The Guardian Hardly a week has passed since the Macpherson report, following the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, in which a move to encourage racial equality has not been mooted. Yesterday saw the latest addition, with the publication of equality targets for fire, prison, police and probation services. Race is a black male issue in the same way that gender is often seen as a white women's issue.
Black women fall into the cracks between the two.
As institutions scramble not to be labelled racist, the male-orientated nature of racial equality has been left alone. At last month's Into Leadership conference, to promote racial equality in the public and private sectors, the masculine gloss shone bright. Sir Paul Condon, Sir Herman Ouseley and General Sir Guthrie were there, an address was given by Tony Blair and the chief executive of a British multinational company told us his personal journey to the top. He didn't appear to see the 500 black and Asian women in the audience who outnumbered the elderly Asian community leaders and black executive men two to one. Darcus Howe, the black writer and broadcaster, joked that racism has led to a glut of black male mini-cab drivers with MBAs and PhDs who keep getting lost.