FEBRUARY, 2024 • ISSUE NO. 1951
WWW.VOICE-ONLINE.CO.UK
£2.50
Bob Marley
One Love hits cinemas on Valentine’s Day
› p35
‘STARMER DON’T CARE ABOUT US’ EXCLUSIVE Black MPs and activists tell The Voice that Labour is letting down loyal Black voters by seemingly backtracking on a manifesto promise of a new Race Equality Act › p6-7
Professor Kehinde Andrews accuses Labour leader of shunning Black voters
Sir Keir Starmer pledged a new Race Equality Act in 2020
The Power of TV Enables Black-owned Businesses
to Flourish
See inside pages 14,15,16 & 17
Inside THIS MONTH
Right for all UK campaign backs Jamaicans’ fight for beach access p4-5
ROUNDUP NEWSPAPER
News, views, stories & videos TOP 10 ONLINE STORIES JANUARY 2024
1. Officer charged with assault over bus fare evasion arrest PC Perry Lathwood, 49, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court
2. Young Black men ‘suicidal after gang violence’ Study examines the mental health impact of young men who have been affected by gang violence
Grenada at 50: should it now become a republic? p8 & 33
3. Dancehall star to appeal murder conviction in the UK Vybz Kartel’s trial was the longestrunning case in Jamaica’s history
Lessons on the web Black parents turn to online tutors for academic success p11 & 21
4. Policing is institutionally racist says police chief
Gavin Stephens says policing policies not designed with Black people in mind
5. Martin Luther King to be honoured with blue plaque
First time permission has been granted for a blue plaque to be installed on an ecclesiastical building in the UK
6. Women charged with murder of father of seven
Brutal history Why it’s time to depose the N-word p24
The family of Deavon Harrison said they were “shocked” by his death
7. Warship’s arrival sparks further tensions with Venezuela
Back in fashion Dancehall juggling is set for big things in 2024 p45 Ceremony returns Role models to be honoured at Tennis Black List awards p46
HMS Trent is expected to take part in joint exercises with Guyana
8. Stab victim named as two men charged with murder Carlton McCloud, 47, was attacked on Old Kent Road, south London
9. Celebrities launch justice for Windrush campaign
Compensation payments must be sped up say campaigners
10. Camila Batmanghelidjh The charismatic charity boss died ‘peacefully in her sleep’
This issue is 48 pages EDITOR Vic Motune E. vic.motune@thevoicemedia group.co.uk
CORPORATE AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONS Paula Dyke E. paula@thevoicemedia group.co.uk
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Paulette Simpson E. paulette.simpson@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Joel Campbell E. joel.campbell@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk
The Voice says Why closing the pay gap is crucial to tackling racism IN THE United Kingdom, the stark reality of the ethnicity pay gap persists, revealing a deeply rooted inequality that demands urgent attention. According to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the wage divide between Black, African, Caribbean, or Black British employees and their White counterparts has remained glaring over the ten-year period between 2012 and 2022. UK-born Black employees earn 5.6 per cent less, and non-UK-born Black employees taking home a staggering 12 per cent less than their UK-born White colleagues. This discrepancy is not merely a statistic; it is a damning reflection of systemic discrimination that affects hiring decisions, promotion opportunities, and pay rates for Black workers, who are disproportionately placed in insecure and low-paid jobs. The ongoing cost-of-living crisis exacerbates the hardships faced by those in precarious employment, hitting Black workers the hardest. The dual barriers of structural racism and gender inequality compound the struggle, with Black women particularly vulnerable to low pay. That’s why the ethnicity pay gap is not just an economic issue; it is a racial justice issue. Amidst a growing mental health crisis among diverse workers grappling with these inequalities, frustration and anger are mounting. It is a moral imperative to rectify these injustices and create an equal playing field for all.
Action
Despite a July 2023 consultation report from the Department for Business and Trade, which fell short of making ethnicity pay gap reporting mandatory, equality campaigners remain steadfast. The government’s reluctance to take decisive action on this issue is in direct contrast to its stance on gender pay gap reporting, implemented in 2017. The government’s refusal to address racial disparities perpetuates a cycle of discrimination, leaving Black workers to suffer the consequences of unequal pay. Ministers must recognise that inaction only deepens the wounds of racial inequality. The time for change is now. The barriers of structural racism and inequality must be dismantled. Our country cannot claim it is a fair and equal one for people of all backgrounds until every employee is afforded fair wages and equal opportunities, irrespective of their ethnic background.
Got a story? email us at yourviews@thevoicemediagroup.co.uk SPORTS EDITOR Rodney Hinds E. rodney.hinds@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk ADVERTISING AND SALES E. advertising@thevoicemedia group.co.uk
NEWS DESK E. newsdesk@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk
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FEBRUARY 2024 THE VOICE
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News Feature
Summit aims to unite the global Black community Dubai event will focus on celebrating the achievements of Black individuals around the world. By Vic Motune
B
LACK LEADERS have historically been instrumental in ushering in key social reforms and advancing human rights. Civil rights campaigners such as Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks, Desmond Tutu and Martin Luther King Jr, bravely fought against racism, inequality, and discrimination and their efforts have left an enduring legacy. Today one can point to a number of Black men and women who are making a global impact through their success in various fields and their stand against injustice and inequality. From sports stars such as Lewis Hamilton, right, and Serena Williams to technology leaders like NASA computer technician Dorothy Vaughan and IT executive Lisa Gelobter, their achievements are helping shape the political and cultural landscape. However, many more Black men and women deserve recognition for their leadership skills and the far-reaching impact they have. We often only hear about and celebrate their work during Black History Month, but equality campaigners have long pointed out the need to create a broader recognition of Black
achievement that can provide role models to people from all backgrounds. Later this month, celebrities, professionals from a range of fields, chief diversity officers from major corporate companies and entrepreneurs will gather for a major event that aims to play a part in celebrating Black leaders beyond Black History Month. The Global Black Impact Summit (GBIS) will take place in Dubai. The prestigious event, organised by Energy Capital & Power, Africa’s leading investment platform for the energy sector, will centre around the theme of Black Excellence: Unleashing the Unexplored Potential for Global Unity. GBIS, which is in its third edition, will not only celebrate the achievements of Black individuals across various fields, from sports and technology to finance and the arts, but will explore how the impact they have made can help promote social change. The event will feature several influential speakers, panel discussions and networking opportunities that will focus on celebrating the achievements of Black individuals from around the world and providing commu-
MAKING AN IMPACT: Serena Williams is one of many individuals whose achievements are helping shape the world’s cultural landscape (photo: Getty Images)
VISION: Former international footballer Clarence Seedorf, now Chairman of the Black Impact Foundation (photo: Getty Images)
nities with the tools and resources necessary for success. There will also be a focus on helping aspiring business owners lay the foundations for future growth. Organisers say they hope that attendees will leave with a range of concrete strategies and ideas that will help make a positive impact on the goals they may be pursuing and in their com communities. Speaking about the event, former international football star Clarence Seedorf, Chairman of the Black Impact Foundation bewhich organises the summit, be lieves the event can also shine a spotlight on the social impact that Black people across the world can have. “The name indicates already what our focus point is,” he said during an interview with the GBIS You Tube channel. in“Even though we are very in clusive and looking at the bigbig ger picture, we are also looking at how the Black community can play a positive role in so-
We are focusing on pillars that represent particular sectors such as energy, education and fashion ciety. We haven’t really taken a seat at a table yet in the way we should. So our mission is to unite the global Black community and anybody who believes the Black community deserves to be united, because a lot of efforts have been made to keep us separate and divided.” He went on: “I think it’s time for us to take things into our own hands, it’s happening in various sectors, but it’s happening still in a segregated way so what we really want to do is to bring the people together. That’s why we started the summit.” Since the first summit was held virtually in 2021, a hybrid
approach has been observed, with individuals from different continents and communities engaging in conversations, business collaborations, and support. “It’s about sharing knowledge about giving opportunities. And that has been an ongoing process. We have been very picky with the people who want to get on board, because the mission is very clear,” said Seedorf. “Our summit this year is about Black excellence. And the thing is, we don’t see always all the people of excellence from different sectors have access (to opportunities), or people kept a little bit aside from the plat-
forms they actually deserve. So instead of waiting for others to give us a platform, we are creating it ourselves, celebrating those people.” Seedorf expressed his hopes the event would also act as a catalyst to motivate and inspire young people across the diaspora. “We have a particular vision which is focused on developing and connecting with the youth and the next generation. We are focusing on pillars that represent particular sectors such as energy, education, business, politics or fashion. “Each pillar will provide a very clear ecosystem from funding and scholarship programmes to mentorship and having experts that can help grow people in that pillar. That’s why we believe we need to get the best people so that they can add value as mentors, be an inspiration for the younger generation, and connect everything back to Africa.”
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News Feature
‘Starmer doesn’t care about Black people’
Campaigners and MPs tell Richard Sudan that uncertainty surrounding the Labour party’s pledge to introduce a Race Equality Act raises serious questions about its commitment to its loyal Black voter base
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EADING BLACK MPs and race equality campaigners have criticised the Labour Party over failing to deliver on previous promises to include policy measures that will address issues faced by the Black community in its forthcoming election manifesto. In recent years, a number of commentators and party activists have claimed that the Labour, historically reliant on the unwavering support of Black voters, is under scrutiny for taking this support for granted, with concerns raised about its commitment to addressing the specific concerns of the Black community In 2020, party leader Sir Keir Starmer first announced plans for a new ‘Race Equality Act’.
Ignoring ethnic minority voters at the next election could cost the party Three years later, in February 2023, The Voice revealed news of a taskforce chaired by Baroness Doreen Lawrence set up to thrash out details of the Race Equality Act. Among the measures included in the draft legislation were plans to fine firms who fail to tackle racism, tackling school exclusion rates, giving Black-led firms more opportunities to get a slice of government contracts through ‘procurement’, and making companies implement action plans to tackle the ethnicity pay gap. By June of the same year Shadow Secretary for Women and Equalities, Anneliese Dodds
MP, part of the group, told The Voice plans were finally being worked out and would form a “core part” of Labour’s plan. However, The Voice has now learned that, four years after party leader Starmer’s announcement of plans for a Race Equality Act, Black communities remain in the dark. No concrete manifesto pledges have been confirmed and no draft White Paper, the policy documents produced by the government that set out their proposals for future legislation, have been seen by anyone. With a General Election just months away, many doubt that the points talked up by Labour will make the manifesto and some have questioned if any real plan exists. Among them is Hackney and Stoke Newington MP Diane Abbott. She remains ousted from the party after having the whip removed from her last year in what many view as a deliberate attempt to prevent her standing for the party at the forthcoming General Election. She said it was critical that the party provide some substance on plans for race equality legislation. “I haven’t actually seen the draft Race Equality Act and no one has” she told The Voice. “I think we need to do something about policing and stop and search. The disproportionate level of stop and search of people of colour remains as high as it was when I first entered politics. And we should also be talking about education. Black children, particularly African Caribbean boys, are being failed in school and they are underachieving in school. Currently nothing is being done about it. The manifesto should at least acknowledge that there is this issue with Black boys.”
BROKEN PROMISES: Labour party leader Keir Starmer is facing criticism from party members and race equality activists; below, Birmingham City University Professor and author Kehinde Andrews says Keir Starmer ‘doesn’t care about Black people’ (photos: Getty Images/ Birmingham City University)
When pressed on why, Abbott echoed what other race equality campaigners think about what has shifted in the party’s priorities. “I think they are focused on Red Wall voters, and they think those voters are all White which is not the case. I think there’s a danger that ignoring ethnic
minority voters at the next election could cost the party.” Abbott also pointed to the hierarchy of racism within the party and the fact many are angry at a lack of action following damning findings of the Forde report, a report commissioned by Starmer to examine allegations of bullying, racism and sexism within the Labour Party. Professor and author Kehinde Andrews is more forthright about what the uncertainty surrounding the
promised race equality legislation says about how important the Black community is to the party. “Keir Starmer doesn’t care about Black people” he said. “Labour just say what they need to say. “Post George Floyd, they came out and said let’s do equalities. But when it comes to the election, it is all about the Red Wall and the culture wars. But that’s the problem with Labour. Rather than trying to change the debate, or set the debate, they just follow this Tory narrative, which is, ‘let’s not talk about race’.” Andrews lives in an area in Birmingham which is a safe Labour seat. But like many, he feels Black voters are being neglected. “They take us for granted,” he said. “It’s pretty obvious
that Keir Starmer doesn’t care about Black people. Look at how they deal with Diane Abbott. They’ve shown their cards really internally and externally, policy wise.” The treatment of Diane Abbott, alluded to by Professor Andrews, resonates deeply with the Black community. A poll conducted by The Voice in October last year, suggested that 80 per cent of Black voters could switch how they vote if Abbott is prevented from standing for Labour. Many familiar with the report’s findings remain angry at what they see as a deliberate purge by the party of progressive candidates. Maurice Mcleod, a popular Labour councillor in Battersea Park ward, Wandsworth, south London, was blocked from standing as an MP in Camber-
FEBRUARY 2024 THE VOICE
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News Feature WARNING: Veteran MP and campaigner Diane Abbott said Labour could pay a heavy price if it ignored ethnic minority voters at the next election; below left, Maurice Mcleod, a Labour councillor in Wandsworth, south London, says Britain desperately needs a new Race Equality Act; below, Labour has historically been reliant on the unwavering support of Black voters at polling stations (photo: Getty Images)
well and Peckham, a seat with a large Black population in 2022. Mcleod fears that Labour’s lack of action on race could cost them dearly at the ballot box and is already damaging the credibility of the party. “Britain desperately needs a new Race Equality Act and so, despite my reservations, when Labour announced that they would be working on one, I was optimistic. Since then, we have seen the general fight against racism apparently fall down Labour’s list of priorities.”
VISION
The Labour councillor says that the lack of movement regarding the Race Equality Act after four years, would inevitably mean that “any race equality work that is now produced is likely to be rushed, or lacking in the needed vision”. “What is more likely is that we will get a general wish list of aims and nothing concrete. This is a terrible missed opportunity for the party. “While individual Labour politicians might being doing some good work, the issue of race equality does not seem like one the national party is interested in engaging with.” One Black Labour MP, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Voice that the issue of race equality seemed to be a
much lower priority for a party now than when the pledge was made to create a Race Equality Act in 2020. “I don’t have much expectation that we’ll be getting much from this administration in waiting,” the MP said. “What’s required for race relations in this country is transformative change which just isn’t on the agenda for Starmer. We are one of the most unequal societies in the world”. The MP added that while a new Race Equality was really needed, “we need far more than equality legislation. What would really help Black people, who disproportionately work in the
public sector, rely on the public sector, who have worse health outcomes and live in poorer housing — and all the rest — would be a wealth tax. “When all the boats rise, through fiscal policy, social policy, investing in the NHS and social housing, investing in mental health services, paying civil service workers more, people in low paid cleaning jobs, and also enhancing trade union rights —these are areas which disproportionately impact Black people if we want real change.” Although the election is expected to be called later this
year, some pundits think it could be even sooner. What is clear is that if Labour is to fulfil its promise of the Race Equality Act, fears are mounting that time is running out. What’s likely is that further delays could continue to erode the confidence of Black voters who so far have remained loyal to Labour, but who are also watching events closely. Other Labour activists The Voice spoke to agree it is crucial that the party upholds its promise to deliver a Race Equality Act. However, one leading member of the party’s Race Equality Act working group,
immigration lawyer Jacqueline McKenzie, remains cautiously optimistic. “The group’s work was near completion but we’ve not met in a while, or heard the final outcome” she told The Voice. “The working group brought together experts from across law, education, business, the economy, criminal justice and health, to examine the need for legislation to combat inequalities across these themes. “This was a bold and important step by Labour. It’s important politicians of all parties take these issues seriously, as good legislation is one way of
addressing some of society’s inequalities.” McKenzie added she’d been “assured” by Labour that plans to address racism and discrimination were soon to be revealed. The Voice approached the Labour Party for a comment in response to criticisms about the lack of detail concerning the proposed Race Equality Act and the fact that it did not appear to be a key part of its forthcoming election manifesto. A spokesperson said: “At present we don’t yet have anything new to say”. This remained the case at the time of going to press.
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FEBRUARY 2024
Darell J. Philip
Join the debate online: voice-online. co.uk/opinion
Learning important lessons Effective change leading to racial equality in society begins with the building of an anti-racist classroom, and children ideally positioned to become the anti-racist leaders of tomorrow
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AUNCHED IN March 2020, the Black British Voices Project (BBVP) brought together a committed team from The Voice, the i-cubed consultancy and researchers from the University of Cambridge to deliver a wideranging, detailed and up-todate portrait of the issues that concern Black Britons today. More than 10,000 people took part in the survey, which included categories such as Identity, Building a Life, Challenges, Wellbeing, Wealth and Representation. The report was launched at the House of Commons in September last year with Labour MP and Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Abeyna Oppong-Asare speaking at the event. Of the 16 categories included in the BBVP report, the findings on Education make for some stark reading: • 94 per cent of BBVP participants believe Black students suffer from lower educational attainment expectations from educators compared to nonblack students. • Ten times as many respondents (41 per cent) perceive racial discrimination to ‘definitely’ be the ‘biggest barrier’ to young Black people’s academic attainment as those who think this is ‘definitely not’ the case (four per cent). • 95 per cent of participants perceive the British national curriculum to inadequately accommodate Black historyrelated subjects. • Fewer than two per cent of survey respondents believe that the British educational institutions are taking the issue of racial difference seriously. • The sense that more Black teachers and more focus on Black lives and histories would help is offset by a deep distrust in British educational insti-
tutions to serve the needs of Black British children. While there are no quick-fix solutions to any of the abovementioned challenges, there are some actions that can be taken to change the narrative of negative experiences faced by Black students in British educational institutions. In her recently published book, How to Build Your Antiracist Classroom (2023), Orlene Badu, a Leadership and Education Consultant and racial literacy advocate, candidly points out a number of measures that teachers can adopt to help ensure that our classrooms and the children we teach are given the tools to become the antiracist leaders of tomorrow. Badu advocates for the development of a diverse curriculum that would accommodate Black and Global Majority historyrelated subjects. Her book also addresses the need to build the right anti-racist culture in the classroom and building (positive) relationships as a behavior management system. Other areas in the book I found particularly interesting and useful were those that pointed out
CONCERNING: Nearly 95 per cent of people who took part in the Black British Voices Project felt that Black students suffer from lower educational attainment expectations from teachers compared to non-Black students (photo: Getty Images)
the need for teachers to take personal responsibility for their racial literacy, while also challenging their unconscious bias. One of the interesting observations Badu notes is a comment commonly made by nonBlack teachers that they do not see race but rather the human
A ‘MUST READ’: Orlene Badu, author of How to Build Your Antiracist Classroom, offers a great deal of food for thought
Darell J. Philip is a teaching assistant, academic mentor and award-winning journalist.
race where everyone is the same. Though well-intentioned, Badu points out such a comment is problematic because to not see race is to not see the Black and Global Majority children in our classrooms. This ultimately leads to a denial of the existence of the racism they and their families face in society. The author, who has delivered training on challenging unconscious bias to many schools across the UK including my own, also highlights some of the traps some teachers can fall into when it comes to praising children. A recent case study conducted in an inner London school that examined interactions between teachers and boys in Year 10 and 11 (aged 15 to 16) revealed that the teachers praised the Black pupils for routine tasks saying things such as: ‘Well done for sitting nicely,’ ‘Well done for not talking,’ or ‘Well done for staying focused for 10 minutes.’
Black students suffer from lower expectations from their teachers In comparison, they recognised a big difference in the praise given to their non-black peers: ‘Well done for using an authorial voice,’ ‘Well done for sustaining a lengthy piece of writing,’ or ‘Excellent use of expanded noun phrases.’ Such admissions reveal the difference in expectations some teachers have of Black children in comparison to their non-Black peers. This emphasises the findings of the BBVP report which found that Black students suffer from lower expectations from their teachers.
Badu calls for teachers to move from the comfortable position of a non-racist educator to the often uncomfortable and more radical position of an antiracist educator. An antiracist educator, Badu says, is one who embraces discomfort; is aware of and fights bias; fights for justice in the taught and untaught curriculum, actively seeks to dismantle biased systems in schools; speaks up and disrupts the status quo and is part of the solution which works completely differently in the case of the non-racist educator who takes a more passive role in the classroom. A must read book for all educators, Badu’s How to Build Your Antiracist Classroom will not only challenge your perceptions, biases and methods of teaching but will also provide the necessary tools you need in equipping all our children, irrespective of race, to become the antiracist leaders of tomorrow, thereby creating a fairer and equitable society for us all.
Lifestyle Jeffrey Wright stars in American Fiction p40
St Kitts this summer? Yes, please… p42
ONE LOVE Bob Marley p38
Dr Sobande has been watching. Find out who p44
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Lifestyle
‘This was an opportunity to do something different’ Director Reinaldo Marcus Green reflects on the challenges of shooting the new Bob Marley film. By Joel Campbell
D
IRECTOR OF the Bob Marley: One Love film, einaldo Marcus reen, told ifestyle there was no easy way to deliver one of the most awaited movies in history All of it was hard reen said, however, as big a tas as it was, ta ing on the pro ect of a lifetime was a nobrainer, for, if not him, then who rom the first meeting had, Ziggy Marley was on the call, so new that had the support of the family new had his offspring saying we want you to direct this movie, and that was a big vote of confidence for me He added also new that wasn t a biopic genre guy, musical biopics were not the thing that was setting out to ma e And so this felt li e an opportunity to do something different and about somebody thought was a superhero loved ob didn t want to mess with ob on t mess with ob basically ut then thought, well, if don t do it, then who else
AUTHENTIC
tarring ingsley en-Adir as ob and ashana ynch as ita Marley, Bob Marley: One Love celebrates the life and music of an icon who inspired generations he responsibility to deliver this in an authentic a way as possible, was huge new that they had tried to ma e the movie for - years, so, for whatever reason, the
universe said, now s the time, says reen when re ecting on him being chosen to direct it He says there were a multitude of elements that had to be right ne of the most significant for him, however, was language thin the language is super important, he e plained didn t want to ma e Cool unnings, as much as love that film hen you see ob, he spea s in a certain way, he has a very specific way of tal ing new was ma ing a studio movie, so was thin ing we may have to subtitle it, but that s the route we are going to go because you can t water that down ou can t ma e every word be understood because even when watch ob, don t understand everything but understand everything o if you could do it cinematically, if you could do it with emotion, then you don t care about the words that you miss o the template was, if you understand every third word, then you get it f you understand every fourth word, then you re lost And we lived in that for a while until we hit the sweet spot here was a sweet spot of language in this film because it s lyrical, it s poetic and you can t force that en-Adir told ifestyle it was a real moment when it was confirmed he would be playing
PROJECT OF A LIFETIME: einaldo Marcus reen attends the premiere in ingston, Jamaica photo etty mages
the role of the Jamaican icon and legend hrowing himself into the deep-end in order to ensure he e ecuted correctly, he admitted the ourney revealed there was so much about ob people didn t now here was so much people never, ever saw guess the surreal moment was when got the call saying the family has seen the tape and they want you to y over because they want to tal to you, said en-Adir hat was the moment when went oooof, what ut after that, as soon as touched down with Ziggy, it was wor He needed to get to unnow me and needed to un derstand what their intention was e needed to come to some sort of agreement and the agreement from the beginning with Ziggy and the family was the way ob tal s, that s how we re going to do it e had to ma e sure that the authenticity of that was not tampered with, so once new we were all on that page, it really ust became all about the wor and how much time we have and what can realistically do to try and represent this properly here will be no shortage of people that have their view on this movie, ob was HA art-
JOURNEY: ingsley en-Adir threw himself into the deep end as ob Marley in Bob Marley: One Love left, ashana ynch plays ita Marley in the film photos Paramount Pictures
ist He belonged to everyone t s what made the telling of this narrative, which focuses on and captures a snapshot of a pivotal time in history, so challenging
MESSAGE
As well as staying true to ob s life mission to convey his spiritual message through the music, reen says the process of getting the film right went beyond ust highlighting ob s message of love, unity and astafari People needed to see the consummate, driven professional he was
ob demanded e cellence, reen enthused n every department hether we were shooting an insert of a person crowd scene, it was all ta en with that high level of intensity hat was what this movie was t ust demanded it t was challenging in that way He added thin everybody met, whether it was the drivers or the rip ruc , people were li e, ob, that s our guy e li e ing ichard but come on, this is different here was always that feeling don t mess about thin we all felt it he cast felt it, everybody felt it ut e ually,
everyone wanted to support the film to ma e it successful o, never felt li e didn t have support and didn t have to loo too far, the family was there every step of the way, which was ama ing and made everything richer in that way felt li e had ob on set in a lot of ways hey wal ed the same, the cadence, you can see those little details when they came out Produced in partnership with the Marley family, Bob Marley: One Love is in cinemas ebruary Check the Voice Online for more Bob Marley interviews
FEBRUARY 2024
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TOP SPORTS COVERAGE 24/7 VOICE-ONLINE.CO.UK/SPORT
OF SPORT NEWSPAPER
Awards ceremony returns CELEBRATION: Mekaya Gittens won in the coaching and performance category last year; inset, last year’s winners photos hane Anthony Sinclair/ Getty Images for LTA)
Role models from the Black community will once again be honoured this year at the Tennis Black List awards. By Rodney Hinds
T
HE TENNIS Black List will return for a second year on June 27 to once again celebrate tennis role models from the Black community, it has been confirmed As well as continuing the categories from 2023, this year for the first time the public will be able to vote for two of the awards – Game Changer in the ommunity and coaching performance – ensuring the awards are even richer and more collaborative The date for the next event, which will once again be held at the National Tennis Centre in oehampton, has been confirmed following the success of
the inaugural Tennis Black List awards last June ounded by Anne-Marie Batson and Richard ac ey Addo, and supported by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the Tennis Black List awards too place in the run up to he hampionships at imbledon This was also the month that saw the Windrush 75th anniversary marked across the country recognising the broader and hugely significant contribution the Black community has made to ritish culture and society Players, coaches and a wide variety of members of the tennis community gathered at a pac ed ceremony at the National Tennis Centre
to honour tennis role models from the Black community, recognising the contribution of individuals and organisations from grassroots level up to the professional game in ritain and internationally The winners were handed their awards on the night by a variety of presenters including LTA Chief Executive Scott Lloyd; Marsha De Cordova, Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary roup for ennis and MP for Battersea; Sanjay Bhandari, Kick it Out Chair and Garnet Mac inder, port ngland Head of uality The Tennis Black List follows the e ample set by the successful and respected ootball lac List, created by Leon Mann MBE and Rodney Hinds, and Rugby Black List which have demonstrated the power that celebrating Black excellence can achieve in sport Categories for 2024 will include: Icon, Game Changer in the Community, Media, Rising Star, Coaching and PerforPerfor mance, Players, International Trailblazer, Administration Batson said: “We’re delighted to continue building a platform recognising outstanding achievements in the tennis community “The Tennis Black List is also a chance to inspire the ne t generation to dream big and
accomplish remar able things We look forward to welcoming everyone to the event and celebrating the tennis community’s achievements Sackey-Addo added: “After a fantastic inaugural event in June we re thrilled to confirm the date of the ennis lac ist he response and feedbac we’ve received from different parts of the world has been overwhelmingly positive and we’re grateful to everyone who has supported what we re trying to achieve n the lead up to the 2024 Tennis Black List we
look forward to continuing to grow our network and showcasing some more amazing role models doing brilliant work in our sport as well as highlighting the different opportunities and career pathways that are available in tennis Scott Lloyd, LTA Chief Executive, added: “We’re delighted to be continuing to support the Tennis Black List, including once again hosting the event at the ational ennis entre ast year s very first ennis lac ist was a significant milestone in both raising
awareness and celebrating the achievements of tennis role models from across the Black community “We are working hard to ensure Black communities are more fully represented in our sport, and we now that recognising leaders helps encourage people such as players, coaches or volunteers to get involved As we continue to wor with partners such as the Tennis Black List, I look forward to building on that ongoing work with another inspirational event this year
West Indies eye T20 success after victories over England By Neil-Monticelli Harley-Rudd THE West Indies, fresh from back-to-back white-ball format series triumphs over ngland, should feel confident ahead of the orld up hey have been drawn in roup alongside ever-improving Afghanistan, giants ew Zealand, Papua ew uinea and first-time ualifiers ganda Their mouth-watering clash with New Zealand is set to ta e place at the rian ara ric et Academy in rinidad obago on June oth the aribbean and nited tates will play co-host, with nations divided into four
DATE FOR THE DIARY: ensington
val in arbados will host the final on June
groups of five he top two teams from each group will progress to the uper Eights before the knockout stages of the semi-finals efending champions ngland face Aus-
tralia, amibia, man and cotland in roup hile anada, ndia, reland, Pa istan and the face each other in roup A roup comprises angladesh, epal, etherlands, outh Africa and ri an a
he grand opening match is an all- orth American contest, when the will tac le Canada at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in allas on June The following day the Windies start their campaign, when they play Papua ew uinea inside the uyana ational tadium he uper ight group matches are scheduled to be contested on the Caribbean islands of Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, St Lucia and t incent and the renadines hose two top teams from each uper ight group will progress to the semi-finals, to be held in Guyana (June 26) and Trinidad obago June , with the final set for the ensington val in arbados on June
FEBRUARY 2024 THE VOICE
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port
MISSION: he lac
wimming Association s research findings were presented at a global roundtable at o
owning treet last July in commemoration of
orld rowning Prevention ay
Going against the tide
I
N OUR society, swimming and water-based activities have long been cherished for their physical and mental health benefits However, the unfortunate reality is that not everyone has equal access to these opportunities Historical social and economic inequalities, coupled with institutional bias, have resulted in a significant lac of representation from African, Caribbean, and Asian communities across all levels of aquatic engagement, participation and careers from grassroots to boardroom n , the lac wimming Association A made its mar in the world he mar was relatively small at the time and not everyone new it was there – while some couldn’t see it, others chose not to A non-profit organisation, it had a mission to act as a bridge between the aquatics sector and marginalised communities of African, Caribbean and Asian heritage in the o small feat, but a body that we believed was
In the first of a new series with the Black wimming ssociation we look at how the organisation is contributing towards a future with ethnic diversity in a uatics in the essential ow in our fourth year, the A has grown and evolved into a national award-winning charity, recognised by thin tan s, national governing bodies and the aquatics sector for its wor in water safety, drowning prevention and driving equitable participation in water-based activities and sports for the most marginalised in the In that time, the charity has gained strategic partnerships, funding and commissioned pioneering research across seven cities in the hrough advocacy, research, education and support our wor is contributing towards a future with ethnic diversity in aquatics in the hether it s wor ing with government agencies such as M , f , H local government authorities, leisure
centre providers and national governing bodies to create inclusive policy or conducting test-and-learn water safety initiatives for adults and young people, the A is growing in its purpose to save lives by ma ing water safety and participation in water sports equitably accessible for all regardless of gender, culture, bac ground or heritage But it wasn’t always that way, as the stats, below left, show ater safety, swimming and aquatic activity are not merely recreational pursuits they are essential life s ills that everyone should have access to Unfortunately, the underrepresentation of African, Caribbean, and Asian communities in aquatics is a pressing issue that demands attention he A recognised the
urgent need for change y amplifying the voices and experiences of African, Caribbean and Asian communities in the UK, we aim to challenge the status quo and dismantle the barriers that prevent individuals from fully participating in and benefiting from a uatics #OurSwimStory ur mission at the A is to wor towards a future with ethnic diversity in a uatics ur wim tory is one of our pioneering research projects launched in t investigated the social, cultural, and psychological barriers which prevent people of African, Caribbean and Asian heritage in the UK from fully engaging with, participating in and benefitting from water-based activities, water
sports and careers ncovering these barriers provided unique insights and understanding of the lived experiences, perceptions, and needs that must be addressed to develop targeted strategies and collaborative solutions to promote vital water safety education, equip and empower marginalised communities to engage in waterbased activities and sports with confidence ur wim tory research findings were presented at a global roundtable at No 10 owning treet last July in commemoration of orld rowning prevention ay his year will see the A embar on two further industry pioneering projects also aimed at understanding and removing significant barriers to a uatics
for people of African, Caribbean and Asian heritage hese pro ects are loat and Hair loat will finally address the “big bone theory” in people of Afro Caribbean heritage as it relates to our ability or inability to swim and or oat in water And Hair loo s at the effect of water and chemical damage to our hair and hair styles – another significant barrier to participation e ll delve into these, and the impact of some of our innovative water-based safety, orientation and familiarisation programmes in our ne t article h
i a non
rofi
organisation, set up to diversify the world of aquatics through
consultancy, advocacy, research, education and support to ensure
that people of African, Caribbean and Asian heritage have
equitable, safe access to vital water safety. It works with
government agencies, charities,
institutions and more to promote
diversity and inclusion in aquatics.
MAKING A SPLASH: presenter Jason Mohammad presents the A with the 2022 National Lottery UK Pro ect of the Year award