1 million Black books, Brixton’s Back to School Drive and Nigel Lawrence’s death after police arrest
Plus: Black nurse honoured on City of London body’s coat of arms
Dear readers,
Happy Saturday!
What a week it’s been. From the resignation of former Cambridge professor Jason Arday, first reported by Black Current News, to our investigation revealing The Africa Centre’s abrupt closure and plans to sell its London home, it’s been a busy one.
We’ll have updates on both stories in the coming days.
In the meantime, scroll down for your weekly round-up of news shaping Black Britain and beyond.
Over £69,000 raised as fundraiser to safeguard one of Britain’s largest collections of Black books smashes initial target
A campaign to safeguard one of Britain’s largest collections of Black books has raised more than £69,000, smashing its initial £25,000 target after repeated break-ins put rare publications at risk.
More than one million books, collected over five decades by pioneering distributor and Pan-African activist Baba Pepukayi, are housed at the Maa Maat Centre in Tottenham.
Further funds will help reopen the centre safely and catalogue and digitise the collection. “Help us put one million Black books back into the hands of the community,” Baba Pepukayi said.
See the crowdfunder, supported by author Selina Brown, who’s also the founder of Europe’s largest Black book festival, here.
Pioneering Black nurse Annie Brewster honoured on historic City of London body’s coat of arms
Pioneering Black nurse Annie Catherine Brewster has been incorporated into the newly authorised coat of arms of the Worshipful Company of Nurses.
Born in St Vincent, she joined the London Hospital in 1881 and later led its ophthalmic wards during a career spanning more than 20 years.
Annie appears alongside nursing reformer Ethel Gordon Fenwick as one of two figures supporting the arms.
For those who don’t know: The Worshipful Company of Nurses is a professional and charitable organisation within the City of London’s historic network of trade bodies.
Why David Olusoga accepted an OBE despite his criticism of the British Empire
Historian David Olusoga has defended accepting an OBE in 2019, saying critics underestimate what a national honour can mean to an immigrant.
Born in Nigeria and naturalised as a British citizen later in life, he told Radio Times that Britain invested in him through social housing, education and support for his dyslexia.
“Turning an honour down would be a snub,” he said. “I don’t want to snub a country that I became a citizen of, and which is my nation.”
Responding to this, columnist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown wrote: “I have known Olusoga for over 20 years. (…) Britain’s honours system is a shameful imperial relic – we should be getting rid of it, not talking it up”.
Black Joy Bulletin
An amnesty van is travelling across the West Midlands helping rid the UK’s streets of thousands of knives. The initiative was launched around 2019 by campaigner Faron Paul
US abolitionist Frederick Douglass honoured with plaque at UK church where he spoke while still enslaved
Journalist and accredited beer sommelier Marverine Cole nominated for Beverage Professional of the Year at Be Inclusive Hospitality Awards
Original Flava chef duo launch kitchen residency at Hackney Picturehouse
Four police officers are under investigation for potential gross misconduct after arresting Nigel Lawrence, a distressed 23-year-old Black man who later died.
Black Current News can reveal that Nigel was Black, following confirmation of his ethnicity directly from the IOPC.
The watchdog is examining the officers’ decision to search, arrest, handcuff and detain him, as well as the care provided.
Brixton Soup Kitchen launches Back to School Drive for families across London
Brixton Soup Kitchen has launched its 2026 Back to School Drive, providing new uniforms and supplies to families across London (not just Brixton, they’ve confirmed).
Donations will be collected in Brixton, Harrow Road and Peckham on 29 August.
The main drop-off point will be the charity’s headquarters at 298-299 Coldharbour Lane, London, SW9 8RP. Folks are encouraged to call the above number before dropping things off.
Visit Brixton Soup Kitchen’s Instagram page for further details and to support the initiative!
‘From an idea to Issue 1’: Black Current News magazine
The newly-released issue 1 of Black Current News magazine took interviews, writing, editing, photography and design, alongside late nights, early starts, ordering boxes, printing thank-you stickers, packing copies by hand, plenty of Post Office runs - plus more. Our editor Nadine White explains more about the process above!
What else we’re reading
Black barrister was told ‘it’s not for defendants’ at London court car park. Listen to the podcast conversation, where this was first mentioned, here
Eddie Nestor, beloved BBC Radio presenter, returned to host his programme this week following cancer diagnosis. He’s still undergoing chemotherapy - but bussing joke and feeling touched by everyone’s support, he says. The Black Current News team send love to our legendary Eddie!
No misconduct case for officer who shot Chris Kaba
Former X Factor contestant Gabrielle Carrington denies murdering influencer in Soho
GoFundMe launched to help 22-year-old with rare cancer access £8,000-a-month treatment
Patients refusing to be treated by non-white staff as NHS reports shocking rise in racism
Simon Levy: Police failings revealed as sex offender left free to murder and attack women
Kemi Badenoch appoints former neo-Nazi as adviser after he withdraws as Tory candidate
‘Is the Church pressuring women to marry too young? Why we need to rethink the timeline’ | Maxine Harrison
Footballer David Owori has died, aged 27, after being beaten by a gang outside of his home in Uganda
Man dressed as ‘Grim Reaper’ climbed onto hospital roof in Wales and stared at patients. Father God. He was apprehended by police and fined £200
Man dies after heart attack during sex - then ‘strangers arrive to harvest organs’
Jamaica’s unfinished independence
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