What a week in the UK for BAME
The headline above say it all, last week was a memorable week for the BAME Community or to be specific - a memorable week for Black People in the UK.
You may not be aware that many of the activities that I will highlight took place, as the media somehow strategically did not focus on some of these events, which are poignant to the black community, especially the strategic apology by Mayor Ken Livingston on the London role in the Slave trade.
This is so much more reasons for us to have our own media houses.
Equanomics
First, last week the Equanomics national tour spearheaded by the legendary civil rights activist Rev Jesse Jackson hit Britain like a storm. Packed meetings took place in Bristol, London and Birmingham and moving to Leicester, Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and Bradford.
The American activist is supporting black British campaigns focusing on voter registration and economic justice. Rev Jackson and Black UK leaders Lee Jasper, Karen Chouhan and Simon Woolley along with their respective teams from Operation Black Vote and the 1990 Trust have laid out their US Rainbow Push inspired vision of an inclusive participatory and representative democracy and consumer activism.
The call is for increased black representation in the public sector arena and private sector boardrooms, access to capital investment funds, equality of access to financial service and getting black business products into British stores.
A long overdue campaign to build an economically strong base for black Britain, and one, which encourages local support of the Equanomics message.
This follows the thrust of my previous articles "Developing our Political and Economical Clout" and my campaign to have a parallel plan to develop our leverage in politics and to establish our community financially in business enterprises, for only then will our dormant power be taken seriously.
Black Parliamentary Caucus
In a surprise move last week, Britain's most prominent Black MPs announced plans to re-launch The Black Parliamentary Caucus.
Operation Black Vote (OBV) reported that Diane Abbott MP strongly recommended the reform of the Black Parliamentary Caucus and called on fellow MPs Dawn Butler MP and David Lammy MP to support the motion.
Abbot said both herself and Keith Vaz MP are eager to start a 'new Caucus for a new century' and called on others from the Commons and Lords to join.
The gesture was put forward last week during the ‘Ask, Seek Knock’ meeting of key majority Black Church leaders, politicians and campaign groups led by Rev Jesse Jackson - part of Operation Black Vote and 1990 Trust Equanomics tour.
Now that is a step forward, maybe late but very necessary if Black Parliamentarians are serious about supporting campaigns for race equality.
Mayor's Trade apology for London role in the slave trade
Another milestone was laid down on the 23rd August at City Hall, when Mayor Ken Livingstone apologised for London's role in the transatlantic slave trade, saying the city is still tainted by it.
Ken Livingstone called for an annual national memorial day to remember the horrors of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, acknowledging the role of the UK, and commemorating the courageous acts of the people that fought and campaigned to end the brutal trade.
The Mayor is seeking to establish an annual memorial day for London as well as calling for an annual national day of remembrance. In partnership with UNESCO, the Mayor held London's first memorial service at City Hall on 23rd August 2007.
2007 is the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the British slave trade and is an appropriate time to establish an annual day of remembrance. A number of organisations across the UK have backed the Mayor’s call to establish the 23rd August (which is the UN's International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition) as the UK's National Memorial Day.
For the record, and lest we forget, more than 12 million Africans were forcibly transported and subjected to horrifying conditions, and several million people were directly murdered as a result of the enslavement of African people. Hundreds of millions of people's lives remain affected by the legacy of this terrible crime to this day.
Many argue even, in the black community, about significance of an apology without financial remuneration. They say ok, we have the apology, but what next? I am reminded of a young lady who placed a petition on the Downing Street website requiring 1000 names in 10 days - seeking to force the Prime Minister’s hand in making an apology, this attracted just over 100 names.
It begs the question, why were more people not interested? I personally don’t need an apology to move on or to succeed and excel, but I agree with Ms Webley, the author of the petition, that an apology would be a welcome start for many members of our community. And for those who support reparations, if this is to be a reality, we need to establish some sort of consensus about how the financial compensation would be calculated and distributed.
FFBJ Election Watch Forum
On another matter, equal to that of Black Britain’ future is Jamaica and its upcoming election. Yes Hurricane Dean (The Terrible) came and took a swipe at Jamaica but God always have Jamaica in the palm of his hands so we were spared major devastation. Unfortunately there were some structural damages and a small number of people lost their lives. Our sympathy goes out to the family of those who lost loved ones.
The Facilitators for a better Jamaica (FBJ) held an 'Election Watch under the Microscope' forum on August 21, which focused on the upcoming general election.
Members at the meeting - attended by Jamaicans living in England - is of the view that political campaigning and the conduct of politicians in Jamaica has shown a significant maturity and improvement over previous elections.
I was privileged to chair the important forum and looking forward to the second session after the election in Jamaica. We will again give the opportunity for Jamaicans overseas to take part in the discussions and find ways to establish partnership with our motherland (Jamaica) in its development socially, spiritually and economically.
The forum suggested a radical reform of political party funding with transparency as well as retaking of national resources as a means of improving the social and economic potential of the country. It was argued that Jamaica does not own much of its national resources and those who have control over such resources have significant influence on the politicians, their policies, their behaviour and the country’s political tone particularly during elections.
The Mask is off - Gun crime is not a black problem only
Finally, The tragedy of the unfortunate killing of Rhys Jones sends a clear message to the UK community that gun crime is not relegated to the black community and Operation Trident. Gun crime is not specific to colour. Gun crime is a national problem, which is affecting communities of different class, colour and creed. The murder of another three people in a shooting in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire and the possible suspects, according to police reports are Asian in their late teens or early 20s.
This column pays respect to the families of Rhys Jones and all the black young people who have died tragically as a result of gun crime.
This is a wake up call for government and society to tackle the causes of the rising crime crisis.
What a week! and this week continues the pace with the unveiling by elder statesman Nelson Mandela of his statue in Trafalgar Square.
