The Eminent Prophet and King Omowale Malcolm X famously declared, when lamenting our political immaturity manifested in our collective capacity to be continuously deceived by political forces:

“Oh, I say you been misled. You been had. You been took.” (1)

We wonder if, after nearly three score years since that statement, the veil is finally being lifted.  A recent document released by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) found hesitancy to take the Covid-19 vaccine was “highest in black ethnic groups, with 72% stating they were unlikely/very unlikely to get the jab.” (2)  There are even concerns that ‘vaccine hesitancy’ also exists among “black African and black Caribbean” staff. (3)

Such is the concern about this state of affairs that the establishment has enlisted “Black MPs unite in video to encourage BAME communities to vaccinate.” (4)  There are currently no punitive measures, like immunity passports, in place but they may be on the horizon. (5)

However, efforts to reduce “vaccine hesitancy” tend not to address the historical factors influencing the hesitancy, even if they are referenced in passing. (6)

This may compel some to consider who the real authorities and ‘influencers’ are for our people.  The establishment and even some in our community are railing against “misinformation” spread by “toxic Pan-Afrikanists”, influenced by “right-wingers” and others “deliberately targeting the black community for their own nefarious reasons.” (7)  Yet accounts of hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of “adverse events” occurring soon after taking the vaccine, receive little coverage. (8)

(1) Omowale Malcolm X (12/04/64) The Ballot or the Bullet https://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/blackspeech/mx.html

(2) SkyNews.com (15/01/21) COVID-19: BAME groups far less likely to take coronavirus vaccine, SAGE finds https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-bame-groups-far-less-likely-to-take-coronavirus-vaccine-sage-finds-12189151

(3) Ben Clover (28/01/21) Exclusive: Fewer black and Filipino NHS staff vaccinated amid ‘hesitancy’ concern. https://www.hsj.co.uk/acute-care/exclusive-fewer-black-and-filipino-nhs-staff-vaccinated-amid-hesitancy-concern/7029397.article

(4) SkyNews.com (28/01/21) COVID-19: Black MPs unite in video to encourage BAME communities to vaccinate. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-black-mps-unite-in-video-to-encourage-bame-communities-to-vaccinate-12201312.

(5) Aubrey Allegretti (12/04/64) COVID-19 immunity passport options investigated by ministers ahead of summer. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-immunity-passport-options-investigated-by-ministers-ahead-of-summer-12209240?fbclid=IwAR1H-s4meKdvf53JntXRDufdaK0uEpEOsunfKHJYL-INo3-BeO1dzRHSATU

(6) Tim McNulty (31/01/21) David Lammy argues BAME community are ‘suspicious’ but asks them to take ‘safe’ vaccine. https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1391478/uk-vaccine-new-latest-david-Lammy-bame-coronavirus-labour-party-bbc-politics-vn

(7) Labour MP David Lammy tweeted on 16/01/21: “With Covid-19 disproportionately killing black people can’t stress enough the importance of taking the vaccine. Don’t fall victim to the vaccine conspiracy theorists on social media deliberately targeting the black community for there own nefarious reasons.” https://twitter.com/DavidLammy/status/1350431471450910720 ; PACM TV (07/02/21) Why are so many Black people reluctant to take the vaccine? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdACJxObdxs

(8) Children’s Health Defense Team (05/02/21) 501 Deaths + 10,748 Other Injuries Reported Following COVID Vaccine, Latest CDC Data Show. https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/deaths-injuries-following-covid-vaccine-cdc/;  Chelsea Donovan (03/02/21) Gloucester resident dies within hours of receiving Pfizer vaccine https://www.wtkr.com/news/gloucester-resident-dies-within-hours-of-receiving-pfizer-vaccine?fbclid=IwAR2SPkHO2QUVRJbFQYhKsljBorgd0DuQSCJ1Y3RvTqqbyzUiv5NuodmbyM8

We ask the question:

“Misled… had… took…” no More? Why are we refusing the vaccine?

1) What is the cause of “vaccine hesitancy”?

2) Is our “vaccine hesitancy” a result of political maturity or “nefarious targeting”?

3) If it is down to political maturity are there any other areas we are manifesting it?

4) Would Black MPs convince you to take the vaccine?

5) What is the activists’ role in informing our community?

Our Special Guest:

Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant.  Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of almost 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.

Bro. Glenroy Watson: is the secretary of the Global Afrikan Congress UK branch.  He is a veteran activist and trade unionist of international repute.  Bro. Glenroy has been a stalwart of the TUC Black workers conferences for twenty years.