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NEW
CROSS FIRE - A total 13 youngsters died in the New Cross
of January 1981. Both in south London and elsewhere in the country Police and community relations were
strained as events later on that year would prove. The Metropolitan
Police at the time dismissed a racial motive to what was proved to be
an arson attack arguing that it had lack sufficient evidence and
witnesses to support this possibility. Thousands of Black people took
to the streets a series of demonstrations to protest against a police cover-up.
Although a coroner's inquest cast doubt over the integrity of the
police investigation and the professionalism of the lead officer an
open verdict was returned. Subsequent High Court hearings (October
2002) and a fresh inquiry and inquest (May 2004) failed to overturn or
produce a different verdict to the original, which still stands. In March 2005 families of the victims were refused leave to challenge the verdict.
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NEWSPAPERS
The Voice Newspaper - Britain's best-known Black
newspaper. For years the Voice has sported the banner Britain's best
Black newspaper, although quantifying or even qualifying what it
means by 'best' would be a task and a half.
At its peak, under Winsome Grace Cornish, one of it's many editors
in it's 20 year history, circulation is thought to have peaked at
57,000 in the early to mid 90s. Later in its history it would
abandon ABC circulation certification altogether.
The Voice emerged from the ashes of the Brixton riot as a forum
through which the views and news from within the Black communities
could be expressed. It has over the years been a thorn in the side
to establishment, campaigning on numerous issues and championing the
causes of Black people nationwide.
Many of today's most popular Black television, radio and print
journalist have in the past been associated with the newspaper. Its
roll of honour reads like a Black who's who and includes current CRE
chair Trevor Phillips, BBC newsman Ragi Omar, ITV's Martin Bashir,
authors Diran Adebayo, Leonie Ross and Vanessa Walters. Broadcasters
Henry 'the Big' Bonsu, Dotun Adebayo,
Onyekachi Wambu, publisher Steve
Pope and the list goes on.
The late Val McCalla, a Jamaican by
birth, and an accountant by profession founded the paper. He
reportedly took advantage of government policy on equal opportunity
advertising to secure the financial future of the paper.
It was once said that the newspaper based on its name alone could
see-off and survive all rivals - a statement which to this day has
proved true, although rival paper the New Nation, helmed by ex-Voice
journalist Michael Eboda is giving the title a good run for it's
money.
The Voice was not the first Black British newspaper. Other titles
have included Black Britain, helmed by Guardian staffer Joseph
Harker, Arif Ali's West Indian World and Caribbean Times, The Weekly
Journal, The Drum and many more.
Shortly after the death of McCalla the Voice was sold and is now
owned by the Jamaica based Gleaner Company.
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The
New Nation - A rival in print to the Voice. Now in it's sixth
year, the paper has gone from strength to strength and has a
reasonably large following. It's not know whether its circulation
has surpassed that of its main rival [The Voice] but critics claim
its cleaner, crisper and more concise look has won it many
accolades.
Helmed by former Voice journalist Michael
Eboda, it's not been backward in coming forward having
scooped the national press on numerous occasions and has threatened
to eclipse it's rival with its direct no-nonsense approach to Black
issues.
Based in East London, it is part of the Ethnic Media Group of
newspapers which includes the Caribbean Times, Asian Times and
Eastern Eye.
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The
West Indian Gazette - Britain's first Black newspaper. It was
published and edited by Claudia Jones (1915-1964) writes historian
Donald Hinds.
Other Black newspapers since have included the West Indian World,
The Caribbean Times and Black Briton.
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Copyright © 2006 Black In Britain. All rights reserved. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Black In Britain.
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