Profile: Shaun Bailey

Shaun Bailey is a potential conservative candidate for the London Borough of Hammersmith. The founder of MyGeneration and a research fellow at the Centre for Policy Studies, he represents a breath of fresh air for positive black males in politics. Watch this space for a more detailed write up on him soon.

Quote of the Week

“A race of people is like an individual man; until it uses its own talent, takes pride in its own history, expresses its own culture, affirms its own selfhood, it can never fulfill itself.”

- El Hajj Malik Shabazz

Role Model Recruitment

The BBC reports that

Successful role models for young black men are to be recruited to counteract the influence of gang culture, the communities secretary has announced.Hazel Blears said four prominent figures, including entrepreneur Tim Campbell, will hunt for 20 men, such as doctors, lawyers and businessmen. She said the Black Boys’ National Role Models programme would be an “antidote to a culture of low aspiration”.

Personally I think this is a simplistic approach to a complex problem but hey it is a start. A lot of students I speak to in schools aren’t really that bothered with role models outside of their local community. A lot of black professionals who have succeeded have left areas of poverty and depression a long time ago and in many respects speak a different language.The four men who have been highlighted include Tim Campbell (Entrepreneur), Leroy Logan (Met Police), Oswald Boateng (Fashion) and Simon Wolley (Operation Black Vote). I wish them well as they continue to promote positivity but something tells me that a lot of youngsters want to relate to someone a lot closer to home and age. Something I am finding out more and more as a visit schools.Wishing them well and watching this space.