- Saturday, April 20, 2024
BRITAIN is as racist as it was in the 1970s, and some politicians of colour are making matters worse, anti-racism campaigners have told Eastern Eye. Their comments follow a landmark series on Channel 4, Defiance, which tells the story of how south Asian and black people fought right-wing extremists in…
EASTERN EYE readers who want to discover how British artists have depicted colonialism and slavery over the centuries should visit the Royal Academy’s (RA) latest exhibition. Entangled Pasts 1768-Now: Art, Colonialism and Change is the RA’s “brave” response to the Black Lives Matter movement and the toppling of slave…
PRIME minister Rishi Sunak has retained the top spot on the 2024 GG2 Power List for the third year in a row, along with his wife Akshata Murty. The power couple were recognised for their growing influence in the UK, with Sunak in the top job and Murty playing an…
QUOTES for car insurance were found to be higher in areas in England with large ethnic minority populations, according to an investigation by the BBC. The details of drivers were used to get thousands of quotes in different locations. However, when the driver’s address corresponded with an address with a…
Google’s AI chatbot released on 8th February called 'Gemini', received a lot of criticism from the netizens when they used it to create AI-generated images. The accusation of being racist towards the white people has been made by the users against Google's Gemini. The initial users who tried the chatbot…
VICTIMS of racism are being attacked for speaking out and highlighting the problem, former chief crown prosecutor, Nazir Afzal, has told Eastern Eye. His comments come as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has asked Afzal to head a panel to investigate its internal culture. The 61-year-old is no stranger…
RESEARCHERS have called for more equitable access to drug treatment and support for people in minority ethnic groups after a study found they faced barriers such as stigma and lack of culturally competent services or ones they have no faith in them. Funded by the Department of Health and Social…
BRITISH wildlife charities are ringing alarm bells by describing the countryside as a "racist, colonial" domain where non-white people often feel marginalised, media reports said. Wildlife and Countryside Link, a coalition comprising 80 organisations including the WWF, the RSPCA, and National Trust, presented their findings to MPs as part of…
Under a proposed race equality act, the Labour Party aims to broaden the scope of existing equal pay rights, currently afforded to women, for the first time, to include BAME (Black, Asian, and minority ethnic) workers, alongside individuals with disabilities, an exclusive report by The Guardian said. This initiative aims…
THE number of students of Asian origin who achieved a first-class degree in the UK has fallen for the first time, new figures show. The percentage getting top honours was 27.5 per cent in 2021-2022 compared to 33.3 per cent the previous year, with experts highlighting the devastating impact the…
Among the myriad clashes involving this year's US presidential candidates, some of the harshest have featured Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley. Ramaswamy went so far as to hold up a sign at a debate calling Haley, the South Carolina former governor and UN ambassador, corrupt over her corporate work. She…
Former chancellor and home secretary Sajid Javid described his knighthood as a “tremendous honour” after he was recognised for his achievements in the New Year’s Honours List announced last Friday (29). Javid, who represents Bromsgrove, served under three different prime ministers in six different Cabinet posts, including as culture secretary,…
LEICESTER UNIVERSITY is conducting a study on the extent of racism in rural England with the aim of changing attitudes and making visits to the countryside less intimidating for non-white people. It is being led by Neil Chakraborti, director of the Centre for Hate Studies and professor in criminology, who…
WHETHER it is on stage, television, film or in a popular ASDA commercial, Muzz Khan has consistently shown off his impressive range as an actor and worked with many established names. The versatile British Asian, who is also an accomplished DJ, rcently joined the cast of West End show, The…
NOTHING has been done to protect south Asian and black medical staff or patients, despite their disproportionate number of deaths during Covid, doctors have told Eastern Eye. They have warned that if a pandemic were to happen tomorrow, more people of colour would die unnecessarily. Medical experts have previously told…
A LEADING diversity adviser has warned that football risks losing a generation of ethnic minority female football players unless it shifts gears and becomes “proactive not reactive”. Earlier this month, Arsenal football club were criticised for a women’s team photo that had no ethnic minority player. The photo, posted on…
BILLIONAIRE businessman Elon Musk called Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf a “blatant racist” after watching an edited clip of the Asian politician’s three-year-old speech. The Tesla and SpaceX owner’s comment sparked a storm on social media while Yousaf reacted to his claim by posting a GIF. Musk responded to a…
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Race and Community is investigating the disproportionate impact of environmental emergency on Black people, indigenous peoples, and people of colour. A joint Inquiry by the APPG on Race and Community and the APPG on the Green New Deal is underway, to examine the links…
ACCLAIMED theatre director Milli Bhatia said the theme of how “empowering” representation is for marginalised groups is what drew her to debutant writer Mohamed-Zain Dada’s play Blue Mist. Set in the shisha lounges of northwest London, Blue Mist follows three south Asian Muslim men navigating a system that “isn’t built…
DIVERSE work across multiple platforms has established Raj Ghatak as one of the best British Asian actors. The versatile performer, with a chameleonlike ability to transform himself, is currently in the cast of The Father and the Assassin, which has returned for another successful run at the National Theatre in…
A SHOPKEEPER from Peckham, south London, has gone into hiding after protests erupted over a video surfaced of him “choking” a female customer when an argument broke out over a refund. Sohail Sindho said he was “forced” to pull his three sons out of school following growing protests at his…
A PROMINENT race equality leader has criticised the government’s continued denial of institutional racism, saying it has created credibility issues. Dr Halima Begum pointed out that shortly after the government released its contentious report on race, which claimed to find no evidence of institutional racism, several national incidents contradicted this…
A prominent race equality leader has criticised the government's continued denial of institutional racism, stating that it has created a credibility issues, reported The Guardian. Dr Halima Begum pointed out that shortly after the government released its contentious report on race, which claimed to find no evidence of institutional racism,…
ENGLAND’S performance in the just concluded football women’s World Cup final will help create a “really rich pipeline” of future talent, an influential Asian leader said, as others predicted a positive legacy despite the Lionesses’ defeat last Sunday (20). Spain beat European champions England 1-0 in the final match in…
MIKE BREARLEY, a very successful England cricket captain from 1977 to 1980, has been a practising psychoanalyst in London for the past 40 years. Brearley very sportingly placed himself on the couch for the benefit of Eastern Eye – and answered questions on the many Indian connections that are mentioned…
WHEN author Shelina Janmohamed couldn’t find any relevant books on the British empire for her two young daughters, she decided to write her own book, titled Story of Now – Let’s Talk About the British Empire. Her two daughters, aged nine and five at the time, were keen to learn…
“RAISE your hand if you are a racist.” This is a question Saira Rao, an Indian American campaigner, poses at the start of the documentary, Deconstructing Karen. It features the work of Race2Dinner, an initiative by co-founders Rao and Regina Jackson, a black American, whose aim is to ultimately dismantle…
AYESHA SMART, the youngest-ever ethnic minority crown court judge in the UK, hopes the story of her career – from being a pathologist in a hospital to practising law – will inspire other people of colour and women. Smart, 35, was last month appointed as a recorder in crown courts…
THE England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has failed to step up and investigate why Lord Ian Botham trashed an independent report which found cricket to be racist and misogynist, according to those close to the sport. Eastern Eye has spoken to several prominent cricket sources who have accused the…
GROWING UP, Dominique DeLeon spent many hot summers in a built-up neighbourhood in the city of Birmingham, in central England, where she lived through deprivation and had little access to nature or green spaces to help her cool down. Though she has moved to a different part of town, ever…
EARLIER this year, George called me. “Barnie, I need a favour,” he began, “I’m involved with a migration charity, and we’re telling the story of how migrants have helped Britain. “We want an exhibition in Leicester, use my name, I’ll turn up and do what I need to do, can…
During a recent interview with a publication, noted screenwriter, actress, and producer Mindy Kaling spoke candidly about her “struggle with hyperpigmentation” and the battles darker skin tones face in the beauty industry. Kaling, who is an investor in and ambassador for Lion Pose, a new brand that seeks to meet…
WRITER Rabiah Hussain said the idea of her second production, Word-Play, came from listening to the controversial rhetoric of some politicians and seeing the “trickle down effect” it had on society. Word-Play is centred on a loose-cannon prime minister whose Islamophobic comments go viral and cause uproar in the country.…
ONE of the key public purposes of the BBC is ‘to reflect, represent and serve the diverse communities’ of the United Kingdom. The broadcaster’s operating licence from Ofcom goes further – ‘the BBC should accurately and authentically represent and portray the lives of the people of the United Kingdom today…
THE LABOUR candidate to replace Boris Johnson as Conservative MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip has said the former prime minister played a part in ethnic minorities losing “trust in democracy and public life”. Danny Beales is the Labour candidate for the byelection in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, which became…
ACTING must put more people of colour in creative boardrooms to stop unconscious bias, colonialism and complacency which exist in the profession. That is the call from one of the industry’s biggest south Asian stars. Meera Syal told the Raminklal Pioneers Project, a partnership of the Asian Media Group [the…
A new report published on Friday (30) revealed that black Londoners and immigrant communities are more likely to live in areas with more polluted air in the city. The City Hall commissioned report, which builds on previous research from 2013 through to 2021, said that areas in London with the…
Britain remains a society that does not “value the benefits of multiculturism,” according to a leading race and equality campaigner, as a new report this week found a majority of ethnic minorities feel the UK is a better country to live in than other western nations. Research published by the…
The Centre for Mental Health found an innovative way to attract Asian communities to London’s famous Chelsea Flower Show (CFS). The national charity’s trustee Poppy Jaman and two other women wore sarees to “visibly make CFS a place that Asian women should go to”, considering that they often don’t see…
Many want to achieve nirvana in this lifetime, and their idea of it will differ according to what their specific desires are. For some, it is trying to achieve the popular trend of getting “the glass skin.” This is when your skin is at its healthiest, appearing without pores, luminous,…
A new research has revealed that black and Asian people with darker skin in UK can suffer prejudice and insults from family members with lighter skin. It added that family members with darker skin were sometimes stigmatised by their parents, siblings and other relatives. As part of the research Dr…
THE current crop of Britain’s chief constables cannot be trusted to reverse institutional racism in their forces, according to the country’s former top south Asian cop, and the National Black Police Association [NBPA]. Ex-assistant commissioner, Neil Basu, made his comments during a wide-ranging interview for the Ramniklal Solanki Pioneers Project…
RISHI SUNAK paid tribute to his family as his elevation to become Britain’s first Asian prime minister kept him on top of the 2023 GG2 Power List for the second consecutive year and was also recognised with a coveted award in London on Tuesday (7). Sunak tops the ranking of…
ACTOR Tony Jayawardena said memories of his late mother helped him connect with his role in the upcoming play Marjorie Prime, which explores how people deal with the grief of losing a loved one. Set in the year 2062, the play tells the story of Marjorie, an 85-year-old woman suffering…
A government review into Home Office’s hostile environment policies has revealed that it had disproportionately affected people of colour in UK. The report said that Indians, Pakistanis, Nigerians and Bangladeshis were most likely to be affected by these policies rather than Albanians and Brazilians who are the top five nationalities…
BLACK and minority ethnic defendants were charged at higher rates than white counterparts for similar offences, a new study found, providing evidence of disproportionality in the outcomes of legal decision-making in England and Wales.With 69.9 per cent of their cases resulting in a charge, white British suspects had the lowest…
Indian-origin Manpreet Monica Singh has been sworn in as a Harris county judge, becoming the first female Sikh judge in the US. Singh was born and raised in Houston and now lives in Bellaire with her husband and two children. She was sworn in as a judge of the Harris…
A British university has issued a new guidance urging students to have ‘hard conversations’ with friends and family over 'white privilege'. On its guidance on equality, diversity and inclusion page, Imperial College London told students that they 'have white privilege' and asked them become a 'white ally' by contributing to…
Sir Walter Scott, one of Europe’s greatest novelists of his lifetime, has become the centre of a controversy with academics at the University of Warwick branding his novel Ivanhoe as “offensive” for its portrayal of racial minorities.The university’s English department warns its students: “Amongst the aspects readers might find disturbing,…
A video emerged of a wealthy Sri Lankan American entrepreneur being fatally shot by a police officer in Austin while he was defending his house from a suspected burglar. As Rajan Moonesinghe lay dying, he can be heard saying: “It wasn't me.”The killing, described by Austin Mayor Steve Adler as…
THE BBC should be ashamed that it has radio and television stations where newsrooms are entirely white and not representing the communities they serve. That is the feeling of current staff and former employees who have spoken to Eastern Eye. They said they warned the BBC that it would not…
A new Asian author, and her first work of fiction of roller-coaster emotions I don’t like fictional books which use a first-person singular voice. You know, that’s when someone writes a work of fiction through the eyes of one person. “I did this…I did that…For me, it was…” Yuck. Where’s…
Civic leaders, MPs, experts and senior doctors have warned that the UK is sitting on a “ticking time bomb of disparities” among south Asian and black communities. They told Eastern Eye that the 2021 census figures, released on Tuesday (29 November) should raise concerns among government. They urged ministers to…
London Fire Brigade (LFB) commissioner Andy Roe has vowed to sack racist and sexist workers following an explosive inquiry that revealed 'dangerous levels of prejudice' within the biggest fire service in Britain. Promising a "zero tolerance" approach towards staff members who have been found to have "behaved appallingly", Roe said…
NOT enough of “our stories are being told and told correctly”, feels actor Ameet Chana, who is on a mission to offer voice to British south Asian artists by developing more authentic and relevant stories that portray “the real us”. Chana, best known for his roles in Bend It Like…
An independent audit into the working of Unicef UK revealed that some people of colour at the charity regularly experienced covert racism.Covert racism and unconscious bias are “part of life” for some workers at the organisation, the review, proactively commissioned by it, said.Leadership specialist Full Colour, which conducted the audit…
LAST month, the UK made history by appointing its first British Asian and Hindu prime minister. While Rishi Sunak’s appointment demonstrates that there is no office in the land which is not open to minorities, our recent Racism at Work research highlights that many people of colour still face major…
THERE should be more meaningful roles – not just for south Asian actors but also for people with disabilities – so that we get to see true reflection of our society on screen, feels actress Rakhee Thakrar, adding that things are now moving in right direction, yet it needs to…
In a appalling allegation of racism, the founder of a Muslim hikers' group has said that it faced "shocking" online abuse since making an appearance on Countryfile. Haroon Mota from Coventry participated in an outdoor arts event that was filmed on Scafell Pike in September for the BBC special shown…
Hindus in the UK are “smart, rich and very well behaved” with just 0.4 per cent found in the country’s prisons in 2021, the lowest of any religious cohort, according to a media report, days after Rishi Sunak became Britain’s first Hindu Prime Minister. England and Wales are now home…
London mayor Sadiq Khan has said that Rishi Sunak became the first British Asian prime minister in the country is a 'source of pride' for many in UK. British Pakistani mayor Sadiq Khan added that Sunak's ascend to the top post demonstrated that hard workers can achieve almost everything. While…
I’m a patriot, I’m proud to be British, but I’m also realistic, writes Barnie Choudhury. It pains me to have to justify myself. Yet I feel I must. Why? Because I am a brown man, who was not born in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. I am an immigrant,…
A new study has revealed that minorities are over three times more likely to live in areas in England with ‘very high' air pollution, according to a report. The study by Friends of the Earth, by analysing government data on air pollution, focusing on nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and small particulate…
Football coach and author Manisha Tailor has called for action to bring more British Asian women to the top division of the game.Despite making up the largest single ethnic minority female group, South Asian women account for just 0.3 per cent in the top division of football.Tailor, who trained as…
A veteran political commentator and former BBC journalist has apologised for a “unacceptable” racist remark on the diverse cabinet of new prime minister Liz Truss. Iain Macwhirter’s “coconut cabinet” jibe on the appointment of people of colour to the three great offices of the government, sparked outrage on social media…
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) benefitted from and contributed to British colonialism in a variety of ways between 1899 and 1960, according to a report on its history. It is largely to its role in British colonialism that the LSHTM owes its current power and position…
Author discusses her writing journey, classic book and new novel A distinguished writing career has seen Jamila Gavin combine gripping storylines, deep meaning and teaching the reader something new in her novels. The important literary voice has particularly connected with younger readers through acclaimed books such as Coram Boy, which…
A minority of racists among Conservative grassroots members could stop Rishi Sunak from becoming the first non-white prime minister. That is the concern among some south Asian Tories who have spoken to Eastern Eye. They are concerned that Britain is “not ready to take orders from a brown boy”. They…
The Home Office in the UK and the Ministry of Justice have created a new plan to monitor foreign offenders in the country. Under the plan, migrants convicted of crimes need to wear facial recognition smartwatches and should take photos up to five times a day, the Guardian reported. With…
British Bengali author discusses her relatable debut novel The Covid-19 lockdown saw Tasneem Abdur-Rashid brilliantly balance working full-time, raising small children and doing a master’s part time with writing her newly published debut novel Finding Mr Perfectly Fine. Born and raised in London, she has delivered an engaging story about…
Conversations with south Asian friends and family members about them not being able to swim (or learning later in life) inspired Karim Khan to write brand new theatre production Brown Boys Swim. Being intrigued by why so many from the south Asian community are not able to swim led him…
GREENPEACE UK has said that the climate emergency is a legacy of colonialism and people of colour suffer the most from its ill effects. A report by the Runnymede Trust and Greenpeace has said that people of colour in Britain are more likely to live close to a waste incinerator.…
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the presence of rule-breaking newcomers and rising stars like award-winning comedian Kai Samra. The exciting British talent follows up his critically acclaimed debut Underclass – recorded for Amazon Prime – with his new stand-up show Native, which runs…
ONE in three people from minority ethnic groups in the UK are living in areas most exposed to extreme heat, compared with just one in 12 white people, experts have warned. According to researchers at the University of Manchester and Friends of the Earth, almost 6 million people in the…
Senior Conservative parliamentarians have told Eastern Eye the country is ready for its first south Asian prime minister. They believe the days of the Tories being considered as the “nasty and racist” party are over. Four candidates of colour were among the eight nominated in the leadership race as Eastern…
Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman says it was difficult for her to accept the criticism that the show received for lack of diversity. The New York-set sitcom, featuring an all-white cast-- Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer, ran from 1994 to 2004 but rarely…
LORD Boateng has urged the Church of England to contribute towards a £4 million national memorial to victims of the slave trade in Hyde Park, the first of its kind in Britain, according to a report. The report by an independent group led by the Labour peer, the Archbishops’ Racial Justice…
Hollywood actor Tiffany Haddish expressed her desire to be a 'present parent', readily available for her kids, and adopt children post her remaining two films. Speaking on the difficulties for Black women to adopt white babies, the Bad Trip actor revealed that 'it's hard out here’, reported People magazine. “As…
An independent inquiry has found that Amnesty International UK (AIUK) is “institutionally racist” and recommended a significant improvement in the work culture of the rights organisation.According to the findings in the final report of the inquiry conducted by Global HPO, the “colonialist” charity faced internal bullying problems and an anti-racism…
BRITISH MPs in a report published on Thursday (23) have called on the development aid sector to recognise and tackle racism in its practices. It added that racism in aid sector is a hangover of colonialism. The international development committee in its report-Racism in the aid sector, said that international…
SOUTH ASIAN mental health experts and survivors are urging the government to provide care specifically to meet their needs. They warned that the Covid pandemic has highlighted the lack of “culturally appropriate and culturally sensitive” services, and people are “suffering in silence”. As part of its 10-year mental health strategy,…
AN Indian American neurosurgeon has urged Asians to acknowledge instances of racism in people's lives and to even talk about how they impact them. In a CNN podcast, Dr Sanjay Gupta revealed why he almost changed his name to Steve. "When I when I was young, probably around six, seven…
Diversity has eluded the UK’s yoga sector despite the practice having its roots in India, even as black and minority ethnic practitioners are challenging racism in yoga organisations. While the British Medical Journal found in 2020 that 91 per cent of British yoga practitioners were white, there are also reports…
A training course devised by the UK’s Open University claims “white superiority” has been “embedded” in the English language and white Europeans have most “successfully” imposed racist ideas.According to the programme titled Union Black, which was launched in 2021 with a £500,000 backing from Santander, “white hegemony” is “covertly weaved”…
HAVING been elected as the first woman of colour to the Welsh parliament in May 2021, I know there has been immense pressure on the Labour government to see more diversity in the Senedd. Labour and Plaid Cymru are determined to squeeze more politicians into the Senedd, a contentious move…
British Jamaican actor Sir Lenny Henry’s observation that Glastonbury Festival lacked black and Asian faces has triggered a backlash with social media users reminding him that the tickets for the event were sold by ballot.Sir Henry said he was “surprised” by the absence of people of colour at the event…
The BBC has agreed to pay £30,000 in libel damages to a British Bangladeshi councillor in a case of misidentification which reflected “the notion that all people of colour look the same”.BBC One London News had on 29 October 2020 aired the wrong video of Labour Councillor Liza Begum while…
His cancer came without notice, and for three months Keyur Patel – known as Kiwi – was planning his own funeral. Now, 10 years on, Kiwi is “grateful” that he can tell his story and live the life he thought would end prematurely. The Met police sergeant remembers vividly the…
DERRICK HASSAN, the first black officer of South Wales Police, died after a long illness.He was 75. Hassan, who had joined the force in 1972, rose through the ranks to become a detective in CID, based in Rumney, Cardiff.A prominent member of the Black Police Association (BPA), he was regarded…
When we heard the compelling testimony of former Yorkshire cricketer, Azeem Rafiq, in front of the sport select committee last November, few people of colour would’ve been surprised. We know the racism we face on an almost daily basis. We know the fact our complaints are excused as banter. We…
ENGLISH cricket has been through its “annus horribilis” partly due to the poor performance of Joe Root’s Test team, but mainly because of the revelations about the racism suffered by Azeem Rafiq at Yorkshire, it has been stated in Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack 2022. The expression was famously used by the…
The BBC’s looking for a new diversity boss because June Sarpong is leaving the corporation. In his third and final essay, one of its former correspondents, Barnie Choudhury, suggests ways to tackle the antipathy, apparent apathy and accelerate a win in the diversity war in the corporation. One of my…
In 1999, a court found a brother and mother guilty of murdering a 19-year-old Muslim woman. While he strangled her, their mother sat on her legs. Her crime was to be carrying the baby of her childhood sweetheart while her husband, by forced marriage, was in Pakistan. The story of…
GRADUATING from top acting school East 15 kick-started an interesting journey for Yanick Ghanty that led him from performing in theatre to exploring diverse mediums of storytelling in all genres. The latest project to feature the British Asian actor is newly released Channel 4 sitcom Hullraisers, which revolves around three…
As the BBC’s diversity chief, June Sarpong, quits the corporation, former correspondent, Barnie Choudhury, asks what the corporation has achieved in almost two generations. A journalist famously asked Mahatma Gandhi what he thought about western civilisation. Quick as a flash he responded, “I think it would be a good idea.”…
BOTH main parties in the UK have traditionally had loyal supporters from different parts of the Asian diaspora, but there is growing unease that neither can be trusted or represent the values and aspirations of the Asian community. Prime minister Boris Johnson has a long history of making racist and…
HOW AGAM DARSHI DID IT ALL WITH HER FILM DONKEYHEAD ONE of the best reviewed and most unique film releases of 2022 featuring south Asian protagonists has been Donkeyhead. The Canadian comedy-drama on Netflix has surprised audiences globally with unapologetic storytelling that mixes up humour and deep emotions. The heartbeat…
THE Netflix series Bridgerton with two British Asian actresses in lead roles – Simone Ashley and Charithra Chandran play sisters Kate and Edwina Sharma, newly arrived from India – have upended the claims that English period dramas such as Downton Abbey cannot have multicultural casting because this would not be…
DRIVERS living in areas of Britain where there are a higher proportion of people of colour pay at least £280 more for their annual motor insurance, consumer charity Citizens Advice said on Tuesday (22).The charity carried out research on insurance premiums in eight postcode areas.Everyone in those postcodes pays the…
SOME of the best musical talents are on the live circuit, and a perfect example is a double bill at The Nutshell in Winchester next Friday (18), as part of the Women In Arts festival organised by Jay Visvadeva of Sama Arts Network. Sparsh Bajpai will deliver a jazz and…
YORKSHIRE CRICKET CLUB is in soup again as four former employees have taken the county to the court. It is believed the legal dispute could hit the finances of the club after staff were sacked following former player Azeem Rafiq's testimonial on racist abuse he faced at the club during…
There must be a root and branch investigation into the culture of racism, misogyny, and Islamophobia in every police service in England and Wales. That is the demand from south Asian and black MPs, as well as serving and past police officers. They have told Eastern Eye that they do…
The chair of Yorkshire cricket has urged south Asian communities to trust that his team and he will stamp out racism at the club. Lord Patel of Bradford was speaking exclusively to Eastern Eye after the culture, media and sport select committee concluded there was “deep-seated racism in cricket”. The…
BRITAIN'S leading theatre companies should appoint more people of colour and from working-class backgrounds to bring in a creative change, a British Asian artistic director has said. Pravesh Kumar, founder of Rifco Theatre Company, which does productions aimed at British Asian audiences, said: “The leadership is what we really need…
“Systemic and cultural barriers” stop progress of people of colour finds new report Senior BBC leaders in radio news have warned that the corporation will never hit the director-general’s 20 per cent target for people of colour to climb to the top their profession. Nina Robinson, an experienced former BBC…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has said he prefers to keep the term BAME to represent people of colour in the UK. Khan said the abbreviation - which stands for black, Asian and minority ethnic – is used as a term of "strength rather than weakness". Khan told Eastern Eye on…
WEST INDIES bowling great Michael Holding wants more sportspeople to step forward and speak out against racism because they have an important platform, he said in an interview at the Reuters Next conference on Wednesday (1). Holding said it was important that public figures used their celebrity and status to…
By Rithika Siddhartha ACCLAIMED dancer Akram Khan has revealed his sadness that Asians shun his work as he prepares to perform his solo, Xenos, about soldiers from the subcontinent who fought for the British Army in the First World War. Khan also said it was only as recently as 2018…
TO increase the diversity of participants, AstraZeneca is planning to allow more people take part in clinical trials from their homes, The Guardian reported. Recruiting volunteers to clinical trials is a crucial step in the development of new drugs, tests, devices and other interventions. Diversity among trial participants is crucial,…
IN an emotional apperance before the parliamentary select committee on Tuesday, former player Azeem Rafiq gave more details to the racism scandal at Yorkshire. Explaining to the MPs, he broke down into tears as he explained in details of the racism that he experienced at the club. A report had…
EVERY Sunday, we had a ritual in our family. It was 1969, and like tens of thousands of new arrivals from India, we would sit in front of our black and white televisions to watch Nai Zindagi Naya Jeevan. Translated, it means ‘New Life, New Life’ but we can take…
Diaspora watch ethnic content but UK channels 'do not cater to diverse audiences' entertainment ETHNIC MINORITY viewers in the UK have said watching Asian channels helps them keep in touch with their culture, according to a survey for Ofcom, but the regulator was criticised for not acknowledging that British TV…
Actors reveal their personal journeys ahead of award-winning story's west end opening THREE members of the cast of Life of Pi have spoken of their “satisfaction” with their roles in the stage version of Yann Martell’s Booker Prize-winning novel, which opens at Wyndham’s Theatre in London on November 15. The…
CHIEF EXECUTIVES must challenge bad behaviour which stops women and minorities from progressing, Indra Nooyi, the former CEO and chair of global company PepsiCo, has said. Speaking at the GG2 Leadership Series last Tuesday (12), the first Asian woman to lead a Fortune 500 company warned that firms would lose…
Don’t get hung up on racism says former PepsiCo CEO, Indra Nooyi Chief executives must challenge bad behaviour which stops women and minorities from progressing, according to the former CEO and chair of global company PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi. Speaking at the GG2 Leadership Series (12) the first Asian woman to…
AN Uber driver who lost his job when automated face-scanning software failed to recognise him is accusing the firm of indirect race discrimination in a legal battle, The Guardian reported. He filed an employment tribunal claim alleging his account was illegally deactivated when facial-verification software used to log drivers on…
TEEN TALENT AVANTIKA VANDANAPU DISCUSSES HER MOVE FROM INDIAN CINEMA TO HOLLYWOOD THE latest south Asian star to emerge in the Hollywood sky is 16-year-old American actress Avantika Vandanapu. The talented American teenager found success in India at the age of 10 with a string of successful films, alongside big-named stars, and commercials…
BRITAIN'S equality watchdog has failed to support the human rights of ethnic minorities and have colluded in denial of structural and institutional racism, one of its former employee has accused. According to reports, in an email to colleagues before leaving the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), the employee accused…
BUSINESSES will lose out in a “war of talent” unless they invest in Asian and black employees, senior corporate executives have been warned. The inaugural GG2 Women of Colour (WoC) conference cautioned that companies would be left behind if they did not hire enough ethnic talent. Panellist Sanjay Bhandari, chairman…
WOMEN from ethnic minorities earn less hour than white British men and a third of them report being “unfairly passed over for or denied” a promotion at work, according to a new report on Tuesday (7). Among other findings that reveal the extent of bias in the labour market, a…
NEWCASTLE'S first BAME lord mayor has spoken out after being subjected to a “sickening” racist attack. Habib Rahman was left “infuriated to the core” as he and others were targeted with verbal abuse and had fireworks aimed at them outside a mosque in the West End at the weekend. The…
A new mural put up in Driffield depicting local notables was not intended to attract “negative publicity” after some slammed it for failing to depict BAME people. Driffield Town Council stated the mural, recently put up in Middle Road North, featured well-known local business owners as a tribute to those…
A TRILOGY of films depicting ethnic minority protagonists in Hollywood blockbuster movies that “they are typically excluded from” is part of a new exhibition in Southampton. Hetain Patel’s new art show Trinity is based on his fascination with the cultural influence that Hollywood has on people’s lives. Having premiered at…
THERE are not enough south Asians starring in TV adverts, according to leading actors. They believe progress has been made in making commercials more diverse, but said it is too slow. Some broadcasters feel there are more Asian-origin people cast in mixed-race relationships in adverts, but racial stereotypes remain common. It comes…
UK academic has sued the Leeds Beckett University claiming discrimination after she was dropped from her advisory role over tweets calling a mixed-race man a “house negro”, The Guardian reported. Aysha Khanom has alleged that the decision was discriminatory because of her belief in critical race theory and Black radicalism,…
THERE is a popular saying that madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result to materialise. The police in Britain have failed to reflect the diversity of the community they serve and have failed on Sir Robert Peel’s founding description of policing, which was,…
ONLY FIVE per cent of state school governors in England are from ethnic minority backgrounds, says a new report, adding that the figure has remained unchanged for the last 20 years. Statistics from the National Governance Association (NGA) showed that only three per cent of school governors are Asian.…
TWO men, who had racially abused UK home secretary Priti Patel in a racist Snapchat video, have admitted their criminal offences. Jake Henderson, a former football manager, and Robert Cumming have admitted criminal offence over the racially abusive video, posted following a government coronavirus briefing in January. In the 50-second…
Senior managers ‘side with families’ despite orders to deny treatment for racist behaviour SOUTH ASIAN doctors have told Eastern Eye that they are being stopped from treating some white patients. Some have taken to social media to complain about white parents and white patients who refuse to be treated by them.…
A university has said that black and ethnic minority students will be allowed to defer essay deadlines and exams if they suffer from racial trauma. The Telegraph reported that from the next academic year - Goldsmiths, University of London have said it will introduce this new category for extenuating circumstances.…
THE former highest-ranking Asian female police in the Metropolitan Police has claimed the force is still institutionally racist, recalling her experiences of discrimination as recently as 2019. Chief superintendent Parm Sandhu was the most senior BAME woman in the capital’s police force, prior to her retirement two years ago. She…
EDUCATION leader Hamid Patel, charity boss Javed Khan and period poverty campaigner Amika George are among prominent British Asians named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List unveiled this evening (11). Patel, chief executive officer of Star Academics in Blackburn, a multi-academy trust which operates 30 free schools and academies, is…
STAFF at Barbican have branded the arts and culture organisation as “institutionally racist” and accused it of failing to live up to its anti-racism commitments made last year during the peak of the Black Lives Matter protest. Being racially profiled by security staff, Asian-origin employees being called “yellow”, referring to…
INSTITUTIONAL racism in Metropolitan police is “worse now” than what it was 20 years ago, Parm Sandhu, one of the UK’s former most senior female Asian police officers has claimed, adding that the Met is “not a safe environment for black and Asian officers". “Institutional racism exists in…
THE Conservative government needs to prioritise engagement with ethnic minority communities, a former MP has said, following a report which found anti-Muslim sentiment “remains a problem” in the Tory party. An independent inquiry, led by Professor Swaran Singh, found a “widespread perception” that the Tories have a “Muslim problem”. The…
by Barnie Choudhury It is so easy to bash the BBC, so I may as well join in. Last year BBC News refused to acknowledge that Kamala Harris, the American vice-president, was of Indian origin. I emailed senior news executives, and I never got a response. Then there was the…
“Unedifying” row over despatch box “puts back equality, diversity and inclusion” by Barnie Choudhury Britain top south Asian police officer has told a global audience that institutional racism does exist in Britain – contrary to the government’s latest report on racism. The Met’s assistant commissioner, Neil Basu, was speaking during…
Anum Qaisar-Javed, 28, has become Scotland’s second female Muslim MP after she held the Westminster seat of Airdrie and Shotts for the Scottish National party (SNP). A modern studies teacher, Qaisar-Javed's victory has brought the number of SNP MPs in the Commons back to 45, reported The Guardian. The byelection…
FOURTEEN modern-day women are participating in Coventry Moves. Women chosen as Lady Godivas are learning horse-riding to take part in an event to launch Coventry UK City of Culture year. Coventry Moves, which takes place on 5 June, is billed as a dawn to dusk performance. The Godivas exact roles…
Mayor reveals why he was forced to put up congestion charges in the capital by Barnie Choudhury London mayor, Sadiq Khan, promised to fight to make sure his city recovers from the pandemic, if he were re-elected on Thursday (6). Europe’s first south Asian and Muslim mayor of a capital…
By: Mohnish Singh The new fantasy series Shadow and Bone, which premiered on Friday on Netflix, has been garnering a lot of attention and critical praise from various quarters. Almost everyone who has watched it has positive things to say about the adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s bestselling Grisha trilogy and…
NEIGHBOURS star Shareena Clanton, 30, accused the cast of bullying her and claimed she heard the N-word used on set twice. She alleged that the workplace environment allowed discrimination, harassment and bullying to occur for many years, reported The Daily Mail. "There is something systemic here, there is something dangerous.…
[caption id="attachment_136684" align="alignleft" width="140"] Nadia Whittome[/caption] by NADIA WHITTOME, Labour MP for Nottingham East AT THE end of March, a government-commissioned report into race in the UK was released. Produced by the Independent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, it immediately came under fire from academics, campaigners and MPs for…
By Mita Mistry TALENTED AUTHOR AYESHA S CHAUDHRY DISCUSSES HER POWERFUL NEW MEMOIR TALENTED author Ayesha S Chaudhry began writing her newly released debut book The Colour Of God accidentally in September 2015 while on a fellowship at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. During that…
After last year’s exposé, we challenge the judiciary to prove it is not institutionally racist By Barnie Choudhury The judiciary is 20 years behind the Met Police in accepting it is institutionally racist. That is the damning accusation from named and anonymous south Asian, black and white judges. In a…
Eastern Eye’s editor-at-large and former BBC correspondent, Barnie Choudhury, has a letter for the director-general Dear Tim, What a great start. You’ve come in and made clear to your people that you want the BBC to change. The targets of 50:20:12 are immensely ambitious and, if truth be told, eye…
EASTERN EYE’S editor-at-large and former BBC correspondent, Barnie Choudhury, has a letter for the broadcaster’s director-general Dear Tim, What a great start. You’ve come in and made clear to your people that you want the BBC to change. The targets of 50:20:12 are immensely ambitious and, if truth be…
THE BBC drama, A Suitable Boy, was the big winner at last week’s Eastern Eye Arts, Culture and Theatre Awards (ACTA), which celebrate the best of Asian talent in the creative industries. The primetime TV series, based on Vikram Seth’s novel of the same name, won three awards –…
The statue of Robert Clive outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in central London depicts him with an imperious gaze, his hand gripping the hilt of a sheathed sword. But despite often heated debate about monuments to colonial figures with links to the slave trade and the legacy of…
Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced on Monday (25) that the tech giant will open up its spaces in the US to serve as mass COVID-19 vaccination sites and committed more than $150 million to promote vaccine education. Google is initially looking at offices’ spaces inside the US, but is open…
MPs call for independent inquiry after BAME producer attempts suicide By Barnie Choudhury Asian and black MPs have called for a parliamentary investigation into bullying and racism at the BBC. It comes after Eastern Eye revealed that a black BBC freelance producer tried to take their life after they complained…
Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on Wednesday(9) elected as the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), which will play an influential role during the next Biden administration. Jayapal, 55, said that the caucus will advance racial justice, tackle poverty and inequality and help transform the country. “As a lifelong organiser,…
By Javed Husain IN TODAY’S day and age there is a huge desire by companies to adopt an inclusive and diverse approach, and the only way that can be achieved is through brand justice. Influencers and celebrities are being shipped in from all across the world by brands to gain…
A NEW report by the equalities watchdog in the UK has found out that the Home Office had 'unlawfully ignored' warnings that the Windrush generation might face 'serious injustices' due to changes in immigration rules. The equality and human rights commission's (EHRC) report found a 'lack of organisation-wide commitment' to…
by LAUREN CODLING BUSINESSES have been asked to set and publish clear targets for greater diversity at board and senior leadership levels as data showed there was slow progress on this front. The Change the Ratio (CTR) initiative is the idea of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and it…
LEADING British Asians from the arts, film and television industries have raised concerns about race and the perceptions about minority communities in relation to a recent drama about ‘honour’ killing shown on ITV. Honour, shown on ITV on September 28 and 29, was based on the 2006 murder of Banaz…
by Priya Mulji AS A teen and into my twenties, I was always an avid reader and devoured everything. I went from Sweet Valley High books in my teenage years to more hard-hitting stories like Shantaram in my twenties. Then life, work and responsibilities meant reading took a backseat, but…
By Amit Roy BAFTA’S new chairman Krishnendu Majumdar has told Eastern Eye in an exclusive interview that he is pushing through radical and fundamental changes aimed at achieving greater diversity in the film, television and gaming industries. Majumdar is extending Bafta’s 8,000- strong membership by 1,000 from “under-represented groups”, such…
PRINCE Harry and his wife Meghan have urged the UK to end "structural racism", and pave the way for an "inclusive, equal and colourful" future. In an interview to the Evening Standard, Harry said Britain could be a better place if white people understood more about those "of a different…
LEWIS HAMILTON has pledged to grow the number of coloured people in motor racing, announcing members of his Hamilton Commission that aims to tackle the lack of diversity at all levels of the sport. The British six-time Formula One world champion, who has been vocal in his support of the Black…
By S Neeraj Krishna SADIQ KHAN has accused the British education system of offering “one-dimensional, identity kit version of history”, while urging people to “go around” it to tackle racism. The London mayor said in a virtual discussion on Sunday that the anti-racism protests following the custodial death of black…
FORMER West Indies captain Daren Sammy has urged cricket's governing bodies to treat racism more seriously and pay it the same attention they give to upholding the integrity of the game. Athletes across the world have spoken out about racism in sport as part of the Black Lives Matter protests…
By Aaqil Ahmed TIM DAVIE has started work as the new director-general of the BBC at what is a crucial time for the organisation. [caption id="attachment_114245" align="alignright" width="199"] Aaqil Ahmed[/caption] There are many challenges that he and the BBC face – from changing audience viewing and listening patterns and desires,…
MPs call for public inquiry amid fresh allegations of bias by ‘scared’ Asian staff by Barnie Choudhury THE BBC’s new director general, Tim Davie, will be questioned by MPs over claims of “insidious, toxic and covert racism” in the corporation after Eastern Eye’s exposé last week prompted further complaints from current and…
By Amit Roy BLACK LIVES MATTER (BLM) may score minor victories here and there, but is likely to fail in the long run because it is making the British feel bad about themselves. The BBC dropped Rudyard Kipling’s poem, Mandalay, from events to mark the 75th anniversary of ‘Victory over…
ASIAN people have been issued fixed-penalty notices (FPN) ‘disproportionately’ during lockdown in England and Wales, a police report has revealed. According to analysis, English and Welsh police forces issued 17,039 fines during the two months analysed – a rate of only three per 10,000 people. However, rates were highest for…
LABOUR leader Keir Starmer has said that the Covid-19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact on black, Asian and minority ethnic communities as it has picked away at inequalities which were already there. He opined that the coming economic challenge will be 'profound', and warned of unemployment on a scale that…
Former West Indies captain Daren Sammy said black athletes should not have to shrug off degrading words as "banter" after he discovered his nickname in the Indian Premier League had racial connotations. Earlier this week, Sammy demanded an apology from his Sunrisers Hyderabad teammates who called him 'kalu' ('black man'…
By Barry Gardiner Labour MP for Brent North WE ARE moulded by our background, our family, our ethnicity. They all contribute to who we are. But they do not define us. We have the power to think not only of how things are, but also of how they ought…
By Barry Gardiner Labour MP, Brent North We are moulded by our background, our family, our ethnicity. They all contribute to who we are. But they do not define us. We have the power to think not only of how things are, but of how they ought to be.…
WORLD CHAMP Lewis Hamilton criticised the "biggest of stars" in "white-dominated" Formula One for failing to speak out against racism as protests erupted around the US. The British Mercedes driver warned "I know who you are and I see you" as he accused his fellow drivers of "staying silent" following…
By Barnie Choudhury and Shailesh Solanki ASIAN and black health workers are being put in harm’s way during the coronavirus pandemic because of “structural racism”, one of the country’s leading equalities campaigners has claimed. Trevor Phillips, former chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), said some workers were…
by LAUREN CODLING A FORMER chief crown prosecutor has spoken of his experiences working on the Rochdale child sexual abuse case in his new memoir, and revealed the racism he faced in its aftermath. Nazir Afzal’s The Prosecutor charts his time working in the justice system, as well as detailing…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan believes that if the UK prematurely lifts the COVID-19 lockdown it could lead to a worse second and third spike of the pandemic in the country. Speaking before prime minster Boris Johnson eased some of the lockdown restrictions on Sunday (10), Khan cautioned that “we need to learn…
by LAUREN CODLING LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has claimed the disproportionate number of ethnic minorities affected by coronavirus has “highlighted the structural inequalities in our society”. Speaking to Eastern Eye on Tuesday (21), the mayor said it was important to recognise that the Covid-19 virus was “affecting some communities disproportionately…
Pop superstar Beyonce made a surprise appearance during One World: Together At Home concert and highlighted the disproportionately high death rates of people of colour from coronavirus in the US. The singer recorded a video message for the star-studded concert on Saturday, which was curated by pop diva Lady Gaga,…
LONDON MAYOR Sadiq Khan has led tributes to Ramniklal Solanki, a giant of Gujarati journalism and pioneer of British Asian media, who passed away on Sunday (1), after a brief illness. He was 88. Mr Solanki was in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, when he suffered a stroke last week. He was admitted…
THE National Theatre will continue to promote diversity across race, gender and other fields, its artistic director, Rufus Norris, has pledged, while announcing a slew of new plays for the next 12 months. These include Welcome to Iran and Kerry Jackson, directed respectively by Nadia Fall and Indhu Rubasingham, who have…
PRINCE CHARLES named Katy Perry as British Asian Trust’s new ambassador at a gala dinner in London on Tuesday (February 4). Amid all the buzz the glitzy event generated, the move sparked online outrage as some people slammed it as a reflection of “white saviour complex”. Describing his meeting with…
By Amit Roy PRINCE WILLIAM issued a stinging rebuke to Bafta for its lack of diversity at its awards ceremony last Sunday (2), as did Joaquin Phoenix, who won the leading actor category for his role in Joker. On paper, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta),…
By Barnie Choudhury Former BBC Journalist THE BBC’s Nick Robinson recently made not one but two mistakes in the course of a 20-second programme link. He did not call the MP Clive Lewis black, and he mistakenly said there were no other ‘non-white’ candidates in the Labour leadership race.…
This year’s "all-white" Bafta nominations did not go down well among artistes and aficionados across the spectrum. The list ended up prompting the trending hashtag #Baftasowhite. The controversy got a fresh twist with many British stars nominating personal choices for an ‘Alternative Bafta List’ campaign that highlights some top-notch performers…
By Barnie Choudhury Former BBC Journalist I LOVE this country, and I would be willing to die for it. Britain has given me almost everything, and for the past 50 years, it has been home. It gave me my career in journalism. It let me join a quintessential symbol…
by LAUREN CODLING THE co-star of comedian Romesh Ranganathan’s semi-autobiographical sitcom has revealed behind-the-scenes antics of the show, as its Christmas special is due to air next Monday (23). The Reluctant Landlord stars Ranganathan as a grumpy aspiring DJ who takes over his recently deceased father’s pub. In a one-off…
by BARNIE CHOUDHURY Former BBC journalist SO THAT’S that then. All done until the next time. We are slowly dissecting the outcome of the general election. What does it mean for our nation? How much nearer are we to ‘getting Brexit done’? Will we ever recover from the political torpor…
Britain's prime minister Boris Johnson was mistakenly accused of racism on social media Friday (6) after he was misquoted in a video. Multiple tweets shared hundreds of times accused the British leader of claiming he wanted to control the number of "people of colour" coming to the UK. However, the…
THE number of black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) board executives recorded a decline over the past year, latest study showed. The latest study highlighted that the dip in the BAME top executive numbers is as a result of the UK companies' failure to improve the ethnic diversity of their…
by BARNIE CHOUDHURY Former BBC journalist EVERYONE knows where they were on September 11, 2001, when two planes slammed into the World Trade Centre twin towers in New York. But few of us will remember where we were the day before. Except I can, and for reasons which will soon…
Prime minister Boris Johnson said police will be given more power to stop and search those who are known to have carried knives in the past. Speaking at a boxing ring in Manchester, Johnson said this move will deter young people who have been convicted of carrying knives from getting…
THE current season of The Apprentice has been under fire for firing candidates from BAME communities, and the show once again caused outrage by firing yet another from an ethnic minority group on Wednesday. Lord Sugar gave the boot to account manager Iasha Masood, and fans immediately took to social…
by NADEEM BADSHAH and LAUREN CODLING A DAMNING inquiry which found universities are failing to tackle thousands of racist incidents every year because they are in denial about the problem has been branded “deeply disturbing” by campaigners. Around a quarter of ethnic minority students said they had suffered racial harassment,…
Hollywood star Eva Longoria has blamed the film industry for under-representation of people of colour and promoting unconscious biases against them. The actor believes the movie industry is 'largely responsible' for the negative portrayal of Latinos on the big and small screen. 'What studies show is that we are being…
Manchester Pride has been accused of racial discrimination with BAME LGBT people saying they were harassed by other pride-goers, it was reported on Wednesday (28). Eight black and Asian people who identify as LGBT told the BBC they experienced racial prejudice in and around the Gay Village. Sebastian (not his…
by BARNIE CHOUDHURY Former BBC journalist THE humble cabbie is my go-to when I want to know what is happening in a place that I’ve never visited before. They are priceless when you want authentic, unvarnished and unpalatable views. So, meet Shahid, an immigrant Muslim who has been ferrying people…
by BARNIE CHOUDHURY Former BBC journalist “I HEAR you’re the most hated Asian in the BBC,” the national newspaper journalist said. It was December 2001, and I was at a Radio 4 Today Christmas party. “I was told by one of your Asian colleagues that you’re a sell-out, an Uncle…
by BARNIE CHOUDHURY Former BBC journalist SOMETHING seismic has happened in the history of British broadcasting. No, it wasn’t that England’s brilliant victory in the Cricket World Cup was shown simultaneously on Sky and Channel 4. It was that after almost a century, the BBC has appointed its first ethnic…
by BARNIE CHOUDHURY Former BBC journalist THERE’S an old joke. How do you know when a politician is lying? When their lips move. I was reminded of that when I watched the BBC’s The Secret Windrush Files. My old friend David Olusoga forensically destroyed any idea that the UK’s “hostile…
by LAUREN CODLING AN ASIAN LGBTQ+ performer has spoken of their experiences as a trans person in the arts industry, as their latest show premieres at an UK theatre this month. Krishna Istha is a performer and comedian whose show Beast is part of the Trans Pride season at The…
by BARNIE CHOUDHURY Former BBC Journalist IF THERE was anyone with any doubt that the Conservative party has tried to get rid of its racist tag, then the support for Sajid Javid should have given them pause for thought. In the past few weeks, ‘The Saj’ bandwagon has rolled into…
The MP in Enoch Powell's old seat of Wolverhampton South West is currently Labour's Eleanor Smith - who became the West Midlands' first female black MP at the last election - and between 2010 and 2015 it was held for the Conservatives by Paul Uppal, a Sikh. It was this…
An equality watchdog has given the Conservative Party a month's time to respond to request for information about complaints of Islamophobia in the party. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHCR) is in touch with the Conservatives and is awaiting response before contemplating what their next step will be, reported…
by BARNIE CHOUDHURY MANY years ago, the Channel 4 newscaster Jon Snow was a visiting professor of journalism at Nottingham Trent University, where I happened to lecture. Over the years, I learned from him, and so did my students. When asked by a national newspaper what he would like for…
by LAUREN CODLING AN ASIAN author has praised efforts to raise awareness of a lack of diversity in children’s literature as it was revealed recently that fewer than two per cent of writers for young people are from an ethnic minority background. Zanib Mian is author of Planet Omar, a…
by BARNIE CHOUDHURY LAST Thursday (28) I was in parliament on the eve of the meaningful vote two-and-a-half, or whatever it was called. It was for the ‘Parliamentary Review Gala’. What was that? Well, according to the invite it was “to celebrate, in person, the success and hard work of…
by LAUREN CODLING AN AWARD-WINNING poet has revealed the challenges which come with sharing her personal stories within her art form, as she prepares to perform in the UK next Thursday (21). Fatimah Asghar is a poet, performer and screenwriter. Her debut poetry collection, If They Come For Us, focuses…
By Keshini Naidoo. IT by Stephen King: I’ve loved horror as a genre and as a child, reading horror fiction was my escapism. While the other children enjoyed tales of midnight feasts at Malory Towers, I curled up with the Losers Club as they tried to escape the evil lurking in their hometown of Derry, Maine. This…
A leading academic has gone on strike against tutoring students from King's College London after its staff members allegedly refused to address her as "Doctor". Priyamvada Gopal, a Cambridge University fellow specialising in post-colonial literature, described the incident as part of "consistently racist aggression and profiling" from porters at King's…
By AMIT ROY SPURNED BY PEERS, OXFORD’S BAME STUDENTS STAGE DRAMA TO ACCLAIM ASIAN undergraduates at Oxford have joined forces with their fellow black students to mount a dramatic act of rebellion that they claim has “never happened before” at the university. The students have successfully put on a play…
The Simpsons is undoubtedly one of the most successful shows on television, and along with all the adulation the show has also had seen its share of controversies. The latest one involves Indian-origin character Apu, and a host of South Asian celebrities have come forward criticising the stereotype. Bollywood's most…
RACIST ATTACKS RISE AFTER EU VOTE PEER: UK HAS TAKEN STEP BACKWARDS POLICE officers have been put on alert following the dramatic rise in race-related hate crime, which has shot up 57 per cent following Britain’s decision to leave the EU. Political leaders have con- demned the spate of…