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WALTHAMSTOW: Hundreds honour young black achievers

11:55am Thursday 25th February 2010


HUNDREDS turned out to celebrate the achievements of black youngsters.

The annual Young, Gifted and Black awards, organised by the Leyton-based youth group, Kreative Culture Klub (KCK), honours those who have performed well at school.

A total of 130 young people from nine different schools across the borough received awards during the ceremony at Walthamstow Assembly Hall, in Forest Road.

Radio presenter Geoff Schumann and BBC1 extra comedian Eddie Kadi co-hosted the event, which was attended by more than 700 people.

Ama Upke, 17, of Leyton Sixth Form College, won a special award for obtaining five A and five A* grades at GCSE last year.

KCK works to engage young, particularly black people in positive activities.

Founder Yvonne Bailey said she was "ecstatic" at this year's turnout.

She added: "I would like to thank all the schools for continuing to support the event."

“I don’t think some schools understand the full impact this kind of event is having on the students which is building self worth and self esteem as they are always portrayed negatively”.

"The youths said they wanted to be part of the experience as opposed to being stereotyped as coming from a culture of muggers, murderers and under-achievers.

"It is therefore gratifying that there are young people who could rise above all this and become academically driven and this is something well worth celebrating."

Ms Bailey said the leaders of the three main political parties should sign a pledge to try and change negative perceptions of black people.

Referring to the YGB awards, Ms Bailey added: "We have had people ring to say what we’re doing is racist.

"When I give them the above stereotype, black youths being portrayed as muggers etc, I get the response 'Well aren’t they?'.

"This is exactly the kind of negative view KCK has been trying to dispel."

The schools and colleges involved were Frederick Bremer, Waltham Forest College, George Mitchell, Lammas, Leytonstone, Kelmscott, Leyton Sixth Form College, Willowfield, Norlington and Sir George Monoux.

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Heartlysmum, CHINGFORD says...
12:47pm Thu 25 Feb 10

I applaud these kids for their achievements, but I do not understand this segregation of type awards, MOBO etc. We are all equal and should learn to appreciate this fact. The other fact that we need to address is that for the ethnic type as a percentage of population the muggers, murderers and under-achievers predominantly come from this ethnic group, so either live with it or change the culture amongst this group.

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andychurchill, Chingford says...
1:42pm Thu 25 Feb 10

My first thought when I saw this article was what people would say if there was a "Young Gifted and White" awards ceremony. It seems silly to segregate people these days and single them out as being the best of their colour.

But then my second thought was that many probably share a similar culture/upbringing/f
amily life, and that the participants benefit from sharing and comparing their experiences with people from a similar background, and encourages them to drive themselves towards a successful future, and that can only be a good thing.

I hope to see these achievers again in the future, alongside other "Young and Gifted" from all colours and cultures.

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newyear, says...
2:51pm Thu 25 Feb 10

Interesting comments. We have undoubtedly made great strides towards equality as a society but we still have a long way to go and, as andychurchill says, such events and awards can be very empowering to groups who still, sadly, feel themselves marginalised. BAME communities are a statistical minority but, even where a community is the majority it doesn't mean it is commensurately empowered. For example, women are in the majority but we still feel a need to celebrate International Women's Day - for obvious reasons. And what about the elderly who, if not already, soon will be in the majority? Surely no-one would seriously suggest that they are empowered in our society? I'm afraid we can give up on 'affirmative action' yet!

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newyear, says...
2:53pm Thu 25 Feb 10

Sorry, that should have been 'can't' give up!

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devilsmojo, says...
5:31pm Thu 25 Feb 10

The people behind this are racist

And "affirmative action" is racism as well.

This sort of thing is the best recruitment sergeant for the BNP

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Fawzi Mabhouhi, Herts says...
6:48pm Thu 25 Feb 10

What about the forgotten white young achievers or don't they count anymore??? its' this kind of institutionalism isolation for white youngsters that gets the backs up of decent working class families who feel that the mainstream political parties have forgotten them and no wonder they now reject lib/lab/con parties!

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newyear, says...
9:23pm Thu 25 Feb 10

As young people are fond of saying, whatever!

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What_a_Dump, highams park says...
11:39pm Thu 25 Feb 10

As a forgotten white person this sort of stuff gets my goat I have had enough of all this minority crap, in most schools in the borough the whites are the minority, is'nt it time we stopped all this nonsence and treated everyone as a member of the human race not keep bringing attention to peoples colour and religion, it just breeds resentment. Black or white all the same to me.

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Robert19, Leytonstone says...
10:07am Fri 26 Feb 10

Heartlysmum wrote:
I applaud these kids for their achievements, but I do not understand this segregation of type awards, MOBO etc. We are all equal and should learn to appreciate this fact. The other fact that we need to address is that for the ethnic type as a percentage of population the muggers, murderers and under-achievers predominantly come from this ethnic group, so either live with it or change the culture amongst this group.
Heartlysmum I think you answer your own question in saying that there is a need to change the culture amongst this group. Surely by having events like Black History Month MOBO etc it does give positive role models. If we were all equal the I agree that there would be no need for this sort of event.
I also kind of agree with other comments here that we do need to also do something about underachievement of white working class young people - particularly boys. Schools in particular need to identify and address a quite worrying trend in this group as well.

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Great Eastern, East says...
12:24pm Fri 26 Feb 10

Imagine how the white students who obtained the same grades as the black students felt when their black friends said , "we are going to a special awards tonight for what we have achieved in our studies" It's ridiculous to honour one group without the other group ~ why not drop the "race" tag and just have a "young peoples achievement award" ???? perhaps Yvonne Bailey has some kind of axe to grind and is not happy with herself ???? thanks for reading ~

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newyear, says...
6:49pm Fri 26 Feb 10

Well, this story has certainly flushed out some unedifying prejudices from the murkier recesses of our community! Also the slur on Yvonne Bailey's integrity (even if qualified by "perhaps") is entirely unwarranted. The "forgotten whites" (oh, please!!) have obviously overlooked the line in Carl Brown's article: "KCK works to engage young, particularly black people in positive activities." His use of the word "particularly" implies that the work KCK carries out with young people is inclusive and these awards are only one strand of what they do. As to 'affirmative action', this
concept originated in the United States. Despite its proud motto 'E Pluribus Unem' (out of the many, one) it took 200 years to achieve equality in law for all US citizens and only now has a black President been elected (and still no woman). Our society is neither fair nor equal and, yes, of course, young white working class people are disadvantaged and that's indefensible, but that's not a race issue it's one of class. Young black kids, whether working class or otherwise, are disadvantaged firstly on account of their race. There are gradations of disadvantage in our sadly far-from-equal society thus, as we can't (or won't) tackle all inequalities in one programme, it's inevitable that we will need to prioritise resources where the worst inequalities and injustices lie.

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foremores, london says...
8:01pm Fri 26 Feb 10

What this about an axe to grind?? black kids have to prove themselves for more than white kids! The media is always labeling them as muggers, murders and underachievers. We never hear anything when black kids do good, there are very little positive things reported regard them, only the negative things you hear about which everyone believes and is so far from the truth. The only thing that is promoted for young black kids are dancing, singing or become footballers. This is not the real world only a very few become that, they need to think about academic subjects and achievements. So good on you Yvonne!! it about time we uplift our children, we have no media to represent us. I get fed up hearing and reading the rubbish that are printed and said about us!!

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Garlic Felix, Leytonstone says...
12:28pm Sat 27 Feb 10

When Sir paul condon ex Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police announced that most of the muggings commited in London were where the suspect was a young male black person there was public uproar. This was a dispropotunate statistic of course and it is good to see shing examples to the negativite by contrary positiveness in these cases. There are many young achievers of all races and Private Behary the Victoria Cross winner is another fine example of black achievement instead of the usual negative stereo type.

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newyear, says...
3:55pm Sat 27 Feb 10

Now you're talking sense, Garlic Felix. A bit more of this and a bit less of the drivel about war graves and we might be getting somewhere.

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With my last breath, Dorset says...
4:11pm Sat 27 Feb 10

foremores wrote:
What this about an axe to grind?? black kids have to prove themselves for more than white kids! The media is always labeling them as muggers, murders and underachievers. We never hear anything when black kids do good, there are very little positive things reported regard them, only the negative things you hear about which everyone believes and is so far from the truth. The only thing that is promoted for young black kids are dancing, singing or become footballers. This is not the real world only a very few become that, they need to think about academic subjects and achievements. So good on you Yvonne!! it about time we uplift our children, we have no media to represent us. I get fed up hearing and reading the rubbish that are printed and said about us!!
Perhaps you ought to give examples of where black children have to prove themselves far more than white children? and also give examples of where the media label them as muggers etc? It is a proven fact though that many black boys do not have a father/role figure in their lives this does not help young men to have a stable upbringing and many of them are tempted to join gangs as a way of seeking to establish a closer bond with someone who is male and older as a substitution for the missing father; and a break down of certain crimes is attributed to black people in the same way burglary figures show overwhelmingly to be carried out by white criminals
What concerns me is black & white tax payers funds being used to support just black incentives whilst ignoring white children!

Yes there is nothing wrong with celebrating academic achievements but to claim that black children have it harder than white children is total rubbish especially as everyone knows that "positive discrimination" in many public sector jobs leaves white job seekers way behind - because of their colour!

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Fawzi Mabhouhi, Herts says...
4:28pm Sat 27 Feb 10

I agree with last breath comments and its not unusual to see apprenticeship jobs etc being advertised with specific "under representative" instructions for those wishing to apply??? still there is a general election within the next few months so we can all have our say then cant we!

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newyear, says...
5:08pm Sat 27 Feb 10

I see With my last breath lives in Dorset. Nuff said I think!

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Jan 77, says...
6:21pm Sat 27 Feb 10

if there was a group representening just,, "white achievments" in the uk. it would be labelled nasty and "racist" ..........i fail to see the difference ?

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newyear, says...
10:28am Sun 28 Feb 10

Jan 77 wrote:
if there was a group representening just,, "white achievments" in the uk. it would be labelled nasty and "racist" ..........i fail to see the difference ?
There is - it's known as the BNP - and it is! All the difference in the world, I suggest, between them and what voluntary groups like Yvonne Bailey's are striving to achieve, which is to inculcate in disadvantaged youngsters a sense of self-discipline, self-worth and self-respect.

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With my last breath, Dorset says...
1:21pm Sun 28 Feb 10

newyear wrote:
Jan 77 wrote: if there was a group representening just,, "white achievments" in the uk. it would be labelled nasty and "racist" ..........i fail to see the difference ?
There is - it's known as the BNP - and it is! All the difference in the world, I suggest, between them and what voluntary groups like Yvonne Bailey's are striving to achieve, which is to inculcate in disadvantaged youngsters a sense of self-discipline, self-worth and self-respect.
The walthamstow assembly rooms where this event was staged is presumbably funded by the local council ratepayers? that includes white and black ratepayers and its easy to claim that groups that represent just one particular group such as kck are totally "voluntary" & "self supporting" when if you scratch a little deeper you'll find they are supported to the hilt from taxpayers money from all sections of the community, perhaps you should think through things properly before using this forum to springboard your attack against a political group, otherwise you just make yourself look very biased and ignorant to the real facts.

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Jan 77, says...
1:59pm Sun 28 Feb 10

does newyear live in lastyear or maybe bedrock with fred flintstone and does not watch the news or read the newspapers? .............because the bnp changed the rules so black and every race under the sun can join so that argument has nothing to do with the above topic is it? nuff said!

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newyear, says...
3:43pm Sun 28 Feb 10

Remind me again, With my last breath, which part of London Dorest is in? We're talking 'real world' here. Jan 77: I SO look forward to black and Asian Britons joining the BNP en masse and packing its meetings. Nuff said!

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Jan 77, says...
6:24pm Sun 28 Feb 10

newyear or should we say yesteryear is obviously out of touch with reality and bitter and twisted about something and keeps straying from the above topic to the bnp! is that what happens when you live in bedrock? ........lol

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A Pensioner, UK says...
6:34pm Sun 28 Feb 10

When something going to be done for us pensioners ?

WOnt be voting for people who took us to an illegal war in afghanistan/iraq then admitted now we are near an election they are a bit concerned about what indigenous feel about letting in an extra 3Mill people
Bit late for that im afraid

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newyear, says...
10:52pm Sun 28 Feb 10

Jan 77 wrote:
newyear or should we say yesteryear is obviously out of touch with reality and bitter and twisted about something and keeps straying from the above topic to the bnp! is that what happens when you live in bedrock? ........lol
You mentioned "nasty and racist" so of course I immediately thought of the BNP. But by all means let's return to the point. Jan 77 (that is January 1977) saw the first airing of the mini-series 'Roots' in the US. Why do I get the feeling that things haven't moved on much since then? Perhaps it's something to do with the retrograde views of people like you - or, since you seem so fond of the Flintstones should that be Neanderthal?. And you call me out of touch! (I'm certainly not laughing out loud - and very much doubt anyone else is either.)

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Jan 77, says...
10:01am Mon 1 Mar 10

newyear im not going to waste my time with you as its pointless and we are going around in circles,, you are completly devoid of sensible discussion and keep resorting back to the bnp which has nothing to do with the above topic, if you do not like our country the way it is then you could find somewhere else to reside in, no one is stopping you from moving somewhere where you can feel more happy with, as a busy mother i care about my childrens future and want a level playing field so they have the same opportunities as all the other children without "race" or "colour" being used by "shady" groups who say they are celebrating academic achievements then spell "culture" as "kulture" ..............which pretty much sums this group up for what they are!

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With my last breath, Dorset says...
10:56am Mon 1 Mar 10

Jan 77 wrote:
newyear im not going to waste my time with you as its pointless and we are going around in circles,, you are completly devoid of sensible discussion and keep resorting back to the bnp which has nothing to do with the above topic, if you do not like our country the way it is then you could find somewhere else to reside in, no one is stopping you from moving somewhere where you can feel more happy with, as a busy mother i care about my childrens future and want a level playing field so they have the same opportunities as all the other children without "race" or "colour" being used by "shady" groups who say they are celebrating academic achievements then spell "culture" as "kulture" ..............which pretty much sums this group up for what they are!
I think you'll find they call themselves "kck" jan77 & the "k" is is supposedly to represent the word "creative" but we understand where you are coming from! mindboggling stupidity!

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human_racist, leyotn/chingford says...
1:33pm Mon 1 Mar 10

Ax an ex-member of the club since it's inception, and someone who has attended the award shows several times, I can say I don't feel its racist at all.

The club started on a housing estate in Leyton and always has, and always will, embrace children of all colours. Most of the youth that attend are black (or were when I went), but I'd say they are the majority on the estate!

I have attended the award shows, and seen youth that are greek and white getting awards. I also have white friends who's parents would not allow them to recieve an award due to the name!

I'm not going to debate this topic (in this post anyway). All I would like to say is, to all thoses who oppose this event without having attended it, keep an open mind an attend the next one.

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March Hare, says...
1:37pm Mon 1 Mar 10

What fatuous, inane drivel from Jan 77 and With my last breath. Keep up the good work against these reactionary dimwits, newyear.

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Jan 77, says...
3:53pm Mon 1 Mar 10

thank you with my last breath for correcting me ...........and as for dimwits, human_racist pretends to be a local yet cannot spell leyton ..........lol

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Helen, Walthamstow, Walthamstow says...
4:03pm Mon 1 Mar 10

And you, Jan 77, appear incapable of using capital letters or sentences, so you can't prove your superiority by correcting a small typo in someone else's posting.

The KCK has done great work with loads of children over the years with virtually no help from the taxpayers. Yvonne Bailey has helped set many young feet on the path to a more productive life than they would otherwise have had.

And the person who appears to live in Dorset might like to know that Walthamstow Assembly Hall (not Rooms) has to be paid for by the hirer. It doesn't come free.

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Jan 77, says...
4:20pm Mon 1 Mar 10

its my style of writing helen ..........perhaps its because i text my children a lot to see they are safe that ive picked up some bad habits ...........but for someone to register their account on here and spell where they live wrong and not notice it? ..........well, its very, very, suspect,, now i have some childrens evening meals to prepare now so ta ta sweetheart!

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YCB, London says...
11:30am Tue 2 Mar 10

In 2003 KCK members held a debate on under achievement among black students, an ongoing issue since the Government backed Bullock Report in 1975 (which began a chain of Supplementary schools by the community). Ms Bailey gave awards to these youth some being top achievers. The effect was immediate. They were overwhelmed that somebody was acknowledging their abilities as opposed to their inabilities. This is the reason why hundreds have attended since then. It acknowledges what the mainstream media ignore – the positive side of youth but in particular black youth.
Therefore, this is a celebration of cultural progress and achievement with great role models. Long may it continue! More achievements equal more black kids contributing positively to society! Far more desirable than those chained and over-represented in prison and an even greater burden to all taxpayers than an annual celebration.
This event is no different to any other culture or sections of the community having their own celebrations in whatever shape or form - as the one recently held in Walthamstow for war veterans to acknowledge their part in WW2!
I recognise we are one race – the human race! Therefore those involved with KCK past and present are from many diverse backgrounds. They include the committee, tutors, volunteers and the young people attending various sessions (who perform at the ceremony) representing the rich cultural diversity of Waltham Forest resulting in community cohesion.
Consequently, the only 'axe I have to grind' is with the media as the onslaught is I feel, designed to have a psychological effect as very few adults let alone children, irrespective of their background can perform to the best of their ability if they are continuously being put down! I have noted the comments and please also note that people with prejudiced views will always maintain those views no matter what, unless of course they come to KCK where any notion of ‘racism’ will be quickly dispelled

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AirForceOne, Woodford says...
4:17pm Tue 2 Mar 10

Why do people get so worked up about such a non-story?
The word "racist" has too many meanings for a sensible discussion.
If you take the dictionary version then its simply judging according to race. An award for blacks is quite simply racist in favour of blacks. As it would be for any race that is mentioned. An award for blacks only or whites only or yellows only is clearly discriminatory along the lines of race. Therefore it is racist. Except of course when it doesn't suit.
And why does the BNP keep getting mentioned? Some people have far too much time on their hands.

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A Pensioner, UK says...
5:14pm Tue 2 Mar 10

As a pensioner ive tried all 3?
Havnt got a problem trying a different lot either

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Jan 77, says...
5:00pm Wed 3 Mar 10

ive got very good friends of all races and i resent being labelled racist for speaking as a concerned mother ............calling me names is very unfair and uncalled for ............weve seen the bullying in politics on tv now weve seen it on here by those politically motivated to attack anyone as bnp just for having a view ................so unfair!

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Successful students at the KCK awards KCK co-founder Yvonne Bailey

Successful students at the KCK awards

KCK co-founder Yvonne Bailey





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