The current climate of “Black Lives Matter” is causing some institutions (rhetorically at least) to re-assess their approach to ‘diversity.’  One such field is the aviation industry that currently has just 7% “BAME” representation:

“There is a huge lack of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and Women in the Airline Pilot Industry. One of the biggest problems facing the aviation industry is a genuine lack of diversity. This is due to a systematic lack of support and real opportunity in the Airline Pilot industry.” (1)

One person aiming to buck the trend is a 23-year-old from North West London named Rasheed Graham.  Young Bro. Rasheed was the first Afrikan to secure a scholarship on Aer Lingus’ Future Pilot’s Programme, which otherwise would have cost him over £100,000.  (2)   Unfortunately, the programme was scrapped due to Covid-19 meaning that Bro. Rasheed would have to £60,000 himself to complete the programme. However, being ever resilient and helped by a feature in a BBC documentary, the youngster from Kensal Rise met the target by the end of October and will resume the programme in January 2021. (3)

While we wish Bro. Rasheed every success in his pursuits, he has also spoken of the pressure to “tone his Blackness down” in order to “fit in with the (mainly white) crowd.”  (4)  It’s a perennial issue not least in light of the apparent outcome of the USA presidential election.  With Kamala Harris now the first “woman of colour” Vice-President elect, debates are raging about whether her success was due to her working on behalf of, or against the Afrikan community. (5)  But we when look at David Lammy who went from being a 2006-7 shill for the Labour government’s slavey bi-centenary farce to a 2018 powerful advocate on behalf of the victims of the “Windrush scandal,” it may be the case that transformation is possible. (6)

(1) Fantasy Wings (2020) Where Dreams Take Off And Opportunity Lands. https://fantasywings.co.uk/

(2) Patricia Wharton (24/10/20) Flying Without Wings. https://soundcloud.com/user-762461622/flying-without-wings-1?ref=whatsapp&p=a&c=1.

(3) Lewis Robertson (28/10/20) Aspiring pilot raises £60k to continue training after funding was cut due to pandemic – Viral News UK.  https://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2020/10/28/aspiring-pilot-raises-60k-to-continue-training-after-funding-was-cut-due-to-pandemic-viral-news-uk/

(4) Wharton. Op. cit.

(5) Marjorie Cohn (10/07/19) Kamala Harris Has a Distinguished Career of Serving Injustice. https://www.blackagendareport.com/kamala-harris-has-distinguished-career-serving-injustice

(6) Mark Sealy (2007) Index On Censorship 1 2007: A Road To Be Travelled. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/03064220701249428; Tom Victor (17/04/18) You need to watch David Lammy’s powerful speech to Parliament about the UK’s “day of national shame.”  https://www.shortlist.com/news/david-lammy-windrush-generation-speech-parliament

We ask the question:

What is the price of success?

1) Do we really have to “tone down our Blackness” to “fit in”?

2) Can we ever reconcile academic/professional with cultural achievement?

3) Do we put too much pressure on our successful professionals?

4) Is there really an appropriate cultural model for our professionals to follow?

5) Can our professionals who appear not to community advocates transform into being one?

Our special Guest:

Bro. Rasheed Graham: is a 23-year-old Londoner who is pursuing a lifelong dream of becoming a commercial airline pilot and will be resuming his place on the Aer Lingus Future Pilot’s Programme in January 2021.