London rapper quits the hood for countryside, Labour 'in trouble' and RIP Dot Rotten
Plus: Black mum given wrong antibiotics dies from sepsis
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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