News

On Monday the 23rd of September, the halls of St Peter’s College, Oxford University were graced with the first portrait of a black professor. Its subject was the esteemed Professor Dapo Akande, Professor of Public International Law at the University. The unveiling, which was performed by Prof Akande and the Master of St Peter's, Mark Damazer CBE, was preceded by a short speech by Catherine Goodman, the artist responsible for the work.

"Instead of war on poverty, they got a war on drugs so the police can bother me.”

—Tupac Shakur

In the midst of the political turmoil our country faces, The Liberal Democrats, Labour and Conservative parties held their annual conferences. With Brexit still dominating British politics, we take a look at each party conference and how each outlined their vision for the UK going forward, summarising each of their polices with a focus on BAME issues.

Liberal Democrats

This year’s Black history month could not be more timely. In any given year this month allows us to focus on the - past, present and future - through the lens of the British African Diaspora. For most events and proceedings take an historical look back, others are celebratory through our culinary traditions, and some take for the form of galvanising community or political action.

In this short essay I want to focus on two things: political empowerment and a call to celebrate the community’s unsung heroes and heroines.

It’s difficult for powerful people and their institutions such as the BBC to say: ‘actually we got this one wrong, we’ve reviewed this thoroughly and we’d like to reverse our decision’.

That would be grown up politics, a sensible way to stop the ever growing distrust and disdain BAME viewers and listeners have towards BBC bosses. It would also open a greater dialogue for more pressing issues such as BAME underpay and lack of promotion.

Thais Thomas joined OBV last Monday in Oxford on our Pathway to Success residential for her first day, and her feet have barely touched the ground since.  Thais is a EUSA internship programme participant from Trinidad and Tobago, and is studying in Abu Dhabi majoring in History, and minoring in Legal studies and African studies.  Thais will be with us until mid December. Welcome aboard!

In our last meeting, whilst Theresa May was Prime Minister she did not disclose her decision to appoint me to the upper House as a Cross-bench Lord. But I should have read between the lines during our chat.

“The work you’ve done with the Race Disparity Unit has to continue. Together Simon, we’ve built a foundation that will help transform Government departments, and deliver better policies to tackle racism” she said.

In the space of about 3 minutes Operation Black Vote alumni Tan Dhesi went from rather unknown MP from Slough to global political superstar, feted and applauded in all four corners of globe.

It was during Prime Ministers’ Question Time, the first time Boris Johnson would stand at the dispatch box as the nation’s leader.

Whether it’s President Donald Trump or Brexit Party Leaders Nigel Farage, the one thing that they can rely upon is a decent society to continuingly give them the benefit of the doubt when it comes calling them out for racial slurs and whipping up a xenophobic and hostile environment.