News

One of the leading skincare producers finds itself in a spot of bother following the withdrawal of an advert which had “racial overtones” and one that they admit was offensive.

A Nivea for Men ad featured in the current issue of American Esquire showed a clean-cut Black man holding a mask of a man with an afro and big beard with the tagline "Look like you give a damn. Re-civilize yourself."

"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." It is a phrase often used to shame us for not learning from events and situations that have taken place in history so we can move on from it.

History, while filled with many achievements and discoveries, is also filled with periods of pain and moments of trauma which we would often want to forget.

But it is important to not only understand, but appreciate the struggles of those who fought against oppression so that we do not have to go through their pain.

There are a number of ways of making a protest. Some, if we're led to believe, want to loot and burn down stores and throw bricks at the police to make a point while others tend to use small gestures which tend to have a big impact.

Social media has been receiving some negative reviews in the media, who themselves are avid users of the likes of Twitter, Facebook and blogging. Many forms of new media have been blamed for inciting and inflaming the riots which blighted England's streets last week. Youngsters savvy in the use of BlackBerry Messenger and Twitter were apparently sending messages to coordinate trouble and looting of shops.

There was no BBC, ITV, Sky news or any other national media outlet at last Friday’s ‘Operation Hope and Recovery’ meeting at Friends House in London. No real surprise there. Whenever there are positive initiatives that counter the negative stereotype of Black communities, mainstream media hardly pays attention. So when activists, church leaders and Black politicians came together to say we’ll give hope and guidance to the recovery of our communities, it sadly doesn’t fit in with the way many want to see our communities portrayed.

Like many in the Black community, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) have felt anger and dismay in the way the BBC has covered the riots, in particular, characterising the disturbances as a ‘Black problem’.

Professor Gus John: Open letter to the Prime Minister

13 August 2011

The Prime Minister

10 Downing Street

London

Dear Prime Minister,

The issue of depression and mental health is usually one which doesn't get discussed in most Asian families - it's just not the done thing.

The statistics of those who suffer from mental illnesses at some point in their life is startling - around one in four people. And 90% of those who experience it get unfair treatment. It affects all communities across the board, but the shame and misconceptions around mental health, especially in the south Asian community, does nothing to help those who are suffering.

It was a moment which could have triggered inter-communal war and bloodshed on the streets of Birmingham. Three British Asian men were killed in the Winson Green area when they were mowed down by a speeding car in the early hours of last Wednesday. And it turned out the suspect driving the car and possible occupants were Black.

There was always something special about Jasvinder Sanghera. The working class girl from Derby joined OBV’s first MP shadowing scheme in 1999. She wanted to understand power and politics, but above all she wanted to give something back to society.

Shortly after the project finished she felt confident enough to set up a ground breaking project that would become a sanctuary for Asian women fleeing forced marriages: Karma Nirvana. Jasvinder has become a powerful global voice against ‘forced marriages’, and domestic violence.