Championing representation in London’s Black communities
Words by Ore Ajala
Anthony Paul, Dwayne Simspon Foundation
Courtesy of Nike
Becoming the best version of yourself is a difficult task for anyone. Combine that with not being able to see – and therefore imagine – what that version of yourself would be is especially difficult. This is what the majority of London’s Black youth face due to the lack of representation in the media.
Though it seems like the world is constantly evolving and progressing, there are still those crucial questions about why Black professionals, especially women, struggle to break the glass ceiling? Or, why is the academic curriculum in schools still so eurocentric? Recognising that there’s room for change, Nike established a grant initiative in 2021 to support non-profit organisations dedicated to creating lasting change for the Black community in the fields of education, play and sports equity, economic empowerment and career progression.
15 organisations that are doing vital work were selected, such as providing mental health services, mentorship and educational resources that could change the trajectory of a young person’s life. Roundtable Journal spoke to five of the grantee winners to find out how lack of representation affects London’s Black communities and the work they are doing to counter it.
Lynette Nabbosa, Elimu International
Courtesy of Nike
Elimu International's slogan reads “You can’t be what you can't see”. It encapsulates the essence of who they are as an organisation. They are a bridge “to form connections between young Black people and role models,” said co-founders Lynette Nabbosa and Annalisa Cleland-Awity. After they received the grant from Nike, they launched their online social learning platform. Through the platform, they provide their community with tools to gain “social capital in order to overcome these barriers through the provision of social networks, access to markets and opportunities.” Nabbosa and Cleland-Awity feel confident that “young people can come to [their] community with their wildest dreams, knowing that they are valued.”
Project 4 Youth Empowerment (P4YE) is an organisation run by four friends who came together to tackle unemployment in the Black community and the lack of proper education. “We understand how important it is to give young Black people the platform and the opportunity to represent themselves positively,” says Wayne Lindsay, co-founder of the P4YE team. The organisation operates by attending schools to reach students who are underprivileged. However, accessing these children has not always been easy. “The Nike grant helped to support our work by giving us access to the spaces we historically found difficult to enter. The funding of an esteemed brand helped to remove that barrier that made schools reluctant to engage with us,” stated Lindsay.
Wayne Lindsay, Project 4 Youth Empowerment CIC
Courtesy of Nike
Joseph Amuah, Project 4 Youth Empowerment CIC
Courtesy of Nike
Located in the heart of Brixton, South London, the Dwayne Simpson Foundation (DSF) helps to provide free after-school activities for children such as boxing classes through Dwaynamics ABC “DSF possesses a rare empowering force as it was birthed out of great tragedy. It is transforming lives by turning pain into positive power,” says Lorraine Jones who tragically lost her son Dwayne Simpson to knife crime in 2014. Jones fulfilled her son’s dream of owning a communal gym and founded Dwaynamics Boxing Gym in 2015 as a safe space for young children to learn the importance of commitment and perseverance. “Our Black representation brings inspiration and affirmation to our young Black kids,” she says. “They know they can be successful despite the violence.
Lorraine Jones, Dwayne Simpson Foundation
courtesy of Nike
Also based in Brixton is Baytree Centre, an educational charity run by an esteemed group of women. They aim to inspire women and girls to take on professional endeavors and feel confident whilst doing so. “We provide opportunities for girls to develop life and leadership skills with the aim of empowering them to recognise their self-worth, to value their ethnic identities and ultimately, become women who are comfortable and confident within themselves,” says Rosanna, Youth Programme Manager. With Nike’s support, Baytree has launched their Sparking Futures Programme, a youth-led platform for successful Black women to share their experiences to inspire and nurture the next generation of Black leaders.
Giovana Edwards, Baytree Centre
Courtesy of Nike
Carmen Gonzales, Baytree Centre
Courtesy of Nike
Another organisation striving to nurture Black youth is The 100 Black Men of London. The founders of the organisation witnessed young men struggle to work against negative stereotypes perpetuated by the media time again. Ola Oyalegan, President of 100 Black Men explains: “Black men are often shown as aggressive or incapable in the media. Therefore, it is important for us Black men to be seen and to serve diligently as positive role models for our youth.” 100 Black Men centres mentorship and provides support to young men, offering them a listening ear and ultimately a positive, affirming way to see themselves. “We introduce our young men to history and culture which is often unspoken or institutionally suppressed,” says Oyalegan.
Reg Amoah, 100 Black Men of London
Courtesy of Nike
Marvin Crichlow, 100 Black Men of London
Courtesy of Nike
The hard truth is: young black people can exist and succeed in any realm they choose, despite the many obstacles and prejudices they face. It’s just important that they see a representation of people who look like them doing it. Whether they choose to become the next great Ivorian footballer like Didier Drogba or Jamaican entrepreneur like Sharmadean Reid, the options for young Black children should be limitless and their authenticity valued.