News

The Prime Mininster's recent Munich speech caused a backlash from UK BME communities.  Ade Sawyerr highlights a thread of the controversy to examine whether Black Britons could ever follow the American model of aspiration, and in this country persue the 'British Dream'.

He writes:

Honouring talent: The Black People’s Day of Action

An army of Black community organisations have come together to organise a programme of events to recognise the anniversary of the Black People’s Day of Action 30 years ago.

The date Wednesday, 2nd March remembers the New Cross Fire demonstration that was the beginning of mass black demonstrations in this country.

The award season is usually enough to lift the spirits of those who are suffering from the January Blues, its glitz and glamour a welcome escape from the rainy, windy and freezing weather.

Black musicians seem to just about hold their own at the Grammys last week with Jay Z, Alicia Keys, B.o.B, Bruno Mars and Cee Lo Green nominated in the top categories, albeit losing to the traditional preeminence of country & music nominees.

Forced marriages and domestic abuse have surfaced as an urgent issue for debate by Parliamentarians and campaigners.

Hackney Asian Women’s Aid in partnership with Hackney Council are holding a free event focused on forced marriage and ‘honour’ based violence in just over two weeks time.

The event will celebrate the positive outcomes for women and children from the South/South East Asian continent who have experienced violence.

Campaigners have warned that the proposed government cuts to legal aid will hit the vulnerable people in society hardest and could tip the mental health crisis in the black community into meltdown.

Campaign group have made submissions to the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) consultation this week saying services users could be left locked up on wards without the legal counsel they need to appeal against their detention, unless there is a radical rethink of MoJ’s  plans.  

I'm a big fan of the blues, and jazz, two genres which the great singer Billie Holiday often beautifully combined. It was through Diana Ross, however, in the mid seventies who introduced me and  a whole new generation to Billie Holiday through her  mesmerising portrayal of her tragic  life in 'Lady sings the blues'.

A Swansea primary school teacher who sprayed Asian children she said smelt of curry with air freshener was removed from her job yesterday.

The teacher was sacked from her job at Hafod Primary School in Swansea over "child protection concerns” at a disciplinary hearing of the General Teaching Council for Wales.

The teacher, Elizabeth Davies was accused of "for humiliating children and ‘showing disregard for young and vulnerable pupils”.

Last weekend saw the election success of Jyoti Bhojani for the Labour’s BAME youth representative.

In terms of the Labour party it is a powerful position not least because BAME Labour youths are part of the fastest growing sector within of the party. Of course we are particularly pleased here at OBV because Jyoti came to the organisation as a volunteer and now is a project worker on our mentoring programmes.

Speaking about her election Jyoti said:

I’m at a loss to see what all the fuss is about in regards to Radio 4 seeking to broaden its appeal beyond the white ABC 1 (35-55) age group. The rational is clear: In future years it will be this group that will be the station's main stay audience, as it is now, which is a worry say the authors of the report because it is this group that is in decline.