EDITORIAL
Dear Readers,
Welcome to the Black & Asian News UK Edition! You will find below a selection of news articles on issues as varied as “education”, “consumer issues”, “health and well-being” etc. This year, I have however decided to send you a separate newsletter for European Black & Asian news stories. You should receive it very soon! (If not, please go to blackeuroperesources.com).
This week, I would like to highlight the report “Black in Fact: Beyond the White Gaze”, commissioned by the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity. It has looked at 275 documentary programmes and has found that media diversity has not improved as much as expected. It says that black producers or directors are often brought on board in documentary making “to tell a black story”, but that no real structural change has happened.
Happy Reading!
Thushari Perera
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Please scroll down and just click on the title to access the full version of the resource you wish to read, thank you.
EDUCATION
More students from ethnic minority backgrounds studying for degrees, Belfast Telegraph, 10 February 2022
“In total, more than a quarter (“n28%) of UK students were from ethnic minority backgrounds in 2020/21, one percentage point higher than the previous year…Fewer than 1% of postgraduate research students came from a Black British or Black Caribbean background in 2020/21. And just 2% of doctorate students came from a British Pakistani background in 2020/21, as in 2019/20. Earlier in February, data revealed that the proportion of black professors at UK universities has stalled at just 1%.”
Roma and Sinti genocide must be taught in schools after Jimmy Carr ‘joke’, charities say, The Independent, 10 February 2022
“More than 40 charities have called on the government to make the genocide of Roma and Sinti people a compulsory part of Holocaust teaching in schools. It follows outrage over comments made by comedian Jimmy Carr, who used the Nazi murders of Gypsy people as a punchline in a Netflix standup routine.”
Brighton council under fire over teacher training on racism, Argus, 8 February 2022
“Teacher training slides about racism and ‘white supremacy’ have been released amid a row about the way children are being taught…A council spokesman said: “We are proud of our pledge and work to be an anti-racist city and to support school staff to make education settings fairer in line with both government guidance and the law. “The anti-racist training we offer is for staff – not pupils.”
CULTURE, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT
Black Britons in documentary still boxed in by race, report finds, The Guardian, 9 February 2022
“Race and racism, crime and music prevail in programmes about black people, who still lack editorial control and commissions…The report, commissioned by the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, examined 275 documentary programmes between April and May last year…
Nutopia launches senior level diversity drive, Televisual, 10 February 2022
“Nutopia and diversity social enterprise, Creative Access, are launching ‘Nutopia Partnerships,’ a new collaboration to address the under-representation of people from Black, Asian and other ethnic backgrounds at senior levels in the TV industry.”
C4 to train 60 Black TV, filmmakers, Televisual, 10 February 2022
“The production company is still white-owned and white-led, the crew is still predominantly white, the commissioner is white and the story is being shaped and primed to please a white audience,” they said.” Channel 4 has teamed up with We Are Parable to create a mentoring and training programme for 60 Black TV, filmmakers and content creators across the UK.
The 2022 BRIT Awards proved just how magical UK rap stars are – and forever will be, NME, 9 February 2022
“With Little Simz and Dave flying the flag high for Britain’s flourishing scene, this year’s BRITs were a spectacle for the avid UK rap fan.”
CONSUMER ISSUES
The Great British Curry Crisis, Al Jazeera, 10 February 2022
“Two Indian restaurants are shutting down every week in the UK. Staffed over the decades by an influx of migrants from South Asia, these curry houses employ more than 100,000 people. But now this $5bn industry is in freefall. “
TV watchdog Ofcom says it wants to regulate Netflix after Jimmy Carr outrage, The Independent, 8 February 2022
“The regulator licences TV and radio stations, and can revoke licences in the case of a serious breach. It also has the power to levy fines…But online streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime are beyond its reach.”
EMPLOYMENT & WORK
Businesses keen to employ refugees but need support, HR Magazine, 10 February 2022
“While a majority (62%) say they are open to hiring refugees – and 51% say they are likely to hire a refugee in the next year – nearly half (40%) say they would need additional support, according to research by professional services firm Grant Thornton.”
Industries That Are Failing Racial Inclusivity, University News Network, 9 February 2022
“…there are still companies in the UK that haven’t left in a traditional mindset and are failing to achieve an inclusive and diverse workforce. Research conducted by People Management had found that 1.5% of senior management roles in businesses are held by Black employees. In fact, there has been little change, with there being only 1.5 per cent of Black people in senior roles in 2014…”
Cleaners sue Great Ormond Street Hospital over alleged racist pay, European Cleaning Journal, 7 February 2022
“A group of 83 mostly ethnic and migrant GOSH cleaners are claiming indirect racial discrimination within the NHS and are being backed by the United Voices of the World (UVW).”
HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Health inequality: Tobacco use and racial bias in oximetry under review by DHSC, Management in Practice, 4 February 2022
“The DHSC has launched two distinct independent reviews into ‘significant’ inequalities in health, to support its incoming Health Disparities White Paper. The reviews will consider the potential racial bias in the design and use of some medical devices, and evaluate the best approach to tackling disparities associated with tobacco use.”
Inequality Kills: The unparalleled action needed to combat unprecedented inequality in the wake of COVID-19, Oxfam, 17 January 2022
“The wealth of the world’s 10 richest men has doubled since the pandemic began. The incomes of 99% of humanity are worse off because of COVID-19. Widening economic, gender, and racial inequalities—as well as the inequality that exists between countries—are tearing our world apart. This is not by chance, but choice: “economic violence” is perpetrated when structural policy choices are made for the richest and most powerful people.“
FOOD
1m UK adults ‘go entire day without food’ in cost of living crisis, The Guardian, 7 February 2022
“Study finds one in 10 households report food insecurity while people with serious disabilities five times more at risk… The Food Foundation survey was undertaken online between 18 and 20 January, polling 4,200 adults. About 2 million children were living in households that do not have access to a healthy and affordable diet…”
GOVERNMENT, MIGRATION & COMMUNITIES
The DWP is effectively cutting people’s benefits in April, The Canary, 9 February 2022
“The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be effectively cutting people’s social security from April. It means that for people claiming benefits like Universal Credit, the cost of living crisis will be even more catastrophic…The IFS found that some 10 million households will lose on average, in real terms, £290 a year. This will come on top of the government’s national insurance hike of 10.4%; a 54% rise in energy bills; stagnating real-terms wages, and more potential increases in petrol prices.”
Black civil servant handed six-figure payout over Whitehall ‘race discrimination’, The Independent, 6 February 2022
“Kay Badu, 36, said that he was subjected to relentless bullying at the hands of white managers over the course of three years in the Cabinet Office that left him with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. “I am a survivor of the Cabinet Office; if you’re black or Asian, that’s what you do. You don’t go to work to thrive – you survive.””
‘I was abused in a gay bar for being black’, ITV, 3 February 2022
“A new study by UK Black Pride found that people from ethnic minorities who identify as LGBT+ feel “unsafe” in the UK because of racism and abuse.”
FAITH & RELIGION
Racial Justice: update to Synod on racial justice work, Archbishopofyork.org, 8 February 2022
“The Archbishop gave a speech at General Synod today following a presentation by the Chair of the Archbishops’ Racial Justice Commission Lord Boateng… As we have heard, the Anti-Racism Task Force was commissioned last year and through its report From Lament to Action identified 47 actions which of course included the establishment of an independent Commission for Racial Justice, all so that we can be held to account as a church and that we can deliver systemic change across the Church, and ensure a properly resourced Racial Justice Unit is set up… In the coming months, CMEAC will publish new information around Race & Ethnicity, including a diocese-by-diocese report on the work undertaken on Anti-racism, racial justice, Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity…”
JUSTICE SYSTEM & POLICING
How should we respond to racial bias and stereotypes in the criminal justice system?, Legal Cheek, 10 February 2022
“Only 8% of judges in the UK are of a BAME background, and with a BAME population of around 13% in the UK, the judiciary has repeatedly been slammed as being unrepresentative of society. A diverse judiciary brings equality of opportunity, democratic legitimacy and a substantive difference to decision making.”
Royal Navy launches Race Diversity Network, Forces.net, 9 February 2022
Watch: Five or fewer Black Caribbean, Asian officers are ranked Colonel or above. “The Royal Navy said the new Race Diversity Network will support its diverse membership and “promote an inclusive culture”…Bringing together all branches of the Royal Navy, the network will push diversity with a single voice, while also being supported by partner organisations – such as the Royal Navy Commonwealth Network, RAF BAME Network and Army Multicultural Network.”
ROYALS & THE MONARCHY
Charles praises ‘resilience’ of trust helping disadvantaged Asian communities, PAMedia, 9 February 2022
“Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall attended a reception at the British Museum on Wednesday evening to celebrate the work of the British Asian Trust (BAT), which he founded in 2007 to work to reduce poverty in south Asia. They were joined by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Home Secretary Priti Patel and former Liverpool footballer Ian Rush.”
TECH
Facebook launches UK tool to redirect users away from extremist searches, PAMedia, 9 February 2022
“The social network has announced the expansion of its Redirect Initiative into the UK, as well as Pakistan, which replaces the top search result on hate or extremism-based searches with a link to help and support on how to move away from hate and violence.”
SPORT
We can’t let China use the Olympics to mask genocide and human rights abuses, The Guardian, 6 February 2022
“We would extend targeted sanctions against Chinese officials directly responsible for persecution and redouble diplomatic efforts to allow the UN unfettered access to Xinjiang. The government needs to take a strong, clear-eyed and consistent approach to China, seeking to cooperate where we can on climate change and global health while standing firm on human rights, freedom and security.”
Chelsea Agree To Pay Six-Figure Damages To Four Former Players For ‘Racist Bullying’ In The 1990s, Eurosport, 7 February 2022
“Chelsea have agreed to pay six-figure damages to four former players for ‘racist bullying’ in the 1990s, thereby avoiding a High Court trial. The allegations surrounded the club’s ex-coaches Graham Rix and Gwyn Williams, with one black footballer in question claiming that he was repeatedly punched and assaulted.”
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