Tottenham Labour Party in hunt for party members votes in Blackboy name change

Late last week the Tottenham Labour Party emailed all its members urging them to vote for the name change in the current the consultation on Blackboy Lane.

It's perhaps no surprise to see a political party presenting a one-sided case to support the position they favour. But one has to wonder whether the absolute absence of any consideration of the wide range of resident views is appropriate in a sensitive local issue like this one.

Sent on 11th February 2021

On behalf of Tottenham Labour Party, I am asking you to spare a few moments of your time to take part in Haringey Council’s consultation on changing the name of Black Boy Lane, and to support the renaming of the street as La Rose Lane.

The consultation closes on Friday 19th February, it’s a good idea to take part as soon as you can. For information about the consultation click here and to go directly to have your say please click here. [Link given]

The initiatives by the leadership of Haringey Council on the naming and renaming of streets and buildings have been given impetus through solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, and are supported by Haringey Stand Up to Racism as well as Tottenham Labour Party.

Nandi Maseko, a young Black woman who attended a delegation to the Council in July, on behalf of Haringey Stand Up to Racism, expressed the issue eloquently. She said-

“I went to Park View School and so I passed Black Boy Lane every day. I found it quite degrading. All my school friends could feel the racist and offensive connotations of the name. This no doubt had an effect on our self image as Black children.

“Whatever the origins of the name, this is now a racist and offensive term. It should be removed and replaced by a name which honours those who fought racism and helped to build up this country. This will help promote dignity and pride in our community.”

The Green King Pub chain has also agreed to change the names of several of its pubs which are called ‘The Black Boy’.

John La Rose, who the new street name is proposed to commemorate, was described as the elder statesman of Britain’s Black communities. Before coming to live in Haringey, John La Rose fought for the freedom and independence of the Caribbean from the British Empire. His life and activity represented so many aspects of the movement we are part of - from organising and campaigning against racism, for socialism and workers’ rights, to his poetry and his great contribution to developing art and culture. When John La Rose died in 2006, Jeremy Corbyn put down an Early Day Motion in Parliament to recognise his life and his work.

Some relevant links:

Linton Kwesi Johnson's obituary of John La Rose:

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/mar/04/guardianobituaries.soc...

Film: Dream to Change the World - A Tribute to John La Rose (parts 1 and 2)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6rav7zvJJk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0MbHlYAmqM

Presentation by Haringey Stand Up to Racism:

https://mcusercontent.com/bdd57c2076b534d8455e262cb/files/0ab3231d-...

Please take part in the consultation, and help make sure that we make this important change before Friday 19th February . Here are the links again: For information about the consultation click here and to go directly to have your say please click here

Yours comradely,

Grace Abdo

Acting Chair, Tottenham Constituency Labour Party

To keep all the discussion on one place, this discussion will be closed and comments can be made on the main discussion on this issue.