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Feature
PowerList 2008
...and finally
There are some people who are somehow above
being included in the Powerlist. Dele Fatunla
pays tribute to two elder statesmen
Baroness Rosalind Patricia-Anne Howells of St David’s
‘I’ve never had a problem telling it as it is – to for which she was awarded an OBE. But for
either black or white,’ says Baroness Howells, her retirement is never really an option. She
who has campaigned long and tirelessly for is often involved in debates in the Lords,
racial justice and equality. That quest and where she sits on the government benches,
the significant influence she has wielded particularly when community affairs or
saw her become a friend and advisor to the Caribbean issues are discussed.
stricken Lawrence family during the Stephen Baroness Howells was the first woman
Lawrence Inquiry in 1999. to become a governor of the University
Raised to the peerage in the same year, of Greenwich. She was recently elected
the St Davids in her title refers to the parish Chancellor of the University of Luton, was
in Grenada where she was brought up before appointed to the board of WINDREF UK in
relocating in Britain in 1951. A former Acting 2006 and was recently invited by Chancellor
High Commissioner for Grenada in London, Charles Modica to join St George’s University
few will forget her determined efforts to UK Trust.
squeeze adequate assistance from the British Her determination to ensure equal rights
government after the ravages of Hurricane for all has elevated her to the commanding
Ivan in 2004. heights of the House of Lords, joining an
Baroness Howells retired as Director of elite group of black women who, through
the Greenwich Racial Equality Office after influence, sheer tenacity and determination,
a distinguished and wide-ranging career in have reshaped the political and social
Pic: tony attile @ black ink the voluntary and social services sectors, landscape in Britain over the past 30 years.
Lord Herman Ouseley of Peckham Rye
There are few public figures whose influence come from the CRE and were teasers for a
transcend the trappings of power and wider campaign highlighting racist attitudes.
continue to affect lives long after they leave Despite calls to remove the adverts, Herman
office. Lord Herman Ouseley is among them. refused to back down. The decision to stand
Since 1993, when he was appointed chair of firm demonstrated his determination to
the Commission for Racial Equality, his work challenge Britain on racism regardless of
has had a seismic impact on the way the how uncomfortable it made people feel.
country views and thinks about itself. As the The same commitment to change led to the
first black chairman of the commission, he establishment of Kick It Out in 1993. The
renewed the organisation’s commitment to campaigning organisation, which he chairs,
tackling discrimination through tough court aims to eliminate racism and change the face
actions against organisations and individuals of British football.
who fell foul of race discrimination laws. Lord Ouseley resigned from the CRE in 2000,
Five years into his chairmanship, Britain yet his influence and commitment to equality
woke up to a ‘racist’ advertising campaign remains unchanged and he is remembered by
that featured, among other images, a poster many as the CRE Chair who was least likely
seemingly for a rape alarm, which showed a to take a conciliatory approach to issues of
white woman sitting on a bus, a black man discrimination. This year he made by history
in the foreground and the slogan ‘Because by becoming the first black person appointed
it’s a jungle out there’. The posters had to the FA Council.
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