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10PartyPoliticalBroadcastOBVNewsIssue5Summer2010In1983someBlackcandidateswhoattemptedtostandfortheLabourPartyweredeselectedbecausetheywereinvolvedintheBlackSectionsagroupwithintheLabourPartythathadnotbeenendorsedbytheleadership.Tosomeofus1987representedthefulAlmentoftheBlackpoliticalstruggleinBritainwhenfourBlackpeopletooktheirseatsintheHousesofParliament.ThatthisshouldhappenedunderMargaretThatcherwhobarelytenyearsearliertalkedaboutthex1cswampingx1dofthissmallislandbynumerouspeoplefromtheNewCommonwealthwasinitselfaremarkableachievement.TheClassof1987comprisingofPaulBoatengKeithVazDianeAbbottandthelateBernieGrantwerecommunityactivistswhochampionedthecauseofracialjustice.WerememberVazleadingmanymarcheswithinAsiancommunitiesAghtingforrecognitionandacceptance.WerememberBoatengx19stelevisiondocumentaryMaytheForcebeWithYouthatdealtwithpolicingatprotestmarchesandhisvictoryaddressx1cTodayBrentSouth.TomorrowSowetox1dWealsorememberthefamouswordsofGrantaftertheBroadwaterFarmriotsandwerememberwithfondnessAbbottwithherfullheadofAfrohairandaclenchedAsttalkingaboutracialequalityandBlackSectionsatLabourPartyaconference.ThesewerepeoplewithapassionforthepoliticsofraceequalitywhohelpedtransformracialjusticeinBritain.BoatengwentontobecomeamemberoftheCabinetandAbbottLabourleadershiphopefulhascontinuedtobattleforthecauseofyoungBlackpeopleandtheirperformanceintheeducationsystemandforBlackwomeninbusiness.Vazcontinuestoberobustinhissupportofcaseswherehefeelsthatmembersofhiscommunityhavebeenunfairlytreated.UnsurprisinglyatthetimemostofthemstoodinseatsthathadveryhighproportionsofBlackpeopleandtheircommunitieswereeasilyanextensionofthoseconstituencies.Theirelectioneffectivelyshatteredthex18glassceilingx19andsignalledanewchapterinthecourseofraceequality.ItwasacomingofageandacallforotherworthyBlackpeopletoseekpoliticalofAceinwhatevershapeorform.Someofushadhopedthatin1997therewouldhavebeenacalltoaddax18BlackListx19tothex18EmilyListx19thattookawaveofwhitewomenintoparliamentonthebasisofwomen-onlyshortlistsintheLabourParty.SadlyatthattimeLabourx19spromisewasmoreaboutgenderequalitythanraceequality.1987nowseemssolongagoandwetakealotofthingsforgranted.GonearethedayswhenLordDavidPittwastheonlyBlackrepresentativeintheHouseofLords.Althoughthereisstillunder-representationofBlackpeopleinpoliticswehavemadealotofprogressbutnotnearlyasmuchasweshouldhavedone.WenowhaveBlackpeoplewhoareonbothfront-benchesinParliament.Beforetherecentelectionswehadover38peersfourMEPsand15MPsrepresentingthedifferentshadesofpoliticalopinioninthecountryandelectedindifferenttypesofconstituenciesfromurbanareastothosethatareseenaslilywhitesuburbiaandruralrusticareas.Theperceptionofraceequalityisstillasimportantasthereality.ThepoliticalpartiesbarringtheBNParesteadilyincreasingthenumberofBlackelectedpoliticians.Blackpeopleviewedthe1987intakeasourownweexpectedthemtoattendourfunctions...evenwhenwehadnotbotheredtoinviteourlocalMPs.WefoundwaysoftryingtotalktothemaboutourproblemsoutsidetheirsurgeriesthatGreatExpectationsTowhomareourMPsaccountableAdeSawyerrcomparestheclassofx1887and2010