11:55am Thursday 25th February 2010
By Carl Brown
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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