Operation Hope and Recovery

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.

Mainstream media aside, Black leaders and activists put their reputations on the line to mount a project in response to the civil disturbances in less than four days. If it failed, ie; if no-one showed up, the media would have something to say about the inability for the community to effectively respond. A community, they would have said, ‘that just doesn’t care’. Thanks to you they were wrong. More than 500 heads of organisations and individuals showed up to what was one of the largest meetings held post-disturbances.

Moreover, although there was space to complain and lament about how too many politicians and media outlets had shamefully categorised the disturbances as mainly a ‘Black problem’, speaker after speaker mainly spoke about solutions.

Two clear proposals came out of the meeting: the first to politically empower communities right across the country as never before - how our institutions work, how we can access them and how we engage in a mass movement. Secondly, the setting up of economic enterprise projects, teaching individuals and organisations the economic basics for wealth creation such as micro businesses, funding, and seizing business opportunities.

The parallel projects combine to help communities become more independent, more effective, and less reliant on the State, whose support often comes with a set of political conditions.

The atmosphere was strident but supremely positive.

To all those who made it happen and to those who attended, thank you. With numerous events around the country organised by Black individuals and groups no one can say Black people don’t care.

Simon Woolley

Picture: Audience at Friday's Operation Hope & Recovery event