Happy Birthday OBV - a tribute to Derek Hinds

Nineteen years ago today, a vision and a grand plan was born. A group of campaigners pledged their lives to change our world. This group of men and women would not, could not, sit idly by while racism demonised Africans, Asians, Caribbeans and those from other minority ethnic communities. We recognised and understood that racism was and is a scourge that shackles our talent and poisons society.

On the 16th July, 1996, at Westminter, the ‘mother of all parliaments’, Operation Black Vote was launched.

But where did it come from, who can lay claim to the idea? I’m sure each member of that group will have their own version, but one man in particular must take credit for the spark that has inspired a generation and nurtured thousands, to engage in our democracy and become civic/political leaders.

That man is Derek Hinds.

Those fortunate enough to hear Hinds speak would attest they were in the company of one of Black Britain’s best orators. His delivery was measured, never scripted, but a message that came from the heart. This along with his lyrical deep voice set this often shy man apart. When Hinds spoke he outshone his contemporaries, yet he seemed almost embarrassed that he had taken centre stage.

When I first met Derek he was already a campaign veteran having practically run the Joy Gardner campaign, and worked closely with Bernie Grant on reparations and returning African artifacts to the continent. I met him again in 1995 when a civil disturbance insued after the death of Wayne Douglas, (again no police officer was held to account). Derek was disturbed by the riot, yet he acutely understood the protestors’ frustration and anger. It was an event which defined the challenge facing Black Britain, and he used his hero Malcolm X’s phrase. We must choose, he said, ‘the ballot, not the bullet’.

Then brilliantly using the terminology that the police so readily used against us, we appropriated the word ‘Operation’ and placed it with Black Vote. Who put those three words together? Even after nearly 20 years, I still don’t know. But it’s as strong now, as it was then.

The brilliance of Derek Hinds sadly became overshadowed by his own personal troubles. I haven’t seen him for many years. But I’m sure he’s proud of this organisation, the beacon of hope and activism he helped build.

That rallying cry 19 years ago to 'use the ballot, not the bullet' has witnessed a rise in the number of BME MP’s from four to 42. One of those new MP’s is the OBV alumni, Clive Lewis. We’re rightly proud too, that as a direct result of our Magistrates mentoring programme, more than one hundred BME magistrates now sit on Her Majesty’s benches dispensing justice. And to see recent voter turnout for BME voters bettering the national average is testimony to our successful campaign bus OBV eXpress, and the Saatchi & Saatchi 'whitening up' campaign.

On our birthday today I want to pay tribute to the unsung hero that is Derek, but also pledge our passion and activism to ensure we are respected and afforded the equality of opportunity we all richly deserve.

Simon Woolley