Paul Leslie and other community leaders from Rights and Equality in Newham (REIN) recently held an open workshop at The Mix Youth and Community Centre, for members of the Newham community to share their experiences past and present, expectations and thoughts of life as an ethnic minority in the borough.
Chairing the meeting was Mr Leslie who greeted the congregation of local residents, introduced himself and gave some background information on REIN.
What Is REIN?
REIN has been established since 1975 as a charity whose aim is to ‘eliminate racial discrimination and promote equality of opportunity and justice and good relations between persons of different racial groups’.
A key component of their mission is ‘to empower the community of Newham and its individuals to take greater control of decisions which impact on their lives and their community’.
Mr Leslie then opened the floor for participants to openly talk about any positive or eye-opening experiences they had encountered growing up in Newham or east London.
Newham is a Labour-led council and has been ever since 1965. It is a very multicultural area with ‘72.4% of Newham’s population being of Black, Asian and minority Ethnicity’. It is also home of former England football star Jermaine Defoe and UK chart-topping artist Tinchy Stryder.
What Was Spoken About At The Meeting?
A range of people spoke openly during the session, some spoke about their initial struggles migrating into Newham 50-60 years ago where they would often come across unwelcome slogans painted on walls and billboards and although over time discrimination and prejudice in the area had decreased, there still seemed to be a considerable lack of working progression or community led projects being heard in Newham.
One young person spoke of her shock to witness the difference in opportunities and collective community sprit when she went on to further studies in the council of Harringay compared to when she attended school in Walthamstow, east London, ‘I really noticed the lack of opportunities in deprived boroughs compared to the support and guidance offered to me as a young person in Harringay’. The group was encouraged to continue to network/encourage and create opportunities within Newham as this is one of the key ways for their community to evolve.
What Next?
An important point expressed by more than one member of the audience was the lack of but strength of positive reinforcement within ethnic communities. Often negative connotations are referenced and labelled on sections of the ethnic community of Newham so it is up to people from within the community to not only highlight and praise positively within but to propel and make an example of this for all to see. This would create greater ambitions and aspirations for the current and younger generations.
