How’s it going?

This week’s newsletter comes as racist violence sweeps across parts of Belfast.

Homes set alight. Windows smashed. Families forced to flee. Black and Asian-owned businesses shuttered. Evening prayers cancelled. Black care workers trapped indoors. Masked mobs chanting “foreigners out”.

One African family, who had lived in their home for more than 20 years, fled after their property was attacked. The Belfast Islamic Centre urged worshippers to stay indoors for their own safety.

This is the reality unfolding in the UK in 2026.

The violence comes against a backdrop of rising hate crime, growing far-right activity and increasingly hostile rhetoric around migrants and ethnic minorities.

Campaigners have warned for years that language once confined to the fringes - which was bad enough - is becoming part of mainstream political debate.

The pogroms follow a knife attack in Belfast on Monday night. The suspect, named as Hadi Alodid, has been remanded in custody after being charged with attempted murder.

As ever, Black Current News will continue documenting not only the stories making headlines, but the wider forces shaping Black life in Britain and beyond.

Here’s what’s gone on this week.

‘This Week In History’: Britain’s first Black MPs won election to Parliament

39 years ago this week, Britain’s first Black MPs were elected

On 11 June 1987, Diane Abbott, Paul Boateng and Bernie Grant made history as the first Black MPs elected to the UK Parliament.

Their victories marked a watershed moment in British politics, helping to pave the way for greater representation in Westminster and inspiring generations that followed.

A Black teen, 16, came home to find his mother had attempted suicide. Then Met Police arrested him. Now he’s suing the force for racism.

Daryl McLune was handcuffed in front of neighbours and held overnight on suspicion of attempted murder after returning home to find his mother critically injured in 2021. The case was dropped days later when a suicide note was discovered.

Now 20, he is suing the Metropolitan Police Service for racial discrimination and false imprisonment, arguing he was treated as a suspect rather than a child in crisis.

Black dementia patients face poorer access to care. The NHS is now launching a landmark review to investigate why

Black people with dementia face delays in diagnosis, poorer access to treatment and worse outcomes. Now, a landmark NHS-backed review will investigate why.

Researchers will examine barriers including racism, language differences, cultural stigma and underdiagnosis, with findings expected in 2027.

Levi Roots’ daughter makes emotional appeal to missing sister after over a decade apart

Joanne Caesar, daughter of celebrity chef Levi Roots, has made an emotional public appeal for her sister, Sharlene Williams, after losing contact with her more than a decade ago. The appeal comes 12 years after Joanne and Sharlene made headlines when they sold a damaging story about their dad to The Daily Mail. Joanne says the fallout from the interview led to passa, severely straining family relationships and marking the beginning of a painful period of estrangement. She is now appealing for her sister to get in touch, saying she simply wants to know that she is safe and well.

Black Joy Bulletin

• Marcus Garvey Centre in Nottingham saved as community campaign secures reopening

• British-Jamaican Jhané Gibson is 2026 MasterChef UK winner

• Ghanaian women defy odds to get Cambridge degrees

• Windrush descendant honours ancestors with display

• ‘Visual impairment means I’m rejected for jobs - I took matters into my own hands and now help NHS’

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What else we’re reading

• ‘One day is not enough’: calls for a National Windrush Month gain momentum

• N-word and swastikas sprayed across West London leisure centre development

• Manhunt launched for prisoner who escaped from van in Woolwich, South London

• Sierra Leone’s First Lady evicted from London council flat as it emerges that her primary residence is a presidential palace

• Rosalind Bushell: London man missing since 1998 as sister issues heartfelt appeal

• NHS patients with non-urgent conditions could be told to leave A&E and come back later

• Kemi Badenoch says police should stop and search more Black boys

• More than 20 renters paid deposits for the same flat in an alleged scam that highlights the growing cost of rental fraud in Britain

• Lammy jury trial reforms could damage trust among Black communities, MPs warn

• ‘We were totally traumatised’: Black care workers trapped as racist mob targeted Belfast homes

• Lenny Henry says racism in UK ‘still at large’ as he tours standup comeback

• Idris Elba says audiences would never accept a Black actor playing James Bond: ‘That’s not what they like in their culture’

• Kanya King obituary

• Black girls targeted by racism and sexism online, research warns

• Northern Ireland race relations framework ‘not fit for purpose’, warns Amnesty International

• Scrap legal equality duty for public services, says Badenoch

• Top African referee Omar Artan refused access to US and will miss World Cup

• Tributes pour in after death of Talay Riley, 35-year-old British songwriter behind hits for Chip, Dua Lipa and Britney Spears

Thank you!

Black Current News recently surpassed 10,000 Instagram followers, with our work generating more than 2 million views.

We were also mentioned in The Observer this week, the world’s oldest Sunday newspaper.

For a small independent outlet only 8 months old, that’s encouraging. Thank you for reading, sharing our work and helping us grow.

We’re just getting started 🥳.

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Thousands of patients needing life-saving stem cell transplants could be at risk because of major shortcomings in the UK’s donor system, with ethnic minority patients among the hardest hit, a new parliamentary report has warned.

The report, Fit for Everyone: Rebuilding a Resilient and Equitable UK Stem Cell Supply, warns that the current system lacks resilience, long-term planning and accountability, potentially jeopardising treatment for people with blood cancers and other serious blood disorders.

MPs also raised concerns about persistent racial inequalities, noting that patients from Black, Asian, mixed heritage and other minority ethnic backgrounds face greater difficulty finding compatible stem cell donors.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy, MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Ethnicity, Transplantation and Transfusion, said the findings should serve as a wake-up call.

“This report raises urgent questions about whether the UK’s stem cell transplant system is truly fit for the future,” she said.

“Patients with blood cancer and other life-threatening conditions depend on a system that is resilient, properly coordinated and equitable, yet our findings show serious gaps in accountability, planning and fairness.

“The inequalities facing minority ethnic and mixed heritage patients are especially alarming.

“Too many patients are still unable to find a matching donor, and shockingly, we do not even have complete data on how many people are missing out on potentially life-saving transplants.”

The MP added: “This review must become a turning point for reform.”

The report was published by the APPG on Ethnicity, Transplantation and Transfusion amid growing concern about the future sustainability of the UK’s stem cell supply system.

It concludes that the current model is fragmented and lacks clear leadership, making it harder to deliver equitable outcomes for patients.

Among its headline recommendations is the appointment of a single organisation accountable to ministers and the public for stem cell provision across the UK.

The report identifies NHS Blood and Transplant as the most suitable body to lead that work, mirroring its existing role in organ and blood donation services.

The APPG is also urging sweeping reforms, including the appointment of a single body to oversee stem cell provision nationwide, improved data collection on transplant access and outcomes, and a new strategy to tackle ethnic inequalities in donor matching.

The report further calls for greater government oversight and long-term planning to help secure a sustainable donor supply.

Its publication follows sustained campaigning by the APPG for an independent examination of the UK’s stem cell supply system.

The Department of Health and Social Care has since confirmed that a national review, led by Professor John Forsythe, will take place.

Ms Ribeiro-Addy is due to meet Professor Forsythe today to discuss both the review and the report’s findings.

These findings come days after Hyphen reported a 1,600% surge in stem cell donor registrations among people of African and Caribbean heritage following a social media campaign by Nidahl Hamdan, 24, whose mother is seeking a life-saving donor match.

Blood cancers have also received renewed public attention through an EastEnders storyline centred on character Denise Fox’s diagnosis with acute myeloid leukaemia.

Stem cell transplants, sometimes known as bone marrow transplants, are used to treat conditions including leukaemia, lymphoma and sickle cell disease.

Successful transplantation depends on finding a closely matched donor, something that experts say remains significantly harder for patients from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

For patients awaiting a stem cell transplant, finding a suitable donor can mean the difference between life and death, making the report’s calls for reform all the more urgent.

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Black Current News is delighted to announce its partnership with the Big Caribbean Lunch 2026, one of Brixton's best-known community events.

Returning to Windrush Square on Sunday 28 June, the event is expected to bring together thousands of people for a day of food, entertainment and conversation.

Now in its fourth year, the Big Caribbean Lunch has become a much-loved fixture in Brixton’s calendar, placing Caribbean elders at the heart of the celebrations while creating space for people of all ages to come together.

Founder Ros Griffiths said: “The Big Caribbean Lunch is more than an event - it is a celebration of Caribbean culture, community and the enduring legacy of the Windrush Generation in the heart of Brixton.”

Black Current News founder and editor Nadine White said: “The Big Caribbean Lunch captures the very best of our community.

“It’s not often that you see grandparents, parents and children coming together in the same space to share food, stories and heritage.

“As a news platform with roots in Brixton, which has long been an epicentre of Black British life, Black Current News is proud to support an event that celebrates the contribution of Caribbean people to this country while bringing generations together.”

Supported by Lambeth Council, the Big Caribbean Lunch takes place from 12 pm to 7 pm on Sunday 28 June in Windrush Square, Brixton.

Admission is free - so make it a date and don’t be late!

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Hi everyone,

A note from Nadine

While putting the finishing touches on this weekly news round-up, we received the devastating news of MOBO founder Kanya King’s death. She was 57 years old.

A true pioneer, Kanya changed the face of British music and culture through the creation of the MOBO Awards in 1996, providing a platform for Black artists and genres that were too often overlooked by the mainstream.

From garage, grime and reggae to R&B, Afrobeats and hip-hop, countless careers were elevated by the space she created.

In 2024, Kanya revealed she had been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. Throughout her treatment, she continued to champion Black talent with the same determination and vision that defined her career.

I was fortunate to experience her generosity firsthand. Despite being so busy, Kanya made time to offer encouragement and support my work. When I approached her about contributing to a passion project a few years ago, she agreed without hesitation and asked for nothing in return. That quiet kindness speaks volumes about the person she was.

What’s more, the success of platforms such as Black Current News owes much to the example Kanya set: creating our own spaces, telling our own stories and refusing to wait for permission to be seen.

Our thoughts are with her family, friends and loved ones. May she rest in perfect peace.

Black Joy Bulletin

• Silas Boateng elected President of Middle Temple Young Barristers’ Association

• Councillor Faduma Mohamed sworn in as Ealing’s first British Somali mayor

• Last chance | Black-owned businesses have days left to apply for £200,000 worth of TV advertising

• Thousands of Black men invited to participate in prostate cancer screening trial

• British-Jamaican Jhané Gibson has made it to the MasterChef UK finals

• Councillor Chewe Munkonge becomes Oxford’s first Black Lord Mayor in the role’s 800-year history

• ZaZa Kazadi promoted to senior director, A&R, UK & Europe at Sony Music Publishing

Home Office writes to children as young as five ordering them to leave UK

Children living legally in Britain have reportedly received Home Office letters instructing them to leave the country, even where their parents have been allowed to stay.

The cases involve families of migrant care workers who arrived before visa restrictions were tightened.

Doreen Lawrence criticises Badenoch's comparison between her son's murder and Henry Nowak's, warning against reversing progress on race equality

Baroness Doreen Lawrence has criticised Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for comparing the murder of her son Stephen Lawrence to that of Henry Nowak, saying it took more than 20 years to secure justice.

She also warned against efforts to reverse race equality measures, arguing that some politicians have “no idea what race equality means”.

Sareeta Domingo remembered through new prize for emerging writers

A new national writing prize has been launched in memory of acclaimed editor and author Sareeta Domingo, who died in September 2025.

Sareeta was Publishing Director at Jacaranda Books and a passionate advocate for underrepresented voices in publishing.

The initiative will support unpublished writers through mentoring, industry guidance and potential publication opportunities, continuing her legacy of nurturing new talent.

They answered Britain's call. Now retired Caribbean nurses need help getting to their community centre.

A South London community group supporting retired Caribbean nurses is appealing for help after its ageing minibus was scrapped, leaving some elderly members unable to attend social activities, hospital appointments and outings.

The Positive Network Community Centre, with support from the photographer Steve Reeves, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for a replacement vehicle. See fundraiser here.

What else we’re reading

• Police ‘increasingly concerned’ for welfare of missing 16-year-old girl from Milton Keynes

• 10,000 Black Interns Foundation raises £30,000 amid legal challenge for not offering internships to white people

• Brixton mourns passing of community elder Prophet Kwame Abubaka aka ‘Jah Weatherman’

• Photo exhibition celebrating Caribbean heritage arrives in Parliament ahead of Windrush Day

• Nigel Farage sparks backlash after invoking Henry Nowak murder to claim Britain has a “two-tier” justice system

• ‘An inspiration’: Steelpan pioneer Sterling Betancourt dies aged 96

• Peabo Bryson, veteran R&B singer of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and ‘Whole New World,’ dies at 75

• 'Arsenal parade was like Notting Hill Carnival but with less cannabis': Labour MP sparks backlash as critics slam offensive comparison

• Yves Sakila family instructs UK pathologist to carry out independent post-mortem

• Seán Gallen | ‘Yves Sakila’s death has echoes of George Floyd. When will we in Ireland confront our own racism?’

• Former England and Liverpool star John Barnes reveals prostate cancer treatment and diagnosis

• MAGA influencer pleads guilty to Tube station attack as boyfriend accused of racist abuse

• Panashe Muchenje, 19, dies after being pulled from Nottinghamshire lake

• Windrush compensation scheme needs significant overhaul, MPs told

• ‘It’s All Over’: UK theatre group’s Dreamgirls production cancelled over mostly white cast after rights holder revokes licence

• Remembering Winston Pinder: the Bajan-British pioneer who fought for justice

• Teenage girl, 15, dies after getting into difficulty while swimming at Formby beach, Liverpool

• Ms Lauryn Hill to receive living legend icon award at 2026 BET Awards

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Black-owned businesses have until 7 June to apply for a major growth initiative offering £200,000 worth of television advertising, a Channel 4 commercial and expert mentoring.

The Black in Business programme, created by Channel 4 and supported by Lloyds, is aimed at helping Black entrepreneurs expand their reach and grow their businesses.

Successful applicants will receive a bespoke television advert broadcast on Channel 4, as well as six months of mentoring from senior leaders at both organisations.

Previous participants have reported significant increases in sales, customer growth and brand awareness following their involvement in the scheme.

Amanda Murphy, CEO for Lloyds Business and Commercial Banking, said: “We want more Black-owned businesses to be seen, supported and celebrated.

“Together, we want to tackle the barriers, open more doors and help these businesses to scale - whether that’s through our mentoring programme or the unique reach that comes with advertising on Channel 4.

“I’m looking forward to meeting this year’s successful businesses, and excited to see where their ambition leads them.”

According to the organisers, previous participants have benefited from increased media exposure, stronger customer growth and enhanced brand recognition following their involvement in the scheme.

Previous beneficiaries include Jamaican patty company Flake Bake, natural haircare brands Flora & Curl and Nylahs Naturals, and luxury bridalwear label Alonuko.

Organisers say the businesses reported significant gains in sales, customer acquisition and brand awareness following their participation.

Flake Bake nearly doubled its supermarket sales year-on-year, while Flora & Curl saw orders rise by 60%. Nylahs Naturals also recorded a 42% increase in new customers.

Applications for the 2026 programme close on 7 June, with founders encouraged to submit entries as soon as possible.

Businesses interested in applying can find further information here.

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A planned UK production of Dreamgirls has been cancelled after the show’s rights holder revoked its licence over concerns about a cast made up predominantly of white performers.

The production, organised by South Yorkshire-based Gillian Banks Creative Productions, had cast white actors in nearly all of the musical’s leading roles.

Following complaints about the casting, Concord Theatricals, the company that manages the rights to Dreamgirls, withdrew permission for the show to go ahead.

The company behind the production said it was “incredibly saddened” by the decision and insisted it had never intended to “whitewash” the musical.

It said organisers had sought a diverse cast but struggled to attract enough Black performers, arguing that all casting decisions had been made in good faith.

Explaining its position in correspondence sent to Gillian Banks Theatre School, Concord said: “Dreamgirls is a show about a time in black American music history when rhythm and blues blended with other styles of popular music, creating a new American sound.

“It tells the story of the Dreamettes and celebrates their rise to fame, echoing similar trajectories of iconic black girl and boy groups of the time like the Supremes, the Marvelettes, the Temptations and the Shirelles.

“Your production should be appropriately cast to represent and reflect these artists and their history.”

The decision is thought to be the first time Concord has revoked a Dreamgirls licence since taking over management of the musical in the 1980s.

Written by Tom Eyen and Henry Krieger, the show tells the story of the Dreamettes, a Black female singing group whose rise to fame mirrors that of several iconic acts from the golden age of American soul and R&B.

The musical was later adapted into the Oscar-winning 2006 film starring Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy.

Concord said it had attempted to resolve the issue before revoking the licence, including asking organisers to recast the production and offering alternative titles from its catalogue. When that did not happen, the licence was withdrawn.

The controversy gained wider attention after an American-based theatre blogger, who frequently covers Dreamgirls productions, reportedly flagged the casting to Concord.

The cancellation has sparked debate online about race, representation and authenticity.

Supporters of the decision argue that stories centred on Black history and culture should be performed by actors who reflect that heritage, while critics say local theatre groups with “limited” pools of performers can face practical challenges meeting such requirements.

The story sparked strong reactions among Black Current News readers, with some questioning the theatre group's claim that it struggled to find Black performers and arguing that a wider regional search - Yorkshire is the biggest county in England - may have produced a more representative cast.

The theatre group says it will now replace Dreamgirls with a new variety show featuring Motown and musical theatre classics, allowing the cast’s months of rehearsal and preparation to be showcased despite the cancellation.

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A senior coroner has expressed hope that online “speculation” surrounding the deaths of three sisters found in the sea off Brighton will come to an end as their inquests formally opened.

Attending proceedings on Friday, Black Current News heard Senior Coroner Penelope Schofield address the sisters’ father directly and say she hoped confirmation that police are not seeking any third party would help quell speculation surrounding the case.

Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, were found near Black Rock, close to Brighton’s Madeira Drive, on 13 May.

Emergency services, including Sussex Police, HM Coastguard, the RNLI and ambulance crews, responded to the scene in the early hours of the morning.

The court heard that Rebecca’s body washed ashore while Jane and Christina were recovered from the water by RNLI crews.

Post-mortem examinations have taken place, but the provisional cause of death for all three women remains “yet to be ascertained”.

The court heard that police were satisfied there was “no third-party involvement” in any of the deaths, although medical investigations remain ongoing.

The sisters, all born in Luton and living at the same address in Greenford, west London, were formally identified by their father, whom the court identified as Joseph Jacobson.

Previous press reports referred to Mr Jacobson as Joseph Adetoro.

Family members attended Friday’s hearing remotely.

Addressing Mr Jacobson directly, Ms Schofield said she appreciated it was “a very difficult day” and described the loss of three daughters in such circumstances as “unbearable”. She offered her condolences to the family.

The coroner also made a direct reference to the widespread online discussion surrounding the case.

Speaking to the family, she said: “The police investigation is ongoing, and as they have indicated, they are not looking for any third party, other third parties involved in your daughter’s death.

“I hope by providing this information, this will stop the social media speculation around the circumstances of their death.”

Earlier in the hearing, Ms Schofield referred to the “amount of traffic” the case had generated on social media.

The sisters' deaths have prompted widespread public discussion and concern, particularly within Black communities, amid broader conversations about several cases involving Black women whose bodies have been recovered from water in recent years, most of which were not treated as suspicious by police.

Their family have previously appealed for an end to “conspiracy theories” and speculation while mourning their loss.

Black Current News previously reported that speculation intensified after family members used AI to create a composite image of the sisters from older photographs because they did not have a recent picture of all three together.

The image was distributed by police and news outlets before being widely shared online. The family later released what is believed to be an authentic photograph.

The tragedy has attracted widespread public attention and discussion.

Earlier this month, the sisters’ aunt told The Times that their mother had died years earlier in circumstances involving water, something she said family members had reflected upon while trying to process their loss.

Reports relating to the disappearance of a woman named Janice Adetoro, believed to be the sisters’ mother, date from 2012. No connection between the incidents has been established.

A fundraiser launched to help cover funeral costs has since exceeded its original target of £18,000, raising over £43,000.

The sisters’ three inquests were formally opened and adjourned today.

A full hearing is now scheduled to take place on 8 October, when all three cases will be heard together.

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Welcome back to your weekly round-up from Black Current News.

This week, we celebrate remarkable milestones, from a tiny heart surgery survivor reuniting with the surgeon who saved her life to community champions, centenarians and trailblazers making us proud.

We also examine stories raising urgent questions about justice, representation and opportunity, from France’s long-overdue repeal of a slavery-era law to concerns over the policing of Black children and the ongoing shortage of stem cell donors.

As always, thank you for reading, sharing our work and helping independent Black journalism grow.

Let’s get into it and don’t forget to pre-order your copy of our inaugural print magazine, coming out this summer.

Keep scrolling for more news.

Black Joy Bulletin

• ‘You gave Fleur a life’: Tiny heart surgery survivor reunites with doctor who saved her

• Trevor Turner, a Jamaica-born Royal Air Force (RAF) engineer, recently celebrated his 100th birthday

• French teen Moise Kouame becomes youngest male Grand Slam match-winner in 17 years

• Community collective saves 30-year Black-owned business in Leicester

• Elaine Banton wins the Society of Caribbean Lawyers ‘Barrister of the Year’ prize

• ‘I started handing out food to homeless aged 11 - 14 years later I’m still going’

France finally scraps slavery-era law that classified Black people as property

France has voted to repeal the Code Noir, a slavery-era law that classified enslaved people as property, nearly 180 years after the country abolished slavery. The unanimous vote has been welcomed as a long-overdue reckoning with France's colonial past, though it has also prompted a question from many observers: what took so long?

Bristol woman’s campaign highlights donor shortage on World Blood Cancer Day

As World Blood Cancer Day was marked on Thursday, Bristol woman Beth, 31, renewed calls for more Black and mixed-race stem cell donors to join the register after her acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) diagnosis. While she recently revealed her sister may be a suitable match, she says many others still face long waits due to a lack of donor diversity. The awareness day also coincided with a new EastEnders storyline in which Denise Fox, played by Diane Parish, is diagnosed with AML.

Mum says Black 12-year-old was handcuffed and searched by police after ‘playing with loose stop sign’

A mother's viral social media post has sparked widespread concern after she alleged her 12-year-old son was handcuffed and searched by police in Sevenoaks after briefly playing with a loose stop sign.

Hilary Ibhagbemien says the incident left her son "frightened and distressed" and has reignited debate about the policing of Black children and the adultification of young Black boys.

‘Why not you?’: Cambridge graduate from Brixton launches fundraiser after Harvard offer

A Brixton woman has launched a fundraiser after securing a place on a master's degree programme at Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Michaela Mensah, a first-generation university student and Cambridge graduate, has already raised more than £33,000 but must provide proof of funding by 15 June, with the total cost of study and related expenses expected to exceed $100,000 (£74,000).

What else we’re reading

• Windrush Festival plans blocked by councillors in east London over ‘public nuisance’ concerns

• Janice Nix, 67, has been convicted of the manslaughter of her five-year-old stepdaughter, Andrea Bernard, nearly five decades after the child suffered fatal burns in a south London home

• ‘I want to tell the world to embrace their past’: Janice Nix video resurfaces after conviction for killing child in 1978

• Exclusive | Protest planned at Oxford college after Black staffer who lost leg alleges racist bullying

• Gilbert Clarke, World War Two veteran and Windrush pioneer, dies aged 100

• ‘Create freely’: Mýa speaks to Black Current News about art, longevity and independence

• Four right-wing newspapers may have breached editors’ code over attacks on Misan Harriman, press regulator says

• ‘Sometimes I wish I'd never played football because some of the pain, I can still feel it’: Roly Gregoire, Sunderland’s first Black player, describes the impact of racism

• Pope Leo XIV makes historic apology for church’s role in legitimising slavery

• Clarence B. Jones, civil rights activist who helped to write Martin Luther King Jr’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, dies at 95

• Former Southampton footballer Victor Udoh has died at the age of 21, reportedly under “suspicious circumstances”, although the cause remains unknown

• Viral video sparks race debate as Jamaican restaurant denies discrimination claim

• UK Garage legends Mis-Teeq reveal their comeback exclusively to Vogue

‘End of an era’: Popular Black-owned hair shop in Forest Gate announces closure and 50% off sale

BCN featured in Daily Mirror column on rise of creator-led journalism

Black Current News was featured this week in a column by Mirror Assistant Editor and columnist Darren Lewis on the growth of creator-led journalism.

Writing in the Daily Mirror, Darren praised BCN’s reporting, describing it as “the excellent, digital Black Current News platform” and highlighting its coverage of issues affecting women, girls, parents and communities across the country. He also described our editor Nadine White as “brilliant”.

The mention is a welcome reminder that independent, community-rooted journalism continues to make an impact. Thank you to everyone supporting BCN’s growth. You can read the full column here.

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Campaigners are set to gather outside a University of Oxford college following allegations of racial harassment made by a Black staff member who later had his leg amputated, Black Current News can reveal.

A former kitchen worker known as “Joe” is taking Linacre College to an employment tribunal, alleging that he was subjected to racist abuse and targeted workplace bullying by a manager who tried to force him out of his job.

Joe further claims he was forced to continue wearing ill-fitting work shoes before later undergoing a life-changing leg amputation.

The worker says these problems began after a new manager joined the college in 2023; before that, he had worked there for 23 years without issue.

“It’s not easy being Black and male in the system. After nearly a quarter of a century of service, Linacre College has treated me like dirt,” Joe said.

“Their ongoing refusal to acknowledge the harm and pain they have caused myself and my family, and the way they are protecting this manager, is as devastating as the original treatment itself.

“They think that because we are Black they can abuse us and hide the issues under the carpet.

“But they should understand that their decisions have consequences, and we will not remain silent.”

According to campaign material circulated ahead of the protest, the manager allegedly referred to Joe as “that Black bastard” and mocked his Caribbean accent during meetings with senior staff.

Joe further alleges he was threatened with disciplinary action after challenging the behaviour and raising concerns internally.

The case has sparked anger among anti-racism campaigners and community organisers, some of whom argue the allegations reflect wider concerns about race and institutional culture within Oxford University environments.

Veteran anti-racist campaigner Professor Gus John described the case as a “horrific tragedy”.

“Racism kills,” he said.

“No employer, especially a public sector institution of higher learning, should be able to trample on workers’ rights and deny them the protection of the law simply because they are Black and poor.”

Joe claims the situation worsened after kitchen staff were provided with steel-toe-capped shoes for work.

He alleges the pair he was given was too small and caused bruising to his foot, but says repeated requests for a larger size were ignored.

According to campaigners, colleagues also raised concerns after noticing he had developed a limp.

Weeks later, Joe was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with gangrene. His leg was ultimately amputated up to the thigh.

Campaigners say he now permanently uses a wheelchair.

Joe has also alleged that while he was recovering in hospital, a senior member of staff visited him unannounced, pulled back the bedsheets covering his leg and said: “I want to see if it is true that your leg has been amputated.”

A hearing has been scheduled for June in an attempt to resolve the dispute.

If no agreement is reached, the case is expected to proceed to a final employment tribunal hearing listed for 10 days in December 2026, Black Current News understands.

The case has also drawn criticism from former Oxford students and anti-racism campaigners.

Jabu Nala-Hartley, former councillor and chair of Mothers 4 Justice Ubuntu, said: “Joe’s case lays bare the cruel reality of racism at work.

“It shattered me to see a man who served Oxford University for 26 years now confined to a wheelchair because of its negligence. The University’s indifference is chilling.”

Dr Brian Kwoba, Associate History Professor at the University of Memphis and former Oxford doctoral student, said allegations of anti-Black racism at Oxford were not new.

“We built campaigns like the Campaign for Racial Awareness and Equality, #ITooAmOxford, and Rhodes Must Fall, because we experienced racial oppression all around us,” he said.

Andre Jahnoi Dallas, a hip hop artist and community organiser who studied at Oxford, described the institution’s racial dynamics as “deep, relentless, and unjust”.

“This latest tragic incident does not stand apart from that history, but emerges directly from it,” he added.

Linacre College has denied the allegations and said it disputes the claims publicly made.

In a statement previously issued to local media, Principal Dr Nick Brown said the college takes allegations relating to discrimination and staff welfare “extremely seriously”.

He added: “Linacre College is committed to maintaining an inclusive and respectful working environment for all staff and does not tolerate racism, discrimination, harassment or intimidation in any form.”

The college said it would not comment further while legal proceedings remain ongoing.

Black Current News has contacted Linacre College for further comment regarding the planned protest and allegations surrounding the case.

The demonstration is expected to take place outside Linacre College, St Cross Road, Oxford, on Monday 1 June at 5.30 pm.

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For three decades, Mýa has occupied a unique space in music.

The Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and actress emerged at the tail end of the 1990s R&B boom, delivering era-defining hits while building a reputation for artistry, versatility and longevity.

For many millennials, her catalogue formed part of the soundtrack to adolescence: from Ghetto Supastar and Case of the Ex to Best of Me, Take Me There with Blackstreet and Girls Dem Suga with Beenie Man (the Caribbean link-up particularly resonated with many of us from Jamaican and wider Caribbean backgrounds growing up in Britain) - plus her unforgettable contribution to Lady Marmalade, and more.

I still remember hearing Ridin’ for the first time as a teenager during legendary broadcaster Jenny Francis’ late-night Slow Down Zone show on Choice FM, Britain’s first and only Black mainstream radio station. I was about 15 years old and, like my peers, became instantly hooked on the tune.

We weren’t “ridin’” anywhere, of course, unless it was the bus to school. Most of us barely understood heartbreak or betrayal on that level yet, but often mistook infatuation for love and bought into romantic ideals. Life was simpler then, though we probably didn’t appreciate it at the time.

Still, the longing in Mýa’s unusually raspy vocals, paired with that yearning melody, was undeniable.

Released through Universal Motown in 2007, the track was reportedly selected as a single by fans on Mýa’s MySpace page, an early glimpse into the kind of direct artist-audience relationship that has now become central to today’s creative industries.

Now, with the release of her tenth studio album Retrospect, the 46-year-old singer, whose full name is Mýa Marie Harrison, says she has entered another chapter entirely - one rooted in reflection, joy and creative independence.

Released via her own independent label Planet 9 in partnership with Virgin Music Group, Retrospect marks Mýa’s first full-length album in eight years and leans heavily into funk, soul and the Minneapolis sound that shaped much of her musical upbringing.

Born in Washington D.C. and raised in Maryland, the biracial singer grew up in a creative household with her musician father Sherman “Hajji” Harrison and mother Theresa.

Prince’s influence runs through the album, too. Mýa described the late musician as “a master of his craft”, crediting his advice and mentorship with helping shape her approach to performance, storytelling and creating immersive musical experiences.

Beyond the music itself, Mýa spoke candidly about remaining independent in an era dominated by algorithms, content saturation and relentless digital demand.

“As an independent artist, I live in my own bubble and world and create freely,” she said.

“Sometimes journaling turns into poems, and poems turn into songs,” she continued, describing long hours spent experimenting in the studio without corporate oversight or commercial pressure hanging over her head.

That freedom, she says, is invaluable.

“There’s a lot of sanity that comes with knowing what you’re spending, you making choices, and no one else making those choices for any other reason other than it resonating with your spirit,” she said.

Mýa’s reflections resonate far beyond music, particularly as more creatives build direct relationships with audiences outside traditional gatekeepers.

During our interview, parallels were drawn between independent artistry and the growing wave of independent journalism, particularly among Black journalists in both the UK and US - from Don Lemon and Joy Reid to Karen Attiah and Touré - who have left mainstream newsrooms to build their own platforms and brands.

Mýa immediately recognised the connection.

“It takes you investing in you first for people to see and understand,” she said, reflecting on how independent and corporate spaces can coexist.

Still, Mýa is clear-eyed about the pressures that come with independence, particularly for creatives financing their own work.

“The challenge is just getting it out to the world globally, which takes lots and lots and lots of financing and a relentless grind,” she said. “It consumes all of your life and all of your time.”

She also pointed to the exhausting pace of technological change and the pressure to constantly remain visible, or “chronically online”, as some put it.

“There are new platforms that are birthed and there are different means of social media that you have to sign up for, because if not, you may get left in the dust,” Mýa said.

Yet despite those challenges, the artist believes today’s landscape also offers unprecedented opportunities for artists to retain ownership and authenticity.

“It was more dependent upon a label that dictated whether or not you had a shot in this thing,” she reflected of the music industry she entered as a teenager. “Now everything is available to everyone, which is beautiful.”

Mýa also spoke thoughtfully about the emotional consequences of modern digital culture more broadly, arguing that society has lost something important in an age where everything is instantly available.

“I think we all experience, as humans, the loss of anticipation,” she said. “There’s so much of everything that nothing stands out as much as it did.”

The artist warned that endless scrolling and constant consumption are taking a toll on well-being.

“That’s not how our brains in the natural world were designed,” she said.

Much of Retrospect appears to push back against that culture entirely.

Born partly out of the upheaval of the Covid-19 pandemic, Mýa said the album was designed to evoke joy and a more connected era in music culture.

“The pandemic solidified that I definitely wanted to use joy and go in that direction,” she said.

Despite nearly 30 years in the industry, she insists longevity itself was never the goal.

“Longevity was never a goal,” she reflected. “I’m just kind of going through the flow and letting life take me where it takes me, but it’s led with love.”

Perhaps that is precisely why Mýa has endured.

At a moment when audiences increasingly crave authenticity, her insistence on protecting both her creativity and peace feels quietly radical.

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We’re back with another weekly round-up of news from within and around Black communities across Britain.

It’s been a heavy week.

Many of us have been following the circumstances surrounding the deaths of sisters Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, at sea in Brighton with sadness and concern.

Their family have spoken movingly about the women they knew and loved, while also pleading for an end to “online speculation” surrounding the case, including “conspiracies” that reportedly intensified after relatives used AI to create a recent image of the sisters from older photographs because they did not have an up-to-date picture of all three together.

The image was widely shared before the family later released an authentic photograph. So, for those wondering why some news platforms suddenly stopped using the earlier image - that’s why.

The young ladies’ aunt also revealed to The Times that their mother died in Birmingham in 2010 in circumstances involving water; something the family themselves have reflected on while trying to process this immense tragedy.

For clarity, reports relating to the disappearance of a woman named Janice Adetoro, believed to be the sisters’ mother, are dated 2012 rather than 2010.

The conversation surrounding the case has also reignited wider discussions within Black communities about a number of deaths involving Black women and Black people found in water across the UK in recent years.

As Black Current News explored in our recent reporting, those worries did not come out of nowhere; recognising patterns and asking questions is not the same thing as spreading conspiracy theories.

Our communities are capable of holding two thoughts at once: respecting a grieving family while also engaging in wider conversations about trust, visibility and whose disappearances receive urgency and attention.

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In the midst of relentlessly heavy news cycles, we’re intentional about making space for something lighter too, through the ‘Black Joy Bulletin’, below. For our communities, leaning into joy is not frivolous; it’s radical, restorative and necessary.

With that said…if you have achievements, milestones or uplifting stories that you think our communities should know about, send them our way via the submission link at the bottom of this newsletter.

Keep scrolling for more news. One love.

‘No parent should ever have to bury their child, let alone all three’: Funeral fundraiser for Brighton sisters exceeds target with over £30,000 raised

A fundraiser launched to help cover the funeral costs of three sisters found dead off Brighton beach has surpassed its £18,000 target, with over £30,000 now raised by members of the public.

Jane, Christina and Rebecca’s bodies were recovered from the sea near Madeira Drive last week.

This comes as campaigner Ngozi Fulani, founder of the Sistah Space charity, warned Black women to “stay on alert”, describing the discovery of several Black women’s bodies in or near water across the UK in recent years as a “massive concern for the Black community” in an interview with Sinai Fleary.

Yves Sakila: Post-mortem fails to determine cause of death of Congolese man restrained outside Ireland store

A post-mortem has failed to determine the cause of death of Yves Sakila, the 35-year-old Congolese man who died after being restrained outside Dublin department store Arnotts last week.

Further tests, including toxicology, are pending as two investigations continue into the incident, which has sparked protests and renewed concerns over the treatment of Black people in Ireland.

David Lammy unveils plans to fast-track working-class and minority lawyers into judiciary - but Black legal figures warn bias needs addressing

David Lammy and the most senior judge in England and Wales are drawing up plans to accelerate the recruitment of minority ethnic and working-class solicitors into the judiciary.

But senior Black legal figures, including Cordella Bart-Stewart, say the real issue lies within the appointments process itself, warning that “internal biases” continue to exclude underrepresented candidates from the bench.

Black Joy Bulletin

• DJ Adrian Graham appointed first Black mayor of Gloucester in its 798-year history

• Croydon plumber fixes pensioner’s home for free after she was conned out of £7,000

• Councillor Sylvia Erskine becomes Mayor of Wellingborough

• Dylan Patsanza named winner of Bloomsbury’s annual Fiction Mentorship Programme

• Audrey Dinnall takes office as the new Sheriff of Nottingham

• Stormzy and Adidas launch youth football tournament offering young Londoners the chance to win a trip to the 2026 FIFA World Cup

• Beyoncé’s Cécred and BeyGOOD fund set to invest $250,000 into beauty schools across the US and UK, supporting aspiring hairstylists, barbers and beauty professionals through scholarships and workforce initiatives

What else we’re reading

• ‘I have not committed any crime’: Sierra Leone’s first lady has defended having a London council flat despite living in a presidential palace

• Afua Hirsch | ‘Have no doubt: the campaign to sack Misan Harriman is part of an assault on Black figures in public life’

• Net migration to the UK falls by nearly 50% amid tighter policies

• Belgian ex-diplomat dies before standing trial over 1961 murder of Congolese leader

• Michelle Sadio: Two men jailed after mother killed in drive-by shooting outside wake

• City Splash: The festival reggae legends keep choosing

• The father of Kiyan Prince, the teenager who was stabbed to death outside his school 20 years ago, says it is a "scandal" that so many youth clubs have closed

• Primary school children are being taught about white privilege. Conservatives are furious

• Mother of Nottingham triple killer tells public inquiry ‘the system is so broken’

• Paul Boakye | ‘A moment that changed me: My HIV diagnosis seemed like a death sentence – how have I survived for another 40 years?’

• Music industry risks excluding working-class talent, says Tinie Tempah

• Exclusive | Grenfell remembrance festival faces axe amid £50,000 funding crisis

• Church of Scotland formally apologises for role in chattel slavery

• Dawn Butler wins influential union backing for future London mayoral bid

• ‘Inappropriate’: Pork sausages served to Muslims on deportation flight from Ireland

• Man in Scotland jailed for stabbing wife 22 times while children were in flat

• ‘It’s about recognising our role in history’: Bradford exhibition to revisit live Somali display

• USA: The word “Black” has been erased from a set of bills aimed at addressing the Black maternal health crisis

Blaize Henry: Tributes paid to ‘irreplaceable’ Chineke! Orchestra violinist after death announced

Blaize Henry, the British violinist and former Chineke! Orchestra performer, has died.

Born in Bromley to parents of Guyanese heritage, the musician also worked as a teacher and conductor, performing at leading venues across the UK.

Chineke! - Europe's first professional, majority Black orchestra - remembered him as “a spirit unlike any other” who carried his Black identity with pride.

Thinking of Blaize's loved ones at this time 🙏🏾.

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A petition backing Southbank Centre chair Misan Harriman has passed 100,000 signatures amid allegations of a racist, coordinated backlash over the photographer and activist’s social media posts.

The campaign against Harriman, 48, has intensified in recent weeks following criticism of posts in which he questioned disparities in reporting around the Golders Green stabbing attacks and reflected on the rise of Reform UK.

What happened?

In one post, Harriman rightly queried why early media coverage and police messaging appeared to focus primarily on two Jewish victims, despite charges also relating to an alleged earlier attack on a Muslim man in Southwark on the same day.

Detractors bizarrely branded this as “conspiracy theory”, suggesting that he is antisemitic.

Critics have also accused Harriman of comparing Reform UK voters to Nazis following comments he made after the local elections, which is demonstrably untrue.

In the video, Harriman referenced philosopher Susan Sontag’s writing on how ordinary people can be influenced towards or away from extremist politics.

For several years, Harriman - the first Black man to photograph a cover of British Vogue in the magazine's history - has used his platform to speak out on racial injustice and humanitarian issues.

Also the director of an Oscar-nominated documentary, he rose to prominence documenting Black Lives Matter protests and has also been outspoken in his criticism of the Gaza genocide waged by Israel.

Supporters argue the backlash against Harriman cannot be separated from his outspoken activism and visibility as a Black cultural figure willing to publicly challenge powerful institutions and dominant political narratives.

The reaction also taps into a much older dynamic: the policing of outspoken Black public figures perceived to have stepped beyond the boundaries of what parts of the establishment consider acceptable.

In short, this smacks of a Black man being punished for not knowing his place.

Reports suggest more than 60 MPs and peers have signed a letter urging Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to investigate both Harriman and the Southbank Centre.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has been approached for comment.

Who is backing Harriman?

A significant counter-movement has also emerged online, with campaigners, artists and members of the public rallying behind Harriman and accusing sections of the British media of fuelling a coordinated backlash.

Campaign group NewsCord says thousands of complaints have now been lodged against several national newspapers over their coverage of the affair, including The Telegraph, Daily Mail, Daily Express and The Times.

The group alleges that multiple articles breached IPSO accuracy rules, though no rulings have yet been made.

A separate solidarity letter organised through the Good Law Project has also attracted backing from a number of prominent cultural figures, including Akala, Akinola Davies Jr, Colin Salmon, David Oyelowo, Louis Theroux, Greta Thunberg, Annie Lennox, Marcia Cross and Stephen Graham.

Those who have publicly expressed support online also include ITV presenter Alison Hammond, broadcaster Angie Greaves, US actor Billy Porter and US actress and campaigner Amanda Seales.

What has been said about racism?

Writing in a recent Times comment piece calling for Harriman to step down as Southbank Centre chair, chief culture writer Richard Morrison criticised the activist and photographer’s political commentary, questioned his suitability for the role and, for some reason, highlighted his wealthy upbringing, private education and lack of background in classical music.

In a video posted online afterwards, Harriman said many Black people had been left “concerned, scared, traumatised” by the article, which he described as going “to a place of extreme anti-Black racism”.

He suggested the article reflected discomfort with “the idea that I occupy such a powerful and privileged space in the cultural conversation in this country, and I am Black”.

Writing separately in The Guardian, writer and filmmaker Afua Hirsch described the campaign against Harriman as “part of an assault on black figures in public life”.

She also argued that “the experiment with ‘allowing’ Black figures into positions like Harriman’s could all be over in a heartbeat, if we dare to step out of line”.

What has the Southbank Centre said?

A spokesperson for the Southbank Centre said: “The Southbank Centre is an inclusive and welcoming place for everyone including our artists, audience and all colleagues. The Southbank Centre condemns all forms of antisemitism, hatred and discrimination.

“All Southbank Centre board members, including the chair, have the right to exercise their freedom of expression within the law.

“The personal views of individual members of our board do not represent the views of the Southbank Centre and in no way affect our programming nor the welcome that we extend to all.”

Harriman has not stepped down from his role and has continued posting publicly throughout the controversy.

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Nine years after the Grenfell Tower fire claimed at least 72 lives, a popular community remembrance festival created in the tragedy’s aftermath is fighting for survival, Black Current News has learned.

The One Heart Festival, a free annual event held in North Kensington, is facing a £50,000 funding shortfall that organisers say could force its cancellation for a second consecutive year.

Tania Moore, chief executive of Youth Action Alliance (YAA), warned the event’s future is now uncertain.

“It’s a safe space for people to come together,” she told Black Current News.

“People missed it last year. They said there was a gap.”

The funding concerns come just days after the Metropolitan Police confirmed that up to 57 individuals and 20 companies could face criminal charges linked to the Grenfell fire, nearly a decade after the tragedy devastated west London.

Potential offences under consideration include gross negligence manslaughter, fraud and health and safety breaches.

Families and survivors have continued to voice frustration over the pace of justice, with some warning there has been a “complete breakdown in trust and confidence” in institutions responsible for accountability.

Against that backdrop, Ms Moore said the annual festival had become an important space for remembrance, healing and community connection.

The event, formerly known as the North Kensington Youth & Community Festival, was launched in 2017 after two young members of Youth Action Alliance lost their lives in the Grenfell fire.

“The annual festival brings people together for all ages to honour the memories of the Grenfell people that passed away and celebrate one community,” she explained.

“It’s a space to celebrate what the community means to each other.”

The event was first launched in the aftermath of the tragedy and has since evolved into a large-scale community gathering featuring football tournaments, youth performances, wellbeing activities, free food, creative workshops and support services.

Organisers say at least 2,500 people attend each year.

Previous partners and contributors have included the London Fire Brigade, museums, theatres and local businesses offering activities and services free of charge.

But Ms Moore said the funding landscape had become increasingly difficult.

“For the first few years, the National Lottery actually supported the festival,” the chief executive explained.

“However, they said they were no longer able to support it continuously after six years because it’s a local festival and should be supported by the council and local organisations.”

According to Moore, funding support has not been available this year amid wider financial pressures.

Earlier this year, Kensington and Chelsea Council announced plans to save £108 million over the next three years.

Black Current News approached the local authority for comment.

The festival was unable to run last year due to similar difficulties with funding, organisers highlighted.

Ms Moore stressed that while some survivors may want quieter commemorations this year, the festival also exists for the wider North Kensington community who are still living with the emotional fallout of Grenfell.

“We are all doing this festival for the community aspects as well, not just the survivors,” she said.

“Over the years, people have come up to us and said this is a great time for us to get together.”

The festival includes dedicated spaces for children, young people and elders, including bingo sessions, afternoon tea and hopes for the return of an intergenerational dominoes competition this year.

The funding will go towards covering the essential costs needed to run the festival safely and successfully, including staging, sound, lighting, food, activities and security, organisers say.

Importantly, Ms Moore insist everything remains free for attendees.

“You don’t want parents to have to go home to feed their children,” she said. “You want them to stay and enjoy.”

She added, “Food brings people together as well.”

Ms Moore argued that community spaces were especially important during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

“Sometimes people living in the cost-of-living crisis are down already. They don’t need to stay down,” she said.

“Bringing people together, reducing isolation and helping people find support is what One Heart Community is about.”

Organisers are now appealing for urgent donations, volunteers and corporate sponsorship to help secure the festival’s future.

“If someone with resources reads this article, we need cash sponsorship, in-kind support, volunteers and corporate partnerships,” Ms Moore said.

“The community will just be thankful for having a day of celebration for themselves and what they’ve gone through over the last nine years.”

The One Heart Festival crowdfunder is currently live.

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Around 100 people are gathering in Dublin today for a vigil honouring Yves Sakila, a 35-year-old Congolese man who died after being restrained by multiple men, including security guards, last week.

Mr Sakila became unresponsive on Friday (15 May) at around 5 pm after being detained following an alleged shoplifting incident at a nearby retail store.

He was later pronounced dead at Mater Hospital.

Video footage circulating online appears to show Mr Sakila being held face down on the ground by several men for several minutes.

In parts of the footage, one individual appears to place pressure on or near his head and neck area, while others restrain his body and legs.

“The family and the entire Congolese community demands justice,” Mr Sakila’s brother, Corneille Sakila, told local press.

“We were really surprised and shocked to see what happened to our brother in broad daylight, with people watching without helping someone in danger.”

According to Irish reports, police arrived to find Mr Sakila already restrained on the ground while an injured man in his 80s lay nearby after reportedly being knocked over during the incident.

Officers briefly handcuffed Mr Sakila before realising he was unwell. CPR was then reportedly administered at the scene before he was taken to the hospital.

Shane O’Curry, director of the Irish Network Against Racism (INAR), said the organisation was “extremely disturbed” by reports surrounding the incident.

“We are very concerned that this case appears to have the hallmarks of a case of excessive use of force,” he said.

“The death of a Black man in such circumstances is extremely worrying, and we urge the authorities to thoroughly investigate all of the circumstances leading to this man’s death, in order to ensure minority ethnic community confidence in the criminal justice system.”

Marie Sherlock, Labour’s Teachta Dála (MP, effectively) for Dublin Central, also expressed sympathy to Mr Sakila’s family and the wider Congolese community, while raising concerns about the footage circulating online.

“The distressing scenes captured in footage circulated online appear to go way beyond any proportionate response to protecting the public and apprehending a suspect,” she said.

“Harrowing footage of the apprehended man show him to be already subdued by the presence of at least three or more men, before a knee and body weight was applied to his neck and shoulder area. It is shocking.”

Ms Sherlock added that “serious questions” now remained surrounding the death of “a man of colour in our city”.

Alongside a Garda investigation, the incident has also been referred to Fiosrú, Ireland’s police ombudsman, which examines incidents involving death or serious injury connected to police contact.

Fiosrú said its investigation relates specifically to the interaction between Gardaí and Mr Sakila, rather than the actions of civilians involved in the restraint.

The watchdog stressed that a referral does not automatically imply police wrongdoing, but allows investigators to independently assess whether any act or omission by officers may have contributed to a death or serious injury.

Both Gardaí and Fiosrú confirmed their investigations remain ongoing, while police have appealed for witnesses and anyone with video footage of the incident to come forward.

A Gardaí spokesperson said: “Anyone with information is asked to contact Store Street Garda Station on 01 6668000, the Garda Confidential Line, or any Garda Station. Investigations are ongoing”.

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We’re back with another weekly round-up and the fallout from Britain’s local elections continues to unfold.

Reform UK’s rise has unsettled many minoritised communities, while pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Keir Starmer following Labour’s bruising losses and growing calls for his resignation.

Among those voicing concern about Labour’s direction are its own Miatta Fahnbulleh, a junior minister in the housing and communities department, plus MPs Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Diane Abbott, Paulette Hamilton, Kim Johnson and Clive Lewis.

This adds to broader questions about the party’s messaging, leadership and relationship with the communities it has long relied upon.

Moreover, opposition leader Kemi Badenoch has been dealing with Labour’s case during PMQs. We mean properly tearing them a new one, prompting praise from ever-controversial rapper Nicki Minaj, across the pond, in the process. Absolute scenes!

Against that backdrop, this week’s newsletter once again reflects deeper conversations around race, belonging, power and identity in modern Britain.

By the way: demand for our commemorative print magazine has been strong, so don’t leave it too late to order your copy.

It features huge political voices, cultural trailblazers, Black British history and more. Trust us: you’ll want to say you got the first one 😁.

Scroll for the news!

Good news

• Yassin Mohamud becomes Bristol’s first Somali Lord Mayor

• Bob Marley’s children are backing a growing call for a landmark Rastafari Rights and Justice Act in Jamaica

• Lewis Hamilton backs students at risk of exclusion during London school visit

• ‘It’s a joy’: Actress Jo Martin honoured at BUFF Awards for outstanding contribution to British film and TV

• Black Eats Fest returns to Hackney Bridge in 2026

Jamaican MP blocked from speaking patois in parliament because it isn’t the “Queen’s English”

Jamaican MP Nekeisha Burchell was interrupted in parliament on Wednesday after beginning a speech in patois, with Speaker Juliet Holness invoking rules (“Standing Orders”) requiring proceedings to be conducted in English.

Burchell - who is also Opposition Spokesperson on Creative Industries, Culture and Information - later switched to what she called the “Queen’s English”, but argued patois still struggles for acceptance in Jamaica’s most formal national spaces.

Supporters noted that Minister of State Alando Terrelonge previously addressed Cuban guests in Spanish inside the chamber and the Speaker did not object, stating that Mr Terrelonge had been granted special permission in advance to speak the foreign language.

…this is the same Jamaica that is reportedly striving to become a republic and remove the British monarch as head of state. The moment has naturally reignited wider debates around colonial legacies, language and identity.

Drug trafficker from Cyprus granted UK residency under Windrush scheme, raising questions

A tribunal heard that a Cypriot man convicted over major heroin trafficking offences was granted settled status under the Windrush scheme while still in prison.

The case is likely to reignite debate over how the Windrush scheme is being interpreted and applied, particularly given that it was originally introduced to correct historic injustices experienced by long-settled Commonwealth citizens, especially from the Caribbean.

For some critics, the concern is less about the individual’s offences and more about concerns around eligibility, nationality and whether the Windrush scheme is now being interpreted and applied beyond the communities many believed it was originally designed to support.

Sickle cell cases rising as NHS appeals for more blood donors from Black communities

Cases of sickle cell disease are rising in England, driving a 132% increase in demand for specialist blood transfusions over the past decade and prompting a renewed NHS appeal for more Black donors.

Experts say Black donors are crucial for closely matched transfusions, yet they remain significantly underrepresented among England’s blood donor population.

‘Patients tried to punch me because of my skin colour’: Racism against NHS staff rises, data suggests

Reports of patients racially abusing NHS workers in England rose by 17% in a year, according to BBC analysis of NHS trust data.

Some frontline staff say the abuse has become so severe that they are questioning whether to remain in the profession.

What else we’re reading

• St Paul’s Carnival will not go ahead in Bristol this year after organisers said rising costs had made the event impossible to deliver safely and sustainably

• Trump supporter and German financier charged over ‘racist’ assault at London station

• £20,000 reward offered in drive-by Brixton shooting appeal

• Black and Asian communities fear rise in racism after Reform UK gains

• Over 100 academics, writers and activists condemn plans to axe Birmingham City University Black Studies MA

• Reform councillor condemned over ‘non white persons taking over’ park remarks

• Stormzy to Executive Produce Biopic of Arsenal and England Soccer Legend Ian Wright

• Nine health watchdogs move to address racism in healthcare workplaces

• Elon Musk sparks racism accusations after questioning Lupita Nyong’o’s beauty in The Odyssey

• Revealed | Black woman faces jail in Lithuania. Her “crime”? ‘Mocking white people’

• Expert says ‘government rhetoric feeds Islamophobia and racism’

• Reform UK councillor Glenn Gibbins only now suspended over racist comments suggesting Nigerians should be “melted down” to fill potholes - despite warnings before election

• Met Police judicial review victory clears path for wider facial recognition use across London

• ‘Minority communities in Northern Ireland ‘living in perpetual fear’

• Record complaints filed over UK press ‘smear’ of Misan Harriman

• ‘Names can be a barrier’: Black lawyers tackle inclusion

• UK slavery reparations must be top issue at Commonwealth summit, says former Caribbean leader

Farewell, Clarence Thompson

Trinidad-born social scientist and educator Clarence Thompson has died.

Mr Thompson was a key figure in Britain’s post-war Black civil rights movement. As chairman of the West Indian Standing Conference, formed in 1958 following the Notting Hill riots and the racist murder of Kelso Cochrane, he helped organise Caribbean communities and push for change during a deeply hostile period in British history.

Over the decades, he worked to build understanding between Britain’s white population and African heritage communities, contributing to the foundations of modern equality work in the UK.

His legacy is that of a generation that challenged racism head-on and helped shape the Britain many know today.

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A Black woman who challenged an alleged overcharge at a Lithuanian ski resort is now facing a criminal hate speech case after criticising “white woman’s tears”, Black Current News can reveal.

Kamisha Menns, 47, who is based in the capital Vilnius, has been accused by Lithuanian authorities of “publicly mocking, denigrating and inciting hatred” against people “of white origin” following an incident at Liepkalnis Ski Park in February 2025.

Ms Menns says the incident began after staff allegedly initially refused to serve her and her daughter, then aged 11, before double-charging the child’s ski ticket and refusing a refund.

“I went from demanding a refund for my child to sitting in a Lithuanian courtroom accused of hating white people,” Ms Menns, a trade regulation lawyer, told Black Current News.

“It’s surreal.”

A criminal case was formally brought against Ms Menns in February 2026, a year after the incident.

She alleges that when she demanded a refund, a female staff member slammed her hand in the kiosk window and refused to issue the money before calling the police.

Ms Menns further claims that a group of men associated with the venue then followed her around the ski resort alongside police officers, leaving both her and her daughter distressed.

“Why are they following us around like we did something wrong?” she recalled her daughter asking.

The case now centres on comments Ms Menns made after, she says, the same staff member who had called police on her began crying in front of officers.

In footage filmed by Ms Menns, she can be heard shouting: “Please watch white woman tears.

‘She was being a royal bitch and now (…) crying ‘oh, I’m the victim, help me, call the police, help me, I’m fragile, I’m so fragile, oh my God - the big Black woman is being mean to me’ (…).

“Give me back my money! All the time they do this nonsense - they’re rude, they’re unhelpful, they’re nasty and they go ‘oh it’s me, I’m the victim’. Grow up!”

Prosecutors are reportedly treating her remarks about “white woman’s tears” as evidence of racial hatred.

The phrase is commonly used in discussions around race to describe situations where a white woman’s perceived emotional distress shifts attention away from their alleged discriminatory behaviour and towards protecting or comforting the white individual instead.

The trial formally opened on 14 April but was adjourned until 12 May after the Lithuanian government appointed Ms Menns a public defender who does not speak English.

Ms Menns says she previously fired two Lithuanian lawyers over what she described as their “implicit bias and inability to understand anti-Black racism”.

During an Instagram video posted after attending court, Ms Menns said: “Today I went to Lithuanian court to defend myself against a criminal charge of being insolent to white people, being rude to white people, disrespecting white people.”

She added that the case stemmed from her criticism of “white tears and the danger it poses to Black women and their children.”

Court documents seen by Black Current News show Lithuanian prosecutors are investigating alleged offences under Article 170(2) and Article 284 of the country’s criminal code, accusing Ms Menns of insulting and encouraging hatred against people “of white origin” and disrupting public order.

If convicted, she could face up to two years in prison.

The prosecutor who conducted the criminal investigation is also bringing a civil case against Ms Menns, she says, with the resort worker seeking €3,000 in compensation.

According to prosecution records, ski centre staff alleged that Ms Menns shouted at employees, filmed them and later posted footage online.

But Ms Menns argues authorities have focused entirely on her reaction while downplaying the context surrounding the dispute and the discriminatory treatment she says she and her daughter experienced.

“I saw the hurt on her face,” she said of her daughter. “I felt humiliated and deeply hurt for her.”

Ms Menns alleges that since the incident, she has been stalked, monitored and harassed by individuals connected to the ski resort, including receiving racist direct messages online.

She also claims her daughter has experienced racist bullying at school, including being called the n-word by other children.

Her former lawyer also raised concerns about the investigation process, including the apparent absence of police body camera footage from officers present at the scene, which is understood to be a breach of protocol.

Court documents also show prosecutors refused Ms Menns’ legal team full access to the case file during the investigation phase, arguing disclosure could harm the inquiry.

Vilnius County Police have been approached for comment regarding its handling of the investigation.

The case comes amid broader scrutiny of racism and xenophobia in Lithuania.

A 2024 report by the Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance raised concerns about hate speech, discrimination against minorities and growing hostility towards some ethnic groups in the country.

Earlier research by the European Network Against Racism and the Lithuanian Center for Human Rights found examples of Black people in Lithuania reporting racist abuse, workplace discrimination and bullying in schools, while Amnesty International has also raised concerns about racially motivated intimidation and abuse against Black migrants and refugees in the country.

During her interview with Black Current News, Ms Menns spoke at length about why she has continued living in Lithuania despite what she described as years of racial hostility.

Lithuania is among the most ethnically homogeneous countries in Europe. According to World Population Review, over 99% of the population is white.

“I know people will ask why I stay,” said Ms Menns, who was born in Kingston, Jamaica.

“But the truth is that I feel very strongly that no matter where in the world Black women choose to live, they should be able to carve out their own little part of the world where they are happy, where they’re at peace, where they live in community with other people.”

She added: “I’ve been here for 10 years. My daughter considers herself Lithuanian. This is where she wants to live. So I make enormous sacrifices to try and make that work for her.”

However, Ms Menns said the ordeal had caused her to question her future in Lithuania.

Discussing the wider political climate in Europe, Ms Menns argued that anti-migrant sentiment and far-right rhetoric were making life increasingly difficult for minoritised communities across the continent.

She also said she believes the public narrative around the case has played into longstanding stereotypes about Black women.

“I think people should see a mother before they see this picture of an angry Black woman that everyone likes to stereotype or envision in their heads,” she said.

“Any mother would feel wounded seeing discrimination directed at her child.”

Liepkalnis Ski Park, the Lithuanian Prosecutor’s Office and several human rights organisations were approached for comment.

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How’s it going?

As many of you will know, local elections took place across England, Scotland and Wales on Thursday, ushering in a new and deeply concerning political landscape.

Reform UK, a right-wing populist party whose ranks have repeatedly been dogged by allegations of racism, Islamophobia and xenophobia, surged to become the largest party by councillor numbers in England.

As of this afternoon, the party had won over 1,450 council seats and taken control of several local authorities.

Reform’s surge and why many Black folks are worried

Among those elected were Reform candidates Glenn Gibbins, who previously said Nigerians should be “melt[ed] down and fill in the potholes”, and Stuart Prior - a white supremacist who said that the racially aggravated rape of a Sikh woman was good, white people are the “master race”, Black people have smaller brains and Muslims are “rats”.

Reform’s rise is alarming to many, particularly Black and Asian communities, because of what the party represents.

This comes amid a wider backdrop of rising hate crime, anti-immigrant rhetoric, religiously motivated attacks and the growing normalisation of far-right politics not just in Britain, but across parts of Europe and the wider West.

Meanwhile, Labour suffered a seismic collapse, recording one of its worst local election performances in modern history.

The fallout has been so severe that dozens of Labour MPs are now openly calling for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign or announce a timetable for his departure.

The Conservatives also endured heavy losses, reflecting growing public dissatisfaction with Britain’s traditional two-party system.

The Green Party made historic breakthroughs, taking control of councils including Lewisham, Hackney and Waltham Forest, while continuing to attract support from younger and more progressive voters.

In Hackney, the Greens are also set to appoint Dylan Law as Deputy Mayor, a move that would make the 20-year-old Black student one of the youngest people in the country to hold such a position.

Of course, many are questioning the Green Party’s track record on race and commitment to Black communities, as we recently revealed, and Green leader Zack Polanski’s pretty promise to have Black people’s back isn’t going to cut it.

Summarising why some Black voters are increasingly engaging with the Greens without fully abandoning Labour, renowned journalist Lester Holloway wrote: “Our community’s marriage to the Labour Party has never been a blissful union”, arguing that the alternatives still feel uncertain. We agree.

As this newsletter is being sent, some election counts are still ongoing.

But the broader picture is already becoming clear: Britain’s political landscape is shifting and, for many communities, there is uncertainty about what comes next.

Keep reading for your regular news round-up!

Good news

• Mentivity House launches on Aylesbury Estate with focus on youth support

• England rugby captain Maro Itoje launches drive to donate unused trainers to people who lack suitable footwear for exercise

• City Splash and other major Brockwell Park festivals will go ahead after a High Court judge dismissed a legal attempt to stop them

• Leeds unveils memorial garden to honour Caribbean RAF veterans from WWII

• Google settles Black employees’ racial bias lawsuit for $50 million

• British-Ghanaian artist Tanoa Sasraku has been shortlisted for the prestigious Turner Prize 2026; her work explores geopolitical themes through sculpture and film

• Remi Burgz wins prize at the Music Week Awards 2026 for her BBC Radio 1Xtra programme

• Ethiopian woman’s joy at rare quintuplets after 12 years trying for a baby

Telegraph criticised over ‘smear’ of Southbank chair Misan Harriman after Golders Green comments

The Telegraph is facing criticism after accusing Southbank Centre chair of promoting a “conspiracy theory” when he questioned disparities in media and police coverage surrounding the Golders Green attacks.

Supporters say Misan raised a legitimate point after reports largely focused on two Jewish victims, despite charges also relating to an alleged earlier attack on a Muslim man the same day.

Since publication, figures including Hirsch, Femi Oluwole, Mehdi Hasan, Sangita Myska and Nels Abbey have rallied behind Misan, alongside outlets including The Voice Newspaper and .

Campaign launched to preserve portrait of John Ystumllyn, one of Britain’s earliest known Black gardeners

A rare portrait of John Ystumllyn, believed to be the earliest known image of a Black gardener in British history, could be lost from public access unless £420,000 is raised to secure it for the nation.

The painting would become part of a permanent display on Black gardening history at the Garden Museum.

The museum told Black Current News that the portrait is currently in private ownership. Support details are here.

Antigua drops oath to King Charles after landslide election win

Antigua and Barbuda has officially scrapped its oath of allegiance to the British monarch, with officials now pledging loyalty only to the nation, constitution and laws.

The move, introduced after Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s latest election victory, is likely to reignite wider Caribbean debates around sovereignty, identity and ties to the Crown.

Welcome, Davina!

We’re proud to welcome award-winning journalist and author Davina Hamilton as Culture and Lifestyle Editor for Black Current News’ commemorative print magazine, out this summer.

Formerly Arts & Entertainment Editor at The Voice, Davina has interviewed icons from Maya Angelou to Idris Elba and remains one of the most respected cultural voices in Black British media.

Pre-order your copy of the magazine here! 💫

What else we’re reading

• UK Black Pride cancel 2026 festival as organisers promise ‘landmark return’ in 2027

• ‘Watching us is like watching a cousin’: the online creators reshaping Africa’s news ecosphere

• Sky News presenter Gillian Joseph begins Scotland trek to raise awareness of blood cancer affecting Black people

• Stepmum ‘burned girl, 5, in hot bath’ after ‘years of abuse’ in South London, court hears

• Family pay tribute after Keanu Taylor, 25, killed in Brixton BBQ shooting

• ‘I’m here for the people, not for politics’ | Michael Pusey on Croydon local election mayoral bid

• Lawsuit claims New York Times didn’t promote white male editor because of race or sex

• Sgt Martyn Blake, the Metropolitan Police marksman who shot and killed Chris Kaba, is expected to know by the end of July whether he will have to face gross misconduct proceedings

• Who was he? Appeal issued to trace mystery ‘Redemption Man’ as podcast uncovers a hidden Windrush-era story

Amnesty Media Awards 2026

This week, our editor Nadine White also had the privilege of presenting an award at the Amnesty Media Awards at BFI Southbank, having once again served as a judge in the Written News category.

Congratulations again to Christina Lamb and The Sunday Times for winning with their reporting piece, Syria Returns to Bloodshed!

Check out Nadine’s Instagram page for some highlights.

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Dylan Law set to become one of the UK’s youngest Deputy Mayors after Hackney election result.

At just 20 years old, the East London organiser is poised to enter the political history books following Zoë Garbett’s mayoral victory today.

Mr Law has rapidly emerged as one of the standout young faces in London politics, building support around issues including housing, youth voice and political representation.

The Hackney-born university student’s rise reflects a wider shift in the capital, with younger Londoners increasingly demanding a greater say in how their communities are run and who gets to represent them.

“The one thing older councillors haven’t experienced before is someone my age with conviction, someone who knows what they’re talking about, someone who can keep sure of themselves after they tell me ‘no’,” Mr Law said in a previous interview.

“People are very susceptible to hope and to confidence in themselves if they’re given the right tools, and now I have them.”

Mr Law has previously linked his political awakening to his upbringing in Hackney, including experiences of poor housing conditions and local controversies around discrimination in schools.

He has also criticised what he describes as older political structures being “stuck in their old ways”, arguing that younger residents deserve a greater say in shaping their communities.

The business student previously said he would leave university if required to pursue politics full-time.

Mr Law’s growing visibility has coincided with increased momentum for the Green Party among some younger London voters, particularly in areas where concerns around housing, affordability and gentrification have intensified.

He has been especially vocal on housing issues in Hackney, warning that developments heavily focused on luxury flats risk worsening displacement and inequality in the borough.

Supporters say his expected appointment reflects a broader generational shift in British politics, with younger people increasingly seeking representatives who better understand the pressures facing their communities.

At a time when trust in politics remains low among younger voters, Mr Law’s rise from local organiser to expected Deputy Mayor is likely to resonate beyond Hackney.

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As Croydon heads to the polls in today’s local elections, mayoral candidate Michael Pusey, also known as DJ CK Flash, has set out his vision for the borough, positioning himself as a grassroots alternative to mainstream party politics.

“I know what’s happening on the ground because I’ve lived it for decades,” he told Black Current News.

“I’m here for the people, not for politics.”

Standing under the Taking The Initiative Party (TTIP), founded by entrepreneur Charles Gordon, Mr Pusey is running on a platform centred on financial accountability, youth safety and rebuilding trust in local government.

The 52-year-old is one of eight candidates vying for mayor and the only Black man in the race.

He argues that residents have lost confidence in how Croydon is run, particularly after years of well-documented financial instability.

Among his key pledges is greater transparency over council spending, including publicly accessible reporting on where money is going, alongside a review of internal processes to cut inefficiency and bureaucracy.

Mr Pusey has also placed strong emphasis on tackling youth violence, combining what he describes as “zero tolerance” enforcement with long-term prevention through mentoring, skills development and community-led interventions.

Knife crime and serious youth violence remain a central concern in Croydon.

The borough recorded the highest number of “violence with injury” offences in London in the year to June 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics, although Metropolitan Police figures suggest knife crime has fallen by around 24% since 2023.

Mr Pusey said the issue is consistently raised by residents on the campaign trail, adding that his approach would combine enforcement with prevention.

His approach draws heavily on his background outside traditional politics.

Known to many from his work in broadcasting and music, Mr Pusey, a former presenter on Choice FM, has supported the careers of artists including Dizzee Rascal and Ms Dynamite.

He is also the brother of pioneering broadcaster and producer Commander B. He says his leadership style has been shaped by years of engaging directly with communities and delivering projects on the ground.

This includes helping to develop a £1.2 million BMX facility in Peckham, which went on to produce Olympic-level athletes, as well as wider work supporting young people through sport and community programmes.

Mr Pusey is widely known for founding the Peckham BMX Club in Burgess Park in 2004, a grassroots initiative that has since grown into one of the UK’s leading BMX programmes.

Community work

Alongside community work, he has built businesses across the property, creative and youth sectors.

His work with young people has also been recognised through a number of community and industry awards.

“I didn’t come from privilege,” Mr Pusey said.

“I worked on market stalls as a young man and, through hard work and discipline, built one of the most successful sports clubs in the UK. It wasn’t handed to me.”

The mayoral candidate is also critical of what he sees as a disconnect between mainstream politics and everyday life in the borough, arguing that too many decisions are made without meaningful input from residents.

“Only by reconnecting politics with the grassroots can we build the safer, stronger and more prosperous Croydon that residents deserve,” he said.

When asked about scepticism from those who question his lack of a so-called “traditional” political background, Mr Pusey said: “I’m not a career politician and I’ve never pretended to be.

"But let me be very clear, leading Croydon isn’t about playing political games; it’s about delivering real results for the people who live here.

“Judge me on my track record, not on how long I’ve been in politics.”

His campaign places particular emphasis on supporting young people, Black communities and local businesses, with proposals ranging from expanded youth hubs and mentoring schemes to improving access to contracts and opportunities for underrepresented groups.

What’s happening with ‘Westfield Croydon’?!

He also wants to revitalise Croydon’s town centre, pointing to empty buildings and stalled development as signs of missed opportunity.

For years, residents have been promised large-scale regeneration, including a £1 billion Westfield development of a new shopping centre and housing, originally due to be delivered by 2017, but little has materialised.

“For too long, residents have been promised a vibrant, modern Croydon on the scale of the new Westfield developments, yet it still hasn’t happened,” Mr Pusey said.

“I want to make Croydon a destination that people from across London choose to visit, shop and spend time in, rather than somewhere they pass through.”

Mr Pusey launched his campaign in April at Stormzy’s Merky Football Club in South Norwood, and has attracted backing from several high-profile figures, including former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, entrepreneur Levi Roots, Bishop John Francis of Ruach City Church and Nation of Islam European regional leader Abdul-Hakeem Muhammad.

The race for Croydon Council has become increasingly competitive, with Labour, the Conservatives, the Green Party and Reform all contesting the election.

Mr Pusey’s candidacy reflects a broader trend of independent and community-led campaigns seeking to challenge established parties at local level, particularly at a time where trust in traditional politics has been eroded.

He is also standing as a councillor in South Norwood ward alongside his mayoral campaign.

Voters across Croydon will decide the outcome as polls close later today (7 May).

Planning to vote today? You can find your local polling station here.

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Sky News Chief Presenter Gillian Joseph has begun a near-100 mile trek across Scotland to raise awareness of Multiple Myeloma, a blood cancer that disproportionately affects Black people and remains widely misunderstood.

The week-long challenge, which began on 5 May, will see Ms Joseph walk the iconic West Highland Way in aid of Black Women Rising, a charity supporting women of colour living with cancer.

The route stretches from Milngavie, near Glasgow, to Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis, covering almost 100 miles through the Scottish Highlands.

Speaking to Black Current News, Ms Joseph said the sponsored walk was inspired by her sister’s diagnosis with Multiple Myeloma three years ago.

“Myeloma is more common in Black people. It affects them two to three times more often. I had no idea this was the case before my sister’s diagnosis and I know I wasn’t alone in my ignorance,” she said.

“Most confuse it with Melanoma and next to nothing is known about its prevalence in the Black population.”

Multiple Myeloma is the most common blood cancer that affects Black people, occurring two to three times more frequently among these communities than in the wider population.

Symptoms can include bone pain, fatigue and frequent infections.

Ms Joseph said one of her key aims was to encourage earlier diagnosis and greater vigilance around symptoms often dismissed or overlooked.

“The trek is to raise awareness of this disease, to make us all mindful of the symptoms and to be vigilant,” she explained.

“Check out the backache that won’t go away, the fatigue that’s weighing you down.”

She also spoke candidly about the impact treatment has had on her sister.

“My sister has elected to discontinue chemotherapy because of the trauma it has put her body through,” Ms Joseph said.

“She describes it as being worse than the cancer itself.

“My hope is that shining a light on Multiple Myeloma will encourage her to pursue other treatments. We know it’s incurable but we pray for some quality of life.”

Ms Joseph also pointed to disparities in treatment access affecting Black patients.

“Unfortunately, according to Myeloma UK, studies show that Black patients are less likely to receive treatments like stem cell transplants and experience longer wait times to benefit from treatments,” she continued.

“It’s a terrifying realisation that these delays can impact survival. That is why it’s so vital to arm women and men with the confidence to expedite diagnosis and treatment.”

Founded in 2019 by cancer advocate Leanne Pero following her own breast cancer diagnosis, Black Women Rising says it is now expanding its support services to include people diagnosed with blood cancers, including Multiple Myeloma.

“Multiple Myeloma devastates Black families at a disproportionate rate, yet it rarely makes headlines,” Ms Pero said.

“Gillian is changing that one step at a time. Her courage and commitment to our community is exactly the kind of allyship that saves lives, and we are honoured to have her walking for Black Women Rising.”

Ms Joseph said the campaign was ultimately about ensuring patients feel empowered enough to advocate for themselves.

“Beyond the fundraising, I want everyone to be informed,” she said.

“To be forewarned is to be forearmed and identifying the enemy early means you can fight back.

“There are alternatives to the very debilitating chemotherapy, if right for the individual. I want each and every patient to have the confidence to pursue every avenue and to ask for what they want.”

Those wishing to support Ms Joseph’s fundraiser for Black Women Rising can donate via her JustGiving page: justgiving.com/campaign/gillianjosephbwr.

Learn more about Multiple Myeloma and how it affects Black people here.

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