PM is a no-show and Downing Street Black History Month event fools no one

Sajid Javid
Afroze Fatima Zaidi


On 10 October 2019, Downing Street hosted a reception for Black History Month. While the mainstream media hasn’t reported on the news, the Twitter account for 10 Downing Street shared photos of the event.

However, given the racist track record of both PM Boris Johnson and chancellor Sajid Javid, no one was too impressed:

 

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The PM was a no-show

Journalist Ade Onibada, who attended the event, shared some interesting insights on her Twitter account:

However, most significant was the fact that the PM himself, who was scheduled to attend the event, didn’t even bother showing up:

Johnson’s absence is telling, especially in the context of his blatant racism, which is still fresh in the minds of Black people:

The PM’s replacement

Javid, who can be seen smiling uncomfortably in the event pictures, attended the event in Johnson’s place:

Needless to say, the irony of Javid at a Black History Month event – after the role he played in the Windrush Scandal and Grenfell tragedy – wasn’t lost on people:

Ultimately, this government’s treatment of Black people, as seen through Windrush, Grenfell, and the PM’s unapologetic racism, is nothing to celebrate. Because Black History Month is about more than just paying lip service to Black communities in the UK. It’s about acknowledging the oppression and injustice that continues to put Black British people at a disadvantage and addressing it accordingly.

Featured image via Flickr/ Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

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