| David attends Black Leaders Dinner as one of the top ten most influential African Caribbean people in the UK. |
| Tuesday, 28 August 2007 |
David attended London's inaugural Black Leaders Dinner at the Dorchester Hotel in Mayfair. The guest list of high achievers included Stanley Musesengwa, the chief operating officer of Tate & Lyle, and figures such as Naomi Campbell, Thandie Newton, Richard Taylor, father of Damilola Taylor, Anthony Hamilton, father of Lewis Hamilton, the former sports star and TV presenter Ian Wright and England footballer Sol Campbell.
The audience was also addressed by Nelson Mandela, who warned that Britain's black leaders that they must play a key role in efforts to tackle conflict and under-achievement in the inner cities, and beware of cutting themselves off from the less fortunate and show that they are bringing their expertise to bear.
The strong message was delivered against the backdrop of this month's government-backed Reach report into gangs and inner-city deprivation which said black teenagers need a new generation of role models, aside from the usual group of musicians and sports stars. It called for more mentoring and outreach work.
Part of the rationale for the event is to show that there are many unsung black success stories throughout a wide range of professions but that they are rarely focused on by the media. The event is taking place amid growing concern about the alienation of youths in the inner cities and fears that many drift into gangs merely because they see no more attractive future for themselves.
Most of those invited feature in a list of the 50 most powerful black men and women in the UK compiled by the New Nation newspaper.
David Lammy said:
“It is an honour to be included on a list which has, in its own words, looked beyond the ‘usual suspects’ of rappers and footballers – role models though they can often be – into the wide range of influential positions in society; positions that black women and men are at last beginning to occupy, both publicly and successfully, in politics, business and faith groups.
“I believe that it is the responsibility of our role models, and of politicians, like myself, to celebrate successes like these, as well as face up to where we are failing. Parents in our community must rise to the challenges which Nelson Mandela and Jesse Jackson have put to us, and we must ask ourselves serious questions of our children – where they are, who they are with and what they are doing. But we must also ask serious questions of ourselves. Are we doing everything we can to help ensure and inspire these ambitions and aspirations in our children?
”These are the answers we must find if we want to create the Power Lists, and role models, of the future.”
David came 9th on a list of the 100 most influential African Caribbean people in the UK, according to leading black newspaper New Nation’s Power List 2007.
The List, researched over six months for New Nation, lists 50 men and 50 women including company directors, politicians and top media and business executives, but includes just two sportsmen.
New Nation editor Michael Eboda said: "The Power List explodes the myth that African Caribbeans are not achieving anything and has uncovered some great success stories. By doing so, we have also dispelled the recently trumpeted belief that there is a dearth of African Caribbean role models.”
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