Liverpool's Black Experience in 2012

1.       Liverpool is a city that is home to the longest established Black and Chinese community, a city with diverse multi racial communities (Costello, 2001). The city is making greater efforts to improve   Community cohesion and improve race equality. Statistical evidence however shows matched against the demographics of Liverpool’s black community; such communities have little political or civic influence (currently we have 2 black councillors and one Asian councillor). As a result Black people do not occupy senior or strategic roles in any significant numbers in terms of their employment within both private and public sectors.

2. There is evidence of poor performance in education for some sections of black communities, notably those who are described as Liverpool born black. EMTAS reported that students gaining 5+ A*-G grades there was an improvement of five per cent on 2009 and Black and racial minority pupils are now only one per cent behind the overall city result, narrowing the gap by four per cent . Due to the diversity of racial communities evidence and documentation is questionable. School outcomes have also led to low level entry into universities particularly locally .
3. Black people are notably employed in the council. The council in May 2010, recorded 8577 employees of which 174 (2%) were from BAME groups and 6386 (75%) were White. In 18 of the Liverpool Council’s 22 departments, the maximum percentage of BAME employees is 2.9%, rounded up to 3% i.e. 3 BAME workers out of every hundred Council employees. The highest percentage of BAME employees in any Council department is 6.1%, in the Children & Social Care department. Notably, there are no BAME employees at a strategic level in Corporate Services, Leadership Group, Liverpool First and Merseyside policy Unit . BAME’s tend to be represented in the arts and culture industry when working in the city.
4. Relations have improved between the Merseyside Police and black communities though they still feature disproportionately in rates of stop and search. Per 1,000 of the population, Black people were stopped and searched 6.0 times more than White people in 2006/07. This rose to 7.0 times in 2009/10 when referring to the rate per 1,000 of the population. Overall, there were more arrests per 1,000 populations of each BME groups (except for Chinese or Other) than for people of White ethnicity in 2009/10. Per 1,000 of the population, Black people were arrested 3.3 times more than White people, and those from the mixed ethnic group 2.3 times more. A higher percentage of those in the BME groups were sentenced to immediate custody for indictable offences than in the White group in 2010 .
5. Plans are in place through various routes to challenge the chronically low black youth employment in the city, the unacceptably small numbers of Black teachers and low levels in the senior management team (currently 2 black head teachers and 1 asian, around 52 BAME teachers out of 5400 teachers). Exceptionally low numbers of local people who go onto university and BAME students continue to not achieve 5 A-C at GCSE level on leaving school. The live issue of underachievement and exclusion experienced by the indigenous black population who are 3rd and 4th generation, Liverpool born black people is yet to be fully acknowledged and addressed. There are pockets of success for Black communities notably in the arts sector.
6. There is a consensus in the city that although we have come a long way we are not yet at a place where racism can be consigned to the history book.

References

[1] The terms ‘black’ is a political term. It refers to African, Asian, Caribbean and other ethnic minorities.

[1] Costello R (2001) Black Liverpool. The Early History of Britain’s Oldest Black Community 1730-1918. Picton Press: Liverpool

[1] Liverpool Council website (2010) Workforce Ethnicity data February 2010

[1] Race For Opportunity (2008)  Race To The Top: The Place for Ethnic Minority Groups In The UK Workforce

[1] http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/support-for-ethnic-minorities/how-emtas-has-helped-pupils/

[1] Joanne Moore & Felicity Dunworth January 2011 Review of Evidence from    Aimhigher Area Partnerships of the Impact of  Aimhigher

[1] Liverpool Council website (2010) Workforce Ethnicity data February 2010

[1] "Statistics on Race & the Criminal Justice System 2010 and A ministry of Justice publication of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (Published October 2011)

[1] DCSF (2009) Statistical Analysis Unit: Teacher Workforce Data: Table 10 Ethnicity , DCSF: London

Consortium of Liverpool National Black and Antiracist Organisations

Round Table Discussion: Tackling Racism in Football

Round Table Discussion: Tackling Racism in Football

Hosted by:

The Consortium of Liverpool National Black & Anti-Racism Organisations

For

Liverpool Football Club & Local Leaders

            27^th March 2012 6p.m. till 730.p.m.

Background:

The issue of racism in football has emerged as a matter of national concern. The events involving John Terry of Chelsea and Luis Suarez of Liverpool Football Club (LFC) are two of the most prominent incidents that have attracted worldwide attention. Behind the headlines lies the reality that behaviour seen on the pitch today is replicated by young people and fans throughout the country. The findings of the FA investigation into the racially abusive comments made by Luis Suarez were rejected by LFC. The black communities of Liverpool responded to both the Luis Suarez issue and the subsequent inept handling of the issue, by LFC with disappoint and anger. This was also felt by many residents in white communities within the city of Liverpool and beyond. The reputation of both the City and the Club, for its commitment to race equality was damaged as a result. In addition, it was believed by many, that the actions of LFC  was seen to be encouraging and promoting racism more generally.   

As a result a letter was sent to the club offering advice about how to better manage the situation. This advice was not taken or acknowledged. The Consortium of local black and national anti racist organizations then formed and wrote to LFC seeking a meeting to discuss how best we could all work together to address these issues and restore the reputation of both the City and the Club. The key aim was to help to reverse the promotion of racism among fans and wider society.

That offer has so far been refused with LFC insisting that they are working with a range of national diversity organisations that have no links or track record with working with Liverpool's black community. This is unacceptable. LFC also stated that they are also working with the Liverpool City Council to address these issues. This is to be welcomed. Councils play an important role in providing civic leadership in challenging racism however this cannot be at the expense of the active involvement of communities and partnership at a strategic level. This matter flagged up an urgent need for LFC, to move beyond their work at grass roots level with local black communities and respect the need for community involvement at a strategic level.

To facilitate further discussion around these important matters, the Consortium, comprising of local communities from diverse racial groups and national black and anti racist organizations, through their campaign, Love Football Hate Racism, has organised a national roundtable debate. This is an attempt to facilitate discussion, enhance accountability and promote partnership. Working between LFC and Liverpool's black community, the consortium seeks to provide effective and sustainable local and national leadership on these issues.

The Consortium has won support and admirers locally and nationally, most notably from the Bishop of Liverpool, Rt Revd James Jones, who said;

“This is a hugely important issue and I am encouraged to know that you are taking the initiative to set up this discussion with Liverpool Football Club.”  

The Liverpool City Council has signed up and endorsed its commitment to points 3 and 4 of requests, in our statement of intent knowing that points 1 and 2 are not within their gift to do so.

The work effort, resources, human and physical is “big society” in action. The critics are growing fewer in numbers, daily, as we continue to win over hearts and minds and move closer to a sensible consensus on the way forward. The Consortium and its many supporters will continue to work to secure solutions; our lived experience and learned expertise can offer LFC and the city for the benefit of all of communities.

Round Table Discussion

Chairing this roundtable discussion will be Colin Parry OBE. Colin is a tireless campaigner for Peace and has become a prominent authority and speaker in the years following the IRA bombing in Warrington in which his son was killed. Following this tragic event, Colin and his wife Wendy founded the Foundation for Peace and created their unique Peace Centre in Warrington.

Colin was awarded the O.B.E in the Queen's birthday Honours list in 2004 and has received many other awards and accreditations including Rotary International's most prestigious award for 'World Understanding and Peace' before an audience of 10,000 in the Osaka Baseball Dome in Japan.

Invited guests to join the debate include:

                                               Councillor Joe Anderson- Leader of Council

                                           Jon Murphy- Merseyside Police Chief

                                           Mick Ord- Radio Merseyside

                                           Sir Terry Leahy- Business Rep

                                           Liverpool FC representatives (2)

                                           Simone Pound- Professional Footballers Association

                                           John Barnes- Former LFC Player

                                           MP Louise Ellman

                                           MP Steve Rotheham

                                           Councillor Anna Rothery

                                           Alistair Machray- Liverpool Echo

                                           

Consortium                                                    

                                           Gloria Hyatt MBE- Teach Consultancy

                                           Eric Lynch- Slavery History Tours

                                           Earl Jenkins - Kingsley United

                                           Femi Sowende - Merseyside Black History   

                                           Month

                                           Alec Mc Fadden - Merseyside Coalition Against 

                                           Racism and Facism - Merseyside and TUC

                                           Simon Woolley - Operation Black vote

                                           Peter Herbert OBE - Society of Black Lawyers

                                           Lee Jasper- London Race and Criminal Justice

                                           Viv Ahmun- Core Plan UK

                                           Charles Critchlow - National Black Police Association

                                           

Others & Community        Arun Kang - Sporting Equals

                                            Sir Herman Ousely -Kick Racism Out Football

                                            TBC rep- Show Racism The Red Card

                                            Clare Dove MBE- Blackburne House

                                            Anthony Walker Foundation

                                            Michelle Charters - Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre

The roundtable will focus on three key issues; 

1.   How do we work with others to highlight and reduce racism in football in light of the LFC’s handing of the Luis Suarez incident and the issues as laid out in our statement of intent?

2.   What can football clubs do to challenge racism in football and join the debate about tackling racism in wider society?

3.  How do we move forward in partnership, taking into consideration the 4 requests made by the Consortium of Liverpool National Black and Anti-racist Organisations?

The Consortium’s Statement of Intent and Four Requests;

• that LFC publicly accept the findings of the FA into the Suarez case.
• that LFC and Suarez publicly apologize to Patrice Evra.
• that LFC in partnership with Liverpool and national black and anti-racist organisations commit to and sponsor an international conference on the issue of eradicating racism in football.
• that civic leaders in addition to LFC sign up to a public declaration reaffirming their commitment to combating racism and promoting race equality through pro active actions.

Desired Outcome

Our focus is to ensure that Liverpool Football Club, Liverpool City Council and key leaders in the city

acknowledge the issue of racism and work in partnership strategically with Liverpool's black community and the Consortium in seeking to address these important issues. 

·         NB: We acknowledge that not all invited guests will be able to attend the debate though they may inform it.

 

 On Twitter follow @LFHRUK  

For further information about the consortium go to: http://lfhruk.blogspot.com

The Consortium of Liverpool National Black & Anti-Racism Organisations

Campaign: Love Football Hate Racism

The new and emerging face of racial discrimination - by Gloria Hyatt MBE

Oldham FC player Tom Adeyemi allegedly being racially abused at the FA cup tie by a Liverpool FC fan in Anfield

I struggle like many in the modern age to pin point exactly when I am being confronted by racism, due to the new and emerging subtleties and sophistication involved in the act of racism. The linking of historical atrocities to the continued importance of economic and cultural factors in today’s societies is becoming increasingly blurred as we are now forced to analyse the use of characters, who (Pepe Reina, for example) now feature in reinforcing negative 'black' stereotypes  in an attempt to be humorous and sell a product.

 First we must contextualise and understand, in both Spain and most of Latin America it is a cultural norm that the lighter your skin tone, in terms of your blackness, the greater your status is. Greater, is also, the likelihood, that you will find a brown skinned person, (who in the UK, would be considered by many, as black and of African heritage), undermining a darker skinned person. The Suarez comment, supported by his countries (Uruquay) president, “I don’t speak to Black people” is a high profile case that demonstrates this point.

The depiction of Pepe Reina, in the Groupama Seguros –Insurance company advert, being given to the blackened up African king, for sexual purposes  with Pepe a brown skinned man who’s name equates to queen in his county, being presented by the black man, demonstrates this reality also. The blacking up of white men, imitating what is heard as an African accent, in the advert, with Reina, harks back to a time, when black African people were not considered to represent anything beyond what was considered to be an 'uncivilized' African culture. And to add further, not considered fit to be true representatives of their entire or positively civilized African cultural identity.



Groupama commercial

 In the advert we are shown the white and blackened up representative and its brown skinned queen, supposedly all in good humour. This level of subtle racism, may escape the historical memory of those who know better, or the informed or educated mind who wish to understand better. It cannot however and should not escape any one of us, that such choice of words, representations of a identity, culture, ethnicity and actions, only serve to portray all things black and African as less than, undesirable and something to be laughed at.

What disturbs me most, as a woman of African heritage, who has the skin colouring of both Suarez and Reina, is the connection both these incidents have to the city of Liverpool, its football club and the long established residency of people like me who have an African heritage.  A community of people, who now, may be visibly described, as white skinned or light brown skinned, brown eyed or blue eyed, fair haired or blond haired people. A group of people incidentally, that in my father's Jamaican culture was known as being able to 'pass’ or in my mother’s Irish culture known by the ethnic slur of ‘blackie or darkie.’  

Simply speaking it was and is still perceived in many cities and countries around the world, that people who fit this description are more acceptable to white culture and people, given a higher status, and at times able to bypass racism. In addition it was believed this could be used for their own ends in some of the ways we have seen it played out in Spain and the Latin American countries and more recently the two players in Liverpool Football Club through Suarez and Reina.

LFC seem determined to not acknowledge the role, their cultural practices and their ethics has had in what has been a catalogue of errors in their management of issues around race and racism. They seem uninterested in admitting to their error, let alone apologizing, understanding or learning from it. 

 It will be at humanities peril, mentally, physically, emotionally and economically, especially for the descendents of African people if we ignore or minimize the reality of this new and emerging form of racial discrimination, A discrimination, packaged as an acceptable cultural norm, that one should dismiss, consider as humorous or just part of LFC’s acceptable culture that should go unchallenged.

This abuse is an affront to the proud tradition of racial integration and cohesion in the city of Liverpool, which all fans or non supporters should be rightly concerned about. We really must become involved in understanding the cause and reasons why we find our city at the centre of such behaviour with no civic or political leader being prepared to make a stand. We have to start talking seriously about race, honestly and constructively to seek to resolve what many continue to conveniently deny in the city of Liverpool and beyond.   

Gloria Hyatt MBE

Education Consultant and Executive Coach.

Consortium of Liverpool and National Black and Anti- Racism Organisations

NO to RACISM AT LIVERPOOL FC - Please sign E-petition

Published by Love Football Hate Racism on Mar 01, 2012

Please sign petition at:

 http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/racism-and-liverpool-fc.html

Background:

 

We have grave concerns about the inadequate responses of Liverpool Football Club to the findings by the FA regulatory commission that determined Luis Suarez was guilty of racially insulting the Manchester United player, Patrice Evra.

Football is a unifying sport providing pleasure and entertainment to billions of people across the planet. Young people from every corner of our world passionately support their team. Football players are held in high regard and viewed as positive role models.

Clubs, players and managers have an important and globally recognized responsibility to demonstrate their commitment to the principle of common decency and fair play. Throughout the world, both on and off the football pitch they inspire and socially educate billions of young people who admire and mimic their actions.

The issue of racism in football is one that requires unambiguous anti racist leadership. The actions of LFC in the run up to and following the publication of the FA’s findings fell short of the high standard of leadership expected for a team of their standing in the football community.

LFC actions, in vehemently rejecting the findings of the FA inquiry, their public displays of support for a player found guilty of racist abuse and his subsequent refusal to shake the hand of Evra at a recent game is completely unacceptable. These actions we believe could be considered as inciting racial intolerance.

Whilst the subsequent apologies for the failure to engage with the traditions of a pre game “hand shake” are to be welcomed, there remains deep concern, about LFC’s absolute refusal to accept the findings of the FA’s investigation. As such these apologies fail to meet the test of genuine remorse and understanding. This is further negated by LFC’s failure to apologise for racism either through the club or Suarez.

Neither have LFC recognised or acknowledged the consequent damage to race relations resulting from their actions and recognised by many people of all races across the country. As a result, efforts to combat racism in football and the wider society in general have been critically undermined.

Compounding these serious errors is the failures of Liverpool’s civic leaders, many of whom have remained silent on these critical issues and have failed to publicly condemn LFC’s decision not to robustly and effectively challenge racism.

Such is the overwhelming power of the Premier League and the influence of clubs such as LFC it is imperative that this situation cannot be allowed to stand.

The international reputation of Liverpool as a city committed to race equality is at stake. In addition there is a real and urgent need to restore confidence in the campaign against racism in football, both here, in the UK and across the world.

Petition details:

 

We the undersigned call on Liverpool Football Club to meet four key demands;

(1) Publicly accept the findings of the FA into the Suarez case.

(2) Liverpool FC and Luis Suarez to publicly apologize to Patrice Evra.

(3) In partnership with Liverpool and national black and minority ethnic organisations commit to and sponsor an international conference on the issue of eradicating racism in football.

(4) Together with civic leaders sign up to a public declaration reaffirming commitment to combating racism and promoting race equality through proactive actions.

 

 

Radio Merseyside Upfront Programme - racism in football

Radio Merseyside Upfront Programme -
 presents the news and views of Liverpool's black community. 

Click link to listen:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/search?q=upfront%20phina%20oruche

Programme content: 

Target: John Barnes backheels a banana off the pitch during match at Everton in 1988 Photo: GETTY IMAGES

John Barnes sets out his view on racism in football. He sets out his defence of LFC. Liverpool & National Black And Anti - racist Organisations speak to the issue of racism in football, the LFC Suarez saga and racism in Liverpool. Vinny Thomlinson, former chair of Merseyside Black Police Association outlines racism its impact on the city of Liverpool and society, Eric Lynch a member of LNB & ARO talks about racism and his historical perspective and Neil Danns premier league footballer talks of his experiences.

 

Neil Danns

Radio Merseyside Upfront

Liverpool and Luis Suárez 'critically undermined' anti-racism efforts - Guardian

By Andy Hunter

(Originally published at: guardian.co.uk, Monday 20 February 2012)

• Liverpool Black Leadership Forum writes to Kenny Dalglish
• The club 'presided over worst racism incident in recent years'

A prominent group of black leaders has criticised Liverpool's handling of the Luis Suárez racism affair. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

Liverpool have been accused of critically undermining "efforts to combat racism in football and the wider society in general" with their handling of the Luis Suárez controversy and asked to issue an unreserved apology to Patrice Evra by a prominent group of black leaders.

In an open letter delivered to the club and the manager, Kenny Dalglish, signed by local and national black leaders plus several anti-racism organisations, Liverpool are fiercely criticised for contesting the findings of an independent tribunal appointed by the Football Association which led to Suárez receiving an eight-match ban for racially abusing the Manchester United defender.

Though Suárez apologised for using the word "negro" in his confrontation with Evra at Anfield last October and for refusing to shake the France international's hand at Old Trafford recently, when Dalglish also apologised for his post-match television interview with Sky's Geoff Shreeves, the letter calls on the club and the striker to apologise directly to Evra.

The letter says: "LFC actions, in vehemently rejecting the findings of the FA inquiry, their public displays of support for a player found guilty of racist abuse and his subsequent refusal to shake the hand of Evra at a recent game is completely unacceptable. These actions we believe could be considered as inciting racial intolerance.

"Whilst the subsequent apologies for the failure to engage with the traditions of a pre-game 'hand shake' are to be welcomed, there remains deep concern about LFC's absolute refusal to accept the findings of the FA's investigation. As such these apologies fail to meet the test of genuine remorse and understanding. This is further negated by LFC's failure to apologise for racism either through the club or Suárez.

"Neither have LFC recognised or acknowledged the consequent damage to race relations resulting from their actions and recognised by many people of all races across the country. As a result efforts to combat racism in football and the wider society in general have been critically undermined.

"Compounding these serious errors is the failures of Liverpool's civic leaders, many of whom have remained silent on these critical issues and have failed to publicly condemn LFC's decision not to robustly and effectively challenge racism."

The open letter is signed by members of the Liverpool Black Leadership Forum, Merseyside TUC, North West United Against Facism, the Society of Black Lawyers and the National Black Police Association, among others.

Gloria Hyatt MBE, of the Liverpool Black Leadership Forum, said: "Liverpool Football Club has presided over the worst incident of racism in football seen in recent years. Their misguided handling of Suárez/Evra has let down all of those in the city who worked hard to challenge racism and make Liverpool a better place to live for everyone."

Lee Jasper, a human rights and race equality campaigner, said: "The club, including the owners, the players and the manager, need to realise the enormous damage caused by their reluctance and obdurate behaviour. Kenny Dalglish used to manage Celtic; he ought to know the importance of stamping out bigotry. The club failed the city, the nation as a whole and in particular Britain's black communities. Their abysmal lack of leadership on this issue has given a green light to racism. They must make urgent repetitions and make a clear and unequivocal apology."

Liverpool FC accused of inciting racism by community groups - BBC

(Article originally published at:

 www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside)

Gloria Hyatt from the consortium said the incident has raised tensions in Liverpool

Black community groups from Merseyside have accused Liverpool Football Club of inciting racism through its handling of the Luis Suarez affair.

The player was banned for eight matches after an independent panel found he racially abused Manchester United's Patrice Evra during a game in October.

He then refused to shake Evra's hand but he and the club later apologised.

Liverpool Football Club said it was committed to playing its part in the fight against racism.

It said the club and Suarez had already expressed disappointment over the events at Old Trafford.

The community groups laid out their concerns in a letter to Kenny Dalglish and the club's directors.

The Consortium of Liverpool Black and Anti-Racism Organisations includes teaching consultant Gloria Hyatt, Eric Lynch from Slavery History Tours, and Femi Sowande, from Merseyside Black History Month Group.

'Issued apologies'

Also involved are Peter Herbert, from the Society of Black Lawyers, and Paul Jenkins, from North West Unite Against Fascism.

They are calling on the club to accept the findings of the Football Association and that Suarez should publicly apologise to Evra over the initial incident.

In a statement, the club said: "Liverpool FC made clear its disappointment with what happened recently at Old Trafford and both Luis Suarez and Kenny Dalglish issued apologies.
"The player did not previously appeal the FA sanction, served his suspension and apologised to anyone he had offended.

"In light of recent events, the club have met with a number of key national and local stakeholders on these issues. We are also working with Sporting Equals, an independent UK-wide charity and one of the leading experts in equality and diversity in sport to develop a strategic action plan encompassing both our staff and external stakeholders."

'Raised tensions'

It said: "The club has a long and successful track record in the area of social inclusion both at home and abroad and we will continue to build on the work we have already done.

"We are committed to playing our part, alongside the game's authorities and other agencies, in the fight against racism and discrimination of any sort."

Ms Hyatt, from the consortium, said: "In a city like ours, where we have black and white living happily side by side, it has raised tensions and people have said that it has damaged a reputation, not just of Liverpool FC but of our city.

"We will be known as a city that is intolerant to race and different races."

The Anthony Walker Foundation, set up after the racist murder of the teenager, has also said there were concerns about how the case was handled.

It said last week that lessons should be learned from the incident, which reflected badly on the city.