Friday 28th October 2022
Friday 28th October 2022
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Rolling back the year
2015 has flown by leaving behind some iconic moments, here are some of the highlights
DOING BIG THINGS: Jamal Edwards with his MBE
ANOTHER YEAR has flown by leaving behind some iconic moments. Politically, we saw the largest number of Britain’s black voters go to the polls to back the Conservatives – something that would have been difficult to conceive of when this paper first began.
Changes in the times were also signalled in the way roles were being redefined.
As the debate over whether Idris Elba could play James Bond raged on, elsewhere Peckham’s John Boyega was securing a lead role in the blockbuster franchise Star Wars. Noma Dumezweni was cast to play Hermione Granger in the stage adaptation of the iconic Harry Potter franchise.
2015 also marked milestone anniversaries including 50 years of the Race Relations Act, which put into perspective how far we’ve come and how much further we still have to go.
JANUARY
The year began with the news that entrepreneur Jamal Edwards would be awarded an MBE for services to music in the Queen’s New Year Honours list. The self-made multimillionaire and SBTV founder collected his medal in March at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
In the United States, the Miss World pageant was the centre of controversy when early favourite Miss Jamaica finished as the fourth runner-up. Appearing with her stylish pixie crop, Kaci Fennell stole hearts with her flawless performance and intellect. True to fashion, social media was ablaze with unimpressed viewers who accused judges of robbing Fennell of the title.
The month ended with the tragic discovery of Bobbi Kristina Brown, unconscious in a bathtub. The world united to form a chain of prayers for the daughter of the late Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown. After months in a medically induced coma, the 22-year-old was finally laid to rest on August 3 alongside her mother.
FEBRUARY
Footage of a French commuter being assaulted and taunted by Chelsea football fans as he tried to board a Métro train in Paris went viral and forced the club to confront its ugly history of racism.
After attempting on two occasions to board the train Souleymane Sylla was violently shoved as the Chelsea supporters chanted: “We’re racist, we’re racist and that’s the way we like it!” The perpetrators, which included an ex police officer were handed five-year match bans.
We shared the story of Esther Okade, a child prodigy who first spoke to The Voice in 2014 after completing her maths A-level. Now aged 10, she was accepted to the Open University to study for a maths degree.
Grime musicians stepped into the spotlight at the 35th Brit Award show appearing alongside US rapper Kanye West led by north London MC Skepta.
MARCH
Weeks ahead of the General Election, Operation Black Vote launched its registration bus, the OBV eXpress, with the ambitious goal of getting one million ethnic minorities to register to vote.
The Voice backed popular blogger and model Simone Powderly after she was told to ‘lose the braids or lose the job’. In a shocking allegation of discrimination the 25-year-old was asked to remove her braids by luxury recruitment agency, Elite Associates or risk missing out on a job opportunity. True to her principles, Powderly refused and went public with her story.
Fresh suspicions were raised over the 1993 death of Bulic Forsythe, a housing manager who worked for Lambeth Council.
According to a never-before-seen report, Forsythe was murdered three days after he allegedly told a colleague he was going to ‘spill the beans’ potentially exposing a paedophile ring operating in the borough.
APRIL
After postponing its original February date, Nigeria held its most democratic – and most historic – election since independence. People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Goodluck Jonathan graciously conceded defeat to All Progressives Congress (APC) leader Muhammadu Buhari.
Campaigning was also well underway in the UK as the Labour party launched its BAME manifesto on how it intended to improve the lives of Britain’s ethnic minorities.
OBV stole headlines with a controversial advertising campaign featuring the likes of Tinie Tempah and Sol Campbell in ‘white face’ to illustrate the importance of black voters participating in the general election. It later earned Saatchi&Saatchi a top PR prize.
The month concluded with the Prime Minister speaking exclusively to The Voice about his intentions to ‘turn black Britain blue’.
MAY
History was made as a record number of black voters took to the polls on May 7 to secure the first single Conservative government in 15 years. A total one million votes from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities helped put David Cameron back into No 10.
In a night of bitter defeat for the Labour Party, the silver lining appeared to come in the form of Streatham MP Chuka Umunna who put himself forward for Labour leadership. The prospect of the first black Prime Minister was quickly quashed when Umunna backed out of the competition four days later stating the intensified media pressure he had faced was “uncomfortable”.
The family of murdered DJ Carl Beatson Asiedu finally got justice when their son’s killer, Jeffrey Okafor, was sentenced to life imprisonment. The 24-year-old sparked a five-year international manhunt when he fled to Nigeria after fatally stabbing Asiedu in 2009.
JUNE
The unearthing of the Sao Jose-Paquete de Africa, a Portuguese slave ship that left Mozambique in 1794 was both a triumph and tragic reminder of world history.
The First Lady of the United States sparked frenzy on her visit to the UK. Michelle Obama delivered a moving speech on ambition and fighting adversity at a girl’s school in Tower Hamlets.
American activist Rachel Dolezal was the source of controversy after her estranged parents ‘outed’ her as a white woman who had spent nearly a decade ‘pretending’ to be black.
Veteran comedian Lenny Henry received a knighthood as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. The co-founder of Comic Relief was nominated for services to drama and charity.
The assault on black lives was more amplified than ever following a massacre at a Charleston church when a white gunman opened fire on black worshippers killing nine people. The Voice asked the question, God forgives but should we?
JULY
Misty Copeland made history to become the first black ballerina to lead the prestigious American Ballet Theatre as its principal dancer.
Another woman to make history was Baroness Valerie Amos when it was announced that she would be the first black director of a British university at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).
The month marked the 10-year anniversary of the July 7 bombings, which occurred on London’s public transport. Of the 52 people killed, five were of African and Caribbean descent.
Home Secretary Theresa May announced an inquiry into deaths and serious incidents while in police custody as part of her continued efforts to improve community and police relations.
AUGUST
Young people’s service Kids Company was forced to close its doors permanently following months of financial mismanagement and scandal over its service users.
The summer also brought exam success of our brightest students who excelled in science, technology, engineering and math related subjects, such as George Imafidon, 18, who achieved three As in maths, physics and chemistry, securing his place to study mechanical engineering at UCL.
Tropical storm Erica rocked the small Caribbean island of Dominica potentially setting the country back 20 years. Thirty-one lives were lost with dozens unaccounted for but the Caribbean community were quick to come to the aid of the country in its time of need.
Supply teacher Vincent Uzomah was granted peace of mind after being stabbed by a 14-year-old on June 11 at a Bradford school. The 50-year-old’s attacker admitted to the charge of causing grievous bodily harm and was given an extended 11-year sentence.
SEPTEMBER
Britain’s political landscape was given a shake-up when underdog Jeremy Corbyn emerged as the winner of Labour’s leadership competition. Tooting MP Sadiq Khan also beat David Lammy and veteran Diane Abbott to become the Labour Mayoral candidate for 2016.
The collaborative effort of KA and GRM Daily brought to the scene the launch of a new award platform called the Rated Awards. Its inaugural show was a sell-out and east London rapper Kano was presented the most prestigious accolade of the night, the Legacy award.
Black comedy was given the green light when British broadcaster ITV commissioned four one-off specials to coincide with upcoming black history month celebrations and MOBOs ‘Rise with Us’ season.
OCTOBER
Black history month began with a sinister reminder of the gross inequalities that still exist on the doorsteps of British nightclubs after The Voice broke the news of black women denied club entry for being ‘too fat’ and ‘too dark’. The Do I Look DSTRKT campaign went from online to the frontline as protesters descended on the club. Celebrities including Stormzy, Omarion and Tameka Empson also took a stand against the establishment.
As one club was trying to keep black people out, another decided to close its doors for good as the iconic Fridge Bar in Brixton closed.
All eyes were on Jamaica as David Cameron made his first official trip to the Caribbean country where he was met by reparations protesters and provoked widespread anger when he appealed to the Jamaican parliament to “move on” from the painful legacy of slavery.
The British PM controversially announced a £25 million plan to build a prison for Jamaican nationals, which provoked fury.
The month also marked the 150th anniversary of the Morant Bay rebellion and Jamaican author Marlon James made history when he won the Man Booker Prize for his novel, A Brief History of Seven Killings, loosely based on the attempted murder of Bob Marley.
We remembered the life of Cynthia Jarrett 30 years after her death sparked The Broadwater Farm riots in Tottenham.
NOVEMBER
Trinidadian WWI veteran Sergeant George Arthur Roberts, who earned the nickname, ‘Coconut Bomber’ won the Southwark Blue Plaque honour. Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, Ken Olisa OBE topped the annual Powerlist of the nation’s most influential Black Brits.
Eleven months since an attack on French publication Charlie Hebdo, Paris was again the centre of headlines after terrorist attacks across the city claimed the lives of 130 people. Among the victims was Congolese national Ludovic Boumbas who died a hero after throwing himself in front of a bullet to save a woman’s life.
The family of Sheku Bayoh formally met with Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) members of parliament in a public meeting in what was described as the ‘first of many meetings to come.’
The gathering hosted by MP Rodger Mullin brought together Bayoh’s family, legal representatives and campaigners six months after the father-of-two died in police custody in Kirkcaldy.
DECEMBER
Richard Taylor told of his loss 15 years since the murder of son Damilola Taylor. The tragic death of the young man who would have been 25 was a reminder of the work needed in the capital to protect young men and women from violence.
The long campaign effort to erect a statue honouring Crimean war heroine Mary Seacole finally achieved the breakthrough needed to ensure that vision is completed in 2016.
In an all too familiar case, a group of black professionals were denied entry into Bournemouth nightclub Cameo’s despite paying for a table in advance. Standing against discriminatory door practises, the men involved have taken to social media to launch their campaign, which they hope to carry into the new year.
Posted on: 31/12/2015 12:08 PM
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