Tutu’s words will help inspire manifesto aims

THE end of 2021 saw the death of the Most Rev Desmond Tutu, a giant of the anti-apartheid campaign in South Africa. He was a priest and activist who stood against all forms of discrimination and oppression.

Characteristically, he showed no fear in rallying people against iniquities, institutional racism and social class oppression. He never allowed the people to falter or doubt the legitimacy of their struggle. One of his many utterances included: “I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of human rights.”

Tutu’s approach and message to challenging injustice are inherent in Derby Black Lives Matter’s agenda. On Sunday, June 7, 2020, up to 2,000 residents, mostly young black people spontaneously rallied on the steps of the city’s Council House on Corporation Street. Concisely, resolutely and with dignity they protested against pernicious discrimination and institutional racism which blights the lives of black people within the city.

In particular, they expressed their deep concern about racial discrimination, inequality, lack of opportunity, the lack of investment in and representation of black community in key areas of the city, including local government.

Inspired by such giants as Desmond Tutu, the rallied voices of the black people of Derby provided the opportunity to articulate the people’s demands, hope and means to achieve change through the formulation of the Black people’s Manifesto: A Charter for Change. This was launched on the steps of the Council House on July 31, 2020, and presented to stakeholders including Derby City Council.

Nearly two years later, has anything changed for the better in relation to black people’s experience of inequality in the city of Derby? Local black grassroots organisers through the Black Lives Matter Manifesto for Derby have acted as key players in a movement for social change and have “got on board” the local council and many state, faith and voluntary organisations.

However, black people remain woefully absent from local political representation and decision-making arenas. In relation to the continuing injustice experienced by black people in Derby, in working towards the transformation and a brighter future , we should heed the words of Desmond Tutu: “We need to stop pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.”

Professor Cecile Wright, Chair, Derby Black Lives Matter