The opinions of young people are often disregarded in society. Whether talking about race, media, education or wider politics these opinions are often overlooked in favour of those with more ‘life experience’. By doing this we lose valuable and unique insights, something which our recent Race Equality Action Project at Oasis Hadley Academy goes to show.
Earlier in the year, Action For Race Equality started working with a group of ten Black boys from Oasis Hadley Academy in Enfield to execute their own Race Equality Action Project (REAP) with the unwavering support of expert role model, Hepburn Harrison Graham.
Despite an initially large group, our expert role model narrowed it down to a smaller group which consisted of boys who were exhibiting early signs of leadership, communication and teamwork skills that could be built upon. They started out by identifying the negative stereotypes that exist around young Black boys both in school and outside, which lay the foundations for the topics of discussion in the podcast. It was imperative for the boys to identify these stereotypes, not just for the content of the podcast, but also to give them a greater understanding of how the world around them may have preconceived ideas about who they are.
This was a message that we were keen to get across, because, by becoming aware of these stereotypes, they could then learn how to avoid falling under them.
Each boy had their own unique strengths, which Hepburn Harrison Graham expertly identified and allocated roles based on. Two boys had outstanding presenting skills and the ability to keep the conversation flowing. This meant that they were the perfect candidates to host the show, and that they did. Others were identified as strong readers and so was given a bulkier set of lines when re-enacting a dramatised version of the New Cross Fire.
The fundamental point here was finding strengths in the boys that they themselves were not aware of and allowing them to build upon them throughout the project.
“This project has taught me that I can do more than I think I can do. I can read and speak better than I thought I could.”
The three topics that were covered were the New Cross Fire, Black boys in education, and Black boys in the media. These topics were chosen as they provide an insight into the racial context of: British history, the boys current environment (school), and wider society (media).
The episode on the New Cross Fire was crucial as none of the boys in the group were previously aware of the tragic incident. In schools, Black history is often limited to the transatlantic slave trade or the civil rights movement, with there being very little room for Black British history. This reinforced the need for such an episode, so that the boys could become more familiar with the history of people like them.
“The thing I enjoyed most about this programme was getting an understanding of my ethnic background, and what my parents and grandparents went through.”
Black representation in UK media can often be confined to so called “hood” films and shows, which can lead to the reinforcement of negative stereotypes, particularly around young Black boys. This topic was vital for the group to discuss for contrasting reasons. The first being that some members of the group felt as though they could relate to these shows and that they are not too far removed from that reality. However, most of the group did not feel as though they could relate to this type of media, thus showing how these shows do not reflect the reality of most young Black men.
They went on to interview Pirates of The Caribbean, Black Earth Rising and Bosch actor Treva Etienne, who shared his opinions on what we can do in the UK for more positive Black representation in the media. This was an important insight by a star who has worked across film and television.
Finally, the boys moved onto the topic that arguably matters most to them at this point of their lives; education. Whilst covering this topic they were fortunate enough to interview Professor Gus John, a pioneer in the advocacy of Black education, and Brianna Cyrus, Routes2Success Programme Manager and former teacher. By focusing on this topic, the boys were made aware of the fact that negative stereotypes of Black boys unfortunately extend to the classroom. Again, we saw this as crucial so that they know that in some circumstances that they will have to work twice as hard as their peers to achieve the same outcomes.
Many young people have valid thoughts and opinions but can struggle to articulate them in productive ways. Our REAP at Oasis Hadley Academy saw a group of somewhat shy boys grow into a group that could lead their own discussions on issues that some may view as “too complex” for boys of their race and age. This REAP exemplifies the magnificent things that young people can achieve once you give them a feeling of empowerment and give them an opportunity to prove themselves.
Author: Liam Campbell, Local Engagement Project Development
