Educating Leadership with Howard University

Howard University President Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick came to London to talk with professors, journalists, activists, and education professionals at the OBV organised event “Educating Leadership: A conversation with Dr. Frederick, from Howard University” Monday afternoon in Portcullis House at Westminster. Chaired by OBV Director Simon Wooley the discussion centred on the future generation of leaders from BME backgrounds and encouraging BME youth with education and support.

Simon Wooley started off the debate discussing the importance of supporting BME youth education to create leaders in the community so that in the “students can see black faces in high places.” This is extremely relevant today as Patricia Lamour, Managing Director of Aspire Education Group, pointed out at the discussion, because “Black youth are still disproportionately excluded from education.”

The event was attended by Lord Herman Ouseley, who started the Kick It Out project against racism in football, Black Lives Matter UK and other anti-racism activists, as well as prominent BME journalists and professors. Shaka Hislop, former football goalkeeper and current US media commentator for ESPN, was also a guest speaker at the event.

Hislop and Dr. Frederick met at school as children in Trinidad and Tobago, both attended Howard University, and both are now prominent role models for the BME community because of their success and activism. Hislop described himself as a “reluctant leader”, admitting he did not see himself as a leader yet took on the role because of the opportunities he was given and his responsibility to the community.

Dr. Frederick characterised his relationship with Hislop as friends who continuously push each other forward. A sentiment that he also brings to the students at Howard University who he pushes to learn skills and accept social responsibility and service. Dr. Frederick said, “my role is to take away all the barriers for them to do what they need to do,” because students need to feel that they belong in order to make contributions to society.

Jenni Steele, an OBV scheme graduate and current motivational speaker and broadcast journalist, agreed arguing that in order to inspire the next generation they need more role models to boost their confidence and self-esteem. 

Kurt Barling, former BBC journalist and now a professor, called this generation of BME youth coming out of British universities a “tsunami of talent”, asserting that these graduates must take responsibility and step up as leaders to influence the generation to follow.

The discussion also brought together Howard University and Queen Mary University so that a new exchange program can be set up between the two universities for students to receive leadership educational experience.

The consensus from all event attendees was that it is their job to inspire, mentor, and support the next generation of leaders to give them more equal opportunity, and as Dr. Frederick put it “education is the quickest escalator.”

Mary Schlichte