Wednesday 25 April 2007

LACK OF BLOG POSTS

Hi people!

Sorry about the lack of posts, it's just I have gone into hibernation as my exams are just round the corner (wish me luck)! As soon as my exams are over I will be back to posting regular blog entries. However whilst I am gone there are websites such s The Voice, Black Information Link and New Nation; that will provide you with information in regards to "Black Youth Empowerment".

Thank you for your participation, it is much appreciated and if like myself you have got exams coming up then I wish you the best of luck.

Take care, HRH Dee xxx

Thursday 12 April 2007

BLACK CHRISTIAN LEADERS DENOUNCE PM'S COMMENTS

Black Christian leaders are saying the Prime Minister’s comments about black communities do not recognise the work the community (especially black churches) are doing to tackle criminal gangs, reports Inspire Magazine.

Bishop Joe Aldred, the Secretary for Minority Ethnic Christian Affairs for Churches Together in England, said: “I’m not sure where the Prime Minister has been, or who he’s been talking to, if he thinks black communities have not been denouncing the gangs and gang activity".

Bishop Aldred went on to say "what we need is better support for those initiatives working with young people, parents, schools, and community groups, to help to give (particularly to our young boys) some sense of a better code of behaviour, aspiration, and a sense of belonging.”

Clicke here to read more.

PRIME MINISTER PINPOINTS BLACK YOUTH

PM Tony Blair is reported to have quoted a black pastor of a London church out of context by saying "when are we going to start saying this is a problem amongst a section of the black community" in a speech he made yesterday.

Mr Blair said the recent violence should not be treated as part of a general crime wave, but as specific to black youth. He said people should forget political correctness and stop "pretending it is not young black kids doing it".

After his speech Tony Blair answered questions (in regards to the reasons behind this "proplem that is specific to black youth") and went on to say he thinks "it is to do with the fact that particular youngsters are being brought up in a setting that has no rules, no discipline, no proper framework around them."

Community leaders are angered by the Prime Minister's comments as they believe that Mr Blair is ignorant and is failing to provide support for black led efforts to tackle the problem.

Keith Jarrett, chair of the National Black Police Association, whose members work with vulnerable youngsters, said: "Social deprivation and delinquency go hand in hand and we need to tackle both. It is curious that the prime minister does not mention deprivation in his speech."

LONDON MAYOR BLAMES RAP MUSIC, TV AND FILMS

This is London reports today that the mayor of London, Ken Livingstone "launched a tirade" against violent films, tv and gangstan rap because he considers them the reason why Britain is so violent.

He claims the current spate of violence in Britain and society's moral breakdown was due to some rap music. The Mayor went on to suggest that metal detectors should be installed in all schools to stop youth knife crime.

Click here to read the article.

Tuesday 10 April 2007

BLACK FATHERS TO BLAME?

The Telegraph newspaper website writes that the National Union of Teachers (NUT) urged Black fathers to take greater responsibility for their children's education to stop teenage boys turning to gun crime and gang culture.

The NUT claim many black boys had an "anti-academic" disposition but it was up to schools, parents and the pupils themselves to turn this situation around.

The issue of rap artists glamorising gun crime crept into the article also and it was stated that “many Afro-Caribbean parents themselves who have children at school have been socialised in a culture of low expectations and low aspirations".

To read the Telegraph article please click here.

I would just like to ask whether this is the “demonising” of black youth (males in particular) or do black youth have a problem with education and crime that other youth don’t? Or possibly is this a cultural problem – are black fathers to blame?

Thursday 5 April 2007

BARONESS AMOS' OBSERVATION ON SLAVERY

I found an interesting article by Baroness Valerie Amos, Leader of the House of Lords and she was recently voted the most powerful and influential black woman in Britain. In the article she gives her observations on slavery. To read the article click here.

BLACK BRITISH HISTORY BOOK

Black British History has been documented in a book titled "The Oxford Companion to Black British History" and it was reviewed in the Independent newspaper today. The book has been described as "essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the long and fascinating history of black people in the British Isles". Click here to read the review or click above to buy the book.

VIOLENCE AGAINST MUSLIMS

The British National Party (BNP) and other neo-Nazi groups are threatening violence against Muslims over plans to build a mosque, Black Information Link reports on their website today. Click here to read more.

"RACISM: A HISTORY"

A programme titled “Racism: A History” which examines the impact of racism in the 20th century was aired yesterday on BBC Four at 9pm.

The insightful programme discussed various issues such as slavery, stereotypes of black people in the media, African-Americans, colonisation, South African apartheid, Government legislation, Enoch Powel’s “Rivers of blood” speech, the civil rights movement in America, Race riots in Britain, the National Front movement, the tragic Steven Lawrence murder and the McPherson report.

The programme showed disturbing images of lynched and burnt black people in America and discussed their experiences of racism. “Racism: A History” also discussed that the humiliation and suffering of African-American’s was mirrored in Africa due to colonisation.

King Leopold was discussed also during the programme who realised the immense wealth of Africa, he deceived people by claiming to want to “educate and civilise” Africans. He created a 90,000 strong army to enforce his cruel regime. One of Leopold’s lieutenants wrote “the only way to civilise the Africans is by the whip”.
Colonisation led to an enormous loss of human life where the population of Africa was slashed from 20million to 10 million.

Dr Bambi who spoke on the programme talked about Human zoos where Africans where put on display like animals.

The Congolese genocide where 10 million people died which is greatly ignored nowadays despite the large loss of life, was voiced on “Racism: A History”.

Viewers were also enlightened about the origins of racism as a term. We were told that the word racism came about with the Nazi’s horrific treatment of the Jews.

The programme also talked about the current state of the world, how inequality still persists as those in India and Africa are living in poverty. It was said that in the United States most African-Americans are also living in poverty with the unemployment rate too times higher for black people than whites.

Lee Jasper, Senior Policy Advisor on Equalities for the Mayor of Greater London also featured on the programme in which he said: “We are still seeing an impact on black people’s lives due to racism.”