Hi everyone,

How are you keeping?! Just like that, the first quarter of 2026 is done and we’re back with your weekly news round-up.

Over the weekend, organisers say around half a million people took to the streets in central London for a mass protest against far-right politics.

The Together Alliance rally, described as a stand against the “politics of division”, saw crowds march through the capital before speeches in Whitehall, including a video message from Sadiq Khan, and a music event in Trafalgar Square.

Let’s go!

Good news

• Government commits to introducing mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting for large employers

• Michael Walsh appointed as King’s Counsel in latest round of senior barrister honours

• Mystery donor steps in with £80k to save Black-owned music school in South London. The Music Boutique was founded 30 years ago by James Osho

• Mel Thomas appointed Leicestershire’s first Black High Sheriff after decades of service

‘Enslaving Africans wasn’t illegal at the time, so no reparations owed,’ Britain says as it abstains on UN vote

The UK has been criticised for abstaining from a UN vote recognising slavery as the gravest crime against humanity, arguing there is “no duty” to pay reparations because it was not illegal at the time.

According to YouGov polling, almost half of white Britons strongly opposing reparations, while a majority of Black Britons strongly support them, exposing a stark gap in how the issue is understood and experienced.

Notting Hill Carnival secures £5m boost ahead of 60th anniversary

Notting Hill Carnival has secured £4.66m in funding to strengthen safety and support the event as it rings in 60 years of celebrating Caribbean culture. Organisers say the investment will help deliver a “safe, spectacular and sustainable” carnival while easing pressure on police and infrastructure.

Black writers’ books pulled from UK school library amid censorship row as author speaks out

Nova Reid, an author whose work was reportedly removed from a school library, has spoken out, warning that the targeting of books by Black writers risks fuelling “cultural ignorance” and erasing vital perspectives.

Michael Pusey, also known as CK Flash, launches bid to become Croydon mayor

Michael Pusey, also known as DJ CK Flash, has launched a bid to become Mayor of Croydon, pledging to focus on opportunity, local enterprise and youth empowerment.

Standing for the Taking The Initiative Party, he says he will invest in people and businesses to unlock the borough’s “potential, creativity and resilience” ahead of the May 2026 election.

What else we’re reading

• NHS worker wins harassment case after Ghanaian colleague repeatedly called her ‘auntie’

• Nursery in Dudley admits corporate manslaughter after toddler suffocates to death

• Police officer handed written warning over use of force in arrest of Black children

• Changes at the General Medical Council are expected to result in more doctors accused of racism on social media being struck off

• John Boyega to appear in BBC Damilola Taylor documentary

• Lupus patient says hospital ‘mistake’ left him with severe skin-peeling condition

• MOBO Awards 2026: All the stars and celebs spotted at huge event in Manchester

• Housing estate faces High Court action over claims residents were left “to rot” in squalor

• Lenny Henry slams Trump in fiery speech as he receives huge award

• Famous English diarist Samuel Pepys removed parts of his correspondence to hide that he had been offered an enslaved boy as a bribe, research suggests

Pressing Forward: new study charts 25 years of Black British media

Authored by Nadine White and developed by Brixton Heights Media, Pressing Forward examines the Black British press in modern times.

Featuring a foreword by Professor , the study offers a vital historical record of Black British media’s impact at a time when representation remains key and sets out a blueprint for what comes next. Copies can be accessed here.

Ashley John-Baptiste’s campaign helps secure siblings’ rights in care

New legislation strengthening children’s rights to stay connected with their siblings in care has been announced, following years of campaigning led by broadcaster Ashley John-Baptiste.

Ashley, who is of mixed Black and white heritage, grew up in care.

His BBC documentary, Split Up In Care: Life without Siblings, helped drive national attention to the issue, with campaigners saying the change is long overdue.

Out & about!

Our founder Nadine White recently joined BBC Radio presenter Kamilah McInnis to discuss the work behind Black Current News and the importance of centring Black British stories in the media. The conversation also touched on our reporting on the death of Irene Dzifa King Arthur and wider systemic failings in healthcare. Listen here!

Nadine also guest-wrote an article on the rise of ‘political homelessness’ among Black communities for - one of the UK’s leading current affairs magazines. Read here.

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Dear readers,

Welcome back to our weekly news round-up, where we track the stories, voices and debates shaping Black Britain and the wider diaspora.

Here’s what caught our attention this week!

Good news

• Chimdinma Nwaigwe, the youngest and first Nigerian president of the Leicestershire Law Society, reflects on qualifying as a solicitor while pregnant and working full-time

• Marsha Blake appointed CEO of St Basils, charity helping young people at risk of homelessness

• Ebruba Abel-Unokan has been appointed Commissioning Editor at Simon & Schuster UK’s literary imprint Scribner

• Laverne Thomas has joined The Film and TV Charity as Chief Operating Officer

• Hereditary peers to be removed from Lords as bill passes

London rapper Fekky on swapping the ends for a farm in country

Lewisham-born rapper Fekky has traded city life for a farm in Cambridgeshire, where he now keeps chickens and grows his own food. The artist is documenting the journey in his YouTube series Hood 2 Farm. He hopes the project will inspire more young people from urban backgrounds to connect with nature and rural life. The series follows him travelling across the UK, learning farming skills from experienced farmers.

Black residents up to 48 times more likely to be stopped and searched in richest parts of London

Black people are up to 48 times more likely than white residents to be stopped and searched by police in some London neighbourhoods, analysis of more than 150,000 stops has found. The starkest disparities were recorded in areas including Richmond-upon-Thames, Dulwich Village and Hampstead. Researchers also found the grounds used to justify stops of Black individuals were often weaker or vague, with officers citing reasons such as a “furtive glance.”

Jury trial restriction bill clears first hurdle amid legal backlash

MPs have voted to advance controversial plans that could limit jury trials in England and Wales, allowing some cases to be decided by a single judge. Lawyers later marched on Westminster this week in protest. Black Current News has also examined concerns that the changes could disproportionately affect Black communities. The bill now moves to committee scrutiny, where MPs will examine it line by line and push for possible amendments.

Student Tory leader removed after alleged racist remark about Kemi Badenoch

A university Conservative society leader has been removed after allegedly telling others that party leader Kemi Badenoch should “go back to the tribe in Africa that she came from”. Witnesses say the comment was made during a student political debate in London.

UK museums hold more than 260,000 human remains from overseas, investigation finds

An investigation has revealed UK museums and universities hold more than 260,000 items of human remains from around the world, with many taken during the colonial era. The findings come as descendants of Zimbabwean anti-colonial resistance leaders call on Britain to locate and return the skulls of their ancestors.

Pioneering Grime MC and producer Dot Rotten dies, aged 37

Grime MC and producer Dot Rotten, real name Joseph Ellis-Stevenson, has died aged 37. The South London artist was a key figure in grime’s early era, known for sharp lyricism and production that helped shape the genre’s sound. Tributes from fans and fellow artists have been pouring in, though details surrounding his death have not yet been widely confirmed. News coverage of Dot Rotten’s passing sparked criticism after outlets including the Daily Mail mistakenly used another rapper’s photo (Saskilla).

What else we’re reading

• Exclusive | ‘Foxes before Mary Seacole’: Bank of England accused of ducking diversity over banknote changes

• Mother given wrong antibiotics died from sepsis

• Edna Ombakho: Body found in Berkshire water believed to be Black woman reported missing weeks ago

• ‘Who decides what’s news these days? For all the diversity talk, it certainly isn’t Black journalists’ | Omega Douglas

• Labour in ‘deep trouble’ with Black voters, Operation Black Vote chair warns

• Leone Ross: ‘I was ignorant about racism in Britain’

• Nationals from St Lucia now require a visa to enter Britain

• Schoolgirl, 12, dies after bus stop fight as mother finds her unresponsive

• King Charles III hosts a reception to celebrate the Nigerian disapora in the UK

Our founder signs book deal with Jacaranda Books

Nadine White has signed a deal with Jacaranda Books for her debut non-fiction title Unclaimed Lullabies: The Barrel Children Story. The book will explore the emotional and historical legacy of Caribbean migration and family separation, centring the experiences of so-called “Barrel Children”. Publication is scheduled for 2027.

Out and about!

Yesterday, we attended an invitation-only gathering at Apple in Battersea Power Station, the brand’s UK headquarters, marking 20 years of the PRECIOUS Awards, which celebrate outstanding achievements by women of colour in the UK. Our founder Nadine, who won the Social Impact award in 2021, was among a select group of past winners invited back for the milestone. Hosted by founder Foluke Akinlose MBE, the event brought together alumni and partners to reflect on two decades of impact. Beautiful scenes!

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Hi everyone,

From a reversal over a vital sickle cell service in London and warnings of “apartheid” in British TV newsrooms, to a viral debate about Jamaican accents and a man dying after a tooth infection in a US immigration detention facility, it’s been a busy week across Black news, culture and politics.

We’re also reflecting on the 45th anniversary of the Black People’s Day of Action, one of the most significant protests in modern Black British history.

Here’s what you may have missed.

Good news

• Royal London sickle cell unit to reopen after no Equality Impact Assessment found

• World Book Day gift to Manchester primary school pupils aims to inspire a new generation of Black heritage blood donors

• Nala’s Baby, a Black-owned skincare company for infants, has announced a collaboration with PAW Patrol, the number one pre-school franchise in the UK and globally

• Red vs Blue school violence fails to materialise as Croydon stands united

• Idris Elba, Stormzy and Kanya King among 100 most influential British-Ghanaians honoured in UK Parliament

• Coldr CEO Kamiqua Lake featured in the 2026 PRWeek UK PowerBook - an extensive list of the most influential and respected comms professionals in the UK

1) What a viral speech in Ireland reveals about colonial history and Caribbean English

A viral speech by Irish politician Thomas Gould has reignited claims that the Jamaican accent has Irish roots. Linguists say the reality is more complex: Jamaican speech was shaped mainly by regional English dialects brought to the Caribbean during the colonial era, rather than large numbers of Irish settlers. The renewed debate highlights how myths about language, empire and identity continue to circulate online. Our founder Nadine White wrote this for the Guardian.

2) Black women left unprepared for menopause, first UK-wide survey finds

Black women are often entering menopause feeling unprepared, with new UK research finding nearly 9 in 10 received no education about it at school. Many said stigma, lack of information and poor experiences with healthcare left them struggling to understand symptoms and access support. Researchers say the findings highlight the need for culturally competent menopause care and education tailored to Black women. The full report by UCL academic Prof Joyce Harper can be accessed here.

3) Lewis Hamilton calls for African unity, says leaders should “take it back” from former colonial powers including the British

Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton called for greater unity among African nations, saying the continent should have more control over its resources and future. While these comments have been praised by socially conscious members of society, sections of the right-wing press are in their feelings with one outlet calling for him to return his knighthood or "stay in his lane".

4) Hackney teenager honoured for his incredible writing talents in House of Lords

Hackney teenager Romeo Bremmer has been honoured in the House of Lords for his writing achievements and community work. The young author has written nine books and helped around 60 Windrush elders document their life stories. He received the British Citizen Youth Award medal recognising young people making a positive impact across the UK. Read Sinai Fleary’s report here.

5) Comedian Junior Simpson forced to retire aged 62 after dementia diagnosis as £25K raised for care

Renowned actor and stand-up comedian Junior Simpson has stepped away from performing after being diagnosed with vascular dementia at the age of 62. The British comic, known for roles in Death in Paradise and Love Actually, had suffered a number of strokes in recent years. Friends, fans and fellow comedians have since raised over £25,000 through a crowdfunding campaign to help support him and his family with care and day-to-day costs.

What else we’re reading

• Rapper Ghetts sentenced to 12 years after causing student’s death in hit and run

• Black and Asian journalists in UK TV newsrooms ‘facing backlash from white colleagues after 2020 anti-racism movement’, report finds

• ‘Did I just hear what I thought I heard?’: Sinners’ Delroy Lindo on Bafta N-word controversy

• British woman who reported rape in Hong Kong faces 7 years in jail after conviction

• A creative centre to help disadvantaged young adults secure long-term employment is being built in west London in honour of the late music entrepreneur Jamal Edwards

• Spiritual abuse and immigration abuse have been included in prosecution guidance for the first time to help prosecutors tackle emerging harmful practices

• Haitian man dies from tooth infection while detained in US ICE facility, family says

• Most Reform members believe non-white UK citizens born abroad should be forced or encouraged to leave, poll finds

• ‘Muslim women are not afraid to be seen’ - the power of the printed hijab

This week marks 45 years since the Black People’s Day of Action, when around 20,000 people marched through London in 1981 following the New Cross fire that killed 13 young Black people.

The march became a defining moment in Black British history, as communities demanded justice, dignity and recognition in the face of grief and anger.

In this short documentary directed by our founder, Nadine, for HuffPost UK in 2020, June Thompson, who helped organise the march, reflects on demonstrating with thousands of others. We also hear from Wayne Haynes, a survivor of the New Cross fire, and Joshua Anthony, whose uncle Peter Campbell, aged 18, died in the blaze. Joshua grew up watching his grandmother campaign tirelessly for justice on behalf of her son.

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Professor Patrick Vernon among UK figures elected to Global Jamaica Diaspora Council

Patrick Vernon OBE and Abigail Brady Rhoden have been elected to the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council and Youth Council representing the UK South.

Marcus Humphrey will serve as the UK North representative, while Reccarnei Phillipson has been elected as Youth Council representative for the Northern region.

The appointments form part of Jamaica’s global diaspora governance structure, bringing together representatives from across the UK to support engagement between Jamaica and its overseas communities. We broke down the council’s aim a few weeks ago here.

A new survey aims to document the “often under-recognised” contributions of the UK Jamaican diaspora to Jamaica’s development and disaster response.

Individuals, churches, businesses and community groups are invited to register their interest in participating. Sign up here.

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Joe Appiah says sanitary bins in men’s toilets would have helped him feel more confident leaving the house after prostate cancer treatment left him incontinent.

The charity Prostate Cancer UK is calling for sanitary bins to be made mandatory in men’s toilets, saying many men rely on sanitary pads after treatment but often have nowhere discreet to dispose of them in public spaces.

The campaign also comes as campaigners continue to highlight stark racial disparities in the disease. Black men are around twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer as white men.

Read more about the Boys Need Bins campaign.

Got a news tip or story idea? Submit it via this form. Reader feedback and corrections are welcomed separately here.

Good evening everyone,

Can you believe we’re already nearing the end of the first quarter of 2026? Time is flying.

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

It’s another full edition. The week began on a hectic note with the BAFTA n-word debacle and, as the days unfolded, further revelations came to light.

We’ve also learned that modern slavery cases are rising across the UK.

In other news, Black Current News was recognised with a ‘Writing Excellence’ award this week, officially making us an award-winning independent platform.

Scroll through to catch up on what you may have missed. We’ve welcomed a surge of new subscribers in recent days, so to those joining us: welcome.

And to all of you: thank you for backing independent, Black-owned media.

‘Til next time!

Good news

• Five Black scholars now working in Formula 1 teams as Lewis Hamilton-backed scheme expands

• Dr Giovannie Jean-Louis launches app aimed at increasing Black participation in medical research, as reported by Black Things UK

• Eastern Caribbean currency to replace Queen’s image by 2027

• Guardian announces Leah Green as head of Guardian Studios

• Over £13,000 raised in community appeal after child’s custom wheelchair stolen from “secure” London garage

• Lilly Koranteng, a Black communications specialist, has been selected for UN Women global gender equality summit

BAFTA n-word debacle

This year’s BAFTA ceremony was rocked after the n-word was shouted at actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo on Sunday, sparking widespread backlash.

Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson made the involuntary outburst while the pair presented the first award. The slur was reportedly shouted at least three times, including at production designer Hannah Beachler. Davidson told Variety that the BBC should have “worked harder” to prevent his words from being broadcast and questioned why he was seated near a live microphone.

Warner Bros executives reportedly asked BAFTA to have the incident removed from the BBC’s time-delayed broadcast, but their concerns were ignored.

Black communities raised concerns about duty of care. Black Current News first reported that BAFTA judge Jonte Richardson stepped down and that Google apologised after a push notification displayed the slur in full.

Our founder Nadine White spoke on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Gloucestershire - and wrote an op-ed in the Guardian examining what the episode reveals about race in Britain.

The BBC has since launched a fast-track investigation, with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy calling the broadcast “completely unacceptable and harmful”.

Family of Henrietta Lacks, an African heritage woman, secures settlement over ‘stolen’ cells

The family of Henrietta Lacks, a Black mother whose cervical cells were taken without consent in 1951 and used to transform modern medicine, has reached a second settlement with a biotech firm. Her “immortal” HeLa cells led to breakthroughs including the polio vaccine and advances in cancer and HIV research - and were distributed to laboratories worldwide, including in the UK.

Exclusive | Police investigate alleged ambush on Black teen as mum says school ignored plea for help

West Midlands Police say they are investigating a “disorder involving a number of teenagers” in Willenhall, West Midlands, which resulted in a Black boy being injured on 23 January 2026. Officers told Black Current News they are reviewing mobile phone footage and CCTV. However, the child’s mother maintains that neither the police nor school are taking the incident seriously.

Racism and ‘poor’ staff relationships factors in maternity care failings, report finds

An interim government-commissioned review has found maternity services in England are failing “too many” families, with problems at every stage of care. Baroness Amos identified racism, poor staff relationships, capacity pressures, and a lack of accountability among six key factors. Black and Asian women were found to face higher risks of adverse outcomes, with families describing trauma, discrimination and inconsistent care.

Government to review racial bias risks as jury trials face axe in major court shake-up

The UK government will review whether replacing juries with judge-only trials increases racial bias, as part of sweeping court reforms aimed at tackling the record criminal case backlog. The move follows concerns that axing juries for thousands of cases could disproportionately impact Black defendants, who previous findings showed had greater confidence in jury trials. Read our explainer here.

What else we’re reading

• Modern slavery reports in London have risen by almost 10% in a year

• Antiques auction selling neck shackles accused of ‘profiting from slavery’

• Drop in overseas workers is ‘car crash’ for UK hospitals and care homes, say experts

• Met police to pilot facial recognition identity checks, mayor confirms, while critics brand move ‘alarming’

• Man charged after Churchill statue daubed with “Zionist war criminal” graffiti in Parliament Square

• British woman who reported rape in Hong Kong may face prison

• Jamaica’s PM Holness raises concern over 24% decline in Jamaica’s birth rate

• ‘She isn’t sorry’: is anyone rooting for Tyra Banks now? Eight things you need to know

Sickle Cell Society exhibition returns

Our Journey, Our Story: History and Memory of Sickle Cell Anaemia in Britain 1950 - 2020 returns.

Originally launched at Black Cultural Archives in 2021, the exhibition continues to share the history and lived experiences behind sickle cell advocacy in Britain.

Black Current News is now an award-winning independent news platform

On Wednesday, 25 February 2025, Black Current News became an award-winning independent news platform after founder Nadine White won the Writing Excellence award at the UK Black Comms Network Trailblazer Awards, held at Kindred in West London.

The award recognises excellence in communications and storytelling, acknowledging Nadine’s work launching and leading Black Current News, alongside 14 years of holding power to account and journalism centring Black stories in Britain.

The evening brought together leaders across media and communications. For us, the recognition marks an important milestone in our early growth and affirms the demand for independent, Black-led journalism rooted in clarity and accountability.

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Dear readers,

There’s movement everywhere right now, as always.

From cultural honours and community wins to goodbyes, health updates and hard-hitting investigations, this week’s round-up reflects the breadth of what’s shaping Black Britain and beyond.

Based on your feedback, we’ll be trialling Saturday editions for a while. Many of you told us that a weekend dispatch gives you more time to sit with the stories, scroll properly and engage without the rush of the working week, hustle or bustle. We hear you!

We also spent some time in Derby this week working on a heritage project, which was cute. More on that below.

As always, thank you for reading, sharing and backing independent Black-led journalism.

We’re building a record of Britain out here.

Good news

• Online influencer Simply Sayo says her sister Becky is now sickle cell free following a sibling bone marrow transplant in December, after Sayo donated her stem cells for the procedure

• Abeola Johnson started her own skincare line, Derma Warrior, after an eczema battle

• Sinners actress Wunmi Mosaku won the Spotlight Artist Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival’s UK & Ireland Honours

• Sir Lenny Henry supports Jamaica’s recovery after Hurricane Melissa

• Ghana’s first female High Commissioner to the UK, H.E. Sabah Zita Benson, celebrated at London event

• Author Pamela R Haynes shortlisted as finalist for the 2026 International Women’s Awards by Divas of Colour

Remembering Jesse Jackson: the civil rights giant who stood with Black Britain

Earlier this week, many of us were saddened to hear that US civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson died. He was 84 years old.

Beyond his decades of campaigning in the United States, Jackson was a consistent presence in Black British political life.

From anti-apartheid protests in Trafalgar Square alongside Diane Abbott, Paul Boateng and Bernie Grant in 1985, to supporting Operation Black Vote, backing events that led to the launch of Black History Month in Britain and attending the unveiling of the Nelson Mandela statue in Parliament Square, to name a few examples, he repeatedly travelled to the UK to stand in solidarity with Black communities that faced structural inequalities.

I was honoured to pay tribute to Rev Jackson in the Guardian; his message to “keep hope alive” resonated on both sides of the Atlantic.

Mona Hammond, pioneering Jamaican-British actress, honoured with RADA and Talawa lecture series

The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and Talawa Theatre Company have announced the Mona Hammond Lecture Series, launching in September 2026.

Ms Mona, who died in 2022 aged 91, enjoyed a remarkable 50-year career, with roles ranging from Blossom Jackson in EastEnders to ‘Aunty Susu’ in the beloved sitcom Desmond’s.

A RADA graduate and co-founder of Talawa, she helped shape Black British theatre as we know it.

The three-year lecture series will address key industry issues while marking RADA’s 120th anniversary and Talawa’s 40th, Marcus Ryder, RADA’s chair, wrote online.

Free blood pressure checks launched as Black communities face higher hypertension risk

Free NHS blood pressure checks are now available at more than 350 Tesco pharmacies across the UK, as part of a partnership with the British Heart Foundation.

High blood pressure often has no obvious symptoms, yet up to five million adults in the UK may be living with it undiagnosed.

Given that Black communities face a higher risk of hypertension and related conditions such as stroke and kidney disease, knowing your numbers could be one of the simplest but most important steps you take this year.

Inventors win prize for hair-braiding robot. Imagine!

A US-based startup founded by Harvard Business School alumni Yinka Ogunbiyi and David Afolabi has won the 2025 President’s Innovation Challenge for its patent-pending hair-braiding robot.

The concept, called Halo Braid, is designed to support stylists by finishing braids they start, reducing styling time from hours to minutes and easing physical strain.

While the concept is US-based, this idea is bound to spark conversation far beyond America.

Anyone who has ever spent six to eight hours perched over a salon chair will understand the appeal.

‘Midwife told me to shut up’: Black mums describe ignored pain in UK maternity care

Black women across the UK say their pain was dismissed during childbirth, with some describing being ignored, denied pain relief and left traumatised.

The accounts add to growing concern over racial disparities in maternity care, with campaigners calling the pattern “insidious” rather than overtly racist.

Read this powerful report - and watch the full video (full credit to Sky News) - by Shamaan Freeman-Powell.

What else we’re reading

• Police in Australia may be unfairly targeting Black people with warrantless search powers

• Woman dies after unwitnessed cardiac arrest in A&E while awaiting mental health bed

• TfL Facebook ad banned for ‘negative stereotype about Black men’

• British and French groups write to airlines undertaking “cruel, inhumane and racist” deportations to France

• MP warns that ending sickle cell emergency pilot ‘could be fatal’

• Bukayo Saka becomes Arsenal’s highest-paid player as he signs five-year contract extension

• Papa Eric Huntley, iconic Black British publisher, has been laid to rest

• Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested - then released

• Police issue statement on racist poster in Scotland bearing ‘n’ word (below)

Ras Judah Adunbi: Veteran race equality campaigner who challenged police injustice dies aged 70s

Judah Adunbi, known as Ras Judah, has died. He was in his early 70s.

A lifelong race relations campaigner, he was twice mistaken by Avon and Somerset Police for the same wanted man, including in 2017 when he was tasered in the face while walking his dog.

I interviewed Ras Judah for HuffPost UK in 2018, in the aftermath of those incidents. He was calm, warm and resolute.

“Why should Black people be treated any differently from anyone else in the UK? We should be treated with respect because we’re all human beings,” he told me.

He spoke about the toll it had taken: “Since being tasered, I’ve had difficulty sleeping and wake up in cold sweats. I suffered a stroke last June, my speech has been affected and one of my teeth broke.

“The fact that I might not have been alive to see my children and grandchildren, it has a heavy impact on me emotionally and psychologically”.

As well as being a respected elder in the Bristol community, Ras Judah was a passionate, principled man who never stopped insisting on dignity and equal treatment under the law. May he rest in peace.

Out and about!

We spent time in Derby earlier this week, working on a project exploring Caribbean migration stories.

While there, we visited the Hadari Project, a community centre serving Black elders through welfare, educational, social and recreational activities. The charity behind it has been running since 1982.

Ah, we were privileged to spend the day and evening there, chatting with folks, watching people - including our friend Mr Burchell Davidson - “slap two domino” during lively matches, ordering drinks from the on-site bar and tucking into an authentic Jamaican lunch together.

A reminder that heritage lives in places like this, sustained by people who keep culture, memory and connection alive.

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Dear readers,

You’re receiving this edition slightly later than planned after a hectic few days.

On Wednesday, when it would usually land in your inbox, we were invited to the London Transport Museum by the Mayor of London’s team for a media and content creators’ drinks reception.

So, we braved the non-stop rain and headed to the London Transport Museum on behalf of Black Current News readers. Scroll down for reflections from the evening, delivered this Valentine’s Day with gratitude for the community that keeps us going.

From groundbreaking research on Black women’s exposure to toxic hair products and Windrush scandal victims continuing to die without justice, to Britain returning looted artefacts to Nigeria and the UK’s first Black female Senior Coroner speaking about her trailblazing career, there’s plenty to unpack below.

Shout out to The Lead for recommending our reporting and it’s good to see so many of you reading our ‘cocaine in shoes’ explainer.

As ever, we appreciate you for reading and supporting our work!

Good news

• ‘If I don’t, who will?’: how a Lewisham dad’s Black history-themed puzzles found success and ended up on John Lewis’ shelves

• Broadcaster Angie Greaves honoured with the Pinnacle Award by Barbados High Commission in London

• Barrister Ife Thompson named finalist in Women and Diversity in Law Awards

• Cambridge Uni returns 116 Benin artefacts looted by British forces to Nigeria

• Lewisham launches online NHS Health Checks to tackle ‘silent killers’ like diabetes

• MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy has proposed new legislation to ban the sale of human body parts, amid evidence of a significant global market. Black people’s body parts have been disproportionately commodified and sold within this market

Dual British nationals warned to carry UK passport or risk being denied boarding

From 25 February, dual British nationals may be refused boarding on flights, ferries or trains to the UK unless they travel with a valid British passport.

The Home Office change means those without one could face paying £589 for a certificate of entitlement, as new travel authorisation rules come into force.

Does this affect you? Look about your documents as soon as possible…

Manchester United co-owner says sorry after claiming UK ‘colonised by immigrants’

Sir Jim Ratcliffe faced backlash over remarks that Britain had been “colonised by immigrants” and then issued a statement expressing regret for his “choice of language”.

“I am sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe and caused concern,” he said, adding that it was “important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth”.

Oliver Campbell among wrongly convicted men calling for change to compensation law

Oliver Campbell, a Black man cleared in 2024 after serving 11 years of a life sentence he received at 21, is calling for reform after receiving no compensation despite losing more than a decade behind bars.

In England and Wales, even after convictions are overturned, the wrongly convicted must prove their innocence beyond reasonable doubt to qualify for a payout. Read more here.

Hair extensions found to contain far more toxic chemicals than previously known

In the most comprehensive analysis to date, researchers identified dozens of hazardous chemicals, including in products made from human hair, offering the strongest evidence yet of potential health risks.

The largely unregulated products, disproportionately used by Black women, were found to contain substances linked to cancer, hormone disruption and other harm.

Read our recently-published ‘is your hair relaxer killing you?’ explainer for more context about these products.

Xielo Maruziva: police apologise after delay in telling mother her toddler had fallen into river, as inquest rules accidental death

Police have apologised after an inquest heard it took around an hour to inform the mother of two-year-old Xielo Maruziva that he had fallen into the River Soar in Leicester in February 2024.

A 26km search, described as one of the UK’s largest water searches, ended almost four months later when his body was found; his death has been ruled an accident by the inquest’s jury.

What else we’re reading

• ‘Cocaine in shoes’: Jamaica drug case involving two British women explained

• Black teaching assistant wins discrimination case after being accused of having ‘angry face’

• Over 60 of the UK’s leading cultural and legal voices - including Giggs, Gary Younge and Leroy Logan - are urging the government to set restrictions on the use of art as evidence in criminal trials, warning that the practice leads to wrongful convictions

• Tunde Olawoye is one of many pharmacists around Wales struggling to stay afloat as their business costs soar "through the roof"

• Barbados PM Mia Mottley wins third term in landslide victory as her party sweeps every seat in election

• Black Current News reviews My Father’s Shadow: ‘a must-see that rewards repeat viewing’

• Hurry for justice’: Windrush victims dying without redress, commissioner says

• ‘You escape, or you die’: African men say Russia duped them into fighting in Ukraine

• Cicelia Deane departs as editorial & commissioning executive at BET UK

• Congo, Angola and Namibia have agreed to take back foreign offenders and illegal migrants after the UK Home Secretary threatened them with visa penalties

Inside the Coroner’s Court: David Lammy in conversation with the UK’s first Black female Senior Coroner

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy sits down with Senior Coroner Jacqueline Devonish to discuss the vital, often overlooked role coroners play in investigating unexplained and state-related deaths.

From inquests to Prevention of Future Deaths reports, she explains how the work brings answers for families and accountability when it matters most.

Out and about!

Earlier this week, we attended a media and content creators’ drinks reception hosted by the Mayor of London, bringing together journalists and digital voices from across the capital.

The Mayor thanked members of the media for their role in holding power to account and praised London’s diversity as one of its greatest strengths.

In lighter moments, he joked about living “rent-free” in Donald Trump’s head, drawing laughter from the room, before reinforcing his defence of our city’s diversity and speaking up for migrants (particularly timely in light of Ratcliffe’s “colonisation” remark, referenced above).

It was nice to see some friendly faces, including Deputy Mayors Debbie Weekes-Bernard and Kaya Comer-Schwartz; Marvyn Harrison (Dope Black Dads/Come Nyam), Bus Aunty aka Ms Bemi Orojuogun, London Centric’s Jim Waterson, cousin Charlene White (ITV), plus more.

See here for more highlights.

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Got a news tip or story idea? Submit it via this form. Reader feedback and corrections are welcomed separately here.

Hi everyone!

It is Black History Month across the United States, the Caribbean, Canada and elsewhere.

This year marks 100 years since historian Carter G. Woodson launched the first Negro History Week on 7 February 1926 in the US, a moment that laid the foundations for Black History Month in the States and later inspired its introduction in the UK in 1987.

A century on, the need to document, interrogate and preserve Black history and Black life is as urgent as ever. That is precisely why platforms like Black Current News exist: to tell our stories clearly, consistently and on our own terms.

Below is our round-up of key headlines from the past week.

Good news

• Aamilah Aswat made history by becoming the first Black female jump jockey to win a race in Britain

• Renowned actress Jo Martin to receive honorary award from British Urban Film Festival

• Broadcaster Marverine Cole launches new podcast ‘Midlife Messy & Marvellous With Marverine’ - and Brenda Edwards is her first guest

• Andrez Harriott to run London Marathon in tribute to Stephen Lawrence

• Jacqueline Shepherd becomes patron of youth media charity MAMA Youth Project

• The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) launches initiative to strengthen support for Black and diaspora nursing professionals

Black men put at risk by limits on prostate cancer testing, patient warns

Limiting prostate cancer tests to men with specific genetic markers puts Black men at greater risk, a patient has warned.

Guy Griffiths, 76, from Coventry, said Black men are being overlooked despite facing double the risk and urged them to push for PSA tests regardless of current guidelines. Read more here.

African and Caribbean nations move to label chattel slavery humanity’s greatest crime

CARICOM and the African Union are pushing for the transatlantic slave trade to be formally recognised as the greatest crime against humanity.

Ghana’s foreign minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said during a visit to Jamaica that the joint effort is moving towards a resolution at the United Nations. Sinai Fleary reports.

Exclusive | Black British public figures rally behind Don Lemon and Georgia Fort after arrests while reporting in US

Dozens of prominent Black British public figures, including journalists and activists, have issued an open letter condemning the arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort while carrying out reporting duties in the United States.

Marcus Ryder, Lenny Henry, Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, Gary Younge, Afua Hirsch, Adrian Lester and Misan Harriman are among the figures who have signed the letter. Read the document, first reported on by Black Current News, here.

Calls for King Charles to formally apologise for slavery after yet more research shows crown’s role

MPs, experts and campaigners are urging King Charles to issue a formal apology for transatlantic slavery, following research into the British crown’s role in sustaining the trade for centuries.

The findings are detailed in The Crown’s Silence by Dr Brooke Newman, which shows how monarchs used enslaved labour to boost royal revenues, despite the monarchy never issuing a formal apology.

The author also penned this new article which breaks down a lot of her findings: ‘unjust and inhuman’: how royal family ignored a Black abolitionist’s plea to end the slave trade.

Stormzy backs bid to get adults into books: ‘Reading really is a superpower’

Stormzy is encouraging adults to rediscover reading after backing Quick Reads, a scheme designed to make books more accessible.

The initiative comes as nearly half of UK adults say they do not read, with 2026 named the National Year of Reading and new titles including Hunger Pains by Derek Owusu.

What else we’re reading

• What is ICE and what powers do its agents have to use force?

• Black Current reviews ‘Wasteman’ film: David Jonsson shines in a tightly wound prison drama

• ‘There is an attempt to get rid of me’: leader of UK’s Black police association alleges campaign to silence him

• Foundation honours Beverley Knight long-term collaborator Paul Reid

• Event targets Home Office scandal victims to offer support

• Editor of a groundbreaking Channel 4 show claims BFI has frozen him out of multicultural TV season

• Jamaica’s former MP for Western St. Mary, Jolyan Silvera, is standing trial over the killing his wife, Melissa

• Sherri Shepherd’s daytime talk show cancelled, citing “evolving daytime television landscape”

• Cool Runnings 2.0: Jamaica’s bobsleigh crew want their own Hollywood ending

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Out and about!

Last week, we visited Windrush Food Culture, a free exhibition at the National Maritime Museum exploring how Caribbean food travelled from the margins to the mainstream in post-war Britain.

Through photographs, objects and stories, it traces food as comfort, survival, resistance and celebration for Windrush generations and their descendants.

Curated by the National Windrush Museum, a research initiative, the exhibition is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 11 am - 4 pm, and runs until 30 July 2026.

Sky News cites Black Current News on air after exclusive reporting

Last night, Sky News cited Black Current News on air as the outlet that broke the story about an open letter condemning the arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort.

The mention came on The Wrap, Sky’s new nightly programme presented by Gillian Joseph, with Afua Hirsch discussing why she signed the letter and the wider implications for press freedom.

The moment underscores the growing impact of independent Black-led journalism and how stories first reported outside the mainstream can help shape national debate. For more original reporting, analysis and investigations, subscribe below.

And stay tuned, a big announcement is coming soon.

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Got a news tip or story idea? Submit it via this form. Reader feedback and corrections are welcomed separately here.

We’re back with another weekly round-up of news relating to Black communities.

This is a full edition. Slow news weeks happen, but a great deal has unfolded over the past seven days, from the appointment of a Black judge and ongoing concerns about the treatment of sickle cell patients, to further Windrush injustices, a tribute to the late Alex Wheatle, the passing of Sly Dunbar and well-earned recognition for Black talent across the UK and USA.

Scroll through to read more.

See you next week and, as ever, thanks for supporting independent media!

Good news

• Black British academic, Professor Kojo Koram, co-launches global centre at Loughborough University to challenge who profits from drug reform

• Jay-Ann Lopez, founder of Black Girl Gamers, has been nominated for Outstanding Digital Creator (Gaming/Tech) at the NAACP Image Awards.

  She is the only Black woman nominated in the category. Voting ends on 13 February

• ITV broadcaster Charlene White wins trailblazer prize at Women in Journalism awards

• Brixton NHS blood donor centre saved or improved more than 50,000 lives

• Lewis Hamilton’s father launches a new motorsport platform aimed at expanding access

A woman with sickle cell disease “suddenly” died in a Surrey hospital. This week, an inquest examines her care

Irene Dzifa King Arthur, aged 47, had sickle cell disease and “suddenly” died after being admitted to Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey.

This week, an inquest opened into her death at HM Coroner's Court in Woking. It will examine whether Irene’s sickle cell disease was appropriately managed during the four days she was treated at the hospital before her death in August 2024.

Irene was a civil servant and charity trustee, as well as a devoted wife and mother of two young children.

Man who arrived in Britain as a child 60 years ago left homeless after Windrush status questioned

A man who arrived in Britain as a child 60 years ago spent months homeless after officials questioned his right to live in the UK.

George Campbell, 69, was left sleeping in a bus shelter and relying on food banks after being denied homelessness support due to a lack of paperwork.

Despite later being recognised as legally resident, he remains in a night shelter, supported by a charity, after his state pension claim was also rejected. Read more.

Meet the UK’s newest Black judge

Kishma Bolaji has been appointed as a salaried District Tribunal Judge, meaning she is now a full-time judge, rather than a part-time or fee-paid one.

Sitting in the Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) Chamber, she will hear appeals involving benefits, disability support and child maintenance.

According to the latest UK judiciary diversity figures, Black people make up only about 1 per cent of all judges in England and Wales - a figure that has stubbornly stayed around that level for years despite wider efforts to diversify the bench.

‘Alex Wheatle Reading Room’ to be unveiled in tribute to renowned author at Brixton Library

The Alex Wheatle Reading Room will be unveiled at Brixton Library next week in tribute to the late author and Brixton Bard, Alex Wheatle, who died in March 2025.

The permanent space honours his contribution to Black British literature and his lifelong commitment to nurturing young readers and writers.

The unveiling on 4 February will form part of a memorial event celebrating his life and influence, while also launching Lambeth Libraries’ National Year of Reading and a new Black Classic Literature Collection.

Momentum grows in campaign to keep emergency Sickle Cell Day Unit open

Campaigners are continuing efforts to prevent the closure of a specialist Sickle Cell day unit, with a petition attracting more than 36,000 signatures.

The Sickle Cell Day Unit at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel remains under threat following a six-month trial, prompting sustained opposition from patients, families and campaigners who warn lives are at risk. It’s due to close at the end of January, in just a few days’ time.

The campaign, led by Delo Biye, has now been covered by ITV News (in the above clip), after being first reported by Black Current News. The petition can be found here.

What else we’re reading

• Chris Kaba’s family ‘devastated’ as misconduct case against police officer paused

• Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole: young man who died in rescue attempt gets King’s award

• New video game called ‘Relooted’ lets players return African artefacts taken by Western museums

• Teachers in England driving homeless pupils to school and washing clothes, research shows

• Outpouring of love for University of Birmingham medical student who died by suicide a day after exam results

• Pat McGrath Labs, founded by the Black British beauty icon, files for bankruptcy. However, the brand is expected to bounce back better than ever, according to a spokesperson

• Mandela’s prison key, sunglasses and shirt can be sold after daughter wins court battle

• New evidence shows how discrimination shortens lives in Black communities

• Oscar nominee and Sinners star Delroy Lindo says UK can ‘absolutely’ root for him - but he doesn’t see himself as British. Here’s why

• Sly Dunbar, legendary Jamaican drummer and producer of ‘Sly and Robbie’ fame, dies

• Stanley Senior: tributes paid to ‘no-nonsense’ stalwart of the Black community in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

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Out and about!

I attended the annual Women in Journalism awards ceremony at the Canadian Embassy in London last night, hosted by the UK’s leading advocacy organisation for women in the profession.

As a member of the Women in Journalism (WIJ) executive committee, I was proud to play a role in judging and selecting this year’s winners. The evening was a powerful reminder of why WIJ matters, celebrating women producing rigorous, brave journalism in often hostile conditions.

This year’s awardees included Malak A Tantesh, a young reporter from Gaza who received the Rising Star Award for fearless frontline reporting. It was also a pleasure to see my dear cousin Charlene White recognised with the Trailblazer Award, a fitting honour for her contribution to the industry. Read more here.

Over the weekend, I stopped by House of MOBO, a newly opened space by Kanya King’s MOBO Group in partnership with Greene King in south London. I then had dinner with a long-time friend, and we put the world to rights over some jollof rice and suya, courtesy of The Flygerians. We also bumped into Ros Griffiths, the Queen of Brixton and chair of Friends of Windrush Square.

Dr Aggrey Burke laid to rest

Dr Aggrey Burke’s funeral took place on Friday 23 March, marking the passing of a towering figure in Black British history and mental health.

The late Dr Burke was the first Black consultant psychiatrist in the NHS, a pioneering clinician whose work on race, migration and the psychological cost of displacement shaped generations.

As Professor Kehinde Andrews has observed, he could have been a professor by the 1970s, but he spoke out about racism and paid the price for it.

I was deeply moved by the eulogy delivered by Professor Gus John, in which he referenced me and my ‘Barrel Children’ film, which examines the intergenerational trauma caused by migration and family separation, building on the foundations laid by figures such as Dr Burke. He died in December, aged 82. May his legacy continue to guide and protect our communities.

You can read the eulogy here.

Got a news tip or story idea? Submit it via this form. Reader feedback and corrections are welcomed separately here.

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This week’s round up of news brings you a mix of recognition, accountability and community-led action.

The death of pioneering publisher Eric Huntley, just breaking as we went to press, comes amid a string of recent losses of Black icons, from mathematician Dr Gladys West to reggae great Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore.

Alongside this, we highlight new data exposing racial disparities in academia and continue our exclusive coverage of police conduct.

As Black Current News is now read across five continents, we’re grateful to also be recognised this week with a Trailblazer Award shortlist nod for writing excellence.

As ever, thank you for reading and supporting independent Black journalism. Let’s go!

Good news

• Science communicator Alex Lathbridge recognised with British Science Association fellowship

• Musician and broadcaster YolanDa Brown appointed patron for Newcastle United Foundation

• Black Current News recognised as founder shortlisted for UK Black Comms Network Trailblazer Award

• Mural hopes to inspire future construction workers

• British journalist Alexis Akwagyiram recognised for shaping how Africa is reported to the world

Eric Huntley, pioneering Black British publisher and activist, dies

Eric Huntley, a pioneering publisher and central figure in Black British cultural and political life, has died aged 96.

Alongside his late wife Jessica Huntley, he co-founded Bogle L’Ouverture Publications, a landmark bookshop and press established in 1968.

Their work helped shape Black British literature, political education and grassroots organising for generations. The pair were what you’d call a “power couple”! May they rest in peace.

Black academics remain locked out of UK professorships, new data suggests

Black people make up just 250 of the UK’s 25,000 professors, despite decades of diversity pledges. New data obtained via FOI requests exposes persistent underrepresentation across London’s universities.

Campaigners say the figures expose a failure not of talent, but of opportunity and institutional will.

NHS nurse reinstated after disciplinary case linked to pronoun dispute

An NHS nurse, Jennifer Melle, suspended following a dispute with a transgender patient has been reinstated after a disciplinary hearing.

The case stemmed from a May 2024 incident in which the nurse was racially abused after addressing the patient as “Mr”, with the trust later issuing her a written warning. The trust also warned the patient that racist and threatening behaviour would not be tolerated and found no breach of confidentiality.

Exclusive | Metropolitan Police apologise after error led to five officers forcefully detaining Black father in front of his children

The Metropolitan Police have apologised after footage, highlighted by Black Current News, showed a Black father being forcefully detained in front of his two young children in south London.

The force has also referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct following the incident, which took place on 8 January. Read full report here.

London mother turns grief into campaign for better bereavement care

Shakira Dixon Williams, a London-based mum whose twins died, is campaigning for improved bereavement care for parents experiencing baby loss.

Following the deaths of her sons, she has joined Sands, the UK’s leading pregnancy and baby loss charity, to push for better support within the NHS.

Her campaign highlights gaps in care faced by grieving families and the need for consistent, compassionate bereavement services.

What else we’re reading

• Jay Abatan: vigil planned for man killed in racist attack 27 years ago

• Educational background key indicator of immigration views in UK, study finds

• Dr Gladys West, the Black American mathematician whose work underpinned modern GPS technology, has died aged 95

• Incoming Archbishop of Canterbury defends £100m slavery reparations fund despite opposition

• Noel Clarke declared bankrupt after losing sexual misconduct libel case

• Officer cleared after Taser incident left 61-year-old with life-changing injuries

• Black Thrive UK has launched a community event for queer young people of colour called Next Gen Black LGBT+ Futures

• Specialist sickle cell unit at Royal London Hospital faces closure as 25,000 back petition first reported by Black Current News

• Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore, co-founder and musical director of Third World, passes away

Where we’ve been

• We attended the 45th anniversary memorial service marking the New Cross Fire, held on Sunday 18 January in Brockley, South London. The service honoured the 14 young people who lost their lives as a result of the 1981 tragedy, reflecting on the enduring impact of the fire on Black communities and the ongoing calls for justice

• On Monday, BET UK invited us to a private screening of its new docuseries Mission Motherland, followed by a Q&A in London. The series explores identity, heritage and belonging through the personal histories of high-profile Black British figures. Stream it here

Got a news tip or story idea? Submit it via this form. Reader feedback and corrections are welcomed separately here.

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We’re starting the year with a mix of relief, reckoning and remembrance. This week brings signs of progress in London, from a fall in homicide rates to policy U-turns that would have disproportionately harmed Black communities.

There’s also space for good news and celebration, including cultural wins and family reunifications.

But there’s no escaping the harder truths. We examine the fallout from resurfaced comments by Nigel Farage on workplace discrimination, the deeply troubling rise in maternal deaths with Black women bearing the greatest risk and mounting anger from tenants living in dangerously overheated homes.

We also pause to honour lives and legacies.

This edition pays tribute to Claudette Colvin, whose courage helped dismantle segregation in the US and to Danielle Scott-Haughton, a supporter of Black Current News, whose belief in Black creatives left an indelible mark on the scene. May she rest in peace.

Good news

• Number of homicides in London falls to lowest in over a decade, says Met Police

• UK government U-turns on mandatory digital ID cards for workers. This policy would’ve disproportionately affected Black communities. Research shows that 48% of Black people in Britain don’t hold common forms of photo ID, such as a full driving licence

• Labour announces plan to allow new fathers earlier access to paternity leave

• Abandoned baby Elsa to be adopted and regularly see two siblings

• Streaming of Barrel Children: The Families Windrush Left Behind has been extended due to popular demand! Watch here - Black Current News subscribers are entitled to a 10% discount

Outcry over unearthed comments of Nigel Farage saying employers should be allowed to discriminate

Anti-racism groups and trade unions have condemned comments by Nigel Farage suggesting employers should be allowed to discriminate against non-British job applicants.

The Reform UK leader was filmed in a 2015 documentary describing it as “ludicrous” that employers could not select staff based on nationality and arguing that race equality laws should be scrapped. Speaking this week, he said he stood by the remarks and had no intention of retracting them.

Growing numbers of mothers are dying during pregnancy - with Black women at high risk

The number of women dying during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth in the UK is increasing, according to newly released figures, placing the government off course to meet its pledge to halve maternal deaths by 2025.

The data highlights stark inequalities. Between 2022 and 2024, women from Black ethnic backgrounds were three times more likely to die than white women, despite previous indications that the gap had begun to narrow.

RIP Claudette Colvin

Claudette Colvin, whose refusal to give up her bus seat helped dismantle racial segregation in the United States, has died at the age of 86.

Colvin was just 15 when she was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955 after defying segregation laws.

Her protest came nine months before Rosa Parks’s more widely known act of resistance, which triggered the Montgomery bus boycott and ultimately led to a Supreme Court ruling against segregated public transport.

Tributes paid to BBC commissioning editor Danielle Scott-Haughton

Tributes have poured in following the death of Danielle Scott-Haughton, a respected commissioning editor, writer and producer who influenced a generation of Black British creatives.

Colleagues, peers and friends have praised her commitment to audiences, noting that she consistently used her position to back projects and voices often overlooked within the industry.

Tenants threaten legal action over hot homes

Tenants in south-east London say they may pursue legal action against their housing association over extreme heat in their homes.

Residents of Canada Court and Clifton Lodge in Woolwich claim their flats become uninhabitable during summer months, with indoor temperatures reportedly reaching as high as 43C. They argue the buildings are not fit for purpose and pose a serious risk to health.

What else we’re reading

• Revealed: Newborn baby faces homelessness after deadly mould risk

• Actor Stephen Graham, who’s mixed race, won a Golden Globe Award

• Baroness Lawrence ‘more determined than ever’ to hold Daily Mail to account

• People with healthy BMI using AI to get hold of weight-loss jabs

• Zahawi accused of ‘begging’ for Tory peerage before Reform defection

• Man admits racist abuse of footballer Jess Carter

• Joshua Johnson-Hector: family left devastated by fatal attack outside bar

• White supremacist dating site profiles linked to Tory and Reform councillors

Got a news tip or story idea? Submit it via this form. Reader feedback and corrections are welcomed separately here.

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Welcome to In Focus and to the first edition of 2026! Time flies, eh?

This newsletter highlights the stories shaping Black life in Britain, especially those that are under-reported, misunderstood or quietly sidelined.

From a specialist sickle cell hospital unit facing closure to Windrush families potentially missing out on millions and #EthnicityPayGap campaign, we’re hitting the ground running today.

We’ve also opened up new contact forms for you to submit story ideas and give feedback. Please see the end of this newsletter.

Every week, In Focus will bring you:

• The biggest headlines affecting Black communities which mainstream media often underreport or miss

• Good news, highlights and achievements worth celebrating

Thanks for riding with us!

Good news

• Malaki Conteh: teen entrepreneur runs Caribbean food businesses and ‘helps pay his own £4,000-a-term school fees’

• Liam Rosenior appointed Chelsea head coach, becoming the first Black British boss of a “Big Six” club

• Palestinian embassy opens in London following UK recognition

• Phillis Wheatley, enslaved poet first published in London, honoured with US Black Heritage stamp

• ‘Pride of Nursing’ award winner struck off over racist Facebook posts

Ethnicity Pay Gap billboards lead calls for mandatory reporting

Black workers are more likely to be paid less than their white counterparts, including for the same or equivalent roles.

Bold billboards across London and Manchester are marking Ethnicity Pay Gap Day today, 8 January, demanding action on persistent racial pay disparities, led by Diane Greyson, founder of the #EthnicityPayGap campaign.

More information about this can be found here.

Specialist sickle cell unit in London hospital at risk of closure as campaign launches

The unit provides urgent, expert care for people living with sickle cell disease, a genetic condition that disproportionately affects Black communities.

Campaigners warn that shutting the service would push patients into less specialised settings, increase delays in treatment, and worsen health outcomes.

Over 1,500 people have already signed a petition urging NHS England and hospital bosses to reverse the decision. Read more here.

UK teacher banned after telling pupils Rosa Parks ‘did not exist’ and Islam is ‘demonic’, plus calling Black Lives Matter ‘Burn, Loot, Murder’

A UK teacher has been banned from the profession after telling year six pupils that Rosa Parks “did not really exist”, Martin Luther King Jr was a fraud and Black Lives Matter stands for “Burn, Loot, Murder”.

Patrick Lawler, 62, made the remarks while teaching at Bede Academy in Northumberland between 2015 and 2020, during a lesson meant to cover medieval history.

Regulators ruled his conduct brought the profession into disrepute. In a separate revelation, not cited in this dismissal, it emerged that Lawler has far-right links and previously called for the murder of foreigners who refuse to leave Britain.

US strikes on Venezuela spark Caribbean alarm over security, travel and economic fallout

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has urged calm and diplomatic dialogue after US military action in Venezuela and the abduction of its president, in breach of international law.

Caribbean leaders say air travel, economic stability and citizen safety are already under threat as tensions rise close to home.

Though Venezuela is not a CARICOM member, the crisis is unfolding in the Caribbean’s backyard with direct risks to security, migration and fragile island economies.

Windrush families could be sitting on lost Premium Bonds as £100m remains unclaimed

Windrush-era parents and grandparents often invested in Premium Bonds as long-term savings, but lost records mean many families never saw the returns.

For those who aren’t aware: these bonds are a government-backed savings product where your money is held safely, not spent. Each £1 you save counts as a numbered entry in a monthly prize draw, instead of earning interest.

With more than £100m still unclaimed, descendants are being urged to check what may be owed. Reporting by Sinai Fleary.

Milton Cole: Tributes paid as beloved stalwart of The Voice Newspaper dies

Tributes have been paid to Milton Cole, a long-standing and much-loved presence at The Voice Newspaper, who died in Jamaica on 7 November 2025.

Originally brought in as a security guard during the paper’s Coldharbour Lane years, Milton became a trusted fixture of the newsroom, remembered for his warmth, deep reggae knowledge and the guidance he freely shared.

He is survived by his son, Leo Cole, and a grandson, with a funeral taking place on 7 February 2026 in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, alongside a tribute gathering in Brixton on the same date.

What else we’re reading

• Romaine Bowman, a four-year-old boy, was shot dead as he lay in bed on New Year’s Day

• The number of deaths in the UK ‘is likely to outweigh the number of births in 2026, marking a “turning point” for the country’, think-tank predicts

• Scotland-based care worker struck off after using racist language while on duty

• Dr. Janell Green Smith, a US midwife who advocated for Black maternal health, dies of childbirth complications

• ‘Full-blown agony: my battle against the mysterious pain of cluster headaches’ | Morgan Ofori

• ‘How do we get racial justice?’ | Lester Holloway

• Newcastle contact police after Joe Willock receives racist abuse

Got a news tip or story idea? Submit it via this form. Reader feedback and corrections are welcomed separately here.

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Good afternoon everyone,

As the year winds down and many of us shift into a slower, more reflective pace, we wanted to say thank you for riding with Black Current News.

This final In Focus of 2025 brings together stories of justice, resistance, accountability and joy, alongside moments of Black joy worth pausing for.

We’ll be taking a short break over the Christmas period, so there will be no weekly round-up next week.

We will, however, be back during the week commencing 5 January 2026, life spare, with more of the same: coverage relevant to Black communities.

Wishing you all a restful and enjoyable festive period!

Good news

• Reece, a café owner in the Midlands, is preparing to serve more than 100 free dinners to people who are struggling this Christmas

• A south London eatery is giving away free Christmas dinner, too. More information here

• Ruth Ibegbuna: statue of a Black woman displayed in Downing Street

• Michelle Agyemang wins BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award

• Frank Bruno receives Freedom of the City of London

• Harlesden to honour reggae pioneers with commemorative paving stones

• Black barrister secures unanimous murder acquittal at the Old Bailey

• Kenya’s David Munyua has become the first African person to win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship in London

Mental Health Act overhaul becomes law, pledging to tackle higher detention rates faced by Black communities

Landmark reforms to mental health legislation have now come into effect across England, promising stronger patient rights and an end to long-standing racial disparities.

Black people are currently more than three times as likely to be detained, a gap that ministers say the new law is designed to close.

Historic Black cultural hub denied heritage status

A community centre credited with stopping race riots in north-west London in the 1980s is facing demolition after a bid for it to be granted heritage protection was rejected.

Harlesden People’s Community Council (HPCC) launched a public campaign last year for Bridge Park Community Centre in Harlesden to be recognised as a national heritage site.

GB News presenter apologises after falsely claiming Meghan Markle’s Black mum had been imprisoned

GB News, a right-wing TV platform, has issued an on-air apology to Doria Ragland after a commentator wrongly claimed she had spent time in prison.

Ofcom received more than 800 complaints over the comments, which were later admitted to be based on online misinformation.

Dr Aggrey Burke, UK’s first Black consultant psychiatrist, has died

Dr Aggrey Burke, a pioneering psychiatrist who helped to transform understandings of Black mental health in Britain, has died. This sad news hasn’t been widely reported across mainstream media.

Born in Jamaica, Dr Burke spent decades challenging racism in psychiatric care and supporting families affected by state neglect, from the New Cross fire to the Windrush scandal.

Police leaders propose scrapping ‘non-crime hate incidents’ system

You can read the full article here. For those who don’t know: this system details hostile acts driven by prejudice, such as racist abuse or online harassment, that fall short of a criminal offence. They’re logged to track patterns of harm.

Campaigners are warning that any overhaul must not weaken protections for Black communities, who already face under-reporting of hate and disproportionate police scrutiny.

What else we’re reading

• Black women face highest risk of being wrongly linked to crime by police facial recognition

• Nubian Jak celebrates 30 years as iconic Black British board game relaunches

• Nicki Minaj praises Trump as Black communities pay the price

• Letters | ‘We abhor racism in Britain, but refuse to recognise where it comes from’

• Manchester museum seeks help to uncover hidden histories of African collection

• True origin of ‘first Black Briton’ revealed

• Ethan McLeod: rising footballer, 21, dies in car crash after match

• Brixton blood centre now accepting group donations

Sam Sharpe, Jamaica and the Christmas rebellion that shook Britain’s Empire

This Christmas marks nearly two centuries since enslaved African-Jamaican people, led by Baptist preacher Samuel Sharpe, aged 31, organised what became the largest uprising across Britain’s colonies. It’s known as the Baptist War and it took place in Jamaica.

Beginning as a peaceful strike on Christmas Day in 1831 and lasting until January 1832, the rebellion demanded freedom from enslavement.

The repression was brutal - Sir Sam and others were executed by British authorities for their involvement in the uprising - but its impact was seismic.

Within two years, the Abolition Bill was passed by the British parliament and in 1838, slavery was abolished. The powers that be knew it would be long for them to continue subjugating Black people; we weren’t going to keep having it.

During a recent trip to Jamaica, we made our usual pilgrimage to Sir Sam’s monument in Kingston. Standing there was a quiet reminder of what courage looks like, as well as the long arc between resistance and reform.

His is a legacy that continues to shape how we ought to understand Black rights, justice and self-determination today.

This ethos inspires Black Current News.

It’s worth thinking about Sir Sam’s example as 2025 draws to a close.

Got news, a tip, a story idea or thoughts on our coverage? Email admin@blackcurrentnews.co.uk. We read everything and take our community seriously.

Hi everyone,

This week’s edition brings together reporting, context and perspective, cutting through noise to focus on what actually matters and why.

Thanks, as always, for reading and for supporting independent Black British media.

We’re thinking of the Chambers family as Jamaica prepares to say a final farewell to legendary singer & actor Jimmy Cliff today.

Every week, In Focus will bring you:

• The biggest headlines affecting Black and marginalised communities, which mainstream media often underreport or miss

• Good news, highlights and achievements worth celebrating

Good news

• UK rappers and entrepreneurs Krept & Konan announced that they’ve become investors and creative directors at Smacks, a fast-growing burger brand

• The African Caribbean Community Initiative charity, based in the Midlands, wins £75k prize at international award

• University agrees settlement after legal challenge over suspended Black history degree

• ‘Often overlooked and written off’: SEGA opens its doors to Black teens with tech and gaming workshop

• Brixton Soup Kitchen launches Christmas gift drive with the Ritzy Cinema for local children. It’s running until this Friday (19 December)

East London siblings face eviction from family home at Christmas after mother dies of cancer

Siblings facing eviction from their childhood home in East London after their mother’s sudden death from cancer have appealed to the council for “fairness and compassion”.

Hackney Council has told Joanne Thompson, 44, and her brother Calvin Gray, 55, they must leave the home they have lived in for over 40 years, saying their late mother’s tenancy cannot be passed on.

Ghanaian students in UK face deportation as funding crisis deepens

Students from Ghana studying at UK universities say they face the risk of deportation after being left without promised scholarships and tuition fee payments from their own government.

A group representing more than 100 doctoral students has petitioned Downing Street and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging him to press the Ghanaian government to clear a multimillion-pound backlog in tuition fees and living allowances.

Tommy Robinson’s ‘Christ in Christmas’ rally draws just 1,000, police say

Far-right activist Tommy Robinson led a carol concert in London on Saturday, billed as an effort to “put the Christ back into Christmas”.

The Metropolitan Police said attendance peaked at around 1,000 people, a sharp drop from the estimated 110,000 who turned out for his last rally in the capital.

David Norris denied parole for racist murder of Stephen Lawrence

Stephen Lawrence murderer David Norris has been denied parole after seeking release more than a decade into his life sentence for the 1993 racist killing.

Baroness Doreen Lawrence said he remains “a dangerous racist who should never be let out of prison”.

Woman sexually assaulted at knifepoint following racially aggravated abuse

Police in Leeds are searching for four masked men after a woman was sexually assaulted with a knife held to her neck on a footpath in Belle Isle.

West Yorkshire Police say the victim had previously been targeted in five racially aggravated incidents in the weeks leading up to the attack, believed to involve the same group.

What else we’re reading

• ‘It’s not a coincidence’: journalists of colour on being laid off amid Trump’s anti-DEI push

• Exclusive | Met Police admits officers helped Windrush exhibition attacker clean vandalism amid catalogue of failings

• Young care leaver facing homelessness was ‘left to own devices’

• Home Office urged to be transparent about deaths of asylum seekers in its care

• ‘Ordinary’ named ‘Racist Word of the Year 2025’ - here’s why

• Ethiopian imperial hairpin taken in 1868 by British troops to be returned after 150 years

Got news, a tip, a story idea or thoughts on our coverage? Email admin@blackcurrentnews.co.uk. We read everything and take our community seriously.

Hi everyone!

We’re back from the overseas assignment referenced in last week’s newsletter and easing into the festive stretch, but the news hasn’t slowed.

This week, we’re tracking key stories including fake Black hair products flooding the market, a new honour for Damilola Taylor and calls for a Race Discrimination Offenders register.

Every week, In Focus will bring you:

• The biggest headlines affecting Black and marginalised communities, which mainstream media often underreport or miss

• Good news, highlights and achievements worth celebrating

Let’s get into it.

Good news

• ‘Caribbean Queen’: Trailblazer Deta Hedman becomes oldest darts world champion at 66

• RAF Veteran Gilbert Clarke celebrates his 100th birthday

• Nnena Kalu becomes first artist with a learning disability to win Turner Prize

• Paula Lloyd Knight lands top NHS executive role

• Damilola Taylor’s legacy to be marked with new memorial garden

• Comedian Angie Le Mar was honoured with the INSPIRE Trailblazer Honorary Award at the recent INSPIRE Multicultural Awards

• Celebs unite to push back against rising racism in UK, announcing mass demonstration

Police pushed for biased facial recognition system, despite knowing it discriminated against Black people

Police forces lobbied for a facial recognition system they knew was biased against women, young people and Black and Asian people, because an alternative produced fewer suspects.

The Home Office has now admitted the technology is discriminatory, after a review found it misidentified Black and Asian people and women at far higher rates than white men

UK urged to introduce ‘Race Discrimination Offenders Register’ to tackle workplace racism

It would operate in a similar way to the Sex Offenders Register.

Prof Gus John has called for a Race Discrimination Offenders Register to stop individuals who racially discriminate from continuing in positions of power over Black people.

Delivering a lecture at the Industrial Law Society/Employment Law Association Race Equality Committee event on 3 December, he said racism remains “embedded in the DNA of the nation”, with perpetrators rarely facing personal consequences

Black Greggs worker branded “ganja man” by colleagues wins race discrimination case after being sacked over free sausage rolls

A Black Greggs supervisor dubbed “ganja man” by colleagues has won a race discrimination case after being sacked over claims he gave away sausage rolls.

A tribunal found the dismissal process was a stitch-up and that he faced discriminatory treatment at the West Sussex branch

Black Labour hopeful ‘told she is the wrong ethnicity for election’ - and moves to Lib Dems

A long-time Labour member in Brent has quit the party after saying she was told she was the “wrong ethnicity” to stand in her own ward.

Fiona Mulaisho has now defected to the Liberal Democrats, citing a toxic local culture and repeated sidelining

Black women say fake hair products sold online are endangering their health - and bad mind is active

Black British women are sounding the alarm after discovering counterfeit hair products bought on Amazon, with some reporting damage to their hair and scalp. Several say they unknowingly used products that weren’t genuine until Amazon alerted them.

Sinai Fleary reports that shoppers urge others to check labels, sellers and packaging before buying

Family-run shop to close after almost 30 years

A beloved family-run shop in Leicester, Stabana Cultural Products, will close on Christmas Eve after nearly 30 years serving the local African Caribbean community.

Owners Mr Randy and Ms Jenny say the store filled a vital gap when it opened in 1996, and are now retiring

What else we’re reading

• Rapper Ghetts admits to death by dangerous driving

• Exclusive | Met police search Black Londoners 18 times more than white people under section 60

• Ena Collymore-Woodstock, Jamaican-British legal pioneer, has died at 108

• Anatomical exhibition includes rare Victorian-era drawing of a Black body

• Maternity care failings ‘worse than anticipated’ with rife discrimination, national investigation warns

• Rising racism blamed for collapse in number of foreign nurses coming to UK

• Black taxi driver blinded by colleague in racist attack wins £278k with partner after council ignored years of abuse

• Lack of interpreters contributed to deaths of 34 babies last year

• ‘Bus Aunty’ and Simply Sayo link with City Hall, MPs and the NHS to boost blood donations in Black communities

Where we’ve been

• Yesterday, BET UK invited us to the UK private premiere of Darcus Beese: In His Own Words. The powerful new documentary chronicles the life, legacy and impact of Darcus Beese - one of the most influential figures in UK music history, as well as the son of trailblazing activists Darcus Howe and Barbara Beese

• Barbados! It was lovely to spend time in the beautiful Caribbean country during a special assignment

Got news, a tip, a story idea or thoughts on our coverage? Email admin@blackcurrentnews.co.uk. We read everything and take our community seriously.

Hi everyone,

We’re back with a quick dispatch from the Caribbean, where we’re currently working on an important project about migration experiences.

Given that we’re overseas and knee-deep in filming and interviews, there won’t be a full newsletter this week.

We didn’t want to leave you hanging though, so here’s a round-up of key stories worth your attention.

1. Racism tribunal claims in the Met Police have doubled
Our founder, Nadine White, has produced another national exclusive for The Guardian, which looks at how racism tribunal claims by Metropolitan Police officers and staff surged over the last year. The rise raises serious questions about internal culture and accountability. Read it here

2. Remembering Jimmy Cliff
The legendary Jamaican musician and actor died last week. Sir Jimmy’s work shaped generations and his passing is a huge loss. Jamaica’s government has announced that the cultural icon will receive a state funeral

3. Caribbean Scholars Foundation launches free mentoring scheme
A brilliant opportunity for UK-based year 12–13 Black Caribbean students. They’ll get academic support, career guidance and a mentor who’s genuinely in their corner. Details: www.caribbeanscholarsfoundation.com

4. African leaders intensify calls for accountability for colonial-era crimes
A major push on the global stage to have colonial violence formally recognised, criminalised and addressed through reparations.

5. Barbados installs its second president
A historic moment marked during Independence Day celebrations, signalling the island’s continued steps into republican life

6. MPs urge the government to introduce special visas for Jamaicans affected by Hurricane Melissa
There are growing calls for temporary humanitarian visas, especially for children and vulnerable people left in devastating conditions. Black Current News was the first to spotlight this emerging issue

7. Black men excluded from new prostate screening programme
Despite being the demographic at highest risk, Black men have been left out of the national screening trial. An important story for our communities and one we’ll continue following

8. Right-wing press meltdown over claims David Lammy “removed” the Queen’s portrait from Foreign Office
Several outlets spiralled over the notion of Pan-African flag artworks in the Foreign Office, stoking yet another culture-war debacle

9. Twelve Ethiopian artefacts finally returned after more than a century
Germany has handed back items looted during imperial campaigns. An overdue move within the wider global conversation on restitution

10. UK blocks visa for 8-year-old girl trying to reunite with mum after Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica
Lati-Yana’s parents urged the Home Office to act quickly after her grandmother’s home was ruined, leaving the child with nowhere safe to stay

That’s all from us for now.

We’ll be back next week with a full edition, fresh reporting and updates!

Thanks for sticking with Black Current News and for supporting independent, Black-owned journalism.

Got news, a tip, a story idea or thoughts on our coverage? Email admin@blackcurrentnews.co.uk. We read everything and take our communities seriously.

Good morning everyone,

Another week has flown by and, with that, we’re back with another newsletter.

Every week, In Focus will bring you:

• The biggest headlines affecting Black and marginalised communities, which mainstream media often underreport or miss

• Good news, highlights and achievements worth celebrating

Good News

• A Black-led, multi-award-winning charity has launched a £350,000 fundraiser to open the UK’s first domestic violence refuge designed specifically for Black women and children. The campaign was first reported by brilliant journalist Sinai Fleary

• Landmark study aims to close genetic health gap for Black communities

• £2,500 raised by Original Flava during their cookathon for Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa relief. Black Current News is proud to have been a media partner for this initiative

• West Yorkshire Police apologise during special service after officers violated Black elder’s memorial in church

• Musician YolanDa Brown is set to open second restaurant-music venue in Westfield Stratford

• Dr Nnenna Osuji will become the new Chief Executive of NHS North East London (the Integrated Care Board), marking a big leadership win for a highly respected Black woman in UK healthcare

Scotland’s top police chief reinstated racist officer who called takeaway staff “f*cking n*ggas” and “p*kis”

Scotland’s Chief Constable Jo Farrell reinstated PC Katie Barrett, who had been sacked for using racist slurs against takeaway staff. Farrell sat on the Police Appeals Tribunal that overturned Barrett’s dismissal in 2019, but the High Court later reversed that decision and ruled the original sacking was correct.

The move has raised fresh questions about whether Farrell is fit to lead Police Scotland

Mary Ann Macham: New UK statue honours mixed-heritage woman who escaped slavery

A new statue in North Shields, close to Newcastle, honours a woman who escaped slavery in the US and found freedom in the town in the 1830s. After hiding in Virginia and stowing away on a ship, she was taken in by a Quaker family, married locally and lived there until her death at 91

London beauty store at centre of racism scandal fined over £30k for dangerous skin-lightening products

The shop, formerly Peckham Hair & Cosmetics and now trading as Kings & Queens Beauty, is the same one that sparked outrage in 2023 after footage showed a staff member strangling a Black woman during a dispute over a refund. The incident prompted widespread boycott calls.

It has now been fined over £30,000 for selling illegal skin-lightening products containing harmful ingredients. Trading Standards seized dozens of items and warned that they pose serious risks to users’ health.

After the strangling incident, our editor Nadine White - who was working at The Independent then, revealed that Trading Standards had opened an investigation into the shop and look now…

Almost half of Black adults say England flag has become a racist symbol, poll suggests

The shift is linked to the flag’s visibility at far-right rallies, anti-immigration protests and football flashpoints, which has shaped how communities perceive it. Pakistani and Bangladeshi adults are the most likely to read racist sentiment in the flag, while most white adults reject the idea; the Union Jack is viewed a little differently. Read more here

Ian Wright: ‘England isn’t ready for a Black superstar’ as he defends Jude Bellingham

Ian Wright has backed Jude Bellingham after a media pile-on, saying the criticism is rooted in racism and driven by a need to control him. Ian warned he is “worried for Jude” as the young star refuses to shrink himself for anyone

What else we’re reading

• The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, says illegal migration is fuelling racism in Britain…

• Miss Jamaica still hospitalised 3 days after fall from Miss Universe stage - and doctor says she ‘isn’t doing as well’ as hoped

• Twenty people allege that Nigel Farage has a racist past. He denies it. Who’s telling the truth about his school days?

• Asylum seekers’ jewellery could be seized to pay for processing costs, says Home Office minister

• Black people can’t be English, insists Reform councillor

• Hunting down those who kill people to sell their body parts for ‘magic charms’

Where we’ve been

• Last week, our editor Nadine White was invited to a media briefing with a visiting CARICOM delegation, the regional body leading the Caribbean’s slavery reparations movement, during their “historic” first official visit to the UK. She had an insightful discussion with Professor Sir Hilary Beckles (Vice-chancellor, University of the West Indies), Barbados ambassador David Commissiong - both pictured below - and others. More on this soon

• Nadine also attended the Black Solicitors Network’s 30th anniversary ball, hosted by renowned broadcaster Charlene White - a powerful celebration of Black excellence in law. It was a joy to be in that room and an honour that Black Current News materials were circulated among guests, introducing the platform to some of the most influential legal professionals in the country

Barrel Children Part 2: Call-out for contributors

Brixton Heights Media, the production company behind the Barrel Children films, is gathering contributors for Barrel Children Part 2: Echoes of Separation.

Got news, a tip, a story idea or thoughts on our coverage? Email admin@blackcurrentnews.co.uk. We read everything and take our community seriously.

Dear readers,

Hope you’re all well. It’s been one of those weeks when the news cycle has thrown everything at us - sweeping immigration reforms, heroic Black men stepping up for their communities, heartbreaking farewells, a new Black-owned pub opening on the ends and a pastor calling out what he suggests was shocking state violence inflicted upon his church.

Every week, In Focus will bring you:

• The biggest headlines affecting Black and marginalised communities, which mainstream media often underreport or miss

• Good news, highlights and achievements worth celebrating

And feedback is always welcome, you know. A devoted reader recently expressed outright disdain - cussed us off, actually - for our coverage of the killing of an Asian prisoner in a racist attack, suggesting it meant we weren’t truly a pro-Black platform. We even lost two subscribers after it went live.

The truth is, stories like that matter, not least of all because what harms one minoritised group feeds the same system that’s overpopulating our prisons with Black people. BCN is unapologetically Black - and we stand for equal rights and justice. We also stand with you, our readers, so please keep the feedback coming.

As ever: thanks for supporting this growing platform for Black news, perspectives and the issues shaping our communities.

Good News

• Zekel Johnson, a firefighter from Norwood, rescues children on fourth day in job

• George Imafidon joins Co-op Foundation Board as Vice Chair

• Eniola Aluko inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame

• Steven Bartlett seeks to build ‘Disney of the creator economy’ after multi-million investment

• Aamilah Aswat becomes first Black British female jump jockey to race in the UK

• Room 187, a Black events company, wins big at the UK Entertainment Awards

• Black Current News given props by one of Britain’s leading journalism platforms

Just in | Police probe launched after pastor accuses officers of racism, saying they ‘stormed Black elder’s memorial and assaulted mourners. He’s carrying that “no weapon formed” conviction…

Bishop Anthony Parry, who leads the New Testament Church of God in Leeds, has accused West Yorkshire Police of racism after officers stormed a Black elder’s memorial, allegedly pushing a woman to the ground and shoving him when he questioned them.

A formal complaint has been filed and the incident is now under internal review. The police have apologised for the “distress” caused, as the church calls for accountability and assurances that this will never happen again. Read the full article here.

UK to deport more Black and Asian families, thanks to new immigration clampdown

On Monday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood unleashed a sweeping set of immigration measures, from temporary refugee status to changes in human rights law aimed at driving up deportations. Ministers are also threatening visa restrictions for countries that refuse to take back people the UK wants removed. Here’s a detailed breakdown of plans: you should read it because, for all we know, it could soon be any one of our loved ones on the next plane out of here, unprovoked.

US couple wanted over racist attack on a London family ‘have already left the UK’

Police say a prominent Trump supporter and her partner, wanted over a racist attack on a family in central London, left the UK within days of the incident. Investigations are ongoing.

Kanya King to open ‘House of MOBO’ pub in London ahead of awards’ 30th anniversary

MOBO Group has teamed up with Greene King to launch a brand new pub in South London - the House of MOBO, pitched as a vibrant community hub that celebrates Black culture and brings a fresh take on what a modern pub can be.

Marcus Fakana, 19, laid to rest

Marcus Fakana’s funeral took place in London on 14 November. His family shared a moving tribute, describing him as “a cherished brother, cousin and friend whose presence lit up every room he entered”.

What else we’re reading

• Man jailed for killing boy, 16, in front of mother

• ‘Barrel Children gets New York honour, Barbados filming this winter, Rustie Lee on childhood migration’

• Exclusive | “People are anxious for help”: Mark Golding on the urgency of Jamaica’s recovery after Hurricane Melissa

• Racism returning to UK politics – and people are very scared, says Starmer

• Vybz Kartel on his legal victory, vulgar lyrics and the lasting scars of prison: ‘If I hear a key shake, it traumatise me’ by Jason Okundaye

• NHS staff who visit patients at home say St George’s flags can mean ‘no-go zones’

• Analysis | Is MP’s call for death penalty rooted in racism?

• Inquest finds HMP Belmarsh failings behind racist killing. Why this matters for Black people

Where we’ve been

Last Wednesday, our editor Nadine White (middle in the loud silk shirt, honey) headed to the Society of Editors Awards (SOE) with fellow ‘Women in Journalism’ executive committee and advisory board members, where Black Current News was shortlisted for the prestigious Georgina Henry Prize. For those who don’t know, the SOE Awards is a leading journalism prize ceremony.

We didn’t take home the trophy - but being recognised just a month after launching was a real boost and a sign we’re moving in the right direction!

Remembering

• Remembering Mel Rudder: the plug who powered UK culture

Got news, a tip, a story idea or thoughts on our coverage? Email admin@blackcurrentnews.co.uk. We read everything and take our community seriously.

Dear readers,

How are you keeping? We love that you’re a part of this community; big up yourselves.

Following our exclusive on the Met Police’s ‘30 Patterns of Harm’ report - which forced the force to finally publish its findings last week - the story has since sparked national debate and been covered widely across mainstream outlets.

It’s also great to see Black Current News’ reporting cited in The Lead UK, a popular political title, and The Fuller Project, showing how our journalism is resonating both nationally and internationally.

Meanwhile, Black Current News subscribers have surged by 502% in the past month, reaching almost half a million people on Instagram. As of now, we’re at #55 on Substack’s global ‘rising in news’ leaderboard!

There was no In Focus newsletter last week as our team was focused on extensive coverage of Hurricane Melissa and its devastating impact on Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

Thank you for your patience and continued support as we prioritised getting those vital stories out.

Every week, In Focus will bring you:

• Some of the biggest headlines affecting Black and marginalised communities, which mainstream media often underreport or miss

• Good news, highlights and achievements worth celebrating

Let’s go!

Good News

• Top Black nurse Evonne Hunt, who was wrongly penalised after calling out racism at an NHS Trust, reinstated and given apology. She bussed case and we love it for her

• New magazine launched to “depict a new world that Western narratives have neglected”

• Empowering workshop launched to help dads learn how to braid Black hair

• Black Current News has been shortlisted for an award!

• Urban Synergy is partnering with City of London CEOs to empower 50,000 young people by 2027 through mentoring, workplace visits and other career-focused opportunities

• British communities are truly mobilising to help Jamaica through Hurricane Melissa’s aftermath - lots of events are happening this week!

Parents urge Home Office to help daughter left homeless in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa

A British-Jamaican couple are pleading with the Home Office to fast-track a visa for their eight-year-old daughter, who was left homeless in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa.

Racist Tory councillor resigns after warning that ‘young Black males’ are ‘flooding’ the UK

A former Conservative councillor called Pauline Giles has just resigned from the party following backlash after suggesting that Britain cannot sustain the “volume of young Black males” she claimed was “flooding” the country and “jeopardising” safety.

Critics have described her attitude as “frowsy” - a Caribbean term meaning dirty, off-key or just plain low vibrational. Anyway: Giles hasn’t left politics…! She’ll represent constituents as an independent candidate, so it’s best to sleep with one eye open.

Dr Ola Osman becomes youngest Black female assistant professor in the University of Cambridge’s history

Dr Ola joined the Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) in September, just a year after completing her PhD.

Just 0.3% of professors at Cambridge are Black. The 29-year-old, who was born in Sudan, hopes her perspective as an Assistant Professor will open doors for others. “Toni Morrison said that the function of freedom is to free someone else,” she says.

Catholic priest admits sending racist messages in neo-Nazi chat - but seems to keep job

Father Mark Rowles, a Catholic priest who posed as a teenager and joined neo-Nazi chatrooms to talk about shooting Black people, has been sentenced to a 12-month community order. Despite his conviction, the 57-year-old appears to have kept his job…!

Police probe suspected arson after baby and three children rescued from fire at asylum seekers’ housing

Two men have been arrested following a fire at a building housing people applying for international protection in Drogheda, County Louth. The blaze broke out on 31 October, with emergency services called to the scene shortly after 8 pm.

What else we’re reading

• A Tory MP says Labour might ‘take away the Full English breakfast’ - but I’m more worried about the price of Ackee…gone are the days when you can get 3 tins for £10 and 3 fingers of plantain for £1!

• NHS staff bearing brunt as ‘ugly’ racism of 70s and 80s returns, says Health Secretary

• Police are being forced to disclose the ethnicity of suspects in response to a rise in far-right speculation on social media, a former senior officer in the Metropolitan police force has warned

• DS Derek Ridgewell, a police officer known to have framed at least 13 Londoners, may have set up more than 100 innocent victims

• Black women with fibroids are being failed by healthcare professionals

• Shellshocked and homeless, Hurricane Melissa survivors wait for aid to arrive

Where we’ve been

• Our editor Nadine was invited to attend a reception at No.10 Downing Street last week

• Black Current News attended an “emergency” community meeting in Brixton regarding Hurricane Melissa, where veteran campaigner Lee Jasper told us that the UK government should suspend visa restrictions on Jamaican citizens

Wha’ gwahn everyone!

This first edition of your weekly ‘In Focus’ newsletter lands in a moment of loss, accountability and movement. From the passing of Black British giants to institutions still grappling with racism and reform, Black Current News exists to make sure our stories are not erased, downplayed or forgotten.

Every week, In Focus will bring you:

• The biggest headlines affecting Black and marginalised communities, which mainstream media often underreport or miss

• Good news, highlights and achievements worth celebrating

Thank you for being a part of this beginning!

- Nadine White, Editor-in-Chief of Black Current News

Marcus Fakana fundraiser

The family of Marcus Fakana - who died three months after being released from a Dubai jail - have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral costs.

Tory MP calls for deportation of legally settled Black and Asian families

Katie Lam, tipped as a potential future Tory Party leader, said Britain should expel “large numbers” of legally settled migrants to make the UK more “culturally coherent”.

BBC Chief: ‘Staff banned from wearing Black Lives Matter t-shirts in our newsroom’

BBC Director-General Tim Davie has said that Black Lives Matter campaigning - and t-shirts - is not appropriate in the corporation’s newsroom. “You leave it at the door and your religion is journalism at the BBC,” Mr Davie told the Cheltenham Literature Festival on Sunday.

Revealed: ‘Damning’ review of anti-Black racism within Met Police ‘buried’ by force

A review of anti-Black racism within the Metropolitan Police has been “buried” by the force, despite finding discrimination “baked into its HR systems”, I reported exclusively for The Guardian last week. Black Current News published an analysis of this report and assessed the discrimination that plagues UK policing here.

Trouble for Kemi Badenoch as 50% of Tory members say she’s not the one

Half of Conservative Party members believe Kemi Badenoch should not lead the party into the next general election, according to a new YouGov poll.

Exclusive: Lambeth’s deputy leader “laughed” along to “racist” jokes about Black colleagues

Lambeth Deputy Leader Cllr Daniel Adilypour, laughed along to “racist” jokes about Black and Asian colleagues, Black Current News reported recently. Read here.

Good News

• Jamaican acting legend Oliver Samuels joined High Commissioner Alexander Williams (above) in Brixton to champion blood donation and save lives in the fight against sickle cell

• Trailblazing Black lawyer becomes University of Hertfordshire’s new Chancellor

• Kente cloth granted protected status by Ghanaian government

• PM Keir Starmer orders “urgent review” into racism and discrimination across NHS

• Broadcaster Marverine Cole wins ‘Female Brummie of the Year’ at annual Birmingham Awards

Event: Barrel Children Screening & Panel at Medway Culture Club

Medway Culture Club will host a special screening of Barrel Children: The Families Windrush Left Behind at the Glassbox Theatre, MidKent College on Saturday 25 October (2 - 4 pm). Buy tickets here. My latest Barrel Children newsletter went out on Tuesday - including news of our upcoming festival selection in NYC.

What else I’m reading

• ‘Cancelled’ at Oxford: Black Union president-elect booted after post about dead white supremacist Charlie Kirk

• Dublin police condemn ‘thuggery’ after protest outside hotel housing asylum seekers turns violent

• Police officers get slap on wrist for wrongly arresting and traumatising Black woman in front of her child

• ‘The jobless should lead the attack’: a radical Jamaican journalist in 1920s London

• The Government has proposed tightening rules for Indefinite Leave to Remain, increasing qualifying period to ten years and introducing tougher English language requirements

In memory

• ‘Yvonne Brewster: the visionary who built stages for us all’

• Tributes paid to ‘trailblazer’ Baroness Ros Howells

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