2014 marks the 125th anniversary of the world’s first black professional footballer, so where are the black coaches?

Favouritism, discrimination and racism is preventing BME coaches from working within English professional football by Colin Joseph Last month a 16ft statue of the world’s first black professional football player – Arthur Wharton – was unveiled at the Football Association’s (FA’s) national football centre in Burton, West Midlands. The memorial statue was erected (thanks to… Read More

Ain’t no black in the UKIP pack?

Now we know for sure. After their stunning, and literally historic victory in the Clacton by-election and unexpected success in the North West on the same day, there is now electoral ‘proof’ – if any were still needed – that UKIP are likely to have a significant impact on the outcome of the general election in May 2015.

So what does this mean for minority ethnic communities in Britain, as the political centre of gravity drifts to the right? Read More

“There is no racism in football… If you are good, you get the job”

Much talk has centred around the NFL’s, “Rooney Rule” as a panacea, which ensures that at least one person of colour must be interviewed when a head coaching position becomes available. It’s said that such a measure could offset the paucity of managers of colour in English football.
More recently, Sir Trevor Brooking, the former Director of Football Development at the FA said he was against such a regulation, offering choice quotes such as, “Some black coaches say they’re not given a chance, but I do think a lot of them have to get themselves in that position”, and, “There is a reluctance from people sometimes and they feel it should be handed to them.” Read More

#WhyILeft Reflections on Leaving an Abusive Relationship

by Rubab Zaidi Recently hashtags related to domestic violence were trending on Twitter, #WhyILeft and #WhyIStayed, asking women to come forward with their stories about why they chose to leave or stay in an abusive relationship. I thought it was incredibly brave of people to tell their stories like that – something I have not… Read More

Black Men Need To Support Black Feminism

by Jesse Bernard Being a black man over the past couple of weeks has been interesting, as it always is. I’ve stood in solidarity with the citizens of Ferguson, Missouri – both virtually and in a march at Notting Hill Carnival. There is a long history of black women leading movements for change and the… Read More