Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Council Decides to Rename Black Boy Lane
Following my consideration on the origins of West Green's Black Boy name back in the summer, Haringey Council has decided to rename Black Boy Lane in West Green.
The Council have called the exercise a 'renaming consultation', but the online questionnaire offers only the ability to choose from a shortlist of two new names. So it appears that the decision to rename has already been taken with only the choice of name left to be decided.
They have issued the following press release.
The council has launched a renaming consultation with residents and businesses located on Black Boy Lane, as part of the wider Review on Monuments, Buildings, Place and Street Names in Haringey – which was launched on 12 June 2020, in response to the Black Lives Matter movement.
The council believes that the names of our monuments, buildings, places and streets must reflect the values and diversity that we are so proud of in the borough. One of the street names that has been identified as not being reflective of this is Black Boy Lane.
Meanings change over time, and the term “Black Boy” is now most commonly used as a derogatory name for African heritage men.
As part of the consultation, the council is asking residents to consider new alternative names that celebrate some of the borough’s most notable influencers, and truly reflect the borough’s rich heritage.
The two names that have been shortlisted for residents to consider are, ‘Jocelyn Barrow Lane’ and ‘La Rose Lane’. The consultation will launch today, Monday 28 September and will run for a period of 4 weeks to Monday 26 October 2020.
Letters will be arriving on Black Boy Lane residents' doorsteps this week, who can respond to the consultation using one of the following methods:
- Online: www.haringey.gov.uk/renaming-black-boy-lane.
- Email:
- bblconsultation@haringey.gov.uk
- Telephone: 020 8489 3797
- By post: Consultation Co-ordinator, The Communications Team, River Park House, 225 High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8HQ
If Haringey residents have concerns or queries about place, street or building names in the borough, please get in touch. Send your views to Leader@haringey.gov.uk.
Bios:Dame Jocelyn Anita Barrow (15 April 1929 – 9 April 2020) was a Barbadian/Trinidadian British educator, community activist and politician, who was the Director for UK Development at Focus Consultancy Ltd. She was the first Black woman to be a governor of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and was founder and Deputy Chair of the Broadcasting Standards Council.
John La Rose was a publisher, poet and essayist. He founded the Caribbean Artists’ Movement and publishing company New Beacon Books which has a bookshop in Stroud Green. In 1975, he co-founded the Black Parents Movement from the core of the parents involved in the George Padmore Supplementary School incident in which a young Black schoolboy was beaten up by the police outside his school in Haringey.
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Tags for Forum Posts: blackboy lane name change, review on monuments, building place and street names
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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One lives in county Durham, one in Southall and one somewhere in Essex
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Permalink Reply by Nick Eftychiou on
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I agree this could be a reason also
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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Eric, thanks for your comment. As is so often the case in a forum environment, it's not clear what of the foregoing your comment addresses. However, one of the issues you have addressed is the transparency/democratic nature of the change process. An objection to the absence of that in the change process is implied in what I've written.
To avoid any possible misunderstanding, let me be clear, whilst I may have issues with the manner of the change, I am not objecting to the change itself. I've pointed out what is happening and sought to furnish people with the background facts.
I've been a bit taken aback by the strength of feelings the issue has uncovered. But, perhaps this could have been foreseen by those in the Council responsible and the issue should have been dealt with in a less offhand manner.
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Hugh, you are right that the Council might have foreseen the strength of feeling the issue has uncovered. But, let's face it, they are Haringey Council.
The fact that there is such strength of feeling and disagreement among locals, as demonstrated by the discussion on this forum, suggests to me that it is foolish to suggest changing the street name UNLESS there has been some pre-existing and demonstrable groundswell of opinion in favour of such a move.
I haven't yet seen any substantial pre-existing evidence of grassroots sentiment towards changing the name. It's all been 'reactive', so far as I can make out. "I didn't know I found it offensive before, but thanks for alerting me."
The Council has simply managed to stir up division and infuriate residents.
Its flatfooted, tin-eared approach is unfortunately not without precedent.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Yes the people who decided and are carrying out this task appear to be tin-eared and flat-footed. (Personally I'd add sloppy, thoughtless and grossly insensitive to the context of the Pandemic.)
But may I also suggest that it is very unfair to label the entire Council staff and the elected councillors.
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Alan, I wrote "But, perhaps this could have been foreseen by those in the Council responsible and the issue should have been dealt with in a less offhand manner."
I think we can assume that James's reply implied the same selective meaning.
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Hugh, you're right that it is "those in the Council responsible" who should have done this differently.
On the other hand I would quite understand if James H may think this is a wider issue then just the responsibility of a few selective people messing up the tasks of decision-making, information-giving and public consultation.
In an important sense it seems entirely understandable when people refer to a collective "Haringey". Because when an email or letter goes out, or a public notice goes up, or someone answers a phone, in many people's minds this is the council speaking.
Anna has copies the letters and information sheet she received. Neither appear to be dated. A small detail? I don't think so. I'd have sent them back for redoing. Did they send them to local councillors in advance for comments and suggestions. What if one of these councillors had a call from a family member or friend who received one and was anxious? The world doesn't live in just one home in just one street.
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I do because they collectively vote for a council leader who in my opinion is racist. And one last point I've written to several cllrs about this including mine and guess what NO reply. Reason cos they probably want to stay in the leaders good books..I am so angry living here 56 years.
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Another good point, so you didn't find it offensive before but do you Now? This is probably how most people are that they didn't even think about BBL being in any way racist until one man the Haringey Leader planted this distructive seed and continues to water it.
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It reminds me of Willie Whitelaw's famous comment about Harold Wilson "going around the country stirring up apathy"!
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Harold Wilson on Tony Benn; "the only man I know who immatures with age".
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Hugh it is clear what your views are and reading in between the lines I also concluded that you do not oppose the change. In my understanding of your comments you are slightly leaning towards change. I have looked at all your evidence and research and although as pointed out to you, you suggest that although no concrete evidence people belive that the origin is from a racist nature. This is untrue and looking at everything, there is NO evidence at all either way.
What your thread has shown is clear, this has divided people but I do thank you for bringing out the additional points regarding this as it has opened my eyes to th wrong of having an unelected (by the people) leader having such authority to push for such a change
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