King’s speech glosses over rancid racism blighting Britain

The Independent Race Report Newsletter

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 Hi readers,   Welcome to another edition of the Race Report newsletter.   I recently took some time off of work to celebrate my birthday. I was outside, honey, and living my best life.   But I'm back now and there's a lot of news to catch up on!   This fortnight, key headlines include: UK's first domestic abuse refuge for Black women launches King's speech glosses over rancid racism blighting Britain £2m cash boost given to Black groups working with youth 'Protecting British values?': Public fundraisers reward bigots caught doing up discrimination Feel free to contact me with your ideas, tips and suggestions for future newsletters via nadine.white@independent.co.uk. Holocaust Memorial Bill returns as Government vows to tackle antisemitism A national Holocaust memorial will be built next to Parliament, the Government has pledged as it re-stated its efforts to tackle antisemitism in the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel last month.   Today, as part of the King's Speech, it was confirmed the Holocaust Memorial Bill will return to the next session of Parliament after some delay. This is a good thing.   However: King Charles failed to outline how his ministers will tackle the racial inequalities affecting millions of people around Britain.   For example, where's the long-promised Mental Health Bill that could serve to tackle disparities in this sector? Black people are more likely to be sectioned.   Also: the upcoming Renters Reform Bill does not address the disproportionate plight of tenants from ethnic minority backgrounds;  my recent investigation for The Independent revealed that Britain's squalid housing crisis is hitting Black and Asian people the hardest. I could go on and on; these issues need to be addressed. Late music legend Millie Small receives blue plaque Iconic Jamaican-British singer Millie Small was recently honoured with a blue plaque outside her Shepherds Bush home.   The star is most famous for her hit single 'My Boy Lollipop, which reached number two in both the US and the UK in 1964. The record sold 7 million copies – making Ms Millie the world's most successful female Caribbean singer of her time.   The plaque was unveiled with the Nubian Jak Community Trust and Millie's daughter Jaelee Small to a large crowd, including from local record labels Trojan and Island Records, while reggae singer Winston Francis performed. Black and Asian women 'three times as likely to be on zero-hours contracts as white men' Black, Asian and minority ethnic women are nearly three times as likely to be on zero-hours contracts as white men, new figures show.   Some 6.8 per cent of minority groups are on zero-hours contracts, compared to 2.5 per cent of white men, according to data analysis from the Trades Union Congress (TUC).   These types of contracts are characterised by low pay, variable hours and fewer rights and protections for workers. Read more here. Leading domestic abuse charity unveils Britain's first refuge for Black women Sistah Space, a prominent domestic abuse charity, is launching the first specialist refuge of its kind in the UK for Black women survivors of abuse.    The charity, which caters to African and Caribbean women and girls, recently acquired the space following various challenges over a years-long process.   The organisation said the acquisition of this space, dubbed the 'Sistah Space Sanctuary', marks "Black Herstory" as British Black History Month concluded last week.   "This is a journey that we have been on for many years, having this space will allow us to effectively support our service users whilst also making priority, not only their safety but also, their cultural needs," a charity spokesperson said, adding that donations are being accepted. Nuff money raised for racist politician and police officers caught lying about Black people A fundraising appeal, set up by a Tory MP and backed by others, has raised £11,000 to help a Conservative lawmaker who was convicted of racist abuse.   On Saturday, Beckenham MP Bob Stewart (pictured above) surrendered the Conservative whip while he considers an appeal against his conviction for a racially aggravated public order offence, a government source has said.   The 74-year-old was convicted of a racially aggravated public order offence on Friday and ordered to pay £600 plus costs after a one-day trial at a court in central London.   Rewarding racism and discrimination seems to be all the rage in Britain.   Stewart's cash windfall comes days after £154,000 was raised in another public crowdfund campaign for two officers sacked for lying over the stop and search of Black British athletes Bianca Williams and Ricardo Dos Santos.    For timely news updates, keep an eye on my article homepage and follow me on Twitter. I'm also on Instagram and Tiktok: @Nadine_Writes Heman Bekele: US teenager honoured for inventing soap to treat skin cancer (pictured above) A cure for sickle cell disease cure could be coming £2 million funding launched to Black groups supporting young people Leading book publisher has scooped a new work of non-fiction by banker-turned-writer Nels Abbey: The Hip Hop MBA: Lessons in Cut-Throat Capitalism from Rap's Moguls Meet Miss GB's first pastor finalist who is tackling the stigma around female ministers and using her looks for good Mum, 30, raising autism awareness following late diagnosis after experts initially said she just struggled being Black with white parents 'It's a fantastic idea' - street kitchen backs Mosque's event in York Jamaica gears up for Dancehall Week celebrations in February for the first time ever. As the saying goes: "Dancehall can't stall"! How pulling out of gig helped save life of drummer who needed major surgery to treat bowel cancer Essential reading Anger as plaque for enslaved Black man axed after 'wrong' image used: 'do all slaves look the same?' Elderly Jewish man dies after altercation at Israel-Palestine protests Narges Mohammadi: Iranian Nobel laureate begins hunger strike in notorious Evin prison Lenny Henry and the cast of Three Little Birds on their powerful Windrush drama: 'Our long existence here isn't a fairytale' Munroe Bergdorf issues call to save London nightlife amid closures of queer venues: 'I found myself in Soho' Tube driver suspended after leading 'free Palestine' chant on train GUAP Gala founders on creating London's answer to the Met Gala Police officer could face criminal charges after Black mother wrongly arrested in bus fare row The Independent proudly partners with Refuge and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 Join the conversation or follow us Download the free Independent app Please do not reply directly to this email   You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Race Report newsletter.   To unsubscribe from The Independent's Race Report newsletter, or to manage your email preferences please click here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. 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