Is it time to ditch the colour Black for our true heritage, African?

The African Or Black Question: Colour or Heritage? – Ade Sawyerr

In an article I wrote last year, I wondered what people of African descent would make of the declaration of 2011 the International Year for people of African Descent, http://www.obv.org.uk/news-blogs/2011-year-people-african-descent, and to what extent they would benefit from the message of recognition, justice and development that was intended to be the hallmark of the celebrations.  Though we are yet to evaluate the significant outcomes of the year of celebration, it has forced on us a question that is being asked about what people of African descent should be called in the Diaspora – ‘The African or Black Question’?

Questions of identity are complex, sensitive and personal, and therefore reaching consensus even after extensive discussion may be difficult.  Any answer must be well reasoned and cover issues of race, ethnicity, culture, changes in terminology and colour.  My conclusion after considering this issue is that the colour Black does not quite denote our identity in Britain and that our heritage and historical geography, African is a more enduring and fitting term for our identity as a people.

Should Africa be scared of the Chinese exploration?

Submitted 4 Aug 2011 11:40am

in

• News

Ade Sawyerr, one of Britain’s foremost African thinkers gives an insight to an emerging relationship between African countries and the Chinese Republic. Should Africa now look East and abandon the long standing albeit rocky relationship with the West? Ade informs.

David Cameron’s speech in Nigeria included a warning for Africa to be cautious in their dealing with China and a suggestion that the authoritarian capitalism model adopted by the Chinese was not sustainable and will not help in the development of Africa.

But this warning needs to be examined against the backdrop why it has taken 50-60 years for the West to be rekindling their interest in Africa as the preferred trading partner as it was at the time of independence. We should ask whether this warning has anything to do with the fact that the Chinese are filling the space that the West abandoned because they were not interested in our holistic economic development but only in access to our goods.

The Equinox Consulting story

The Equinox Consulting story

The story of Equinox Consulting can be likened to a journey of hard work with a lot of fulfilment along the way; but like all journeys, things do not always go as planned. There are detours and there are new objectives that get set up along the journey.  The business model and the strategy for survival have to be constantly updated especially if like us you have been able to survive two recessions.

We remain in business because there is, and has always been a compelling need for the work we do for our clients, and the demand for our services has enabled us to survive and be successful.

Twenty eight years ago we established, through research, that there were inequalities in the set up and survival rates for African and Caribbean people going into business in this country.  We set up Equinox Consulting to provide them with business advice and counselling services. We designed, developed and delivered business skills management and growth courses and worked on business plans for them so that they could attract funding for their operations.  We also helped to set up business organisations and worked with central government, local authorities and statutory agencies to develop strategies for supporting these small businesses.

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