The Congressional Black Caucus: Black politics and big business

The day began with a breakfast meeting and catch up with OBV’s dear friend civil rights icon Reverend Jesse Jackson.

"How are you Brother Woolley?", I’m greeted by the great man, "and just how did you allow your nation to leave the European Union?", he follows up.

We talk about many things, and he is particularly pleased that the European delegation to this event gets stronger and stronger.

Our first appointment is on Capital Hill at the impressive Congress building. We talk Black politics for three hours straight, no break.

Elected local Government representative Jallow Momodou, from Sweden, and Chair of ENAR in many ways set the scene for the debate, arguing for the recognition of Afrophobia - discriminations directed towards people of African descent - by all major institutions including the European Union and the United Nations.

Jallow went to make the case that the UN Decade for the people of African Decent launched in 2015 get the international traction it deserves. At its core the directive demands recognition, justice and development. He told the 20-strong round-table that only Germany had begun any dialogue about this.

Prof Mirelles Fanon Mendes, daughter of Franz Fanon, gave a detailed deconstruction about present white supremacy and capitalism:

Like my father argued so many years ago, our first step must be to free our minds from the mental slavery."

The three hour event ended on a celebratory note highlighting the five decades of by Congressman Alcee Hastings, who at 80 years of age had served his communities home and abroad with great distinction.

Alcee, in his constant humbleness paid tribute to the collaboration between the Helsinki Foundation, German Marshall Fund and Operation Black Vote in establishing the now prestigious Transatlantic leaders Network: a conveyor belt for nurturing minority talent.

The rest of the day was spent with Mayor Marvin Rees. First stop was the UK Embassy to meet senior officials in charge with promoting British business.

After introductions and pleasantries the conversation quickly turned to Brexit, and what it might mean for UK businesses. Mayor Rees was informed that given the US is the UK’s singularly biggest trading partner the UK had seconded extra staff to DC to ensure minimal disruption of trade between the two nations .

Mayor Rees quickly showed his brilliance and vision for Bristol's potential, highlighting its talent pool, its continued potential around the port and its global transport hub-land, sea, and airport. Officials were so impressed, they invited someone from Marvin’s team to be part of UK cities group to travel the US to see potential business opportunities.

Other visits during the day included German Marshall Fund who convened a session with the capitals British business leaders working out of DC, including representatives from Airbus, Rolls Royce and BT.

With a final event at the UK Ambassadors residence, Mayor Rees and I mingled with the business elite. Mayor Rees making the case for Bristol as a city with a new vision, and I supporting him and widened the discussion to emphasize the value of a dynamic, diverse talent pool.

Business cards were swapped, exchange visits were mooted, but I pondered the situation Marvin and I found ourselves in: Two Black working class men, with America’s and the UK’s often privileged elite. But we were there to do business and, for me in particular, talk race equality politics, which we did with a quiet confidence that demanded to be taken seriously.

As we walked out of the Ambassadors grand mansion, Marvin turned to me and said:

I have to smile inside sometimes when these multinational CEO’s refer to me as 'Mister Mayor' ".

I replied:

Yes, Marvin, "You’ve come a long, long way. The challenge now, as you know, is to deliver big. Big for yourself, big for Bristol and big for Black Britain."

We both nodded in unison.

Simon Woolley

Pic: Simon Woolley, Tom Harrell-CEO Indigo DNA –, Mayor Marvin Rees