Most influential Black person?

Someone at the London Mayor’s office and the Metro newspaper wanted to be positive about Black history month. Hat’s off for that. But the way they have gone about it, unless there is something we cannot see, is so bewildering that it almost undermines the project. Almost.

Asking the public to vote for the most influential Black person, and then putting the USA President Barack Obama alongside Kwasi Kwateng MP or Oprah Winfrey along with BBC Radio Five Live presenter Dotun Adebayo just doesn’t make sense.

This could have been a truly inspired platform to engage in the diversity of Black contribution with perspective and insight. For example, they might have had a category for international most influential Black person. There you could put Nelson Mandela alongside former world boxing champion Muhammad Ali. Equally you could have the most unsung influential Black person, or rising star, all with a small blurb about their contribution and influence.

That way, we learn so much more about the individuals and the positive effects they are having on our society. Moreover, it is not seen as an exercise that lumps Black people on some fairly random list who the project organisers know of.

By the way, my unsung hero would be Dotun Adebayo but not for his BBC Radio Five Live work or his slot on BBC London. I would/will vote for him for his personal endeavours to create a dynamic Black-owned TV channel and for helping create a law- Dotun’s Law- that allows card carrying BNP teachers to be sacked.

Simon Woolley

Picture: Oprah Winfrey and Dotun Adebayo