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 Alan Stanton on
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I'm in sympathy with the positive sentiments you've expressed Vorotyntsev. Though it's equally possible that the original Black Boy was - as some people have posted here - an affectionate nickname for King Charles ll from his mother. A number of websites explain this.
But to me what appears more important are the views about the streetname by current residents of Tottenham - including black residents, several of whom have posted on this site.
Can I though, take slight issue with your statement about the "arrival" of people from the Caribbean and Africa. Though such communities in very large numbers are a recent development, you may also know there were African soldiers among the Roman armies.
I should have had - but didn't - have a far better knowledge of the long history of people of colour in Britain. I became less ignorant reading Peter Fryer's book Staying Power. The updated Pluto edition includes an introduction by Paul Gilroy, author of "There Ain't No Black in the Union Jack", with a foreword by Gary Younge.
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Permalink Reply by Devon Williams on
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I don't want it changed Alan and I don't know anyone who does. The name doesn't offend me in the slightest. In fact the attempt to change it does rile me (as does the dictatorial approach). It simply creates divisions between the communities. If the road name was genuinely offensive it would be a different story.
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This discussion has now become the most commented on discussion since this site began 14 years ago"
Yes that is very good, as it shows some councillors are more interested in their own ego, it shows clearly how they waste the tax payers money, ignore the residents and the history (of BBL), do not inform the resident properly, ignore correct process, and with a name change will cost some households, a lot more than just money even with a £300 payment. To some this ignorant waist of time and money during this pandemic is more important than actually helping the people of the borough.
They are a disgrace to Marx, and any political party, and only get elected as most people vote for “their” party, even if that person is unfit. It also shows up the silent majority of councillors, who are too timid to oppose the so called leaders as it may come across as disloyalty to their party ( which to some is must more important than their disloyalty to the residents).
Also the cost so far are great, and will be MUCH higher than they will ever admit, as i’m sure they will not add the cost of the man hours of council staff (in offices, changing signs etc., even when the staff have much more Important things to do.
A name change will mean in a few years, even in 5 years, a few distant relatives and very dear friends they have lost touch with are never going to be able to get in touch with them ever again.
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James, In my own experience almost everything you wrote in that posting is broadly accurate about the present regime.
One possible exception may be your assumption about the costs per household exceeding £300. Let's hope this is not the case. An itemised breakdown of costs was requested by the Council's Corporate Committee members and, to my limited knowledge, this has not yet been supplied. The old-fashioned expression for such foolishness was 'putting the cart before the horse'. With the Ejiofor regime it's filling the cost-cart before they get to the supermarket checkout. And always expecting someone else to pay.
Your point about Party loyalty is a key factor but no means the whole picture. Many Haringey councillors - Labour and LibDemocrat - do their very best to defend the interest of residents. Which may mean some tricky balancing with Party loyalty. Other councillors seem to muddle-up Party loyalty with personal loyalty to a Dear Leader-Leader-Leader-did-I-mention-Leader. They may fall into the trap of stroking the Leader's ego. Including by just calling them 'Leader' instead of using their name. (Like saying 'Your Majesty'.) Council Leaders can also fall in love with their magic mirrors or the cameras pointing at them.
Of course some councillors like the status and the extra cash. (Special Responsibility Allowance SRA). One or two set their sights on being Mayor as long as possible, chairing the Council, wearing silly ruffles and wearing a gold chain. D'you know the Elvis Presley song "Teddy Bear"?
Put a chain around my neck
And lead me to that chair
Just wanna be
The borough's Mayor
______________________________________
My Political declaration is on my HoL personal page here:
https://harringayonline.com/profile/AlanStanton
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"A plaque explaining this could easily be placed next to the road sign."
Agreed, that would be a sensible way to move forward, wouldn't it?
There is no incontrovertible evidence that the road name has racist/colonialist origins, and plenty of evidence to suggest that it doesn't: for example, the number of pubs dotted around the UK called the Black Boy -- suggesting (to me anyway) that the name is inspired by Charles II's nickname.
As Vorotyntsev says, plaques next to the road sign could explain some of this. I wonder how much THAT would cost!
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It’s a nice idea, but it would recognise a ‘problem’ where none exists. We could up with plaques next to half the street names in the borough if the only test is whether someone (reasonably or unreasonably) feels ‘offended’ by a name. For good reason, there is no right under law not to be offended.
And would a plaque really appease the terminally offended in any event?
A competent Council would close this project down and focus on helping those in the borough who are suffering through one of the worst crises to hit the UK in 70 years.
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A bit off piste this
Brown university, in the states, had to address their dubious past and started a process back in 2003. Notably, they haven't renamed.
Some of the colleges responses to the three year inquiry are great. It Focuses on education, historical archiving, support for BAME communities/colleges and memorial.
The educational and support programmes seemed to me the way to go, but I also liked their ideas on memorial. The financial differences between haringey council and the college are vast, but if Uncle Joe wants to do something he could do worse than reading the link below and nicking some ideas.
After all, They did have a good look at the issue.
http://brown.edu/Research/Slavery_Justice/about/response.html
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Many thanks for the Brown U link.
You hope to persuade Joe Ejiofor and his cabinet pals to follow an example from the U.S. and "have a good look at the issue" adopting a better and more ambitious plan?
Well, they might. Stranger things have happened. Especially now with the Covid-19 pandemic. In April 2020 Rebecca Solnit wrote that:
"Things that were supposed to be unstoppable stopped, and things that were supposed to be impossible [...] have already happened."I may be wrong but I suspect that a lot worse things may be happening in Haringey and that Black Boy Lane renaming might just turn out to be a distraction. (My adoption of Ece Temelkuran's insight from Turkey. Which I think I've posted on HoL. If not please ask me for the link if you're interested.)
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You've alluded a couple of times, Alan, to Uncle Joe's attempt to rename our Black Boy Lane potentially being a 'distraction'. What are the issues you think he wants to keep in the shadows?
I've seen your post here. Is that what you mean or are you referring to other scandals?
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You've understood my comment. Although I have to say that I see nothing avuncular about Cllr Ejiofor.
But I also want to respect the request by the site moderator Hugh Flouch to stay on topic and to consider its sensitivities. Especially as many people are proposing a review and rethinking of issues of names, statues and memorials. And how the often cruel and painful histories of slavery and colonialism are faced in our formerly imperial city. (Though usually with more imagination, ambition, and respect for local residents, than unscrewing a few streetname signs in the middle of a pandemic. )
Anyway, it's probably best if I first talk to Hugh Flouch.
By the way, have you read articles or viewed online videos by Ece Temulkeran? Her insights about the behaviour of autocratic leaders seem accurate and helpful. She hit the bullseye with Donald Trump!
It may be that women writers and journalists are more tuned-in to what is happening. For instance, Anne Applebaum an American married to a Polish politician.
https://soundcloud.com/penguin-audio/twilight-of-democracy-by-anne
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I'm sorry. On reflection it was an unfair question. I know how the dominant group can turn on someone who refuses to be complicit in their collusion. I remember the St Ann's preselecton fiasco a few years ago.
I agree, Applebaum is a fine historian (and cook book author too incidentally). She, like most Poles, isn't particularly fond of Uncle Joes either.
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It was a perfectly fair question, Stav.
But I don't care what the Joe Ejiofor regime thinks about me and others who speak out truthfully. Especially as they surely realise how rickety their power now is. (Ejiofor would probably have lost the leadership in May 2020 if he and Sheila Peacock, then Mayor hadn't disgracefully agreed to postpone internal council elections for a year because of Covid-19.)But in any case I made a Brer Rabbit exit from the Labour Group in 2014. I had declined to collude before then. And have since as a citizen.
Which doesn't mean I'm right in all my judgments of people or policies. On the contrary, to my great shame, I made very serious errors. Partly based on Party loyalty, as you suggest. But also on expecting the best from people, a few of whom turned out to be an embarrassment. The challenge is always to remember the old proverb: "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me."The short answer to your question is how many Haringey rocks have you time to lift? The even shorter answer is deals with public property.
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