The Voice Newspaper: March 2023

£2.50 | MARCH, 2023 • ISSUE NO. 1940

MISOGYNOIR LAW FOR BLACK WOMEN NOW!

Pages 4 & 10

WORLD CLASS SPECIAL ISSUE: CELEBRATING WOMEN

STRONG: Weightlifter Nadine Guy p46

AMBITIOUS: Young Masterchef winner Keziah Whittaker p11

OUTSPOKEN: Campaigner Chantelle Lunt p6

BALANCE: Choreographer Dada Masilo p38

FROM THE AWARD-WINNING CREATORS OF JERSEY BOYS THE BROADWAY SENSATION COMES TO LONDON

FROM MARCH 2023 ||| PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE LONDON

*Image is of original Broadway cast. London cast to be announced.

NATURAL: Climate activist Elizabeth Wathuri p6

Inside THIS MONTH

Rough justice Victim-blaming culture stops reporting p8-9

Schools and special needs M to get kids helps

ROUNDUP NEWSPAPER

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Black women invisible to the law

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6. Murder charge over Briton shot in JA

The Forever Prisoners Campaign

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8. Black nurses targeted

Art of Black female identity Choreographer honours women’s strength p38

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I want muscles Nadine’s got the world in her strong arms p46

An update on missing schoolgirl case

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This issue is 48 pages

BLACK women are rendered invisible in the law because the out-of-date Equality Act fails to recognise intersectionality.

That means a Black woman challenging discrimination at work at a tribunal have to pick from gender or race, or include both as separate allegations.

The tribunal then decides each claim separately.

This makes no sense. A Black woman might face discrimination in circumstances where a Black man, or a white woman, would not.

Fundamentally, this is about believing Black women when they say their treatment is the result of a combination, not a coincidence, of race and gender.

The term misogynoir is more used in the States than the UK, but it encapsulates the need to recognise this combination, and it is about time our law caught up with the times. A Black, disabled, lesbian or trans woman might feel the combination of all four identities has brought them unfair treatment, yet the law says each needs to be proven individually.

It should be up to the victim to say if they believe they were targeted because they have multiple identities.

Black women deserve to be recognised not just as Black people, and not just as women, but as Black women where it is felt the two identities together have caused discrimination.

The call for Valerie’s Law, in memory of Valerie Forde who was killed by her partner, is essentially about recognising misogynoir. But it’s not just about the criminal justice system. Black women are worst hit by tax and benefit changes from successive budgets, especially during the period of austerity.

When it comes to preventing discrimination in the public sector, through what’s called ‘positive duties’, gender and race are rarely focussed on in tandem. overnment don t even keep figures for Black women taking out employment tribunals, only providing separate statistics for gender and ethnicity.

The law is hopelessly out of date.

Labour plan to reopen the Equality Act with ‘secondary legislation’ to enable all-Black political shortlists. While they are at it, they should introduce intersectionality to recognise misogynoir.

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

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MARCH 2023 THE VOICE

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Celebrating Our Sistahs

Tech-ing what is ours WORK TO BE DONE: fficial statistics have shown that while black women make up per cent of the workforce, they only make up per cent of IT professionals photo hristina orillo nsplash

Black women face barriers in the tech industry, but some sistahs are doing it for themselves. By Vic Motune

W

HILE THE tech industry claims to value merit where talent is rewarded, the reality is very different for women of colour.

Despite debates about diversity and inclusion, black women continue to face numerous obstacles in their efforts to enter the industry.

A recent report by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT and Coding Black Females (CBF), a non-profit aimed at opening up opportunities for black women in the tech industry, found that whilst black women make up 1.8 per cent of the UK workforce, they only make up 0.7 per cent of IT professionals.

That means for black women to be truly represented in IT there would need to be 20,000 more within the sector in addition to the 12,000 already working in IT to fill the gap.

Nnenna Stevenson, a product manager and business analyst, pictured inset below, landed a dream tech job with a leading corporation after completing her university studies in Nigeria.

However, the challenge of adjusting to a different workplace culture as the only black woman on her team nearly derailed her fledgling career.

at a recent event in At the time I speakers London called The Experiences Women of Colour in Tech. didn’t really of The panel debate, held by BCS, The Chartered Institute understand for IT and sponsored by BCS Women, aimed to highlight the what was challenges women of colour in the tech industry face. harassment Over 350 black women were or bullying polled in the BCS/CBF report She told The Voice: “In this particular job I was the only black person on the team and the only woman apart from my manager.

“I pretty much hit the ground running but then there were a lot of conflicts with my manager. She began to pick up on small mistakes in my work and spent more time criticising me than the male team members.”

Nnenna was later hospitalised due to work-related stress.

Despite this, her manager questioned her illness and demanded that Stevenson send her pictures with an intravenous drip to prove she was actually in hospital.

“At the time I didn’t really understand it as harassment or bullying,” she recalls. “I only knew that my managers were giving me a hard time.”

A turnaround came when the company she worked with merged with a Canadian firm.

“After the merger they replaced this manager, and the person who took over her role gave me so compli many compliments about my work and was so supportive. It made me think about why my man previous manager had given me such a hard time.”

Stevenson’s experience is not unique. She was one of the

and many respondents felt they had to work twice as hard as their white counterparts, and were required to have more skills and experience than other candidates applying for jobs.

Several of those questioned felt they had to prove themselves constantly as they did not fit the ‘tech bro’ archetype.

Others talked about facing microaggressions as the only black women in predominantly white teams.

The report recommended making interview and recruitment practices more inclusive and considering a variety of routes into the industry, promoting flexible working options, reviewing the inclusivity of recruitment algorithms, and conducting outreach events in the local community.

It also called for senior tech executives to develop achievable career progression pathways to increase the number of black female IT professionals in senior positions.

For Stevenson, this is a key step that provides much-needed visibility.

“One big issue is we don’t see enough people of colour as role models or mentors who can help us see the possibility of a tech career,” she says.

Kavita Kapoor, an awardwinning technologist focusing on artificial intelligence, believes that in order to make systemic change, it’s important to change the way that businesses are structured.

She believes the tech industry should follow the lead of the European Union to demand equal representation of men and women on company

boards, and go further with representation from diverse backgrounds.

“If you are a company working with customers from different communities or you happen to be an organisation based in the UK but working across borders with people from diverse backgrounds, why shouldn’t your board or investors be representative of that?”

However, it is not only female tech industry employees who face substantial obstacles.

Recent research looking into how venture capital – a form of financing given to technology startups – is invested according to race and gender makes for depressing reading.

A 2020 report by Extend Ventures revealed that between 2009 and 2019, just 0.24 per cent of venture capital investment in the UK went to black entrepreneurs, just 38 businesses in total.

Out of those, only one black female founder raised ‘Series A’ funding across the 10-year period.

Despite the odds, and with

@thevoicenewspaper

@thevoicenews

INCLUSIVE

limited funding, diverse entrepreneurs are building thriving businesses in various tech sectors, including fintech, legal tech and proptech.

These founders are also increasingly making a difference in the emerging field of “tech for good”, where technology is used to bring about positive social change.

It’s a trend that unnohasn’t gone unno ticed by Goog Google, which has backed these ownbusiness own ers through its Black Founders Fund. compaOther compa nies such as TikTok, Dell Technologies and Deepmind are among those that have supported events like Black Tech Fest, which showcases technological innovation by entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.

One such entrepreneur is London-based Giselle Frederick, pictured inset. She recently launched Sonaar, a platform that matches grassroots community organisations with diaspora professionals so that they can collaborate on projects that contribute to the development of black communities.

voicenews

Frederick is cautiously optimistic about major companies who are actively showing an interest in supporting diverse female entrepreneurs.

“There’s been a lot of programmes and initiatives trying to increase the numbers of minority and female coders and programmers or people with skills in areas such as artificial intelligence and data sourcing, for example,” she says.

DISPARITY

“As a result of this, we’re seeing more and more people in the black community launch tech start-ups, certainly compared to five years ago. But there’s still a disparity between who gets to participate.”

Frederick continues: “Just because there’s more data being found on black tech start-ups and programmes to encourage them, it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s going to be more successful black start-ups.

“These companies may be producing good technology, but I think there’s still a gap in understanding the black experience among the people providing the funding. We are on a good trajectory, we’re heading in the right direction, we just need to speed things up.”

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4 | THE VOICE MARCH 2023

Celebrating Our Sistahs

Mums taking charge Postnatal depression is more common for black women, who are also less likely to seek help.

INVESTIGATION by Sinai Fleary

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LACK BRITISH mothers are scared to seek help for postnatal depression because they fear their babies will be taken away, our investigation has revealed.

Postnatal depression impacts one in every 10 women who give birth in the UK, and can also affect fathers.

According to research, black mothers are 13 per cent more likely to face postnatal depression or anxiety than white mothers.

Experts believe the increased risk is due to other societal inequalities black women face like deprivation, social isolation, exposure to trauma, lower income, food insecurity, housing and immigration problems.

Despite black mothers being more vulnerable, they are the least likely to ask for help.

There is an additional factor, distrust of the medical system which is acting as a barrier preventing many from seeking the help they need.

Sandra Igwe is the founder and CEO of the Motherhood Group, a leading support group for black mothers in the UK. She told The Voice: “A lot of black mothers don’t see mental health services as they see it as part of a wider system, the healthcare system as a whole.

“They are hearing about all of these horrible disparities that affect us more, such as we are more likely to have neonatal deaths, stillborn babies, complications, die during pregnancy, all of these horrifying statistics, so we don’t trust the system as a whole.”

These concerning statistics are stopping black women from going to healthcare professionals. Ms Igwe said there is also a fear among black women that if you are suffering from postnatal depression “our babies will be taken away.”

In 2016, the businesswoman fell pregnant with her first child. She recalls being “harmed by the system” during her pregnancy and says she experienced discriminatory treatment from a midwife because of the colour of her skin. She added: “When I went on to have symptoms of depression, I did not want to go back to the system that

Sometimes it’s feeling like you’re not good enough.

It shows itself in avoiding people I thought all worked cohesively together to not have my best interests at heart.”

According to the NHS, some of the most common symptoms of postnatal depression include a persistent feeling of low mood or sadness, lack of energy, feeling tired all the time, isolating yourself from family and friends and lack of enjoyment or interest in things.

Ms Igwe said: “I didn’t know I had depression because I was still cleaning, cooking and was very efficient, but as black women when we display signs of depression it’s not necessarily the standard Eurocentric way of looking at depression.

FRUSTRATION

“Sometimes it’s feeling like you’re not good enough, feeling like you are not doing enough, sometimes it’s taking on too much and feeling quite burnt out. It shows itself in avoiding people and isolating yourself further.”

Ms Igwe founded the Motherhood Group out of frustration that there were not enough support services out there that specifically catered to black women and that were “culturally competent or culturally sensitive”.

TOUGH TIMES: Leeanne Adu admits she didn’t enjoy her pregnancy but has bonded completely with her daughter Tiana She never sought professional help, but says attending church regularly and setting up her organisation as a safe space for black mothers has been therapy to help her through depression. “I did everything but go back to the system with my first daughter because of that fear of racism, further trauma, and babies being taken away, using what you said against you,” she added.

Ms Igwe also cites a “lack of transparency” within the health system as a reason many black

women are now turning to their aunties, family, friends and faith institutions for support.

“We already have many labels being black, being a woman, you don’t want to have another label attached to you relating to mental ill health.”

Leeanne Adu, 38, from Lewisham, south-east London, found out she was expecting her first child in April 2017.

At first, she was convinced she would have an easy pregnancy because she was exercising regularly and training

What is postnatal depression?

HAVING a baby is a lifechanging experience and most women can feel tearful and anxious during the first week after giving birth.

This is known as the “baby blues” and is con-

sidered normal and quite common.

However, if your symptoms last longer or start later, it could be a sign that you could have postnatal depression.

The NHS emphasises

that your mental health is as important as your physical health and if you are worried about yourself or someone else but it’s not an emergency contact your GP or call 111.

for a marathon at the time. But things took a turn for the worst and Ms Adu began to feel very unwell.

She said: “I got every single symptom straight away, I couldn’t eat anything but potatoes or ice lollies for three months.

PANIC

“I couldn’t walk to the end of the road without throwing up.”

Ms Adu was constantly exhausted and said she felt pressured to disclose her pregnancy to her former employers very early on.

Her condition got worse and she was forced to take time off work and this began to impact her mental wellbeing.

Ms Adu disclosed she has previously had depressive episodes throughout her life and informed health professionals at the beginning of her pregnancy, who allocated her a mental health midwife.

She thought ‘I’m not going

to need that again, I’m going to be fine’ but said as she got further along in her pregnancy the problems continued.

The mother-of-one was diagnosed with Pelvic Girdle Pain, which meant she could no longer walk or jog and this “sent her to rock bottom” and admits she “didn’t enjoy” her pregnancy.

“My mental health just dropped and I felt incredibly anxious,” she explained.

Ms Adu remembers experiencing frightening periods when she started imagining the worst would happen.

This was debilitating and forced her to stay indoors because she feared she would be involved in an accident.

At six months pregnant, she was signed off work with high blood pressure and was having panic attacks.

Ms Adu said having the same mental health midwife for the entirety of her pregnancy helped her.

MARCH 2023 THE VOICE

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Celebrating Our Sistahs

of their mental health HELP IS OUT THERE: Joanna Hipplewith, far left, spokesperson for the UK Council for Psychotherapy, says there are different types of help available (photo: TkeyahRenee Hipplewith); left, having a baby comes with a lot of pressure (photo: PNW Production); below, Sandra Igwe, founder of the Motherhood Group (photo: Angella)

Ms Adu had a strong support system but still struggled because she simply didn’t want to “burden” her husband with how she was feeling.

Her baby was due in December 2017, but a month before her due date Ms Adu was rushed to hospital because “her feet were swollen and had doubled in size” and she could no longer wear her wedding ring.

She had developed Preeclampsia – a condition that causes high blood pressure during pregnancy and after labour – which if left untreated can be serious. “I was in hospital for a week where they tried to induce me. When my daughter was engaged to come out, she went right back up.”

Ms Adu had to have a caesarean, but she wanted to wait until the baby was ready, which left her devastated.

She said: “I had my caesarean, it didn’t go well, I was awake for it, it took quite a long time and the anaesthetic wore off.”

Ms Adu suffered other complications during the procedure and said she wanted her husband present when she had surgery, but he was told to leave the room.

Again, she said this made her feel even more anxious and scared. She added: “I didn’t feel very looked after in the hospital I was in.”

After having her healthy baby girl, Ms Adu continued to

experience what she calls a lack of care from medical staff.

She added: “I was always told I was doing something wrong.”

Despite all the challenges she faced, Ms Adu said: “I bonded with her completely, the source of the postnatal depression was probably the trauma.

“When I thought of postnatal depression I thought it would be like I didn’t love my baby, I didn’t want to be around her, and it was the total opposite, I clung on to her with every fibre of my being. She was the only thing that got me through each day.”

The turning point for the new mother came after seeing her health visitor and mental health professionals.

She said: “Seeing my health visitor was really useful. I think a lot of people are scared of health visitors, but I had a great one who directed me to some great local services like my local children’s centre — who had courses like Mindful Mums — which was part of their local Mind branch.”

Ms Adu credits the group of mums – who she is still in touch with today – for helping her get her life back.

She said: “I sat in that

group and every week I cried and cried, but eventually I became a volunteer because it helped so much. That group changed my life!”

She also attended another group about understanding how the brain changes during motherhood.

She says both groups encouraged her to go back on

medication when her daughter was four months old and says it has “made a huge difference.”

Ms Adu quit her stressful job and said that has helped because she “couldn’t go back into an environment that was so unsupportive throughout my pregnancy”.

She now runs her own business, a successful remote PA support agency and volunteers helping other new mums who are struggling.

The entrepreneur is urging others to shake off the ‘strong black woman’ label and take the brave step and tell someone how they feel.

She said: “Something may not be normal to you, but it is very common.

“Lean on the people that you love and that love you, talk to them, don’t be afraid to tell someone how you are feeling.” diagMs Adu was diag agnosed with an ag gressive form of breast cancer in un2020 and un derwent treat treatment and now has no evidence of disease.

After overcoming enjoyso much, she is enjoy raising every moment rais ing her daughter and helping other mums.

When asked about her daughter, Tiana, who is now five years old, Ms Adu beamed

and described her as “amazing, loving, clever, cheeky, witty and such a joy to be around.”

Joanne Hipplewith, a psychotherapist and spokesperson for the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), said there will always be social, historical and environmental factors that contribute to the mental wellbeing of black women and the black community which need to be understood.

She said: “Depression does lead to a lot of negative thoughts that you can have about yourself and your abilities.”

ASHAMED

She urged any woman who feels they need help to come forward and not be ashamed as having a baby comes with a lot of “pressure”.

Ms Hipplewith has over 20 years’ experience working with mental health and says there are different types of help available including talking therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

“It’s really important for black communities to know that there are black organisations they can make contact with to help with mental health.

“There is help and support, there is no fear, there is no shame in approaching mental health services.

“We all have mental health, so it’s not just other communities, there is help available

and there are low-cost options available.

“Therapy is tough and it is not just a listening thing, think about what is going to be right for you, contact different therapists and get recommendations and give it a go, because there is no harm in asking for help.”

She said under the Mental Health Act, black people are subject to a formal detention at a disproportionate rate, in comparison to their white counterparts – who might go through more informal processes first.

She said this disparity needs to be addressed and is directly linked to the political and social discourse that “black is dangerous.”

Ms Hipplewith says the stigma associated with mental health issues will continue to act as a barrier to those seeking help, unless more awareness campaigns are targeted at Britain’s black community.

As part of The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network (BAATN), she said more members of the black community are seeking black therapists but has noticed a pattern in the ages of those coming forward with the younger generation “more open” to seek help.

She added: “I think there is still a gap with the 30 plus generation and I don’t think it is very common within our community to seek therapy.”

6 | THE VOICE MARCH 2023

Celebrating Our Sistahs

Leading the charge...

The Voice salutes the tireless campaigners who made waves over the past year. By Richard Sudan

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LACK WOMEN have always led the charge in producing change and standing up for our communities at home, and in the wider diaspora. There are so many names to hail up. We pay tribute and express gratitude for some of the Black community’s sistah trailblazers making special waves over the past year.

ILHAN OMAR ELIZABETH WANJIRU WATHUTI

KENYAN ENVIRONMENTAL activist Elizabeth Wanjiru Wathuti’s experiences of deforestation and climate change in her community has transformed her into an internationally recognised advocate for change.

The 27-year-old founded the Green Generation Initiative, is the recipient of numerous awards, and has given a voice to many communities, especially in the Global South, while on a mission to reconnect future generations to nature.

SASHA JOHNSON

THE UK’s Sasha Johnson played one of the key front line roles in galvanising and energising Britain’s Black Lives Matter protests which were organised following the death of George Floyd.

The UK protests led to Black grassroots mobilisation especially among young people, and were so effective that many believe it led to the government clamp down on protesting. A new generation was inspired by Sasha’s work.

Unfortunately Sasha remains on the road to recovery after sustaining serious and life changing injuries following a shooting incident in South London. Everyone at The Voice wishes Sasha and her family the very best and the community is grateful for her work and courage.

ILHAN OMAR is a prominent member of ‘The Squad’ of progressive Democrats elected to US Congress, and the first uslim woman in the House of Representatives.

A staunch critic of Apartheid in Palestine, Omar has continued to hold the government to account since first entering politics several years ago. Omar was recently removed from the Foreign Affairs committee by her Democrat colleagues after a racist campaign by rightwing Republicans such as Marjorie Taylor Greene.

CHANTELLE LUNT, founder of Merseyside’s Black Lives Matter movement, is credited with generating mass support for the ‘Kill the Bill’ campaign which produced opposition protests to the government’s controversial draconian policing act. unt, a former police officer, remains committed to the fight for justice for Black and marginalised communities and has long sought to highlight racism e perienced by lack police officers as well as campaigning for racial equality in society.

UK BORN and of Zimbabwean heritage, Korrine was one of the Black people escaping Ukraine, which she called home during her studies at the outbreak of war, one year ago.

Korrine made it her mission to create a non-stop flow of information and advice which helped many other lack people find safe routes out of the warzone.

Not only this, but the aspiring doctor and her team also raised thousands of pounds to support those who remained trapped in Ukraine as the bombs started to drop and endeavoured to help them get back into education. That’s what leadership looks like.

JACQUELINE McKENZIE

JACQUELINE McKENZIE deserves a special mention, as one of the key figures leading the charge in fighting for ustice for our Windrush communities.

One of many lawyers working tirelessly around the clock, McKenzie has raised the plight of those on the receiving end of the government’s hostile environment while ensuring that many wrongly destined for deportation by the ome ffice have been pulled from planes, often at the last minute, giving them a fighting chance to remain in the UK. McKenzie has also proved instrumental in giving Black communities a fighting chance to secure something meaningful from the shadow government’s long-awaited proposed Race Equality Bill.

MEGHAN MARKLE

CHANTELLE LUNT

KORRINE SKY

WHETHER you count yourself a republican or a royalist, the racist storm Meghan Markle has weathered simply for being a Black woman in a white institution deserves respect.

Despite revelations by her own admission that her mental health was deeply impacted by her experiences in ‘The Firm’, the constant trolling by the likes of Piers Morgan, Markle must be an inspiration to many young Black girls up and down the country.

The system has tried to break Meghan Markle but has failed, and racist sections of the media hate it. Markle deserves support and respect for remaining true to herself in the face of relentless and baseless attacks.

DR SHOLA MOS-SHOGBAMIMU

UK DISCOURSE would not be the same without the unflinching and outspoken voice of Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu.

The British Nigerian lawyer is a regular feature on our TV screens, calling out white supremacy, its apologists, while pulling no punches.

In an era of cancel culture, and media attacks with the war on ‘woke’ (which we know means Black people) Dr Shola tells it like it is a breath of fresh air. We love and respect the fact that racists hate her although we suspect that deep down they secretly admire her voice and watch all of her videos.

AFUA HIRSCH

AFUA HIRSCH is a household name in the UK, a successful journalist, author, producer and TV personality.

Over the years Hirsch has consistently used her platform to speak and promote issues at the heart of the Black community in the UK but also in the wider diaspora.

Hirsch has appeared on many debates around race and racism, and is a powerful voice for our community.

Hirsch has also been targeted by the government for her views on anti-racism and is the author of the best-selling book ‘Brit-(ish)’ which deals with race and identity in modern contemporary Britain.

MARCH 2023

THE VOICE | 7

AWARDS PROGRAMME LAUNCHED TO CELEBRATE NATION’S OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEERS

Steve and Blessing

Her Majesty meeting Steve Barnabis at the Big Jubilee Lunch 2022

Volunteering charity announces an exciting opportunity for community heroes

Volunteering

Royal Voluntary Service is looking for volunteer nominations in eight award categories, including: supporting older people; supporting young people and children; crisis and welfare; community; sports, culture, and heritage; health and care; sustainability and the environment; and animal welfare.

People are encouraged to nominate volunteers who have been having a positive impact on their communities within the last five years. Nominations will be judged by an expert panel that will be looking for volunteers who take initiative, inspire others and are frequently involved in volunteering. Judges stress that a nominee doesn’t have to volunteer formally with a charity or organisation but can also lend a hand informally in their community.

Her Majesty The Queen Consort said: “I am delighted to be launching the Coronation Champions Awards with the Royal Voluntary Service, to

shine a light on the herculean efforts of our nation’s volunteers. Up and down the country, millions of unsung heroes are contributing to their local communities, giving generously of their time and their talents to enhance the lives of others.

“If you know a volunteer who is making a difference, please be sure to share their story. We would love to hear about them!”

Invited

A total of 500 volunteers will be selected as the nation’s Coronation Champions and will receive a specially designed, official Coronation Champions pin and a certificate signed

by Her Majesty The Queen Consort.

The awards also present a once-ina-lifetime opportunity for volunteers whose nominations are successful, as all 500 Coronation Champions will be invited to attend one of the official Coronation celebrations, such as the Windsor Castle Coronation Concert or a Coronation Garden Party.

To celebrate and inspire the next generation of volunteers in particular, nominations are open to people aged 14 and over, with judges on the lookout to recognise rising stars in volunteering and ‘Young Coronation Champions’ (aged 14-18).

Rising Star

One such rising star nominated for an award is Blessing Itungaa, a 16-yearold Youth Champion volunteer with Project Zero Walthamstow. Project Zero is an organisation dedicated to engaging young people in positive activities to promote social inclusion, reduce anti-social behaviour and to

strengthen community cohesion.

Blessing discovered Project Zero and volunteered when she was just 13. And despite now being a college student with a busy social life, Blessing is so passionate about her role that she finds time to volunteer at least once or twice a week, and even daily during school holidays.

Blessing said: “I started at Project Zero when I was 13. I just thought I’d come along to see what it was about and I quickly fell in love with it. It represents the things that I stand for.

I have younger siblings and I want them to be a part of a community that has opportunities for them, and that is a safe place for them to grow up.

“I do a lot of different things to help out the staff and the young people. I help the staff by running activities, or even helping to create new activities, and generally giving an extra hand.

I’m also there to give guidance to the young people that come along to our youth club, events and workshops.

Nominating

“I love taking part in projects that will have a positive impact on our community. As a Youth Champion I’ve met the Mayor of Walthamstow and local politicians. I’ve been involved in conversations where I can share my input as a young person in our community, and it’s nice to know that I’m part of a bigger project that will help other young people in the future.

“It feels really good to be recognised for the work I do, and I felt really proud when Steve said he was nominating me for a Coronation Champions Award. To me, I just love what I do and it’s part of my routine now, but it’s so good to know that

people see it as something amazing.

“I am proud that I am accomplishing things at a young age. I used to be shy and timid and now I’ve learnt all these skills, and my public speaking and confidence have changed drastically. I’ve struggled with my self-worth before, and working with Project Zero and being recognised has really helped with that. It motivates me to continue to contribute and to do even more.”

Project Founder

Blessing was nominated by Project Zero founder, Steve Barnabis. Steve was honoured with his own accolade last year, when Royal Voluntary Service delivered the Platinum Champions Awards to honour volunteers as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Jubilee.

Steve founded Project Zero in 2019 after losing two young family members to violent crime. The title of the organisation comes from Steve’s goal of seeing a year when there has been zero deaths of a young person from knife or a violent crime.

Steve said: “It was a great honour to receive a Platinum Champions Award, and to meet Her Majesty. For me, you don’t do it for recognition, but when it happens, it’s a really good thing.

“I wanted to pass on that good feeling to Blessing. She was ecstatic and over the moon when I told her I was nominating her. But she absolutely deserves it, she’s an amazing Youth Champion. Blessing is always there when we need her and we know we can count on her for anything. Even when she’s going through things of her own, she’s still able to rise above.

“She’s also a really good role mod-

el. Last year Blessing and some of our Youth Champions did a recruitment drive that brought onboard 20 new people, by talking about what they do and inspiring them. It was just incredible.

“There’s often so much negativity out there, that programmes like the Coronation Champions Awards which celebrate and acknowledge people and use them as good examples, are really needed. Especially for young people who unfortunately can get a lot of negative press, when we can talk about how inspirational they are and the good things they can achieve, that’s much better for everyone.”

The Voice readers are encouraged to nominate volunteers who are making a difference in their communities, online at: www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/ coronation-champions-awards Nominations close at 23:59 Sunday 2nd of April.

Royal Voluntary Service is immensely grateful for the generous support of our brand partners Simplyhealth, for supporting the Health and Care category, Sky through its Sky Cares programme, for supporting the Community category and Petplan, for supporting the Animal Welfare category.

SCAN ME TO NOMINATE

A

new awards programme, the Coronation Champions Awards, has been launched

by Royal Voluntary Service with the support of Her Majesty The Queen Consort, to celebrate extraordinary volunteers.

The national volunteering charity is encouraging people to nominate the volunteers in their lives who they believe deserve to be honoured with a Coronation Champions Award. The awards programme is an opportunity for exceptional people in all corners of the UK to be recognised and thanked for the volunteering work they do to support their communities, as part of the Coronation.

8 | THE VOICE MARCH 2023

Celebrating Our Sistahs

‘Victim-blaming stops victims coming forward’ Black women who suffer sexual or domestic abuse are getting rough justice. By Leah Mahon

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HERE ARE an estimated 128,000 victims of rape each year, 98 per cent of which are committed by men, Home Office figures show.

Just 1.6 per cent of rapes reported to police in 2020 resulted in a charge or summons.

This means that the majority of survivors did not see their case even make it to court.

A large factor why most men escape justice is the fear of victims themselves will be made to feel in some way responsible.’

Victim-blaming culture is prevalent everywhere from society and social media, to the police and questioning by barristers in court.

Black women are even more likely to have their accounts doubted, and even blamed for the actions of the men who raped them.

For Black women, the experience of speaking out against violence is much harsher. Black victims of sexual assaults and rape were 1.5 times less likely to see police bring charges against their alleged abuser in comparison to white victims.

Black and ethnic minority women are more likely to be criminalised and viewed as complicit in violence perpetrated against them.

These women are less likely to be seen as victims of sexual violence and can endure harmful assumptions from professionals who pathologise violence as part of a “cultural norm”.

The Voice is supporting the campaign for Valerie’s Law which is calling for these very disadvantages stacked against Black women in particular to be stamped out.

The law calls for police and other government bodies to undergo mandatory cultural training to better support Black victims of sexual and domestic abuse in efforts to bridge this gap.

It’s named after Valerie Forde and her 22-month-old daughter, who were brutally murdered in March 2014 by her ex-partner after she made

calls to the police about threats made to burn down her house.

They were recorded as a threat to property, instead of a threat to life.

The case of Valerie, and many others, offer a glimmer into a culture of victim-blaming that is entrenched in societal norms at every stage that victims have to endure disclosing the abuse, to reporting to the police and how it underpins the criminal justice process.

The 2021 rape review itself was criticised by experts for failing to include the lived realities of ethnic minority women.

A major part of what’s lost in the debate around genderbased violence is the physiological impact on countless victims.

MISOGYNY

Veronica Simpson is a specialist in domestic and sexual abuse, and works closely with survivors from faith and ethnic minority communities. She believes that victim-blaming culture has had roots in misogyny for decades.

“When we’re talking about sexual violence, sexual abuse, sexual assault, it’s a man problem. It really isn’t the victim’s problem,” she explains.

“I work with victims, survivors, it is never up to us to decide whether the allegations are true or not. We have to ensure that we believe the victim when somebody discloses that they’ve been sexually assaulted. It’s not up to us to decide or make judgement, it’s for the courts to do that.”

She said the need to support victims was paramount.

“They’re going to feel different than other people. They’re going to internalise those emotions of ‘why me’, that selfblame, shame, guilt in that they might think about suicidal ideation, suffer from anxiety, depression. The impacts can be lifelong.”

Victim-blaming is a part of a deluge of rape myths and is nothing new. But in an era of #MeToo and violence against women and girls, the onus

of blame put on victims who come forward with allegations of rape and or sexual assault couldn’t be more obviously embedded into our culture.

When the #MeToo movement first emerged in 2017, it was a reckoning moment for women around the world as they shared their harrowing stories of sexual violence and harrasment.

The hashtag was coined by sexual abuse survivor, Tarana Burke, but Hollywood stars made it global and, when it did, it led to the downfall of abusers like Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein.

Here in the UK, the allegations of sexual misconduct against Tim Westwood, which he denies, also faced similar scrutiny as some of his victims were underage and all were Black women and girls.

As each survivor came forward with their experience of abuse, there was backlash on how they came to find themselves as victims and the ways in which they could have prevented it. Veronica says that

Victim blaming is all too common when it comes to domestic abuse this unhealthy focus on blame instead of what the victim has disclosed, only minimises their experience and fails to hold perpetrators to account.

“One of the reasons people blame victims is to distance themselves from anything that’s unpleasant. We don’t understand it. We have an opinion, and we voice our opinion based on ignorance.

“It’s just a conversation for other people, it’s not their experience. People will say absolutely anything because it doesn’t affect them,” says Ms Simpson.

It was only weeks away from spring and, amid a nationwide Covid lockdown, that the coun-

try was gripped and horrified that a woman walking alone at night suddenly went missing.

Sarah Everard was kidnapped, raped and murdered in March 2021 by a serving Met police officer as she walked home from a friends house.

The case sparked vigils across the country and new questions about the scale of the toxic culture in the Met as well as the safety of women and girls on UK streets.

Sarah did everything right.

She walked on a well-lit street and she rang her boyfriend en-route. Yet, amid the national grief of what happened to the 33-year-old marketing executive, there were still loud murmurs of why she chose to walk the street late that night and it was even suggested that women should hail down a bus if they felt threatened by a male officer.

The government’s rape review only unearthed how deep this culture ran. Published in 2021, this was an “end to end” report that prompted ministers to admit they were “deeply

ashamed” that thousands of women were being failed by the criminal justice system in England and Wales.

Abigail Ampofo, Director of Service Delivery at Refuge, said: “Victim blaming is all too common when it comes to domestic abuse and sexual violence, perpetrators often use victim blaming to make a survivor feel the abuse they have experienced is their fault. Abuse is always the responsibility of the perpetrator.”

IMPACT

Victim-blaming culture has a huge impact on a survivor and can stop them reporting crimes that they have experienced or seeking support from specialist services.

“Only one in five survivors of domestic abuse report the crimes they have experienced to the police.

“Institutionalised racism within statutory agencies such as the police, social services, or housing authorities compound victim-blaming culture for Black women and girls. Refuge

MARCH 2023 THE VOICE

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Celebrating Our Sistahs

TRAILBLAZER: Tarana Burke started the #MeToo movement, which first emerged in and saw women take to the streets hears about the additional barriers Black women face when coming forward to report domestic abuse.

“Black women and girls are being disproportionately dismissed and sidelined, we know that Black women’s concerns are less likely to be taken seriously and that they’re also less likely to be referred to support organisations.

“Refuge supports Sistah Space’s Valerie’s Law campaign

to ensure cultural competency training is mandatory for all relevant government agencies, including the police to ensure Black women and girls are met with trauma informed support, not the current prevalent victim blaming culture.”

If you need to access specialist support, please call Sistah Space on 0207 846 8350 or visit their website at www.sistahspace.org

TRAGIC: Valerie-Forde was murdered along with her baby by her former partner in

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10 | THE VOICE MARCH 2023

Celebrating Our Sistahs

Time for those in power to give Black women respect!

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LACK FEMINISTS are demanding equality laws recognise Black women with an intersectionality approach.

The Equality Act 2010 treats each ‘protected characteristic’ as separate, so a Black woman who takes their boss to an Employment Tribunal needs to pick gender or race, or list them both as individual points.

Critics say the law does not acknowledge ‘misogynoir’ where discrimination against Black women would not have taken place if the victim was a Black man or a white woman.

MPs in the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Race and Community have previously held a session looking at the need to update the law for intersectionality.

Labour MPs are hopeful that an incoming government led by Sir Keir Starmer would reopen the Equality Act to enshrine misogynoir in statute.

In the aftermath of Sarah Everard’s murder, thousands of women challenged the scourge of violence perpetrated against women and girls in the UK to finally be confronted.

Some came forward with their own experiences of sexual assault harassment, walking home at night after

WOMEN TOGETHER: A more equal system is the key to success (Getty Images); left, EVAW director Andrea Simon is striving to achieve that

Experts call for government to end what many see as blatant discrimination. By Leah Mahon work or the man that wouldn’t listen to the word ‘no’.

The government responded with an inquiry that would unravel the toxic culture in the Met and the rape review pledged justice for millions of women that had been failed by the system.

However, feminists and women’s right campaigners urged the powers-that-be to include the inevitable and inextricably linked experiences of Black women to be included in the national reform.

First coined in 2010, the term misogynoir was brought to prominence by American academic M o y a Bailey

– an outspoken gay, Black feminist who defined it as a “particular brand of hatred directed at Black women in American visual and popular culture”.

For some, the experience is not just about being Black and a woman, it’s about being both at the same time, almost all of is experienced because of the the time. influences of race and gender at the same time can also look very different, says Miller. Therefore, Sheryl Miller, pictured below, the support given to Black woman author and gender equality en also needs to be different.

“They still fall into the book activist, told The Voice that violence against women and girls of violence against women and is actually part of a bigger con- girls. It has to be looked at more broadly. The victims have to be tinuum that needs exploring.

“In the media, when we think looked at with intersectionality of violence against women and and then also in terms of what girls, we think of those really we define as violence that needs high-profile cases. The one re- to be looked at more broadly, cently with Sarah Everard. It’s which is done when you start always painted around this view to look at the victims through a of the white, fragile, innocent different lens.”

The official data in the UK fails woman,” she says. “It’s always through that lens, never from to cover any form of intersecthe lens of women who look tionality for how race and gender different, because they are collide in the violence against wearing a hijab or they’re women and girls (VAWG) seca different colour or a tor, despite accusations that it is racially biased. different race.”

The government’s 2021 rape The way violence

VIOLENCE

review was heavily criticised for this very reason. According to the UN, 97 per cent of 18-24 year-old women had suffered sexual harassment, but in March 2016 the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) reported that public sexual harassment for Black and ethnic minority women in the UK was often combined with racism.

For Black women, these experiences fed into the very stereotypes of Black womanhood that keep barriers like misogynoir in place; the angry Black woman, the sassy Black woman, the effortlessly strong one and arguably the most common, the hypersexual Jezebel.

The call for Valerie’s Law, legislation that will make the police and other government bodies undertake cultural awareness training to protect Black victims

of sexual and domestic abuse, chal is one of the very first to challenge the British legal system’s treatment of vulnerable Black women and girls.

Despite equality laws that are meant to safeguard protected characteristics, campaigners are experienc partly calling for the experiences of both race and gender to be written into law.

Speaking on the state of violence against women and girls last year, Andrea Simon, Director of the EVAW, said: “With courage and bold leadership from those in positions of power, we can end it. What we need to see now is properly funded transformational prevention work.

“This means comprehensive relationships and sex education in schools, an online safety law that protects women and girls from abuse, and multi-year public campaigns to shift the attitudes that trivialise and normalise this abuse.

“We also call on government to match its rhetoric on ending VAWG with actions that support all women’s rights – including migrant women, and Black and minoritised women.”

MARCH 2023 THE VOICE

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11

Celebrating Our Sistahs

Young MasterChef winner is reaching for the stars Show helped Keziah Whittaker overcome anxiety, now she’s changing her career goals with dreams of going into catering and owning a restaurant dish. She added: “I’ve grown so much from it, so I’m just excited to see what’s to come next.”

AW STUDENT Keziah She spent a lot of her childWhittaker, 21, says winhood in the kitchen with her ning the BBC’s Young mum, who runs a catering and MasterChef show has food delivery company. Her helped her overcome anxiety, favourite is jerk salmon, but she and reassess her career goals. also loves a roast dinner with Now she’s changing course mac and cheese, rice and peas, and is determined to get into plantain and “the full shabang”. catering with dreams of owning Speaking about how the a restaurant TV show and a food transbrand in formed her supermarpersonally, kets.

Keziah Her said: “I fusion found cooking it very impressed daunting judges Popbecause I py O’Toole suffer from and Kerth extreme Gumbs, anxiety with Poppy and I was declaring like ‘it’s that Kenow or ziah creates never; if I “sunshine don’t face on a plate”. my fears She beat now I 21 other never will’, aspiring which chefs to is why I NEW GOALS: scoop the jumped in Keziah Whittaker top prize head-first. has big plans for with her “And the future Caribbean I’m so glad shrimp and that I did coconut because curry soup, I proved to garnished with coriander, myself that I can do stuff I nevlime and chilli, and served in er thought I would do. I feel like coconut shells, followed by Jaa lot of it is mind over matter. maican sea bass with escovitch What scares me is the thought vegetables roasted in jerk and of something going wrong, and beurre balance sauce, washed I worry about things that were down with a coconut mojito. never going to happen. So when Keziah, from north-west Lon- I was on the show all the bad things that I thought were going don, told The Voice that winning the TV show was “surreal”. to happen weren’t happening.”

The law and psychology stu“It was just so overwhelming, I kept crying, I couldn’t breathe. dent at Nottingham University said her sole focus will be food I just feel extremely blessed.”

Her mum, Tanya, was in tears once she finishes her degree, with a cookbook, her own brand too, and is bursting with pride of sauces and seasonings, and for her daughter. So much so, her own catering business the that she tells people about Keziah winning Young MasterChef first goals. wherever she goes.

Self-confessed ‘foodie’ Keziah The whole series of Young MasterChef is available to watch revealed that her granddad taught her how to cook her first now on BBC iPlayer

By John Bosman

L

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| THE VOICE MARCH 2023

News Feature

Black special needs

Parents reveal struggle to get assessment and support, The Voice reveals. By Sinai Fleary

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LACK BRITISH children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are being failed by the education system, according to leading campaigners and parents.

SEND can affect a child or young person’s ability to learn and impact behaviour, ability to socialise and can influence a child’s reading and writing ability, understanding and concentration levels, depending on their diagnosis.

In the United Kingdom, a landmark study by Oxford University, found that Black Caribbean pupils, including those with mixed heritage, are twice as likely to be identified as having special needs compared to their white peers.

A lack of understanding of cultural differences, racism from teachers and ineffective classroom management are among possible factors cited in the report as possible reasons for the over-representation.

A Department for Education (DfE) report published in June 2022 into SEND of pupils in Britain found Black Caribbean pupils have the second highest percentage (5.4 per cent) of pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan, with only pupils of an Irish Traveller background having a higher rate.

However, many Black parents say despite having these legal plans they are still facing challenges getting the right support for their children – which is having repercussions on their education and development.

Natasha Lynch, pictured below, is a mother-of-four from Shepherd’s Bush, west London, whose children are aged 20, 14, five and two. Her five-year-old son, Natai, was diagnosed with

They would only take him for two hours because they ‘couldn’t deal with him’ autism two and half years ago.

She initially thought with the relatively early diagnosis things would be straightforward, but she says she has been left with more questions, as she has not been told where exactly her son is on the autism spectrum.

Ms Lynch’s son is non-verbal and uses some signals to communicate with her.

She told The Voice: “He has a certain level of understanding, but he’s very repetitive. If I clean the room he has to have toys scattered on the floor.

“Anything you tidy up he has to come and mess it back up.”

FIGHT

Ms Lynch, an entrepreneur with a successful events business, said she had to “fight tooth and nail” to get an EHC plan for her son – which was only granted three months ago.

She said: “I had problems getting him into a school, and when I finally got him into school they would only take him for two hours because they said they couldn’t deal with him.”

She then moved him to another school and said things were looking up. But on his first day, she was called and told “it’s a bit much”. “He’s in

LOVING CARE: While children are supported at home, it is another story in our schools (photo: Nick David via Getty Images) full-time now and they have bought in a one-to-one to work with him, she’s amazing.

“She’s a young Black girl, who’s only 19. She’s with him all the time, so I feel confident,” she added.

The mother-of-four says she has seen a “huge improvement” in her son since he started school and was given the extra one-to-one support.

Although he has a school place, she said she is still struggling especially during school holidays, as her two-year-old daughter has been given a nursery place but Natai stays at home.

“There’s no support for Natai in the holidays, there’s no day centres I activi can take him to, no activities,” she explained. The places for children like Na Natai seem to always be fully booked already.

“It’s hard because I can’t do activities with my older kids because there are cer certain places that I can’t take him, he won’t go on public transport, it’s difficult to balance it,” she said.

She added: “He tries to

climb out of the window, he doesn’t have any sense of danger, he will run out into the road.”

Ms Lynch previously worked with children with special needs, and believes this helped her to spot what she describes as a “delay in her son’s development” – which prompted her

two kids and I just knew this is not right.”

Ms Lynch said she was trapped in a “vicious cycle” before eventually finding a suitable school for her son.

“They were saying he couldn’t have a EHCP plan unless he was in a school setting, but no school would take him,

I noticed he wasn’t saying any words and had long beautiful hair that he had ripped out with his hands to go back to her doctors and request further tests.

When Natai was one, she returned to work and he was being cared for by a childminder but Ms Lynch knew “he just wasn’t developing right”.

She said: “I noticed he wasn’t saying any words and had long beautiful hair that he had ripped out with his hands.

“He was biting his hands and was just doing things that I had never noticed with my other

so I couldn’t get the plan and funding for him.”

Under immense pressure, she said she wrote to local MPs, her doctor and social services for assistance.

She maintains that schools had spaces but just didn’t have the capacity to deal with her son’s needs.

Ms Lynch believes there is a lack of funding to cope with the growing demand for children with SEND and says the

government need to do more.

Black children with SEND are increasingly likely to be permanently excluded from school for behaviour which is a result of their condition rather than malicious intent.

Meanwhile, some Black parents are not requesting assessments because they don’t want their Black child labelled, which puts them at additional risk of exclusion due to the lack of diagnosis and extra support.

Another Black mother, who spoke to The Voice anonymously, revealed that her son, Simon (not his real name) was permanently excluded from primary school at the age of six because of behavioural issues but was later diagnosed with ADHD and autism.

Esther Thompson, (not her real name) from London, believes racism, discrimination and a lack of teacher training in SEND is driving schools to wrongly label Black children as badly behaved rather than support parents to find out what the real issue is.

Simon has attended four primary schools – three mainstream and one specialist

MARCH 2023 THE VOICE

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News Feature

kids failed by schools

SPOTTING THE SIGNS: Cheryl Phoenix, far left, is founder of The Black Child Agenda, an organisation for parents in the African and Caribbean community whose children are failed by the UK education system; parents say they have been able to see when their child needs extra support (photo: Monstera)

school – but is currently being home schooled.

Ms Thompson said the problems quickly started while her son was in reception class and they were often labelled as behavioural, such as being “easily distracted.”

Eventually, the communication broke down and Ms Thompson decided to take Simon out of the school.

At Simon’s second school he experienced bullying, which was never addressed by the school.

His school day was reduced to a few hours before he was permanently excluded, despite being assessed for a EHC plan.

OUTCOMES

Ms Thompson says the lack of patience given to her son and his needs was because he is a little Black boy.

Ms Thompson told The Voice, a teacher told her Simon could go into a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) to be assessed.

She said: “As a Black parent, my issue is with the statistics of children who do go to PRUs where do they end up? What are the outcomes for these children? The attainment, the GCSEs? The outcome is terrible.

“It’s a straight route into a Young Offenders Unit, the children don’t tend to get qualifications if they go to a PRU. “I was told it would only be for an assessment period. Why

would I send him to a place where they lock children into classrooms?”

She filed complaints and was considering judicial review but I couldn’t afford it. As a last option, Ms Thompson decided to try a school for children with social and mental health needs as well as ADHD and autism.

Ms Thompson said the school was a “traumatising” experience for her son.

“When there are children with lots of trauma they shouldn’t be in the same setting, with children that only have a neurodiver-gent condition.

“They are put into an environment where children are throwing things, kicking and fighting and they might not have that problem and my son didn’t have that problem and then they want to copy.”

Ms Thompson cited a dramatic “change in her son’s behaviour” as the reason why she took him out of the school straight away. “I took him out for his own safety and wellbeing,” she added.

“He is very intelligent, I don’t see my child as having a disability, I feel he thinks differently to us, his mind is very

powerful. He sees the details that other children don’t,” she added.

She also revealed social services referrals were made against her based on what her son had said. She describes the racism and discrimination faced by her and her son as “very subtle” but extremely hurtful and dangerous.

Looking to the future, Ms Thompson said: “I would main not consider a mainstream school again because the teachers do not have the time, there tends to be a lot of children who need extra provisions and I think a class of 30 wouldn’t work.”

“The resources are just not there, it’s not the environment that he would feel comfortable in.”

With her son due to start secondary school in a few years, Ms Thompson is already anxious and says she has already heard there is “even less support” for children with additional needs and is concerned her son would struggle.

She is urging other Black parents to get their children assessed as soon as possible if they are concerned.

But delays in the assessment

process could be ruining children’s education, which could make all the difference to their school life and educational outcomes.

She said: “If you feel something’s not quite right, push for that Paediatric and Educational Psychologist assessment because then that informs everything else.”

“You need to advocate and do what is best for your child and not what you are being forced to or think that you need to do, by a school system that I think is broken.”

According to education experts, longstanding systemic racism and discrimination in Britain’s education system continues to have a catastrophic ripple effect on a new generation of Black pupils.

Dr Shungu M’gadzah is a leading Educational Psychologist and provides Psychological assessments and is an expert witness for education SEND appeals.

She said the disproportionate rate that Black Caribbean children are being mislabelled as disruptive is a “major concern.”

Dr M’gadzah, pictured inset left, told The Voice: “The lenses through which Black children are viewed is that of being disruptors and they are seen as having behaviour problems, whereas if we were looking at white children, schools would look at their needs and they

would look at the barriers to learning.

“They would look at specific learning difficulties, or impulsivity and ADHD, but when they are looking at Black children they tend to dismiss that.

“They just look at the behaviours and you get a focus on either adultification, and seeing them as deliberately naughty, rather than there is some kind of barrier which needs to be worked with to help them.”

Dr M’gadzah, who is also a Diversity Equity and Inclusion Coach and Trainer, believes teachers need more anti-racism training.

“When children are referred to educational psychologists, what often happens is educational psychologists collude and go along with that label of the disruptive Black child and they don’t ask what are the key barriers to learning?”

HISTORY

The history of Black children’s experiences within the education system in Britain has been problematic for several decades.

During the 1960s and ‘70s, hundreds of Black Caribbean children were labelled as “educationally subnormal” and were sent to special schools.

This blatant discriminatory practice helped to birth the rise of the Black supplementary school movement across the UK. But decades later, Black

children are still underachieving at school and have one of the highest rates of permanent exclusion.

According to government figures, Black Caribbean pupils had the second highest permanent exclusion rates between 2018 and 2019.

Cheryl Phoenix is the founder of The Black Child Agenda, a well-known community organisation that helps parents from the African and Caribbean community – whose children are failed by the UK education system.

Speaking to The Voice, Ms Phoenix said she has seen a rise in more Black children being diagnosed with SEND, which she puts down to how “they are treated in the education system” and how Black children react to unfair treatment.

She said: “If you are treated in a certain way on a daily basis eventually you are going to respond and children only know one way to respond and that is lashing out, being rude or what is perceived as being rude and not doing as they are told.”

Ms Phoenix stresses that these should not be reasons children are sent to have SEND assessments, and wants schools to have empathy for Black children and not just assume they are bad or come from a “dysfunctional household.”

Continued on page 19

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| THE VOICE MARCH 2023

News Feature

JUSTICE FOR OLIVER: S

Gentle giant with learning difficulties in court bid to clear his name after years in prison EXCLUSIVE by Shirin Aguiar

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T 52, Oliver Campbell should be at the peak of his life. Yet a blow to the head at eight months old left him with life-long impaired memory and reasoning skills.

With the help of a campaigning lawyer, Mr Campbell has spent the past 32 years fighting to clear his name of a murder many believe he did not commit.

Mr Campbell spent 11 years behind bars after police “stitched him up” for the murder of a shopkeeper in Hackney, northeast London, in 1990.

There was no forensic evidence linking him to the scene and, standing at 6ft 3in, he is considerably taller than the pair of robbers who witnesses saw fleeing the shop.

The two robbers were roughly the same size and one of them, Eric Samuels, who is 5ft 10in, insists his accomplice was not Mr Campbell.

The gentle giant with severe learning difficulties has now launched a new court bid to finally clear his name. Since his

He could not possibly have done what he is supposed to have done release in 2002, he has been on life licence. Yet he has always protested his innocence.

“They (the police) stitched me up,” he told The Voice from his home in Ipswich.

“The police started knocking on my door, when I was living in West Ham. Then they arrested me and asked me questions.

Then after a while I said: “Well alright, I done it.”

That admission came after cops extracted the disputed confession after his lawyer had left the police station.

He is scathing about police questioning tactics: “The police put you in a room, only one way out, and throw questions at you. And before you can answer that question, they are throwing another question. I thought to myself, ‘They’re trying to stitch me up’. I would say I’m angry at

LOCKED UP: Oliver Campbell made a disputed confession the way it was all thrown at me.

They used me as a scapegoat, that’s how I look at it.”

Asked how he would sum up his life, Mr Campbell said: “It would be a swear word.”

On July 22, 1990, shopkeeper Baldev Singh Hoondle was shot and killed during a robbery at the family off-licence in Lower Clapton Road in Hackney, east London.

Police found a Black Knights suede baseball cap near the scene, and matched it to one Mr Campbell had recently bought.

A highly vulnerable 19-yearold at the time, he made his disputed confession only after 14 police interviews, and was tried and convicted in 1991.

His co-accused, Mr Samuels, admitted to being involved in the robbery and identified the real killer to the police, insisting that Mr Campbell had nothing to do with the murder. The jury was never told this as it was judged as “hearsay”.

His lawyer Glyn Maddocks, KC, recalls a prison officer’s remark about Mr Campbell when he first arrived to meet his client.

“He said ‘none of the prison officers here think Oliver could have done what he is supposed to have done. He is such a gentle character. I hope you manage to clear his name.’”

Mr Maddocks has been trying to do precisely that for 23 years, along with a group of stalwart supporters.

He told The Voice: “It’s obvious to anyone spending more than five minutes in Oliver’s company that he could not possibly have done what he is supposed to have done.

“How the judge, the jury, the CPS and the police thought that he could have possibly done that

is disgraceful.

“It shows the many inadequacies of the criminal justice system. And hence he did ten years in prison for something that he wasn’t capable of doing.”

WEAK

Mr Maddocks added that when instructed with the case, he was told: “The fact he (Mr Campbell) was a big Black guy in 1990/1991 didn’t help, so in other words the jury just thought ‘well let’s lock him up’, without thinking very much about it.”

According to Mr Maddocks and Michael Birnbaum, KC, Mr Campbell’s barrister, the case against him rested on the gun-

man wearing his hat at the robbery, and on admissions to police.

But the identification evidence was weak, as there was no forensic evidence against Mr Campbell, and the hairs in his hat were not his.

Much of the police questioning was ‘misleading and unfair’, his defence claim, and there were ‘many’ breaches of PACE Codes of Practice.

All the admissions relied on by the prosecution were made in the absence of a solicitor and some without an appropriate adult. Mr Campbell’s previous lawyer, Arthur Mullinger, went as far as to describe the conduct of the police as “an abuse of po-

lice powers”. Many admissions were “provably false and some were simply absurd”, his legal team say.

Mr Campbell told police he had hired a gun but could not say where from. And said he had practised firing the gun in a wood but could not say where.

He also claimed to have hung the gun with string under his arm. In a conversation with a police officer shortly after his arrest, Mr Samuels insisted that he did the robbery with a man called “Harvey” who had earlier stolen Oliver’s hat in Leicester Square.

Mr Samuels said in legal documents: “When we was up West (End) this Harvey taxed

Ollie’s hat and he couldn’t do nothing about it, so he just went off. That’s how Ollie’s hat got used.”

Mr Campbell’s supporters insist he is a trusting, caring man with a sense of humour who happens to have severe learning difficulties which has left him open to people taking advantage of his good nature and his suggestibility.

Crucially, according to documents submitted to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), Mr Samuels also told police that Harvey had shot Mr Hoondle.

He said Harvey was from Brixton, adding: “He’s done seven years for armed robbery….

MARCH 2023 THE VOICE

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15

News Feature

SENTENCE CHALLENGED

VICTIM: On July 22, 1990, shopkeeper Baldev Singh Hoondle, above, was shot and killed during a robbery at the family off-licence in Lower Clapton Road in Hackney, east London

This ain’t the first time he’s shot someone.”

However, there is hope on the horizon for Mr Campbell after the CCRC, the miscarriage watchdog, announced in November that it had re-examined the case and decided to send it back to the Court of Appeal.

It said the “full extent of his vulnerabilities was not properly understood”, meaning Mr Campbell’s admission may not have constituted reliable evidence, and has mooted the “real possibility that the Court of Appeal will conclude that Mr Campbell’s admissions are unreliable and that ultimately his convictions are

unsafe.”

Following a BBC Rough Justice programme called “If the Cap Fits”, which examined Mr Campbell’s case, the CCRC rejected a previous appeal in 2005.

“We were left with not much else that we could do, except try and think of other alternatives and options,” Mr Maddocks said. In a desperate bid, he spent a year tracking down Mr Samuels.

DEBATE

In 2019, Mr Maddocks met the then MP for Ipswich, Sandy Martin, who agreed to do a Westminster Hall debate around the CCRC and miscarriages of justice. Following this, Mr Martin wrote to CCRC boss Helen

Pitcher to ask if she would be prepared to look at the case again. She agreed in 2020 to do so, which eventually led to the CCRC announcement last November it would refer the case.

Mr Martin told The Voice: “I’m glad that one of the main things they were saying at the All-Party Parliamentary Group was that the CCRC was not doing its job correctly. Hard physical evidence should always trump any confession, or any hearsay, or any statements of any sort. If you’ve got ten people who swear blind that it was a Black person who committed the crime but there is actual physical evidence that it wasn’t a Black person who com-

mitted the crime, then the hard physical evidence has got to take precedence.

“Because people can be mistaken, people can be wrong about things, and confessions can be extracted from people without them necessarily being accurate. Eleven years is a helluva long time, a helluva long time. It’s deeply, deeply unfair.”

Teresa MacKay, a long-term supporter of Mr Campbell, said: “It is all truly shocking. He (Oliver) was brought up in care most of his life though he did have a foster mother with whom he keeps in touch. The blow [to his head he received as a child] has left him with the mind of a nine-year-old and as a result ex-

Government block miscarriage payments THE Government has stopped issuing compensation for miscarriages of justice cases by deciding that people had to prove beyond all reasonable doubt they did not do the crime before receiving any compensation.

Oliver Campbell’s lawyer Glyn Maddocks, KC, pictured, said: “It is absolutely outrageous that they should do that with many people realising it.

Oliver will not receive any compensation. There is no compensation anymore for miscarriages of justice victims.”

“Unless you have some black and white DNA evidence saying you could not possibly have done it, you can’t prove beyond tremely vulnerable.”

APPEAL

Mr Campbell has worked in a community cafe near Ipswich for over ten years. Asked if his experience held him back from progressing in life, he said: “I would have not been in this country, I would have been somewhere else. I would have had a long-term relationship and kids by now.”

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said the case was “fully investigated at the time with a range of evidence brought before a jury who convicted the defendant in 1991”. It declined to comment further on the case because of

reasonable doubt that you did not do it.”

“The Court of Appeal just decides if his conviction is unsafe, that’s all they decide. So, Oliver will not get any compensation which is a difficult one for him to accept.” the appeal.

A Met spokesperson added: “Under the leadership of Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, everyone in the Met is clear that we must root out those who corrupt the integrity of our organisation. This will be uncomfortable and sometimes painful as we turn over the stones and uncover those who have let us down.

“Most of our people are great people, but we have been too weak in identifying the minority who do not uphold high standards. We are giving officers clear direction of what is expected of them.”

Visit: www.crowdjustice.com/case/ justice4ollie/

16 | THE VOICE MARCH 2023

ADVERTORIAL

Produced in association with the NHS

Invest in your health to f you e been to you a e iabete or are at ri developing type 2 diabetes, you are not alone.

Dr Joan St John

of

People of Black African, African-Caribbean, and South Asian heritage are up to three to four times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and at a younger age, so are living with it for longer.

“People might put off seeking help for iabete t in in t ey won t be ab e to fully enjoy their favourite foods or activities like family get-togethers,” says Dr Joan St John, a London primary care octor ecia i in in iabete . ut it about moderation and taking simple steps to look after ourselves to reduce the risk of harmful complications if you have diabetes or reduce your risk of developing type 2 iabete in t e fir t ace.

DIABETES UNCOVERED

Our blood sugar levels are regulated by a hormone called insulin which is made in our pancreas. If it isn’t doing its ob correctly, our bodies may not produce any or enough insulin, causing our blood sugar levels, also known as blood glucose, to go too high.

“People sometimes think that type 2 diabetes is a more advanced form of type 1, but this isn’t the case,” says Dr St John. “Both result in high blood glucose levels but what causes the disruption to the body’s ability to produce or manage insulin is a different underlying process.”

■ Type 1 diabetes is a genetic, lifelong auto-

immune disorder, usually diagnosed in childhood and unrelated to lifestyle. The immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-making cells in the pancreas, so it doesn’t pro-

duce the insulin needed to control blood sugar levels.

■ Type 2 diabetes is more common. Here,

insulin in our bodies doesn’t do its ob properly or the pancreas doesn’t make enough of it.

Unlike type 1, it is related to lifestyle and usually detected later in life. It can sometimes be prevented or reversed if caught early.

“There is a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in our community, but it’s not entirely clear why,” says Dr St John. “It’s likely to be a combination of things including your lifestyle, age, and physiological factors. Your risk is also higher if you have a close blood relative with diabetes, and it’s more common in people with certain conditions like severe mental illness, and learning disability, or a history of high blood pressure.”

We can’t change our age or family history, of course, but we can do something about our lifestyle. u ar i n t t e on y i ue “People ask ‘why do I have diabetes when I don’t eat many sugary foods ’ But it’s not purely about sugar,” e plains Dr St John. “Yes, we refer to blood glucose, or blood sugar levels, but what’s critically important is our weight.

“Everyone has an optimum weight and as we go over that, our risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases. And your optimum weight will be individual to you.

“Think about your meals – are they balanced It’s great to have our favourite foods but they need to be in moderation. How much you’re going to have and how often Foods high in sugar, fat and salt increases visceral fat, most visible as that thickening of the waist we sometimes see as we age and it contributes to cardiovascular diseases too, including heart disease.

“And move more, use stairs not the lift, get off the bus a stop or two earlier, walk instead of driving. Start being active, garden, walk, dance or do something else you en oy.”

Improving your diet and being active will help reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, but free NHS support is available too. If you’re aged

18 and over and live with obesity and either diabetes, high blood pressure, or both, ask your GP practice or pharmacist about online NHS Digital Weight Management.

“If your blood glucose levels are higher than e pected and you don’t have diabetes, ask your GP practice about the Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.,” adds Dr St John.

“It takes about nine months but it’s worth it and over 1.2 million people have already been referred.

“Having e pert help can make it easier to make those small positive changes to your diet, weight and physical activity that can significantly reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and have a big impact on your future health.”

MARCH 2023

Produced in association with the NHS

tackle diabetes INVEST IN YOUR HEALTH

As rates of type 2 diabetes are increasing, you can empower yourself by: ■ Using the Diabetes UK Know Your Risk tool to find out your risk of developing type 2 diabetes – visit the Diabetes UK website at www. diabetes.org.uk/riskscore ■ Contacting your GP practice as soon as possible if the tool shows you are at moderate or high risk of type 2 diabetes and/or you have possible signs of diabetes. These include tiredness, being very thirsty, needing to pass urine more often and particularly at night, cuts and wounds that don’t heal or repeated infections, blurred vision, weight loss, and unusual rashes or itching.

“You might have a blood test to measure your actual blood glucose,” adds Dr St John. “This will be used to work out if you’re fine, at risk or could be described as ‘pre-diabetic’ or have diabetes.”

It’s important to diagnose it as early as possible because it can get progressively worse if left untreated. You will also be offered routine check-ups to help you to

THE VOICE | 17

ADVERTORIAL

manage your condition safely and improve your quality of life. And as diabetes is a leading cause of preventable sight loss, if you are aged 12 or over, you’ll be offered regular diabetic eye screening which can identify early signs of problems with the eyes.

You’re also more at risk of becoming seriously ill with common viruses and infections, like flu or COVID-19. If you haven’t had your first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccine there is still time.

Book now by calling 119 or scan the QR code.

People living with diabetes may also be invited for winter flu and COVID-19 vaccines, as they were last autumn.

Anyone with a learning disability should be included on their GP learning disability register and be offered an Annual Health Check from the age of 14 to identify any problems early.

■ To To hear more from Dr St John, tune into her podcast with Affinity Xtra at: www.YouTube.com/@AffinityXtra ■ Further information is also available from the NHS website at: www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetes

Being safe during Ramadan “Thinking about your health and wellbeing before Ramadan also helps you to enter the holy month in the best possible shape and make positive changes for the future too,” says Dr Salman Waqar, GP and president of the British Islamic Medical Association.

“If you have diabetes or another long-term medical condition, please speak to your health professional before Ramadan because not everyone can fast safely.”

Things to discuss include:

■ Whether fasting is safe for you, or you

need to change the timing or your type of medication.

■ Healthier and more wholesome food options to eat during Ramadan.

■ Finding a sleeping routine that works for you, so you’re not left struggling to get a good night’s sleep.

■ Quitting smoking – using nicotine patches doesn’t invalidate your fast and can help with cravings during the month and afterwards.

■ Being more active during Ramadan, such as taking an evening walk.

18 | THE VOICE MARCH 2023

L’Myah Sherae

Join the debate online: voice-online. co.uk/opinion

We need more Black teachers – and now!

A lack of role models during our education is cause for concern

I

HAVE ONLY been taught by two Black teachers in my entire life. Once when I was in primary school, and the second was a temporary lecturer at university.

International Women’s Day gives us the opportunity to reflect on the amazing role models that have impacted our lives. When I think about the women that have inspired me, my mum immediately comes to mind, as well as my grandma, and the other incredible Caribbean women in my family.

I definitely feel lucky to have such strong Black role models.

However, I never really had the same experience in school, due to the lack of Black teachers.

Throughout my whole secondary and college education, I was never taught by someone who looked like me. Those are literally the years when you’re learning more about yourself, your identity, your history and, ultimately, becoming an adult.

Yes, I know you might be thinking “L’myah – aren’t you from Nottingham, it’s not that diverse there any way, is it?”

But actually Nottingham is only (approximately) 65 per cent white British. And, regardless of the fact that I’m originally from a smaller city, research shows that my experience is mirrored across most of the UK. Almost half of schools in England and Wales have no ethnic minority teachers at all, even in diverse areas with a lot of Black and Asian pupils.

This doesn’t mean that Black adults aren’t applying to become teachers, or that the statistic is only representative of the wider UK population.

A study from the National Foundation for Educational Research shows that people from Asian, Black and other ethnic backgrounds are actually overrepresented among applicants

Those are the years when you’re learning more about yourself, your identity, and your history to the initial teacher training course, which indicates a really high interest in teaching.

When we delve further into the figures, it becomes very apparent that, sadly, ethnic minority candidates are simply rejected at disproportionately high rates when applying to the course.

ACCEPTED

Two-thirds of people from white ethnic backgrounds have their applications accepted.

However, only 57 per cent of candidates from mixed ethnic backgrounds are admitted; only 53 per cent of applicants from Asian backgrounds; and only 45 per cent of applicants from Black and other ethnic groups are permitted onto the programme.

I’m aware that some might be thinking “does it even matter what your teacher looks like? Shouldn’t it just be about the quality of teaching?”. But it genuinely does matter.

I’m not claiming that it’s the only characteristic that’s important, because we can all agree that having good quality educators should always remain at the core.

But what I am saying is that having greater representation of Black and Asian teachers is crucial for a better education system, especially when

LEARNING CURVE: Research shows how difficult is it for Black people to become teachers (photo: Getty Images) we think about how racism in schools impacts teacher-pupil relationships, and can have a severely detrimental impact upon a Black child’s life.

And whilst we’re on this topic, it’s pretty impossible to discuss the effect of racism in schools without highlighting the problematic and disproportionate nature of dreaded school exclusions.

Here’s a figure – exclusion rates for Black Caribbean students in English schools are up to six times higher than those of their white peers in some local authorities.

I’m of Caribbean heritage myself (St Kitts and Jamaica to be exact), and Black Caribbean girls in England are twice as likely to be excluded from schools as white girls. But why?

L’Myah Sherae is founder of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Race Equality in Education

More than half of Black children have been sent home for wearing hair naturally Research by the Agenda Alliance shows that Black girls are often excluded from education after having experienced unaddressed sexual harassment and abuse, poor mental health, and racism from peers and teachers.

Studies also suggest that negative stereotypes, discrimination, and the adultification

of Black girls, in particular, play huge roles in their exclusion from school. So imagine being 13 years old, facing all of these barriers, coupled with teachers repeatedly telling you to change your appearance, and to change your hair.

OVERHAUL

Let’s not forget that more than half of Black children have been sent home from school for wearing their hair naturally or in a protective style. Our education system needs an overhaul; I cannot stress that enough.

When I founded Enact Equality, which is a campaigns organisation that advocates for greater racial justice, I knew I wanted to create a powerful movement made up of organisations, political leaders and

public figures to tackle core issues like these.

That’s why I was so pleased to build political support to launch the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Race Equality in Education, too.

It’s a cross-party cohort of MPs and Peers, and I’m really proud that it’s now the largest group across both Houses of Parliament.

Due to the nature of our work, I’m well aware that there’s a lot more that needs to be done to make our institutions better, not only for Black children, but for children across society.

In my opinion, recruiting Black teachers, supporting more diverse role models, and encouraging children to feel proud of their identity is an important step in the right direction.

MARCH 2023 THE VOICE

‘All they need is attention and care’

Black Child Agenda founder says that cultural differences can lead to misunderstanding between schools and families Continued from page 13

She said: “It could also be that something has happened at home, a lot of the time you could have bereavement in the family, there could be mental health at home going on, there are a lot of underlying reasons why children are being diagnosed or misdiagnosed.

“Sometimes all they need is a bit of attention and care, so that they can overcome that but they are not given that they are just labelled as disruptive, badly behaved or the parents are blamed and social services is the number one speed dial for a lot of schools.”

Ms Phoenix, who has extensive experience helping Black parents, said the problem is affecting both children of African and Caribbean backgrounds.

“There is a steep rise in children of African heritage also being painted with the same brush,” she said.

SUPPORT

She said: “You have got new families that are coming from Africa in particular, and their children are first generation born here, so there is a massive cultural difference in how things are being presented through the children whilst in school, so it is easier sometimes to label them because schools get a lot of money for children that have a SEND or EHC plan.

“There are many children who need additional support, sometimes English is not their first language and they are not accessing the support or parents turn it down through fear of that label of their child being different – most parents see shame in that.”

Ms Phoenix said there is no harm in parents getting their children checked if they are

We don’t want a report – we want a thorough investigation and law changes struggling from a “behavioural or academic perspective”.

She said: “At least they know what is going on and know how best they can support them and ensure the school can do the same thing.”

Ms Phoenix wants a national investigation to take place to look at how Black children are treated within the British education system from primary to university level.

She said: “We don’t want a report, we want a proper and thorough investigation not with just recommendations but also law changes on how our children are being treated, labelled and diagnosed.”

All maintained mainstream schools and mainstream academy schools (including free schools) must have a qualified teacher, or the head teacher, designated as the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO).

The DfE says discrimination has no place in schools and if a school has discriminated against a pupil on the grounds of their disability, a claim can be lodged with the free SEND Tribunal.

The DfE encourages parents and carers to contact the SEND school co-ordinator or if you think your child may have special educational needs.

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19

News Feature ONE-ON-ONE: Parents say it has been easier to keep their children at home than send them to school or nursery (photo: Monstera)

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20 | THE VOICE MARCH 2023

News Feature

Free the forever prisoners FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE: Former inmate Andrew Morris is leading the battle for those who had Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) orders imposed on them to be released; inset below, from left, Lord Blunkett introduced IPPs, which had a devastating impact on the likes of Donna Mooney and brother Tommy Nicol

Former inmate campaigns against indeterminate sentences.

EXCLUSIVE by Richard Sudan

H

UNDREDS OF Black non-violent offenders remain unjustly imprisoned indefinitely as a result of a law which was scrapped over a decade ago.

One man who had an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) order imposed on him is now campaigning to free others who should have been released years ago.

IPP was scrapped in 2012 after the government accepted that indeterminate sentences were unjust, but ministers failed to wipe out the convictions of thousands who were already behind bars.

Today, over 1,400 people remain incarcerated with no hope on the horizon.

The ‘lock them up and throw away the key’ policy was introduced by hardline former Labour Home Secretary (now Lord) David Blunkett in 2005 and came into practice in 2007.

Lord Blunkett has since admitted his idea was a bad one, which was repealed five years later. But the damage was already done for thousands of offenders given IPP sentences, who were disproportionately black and minority ethnic.

Andrew Morris was convicted of five charges in 2007 after a domestic incident which he regrets, but in which nobody was physically harmed.

Mr Morris would have expected to get a maximum tariff of five years but ended up serving 12 long years in prison before he was eventually released in 2019, and says he would still be behind bars if he had not challenged the system.

He told The Voice: “When I got the sentence nobody was able to explain to me exactly what it meant, be that probation, lawyers or prison staff.

“It took me about three years to wrap my head around it.

There were times when I wanted to end my life because I thought I would never get out of prison.”

The psychological damage of those effectively serving a life sentence, without actually having been given life, is palpable.

Some of those locked up with no date for freedom in sight have died behind bars having given up hope.

Government figures obtained

by The Voice show that in June 2022 there were 1,492 prisoners, including men and women, serving IPP sentences with no end date.

Of that number,

22 per cent (335) are identified as from a non-white background, higher than the current non-white population of 19 per cent. It is believed the disproportionality for African and Caribbean inmates is much higher.

Mr Morris said: “During the time that I was in custody, I noticed in terms of tariffs, Black and Asian sentenced people were disproportionately higher than their white counterparts.

My experience is that systemic racism is alive and well.

“I was told under the Act I was dangerous, so I would be given an indeterminate sentence. But I now effectively work for the Ministry of Justice which kept me in prison. If I was dangerous then, what’s changed from then to now?”

The law was designed to keep serious offenders in prison for as long as necessary, without a life sentence being handed out.

DISCRETION

Under IPP, after a prisoner has served a minimum term their release is at the discretion of the parole board. If they rule the person is a threat to the public they can keep the prisoner behind lock and key indefinitely, regardless of the crime.

The Voice spoke to experts who said several IPP prisoners had committed suicide, while others claim human rights breaches have damaged their mental health.

Mr Morris is not the only one impacted by the ongoing effects of an obscure law.

Donna Mooney’s brother Tommy Nicol was jailed in 2009 after stealing a car and causing a non-life threatening injury.

Mr Nicol took his own life in 2015, two years after he would have been released were it not

for his IPP sentence. He was 37.

He had received a number of parole knock-backs, which took their toll. Ms Mooney said his brother had complained of “psychological torture”, not knowing when he’d ever be released, and went on hunger strike. He also suffered long periods in solitary confinement.

Mr Nicol was continuously moved through the prison system, with his mental health issues sidelined despite being assessed as needing support.

Before his death, Mr Nicol was imprisoned in an unfurnished cell in HMP Mount in Hemel Hempstead.

A video shown at his inquest showed prison officers manhan-

Some of those locked up with no date for freedom in sight have died behind bars having given up hope dling Mr Nicol during a mental health crisis.

Ms Mooney is convinced her brother would still be alive if he’d been aware at least of a release date.

She told The Voice: “This sentencing is now creating more victims than it’s preventing. The families, the children who are growing up suffer because of this.”

A cross-party inquiry of MPs heavily criticised IPP sentencing and the fact that so many were still incarcerated so long after the policy had been scrapped.

But last month the government rejected the Justice Committee findings, prompting Conservative chair of the inquiry, Bob Neill, to criticise his own party, saying: “The nettle has not been grasped and, as a result,

these people will remain held in an unsustainable limbo.”

The Prison Reform Trust said that IPP sentences “cast a long shadow over our justice system years after its abolition.”

A spokesperson told The Voice: “Thousands of people have been held in prison for many years longer than they could ever have anticipated; and a lack of adequate support sadly sees many returning back there after they’ve secured their release.

INJUSTICE

“The House of Commons Justice Committee was unequivocal in its call that government, judiciary and parliament must act together to end the injustice which the sentence represents, marking a serious cross-party attempt to right a terrible historic wrong.

“The blanket refusal of the government that every person serving an IPP should have their sentence reviewed and replaced suggests we have a Ministry of Justice in name only.”

Ms Mooney added: “Everyone deserves a second chance. We base our criminal justice system on justice, yet the IPP is punishment and psychological torture.

It’s not fair justice in any shape or form.”

The Parole Board for England and Wales deny they treated IPP prisoners unfairly.

MARCH 2023 THE VOICE

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News Feature

‘Don’t let the Tories take your vote away’

IVIL RIGHTS leader Rev Al Sharpton urged Britain’s Black community to fight the Conservatives ‘voter suppression’ plan.

Speaking to The Voice on a UK visit to launch a new voter registration drive, Rev Sharpton compared the voter ID policy to US-style restrictions making it harder to cast a ballot.

Campaigners warn the policy will disenfranchise two million Brits, with a disproportionate impact on Black, Asian and young people.

|

Rev Al Sharpton delivers rallying call to Black Brits over new voter ID policy. By Lester Holloway Rishi Sunak’s government has refused to publicise the new ‘Voter Authority Certificate’ for people without valid photo ID to apply to take part in this May’s local elections. As a result, less than two per cent of people at risk of losing their vote have applied.

A lower turnout from sections

CALL: Rev Sharpton at the House of Commons (photo: Patrick Lewis)

of the population who are more likely to vote Labour could help keep Sunak safe from a leadership challenge.

Rev Sharpton said: “They’re trying to take away your vote so that you will not have any sayso over your life. They wouldn’t be taking it from you if it wasn’t worth something.

“If a thief breaks into your house they’re only going to steal what’s of value; they’re going to look for jewellery, they’re going to look for money. They’re not going to look for your dirty un underwear.

“So the only reason they want to take away your vote is bebe cause it means something. So the only question is are you gonna give it to them and surrender? Or are you going to fight to protect what’s valuable to you?

WARNING: The Rev Al Sharpton compared the new voter ID policy to US-style restrictions making it harder to cast a ballot (photo: Ian Diaz) “Why does it matter? If it didn’t matter they wouldn’t be trying to take it from you.”

Ministers claim voter ID is needed to “restore faith” in the democratic process. But critics say confidence in the voting system was never an issue in the first place.

There were only two convictions for voter impersonation following the 2017 and 2019 general elections. Most election offences are committed by politicians and political parties, with campaign overspending the most common offence.

Rev Sharpton made his latest visit to the UK, as a guest of ex-Operation Black Vote director Lord Simon Woolley, to boost

Black voter registration rates and to promote his new biopic, Loudmouth.

He said: “We have more power than we realise. What with the numbers of Blacks in the UK, you have enough to sway any election if you maximise your numbers.

“It is bad to be treated unequal; it is worse to be treated unequal when you could do more to equalise the situation. By putting pressure on those in power, you could redirect where this is going in terms of public policy, in terms of legislation.

“And I think that what Operation Black Vote and others, and in particular The Voice, [need to do is that our power] must be

maximised now, because after Brexit Blacks have been left in an even worse position than it was.”

Last month, analysis by The Voice revealed that almost three quarters (74) of the top 100 seats where the Black community live can be swung by the Black vote.

Using the latest population census data, we found that one in every four black voters had a Conservative MP who was defending a thin majority.

This potential electoral power could be enough to decide who gets the keys to Number 10 at the next general election.

Watch the full interview at www.voice-online.co.uk

Entrepreneurs urged to grab a slice of cannabis pie BLACK PEOPLE criminalised by cannabis should be first in line to benefit from legalisation, according to a drug reform expert. assandra Frederique, e ecutive director of Drug Policy Action in the S, spoke on a visit about decriminalisation in the S, which has opened up a multi-billion dollar market.

With medicinal cannabis predicted to be worth £1 billion in the UK by 2026 – and much more if legalisation occurs – she said it was crucial Black British entrepreneurs get organised to ensure the com-

munity reaps the benefits, not ust global corporations. s Frederique, a aitian-born frican- merican, addressed s and a community meeting in a bid to spread the US experience of getting a slice of the pie, after states legalised the recreational use of mari uana, and resident oe Biden declared a federal pardon for all convictions.

Experts believe legalisation in ritain is only a matter of time, with corporations already preparing to cash in on a lucrative future market, including ex-Prime Minister Theresa

ay s husband, hillip, as a shareholder of GW Pharmaceuticals.

Ms Frederique told The Voice it was important to prevent “corporate capture , and that those who were criminalised should get the first licences to sell the drug legally, adding: “If corporations take over we know black people will lose.”

“As we build this conversation around cannabis reform in the , conversations about restitution for people who have been criminalised needs to be centred.”

Black people were 12 times more likely to be prosecuted for cannabis

possession, according to analysis in 2021.

The conviction rate is continuing to rise despite softening public attitudes, and police chiefs are resisting demands for police to cease stopping and searching based on the smell of cannabis alone. inistry of ustice figures show that 41 percent of all arrests for possession in England and Wales were of lack people, who make up ust four per cent of the population Watch the full interview at www.voice-online.co.uk

MEETING: Kassandra Frederique addressed MPs on a UK visit

22

| THE VOICE

MARCH 2023

Dotun Adebayo

I

Join the debate online voice-online.co.uk/opinion

Rate him or hate him - you can’t ignore him!

DON’T KNOW why, but I’m not really feeling it. Maybe it will change when it’s all over and done with and everybody starts saying ‘Hail, hail rock and roll, long live King Charles.’

Maybe.

But I’m not so sure. You know when you feel something you feel it. And when you don’t, well, you don’t. And since the late Queen died, this monarchy thing has not been the same for me as when she was alive.

All this despite the fact that Charles has bent over backwards to be a king for Black Britons. To give him his due, he was quick to jump on that Lady Susan Hussey race row business when the lady in question asked the Black guest, Ngozi Fulani, where she was really, really from.

Since then of course, Lady Hussey and Ms Fulani have kissed and made up and agreed that the whole thing was a misunderstanding.

I don’t know what HRH’s role in the reconciliation was but now that he’s on the throne, he was always going to be the ultimate decision maker. As Susan Hussey is now back in the royal fold, I’m presuming it’s all quiet on the Black front.

That was a good look. I have to admit. I didn’t think that he would pull that one off. But he did so I should be giving him props.

But when it comes to rubbing it in that they are bluer-blooded whereas the rest of us, if you cut us do we not bleed red? Maybe it’s that. Maybe I’m just jealous. I don’t think I am, but some Freudian psychiatrist will no doubt tell me that, despite my protestations And I know that I’m not the to the contrary, that I am just only person in the country who jealous because my blood is not is not really feeling like the cablue. lypsonian Young Tiger was feeling when he sang about how elated he was as “a young creole” Swear to God, it’s not true. But to be there at the coronation in this is the same shrink that in- 1953. And even though he could sisted that I must have seen my not follow the procession at least parents engaging in romantic he was there at the coronation.

Even now, 70 years later, coupling when I was a baby in Young Tiger’s calypso resonates. the cot.

He reckons that is why I am Most people would have forgotpsychopathological. And he ten what the weather was like knows because Sigmund Freud (inclement) on that day in 1953 told him that is always the case. when THE Queen was crowned if Whenever someone’s head is it wasn’t for that historic testanot coming correct, look to see ment on 78 rpm acetate that lives if they slept in the same room as on.

On reflection, that coronation their parents when they were a baby. And now, because my head was OUR coronation. Like it or is not in the right place vis-à-vis not, she was OUR Queen. Just the coronation, my psychiatrist is as her first son and successor will be regarded, like it or not, as blaming my parents.

My old man would be shocked YOUR King. I just haven’t found if he heard what I was paying it in me to regard him as ‘a fi we the shrink to come up with that king’, if you know what I mean.

That might all change of conclusion, and that psychiatrists were making so much more course. If Meghan shows up, she gives the coronation the Black money than him.

TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW: King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla

I’m not feeling it

SHOCKED

I’m not really feeling Charles or the upcoming Coronation

seal of approval. That is what this king so dearly needs. The last thing he wants is for her absence to overshadow his big day and for those of us of African/ Caribbean heritage to go about our business on the day in May because we’re not really feeling it without our Black princess being there.

Havi n g s a i d that, the great Brit-

ish composer Shirley Thompson, pictured below, has been asked

by HRH to write the musical soundtrack for his crowning.

The moment she tweeted that the other day I thought, well, at least like his mother (with Young Tiger’s ‘At The Coronation’) Charles will have a musical legacy that will live long after him. Prof Shirley Thompson does not get the credit of being a national treasure.

Not just one of our finest composers — Black or white (although it is important to recognise that she is the foremost of our composers to be recognised

in the castles and palaces of the British monarchy since Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast). And, who knows, King Charles (there, I said it, I somehow forced it out) may yet commission her to write a new national anthem so that we can dispatch with the dirge that is God Save The Queen (there, I said it) because I’m not feeling this God Save The King business that they are trying to get me to sing.

And that’s not just me, the Scots feel that way as well, given that line in the national anthem that we no longer sing which went:

we shouldn’t sanitise the prejudice of Roald Dahl in our children’s books because they are sacred, when this institution that we call the British state realised that they cannot be insulting the Scots in our national anthem and took the decision to censor that passage.

GENIUS

Anyway, it remains to be seen whether this PM will last longer than Shirley Thompson’s coronation composition. Remember, a lettuce lasted longer than Rishi Sunak’s predecessor.

Yeah, King Charles, make Shirley Thompson a dame and get her to re-write our national anthem without the ingloriLord grant that Marshal Wade ous legacies the current anthem May by thy mighty aid bears. She would, through her Victory bring musical genius, put a context to May he sedition hush modern Britain that would make And like a torrent rush us all feel part of the knees-up at Rebellious Scots to crush Westminster Abbey.

God Save the King And if Meghan is there and all, well that would be the jewel So, it extremely irresponsible of in the coronation crown without the Prime Minister to declare that the Koh-i-Noor.

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

AUGUST 2022

THE VOICE| 25

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24 | THE VOICE MARCH 2023

Celebrating Our Sistahs

Colourless menopause Nina Kuypers started her menopause at the age of She reflects on the erasure of Black women from the debate

L

ET’S BE frank, the menopause canvas is colourless. It is dominated by white women who are usually professional, often portrayed with grey hair or a white ‘celebrity’ with long hair usually blonde.

These narratives do not provide reflections of Black women or Black people who have a uterus and the failure to consider such variations not only diminishes the importance of our experiences, but also leaves understanding of menopause research data as biased and distorted.

We could question, does the menopause not happen to Black women? Menopause is being shaped as a disastrous life sage by some journalists and celebrities. Whereas in other (nonwestern) countries menopause is seen as empowering.

Yes, the canvas is slowly having a splash of colour added to its pallet, mainly from US celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Erykah Badu and Viola Davis, yet where are the UK ‘celebrities? There are a few, but not enough given the opportunity to paint their stories.

My narrative isn’t unique as many may resonate with some elements of my Black menopause. I was officially told that I was perimenopausal aged 43.

Medically — I am now post

Sharing menopausal stories is a must for past, present and future generations menopause and have been for several years. What does perimenopausal even mean? When the GP handed me this oneway perimenopause ticket, the words didn’t register.

I was there for another reason. The diagnosis had come due to my having several miscarriages and the results of previous blood tests.

This was my first experience of it being brought to my attention. On reflection, it was a missed opportunity by health care professionals to inform me about perimenopause.

EQUALITIES

They had conducted fertility tests, but at no point during these discussions was perimenopause mentioned. What had or may seem like a short chapter in the perimenopause phase was prolonged. I had been back and forward to the GP for several years, with realwhat I now real menoise were meno pause symptoms.

The constant back and forth attributmay be attribut ined to health in equalities. It may also be down to prohealth care pro fessionals not understanding or recognising menopause in general nor for somebody so ‘young’, whatwhat ever ‘too young’ is!

It could also be lack of

symptomatic changes to Black people’s skin or hair and let’s not forget being a ‘strong Black woman’ who does not suffer pain nor does her appearance crack Menopause is intertwined with a historical context of racism. We need to build proper and serious approaches to being diverse and inclusive about menopausal experiences. We know that there is a plethora of research which shows that people’s/health professionals’ beliefs, and biases about Black women are linked to racial disparities in health and health care.

Often, these biases are unconscious, but they still affect the care and recommendations provided, and the trust that person has in the recommended treatment.

I don’t have all the answers, what I can do is speculate from my own lived experiences, reflect on the limited data that is out there and conclude from those women who I have spoken to and listened to.

The biggest study to date, the American Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN), reported that Black women reach menopause 8.5 months earlier compared to white women. Black women may also have a longer transition and experience more severe symptoms.

The reasons are not clear, nor has the research investigated further on the possibility(ties) of this. Some attribute this to Black women entering menopause earlier to social weathering or allostatic loading. The research also found that Black women are less likely to receive hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

HRT is an interesting topic although coupled with being Black most definitely needs more scrutiny. Why? I was excited to be asked to participate in a clinical trial for new HRT medication.

I was rejected on medical grounds due to blood conditions which are common in Black people and are a safety concern when testing experi-

mental drugs. The concern is the result of marketed medicines which may not accurately treat a marginalised group.

These companies may also be leaving people with unmet medical needs behind.

How many even consider the absorption of transdermal formulations, as according to research, it can differ based on ethnicity, skin hydration, age, and application site. This may also be a fundamental factor as to why so many may prefer herbal remedies.

It is also very disconcerting that the most relevant research conducted on UK Black women was published in 2007 on 22 BME women aged 45 – 61

@thevoicenewspaper

@thevoicenews

TELLING HER STORY: American singer-songwriter Erykah Badu has spoken about ‘gracefully’ going through the menopause (photo: Getty Images); inset below, Nina Kuypers years from a range of minority ethnic groups in Northampton.

Research issues matter, and this is integral to historical distrust in the medical profession.

Another issue is the increasing number of reports building about how the workplace is failing women, and that these services have been created by men for women, then being a Black woman in the workplace has an extra dimension, from which we need to untangle the misogyny and privilege.

If we combine this with the menopause, we add additional levels of bias/prejudice that

spreads into and informs accessing appropriate menopause support or being taken seriously. Menopause happens to all women regardless of race, ethnicity, economic status, and education, yet how a person responds and experiences it, are poles apart due to many conflicting factors. Some factors are adult child experiences (ACEs), genetics, diet, religion, social weathering, allostatic loading and culture. Sharing menopausal stories within our communities is a must for past, present, and future generations, as this affects everybody directly and indirectly, and nobody should be blind-sided no matter what age this life stage begins.

voicenews

www.voice-online.co.uk

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26 | THE VOICE AUGUST 2022 26 | THE VOICE MARCH 2023

Montel Gordon

Join the debate online voice-online.co.uk/opinion

Schools need to learn from Ashford attack

SUPPORT: Protesters gathered outside the school in Ashford, Kent, chanting ‘you touch one, you touch all’, and ‘forever family’

Safeguarding isn’t protecting our children

L

AST MONTH a racist attack went viral on Black social media. A video of a Black student being beaten by a group of white girls flew across people’s phones, screens, and minds. Again?

The attack occurred in broad daylight outside of Thomas Knyvett College in Ashford, Kent. The police acted quickly on this occasion, given the evidence and outrage. Girls aged

10, 11, and 16 have been arrested, along with a 39-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man.

In addition, a 15-year-old girl is currently wanted for her connection to the attack.

The video appears to show the inaction of the other numerous bystanders. Some seem to be on the side of the attackers. Others watch from cars. The bystanders could’ve easily stopped the attack – it wasn’t a fight – even

before the young woman had her head repeatedly stamped on.

One driver asked the attackers to stop. However, his appeal was drowned out by the white woman’s screams to ‘Get at her!’ All five were arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated offences.

Demographically speaking, Ashford is not the most multicultural area, made up of predominantly white estates.

The Office for National Statis-

tics (ONS) reported in the 2021 census 88.1 per cent of people identified as white, whereas 2.6 per cent identified in the Black, Black British, Caribbean, or African category.

Safeguarding has become the new ‘buzzword’ in the education sector, with schools passionate about protecting kids, particularly those deemed most vulnerable. Although policies play a considerable feat in the failing safeguarding of

Black girls, the over-policing of schools ironically under-protects many Black and minority ethnic students, as the Runnymede Trust report conducted in January of this year examines how 979 police officers operate on school grounds.

Although lauded as ensuring the safety of students, the inappropriate handling of Child Q, in addition to the already known fact that police officers demonise Black behaviour. This

recruitment of the criminal justice into the schools alludes to the school-to-prison pipeline, a phenomenon common in the US. Despite the situation, seeing the community engagement and campaigning towards galvanising swift action from the police and school was great.

My overall thoughts are sent towards the young woman and her family, that they’re being supported, and, more so, schools learn to do better.

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MARCH 2023

THE VOICE | 27

ADVERTORIAL

Senior NHS staff encourage Africans and Caribbeans to consider a career in nursing ahead of National Careers Week This National Careers Week, the ‘We Are the NHS’ campaign is highlighting the inspiring stories of senior Black staff and the exciting and varied nursing roles available across the NHS.

N

ichole Mckintosh believes she was destined to work in nursing.

“As far back as I can remember, ’ e a ays anted to he p peop e so pursuin a care ro e fe t i e a natura t she says hen he p peop e he p myse f t’s a t o ay process that bene ts e eryone in o ed Nichole studied nursing at London South Ban ni ersity and ater trained at in eor e ospita t too three years for me to become fu y ua i ed shares icho e ha e no been a nurse for years You look back and wonder where the time oes

WORKFORCE Nichole is now the Regional Head of Nurs in and id ifery at ea th ducation n and s part of her ob icho e or s c ose y ith partners across the cap ita to de e op and sustain a or d c ass nursin and mid ifery or force that is t for the st entury he he ps to ma im ise opportunities for professiona ro th and de e opment for ’s students and staff But icho e’s ourney hasn’t a ays been easy

BLACKNESS “Sometimes it can be challenging to navi ate the professiona space in a hite ma ority or anisation for instance ha e e en not app ied for certain ro es because didn’t fee con dent enou h to o for ard despite bein perfect y ua i ed shares icho e But ha e earnt to embrace my blackness and will be assertive when I need to ou don’t chan e thin s by preachin to the choir you chan e thin s by spea in to the con re ation and ’m ad the is a p ace that a ues my oice Nichole believes good communication s i s are important especia y in the Bein ab e to articu ate yourse f c ear y and con dent y i he p you to o ercome some of the cha en es you may face she says

INCLUSIVE There is also the challenge of choosing hich path to ta e hen it comes to nurs in not east because there are more than types of nursin ro es to choose from in the NHS. Bein a parent to t o youn chi dren hasn’t been a barrier to icho e’s career success either he is ery inc usi e and e ib e to meet the professiona and persona needs of its staff f you’re successfu here you ha e a ob for ife s for icho e’s fami y they are e ated ith her success y fami y is ery

proud of ho far ’ e come says icho e y father is a retired teacher in amaica ho eeps copies of e ery artic e that mentions my or am e treme y ratefu to ha e a o in and supporti e fami y behind me Nichole wants to encourage others to also pursue a career at the

urses are offered a pri i e ed position to witness someone at their most vulnerable and are i en the opportunity to he p for me this has a ays been a rea honour says icho e ou d recommend a ob here for anyone ho has a passion to he p others a ays say a bi part of my ro e is to brin oy hich

comes natura y due to my amaican roots laughs Nichole. earch ursin areers’ for more information or visit: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/ we-are-the-nhs/nursing-careers

28 | THE VOICE MARCH 2023

Terence Channer

Join the debate online: voice-online. co.uk/opinion

‘Black failure counts as much as Black success’

FALL FROM GRACE: Superintendent Novlett Robyn Willliams, who was commended for her work after the Grenfell Tower disaster, was sentenced to 200 hours of community service for possession of an indecent image in November 2019. She was sent the image by her sister out of concern (photo: PA Images)

The spectacular fall from grace of a prominent professional who looks just like us has made me question all of my feelings

I

RECENTLY DESPAIRED at the spectacular fall from grace of prominent Black professional, Met Police Superintendent Novlett Robyn Williams, and I found myself questioning my feelings.

One thing that became apparent to me is this; it is not possible for me to celebrate Black success and ignore Black failure, where such failure has followed a meteoric rise.

It would be like celebrating the wedding, then being indifferent about the separation and divorce.

Black failure can be brutal.

Why? Because it’s not just seen as failure – it’s seen as ‘Black’ failure, much the same way the opposite is seen as ‘Black success’ and not simply ‘success’.

Black failure is received with racist glee in many quarters: l “Told ya so!” l “She was never up to the task” l “Oh deary me, another DEI appointment bites the dust” l “They’re just not cut out for this” l “I never trusted him” That’s why we wince at seeing media reports of prominent Black failure. That’s why Idris Elba, right, will feel like a Black actor if, God forbid, he ever experiences the ignominy of scandal.

So the next time someone criticises me for celebrating Black success, I will say that the joy of Black success compensates for my feelings of despair at Black failure.

So if I’m going to celebrate Black success, I’m going to despair at Black failure.

I’m going to hope that the mugshot is not of a Black suspect. I’m going to be embarrassed if a Black person spectacularly fails a quiz show.

I’m going to be disappointed if the Black boxer that I’ve never heard of loses – not because I’m racist, but because Black failure really hurts due to historical racist oppression and injustice.

There are clear and obvious historical reasons why us Black folk need to celebrate Black success; it is because of Black trauma and Black failure caused by centuries of racial oppression and injustice. I shouldn’t have to explain.

I’ve heard it said that we as Black people should not personalise and internalise the trauma and failure of unconnected Black people, of Black strangers. But how could I not feel for George

Floyd, Stephen Lawrence, Child Q or Dalian At Atkinson, none of whom I have ever met? My empathy has a life of its own – I’m incapable of withdrawing it, as racism is the backdrop to Black failure and Black suc success, irrespec irrespective of whether racism played a part in any in individual case.

If Black success is healthy and progressive therefore making it my friend, and Black success fails, I’m not

We don’t get the benefit of the doubt, we don’t even get the benefit of corruption going to turn my back on my friend – like some fair-weather friend – irrespective of whether that failure is deserved.

I am going to despair (that’s if ‘Black success’ represents Black progress, as not all skinfolk are kinfolk). Black failure is therefore my sick friend.

In this particular case of the failed Black professional, nonBlack detractors criticised this

person’s initial appointment as being a token gesture ie pen ticking the DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) box.

If that is true, then I would say in response that we do not want favours, we want a fair playing field, not handouts.

SUITABLE

I believe that there are more than enough suitable candidates. However, if by contrast, he was suitably qualified, then such racist criticism is to be roundly condemned.

Please do not ask me to name and shame the individual, because I’m not about doing that.

He has already been publicly named and shamed.

You can accuse me of being selective by prioritising Black success over Black failure…I don’t care… it’s human na-

ture to generally celebrate wins and bury losses.

We don’t get the benefit of the doubt, we don’t even get the benefit of corruption (see the contrast between scandalhit Met Police officers David Carrick vs Robyn Williams) and therefore we have to be extra careful when we rise in prominence not to put a foot wrong.

Disciplinary rates are twice for Black lawyers, doctors, police officers and nurses, than their white counterparts.

So, yes, I will continue to loudly celebrate Black success and silently despair at Black failure, because Black failure counts as much as Black success — I cannot separate the two. Joy and despair in equal measure. This I will continue to do until we can finally drop the ‘Black’ from success.

Terence Channer is a consultant solicitor at Scott-Moncrieff & Associates LLP who specialises in police misconduct, injury and healthcare law. He is a passionate anti-racism advocate.

MARCH 2023 THE VOICE

Sadé Thomas

|

29

Join the debate online voice-online.co.uk/opinion

The Gospel Truth

Afro Gospel takes centre stage

U

NLESS YOU have been living under a rock, you too have been listening, singing and dancing to Afrobeats, with artists like Burna boy, WizKid and Tems continuing to deliver hit after hit on a global scale.

However, the sounds of Africa’s rich culture within music, is not exclusive to the secular charts but also has a big impact on the Christian com-munity, through what is known as Afro Gospel.

Afro Gospel, as a sub-genre, em-bodies the danceable beats and largely percussive rhythms present in Afrobeats and matches it to Christian lyricism. The UK in particular, is home to a number of Afro Gospel artists including Limoblaze, the Nige-

Solos festival to showcase some of the UK’s most popular artists rian-born artist whose collaboration with the grammy-award winner Lecrae, on Limoblaze’s single, Jireh, resulted in millions of streams on all music platforms. leadOne of the lead coning figures con tinuing to push Afro Gospel withmusic with in the UK is Emmanuel inset Farinu, left, the founder left and producer of ‘Solos London’, which Goshosts the UK’s largest Afro Gos pel concerts.

Last year’s Solos London event, held at Clapham Graham, saw some of the UK’s best

Afro-Gospel’s artists including CalledOut Music, Asha Elia, Happi and Limoblaze perform to a sold out venue.

Though Afro Gospel is well loved, Farinu is clear that its audience continues to evolve as “people are passionate about this new sound, and that many more are curious”.

Farinu is set on making this year’s Afro Gospel event, taking place on July 15 in Woolwich (3 North Rd, London, SE18 1BS), bigger and better.

He enthusiastically shares with me that 2023’s festival will have three different stages, with one held out outdoors.

Each stage will showcase different aspects of the continent’s contribution to Gospel music,

including a stage titled ‘Afro Worship’ focusing on the different African cultural expressions of worship and a ‘Discovery’ stage, an opportunity to listen to newer talent who are guaranteed to be the next breakthrough artists.

While this is more than enough for ticket holders, as well as celebrating Africa’s different cultures through music, there will also be a number of food vendors present, providing the best of West African cuisine, giving the full Afrocentric experience for each festival-goer.

To find out more details on this year’s Solos London event, including how to purchase tickets for updates on artist announcements, follow their Twitter/ Facebook/Instagram accounts @SolosLondon for more details or head directly to their website https://www.soloslondon.co.uk/

IN DEMAND: Nigerian-born artist Limoblaze

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VOICE panel of past few months for race activists and en- equality Their conclusion “the seed has trepreneurs was echbeen oed by has planted” Britain’s most to deliver change predicted 2022 senior go- trade union will ing forward. be a better year leader, Dr Patrick than the last Roach who Black Britain was one. seeing a message, said, in a New Year new generation Looking into their that black workers of activism crystal ball and had the power the panel said entrepreneurship. to force change that although One and tackle panellist said: “The we had survived structural racism. tide is cera turbulent tainly changing.”

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CL Culture British Black communities’ ever-changing has part- are able to invest globalised is created in, influ- world, to as a reminder, nered understand dis- and with ence and shape perhaps another as equal parities whilst the Black Brit- stakeholders.” strengthen- timely starting point” ing commonalities – ain and BelookThe theme and title yond ‘virtual’ symposium ing backwards (Africa) on ‘Being and Belonging’ and sideways (Caribbean of the symposium, ‘Being and Belonging’, The organisers of to be hosted on 24 is the the & USA), and to continue Octogolden thread ber 2020. The symposi- symposium are UCL Cul- moving forward which and be- weaves ture’s Revd Professor um’s ethos is to provide together Keith yond. the a Magee, world-renowned plenary wider understanding a senior fellow in and culture speakers, performances, & justice and globrelevance to the meaning and the moderated al social justice scholar, “Black Britishness”, to panel take sessions featuring stock of its achievements public intellectual and intervisiting professor of generational and challenges. The leading sosymexperts. posium will inspire partic- cial justice at NewcasParticipants will have the opporipants, provoke thought, tle University; Ms Sheryl tunity to celebrate and catalyse progress, Nwosu, a public speaker, senior barrister blackness and being creating a forum that at ini- a leading defence Black in Britain now tiates and facilitates con- barristers and beyond these versations across 25 Bedford Black Row, times, to identify and and an advocate communities locally, re- on articulate their shared issues of race at the gionally, nationally and Bar; and disparate chal- Secretary Lonnie Bunch. and Mr Andy Mundyinternationally.

Castle, a documentary lenges, and to determine “This symposium makes a major contribution by future-facing strategies filmmaker, producer illuand in minating a setting designed how expanding “We believe that change director, Managing Directo ulour knowledge about timately strengthen this starts with a conversation tor of DocHearts Films.

Black Co-organiser Sheryl personal and professional community will help all During UK Black History Nwosu and through the amplifi said: “We’re here, see that the histories - Month, October networks. and 2019, the we’re embedded cation of the voices here, less three began experiences of black to collabo- through history, Britheard’, said Simon culture, Cane, rate on convening ons are both the story of a Executive Director, Black and contribution; buildUCL people and a nation.”

Culture. “This is a critical Britons to engage in and ing and solidifying institu- “There are few things as critically assess important the signif- tions, and the very conversation about and as necfabric essary the icance of their For continuing informaunique cul- of a society that as the need to future that we want to we can cre- ture, heritage tion about speakers, better understand and identity. sometimes forget ate, a future where the performers, Black The goal became that history, sponsors we the impact and lives are valued as to galhave, should we want much vanise Black and registration please the Contemporary Britons, to it, the ultimate stake as any other, a future chal- visit the events in, i.e. lenges that acclaim their website space in the its future. This symposium faced by black Britons,’, said Smithsonian at www.blackbritainbeyond.org.uk.

Britons

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We’re here, we’re embedded here, through history, culture, and contribution

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30 | THE VOICE MARCH 2023

Midlands News

By Veron Graham

Dance to the rhythm FAMILY AFFAIR: EAC directors and mother and daughter Janice Davis and Romanah Buchannan; inset below, the production desk, and interior of their premises

Mother-daughter partnership providing help and support on so many levels through their popular Eloquent Arts Centre

A

THRIVING PARTNERSHIP between an inspirational mother and daughter team is pushing a fledgling performing arts venue to unexpected heights.

Less than three years have passed since Romanah Buchannan and mother Janice Davis opened the Eloquent Arts Centre (EAC) during the height of the COVID pandemic.

Yet, while the entertainment sector reels from the aftermath of the pandemic and the costof-living crisis, the duo have grown the centre’s patronage to outgrow its current facilities in Aston, Birmingham, which now requires larger premises.

Romanah, 26, told The Voice: “It was part of the plan to develop and grow, but we didn’t realise how many groups, and such a diverse number, would come to the Centre… and so quickly! We planned to be here for five years!

“It’s exciting we are already having to look for a bigger building. We don’t want to move too far out from where we are, which many see as home.”

Over 170 young people use the Centre each week, receiving performing arts tuition, mentoring and empowerment services as part of the Eloquent Dance Group.

Added to this is a mixed gender bhangra group which performs across the region; also Heals and Feels, a community of dancers which started in London and has now set up

in the Second City working to empower women.

There are also studio-based music technology sessions offered on a drop-in basis, and a professional troupe, the Fusion Dance Company, made up mainly of adult graduates from the Eloquent Dance Group.

While working on the Centre launch, Romanah also put pen to paper during lockdown to chart her life story in what eventually became her debut book, Leap of Faith.

It tells the story of a young Black dancer finding herself alone in white spaces where they felt they did not belong, which resulted in low confidence and thoughts of giving up.

ENCOURAGING

Romanah added: “It had been written for a while, and I didn’t think about releasing it but thought it could prove to be encouraging.

“It follows my journey of having a supportive mum that threw me into dance classes, kept me encouraged and allowed me to do something with my gift to dance.

“Lots of young Black boys and girls told me at the launch they could relate to the story.”

Janice is a business and management graduate who mixes lecturing in dentistry with dental management compliance, mentoring and parental coaching alongside a directorial pocontinsition at Eloquent. She contin

ued: “As a child, Romanah was always dancing, so I knew this was something to encourage her to do. I had to make sacrifices to make sure I could allow her to develop that gift God has given her.

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“When she got a bit older and wanted to have a dance school, I wasn’t going to allow that if it was a secular place and didn’t reflect our faith in God. “Even still, her vision was for a smaller school that just did speweddings and spe nothcial events, noth ing on this scale.

“I take my hat beoff to her be cause she’s gone into management mode, and just soared. Initially, she just wanted to choreograph and teach dance, but amazshe’s done amaz ingly well!”

Romanah shares an interesting

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symmetry with Janice’s own literary exploits and offerings at Eloquent. “I have always been open about the challenges I faced before I became a parent, and we now offer workshops at the Centre to provide help with parenting, based on my book.”

That book – Confessions of an Unprepared Parent – was launched last Spring and similarly tells Janice’s own sometimes harrowing story of facing her own challenges, avoiding being hindered by emotions and how she built a better understanding of and relationships with her two children, Romanah and her younger son Jovan

Malcolm, 20, who now plays as a striker for West Bromwich Albion in the English Football League’s Championship.

“We have been through a lot as a family, but it’s been comforting to see that everything we went through as a family, we’ve been able to use to encourage other parents and children to see that we went through it, and they can overcome them.

“We’re not afraid to say that we had one bottle of milk and a loaf of brown bread in the fridge. We would go to my nan’s because I didn’t have money for dinner, things were hard. We’ve never forgotten that.

“It’s comforting to them to see us as role models and realise that they can come through.”

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HARROWING

MARCH 2023 THE VOICE

|

31

Midlands News

Nicole takes a brow!

SUCCESS STORY: Nicole Foster, the founder of double air eauty ward nominee Brow Ability, studied law before running her flourishing business

THE OWNER of a cosmetic tattooing business with less than four years’ trading history is looking forward to the national industry awards after being nominated in two categories.

Brow Ability, the brainchild of founder Birminghambased Nicole Foster, has been named as a regional finalist in the air and Beauty Awards 2023 for Best in rows for S Semiermanent ake- p and ntrepreneur of the ear The two-day event will see cosmetic businesses of all sizes compete across two do en categories including best apprentice, barbers, salons shops, education, nails and waxing.

Nicole, 28, said: “It is an absolute honour to be recognised for my work. It has been an incredible journey so far and I’m looking forward to the national grand final red carpet event in pril “I started Brow Ability because I wanted there to be a cosmetic business for Black women that was provided by a lack woman We operate in a white female-dominated industry in which it is difficult for Black women to access: treating darker skin is often seen as a risk and, as a result, customers are often blatantly refused service.

“Some in the trade aren’t willing to learn how to treat

new customers, but it is important to say that some do I am providing teaching for other businesses that have Black customers, like in Scotland, and want to know how to serve them.”

Nicole’s journey to treating brows started from an interesting childhood e perience, via law and motherhood! The first brows she treated were her own when as a preteen she shaved one off! Her grandfather shaved the other off to match, before she pencilled both back on to get the attention of a boy she fancied! While she didn’t win the boy’s heart, a fascination with brows consumed hers and she hasn’t looked back.

MOTHER

fter being privately educated in the Sutton oldfield area, she proceeded to the niversity of eicester and returned to Birmingham with a law degree, mixing legal practice between the capital and Second City with treating brows part time, after becoming a mother and finding a little more freedom.

Slowly trading in the courtroom for the salon, icole gained qualifications in courses accredited by the Associated Beauty Therapists, and now holds a evel Semi ermanent ake p S iploma and a T evel ward in

Education and Training. ow specialising in brows and surface-level lip neutralization, Nicole mixes offering services at her salon in Sutton oldfield, running what is becoming a series of regular clinics in ondon and offering online coaching in an industry which is both a growth market and one that has come under scrutiny in recent times The proliferation of substandard products and incompetent practitioners in the beauty industry, often trading online, are issues close to Nicole’s heart. “ ou need a license from your city council to practice cosmetic surgery – I have one from Birmingham City ouncil ou also need to be qualified in accredited courses and have the right professional liability insurance cover.” ooking forward to the wards and reflecting on her victory as ntrepreneur at the inaugural Black Owned irmingham wards late last year, she added: “ ow I feel like a small fish in the big sea.

“When you start a business, you don’t know where it’s going to go but I am so happy that it is developing The air and eauty wards will take place on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd pril at a venue to be confirmed in irmingham

Police hail youth project’s success

A

YOUTH PROJECT has been commended by Leicestershire’s Police and Crime Commission for helping to steer young people away from crime and anti-social behaviour.

The success of the Somali Development Services (SDS) in Leicester was acknowledged for turning around the lives of 40 young people at risk of falling out of education through its sports and mentorship scheme, Intervening Before Crime.

The scheme is proving a success

with a significant improvement in behaviour reported among young people involved on the educational and mentorship programme.

It has also successfully engaged hard-to-reach young people who have previously resisted other diversionary schemes.

Maryan Anshur, SDS’s chief executive, commented on the £9,750 from the Commission’s Safety Fund: “This project has enabled us to support some of the most vulnerable people and help them transition towards a positive outlook on their

life by providing them with positive and meaningful activities and also by working with their families to support them with the issues they are facing.

STRUGGLING

“We are grateful for this support because many young people are struggling, so we can provide the help they need.

“If we don’t do this preventative work now, then later on the government will have to pay more to address

anti-social behaviour and criminality, while families and societies suffer.”

Leicestershire Police & Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews said: “The project has reached a significant number of young people already, including those who have previously been reluctant to engage with diversionary activities.

“Sport is a medium that transcends all boundaries, and I’m really impressed that the team is making an impact and seeing notable change through its work.”

BRINGING RESULTS: Maryan Anshur, Somali evelopment Services chief e ecutive

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

32 | THE VOICE MARCH 2023

Lyndon Mukasa

Join the debate online voice-online.co.uk/opinion

Eye on the Diaspora

Dutch slavery apology shut down

‘CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY’: Mark Rutte delivers a speech in The Hague; inset below, from left, a colonial statue splattered with red paint by reparations campaigners in the Netherlands and women at a slave trade monument (photos: Getty Images)

CARICOM’s plan for reparatory justice ignored as Netherlands offer “pittance” in compensation

I

N A surprising move at the end of last year, the Kingdom of the Netherlands issued an apology for its role in the enslavement and trafficking of Africans to the Americas from the 17th to 19th centuries.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte declared that slavery must be recognised as “a crime against humanity” in a speech at the Hague ahead of ministerial visits to the Caribbean and Suriname.

The decision by the government of the Netherlands to apologise for its role in the slave trade is rare among former colonial powers, many of which have long refused to issue an official apology for fears that it would open the door up for legal claims of accountability in the form of reparations.

The issue of apologising has been seen as a political minefield among many politicians in the West who have long argued that present governments should not be held accountable for the actions of governments in the past.

GROWTH

For supporters of issuing an official apology, arguments have been made that the effects of slavery and colonialism are ongoing and have set back and continue to restrict growth and development among the countries affected.

For over a century, studies conducted by academics and researchers from former President of Trinidad and Tobago Dr Eric Williams to contemporary academics such as Kehinde Andrews among many others, have repeatedly demonstrated the association between slavery, colonialism and unequal economic development.

Within the context of the Dutch apology, there are a number of issues raised, chief among them is now what? Does this really open the door for reparations and does this set a precedent for other former

colonial powers in the West?

According to Pepijn Brandon, professor of Global Economic and Social History at the Free University of Amsterdam: “The Netherlands is one of the European societies with the most direct and extensive links to slavery”.

More than 600,000 people from Africa and Asia were trafficked by Dutch merchants to places such as Suriname, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba, Aruba and Curacao between the 17th and 19th centuries.

The majority of people trafficked came from West and Central Africa. During the 17th century, the Netherlands was one of the most prosperous countries in the world with significant wealth being generated through the state mandated slave trade through the Dutch West India Company. In the western province of Holland, it is estimated that 40 per cent of economic growth between 1738 and 1780 can be linked to slavery and the slave trade, according to a Dutch Research Council.

The Dutch Prime Minister’s apology came following a 2021 report entitled Chains of the Past from the Advisory Board of the Slavery Past Dialogue which recommended that the Dutch government acknowledge and apologise for its involvement in slavery.

Despite the apology, many critics have contested that there has been a lack of consultation with the relevant communities and groups that would be affected by this move. It has been argued that the way in which the Dutch cabinet has pushed the apology through has a “colonial feel” to it.

Six Surinamese foundations have requested that the apology should be pushed to July 1 to coincide with the 160th anniversary of the Emancipation Act among former Dutch colonies, but this has been

ignored. Across the Caribbean, the response to the Dutch apology has been mixed with some arguing that reparations are not what’s needed to solve the development challenges of the Caribbean. Others such as an activist in Curacao tweeted the 200 million euros being offered by the Dutch government is a “pittance”.

Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, vice chancellor of The University of the West Indies (UWI) and chairman of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, offered a cautious but optimistic outlook positing: “The reparatory justice movement has

moved in to a new phase” but noting that the Netherlands “continues to be an imperial nation holding Caribbean people impoverished in colonial bondage”.

In Guyana, the Afro-Guyanese International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana (IDAPADAG) presented an optimistic response, stating: “We look forward to subsequent initiatives on your government’s part in response to the just and global call for reparations as the ultimate act of recompense.”

But many others recognised that more needs to be done.

Professor Verene Shepherd, Cochair of the National Council on Reparation and director of the Centre for Reparation research at the UWI, commented:

“I encourage all former colonial powers, to which the CARICOM Reparations [Commission] sent letters, to issue their own apologies instead of replies setting out their social and philanthropic actions in the Caribbean, remind[ing] us of their activism on modernday slavery, remind[ing] us of their grants and loans since independence and statements of deep sorrow, regret and remorse that stop short of taking full responsibility for a crime against humanity and acting on the CARICOM 10-point plan for reparatory justice.”

In 2007, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair issued a ‘statement of regret’ on the 200th anniversary year of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire after much

criticism from UK black organisations. In many ways, the British press along with many politicians have used this as a way to close this chapter on Britain’s history and ignore the ongoing effects in the Caribbean.

The CARICOM 10-point plan for reparatory justice has largely been ignored. In many ways, the apology by Mr Rutte on behalf of the Dutch government is similarly problematic.

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CORRUPT

The fact that there was no consultation with groups that represent the communities descended from slavery suggests that the power of colonial powers to set the terms of engagement with the legacy of slavery, will always taint the sincerity of any apology and corrupt any measures to meaningfully address the unequal development that has resulted from it.

As such, does an apology set a precedent for other Western countries? The answer is most likely no, it will always be symbolic, hollow and disingenuous.

So where does that leave Caribbean countries?

Most CARICOM member states can campaign for reparatory justice as they are entitled to. But other paths to both economic and political justice must be explored in order to maximise any gains in the future.

Lyndon Mukasa is a writer and researcher. He studied International Development at the London School of Economics.

@thevoicenewspaper

@thevoicenews

MARCH 2023

THE VOICE | 33

MEN’S HEALTH

Prostate Cancer: 1 in 4 black men at risk The prostate is a gland that only men have and is usually the size and shape of a walnut. It sits underneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra, which is the tube men urinate and ejaculate through. Its main job is to help make semen that carries sperm.

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer can develop when cells in your prostate start to grow in an uncontrolled way. It often grows slowly and may never cause any problems, but some prostate cancer grows quickly and has a high risk of spreading. This is more likely to cause problems and needs treatment to stop it spreading.

“

I didn’t have any symptoms when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I went to see my GP because a friend was diagnosed and told me that black men have an increased risk

Picture credit: Photo by Dorell Tibbs Unsplash

As a black man, what is my risk of prostate cancer?

One in four black men will get prostate cancer at some point in their lives. Black men are more likely to get prostate cancer than other men who have a one in eight chance of getting prostate cancer.

”

YOU MAY ALSO BE MORE LIKELY TO GET PROSTATE CANCER IF:

45+ 1. You are aged 45 or over, and your risk increases as you get older.

2. Your father or brother has had it.

3. If you are overweight or obese, you may have a higher risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer that’s aggressive (more likely to spread), or advanced (spread outside the prostate).

Why are black men at higher risk?

We don’t know why black men are more likely to get prostate cancer than other men, but it may be linked to genes. Genes are sets of instructions inside every cell in your body and are inherited from your parents.

Is there anything I can do to prevent prostate cancer?

No one knows how to prevent prostate cancer, but keeping a healthy weight - for example, eating healthily and keeping active may be important.

Does prostate cancer have any symptoms?

Most men with early prostate cancer don’t have any symptoms and may have difficulty urinating. Men with prostate cancer that spread to other parts of the body may have a pain in the back, hips or pelvis, problems getting or keeping an erection, blood in the urine, or unexplained weight loss. These are symptoms usually caused by other factors that aren’t prostate cancer. But it’s still a good idea to talk to your GP so they can find out what’s causing them.

Easy treated if detected early Prostate cancer is one of the easiest cancers to treat if detected early so it’s a good practice to get screened/tested routinely.

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34 | THE VOICE MARCH 2023

Muyiwa Olarewaju

Nothing But Truth and Light

Join the debate online voice-online.co.uk/opinion

Beyoncé doing God’s work ROLE MODEL: Beyoncé is always sending out a positive message that her fans should follow. (Picture: Getty Images)

The American superstar can teach us about doing good

U

NITY AND diversity are two concepts that, at first glance, may seem contradictory, and the recent debates around Beyoncé’s Renaissance project have brought that into sharp focus.

However, when properly understood and cultivated, they can coexist in a harmonious balance.

This balance is essential for a healthy and thriving community, as it allows individuals to bring their unique gifts and perspectives while also working towards a common goal.

Beyoncé, a prominent singer and songwriter, for some is a powerful example of the balance of unity and diversity in action.

Throughout her career, she has used her platform to advocate for various social justice issues and to showcase the beauty of diversity.

For example, her 2016 album Lemonade touched on themes of black womanhood, empowerment, and cultural pride. It featured powerful images of black women from different backgrounds, all coming together in unity to celebrate their shared experiences.

Many, however, found the content of the album did not sit well with their Christian faith.

The Bible speaks to the importance of unity and diversity.

In 1 Peter 2:1-25, the author encourages Christians to live as “living stones,” building themselves up as a spiritual house.

This metaphor highlights the idea that each person has a unique role to play in the building of the community; much like each stone has its own unique shape and purpose in the construction of a house.

The “living stones” are called to be “built up as a spiritual house” (v. 5), meaning that they are to work together towards

a common goal. However, they are also told to “declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light” (v. 9), emphasising the individuality and uniqueness of each person’s experience.

For many, this is the same way Beyoncé’s music and activism showcase the beauty of diversity while also promoting unity. She brings together people of different backgrounds and experiences to celebrate and acknowledge the strength and resilience of Black women.

Through her work, she shows that it is possible to embrace and celebrate our differences while still coming together for a common cause.

The brouhaha that the Lemonade and Renaissance projects have caused for many in the faith community has been sig-

nificant. Yet you’ve had prominent Christian voices like super star Michelle Williams, who is close friends with Beyoncé, coming out to say we should all allow room for each other to grow and let God be the judge.

She shows it is possible to embrace and celebrate our differences The passage in 1 Peter also touches on the importance of humility and submission. The “living stones” are told to “rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, insincerity, envy, and all slander” (v. 1), and these verses

remind us that unity cannot be achieved without humility and a willingness to submit to one another. This means putting aside our own desires and ego in order to work towards the good of the community.

Is there a way in this case that those who find ought with Beyoncé on her projects can share their heart without a lot of the negativity that we’ve become used to. Similarly, is there a way that Beyhives (Beyonce’s fanbase) can respect the views of those whose faith and holy books lead them to conclude that the message of the renaissance isn’t totally free of supernatural influences?

Whatever side you are on in the argument, one thing is for sure, we do not always agree in our own families so we should not be shocked when this happens in our public lives.

Getting along with people who have different opinions and beliefs can be a challenge.

However, it is important to remember that having a diverse range of perspectives can lead to growth and a better understanding of the world.

DISAGREE

Here are some tips to help you navigate disagreements and maintain positive relationships with those you disagree with: Listen actively: Always try to understand where the other person is coming from and why they hold the beliefs that they do. Ask questions and always try to get a full picture of their perspective.

Avoid personal attacks: Disagreements can easily turn into arguments, but it is important to avoid attacking the

person and instead focus on the issue at hand.

Be respectful: Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Even if you disagree, it is important to show respect for their opinions and beliefs.

Seek common ground: Look for areas where you both agree, and try to build on those.

This can help you find a way to work together even if you do not agree on everything.

Focus on solutions: Instead of being bogged down in disagreement, try to focus on finding a solution that works for everyone.

Remember, everyone is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs, and it is important to respect that. By following these tips, you can get along with people you disagree with and maintain positive relationships even in the face of disagreement.

Muyiwa Olarewaju OBE is Station Director at Premier Gospel Radio, a TV & Radio Broadcaster, and Principal of gospel group Muyiwa & Riversongz

@thevoicenewspaper

@thevoicenews

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30 years and still going, Karen Gibson’s Kingdom Choir ‘Not Giving Up’ p40

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36

| THE VOICE MARCH 2023

Celebrating Our Sistahs

‘I can relate to being put in a box’

PUTTING THE WORK IN: Anastasia Osei Kuffour is working alongside playwright Roy Williams for All Roads

Director Anastasia Osei Kuffour says that themes in her latest project, All Roads, speak volumes. By Joel Campbell

D

IRECTOR ANASTASIA Osei Kuffour said she was excited to be directing All Roads, a story she says “centres on two global majority young people navigating what it means to be Black, young and in love – all themes I’m drawn to as a young Black woman myself”.

The production represents a milestone for Kuffour as it’s the first time she will be working with Black British playwright Roy Williams OBE in this capacity.

The world premiere of Williams’ new play will be presented by the Attic Theatre Company in partnership with Tramshed and in association with Theatre Peckham and Bernie Grant Arts Centre.

Just over a decade since Kuffour decided to follow her passion for theatre, she tells Lifestyle that the little girl out there who wants to find her place in the industry, but doesn’t want to be an actor, should take note of how things developed for her.

“I’ve been directing for just over eleven years now and I

started off when I did Introduction to Directing which was a course at the Young Vic Theatre.

“Those two weeks opened my eyes to what directing was and ignited a passion in me to pursue it professionally.”

She added: “Before that I was pursuing a career in Business Law, having had a passion for drama and theatre in school but not being told about directing.

AMAZING

“Realising that I didn’t want to perform, I didn’t know what I wanted to do until I happened to do that course at the Young Vic. “When I discovered it and thought, ‘Oh God, this is amazing, this is something I can do for the rest of my life’, then I began the journey of learning the craft of directing so I assisted a lot and I think that’s what I would advise young budding directors to do.

“Get into the room of a more experienced director and learn what they do and you can pick up their techniques and their exercises and you also get a great

insight into how productions are made and it really helps your development as a director.

“I did that for a number of years and then began to direct my own productions and I set up my own production company called Wrested Veil to be able to raise some money and put that show on in 2017.

“It is quite challenging to do what I am doing currently, especially directing in theatre because financially it is challenging to make a living.

“I think the assisting route was made possible because I was able to connect with the Young Vic and then I visited lots of theatres and looked at their websites to see if there were opportunities to assist.

“I did lots of applications and tried to connect with lots of directors who I admired.

“It does take some graft to get there and to climb but once you can get assisting, then you get into buildings and you get people knowing you more.”

Williams is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning

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writer whose plays have been produced in theatre such as the National Theatre, Royal Court and Lyric Hammersmith.

He has also written for Television and Film with companies such as Channel 4, BBC and Sky. Williams’ work includes an adaptation of Death of England, Sucker Punch, Category B, ays of Significance, oe uy, There’s Only One Wayne Matthews, Baby Girl and Wildfire.

Ahead of the All Roads theatre run he told Lifestyle he was looking forward to seeing how the work is received.

But is Kuffour feeling the pressure to deliver?

She enthused: “I’m not actually feeling the pressure because it’s been a lovely experience working with Roy. “I have worked with Roy before. He is one of the regular writers for faith, Hope and Glory which is a BBC Radio Four drama and it’s an ongoing series.

“I had the pleasure of working with him on series three on one of the episodes that he wrote, and that was a really fun experience. We continue to work together on that series.”

She added: “But this is the first time I have worked with him on a theatre project and so I am really excited about that and so far we have had some great discussions about the script and how to develop the script and get it to the best it can be.”

The two-hander play will feature actors Kudzai Mangombe and Tristan Waterson.

Having never worked either

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Kuffour said both shone in the auditions process and she was looking forward to getting stuck into rehearsals.

“When I’ve worked with actors that I have really enjoyed working with and felt they were professional and really executed the job well, then I am always happy to work with them again but it’s a situation where I come to each story and think about who is the best person, or people who could bring it to life.

PROCESS

“We went through a casting process and the people that we chose are the people that felt the best and the most right for those characters and it just so happens that I haven’t worked with them before.”

Jonathan Humphreys, Attic‘s Artistic Director and joint CEO, said: “We’re so excited to be able to announce this project which we have been developing for the past couple of years with Roy Williams.

“Central to our vision is touring work to new, diverse audiences in London and across the UK. Producing a world premiere from Roy and touring it to four leading venues across London is a fantastic project for us.

“We cannot wait to share this beautiful new play with audiences.”

Sharing what about the writing in All Roads she was most drawn to, Kuffour said: “There is a character called Chantel in the play and she talks to us, talks

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to the audience and we see her journey, the things that she has gone through, the romantic relationship she is involved in.

“You see her journey as a young teenager sort of in love and working out whether that love is right and feels right for her and whether that love for the person is enough.

“I can totally relate as a Black woman, kind of, figuring out love myself.

“You’re working out whether a particular person is for you and you’re working out whether the way you are being treated is the right way or the way that you want to be treated, and so that is part of Chantel’s journey.

“She’s also trying to throw off stereotypes and throw off ways that she has been categorised and the box that people try to put her in.

“I totally relate to trying to throw off boxes that people try to put me in.”

All Roads tours in 2023 at four London venues: l Tramshed: March 9-11, 2023 l New Wimbledon Theatre March 14-18, 2023 l Theatre Peckham: March 22-26 2023 l Bernie Grant Arts Centre: March 29-April 1, 2023 l Attic will host postshow talks on March 10, 16 and 24, 2023, with playwright Roy Williams.

www.voice-online.co.uk

AUGUST 2022

THE VOICE| 37

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38 | THE VOICE MARCH 2023

Celebrating Our Sistahs MAGIC ON STAGE: The Sacrifice builds on the success of Masilo’s previous works; inset below left, backstage, and during a performance (photos: Tristram Kenton)

‘I don’t need therapy anymore’

Choreographer Dada Masilo says that dance is her outlet following trials and hardship. By Joel Campbell

S

OME STRONG women have shaped the path taken by award-winning South African choreographer Dada Masilo.

One of her most heralded pieces of work to Saint-Saëns’s The Dying Swan, was inspired by the treatment endured by her aunt before she died. Her latest work, The Sacrifice, currently on a 14-venue UK tour ending on April 12, is an acknowledgment of her grandmother, her biggest supporter.

At 38 years old, Masilo has defied the odds throughout her journey from her humble roots in Soweto, to touring the world over delivering her raw and authentic artform which is deeply rooted in tradition.

Turning her genuine love for dance into the refined and captivating performance she delivers in 2023 however, is the product of some key advice given to her by yet another influential woman in her life.

“When I was 12 I used to ask the director of the Dance Fac-

tory, Suzette le Sueur, ‘So, when do I stop being talented?’. And she said, ‘You don’t stop being talented, you’re always a learner’.”

Having joined The Dance Factory, a unique non-profit dance institution aimed to train children in contemporary dance and ballet, a year before receiving that vital pearl of wisdom, Masilo says that foundation set her up for the long road ahead.

“I started dancing when I was 11 years old with a girl group called the Peace Makers in Soweto and we we’re dancing to Michael Jackson, so it was a lot of fun.

TRAINING

“When I was 12 we were introduced to the Dance Factory and the executive director said he wanted to start us off on formal dance training.

“We started contemporary dance and ballet, we didn’t know anything about that, it was very foreign to us.

“At the age of 14 I just said to

I’m still quite surprised “I have to go to end. about that and it’s been the amazing journey of my my elders and most dance life.”

Masilo says the experience go, ‘This is the gave her the confidence to crekind of work ate her own pieces.

“When I was dancing I was I want to do – never interested in choreograI just wanted to dance, but is it OK for me phy, at P.A.R.T.S they forced us to choreograph and so I made my to do this?’” myself, OK, this is what I want to do for a living, this is my calling. So that’s how it started and then the girl group saw Roses performing at the Dance Factory and I had never seen people move like that before, so I thought OK, I want to go to that school.”

She continued: “I went and auditioned in 2004 at the Performing Arts Research and Training Studios (P.A.R.T.S) in Brussels and I got in, somehow. I still can’t believe that I got into that school because it is so exclusive.

“There were 800 dancers in that audition and only 30 at the

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first work there which was a solo piece I made for my aunt who died of AIDS.” She added: “She really died of heartache because the community just shunned her.

“It was at that point where people were saying, ‘Oh, if you have that disease we’re not going to talk to you and you don’t belong to this family’ That whole shame thing that was happening.

“So she died on my 21st birthday and that is what propelled me to go, ‘OK, I want to tell stories and to make work based on narrative and making people feel. That is why I do what I do.”

Masilo has attracted much attention for her retelling of classic stories that speak to Black identity and feminism, fusing different dance forms to create an inimitable choreographic style.

She explained what sets it apart from contemporary art forms.

“I think for me it really is about learning different things at all times. I say to the company that yes, you can be an amazing technician, but are you a feeling technician? Are you complacent in what you know and what you have been taught? So I am trying to get away from that.

“I’m trying to go, OK, let’s learn this. We have a lot of

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laughs with learning techniques because, how am I going to fit this into a work?

“So when I do that, I don’t know what I am doing. But I think that in terms of cultures, traditions and rituals I have to go to my elders and go, ‘This is the kind of work that I want to do, is it OK for me to do this’.

“Because, a lot of the time they say, ‘Now you’ve gone too far’. You have to have an elder that says, ‘No, you can do this’ for stage or not.

LEARNING

“So it is a lot of work in that sense because you’re constantly learning about your culture and traditions and the type of rituals you used to use and kind of change things up so it’s not offensive to the elders, because I think we still need to respect the fact that the rituals, yes they were done a long time ago, but I still want to know that I am respecting those rituals.”

With each piece Masilo comprises, there is a bespoke message. Over the past decade her re-interpretations of Carmen, Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake and Giselle have been critically acclaimed both in South Africa and internationally.

For The Sacrifice, she combines the European heritage of The Rite of Spring with the uniquely rhythmic and expressive movements of Tswana, the traditional dance of Botswana often used in storytelling and healing ceremonies.

Performed by an all-South African cast of 11 spectacular dancers, at the piece’s heart is Stravinsky’s epic tale of the struggle of the sacrificial victim, danced by Masilo herself.

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“With The Sacrifice it was really weird because I wanted to do a very, very hard, dark work.

“And then COVID happened and I saw a lot of my loved ones, my friends, my family, lose people.

“So it went from a dark piece of work to a piece that is about healing. I hope people really take from this work at the end of it, is that, OK, I’m healing. It’s OK to say, I’m not OK because people are still trying to get over the fact that the last two years were just a mess.

“A lot of lives have been lost and not just lives, people have lost themselves, people have had to learn how to deal with life and that has been really hard.

“So, I’m hoping with The Sacrifice, though the end of it makes people cry, but I think that’s what we need to do – we need to cry and we need to just heal.”

She added: “I think after Giselle I was just tired of being put on a pedestal and The Sacrifice was a work for me that was for me.

“I was acknowledging my grandmother who was my biggest supporter from when I started dancing but it was not about pleasing anybody.

“So I think that with this work I am healing. I’m going, ‘Yeah, you made some strange decisions along the way but this one is helping me heal’.

“I don’t need to go to therapy anymore, I can just do the work and know that I am healing.

“I know that there are a lot of people in the company that are healing, so it’s not just about what we show to the audience, it’s also about what the work means for us.”

www.voice-online.co.uk

AUGUST 2022

THE VOICE| 33

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Celebrating Our Sistahs

What concerns you concerns God, says Karen Gibson

Kingdom Choir founder talks inspiration for the roup’s ne sin le and loo s ahead to their anniversary year. By Joel Campbell

T

HIRTY YEARS later and Karen Gibson still hasn’t adjusted to the love and adulation that comes her way as the founder of Kingdom Choir, and she tells Lifestyle that she hopes she never does.

Last month saw Gibson and the choir release their first single of the year aptly titled Not Giving Up. In keeping with the humility that underpins her character, the song isn’t about Gibson’s own personal journey, rather, it’s the result of a collaborative Kingdom Choir effort to draw from their collective experiences in order to create something special to uplift others.

“The track feels amazing to me. I love the sentiment, I love the voices, I love the arrangement. It feels really powerful to me,” Gibson enthused.

“We were in the season of songwriting and wanted to write what we felt would be relevant to the world. I think you would agree that the past couple of years have been quite something, for everybody.

“Everybody has suffered

“We just wanted to encourage people to keep going, no matter what”

quite a bit and I feel that we just wanted to encourage people to keep going, because things are difficult and I feel like there have been some unprecedented things that we have seen throughout the world and it’s quite discombobulating if you sit down and you think about it too much.

“So we just wanted to encourage people to keep going, don’t give up, no matter what it looks like.

“There’s been so much loss and sickness, the economic situation, it’s a lot for people but we’re just telling them, you keep on going, one foot in front of the other, keep going. It will get better.”

Not Giving Up features the full baritone lead vocal of Wayne

Ellington which blends sweetly with the reassuring vocals of the choir.

Speaking on the group working together to find the right balance, Gibson said: “We wanted to write about things that were relevant to everybody, what’s happening in the world, what are people going through?

“How can we write to really let people know that what concerns you concerns God.

HEART

“We want to be his voice on the earth. So we wanted to write with a heart that was concerned for people but also what would God say? He’d say, don’t give up, keep going.

“That was the starting point.

Then we have a young man in our choir, his name is Jonathan Owusu-Yianomah, he’s very talented –he’s actually an artist in his own right, wonderful singer, arranger and producer.

“He sat us down one day, asked us some questions and ended up helping us by curating the writing sessions with member of the choir but he also brought some collaborators.”

Gibson had led the choir

KINGDOM QUEEN: Karen Gibson founded Kingdom Choir, pictured below left, 30 years ago for over two decades from 1994 before their breakthrough moment in the spotlight, during which time the group – spread across London and from various Christian traditions – became renowned for their shared talents, collective spirit, and instantly uplifting performances.

The continued love shown for The Kingdom Choir in the wake of their Royal Wedding performances has truly elevated their status. They released their

debut album Stand By Me that same year and it entered the charts at number 17 during a four-week run in the top 40 while the title track hit number one on the Billboard Gospel Songs Chart.

Their subsequent releases have included Real Love which earned repeated Radio 2 airplay; the Together Again festive EP; and last year’s Apple Music Home Session, which was released to commemorate Black History Month.

WONDERFUL

Following a brief break over the festive period, Gibson and Kingdom Choir are back on the road again. With it being an anniversary year and an impending tour of America coming up, things are set to get busy. Gibson’s looking forward to it.

“This is not the first time we ve been on tour to the US, we went back in 2019 which doesn’t feel like that long ago but it is four years ago. We had a wonderful time then.

“We were really warmly received by the American crowd.

I was very surprised about that because as far as I was con-

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@thevoicenews

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cerned, we were taking coal to Newcastle. You know, a Gospel choir singing Gospel music in the country where Gospel was created.

“So I was quite nervous but it was wonderful so I am looking forward to going back.

“I know that some of the shows are sold out already which is very encouraging. It will be intense, it s five and a half weeks and 24 dates and it starts off in Canada. I don’t remember all of the venues but America is not a small place and we are going all over, so lot’s of travelling. I’m anticipating lots of great moments.”

UK fans of Kingdom choir need not feel left out, Gibson says they will be back in the country before we know it.

“There will be new music released later this year,” Gibson announced.

“I hesitate to say that there will be another tour, but I do know that some dates are being lined up. We will be at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on November 30, so we have a concert then.”

Watch the full interview at www.voice-online.co.uk

www.voice-online.co.uk

MARCH 2023 THE VOICE

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41

Lifestyle

Festival making a big splash

If you’re a fan of Caribbean music and culture, there’s one event not to be missed this summer. By Joel Campbell

T

HERE’S A quintessentially Caribbean feel that underpins City Splash Festival. It’s one of the biggest reasons many have already bought their tickets and have earmarked the event as their ‘must attend for 2023’.

Last month, organisers announced the line-up for the one-day Reggae, Dancehall and Afrobeats celebration, which takes place at Brockwell Park in south London on May 29.

The third annual event will feature the likes of Max Romeo on his last ever UK Tour, plus the fast-rising one to watch that is ncle Waffles, onae o, utan Fyah, Jah Youth, Juls and Twinkle Brothers.

The stellar names come on top of the likes of Chronixx, Koffee, Shenseea, Skillibeng, Gyakie, Stylo G, Jah9 and Ayra Starr who along with many more acts will play across seven stages.

With the two previous City Splash Festivals striking the right chords with attendees and this year’s line-up signalling a clear intent on raising the bar, Lifestyle wanted to know more about the driving force behind the scenes. Who is the brainchild?

A trip down to his office in east ondon and co-founder, Ben Ryan, inset above, explained how he’d turned a long-held ambition to rekindle a key element of his own youth, which he believes has been lost, through the event we all now know as City Splash.

Speaking about the inaugural event in 2021, he said: “We just didn’t know what it was going to be. So you have a kind of mindset of what you think it might be, what you hope it will be, but one of the things with the first one is that you don’t know who is going to engage with it. You don’t know who is going to turn up.”

He added: “The key part of doing City Splash was to present something that the Caribbean community would want to feel that it belongs to them and would attend.

“That was such an important part of creating this.”

“I think that over the years we have lost a lot of the authentic, cultural community events and institutions that support Caribbean culture.

“City Splash was really born to contribute towards supporting that and maybe, like, fighting back a bit to say we’re still here and we still want this stuff.

“We still influence everything but the all dayers that we all grew up on have disappeared, the community centres have gone, the book shops are going, the record shops are gone. The big concerts aren’t happening like they used to but yet the influence is huge.

“Every community that exists is influenced by this music culture and everything underneath that but yet we are a bit starved for these sorts of events.

“Notting Hill Carnival is the biggest event in Europe, it’s the best weekend in London, recognised by everybody, but it’s once a year, that’s all we get. And so, City Splash was like, yeah, let’s add to that.”

Born and raised in Dalston, Ryan worked at EMI Records be before becoming a live events producer.

It’s one thing to have a vision, the single father of two exex plained what it took to deliver it. busi“I’ve worked in the music busi ness since I left college and I’ve created, I guess, a network of people that have all grown up in the business and some are now at a certain position where we are able to collaborate and draw on different expertise or resources or that allow us to access resources because we have built up a reputation and experience.

“I guess people bought into the vision and people bought into my experience, passion and integrity that this could work and my track record for being a live event promoter.”

Ryan has worked across multiple music genres over the past two decades. He has produced big tours for household names and garners a perspective few are exposed to.

In , he decided to refine his focus, specifically concentrating on reggae and Caribbean

STELLAR LINE-UP: The third annual City Splash event at Brockwell Park will feature a host of big names influenced music iving insight into why he would forgo other more potentially lucrative avenues, Ryan enthused: “I left the genres that were making money I guess because I was raised on this music, so it has a place in my heart, it’s a nostalgic place in my heart, it’s where I feel warmest, happiest.

“I also think that socially its the music that carries the most important message for us as a people, especially us living here in the West. If music can change societal things then it’s the genre that has the best chance of doing that in a positive way, than any of the other genres that I might have worked in, in the past.”

He added: “So it’s like, can I contribute something positive towards society? And then being a parent of two sons, I guess there was a responsibility towards that, leading by example.”

Delivering a tier one festival depends in large part on securing strategic partnerships with stakeholders who have the capacity to execute.

Thinking beyond immediate responsibilities, Ryan says training the next generation of festival delivery teams that emanate from Black community, in order to create a conveyor belt of talent that will bring about continuity and see events like these not just last but spawn new ones, is key.

“In the industry there is a real shortage of People of Colour, African Caribbean people, Black people, who work in the production side of the events and festivals.

“So, part of the conditions of how we built City Splash, it’s been agreed that I bring in, create opportunities for People of Colour, African Caribbean peo-

ple, Black people to work as stage managers, artist liaisons, accreditations, etc.

“I’ve brought in 15 British Black Jamaican women to be artist liaisons. On the main stage

“It’s a privilege and an honour to be able to put together this type of event” there is a Black woman who is an assistant stage manager, stage two the same thing.

“Not only is that important because we recognise the lack of opportunities that we’ve had, it’s also ensuring that this has a feel of authenticity and that it is ours all of the way through it.

COLOUR AND CULTURE: Many have earmarked the event as their ‘must attend for 2023’

When people arrive – whether you are arriving as an artist backstage or a member of the general public – you should feel like this is something for us, by us.”

As well as the irresistible and authentic musical line-up at City Splash, you can look forward to diving into offerings from several Black-owned food and drinks outlets such as Blk Eats LDN as well as exploring some great creative markets.

There will be plenty to get the brain going too with talks, panels and workshops by charity partners, site art to add extra colour and culture to the day and a comprehensive London Brewers Market featuring breweries from across the city, but focussing on the South.

“It’s a privilege and an honour to be able to put together this type of event,” Ryan said.

“It’s a dream come true, something that I have been wanting to do for a long time and loads of people that I have worked with have always spoken about doing something like this.

“And for it to have been realised and come to life in 2021, straight out of lockdown, is really exciting.

“We’re going into our third edition and it’s looking good, I’m really happy with the line-up we’ve got this year, people seem to be engaging with it and things are really positive.”

City Splash Festival, May 29, 2023.

Tickets: www.city-splash.com

42

| THE VOICE MARCH 2023

This is Brukout!

by Seani B

There’s no place like home Jamaica is nothing but pure magic for this kid from White City

A

S I sit here at the end of my annual pilgrimage to Jamaica for my radio show, I am fully content. This is my happy place, and I say that unashamedly.

There is genuinely no place like Jamaica. It isn’t just the music, it’s the vibe, the hustle, the atmosphere, the people, the lifestyle and even the traffic This place is nothing but pure magic, and working in the manner that I do enhances that magic even further.

I’m a kid from White City in west London – I’ve spent my whole life engulfed by Jamaican culture and many of its values; values that I live by in day-to-day life and beyond. Over the years, the work I do on the radio and in other forums have allowed me to wave my aribbean flag very high – loudly – to all and sundry ranging from the festival of Glastonbury to the pages you are now reading. I live it for real, for real.

This trip started by being asked to be on the Island Music Conference which is curated by music entrepreneur Sharon Burke. She has helped shape the careers of artists such as Bounty Killer and Shaggy, and

ADDED SPICE:

BBC Radio 1Xtra were gearing up for a special Dancehall Weekender during Seani’s visit (photo: Bampson)

GOOD VIBES:

Vibrations, Rasheed Hammond, The Wizard JA, Seani, Kais, producer and engineer Bulby York, and Medisun (photo: Bampson)

the latter was an integral part of this conference, too.

It’s hugely encouraging to see the structure and knowledge sharing becoming available to those at every level of the business. Shaggy told me there were areas of knowledge he wanted to make sure were on people’s radar, but even he learnt a thing or too from the

conference.

Representatives from YouTube, Pandora, Audiomack and many more were not only part of panels, but actively sat with enquiring audiences to look at developing their own pathways. It was a beautiful sight to behold.

Once the conference ended, it was time to don another hat, and work on my radio content.

This year the sessions had an added spice, as BBC Radio 1Xtra were gearing up for a special Dancehall Weekender, which will have taken place by the time you read this (jump on the BBC Sounds app to catch up on anything you may have missed).

My team and I concocted a series of shows that we feel perfectly showcase the Jamaican music scene in all of its glory. Some of it has been aired, some will be coming very soon (I can’t let the cat out of the bag fully One of the highlights that was aired came February 26, and saw the legend that is Beres Hammond taking over the 1Xtra airways sitting in for another top man, David Rodigan.

Uncle Beres is a wise and calming figure never rushed, never phased, and always smooooooooth in his delivery.

I’ve been buying Beres Hammond records for as long as I can remember, and now my team and I were about to produce his first radio presentation no pressure Unsurprisingly, he took to it like a duck to water – it was

absolutely seamless and some of the stories are pure gold (some of the ones off air are even more priceless I think he may have just carved out yet another lane for him to dominate in. The undisputed King of Lovers Rock oozed class and knowledge – as he always has done.

A section of that programme showcased the next generation

“Dad is around us, helping and letting us know what we need to do” of the Beres legacy – the Harmony House trio quartet of DJ and producer The Wizard, vocalist Medisun, Kais and Vibrations, who absolutely blew our minds.

Shaping and guiding the future is Beres’s son, Rasheed, who told us about the impetus behind the movement.

“Pops has set a platinum standard, we cannot let that slip in any way. We are aware

of what the expectations are of music coming out of this camp, and if it doesn’t reach the mark it will not be released.

“We are taking our time to ensure that not only the music is correct, but the development of the artists take centre stage.”

He isn’t just saying that either.

They are so polished, rehearsed and clean that the standard continues. It was like watching a baton pass from one runner to another, generationally, but without losing speed, quality or intensity.

Rasheed tells me his father plays a very “hands on” role in the operation. “Dad is around us, advising, helping, giving encouragement, letting us know where we need to go and what we need to do – it’s amazing to have someone like that not only in your corner, but backing you 100 per cent.”

The evening that we spent with the Harmony House team, coupled with the evening recording with the Boss perfectly encapsulated Jamaica for me. Good vibes, good music and good people.

Like I said, there’s no place like home…

MARCH 2023 THE VOICE

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43

Celebrating Our Sistahs

United in the power of dance

MAKING A STATEMENT: La Diva aux Pieds Nus assert their identities as women and as Black women

All-female French crew to create dynamic impact at Brea in’ Convention. By Joel Campbell

B

REAKIN’ CONVENTION, the international festival of hip hop dance theatre, celebrates its 20th anniversary at Sadler’s Wells this April.

With a national tour to follow, the London festival features allfemale French crew La Diva aux Pieds Nus, meaning The Barefoot Diva.

However, there’s more than one diva taking the stage, five Black women, united in their faith in the power of dance, are collectively set to create a dynamic impact at Breakin’ Convention on Saturday April 29 and Sunday April 30.

Founder Jonzi D has historically promoted women as part of Breakin’ Convention’s annual programmes.

La Diva aux Pieds Nus come courtesy of leading choreographer Nicolas Huchard. Celebrating women’s individuality and plurality, The Barefoot Diva dances at the crossroads of Africa and Europe, remaking the rules and asserting power, strength

and excellence. Dancers Séréna Freira, Julie Laventure, Leila Miretti, Stéphie Téhoué and Mayvis William make up the crew and while hip hop and house music was inspirational at the outset of their journey, styles like Waaking, a dance form exuding confidence and similar to vogueing, is key.

Speaking to Lifestyle, Séréna says: “I use dance as resilience, to free myself”.

Julie adds that her dance style is characterised by hip hop and house dance movements plus Afro-Caribbean, Latino and traditional African dance forms.

“I combine my contemporary core with the power of urban dance floorwork, organicity, with the rupture of footwork from house dance culture, the percussive intensity borrowed from Krump and popping,” she enthused.

Each dancer adds their own personal element. “There is something very intimate about this show. We are speaking with our bodies, to claim that we can

all be different and dance with any body shape” says Leila.

Stéphie adds: “This show is about asserting our identities as women and as Black women.

“We’ve always had the feeling that we don’t belong. I feel like I have to fight three times as hard as anyone else to get what I deserve. That’s why this show has been like therapy for me”.

Mayvis said: “Celebrating the diversity of Black women is something I feel very strongly about. This show can reach all generations. If I’d seen a group and a performance like this when I was 15, it would have really inspired me.”

SOUTH AFRICA’S AWARD-WINNING CHOREOGRAPHER DANCE CONSORTIUM PRESENTS

FEATURING AN ORIGINAL SCORE WITH LIVE MUSIC ON STAGE

La Divas aux Pieds Nus are at Breakin’ Convention, Sadler’s Wells, on April 29 and 30. Breakin’ Convention celebrates 20 years this year, for more information go to https://www.breakinconvention. com/festival-info

UK TOUR 2023 BRIGHTON Dome | 21 - 22 FEB LONDON Sadler’s Wells | 24 - 25 FEB PLYMOUTH Theatre Royal Plymouth | 28 FEB - 1 MAR CANTERBURY Marlowe Theatre | 3 - 4 MAR SOUTHAMPTON Mayflower Theatre | 7 - 8 MAR EDINBURGH Festival Theatre | 10 - 11 MAR BRADFORD Alhambra Theatre | 14 - 15 MAR

INSPIRATIONAL: Each dancer adds their own personal element

MILTON KEYNES Theatre | 17 - 18 MAR SALFORD The Lowry | 21 - 22 MAR NOTTINGHAM Royal Concert Hall | 24 - 25 MAR BIRMINGHAM Hippodrome | 28 - 29 MAR CARDIFF Wales Millennium Centre | 4 - 5 APR HULL New Theatre | 7 - 8 APR NEWCASTLE Theatre Royal | 11 - 12 APR

FOR MORE INFO AND TO BOOK TICKETS VISIT DANCECONSORTIUM.COM

44

| THE VOICE MARCH 2023

Lifestyle

Raising dementia awareness

Athlete Adelle Tracey is on a mission to help others after losing her grandmother.

By Matthew Chadder

C

O M M O N W E A LT H GAMES star Adelle Tracey is running her own race off the track to help people learn more about dementia and living with the condition.

Dementia is a growing healthcrisis; there are an estimated 944,000 people living in the UK with the condition and that is set to rise to more than one million by 2025 – the condition is one of the leading cause of death in the UK. Adelle has been affected by the condition personally and has partnered with specialist nursing charity Dementia UK to spread awareness about the realities of living with the condition and the support available!

The charity has launched the campaign I Live with Dementia to help people in the UK during one of its busiest times of the year. Lifestyle spoke with Adelle about her experience with the condition and how people can get involved with the charity.

MC: Why is this so important for you?

AT: 2019 had been a bit of an interesting year for me, and I really wanted to get involved in more things that I was passionate about. My grandmother was diagnosed with dementia, and she lived with dementia, before she passed away in 2016.

It’s just devastating to have

RACING TO HELP OTHERS: Adelle Tracey says she wanted to be more involved in things that she was passionate about (photo: Getty Images)

“We weren’t aware of the support we could have accessed” somebody who you really care about really demise. We weren’t aware of the support that we could have accessed, so I hope that other families can just know what they are able to access.

MC: Do you hope to use your position and your platform within sport, to make others aware of the charity and dementia and opening up about it?

AT: Particularly with sport and exercise there is a massive link between being active and how that can reduce the stress and mental health side of things when you’re dealing with dementia.

When it comes to preventative measures as well, you can reduce the risk in certain ways by keeping active and I think that’s something that I really hope to instil through my role as a challenger brand ambassador.

It affects younger people too, and I think that needs to be a conversation. I did some research as well which showed people of colour are less likely

to access resources when it comes to dementia support.

As a mixed Black woman, I hope that people from different groups will see that it’s something that can be accessed.

MC: What are some ways that people can support the charity and get involved?

AT: One of the things is getting active and taking on event Chal-

lenge to raise vital funds and you can do that by just taking part in any activity, so that’s a really easy way to get involved.

Also coming along to the events that they offer, this is a free virtual event, so it is easy for a lot of people to access, because you can do it in the comfort of your own home.

It’s a real emotional rollercoaster, that’s something that

I know personally, and I know that there’s immense comfort that comes from that sense of community.

MC: What piece of advice would you offer people struggling at the moment?

AT: You can start by reaching out to Dementia UK and just seeing the services that they offer, and what you can access.

Educating yourself on what dementia means, and the ways that you can negate that are important to put your mind at rest, understanding is powerful.

If you need advice or support on living with dementia contact Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline on 0800 888 6678 or email helpline@ dementiauk.org.

Stuck for some read-spiration? Here’s Lifestyle’s pick for March...

Growing Out

Barbara Blake Hannah IF YOU don’t already have this book in collecyour collec tion, then Lifestyle implores you to grab a Barcopy of Bar bara Blake Hannah‘s Growing Out. Tr a v e l l i n g

over from Jamaica as a teenager, Barbara’s journey is remarkable. She finds her footing in T , and blossoms Covering incredible celebrity stories, travelling around the world and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Germaine Greer and Michael Caine – her life sparkles.

But with the responsibility of being the first lack woman reporting on T comes an enormous amount of pressure, and a flood of hateful letters and complaints from viewers that eventually costs her the job.

In the aftermath of this fallout, she

goes through a period of self-discovery that allows her to carve out a new space for herself first in the and then back home in Jamaica – one that allows her to embrace and celebrate her Black identity, rather than feeling suffocated in her attempts to emulate whiteness and conform to the culture around her.

Part of the Black Britain: Writing Back series – selected by Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo, this series rediscovers and celebrates pioneering books depicting Black Britain that remap the nation

@thevoicenewspaper

and reframe our history. There are 10 other books in the series.

Growing Out provides a dazzling, revelatory depiction of race and womanhood in the 1960s from an entirely unique perspective.

Cheated

Adina Rose Benedict Benedict tells the story of a young woman, Chastity, who felt unloved growing up, lacked the attention and support she craved from her family, and consequently suffered with low self esteem.

@thevoicenews

voicenews

As an adult, she eventually makes the transition from the pain of her past to discovering the power of purpose and making a success of her life.

The author tells Lifestyle that the tale is ‘somewhat autobiographical’ with events based on a true story.

www.voice-online.co.uk

MARCH 2023 THE VOICE

OF SPORT

TOP SPORTS COVERAGE 24/7 VOICE-ONLINE.CO.UK/SPORT

Briana backing Jamaica’s track stars of tomorrow

By Rodney Hinds JAMAICA’S YOUNGEST Olympic gold medallist Briana Williams has awarded scholarships to three Excelsior High School student-athletes valued at $210,000.

Williams, who moved to Jamaica last year, is already dedicated to giving back to the community. Following a Christmas treat the 20-year-old staged for children in the Montego Bay environs in December, Williams will provide $70,000 each in scholarships to Shakira Rhoden, Shelly-Ann Taylor and Janelia Williams.

Rhoden and Taylor are members of Excelsior’s reigning Anthrick Corporate Area Development Meet 4x100m relay team. Kayla Harris, who was also a member of that team, awarded her scholarship to teammate Janelia Williams, who is an ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships (Champs) silver medallist in the 200m.

The athletes caught Williams’ eye when they indicated she was a role model in an interview after their victory at the Anthrick Development Meet in 2022. When Williams read the article, as well as saw an Instagram post with the athletes, she was thrilled, “I was so honoured last year when I read the article in the newspaper stating that I inspire these girls. I wanted to meet them, but leave

SUPPORT: Briana Williams with scholarship awardees Shakira Rhoden, ShellyAnnTaylor and Janelia Williams of Excelsior High School track and field team; right, Gold medal winners Briana, left, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson of Team Jamaica during the medal ceremony for the 4 x 100m relay at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Making a big impression

Sofia is the only tax adviser to appear on the Football Black List. By Rodney Hinds

S

OFIA THOMAS, director and co-founder of Juno Sports Tax, is delighted to have been named on the recent Football Black List (FBL).

The FBL is the most respected celebration of black excellence in football, and ambitious Sofia has been recognised alongside the likes of Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, as well as pundit and ex-England player Lianne Sanderson.

Sofia is the only tax adviser to be named on the list. Her business provides advice and financial education to professional footballers and tax courses for academies. She is also

in the process of writing a book about taxation for athletes. Juno Sports Tax was founded in 2021.

Sofia said: “We set up Juno Sports Tax because we felt there was a clear gap in the market for high quality, independent, professional specialist tax advice in this area. This was especially true of high-net-worth sports people who have often been the subject of poor advice and targeting around tax evasion.

“It’s fantastic that in such a short space of time our work has been so widely recognised and to have been included in the prestigious Football Black List is a very welcome acknowledgement of our efforts.”

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more than inspirational words. I wanted to support their academic journey.”

The scholarship was made possible through Briana’s sponsor GraceKennedy Limited and will be disbursed to the school to cover the cost of books, tuition and other necessities for the 2023 academic year.

The Briana Williams scholarship will now be an annual offer to aid student-athletes in their academic and sporting pursuits.

“I am committed to giving back to athletes in Jamaica because I know what it’s like. It’s not easy being a student-athlete,” she shared.

“My sponsor GraceKennedy and I will make this an annual scholarship to deserving student athletes who showcase their athletic talents and are also having good grades.”

She encouraged over 100 members of the Excelsior High track team who were present at the ceremony to remain committed to the sport. “I want to encourage you to work hard and don’t let anybody quell your dreams,” she said. “Put in the work, listen to your teachers, your coaches and rewrite your goals and recite them every day and don’t give up.

In 2020, Williams provided 25 tablets to student-athletes forced to attend classes from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also donated furniture and school supplies to educator Stacey-Ann Donaldson who has a reading and homework centre in Kingston.

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THE VOICE MARCH 2023

Sport

‘I want to rule the world!’

Nadine Guy has her sights firmly set on becoming the strongest oman on the planet. By Matthew Chadder

N

ADINE GUY has her eyes firmly set on becoming the world s strongest woman pon discovering the sport ust two years ago, the -yearold fell in love with competing and hasn t looked back since She is one of the s few black strongwomen and was the first to be on the s final show she is competing regularly and has appeared in televised competitions She wants to see more women getting involved and fulfilling their potential and will be hosting her own Strongwoman workshop on arch to educate women about her beloved sport adine spoke to the oice of

Sport to share her story so far and aspirations for the future VoS: What is it like to be a Strongwoman NG: The training can get intense at times, but you have to have the right mindset to keep on going It s fun and e citing It s very different, it s something I didn t even know e isted three years ago, but I love what I do VoS: What is that mindset NG: ust keeping my mind on that final goal VoS: What are your feelings towards being one of the s few black competitors in Strongwoman NG: I would like to inspire more black women to enter this Strongwoman world, not a lot of women know that they can do this I ve got a workshop I m doing in arch, to try and get more women to realise that it does e ist and that it is possible for anyone abilof any strength and abil ity to oin in and have a go VoS: ow hard is it to uggle this aspiration reamongst all your re sponsibilities NG: I do en oy it, but it

REACHING FOR THE TOP: adine uy has proved with her performances in Strongwoman competitions that she has what it takes to be highly successful on the global stage can be quite hard sometimes The training, each session could be more than two hours long Trying to fit that in as a single mum, and do the school run, train, all the things I have to do at home, it can be quite challenging at times, I ust have to keep focused VoS: ow incredible would it be to become the world s strongest woman NG: It s the ultimate thing That ll be ama ing to show all my hard work has paid off and to be an inspiration as well for

my children because they watch everything I do They go to the gym with me sometimes and they do kid s versions of all the Strongwoman events, so ust for them to see that I ve reached my ultimate goal would be ama ing VoS: oing to the hotels and the travelling must be quite e pensive, can that be difficult at times NG: ery difficult It can be quite e pensive so I m trying to get sponsored There s some athletes that are sponsored by

companies that will pay for their hotels, their flights, some companies will give you free items like supplements, clothes, belts and weightlifting shoes I have a code that I put on my Instagram posts and, if people use it, I get a certain percentage of that, but other than that there is no financial help I do make sacrifices to pay for these things VoS: What would you say to a potential sponsor if they are reading this article about you NG: I would say that I m pas-

sionate about what I do I have these big goals, not ust for myself, but for my children and everyone else to know that they can get into something and, if they love it, they can turn their dreams into reality I ve been working very hard with my body under a lot of stress, but I always come back and keep training I d ust love a company to support me to be even better than what I am If I can ust take away some of the little stresses, I can focus on becoming the world s strongest woman

Raise Your Game and be part of ‘an incredible day not to miss’

By Rodney Hinds

SPEARHEAD: ick It ut s development chief Troy Townsend

T behind ick It ut s hugely popular aise our ame has promised attendees “an incredible day out that you won t want to miss Football s anti-racism campaign recently said they were “thrilled to announce that the hugely popular mentoring initiative was making a return on Thursday, pril at rsenal s mirates Stadium The aise our ame conference, supported by the remier eague, is the pinnacle event of the aise our ame mentoring programme In addition to valuable networking opportunities with rep-

resentatives from the game s leading organisations, attendees will also have the opportunity to ttend one-to-one mentoring sessions with leading industry professionals, working across the game, matched to your career aspirations etwork with representatives from the game s leading organisations including The remier eague, Women s Super eague, Sky Sports and more isten and attend industry leading keynote speaker sessions and panel debates Interact and engage with peers and industry focused brands and organisations

Troy Townsend, ick It ut s head of development, told the oice of Sport “The event returning means absolutely everything to me personally It s been three long years and finally I can say is back but it means so much more than that “It s seeing the mentors do their thing, it s seeing the delegates e cited for what the day may bring It s creating new relationships and seeing the beginning of hopes and dreams “I m so e cited and very proud to be in this position again “It s an incredible day and you won t want to miss out revious attendees have

gone on to secure roles at all levels of the game, including at top football clubs and leading media outlets citing announcements about hosts, mentors and special guests for the event was not available at the time of going to press Townsend added “The day will have bespoke workshops, keynote speeches and panel sessions We have some really e citing plans for additional content The event has provided a platform for so many to believe that they can work in this industry and thrive Visit www.kickitout.org for more information

MARCH 2023 THE VOICE

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47

Sport ec les eco

By Elizabeth Agnes HIGHLY RESPECTED Omar Beckles has become one of the most powerful figures in football having recently been elected as the new chair of the players union, the rofessional Footballers ssociation F eckles, ust , takes up the position having been chosen by fellow members of the F s layers oard The layers oard, made up of elected F members from the remier eague, WS and F , is the formal player representation body within the union

es one of the

The -person board also includes representatives of the thousands of former players who retain access to F services and support eckles replaces F chair ohn ousinho, who was recently appointed as head coach of eague ne club ortsmouth

PRIVILEGE

Beckles has won seven caps for renada since making his debut in eckles, who plays for eyton rient, will now work with aheta olango and the e ecutive team, ensuring players views

are communicated and represented in the running of the union “I m honoured to be elected to this role It s a real privilege to be chosen to represent the players, eckles told rient s official website on the appointment “ s aheta has said, we really want the F to be player-centric, with members at the heart of what the union does I ll be the link from the dressing room, making sure that the players are at the centre of everything we do “I m looking forward to fighting the members corner and building on the great work done by ohn ousinho

ost po erful figures in foot all eckles, whose previous clubs include ccrington, Shrewsbury and rewe, has been a longterm ambassador for promoting positive change in the areas of mental health and wellbeing and last year was recognised for his work at eyton rient with the eague Two F layer in the ommunity ward at the F wards “ mar brings a wealth of e perience to the role I ve already en oyed working with him as a member of the players board and I m looking forward to continuing and building on that relationship, said olango RECOGNITION:

mar eckles in action for eyton

rient

Giving back to the game Former national team captain Atiba Harris is ‘looking to affect positive change’ as president of St Kitts and Nevis FA. By Matthew Chadder

T

HE ST itts and evis Football ssociation has undergone e citing changes recently which promise a brighter future under new leadership In ugust , it was announced that tiba rasto arris would take over as S F president The -year-old ittitianborn former footballer once captained the St itts and evis national team during his professional playing days The new president played in defence for F allas during his long stint in the S and has spoken of how football is a sport very close to his heart ver his S career tiba played for si different teams in years, registering goals and assists arris S F e ecutive committee held its first annual general meeting last September and it left member clubs feeling committed and encouraged about the new president s plans and vision tiba spoke to the oice of Sport about his new role and hopes for the future as well as his pride at becoming the enw president MC: How proud are you to become the new president of the St Kitts and Nevis Football Association and just

KEY ROLES TO PLAY: left to right, tiba arris with rime inister of St itts and evis, r Terrance rew, and S F technical director, eonard Taylor

how important is the sport of Football to you?

AEH: I m grateful to attain a role which puts me in a position to affect positive changes for football in our country and help to truly develop the sport in St itts and evis Football will always hold a special place in my heart because of the oy, e citement and opportunity that it has afforded me throughout my life MC: Talk to me about the process of becoming president and what it was that drew you towards wanting to take this special role on?

AEH: In , I made a decision to forego the last year of my professional contract in the S so that I could return to St itts and evis to contest the presidency number of clubs e pressed their support for me and nominated me as a candidate any meetings with member clubs were convened to discuss plans and hear their concerns and suggestions along the way n ugust th, , at the S F rdinary ongress, the ma ority of the clubs voted in favour of myself to become the new president desire to give back to football coupled with the tremendous support from the clubs was enough to convince me that this was the right step

MC: What is the most important thing about being president?

AEH: To lead by e ample and implement the decisions of ongress ur member clubs have entrusted me to be the president and I will do my best to reward them MC: What challenges do you anticipate as president?

AEH: ne of the challenges that

I anticipate is people adopting to change owever, this could become easier with constant dialogue with member clubs and stakeholders MC: What plans do you have as president?

AEH: s president, I would like to be able to truly develop our national programs, improve infrastructure and build capacity within our membership so that

our clubs could become selfsustainable for a very long time MC: What do you want your lasting legacy to be, if someone was to describe your time as president?

AEH: I want it to be remembered as the time when we were able to upgrade the football in St itts and evis to a standard that will help the country to achieve its ob ective in qualify-

ing for ma or tournaments e leaders in the region in terms of governance and all developmental areas I was able to become a professional footballer from this tiny federation and would like to see many more young players, coaches and referees achieve this ob ective as well so we re starting from the ground up to solidify the foundation to build a successful football nation

48 | THE VOICE AUGUST 2022

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