The people of Britain have spoken and by a margin of 52% to 48%, they have voted to leave the European Union (EU) that some are calling “independence day.” Brexit is in effect and it is being felt by the Prime Minister David Cameron who has resigned as a result. Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn position is also under siege as his shadow cabinet continues to implode amidst mass resignations. (1)
Within the Afrikan community some divergent factors emerged around not only what we should vote for, but if we should vote. In truth, the majority view was to vote and to vote remain. The latter has certainly been borne out by the post referendum that indicated that “three quarters (73%) of black voters” voted to remain. (2)
The imperative to vote is something that is advocated by Afrikan political party members and trade unionists as well as those considered to be grassroots activists alike. As former London Mayor Ken Livingstone’s advisor on equalities and policing, Lee Jasper opines:
“To leave this decision to others to decide constitutes a profound abrogation of personal responsibility on a matter, that once decided, effects all us for the rest of our lives. The decision to stay in or leave the EU affects our children, grandchildren and generations to come. We cannot be idle, ignorant, or dismissive in determining the future for our own childrens’ lives. I have no doubt that whatever you decide you will almost certainly, at some point be asked by younger members of your family, which way you voted in the great EU referendum.” (3)
Thus, the prevailing view is that we MUST vote. In the past Afrikans were urged to vote to keep out the BNP or its more recent incarnation UKIP. (4) Not voting, as a strategy has been regarded as virtual heresy that leaves us voiceless. But it is gaining traction. On Afrika Speaks on Galaxy Radio on 13/06/2016, Bro. Luwezi Kinshasa, Secretary-General of the African Socialist International (ASI) asserted:
“This is not our agenda and the outcome of the referendum will not change anything for the masses. This is not our agenda. Our agenda has always been from day one to keep control of our destiny in our hands which means to achieve state power for ourselves. I’m not voting, it’s not our agenda, not at all. What we need to do is continue to organise. There’s no short cuts.” (5)
Speaking as UNIA-ACL Ambassador for the UK, Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka declared at
“Where do you get the idea from that our vote really matters? If you don’t have a power base by which to drive home your advantage and hold the government of the day to account, you ain’t got no talk, you ain’t got no say, you ain’t go not vote! Your vote is a wasted and vain exercise. And we’re voting for either the devil or satan!”
In revisiting the debate (featuring tonight’s guests) that was played out on Chief Pa Kombrabia’s Interactive Show on Galaxy Radio on 19/06/16, we explore the main perspectives.
Five decades of political engagement have brought 13 (9 Labour, 4 Conservative) Afrikan MPs out of 650 (around 2%), with about 4% of local councillors designated as “ethnic minority”. (6) With there being no long standing independent national Afrikan institutions to speak of, further engagement along this line may be seen as desirable and may even indicate a lack of viability of such structures. The Asian community has more than twice the number of MPs and seem less afflicted by some of the ills confronting the Afrikan community.
But in the wake of the interim National Afrikan People’s Parliament’s General People’s Assembly that took place on 25/06/2016, iNAPP asserts that the only solution for Afrikan people through its aim “to be a national, independent, representative body designed to promote, preserve and protect the best interest of Afrikan people domiciled in the UK (and globally) and to establish the framework for the restoration of Afrikan sovereignty through nation building.” (7)
(1) (27/06/2016) Tom Watson tells Jeremy Corbyn he faces leadership challenge. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36638041(2) Glaze, Ben (24/06/2016) Who voted for Brexit? How the EU referendum divided generations and social classes. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/who-voted-brexit-how-eu-8277077.(3) Jasper, Lee (22/06/2016) EU Referendum: Why it’s imperative that Black people vote. http://www.obv.org.uk/news-blogs/eu-referendum-why-its-imperative-black-people-vote.(4) Mbandaka, ShakaRa (2015) ShakaRa Speaks On It: Why ‘No Vote – No Voice’ Is a Lie!. http://www.thebritishblacklist.com/shakara-speaks-it-no-vote-voice-lie/(5) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (13/06/2016) EU Referendum – Will the BLACK VOTE Count?. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eF7bnAZcgU.(6) Audickas, Lukas (04/03/2016) Ethnic Minorities in Politics and Public Life. House of Commons Briefing Paper Number SN01156. www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/sn01156.pdf(7) http://www.inapp.org.uk/index.php
So tonight we ask the question:
After Brexit, is it time for a Black Agenda?
1. Did you vote in the EU Referendum?
2. Can not voting ever be a political strategy?
3. What will change for Afrikans in the UK as a result of Brexit?
4. Has engagement in mainstream political structures ever yielded results?
5. Does the lack of an alternative mean it’s not viable?
6. Should Afrikans develop their own institutions or throw their lot in with the existing ones?
Our very special guests:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and UNIA-ACL Ambassador for the UK and national co-Chair of the interim National Afrikan People’s Parliament. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of over 30 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwindnewspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An Africentric Guide To Excellence.
Sis. Oracle: is a legally trained public speaker, music producer, broadcaster and blogger (http://imjussayin.com/). She hosts a talk show, “Tackling The Tough Topics” on Galaxy radio 102.5 FM Thursday’s 12-3pm and can also be heard on the stations Interactive Show, hosted by Chief Pa Kombrabia on Sundays 12-3pm.
Cllr Martin Seaton: has been a councillor in the south London borough of Southwark since May 2016 and represents the East Walworth ward for the Labour Party. Cllr Seaton is also a member of the Global Afrikan Congress UK Branch.
Hear weekly discussions and lively debate on all issues affecting the Afrikan community, at home and abroad. We talk it straight and make it plain!
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