Jason Okundaye’s insightful response to Diane Abbott’s second suspension from the Labour party points to the “cancellation” in the public sphere of a serious and necessary debate about racism and discrimination in British society (The Diane Abbott row shows how impoverished Britain’s conversations about race have become, 18 July). His considerations begin with Channel 4’s Devil’s Advocate, in which Darcus Howe challenged Bernie Grant MP on his call for a “voluntary repatriation” scheme for Black people in Britain.
I was Channel 4’s commissioning editor, co-conceiving the format and mission of Devil’s Advocate. It set out to challenge Black nationalism, which Darcus spent his life opposing, in his dedication to the postcolonial development of multi-ethnic Britain.
As Jason contends, Diane simply pointed to the fact that the racism the Black population of Britain faces through skin colour is different from the undoubted discrimination experienced by other communities. Her suspension is a mystery. Diane has in fact pointed to something that Labour needs to address urgently. What precisely is the distinction between anti-Netanyahu-Zionism and antisemitism? What precisely do Black youths on the streets being challenged by the police face that white youths don’t?
The work of the Darcus Howe Legacy Collective continues Darcus’s championing of social justice, equality and representation to provide a framework for debate and understanding of current racial and social issues. Is the Labour government unable to recognise the distinctions, formulations and policies that should follow what Diane has so modestly pointed out?
If Devil’s Advocate were still broadcast today, we’d invite Diane and Keir Starmer to examine why pointing out an obvious truth entails suspension from the very party that keeps us from the disaster of the Tories and the death wish of Reform.
Farrukh Dhondy
The Darcus Howe Legacy Collective
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