News

The African and Caribbean communities are not powerless. When we come together in solidarity fighting for equality, demanding to be respected we can win. Above all when we are successful, everyone benefits way beyond our own communities.

Back in April, six Caribbean individuals – Diane Abbott MP, David Lammy MP, Pat Younge - ex director of BBC, Baroness Ros Howells, George Rudduck - The Voice Editor and myself wrote an open letter to two of the most senior men at the BBC - Tony Hall and James Harding.

As we approach the Commonwealth games in a few days time OBV writer Adam Sinclair Charles explores whether or not his kith and kin -Jamaicans- have that God-given talent to run the fastest, jump the longest or highest. His findings ultimately ask more questions than highlight answers but it’s an excellent read.  Simon Woolley.

Due to a long standing health problem that may need surgery, Deputy Director Francine Fernandes is forced to stand down from her post.

Francine has been with OBV for over 12 years having joined after taking part in one of OBV’s Parliamentary Shadowing Schemes.  Her talent was quickly spotted, and for many years, she has been heading up all OBV’s leadership programmes, and has personally nurtured many hundred of graduates from the MP, Magistrates, and civic leadership shadowing schemes.

Why are people still using this rancid racist language? This question should be asked put to  Janusz Korwin-Mikke, leader of the New- Right Congress Party who has been called to be disciplined after using the N-word during Wednesday’s plenary debate in Strasburg. The outrageous comments came after discussions took place on the existence of the minimum wage law.

He compared job seeking youth to black labours in the American South during the 1960s, saying:

The Ministerial appointments of Sam Gyimah and Priti Patel mean more than 50% of Conservative BME MP’s now hold Ministerial positions. They include: Helen Grant, Shailesh Vara, Alok Sharma, Sajid Javid, and Paul Uppal. Back in March the Rt Hon Sajid Javid became the first BME Secretary of State.

Eighteen years ago today, 16th July 1996, the sun shone on the Houses of Westminster as a small, but dedicated, group of campaigners launched Operation Black Vote.

In 2013, the judicial workforce of individuals from Black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds was 4.8%. Looking at magistrates in particular, an area which OBV has worked in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice, just over 8% of Magistrates are BME.

The iconic Black politician Bernie Grant once told me:

The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

As an activist learning the ropes over two decades ago I struggled to understand the lesson that Bernie was trying to tell me.

But looking at the headline for tomorrow evening's BBC double billed programme; ‘Nick and Margaret: Too many immigrants?, I see exactly what he means.

In her first article for OBV, Kei-Retta Farrell highlights the plight of Africans in Israel. It's a very good piece of writing  and a news story we should be awar of - SimonWoolley.