News

In perhaps the most multicultural metropolis in the world, boasting residents from almost every corner of the globe, speaking in excess of 150 languages what does an illegal immigrant look like in London?

Italy's first black Minister, Cecile Kyenge, has a lot on her plate. In a country where racism is not only tolerated but at times is encouraged by certain political parties, Kyenge will have to fight hard and stay strong. So far, she has been doing an excellent job. Her sense of humour, resilience and ability to change peoples' minds is making her a star in the often murky world of Italian politics.

Much to the displeasure of many officials in the United Kingdom, 89-year old political veteran Robert Mugabe is set for another electoral victory in Zimbabwe 33 years after coming to power.

Doreen Lawrence, long time race activist and mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, will be made a Baroness in the new Peers intake.

She is to join the Labour benches in the House of Lords. This will be seen by many as a coup for the Labour party Leader Ed Miliband.

Doreen's work and her tenacity in tackling the big issues around race inequality such as police ‘Stop and Search’, and confronting ‘institutional racism’, will be seen by the Labour party as a great asset and a potential vote winner for Black communities.

Figures released this week by the Commissioner for Public Appointments in its annual statistics on the diversity of public appointments, show that ethnic minority individuals are the biggest losers in being selected for roles on public boards with only 56 appointments and re-appointments out of 1087 made last year (5.5%) compared to 119 (7.2%) in 2011-12; the lowest level in more than a decade.

It’s difficult to remember when this Black History month publication wasn’t around. It seems as though it’s been around for ever. Actually the truth is it started 10 years ago this year!

Cllr Singh Dhesi aiming high.

Just over a week ago in a closely-fought contest, Cllr Tanmajeet Singh Dhesi won the Labour nomination to be the Party's Candidate for Gravesham in the 2015 General Election.

Cllr Singh Dhesi, who has been a local government councillor since 2007, is currently chair of the local Labour party. Singh Dhesi came to local prominence after he took part in OBV’s MP Shadowing Scheme.

He rang OBV’s Assistant Director Francine Fernandes, with the most humble words:

You would be forgiven if, like many, you believed that the Government’s ‘Go home or face arrest ’ advertising campaign was nothing more than a cynical ploy to win bigoted voters away from Ukip back to the Conservatives.

Many people across Italy celebrated the fact that Cecile Kyenge become Italy’s first Black Minister. Her portfolio is Intergration. One of her tasks has been to change Italian citizenship law from ‘blood line’ to anyone who is born on Italian soil. Here we must remember that millions of Italians born in countries such as the USA have automatically been given US citizenship. Kyenge wants the same to apply in Italy.