBR have some other areas of interest they aim to ‘activate’.

“In addition to our annual landmark event BUBR will

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champion the progress, growth and activity of the different collectives that make up the alliance,” the statement said.

“Getting more black people on bikes and experiencing the joys and freedom that come with cycling within welcoming and safe spaces is a fantastic by-product of this initiative.

“This alliance is about being unapologetically black, we do not subscribe to assimilation in order to fit in, we express our truth through unity and empowering each other.

“Whether you are part of a club, collective or crew it does matter, the BUBR is here to support, champion and endorse you.”

Follow Black Unity Bike Ride on Instagram at @blackunitybikeride

www.voice-online.co.uk

THE VOICE

This is Brukout!

SEPTEMBER 2020 | 41

by Seani B

Let’s get ready to rumble They may have a long history of beef, but now two of Ghana’s hottest artists – Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy – are preparing to put all of that behind them in a clash...

“W

HEN TWO elephants clash, it is the ground

that suffers.”

That was the African proverb that stuck with me after speaking to two of Ghana’s biggest dancehall artists Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy.

When the two giants came to (literally) face to face at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards 2019, it felt like Ghana’s music suffered as the world looked on. Many Ghanaians had felt let down by their stars.

REAL

Just like the dancehall music scene in Jamaica, sometimes things can get a little bit too real and the music steps over into real life. After that incident at the GVMAs, both parties had to be called to the table to clear the air publicly – similar to Vybz Kartel and Ninjaman’s infamous clash at Sting 2003.

Thankfully that time has passed, and there seems to be no lingering animosity between them or their fans, who still have their favourites that they support with the loudest voices possible.

I see this weekly every Friday night as I broadcast my new Dancehall Reggae show on Asaase Radio 99.5FM across The Black Star.

I noticed on my first few weeks on air that If I played a Stonebwoy tune that Shatta Movement fans are quick on the messages on Twitter insisting I play their artist. This happens vice versa, too, with Stonebwoy’s Bhim Nation and is very reminiscent of Bounty and Beenie.

The comparison between Bounty and Beenie got even closer as it’s just been announced that the two Ghana-

ian dancehall giants will be facing off ‘verzuz’ style to really see who is the Dancehall King, even though Shatta Wale has been running with this title from his single release of the same name in 2014.

Both artists have been part of my playlists for many years, but I had never had the opportunity

“Now is a good time to use our differences to crush COVID” to speak with either of them until now.

I was given the task as a nonbiased, completely impartial DJ to launch The Asaase Radio Sound Clash, which has been dubbed ‘the clash to crush COVID’.

Ghana had been asked the question, ‘Who would you like to see clash?’, and it was an overwhelming cry of Shatta and Stonebwoy, below.

Shatta Wale, who just recently released the Already video with Beyoncé, wasn’t surprised by this as he told me: “We have been making the right moves and right steps and giving the right vibes to the right people.

People know we

fought for this ting, so it’s time for the judgement to come out and settle the score right.”

Judgement day has been set for September 12, but Stonebwoy, pictured below left, tells me: “This first happened 10 years ago, but this is the time to lay it down straight for the culture.”

I was surprised to hear that there had been a face off so long ago – so I was intrigued to know what the catalyst for this beef was...

“The reality of the culture and the tension and energy that dancehall culture brings brought it to that place,” Stonebwoy explains with a giggle.

But was it also the supporters that fanned the flames?

“Definitely, the fans pushed that thing, you know – but now is the time that we have to show them a different lifestyle and it not about guns and things like that,” Shatta says.

He further described his fans as “like the occult society or freemasons, anything we say we do it”. This brought a huge laugh from Stonebwoy rocking back and forth in his chair.

THE TIME IS NOW:

STREET

“My type of fans come straight from the street and know nothing about corporate, you know.

Shatta movements is like a religion, my fans worship me. I even fear for my life as anything I say they take it to serious” Stonebwoy, who seemed a little bit more relaxed and laid back, stated that his BHIM Nation fans and Shatta fans are up for it.

“This makes them happy, you know, this is what they wanted.

But my core nation is over confident and ready,” he tells me.

Regardless of who will win or lose the battle of giants, they are both aware and fully signed up to the notion of coming together to crush COVID. Shatta adds: “One thing about this situation is that COVID has taught us how to come together like this, Just look at Bounty Killer and Beenie Man. This show is about educating

Shatta, top and pictured left with Stonebwoy, says that the COVID-19 pandemic has taught people how to come together

and how to stay safe in this time.”

Stonebwoy told me about his personal experiences of losing people in this time – specifically Father German, who he knew from the States.

“Like Shatta said, now is a good time to use our differences to crush COVID, whilst we us the music to clash each

other in a musical clash!”

He ended the conversation with the very same quote I started this piece with, adding: “This is a musical clash, so when the music hits you, you feel no pain!”

The banter was real between the two artists and that was a joy to see, so we can

look forward to another memorial moment in Dancehall on September 12.

Tune into me every Friday night from 8pm local time (9pm GMT) on Asaase Radio 99.5FM across Ghana or anywhere around the world online.

42 | THE VOICE SEPTEMBER 2020

Lifestyle

Music

Blackbird rising

Lady Blackbird has a new direction – but with plenty of influences from the past

BY JOEL CAMPBELL

B

LACKBIRD, THE debut single from hotly tipped US vocalist Lady Blackbird, was released earlier this year – and if you haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing this wonderfully enchanting interpretation of Nina Simone’s powerful civil rights anthem … what are you waiting for?

Having worked with some of the biggest names in the business as a support and backup singer as well as flirting with a plethora of musical genres over the years, Lady Blackbird (aka Marley Munroe), is about to have her own moment and not before time.

This journalist has been lucky enough to hear the full extent of the project that will be coming your way later this year and it’s a corker.

Her voice is simply amazing, a blessed and finely honed instrument from God. It’s clear when we speak that she has been waiting in the wings for her time to shine and it’s going to a moment or two before she is used to the amount of plaudits that will inevitably come her way.

However, she’s clearly grateful that time seems to be now, even if the global pandemic did

“Every article and all of the comments so far, it’s been very well received. I’m very grateful, it’s been a journey” scupper plans for a more extensive rollout.

“It’s been amazing,” she says, referring to the way her debut single has been received.

She adds: “This whole COVID (situation) and everything being released now, we’re living in such a different time and having to go about things differently, but the feedback has been amazing.

FEEDBACK

“I’m not out there performing –no one is – but the feedback has been amazing.

“Every article and all of the comments so far, it’s been very well received. I’m very grateful, it’s been a journey. ” Compared to the likes of Grace Jones, Adele, Amy Winehouse, Celeste and reflecting influences as varied as Billie Holiday, Gladys Knight, Tina Turner and Chaka Khan, Los

READY TO SOAR: Lady Blackbird – AKA Marley Munroe – has album Black Acid Soul in the works (photos: Christine Solomon)

Angeles-based Lady Blackbird is humbled by the raft of greats being juxtaposed with her talent.

“Gosh, it’s a lot to live up to, but if that’s what people think then I am grateful for all of the compliments,” she says.

“The people I have been compared to, they are why I sing. They were the inspiration along the way and who I was raised listening to, so I feel very grateful.”

She’s taken something from them all but is distinctly herself which is best reflected on her forthcoming album, Black Acid Soul.

There isn’t a release date for the project as yet, but talking about the creative process of pulling it all together, Lady Blackbird said it started with the debut single.

“My producer and I were talking about making an album that was

@thevoicenewspaper

different from a lot of the other genres that I sang,” she says.

“I’ve done a few, probably more rock or alternative, however you want to call it, to now doing this Jazz album and it was really about just taking everything away and presenting myself in the rawest of formats.

“It was about really building an album around my voice, as opposed to building my voice around a big production and just really coming out bare.

NOISE

“That’s where it started and in talks about the jazz album we started pulling together these songs getting an understanding of what it would sound like.

I came across Blackbird years ago, the Nina Simone cover, and I absolutely loved it and it was what I brought to the table.

“I played it for (producer) Chris (Seefried) and he loved it. We actually went on the spot and he played some sort of noise, it wasn’t even an on key tune, nothing. There was no drum or anything, just this awkward sound and I went in and I recorded that vocal just to that.

“It was only supposed to be a demo but it was the vocal that actually ended up being used.”

Lady Blackbird’s organic moment of genius was finished in one of the greatest studios on

@thevoicenews

the planet, a blessing she says was like the cherry on top.

“Being in the legendary Studio B, (Prince’s room), in Sunset Sound with my band and my producer Chris Seefried was a ground-breaking moment for me as an artist.

“It helped me find a way to express who I am now and marked the re-birth of me as Lady Blackbird.”

She added: “It was Prince’s room and you look around, especially when you have been at it for a while, and you finally see the pieces coming together and feeling right.

“To look around and just feel like s**t’s happening – it was a wonderful experience and especially with this being the first project.”

So, what’s a while? Where has Lady Blackbird’s career taken her?

“I don’t want to give up my age,” she says with a broad smile etched across her face.

“I’ve always sung. I sang my whole life knowing this is what I wanted to do.

“I’ve always done something and it has been the one thing I have pushed for and worked hard towards. I’ve had people around me to help get me to this place.”

Since dropping Blackbird in May, Lady Blackbird has re-

voicenews

leased Beware The Stranger.

The song is a captivating reimagining of the ‘70s funk/soul anthem Wanted Dead Or Alive.

Originally performed by The Krystal Generation, the song was made popular by soul ensemble The Voices Of East Harlem, whose classic rare groove version was produced by Leroy Hutson and Curtis Mayfield and provided the inspiration for Lady Blackbird’s powerful, jazz-influenced reimagining.

VIBE

She enthuses: “When we started working on this song, we thought it would be cool to expand on the choir vibe that’s in the outro of the Voices of East Harlem version.

“It felt right to do a lyrical gender flip to the tell the story of a powerful woman with this powerful song.”

Her forthcoming debut album Black Acid Soul, which features a stellar band including former Miles Davis pianist Deron Johnson, presents a wholly fresh take on the jazz vocal idiom from an artist blessed with a bold, unmistakable voice.

She’s here to stay and with this debut solo works, she’s made a very exciting start.

Visit voice-online.co.uk for the full video interview

www.voice-online.co.uk

AUGUST 2020

THE VOICE |43

44 | THE VOICE SEPTEMBER 2020

Lifestyle

Business

Meet the fairy job-mother

FORCE OF GOOD: Arit Eminue says she wants those she takes on to be recognised for their talent, and not their skin colour

She left school with few GCSEs and saw little opportunity ahead of her – but now Arit Eminue has used her struggle to create a diverse recruitment agency to help people pursue their career dreams

BY ALANNAH FRANCIS

A

WARD-WINNING ENTREPRENEUR and career and business coach Arit Eminue spends her days – as she has done for 10 years – empowering people to realise their full potential and employment dreams – so it’s no wonder she’s called the ‘fairy job-mother’.

Eminue, who is of Nigerian heritage, and was raised in the northeast of England, started her business under her stairs as a single mother.

Having left school with few GCSEs, but not refusing to let that stop her from achieving her dreams, it’s fitting that she’s passionate about helping others do the same.

“I enjoy playing the fairy jobmother and helping people get work, helping really good brands to recruit talent so we were like a bridge between talent and really well sough after organisations,” Eminue tells Lifestyle.

Her company DiVA, a recruitment and training organisation, specialises in creative, business and digital apprenticeships.

Since 2005 she’s supported at least 1,000 individuals into employment via apprenticeships, internships as well as

“A lot of our business comes from word of mouth, and that’s how I always wanted it to be” through her group coaching workshops and one-to-one support.

To date DiVA has worked with some of the world’s most renowned entertainment media brands, including Sony Music, the BBC, Warner Music, Endemol Shine, Warner Bros and the Southbank Centre.

EFFORT

While the programmes DiVA develops with companies are not designed specifically to address diversity, it’s arguable that being a black woman with a majority black and minority ethnic workforce, is one of the main reasons its “without much effort” that they bring a diverse pool of candidates to the table.

Eminue is an advocate for racial equality – 50 per cent of the talent DiVa supports is from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, as are 84 per

cent of the organisation’s staff.

“As a business we are very diverse, so I think that’s why it happens organically and not something we have to force,” she says.

Just as many black people don’t want to be pigeonholed into roles where their sole remit is diversity and inclusion, Eminue didn’t want to be limited to only being called to find talent when organisation’s were specifically focused on improving the racial makeup of their workforce.

TALENT

“A lot of our business comes via word of mouth and that’s always how I’ve wanted it to be that we’re just good at what we do and then I just happen to be black. Because I think in the earlier stages when I was doing this…I just became the go-to person for diversity and nothing else, and I didn’t want that either.

I wanted people to just think, ‘Oh, she gets good talent’.”

She adds: “I just wanted to be recognised for the work that I did…I wanted people to see that I could compete with any recruitment agency or any training provider business.”

For Eminue, one of the most rewarding things about her work is “we help people get into companies that they would never think they have access to”.

Job hunting? Here are Eminue’s tips...

THINK about what’s right for you first because then you’ll be an asset to any company Write a job description for yourself for a role that you actually want to do, how much money you would like to earn, what kind of company you’d like to work in – and use that as a basis for when you’re looking for work Don’t spread yourself like margarine – as a recruiter I can sniff out your desperation. Be very strategic about what you’re applying for.

Follow the demand: If you’re not really

@thevoicenewspaper

@thevoicenews

bothered about what industry you’re working in, than be quite fluid.

Research: fill in knowledge gaps so you sound informed in your interview Practise: Many interview are being done online now so get a friend to interview you via Zoom, record it and watch yourself back to identify weaknesses Upskill: Use YouTube for introductions to new skills or the Open University to access free courses

voicenews

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THE VOICE SEPTEMBER 2020

Sport TOP SPORTS COVERAGE 24/7 VOICE-ONLINE.CO.UK/SPORT

OF SPORT NEWSPAPER

WIDER RECOGNITION Victory on the new Football Black List for the LGBT+ and black disabled community

By Mayowa Quadri

T

HE FOOTBALL Black List has announced that it will add two new awards to its annual celebration to help highlight the contribution of LGBT+ and black disabled people in football.

The move follows a call made

by Sky Sports News presenter, Jessica Creighton, for the highly respected awards night to specifically pay tribute to the Black LGBT+ community in the game.

The founders, Leon Mann and Rodney Hinds, responded swiftly by agreeing to the idea and also putting in place an award to recognise the excellence of black disabled people in the game.

The Football Black List, first published in The Voice in 2008, highlights black industry professionals who are positive influencers.

The initiative is designed to shine a light on role models for the next generation as a way of helping to diversify the industry. Those that make the list are awarded at the annual celebra-

“It’s vital to recognise, celebrate, support and show we all have something to offer” tion evening, where a number of other awards are also given to outstanding people from, or helping, the community.

Representation at the height of football has always been an issue. However, the issue is worse off the field of play.

The awards aim to demonstrate talent within various areas of the game including media, administration, coaching, commercial and grassroots.

Despite all of this, recent events in the world have highlighted that even within margin-

alised groups, individuals can still feel unseen and unheard.

Black women in football often contend with this by not only being black, but being female in a heavily male-dominated industry. The same can be said for members of the LGBT+ community and disabled people who are black.

VIEWS

Creighton recently shared her views on the topic. A member of the LGBT+ community, the presenter discussed how she “doesn’t think it’s an issue spoken about enough, especially within the black community”.

In a call to the Football Black List, the sports presenter called for recognition of the LGBT+ community – a call that was heard by the awards founders.

“We need to recognise those experiences that are different within the black community,” says FBL co-founder Mann.

“We will now have an LGBT+ award at the Football Black List.

Intersectionality is vital to recognise, to celebrate, to support and show that people within our

Cleal has all the right credentials to provide Premier equality success

By Rodney Hinds THE PREMIER League has appointed Paul Cleal as Equality Advisor to the Premier League Board.

He will provide independent advice on anti-discrimination policy, programmes and BAME progression within the Premier League and its clubs, which will help to build on the work already being undertaken in these important areas.

Cleal, right, was made an OBE in the 2020 New Year Honours list for his work in promoting diversity and inclusion and has been a member of the League’s Equality Standard Panel since October 2017.

LEADING LIGHT: Jessica Creighton has led the way in making sure credit has been given to the LGBT+ and black disabled community for their work within football

black community have different experiences.”

The action has been praised

by Creighton who on another call with Mann discussed how she thought the awards may be defensive to her request.

In response to this, Mann answered: “We can only be judged by our actions. If there is a question that is deemed diffi-

cult in probing the work you’re doing as an organisation, there are two ways to respond.

DEFENSIVE

“You can be defensive and talk about the efforts you have made, or you can take a step back, consider what’s been said and ask why that is and

Trent: ‘This is the one we all wanted’

By Rodney Hinds AFTER HELPING Liverpool end their 30-year wait to lift the Premier League title, Trent Alexander-Arnold says he knows more than most the joy of finally being crowned champions.

Alexander-Arnold delivered a goal and an assist in the 5-3 victory over Chelsea, before lifting the Premier League trophy on a special stage on the Kop.

A specialist in corporate finance, consulting and human resources, he has 30 years’ experience in private and public sectors, including as a partner and board member at PWC UK and Africa.

KNOWLEDGE

Richard Masters, Premier League chief executive, said: “We are delighted to have Paul join as Equality Advisor to the Premier League Board as he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in an area he is hugely respected for.

“We have a longstanding commitment to diversity and anti-discrimination and we want to ensure we have strong policies and programmes in place which Paul will help us further develop.”

@thevoicenewspaper

should we be changing something, before getting to action?”

The action taken has been well received by many and further aids the celebration evening’s purpose of recognising the incredible talent from across the wide spectrum of people that are integral to the black community and its success in the game and society.

JOY

SPECIAL MOMENT: Liverpool lad Trent Alexander-Arnold’s dream has come true

@thevoicenews

voicenews

And having grown up opposite Liverpool’s training ground and joined the club as a sixyear-old, Alexander-Arnold felt at one with the Reds’ fans in the joy at seeing them end their wait to be champions, especially after coming so close last season.

He said: “This is the one everyone wanted.

Last year was a disappointment not being able to win it, but this year’s been so special for us.

“I know probably more than the rest of the lads how much the fans really wanted this.”

www.voice-online.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2020

Sport

A 2020 vision

BLACK GIRLS CAN SWIM

CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO: Alice Dearing has teamed up with SOUL CAP to showcase the talents of black swimmers; pictured below, SOUL CAP founders Michael Chapman and Toks AhmedSalawudeen

Top British swimmer Alice Dearing aims to challenge perceptions in new short film along with creators of SOUL CAP

By Rodney Hinds

A

LICE DEARING, one of the top female marathon swimmers in Great Britain, together with specialist swimming brand SOUL CAP, have announced the release of a new online short film aimed at challenging the stereotypes surrounding the black community in the world of swimming.

Through an ongoing series of videos and articles, SOUL CAP and Dearing have been inviting members of the public to record and share their own positive and negative experiences with the issues faced by black swimmers, using the hashtag #BlackGirlsDontSwim.

These real-life stories and personal experiences form the basis of the two-minute short, Black Girls Don’t Swim, which was released on Instagram last month.

“Growing up as a black female swimmer in a predominantly white sport, there was a bunch of talk in the stands,”

THE VOICE | 47

Dearing. “But I’ve always be-

lieved that there’s a way around “Being a them.

Dearing has been a promiminority nent competitor on the global swimming stage since she was has had its crowned World Junior Open Water champion in 2016 at the challenges age of 19, representing Great at three World Champi– but there’s Britain onships and three European a way round Championships.

QUALIFY them” She is currently aiming Madison Freeland said, one of the contributors featured in the film. “[They would say], ‘Those girls have to be on steroids.

They’re probably swimming 80 hours a week just to swim this fast.’ Why couldn’t we just be talented swimmers?”

By raising awareness and opening a public discussion, Dearing hopes to increase participation in the sport and create new opportunities for talented athletes from every background.

“Being a minority in the water has had its challenges,” said

to qualify for the Olympic Games, where she would be the first woman of colour to swim for Great Britain.

This new campaign marks the start of Dearing’s recent partnership with SOUL CAP, a swimming brand that specialises in swimming caps

for long and voluminous hair.

Together, SOUL CAP and Dearing will be continuing to raise awareness with a series of articles authored

by Dearing, where she intends to share her own personal journey and struggles as a black athlete in the world of high-level professional swimming.

As part of their campaign, Dearing and SOUL CAP also have plans in place to host a series of coaching workshops for swimmers in local clubs around the UK, where ambitious swimmers from all backgrounds will have the opportunity to train and learn from Dearing herself.

“Unfortunately, these plans are currently postponed due to the ongoing pandemic.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re

an experienced swimmer, or someone who’s just starting out,” said Toks AhmedSalawudeen, director at SOUL CAP. “These stereotypes affect us all. And with your help, we can start to make swimming more accessible for everyone.”

To watch the new film (or to share your own personal swimming story) you can search Instagram with the hashtag #BlackGirlsDontSwim, or visit the SOUL CAP Instagram page @soulcapofficial.

To find out more about SOUL CAP, visit soulcap.com.

Chance for young presenters to get in lane with Formula E

By Natasha Henry

OFFERING A PODIUM: Jamie Reigle, right, wants youngsters to play a part in the Formula E franchise

NOT ONLY is Formula E setting the standard when it comes to climate change, their latest announcement shows they will soon become leaders in the fight to diversify motorsport.

They announced an open talent call for new presenters aged 18-24 on International Youth Day, and Formula E’s chief executive officer, Jamie Reigle, is keen to talk up the series’ plans to improve diversity within its organisation.

Motorsport has long been the bastion of middle-aged white males and the newest FIA series has already started to buck the trend with 46 per cent of their staff being female. Yet the Canadian, who has been in the role for a year this month, is well aware there is much more to do when it comes to age and ethnicity.

Reigle told the Voice of Sport: “The scheme is a call to action for youngsters to put themselves forward to come and be a part of our

paddock crew in a role that will see them analysing and commentating on Formula E. “The four finalists will get a chance to work with our existing team, with the winner taking on a role in Formula E next year.”

The focus on youth talent acknowledges that FE’s audience is slightly different from other race series, and hopefully the result will benefit all involved in the sport.

OPPORTUNITY

He adds: “We hope the initiative will create an opportunity and benefit us, primarily from an audience perspective, by allowing us to have a different tone of voice and a different approach in the content we produce.

“Our audience is younger and more likely to care about innovation and climate change so we want to talk to them in a more authentic way as well as create more opportunities and pathways for those looking to get into the industry.”

Not only will the winner become the new-

est on-screen and presenting star for the 2021 season, the four finalists will be paid to attend testing later this year and receive mentoring from the current media team which includes former E4 presenter, Vernon Kay. The media talent search is only the beginning of a long-term plan where fresh talent will regularly be recruited as the electric car series commits to improving diversity across the entire competition.

Reigle concludes: “My team and I want to create opportunities across the broader spectrum of this great product we have and ensure inclusivity across the entire series.

“Media is the first department we’ve focused on but we’ll be looking at all departments, such as engineering and medical.”

With the talent call open until midnight on September 12, Formula E’s aim is loud and clear.

The link to apply for the role is fiaformulae.com/en/competitions/opentalent-call-presenters

SEPTEMBER 2020 | THE VOICE

TOP SPORTS COVERAGE 24/7 VOICE-ONLINE.CO.UK/SPORT

OF SPORT NEWSPAPER

SUPER SIGNING World and Paralympic champion Kadeena Cox relishing her new challenge as a member of the British Athletics equality, diversity and inclusion advocates group

WELCOME ADDITION: Kadeena Cox has the right background for the role

By Rodney Hinds

P

ARALYMPIC AND world champion Kadeena Cox is the latest addition to the British Athletics equality, diversity and inclusion advocates group following the recent appointment of ImaniLara Lansiquot as the first athlete lead.

Kadeena was the first British athlete since 1984 to win Paralympic gold medals in two sports – athletics and cycling – at the same games back in 2016, and she joins the advocates group

at a crucial time. The group was established back in 2018 and works to support the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 through a variety of activities both internally and externally.

ADVICE

These are age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, maternity and pregnancy, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Kadeena will offer expert insight and advice from an athlete

perspective in her role as athlete lead alongside Lansiquot, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the group.

about being the voice and making changes for those of us in under-represented groups.

have a great input to the group.”

Equality, diversity and engagement lead at British Athletics, Donna Fraser, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Kadeena to the equality, diversity and inclusion advocates group.

“I’m super excited to be part of the ED&I team. I’m very passionate PASSIONATE about making changes for those “She reached out to offer her in under-represented groups” support and I’m pleased she Kadeena, the Paralympic T38 400m champion and world silver medallist from 2019, said: “I’m super excited to be part of the ED&I team. I’m very passionate

“I’m in a unique position where I am a female, black, disabled Christian who also is on the programme of a team less diverse than athletics, so think I can

is joining a group of individuals who are passionate about making a difference.

“We have made a lot of progress in recent times in this space, but we know there is

a lot more to do. Having Kadeena on board is a huge asset to the group as she brings with her great expertise and knowledge.

“So I am really looking forward to working with both her and Imani-Lara as our athlete leads moving forward.”