Black Power in Great Britain

Although there are a number of black people in Great Britain who have made tremendous contributions across industries, outside of music and sports their accomplishments go largely unnoticed. It’s why a former lawyer-turned journalist-turned-media executive created the Powerlist, a compilation of 100 black business, political, athletic, and artistic dynamos in Great Britain.

As he is about to release the third edition, publisher Michael Eboda talks about similarities with black America regarding struggles for equality and recognition and how this list could be a first step in Great Britain toward greater diversity. Powerlist 2010 will be available online Sept. 21 at www.powerful-media.com.

In previous Powerlists, there have been a number of black Brits featured from the creative and athletic world. Why do you think there are so few black people in business who get the same recognition?

Actually, the sector with the most representation in the 2010 list is the business/finance sector, so things are changing. We didn’t include many individuals from the sports world even on the last list–unless they were in a very senior managerial position–because although they may be well known, they tend to have only a limited amount of influence as we define it.

The Powerlist is not based on fame or wealth, but on influence. You define influence as “the ability to alter events and change lives.” Why did you choose this definition of influence and how did it shape your search for candidates?
We chose this

definition because we wanted to distinguish ‘influence’ from ‘power.’ We wanted to promote the idea that a person who is powerful is only influential when they unleash that power in the right way. Power, in other words, is latent influence.

What are some obstacles for blacks in Britain to rising up the ranks in the business and corporate world? Do you think they are similar to those that black Americans deal with?
I imagine t

hey are pretty similar to those faced by African Americans–about 30 years ago! We are still a long way behind. So, for example, there is only one black CEO of a FTSE 100-listed company, Tidjane Thiam at Prudential  plc. (no affiliation with U.S.-based Prudential Financial Inc.), and he was only appointed this year and is not British. He is from the Ivory Coast and came here via France. We are probably about 10 years away, I imagine, from having a black British CEO of a major company.

Do you really think that the lack of diversity in the business and corporate world stems from an inability to locate the right people or are there other things at play?
Quite often it’s about networks and whether or not you are a part of the right one. In England, for example, a lot of socializing goes on in the pub. But many black people don’t go to a pub on a regular basis, so they miss out. There are other exclusive preserves, too: golf clubs, private members clubs, and the old school tie-in. All of them are in effect devices people use to congregate around people like them. It’s not surprising that so many business decisions are made in these places between the people who are a part of them. Historically, blacks have been kept out of these networks. One of the things we are building with the Powerlist is a strong network of our own. So, for example, if an African American wants to do business in London, we can introduce them to people–black people, at the right level–who can help them to get things done.

This article originally appeared in the September 2009 issue of Black Enterprise magazine.