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ICONS: Black History Month is the celebration of the history, struggles and victories of black people, writes J B Rogers

BLACK HISTORY Month (BHM) is the celebration of the history, struggles and victories of black people.

Is it relevant in modern Britain? Yes it is and my personal experience would prove this true.

Fifty years ago, landlords would erect signs outside their establishments stating ‘No Blacks or Irish’ were welcome.

Since then, progressive laws have made Britain probably the most liberal country in Europe in terms of race relations.

In some ways though, it is still work in progress and recent studies indicate some disturbing trends.

These studies indicate that people’s social networks tend to be overwhelmingly centred on their race and housing.

While it is impossible to legislate against these trends, it should be noted that they do affect society in terms of opportunities. In the case of employment for example, many people tend to employ and/or recommend their friends for jobs rather than going through correct channels.

I have initiated ground-breaking events and my experience in the “deep conservative south” and “liberal north” show how society is losing out because of the race factor.

Eight years ago, I initiated and managed a very successful event in a very conservative borough.

Many previous attempts had been made without success. Like the American Deep South, where blacks have in some ways had more success in the last fifty years, it was easy to initiate the project partly because as one resident put it, “they expect you to fail”.

Soon after the event, our trouble started.

My white partner, who had played a very significant role in the event, resigned from the committee because of the negative comments made against me.

A local councillor sent a letter to the local paper thanking the team but with no mention of me even though most documents, including our programme and website then listed me as the project manager who had initiated the event.

Subsequently, the website removed the statement which had stated the event was my “brainchild” and I was the project manager. My role was then referred to as ‘PR consultant’.

I then moved up north to one of the most liberal cities where I have struggled, without much success to organise similar events. It was noted that I had not organised a major event as if my record, backed by solid commendation from the council in the south, had no bearing.

Last year, I organised a major event and wrote a paper that has had an input in the debate on policy making and delivery of services in this liberal city but again this has not brought in opportunities.

The experience in the south had definite racial overtones according to my white ex-partner but in the case of the north, it was what I would describe as market imperfections, which often have a disproportionately negative effect on black people.

My experience suggests that BHM still has relevance to this liberal country and society is definitely not optimising its potential because it is failing to make full use of the potential of black people.

It was no doubt a factor in the 2011 London riots when a significant proportion of the rioters were black.

On a personal level, I live in this liberal city where a major event I have tried to work with for years continues to struggle year after year even though I have a solid track record of organising a similar event at a fraction of the cost.

In general, the cost to society of not fully engaging black people is very significant. You just need to look at all the black actors who have moved to the US.

The solution is for authorities to continue to make sure that the very good laws are fully implemented. Positive discrimination still has a role to play. It is perverse that somebody like me should advocate positive discrimination given my track record, commendation from a borough and an award for my work.

Top universities have realised that and they recruit students from comprehensives and lower socioeconomic groups with lower grades than public school students because the latter have so much teaching advantages that they are usually of the same aptitude as comprehensive school students with lower grades.

Black people need to do more, particularly in building networks; the civil rights movement in America was primarily the effort of black people coming together.

The UK has probably the best record in Europe in terms of opportunities for Black people but it is still work in progress.

BHM should stress the need to make fuller use of the black potential, which will increase the social welfare function.

Racial justice will therefore achieve more efficient allocation of resources for the benefit of society as a whole.