OCTOBER 2021 • ISSUE NO. 1923
BORN LEADER England’s first black captain takes his place in national Hall of Fame See inside
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Celebrating Black History Month 2021
DO YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE? EXCLUSIVE
TV historian David Olusoga tells The Voice why these figures of Black British history should not be forgotten Find out, turn to page 3
Celebrating 25 years of OBV
See pages 25 to 32
Inside
New editor Lester THIS MONTH Holloway joins Will tackling climate change put an end to devastation in the Caribbean? p6 Africa and CARICOM on global stage after 'historic' summit p8 COVID in the Caribbean: Reopening a dangerous balancing act p14 Black History Month: Celebrating the trailblazers in Britain's rich history p21 Nigerian Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka releases his first book in 50 years p52-53
Experienced journalist returns to talented editorial team
T
H E VOICE is pleased to announce the appointment of a new editor as the newspaper prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary next year. Lester Holloway, 51, joins the existing team, moving from the Trade Union Congress where he was a policy officer leading a project to make unions more anti-racist. It will be a return to The Voice for Holloway, who was previously news editor until 2003. He previously served as editor of New Nation until it folded in the financial crisis of 2009.
WELCOMED
The move was widely welcomed on social media by a number of race equality organisations including OBV and the Reach Society as well as political figures. “It is a great privilege and responsibility to be taking this role at this time and I am looking forward SPECIAL EDITION: The Voice celebrates two of Stephen Lawrence's murderers being sentenced
"It is a great privilege and responsibility to be taking this role at this time" to working with the fantastic team here," he said. “I’m delighted to be rejoining The Voice, the paper of record for African and Caribbean communities. “The Voice has a proud campaigning tradition, and we celebrate our achievements in a way that we don’t see very often in the mainstream.” Paulette Simpson, executive director of The Voice, stated: "We chose Lester for the position based on his commitment and wealth of experience in journalism on issues in the black community. "The reaction thus far has demonstrated the continued relevance and importance of The Voice to the black community in the UK. "May I take this opportunity to express sincere thanks for the support that we continue to receive." Simpson leads an experienced editorial team, each with a deep understanding of The Voice and its readers, as it prepares to celebrate the publication’s 40th anniversary in 2022. Also part of the team is highly acclaimed sports editor Rodney Hinds, co-founder of the Football Black List, which aims to champion the
WELCOME BACK: Lester Holloway has returned to The Voice as editor. contribution of black professionals in the football industry, award-winning arts and entertainment editor Joel Campbell, and Vic Motune, who has served as news editor and secured exclusive Voice interviews with former prime ministers Tony Blair and Theresa May, former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo and leading figures such as Sir Trevor Macdonald. Simpson said: “This is an extremely important time for race relations in the UK and across the globe. "The Voice and its editorial team is uniquely placed to cover these developments and continue a tradition of insightful campaigning journalism that will engage new readers and partners as we approach our landmark 40th anniversary.”
THE 10 MOST POPULAR STORIES ON VOICE-ONLINE.CO.UK 1. School excludes boy from school as hair is too short, despite having the same hairstyle for five years 2. Sasha Johnson: She wore a stab proof vest, she didn’t wear that for fun 3. Family appeal for 21-year-old with sickle cell missing for six days to come home 4. Manchester United prodigy Mason Greenwood early favourite for the PFA
Young Player of the Year Award 5. Jamaica announces six additional days of lockdown 6. Angry England fan admits he should be banned forever after online abuse of England ace Bukayo Saka 7. Which other English football talent is on Jamaica’s radar following Michael Antonio debut?
This issue is 56 pages EDITOR Lester Holloway E. lester.holloway@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Paulette Simpson E. paulette.simpson@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk
CORPORATE AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONS Paula Dyke E. paula@thevoicemedia group.co.uk
NEWS DESK E. newsdesk@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk
8. Legendary poet and reggae artist Linton Kwesi Johnson to be awarded honorary doctorate from the UWI 9. Foreign Office warm UK travellers not to travel to Jamaica as COVID cases rise 10. Inaugural Black British Golfers Open tournament scheduled for September 11
Got a story? email us at yourviews@thevoicemediagroup.co.uk NEWS EDITOR Vic Motune E. vic.motune@thevoicemedia group.co.uk The Voice Newspaper Unit 1, Bricklayers Arms, Mandela Way, London, SE1 5SR T: 020 7510 0340 Web: www.voice-online.co.uk GV MEDIA GROUP LTD
SPORTS EDITOR Rodney Hinds E. rodney.hinds@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Joel Campbell E. joel.campbell@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk
ADVERTISING AND SALES E. advertising@thevoicemedia group.co.uk CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS E. subscriptions@thevoicemediagroup.co.uk
OCTOBER 2021
THE VOICE | 3
Black History Month
REACHING OUT TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION LEADING LIGHT: David Olusoga, main image, has written a book so children can learn about black British history; inset below left, Black Lives Matter protests swept the UK – and the world – following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020
Leading historian David Olusoga’s next book will ensure children of all ages can learn about black history and its impact on Britain. By Vic Motune
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DAVID HEN Olusoga was at school in the early 1980s, he thought that black British history was something that didn’t exist. History was one of his favourite subjects. However, none of his teachers mentioned the presence of black people in Britain and it was never included in any of the textbooks he studied. Three decades later, Olusoga has enthralled millions of television viewers through programmes he has presented and books he has written about the hitherto forgotten but central role that black people played in the history of Britain.
INSPIRED It was admirers of his work who inspired his latest project, one that he would never otherwise have thought about doing but which reminded him of his school years. “In 2015, I wrote Black And
A black mother had to use African American teaching British, A Forgotten History,” he recalls. “What I discovered within a few months of that book being published, was that people, particularly black parents, I encountered on the streets, on the tube on the train, were asking me when I was going to write a book for children. It honestly hadn’t occurred to me. “But it kept happening that people would ask me about a children’s book. “The final straw was meeting a black mother who told me that she was having to use African American teaching materials to teach her children about black history because there was so little out there.”
Who are they?
John Blanke John Blanke is perhaps the best-known black Tudor. He has been called ‘the Black Trumpeter’, and was a highly respected musician in the early 16th century. He served two kings, Henry VII and VIII.
Sarah Forbes Bonetta Sarah Forbes Bonetta was an orphan who became the protégée of Queen Victoria. After being captured as a child in West Africa she was taken to England and took her place in Victorian high society.
Last year he published the 200-page Black And British: A Short Essential History for older children. He described it as ‘the book I wished I’d been given to read when I was at school’. Next month sees the publication of Black and British: An Illustrated History, a version of the book aimed at younger children. Among the people featured in this new version are John Blanke, a trumpeter who worked in the court of King Henry VIII and Sarah Forbes Bonetta who came to Britain from the Kingdom of Dahomey (located in present day Benin) and became a friend of Queen Victoria. Olusoga says he has been moved by the effect the book has had on the parents who asked him to write it. “It’s been really humbling” he says. “I’ve been sent pictures of children with their mothers and fathers, with parents reading the adult version of the book and children reading the new children’s version.
POPULARITY “I’ve had emails from people saying how much it’s meant to their children.” Perhaps one reason for the book’s popularity, especially among black people, is that it provides a comprehensive examination of testament to the wide-ranging experience of people of African and Caribbean heritage in this country. It’s long been a complaint of education campaigners that when black people feature in GCSE history lessons it is often a narrow focus on the Transatlantic slave trade. There is, they argue, a real need to move the narrative about black people beyond that of victims of slavery. However, while Olusoga un-
derstands this point of view, it’s not one he accepts. “I don’t think we talk enough about the Transatlantic slave trade” he says. “We actually don’t know it very much or discuss it as a nation. When people say we’ve heard all of this
“As a Nigerian, it’s possible that I have ancestors who were enslaved or who were slave traders, I don’t know. “I’m also aware that many people do know, and carry the names of people who enslaved their ancestors. But as an his-
ed by the three largest exam boards, AQA, Edexcel, and OCR, 12 mention black history explicitly. Of those, only five examine black British history. The other modules look at African American history or the Transatlantic slave trade. Olusoga says this has grave consequences.
I’ve seen pictures of children with their mothers and fathers, LAMENTABLE “I think that’s lamentable” he says. “That’s a failure, and with parents reading the book’s it’s impoverishing not just for black kids, but for everybody. adult version and children I don’t think British history reading the children’s version makes sense without examinbefore I say, name me a slave ship? There were hundreds and hundreds of plantations, name me one? “If we’ve said too much about slavery, then everyone would be able to learn this, just like many can name battles in the Second World War. Also, I think that to see enslaved people as victims is to misread their history. I don’t see them as victims. I see them as survivors; as people who were fighting against the system.
torian, I would urge people not to impose a victim narrative always on the enslaved. They suffered terribly but a lot of modern historiography of slavery is to recognise there was constant resistance against the slave traders, on the slave ships, and on the plantations and there were revolutions and revolts. That does not, to me, sound like the narrative of victims.” Figures collated by The Guardian show that of the 59 GCSE history modules provid-
ing Britain’s relationship with Africa and Africans. “If you’re a kid, no matter what your race, in a school in London, Bristol or Manchester for example, your world doesn’t make any sense without understanding the Empire. “Why does your city look the way it does? Why does the England team look the way it does? The story of the British Empire and its colonies underlies so much of the world around us.” Continued on page 4
Lambeth Children’s Homes Redress Scheme Deadline: Applications for compensation open until 1 January 2022 Lambeth Council has set up a Redress Scheme for people who, as children, were abused or feared abuse at a Lambeth Children’s Home and/or Shirley Oaks Primary School. There are two types of compensation payment available: n Harm’s Way Payment n Individual Redress Payment To find out more about the Scheme, eligibility and to make a claim, visit lambeth.gov.uk/redress or email redress@lambeth.gov.uk
Below is a list of children’s homes that were run by Lambeth or its predecessor authority (and which subsequently transferred to Lambeth), either within or outside of their area, that provided accommodation for children in care. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
Almond House Hostel Angell Road Calais Street Chestnut Road / Robson Road Chevington House Cumberlow Lodge Garrads Road Gresham Place Highland Road Ingleton House Ivy House / Warham Road
12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.
Knowle Close Lancester Avenue Lancaster Road Leigham Court Road Lorn Road Monkton Street Mount Villas Nottingham Road Rathmell Drive Rectory Grove / Elaine Claire House Samuel House
23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33.
Shirley Oaks South Vale Southwood Southwood Discharge Hostel St Saviours Stephany House Stockwell Park The Elms Thornwick Nursery Tivoli Road Woodvale
101859 (1.21)
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HAVING THE LAST LAUGH: The way Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has stepped up after his Euro final penalty miss has earned him widespread praise
OCTOBER 2021 | THE VOICE
GUNNING FOR GLORY
TRAILBLAZER: Ben Odeje, pictured main and above, was dropped from the England set up after being hailed as man of the match
Young England star Saka produces perfect response to online abuse after Euro heartache By Rodney Hinds
A
RSENAL STARLET Bukayo Saka has regularly shown his ability on the field of play, but he is now displaying his mental resilience and toughness. The 20-year-old, who was one of three players subjected to online racist abuse following their inability to score in England’s penalty shootout defeat to Italy at Euro 2020, has bounced back in style and is touted to play a massive role as the Gunners return to former glories. Saka, who scored and provided an assist as his team beat arch rivals Tottenham in the recent north London derby, looks back to his
best and many expect him to be central to an Arsenal resurgence. In so doing, Saka became the youngest player in Premier League history to both score and assist in a north
the European Championships that it would be the making of him, and I have seen nothing this season to change my mind. “The ovation given to Saka after 87
ing reception. The youngster was lost for words as he saw a wall of letters of support from fans when he returned to Arsenal’s London Colney training ground after his international exertions during the summer.
“I said after his penalty miss in the final SUPPORT “Oh my gosh,” was his initial reof the European Championships that action before he started reading through the messages of support. it would be the making of him” London derby – a record previously held by Cesc Fabregas. Now former Spurs and Stoke City star turned pundit, Garth Crooks, said of Saka after his standout display against the arch rivals: “I said after his penalty miss in the final of
minutes for his exploits in the north London derby said all you needed to know about his performance.” After his Euro trauma, there has been nothing but support for Saka. On the opening day of the season, Brentford fans gave him a rous-
“How do I even say thank you for this? Can I just pick it all up and take it home?” he added. Mature beyond his years, the prodigy was keen for others not to suffer the abuse he had received. He said: “To the social media platforms @instagram @twitter @facebook I don’t want any child or adult
to have to receive the hateful and hurtful messages that me, Marcus and Jadon have received. “I knew instantly the kind of hate that I was about to receive and that is a sad reality that your powerful platforms are not doing enough to stop these messages. “There is no place for racism or hate of any kind in football or in any area of society.”