A Black Perspective

This month we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Black History Month Uk. But what are we really celebrating ? Excellence in track and field events throughout the 2017 world athletics games was demonstrated by black athletes from every part of the planet; Africa, The Caribbean, America, The U.K, France, Italy and every nation where selection is based on merit. We can also see real progress in terms of the huge amount of money been paid to football players , a high proportion of whom are of African descent. The dominance of black sports men and women has become an unspoken mantra (99% of the final 8). We now expect events where speed and endurance are crucial factors black athletes to be over represented. Occupations such as: Art, Music, and literature are areas where black people, in the UK at least , are still finding a voice. There are many successful black business men and women who run multi – million  pound businesses, one notable exception being a certain “Jayzee” who is on his way to his first billion. In fact black businesses will be an undisputed norm when successful black companies back and mentor fledgling black companies. But despite the successes and optimism the ugly spectre of racism and inequality will always raise its ugly head. The most recent report of employment trends show that black and Asian graduates are still being discriminated against and employment within these groups is well below the national average. To add insult to injury the pay scale for those graduates that do find employment is below that of their white counter parts. Further evidence of institutional racism comes to light when a organisation like the FA decides it would be better to pay one of the UK’s most capped black female footballers hush money and not select her for the European championships rather than deal with the issue of racial bullying by the England manager. But probably the most disheartening story to emerge in 2017 is that of Darren Cumberbatch, Shane Bryant, Edson da Costa and Rashan Charles.       4 black men killed in police custody during what should have been a routine stop and search. The independent complaints commission promised a ” thorough and rigorous investigation” and now 10 months later seem unable or unwilling to hold any police authority or individual officers to account. In America the number of black men killed in police custody over the same period is 3 times as many and again with zero prosecutions. As a result black athletes are refusing to stand during the national anthem,  preferring instead to kneel as a act of protest. President Trump, like many white Americans, refuses to accept the Ligitimacy of their protest. Labelling them “Sons of bitches” he accuses them of “disrespecting the national flag and our war heroes”.  Seemingly oblivious, or indifferent, to the violence enacted upon them by law enforcement agencies. This month I will be celebrating black history month. Immersing myself in black history, and culture. Celebrating not only the achievers, of whom there are many,  but also the unspoken hero’s who fight racism on a day to day basis. On the streets, in the work place, in the court rooms and in parliament. Those black people who draw a line in the sand, make a stand no matter the cost. From the first slave ships that docked into port on a British colony, to the ships that bought  migrant workers from the Caribbean to replenish the British work force. We have arrived  at a point in history where educated black business men and women can strive to build better futures for themselves, families and wider communities. And can challenge through the courts the insidious racism that’s so endemic in our society.