I have never been so engaged with a political family as much I do with
the Obama’s. Is it because they have the same skin tone as me, frequent Jay-Z
concerts and admire Dr. Dorothy Height like I do? Maybe. This led me to think,
why should I be admiring a political family that doesn’t even have a
responsibility to me as a British citizen. The lack of black MPs is something
that can’t be ignored now more than ever.
In all honesty I’m slightly envious of the passion fueled American
voters when it comes their automatic feeling of inclusion and responsibility
leading up to an election. This passionate obligation has heightened with the
up and coming possible re-election of President Obama.
The very structure of public relations in American politics compared to British
political parties is what I think creates huge segregations between politicians
and the general public. I think this is partly due to American political
parties depending on public donations more than British political parties.
American political parties have to make the general public feel including
rather than being shut out of the boys club.
A contribution to this disengagement is how the government treats
students. I feel that this government is fumbling the trust of students even in
compulsory education. This mishandling does nothing but highlight the feeling
of separation between young people of minority communities and the government.
Especially when the education secretary Michael Gove pulled the plug on the Labour
established PFI school refurbishment scheme. A survey for the Observer revealed
that 39% of head-teachers believe that their schools are unfit for purpose. I
have first hand experience of this, having been taught at Ickneild High School in
Luton, which was originally built for temporary means during World War Two and is
still being used today to educate future voters. The idea that young black students
should feel valued by the government in an unfit environment is ridiculous. I
asked Shareen Mohammed, year 11 student at Ickneild High School about her
feelings towards the Prime minister David Cameron ‘I haven’t heard of him
really doing anything’.
The most well known British black politicians are Diane Abbott and
former MP Dawn Butler who was implicated in the expenses controversy. Diane
Abbott has been an MP since 1987 the first black woman ever elected into
British Parliament cannot solely reconstruct the faith in the government of
young black people. Even as the Shadow Minister for Public Health and the
founder of London Schools and the Black Child initiative she cannot restore the
faith of young black people in the government. I believe it will take an increase of fresh
and in-touch political rising starts like Chuka Umunna MP to speak directly to young
black people, re-inspiring their belief in the Government.
When the coalition government was formed the number of minority MPs stood
at 27, eight of whom are black, including Gelen Grant the first black woman to
represent the Conservatives in Westminster. The Operation Black Vote director,
Simon Woolley says "A record voter turnout
from the African, Asian and Caribbean electorate and a record number of
candidates winning seats at Westminster will dramatically change how we see our
governing class and how it operates. A greater representation, and greater
involvement from our communities, will undoubtedly enhance our democracy."
The key to increasing the voice of the black community must be in
growing young politicians through higher education and local level government.
