BHM 10th Anniversary Speech at Stockport Town Hall on Friday 3rd October 2008
By Mr. Tolu Fiberesima,
Chairperson,
African Caribbean Community Association (ACCA), Stockport
Good, evening. It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to our historic event 10 years Anniversary of Black History Month in Stockport.
Can I once again extend a special welcome to Executive Member of SMBC Councillor Candler, CEO of Stockport Council Mr. John Schultz, CEO of LeaderGen Marilyn Comrie and the many Stockport Councillors here tonight.
I also acknowledge other distinguished guests, families and friends who have responded to the call of ‘community spirit’, towards this event.
Black History Month is a time to reflect on the accomplishments and heroes of the past, as well as time to salute the leaders of today.
The theme of this year’s BHM is “Participation & Engagement” and I would like to dedicate this speech to the memory of our great heroes.
I hope that you all find what I say tonight worthy of being a dedication to these outstanding men and women who laboured to bring the fruits of greater freedom and justice to us all.
Stockport Council and its Black community in some ways have come a long way since those first early steps to celebrate Black history.
A long way in a short period of time. From the perspective of the 1970s and 80s, whether in Adswood, Bramhall, Brinnington or Cheadle it was impossible to find any reality reflected in the representation of Black and other minority communities in the Borough.
Today the picture has changed. According to Office of the National Statistics there are 1,181 African and Caribbean people living in Stockport.
Over twenty years ago the notion of community participation was perceived in general as something very radical and potentially threatening. Participation was considered an ‘optional extra’. Fear, lack of trust and a feeling that one ought to appear forever grateful may also have inhibited participation of some minority groups.
Agencies need to be flexible and creative to do things differently to enable communities participate in a way that is relevant and appropriate to them. There should also be assurance to community groups that their involvement is more than merely consultative, and can genuinely affect and shape policy.
Often when agencies want Black and other minority groups to participate, the first port of call is community ‘leaders’, voluntary sector workers and Black and minority ethnic professionals.
Am not suggesting that community ‘leaders’ and voluntary sector organisations do not have the skills and knowledge to advocate and represent community groups.
Indeed, many have done excellent work in what are, often, very difficult situations. We are just caught in a real dilemma. The Black community may be keen to participate and be involved, but repeated consultation exercises with no feedback or evidence of change often leads to ‘consultation fatigue’.
When we talk about Participation and Engagement we assume it is the Council and other statutory agencies that need to communicate and engage with us – NO, NO, NO.
We as Black people also need to Participate and Engage, not just with statutory bodies but also amongst ourselves. There is always infighting and lack of trust within our communities. THIS HAS TO STOP.
Let me be blunt in what I am trying to say here: If you are not part of the solution to this crisis of under participation and engagement, then you are part of the problem. According to Martin Luther King - “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools”.
Stockport Black community – we need to speak collectively to assist the local authority provide effective and adequate services to us as service users.
Stockport Council, I won’t let you get away it also. If you want Black people to access your services, you need to be able to provide a friendly, approachable and cultural sensitive environment. Indeed, the possible solution to these could simply be to recruit appropriate Black and minority ethnic staff to reflect your community. These would help greatly. You can not shake hands with the community with clenched fist. You need to play your part.
Stockport Town Hall celebrated 100 years in June this year and is going to celebrate Democracy Day on 16th October, yet we still only have just one ethnic minority Councillor. That cannot be right.
Political parties in Stockport, you need to Participate and Engage with our community. You need to also open up, engage and diversify.
Diversity is not about Black and White, it is about a culture that seeks, respects and utilises difference.
Don’t get me wrong: all I am highlighting is that whether we like it or not, our present ways of doing business needs updating to promote good governance.
Rt Hon. Gordon Brown, The Prime Minister has kindly given ACCA his support for this historical event celebrating Black History Month.
At this point I would like to read a short passage contained within his letter of support.
(Quote):
“The annual commemoration is a reminder that we must be tireless in the struggle both to bring down the barriers that prevent people in this country from fulfilling their potential and to put an end to the cruel forms of slavery that still persist in the world today”.
(Unquote).
There is no magic formula that will instantly achieve our participation, engagement and development strategies despite our commitment. The achievement of our goals requires strong partnership and a willingness to adopt new measures; therefore we as a community (statutory and voluntary alike) have a responsibility to make that change.
Once more distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank you all for your support. I would also like to thank the Army, Greater Manchester Police – Positive Action Team and members of the Sunshine Circle for their support and participation at this event.
I would like to end with this quote by Carter Woodson, the founder of Black History Month:
“When you control a man’s thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his ‘proper place’ and will stay in it. You do not need to send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary.”
So I ask you all to join us and be part of that change that you want.
Thank you for your kind attention.
End.
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What people said about ACCA/SMBC’s Black History Dinner Dance
- “ACCA: Congratulations on the excellence associated with SMBC”
- “Speech at the event was sound! It was just what needed to be said . I admire the way ACCA is creating a cosmopolitant cultural environment in Stockport. It makes the town so much richer and interesting place to relate to. Very well done”
- “The 10th Anniversary Dinner was out of this world. The formal dinner was excellent and standards the Black community should be seeking to achieve. I attend many formal functions with my husband being a Nigerian wife but have to say this is the first time I saw an event on the calibre and standards it was presented in Stockport put on your organisation. Chairman’s speech was very good. Real and very much to the point. I receive it.
We have come a long way. It was something else. As black people we still face a lot of exclusion within the workplace. The simple “participation and involvement” message was crystal clear. If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem was heard and now needs to be acted on. Well Done!” - “Army Officers added colour to the event. First time seeing our brave boys in an official function”
