TV host AJ: My racism ordeal is now inspiring others to fight
TV TALENT show host AJ Odudu believes she inspired others to speak out about racism after revealing her own ordeal as a young child .
In a letter to Vogue magazine, The Voice Kids presenter said she was told to wash her face at supermarket as a six-year-old while the parents of a school friend set their dog on her.
AJ, who grew up in Blackburn with five brothers and two sisters, was also “physically beaten, spat at and called disgraceful names”.
The star, who now lives in London and has fronted a string of reality and entertainment shows, admitted she was worried about writing the piece but found the response supportive.
She said: “I had a very positive reaction, which was a relief. I just felt I had to put down all these thoughts [after George
Floyd’s death]. It’s been a real honour receiving stories from other people who have experienced similar things and now feel they can share them.
“For sure, it’s given people confidence to speak out.”
AJ, 32, who is also a qualified personal trainer and sports nutritionist, said she endured racial “micro-aggressions” during her TV career.
“I’ve definitely been mistaken with a wrong name by people. They mistake me for another black woman in the spotlight.
“It’s not only infuriating, it’s really upsetting. You work hard to make a name for yourself – I’ve even abbreviated my first name, from Onatejiro – and they still get it wrong.
“It also makes me conscious about my style choices. They’ve got to be unique to me, or I can get mistaken for any other black woman on the box.”
There are still few black entertainment presenters, she said. “When I was a kid I was
THE Government says there is no need to redesign one of the most famous emblems in the honours system despite pressure from the Black Lives Matter movement.
Demands had been made for the insignia on the Order of St Michael and St George to be changed because it shows the archangel crushing Lucifer under his foot.
Because Lucifer was depicted as dark coloured, critics, including comedian Sir Michael Palin who received the order of knighthood, said it was similar to George Floyd’s killing in the US and now “inappropriate” and “racist”.
But in a written response, the Government said that the emblem had been changed in 2011 to remove any suggestion of racism.
Lordtrue, Cabinet Office Minister, said: “The insignia for the Order of St Michael and St George was updated in 2011, and the design referred in the petition is no longer used.
“Any current recipient of a pre-2011 insignia is able to receive one with the updated design.”
The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George was founded in 1818 by the Prince Regent, later George IV.
It was originally created to recognise those who held high military commands or civilian responsibilities in the Mediterranean during the Napoleonicwars.these days it is awarded to men and women who hold high office, or who render extraordinary service in a foreign country.