It's been ages since I was last year - no good explanation. Like everyone else I guess the campaigns are tight (is that not a good excuse?).
Two weeks ago - approximately - I read a newspaper caption that kind of made me proud. For the first time in a long long time there was a small feature in the business pages of the promotion of a black African (French passport holder) in one of the leading insurance companies here. Prudential had poached a high-flying executive from Aviva and placed him as a Finance Director.
African-born, French trained Tidjane Thiam was a former senior member of the Ivory Coast government until a coup in the late 90s. Apart from a five figure salary, he is positioned as a candidate to succeed the current CEO – do not hold your breathe on that though it is too early.
Since it seems the norm here to moan and whinge I was just about to complain why The Daily Telegraph forgot to include his picture with the story, I turned to the FT and they had he's picture. I don't why I'm happy it is obvious we have very few role models especially here in the UK given that there is a huge number of individuals with African (read black) but not represented in the business world.
Last week I read a brief interview of the great Spike Lee and of course the interviewer asked him whether racism was still rife in Hollywood (duh!). Apparently he is tired of going to meetings and the only time he meets brothers is at the door manning the gates!
Anyway in whatever you are up to good luck
Maybe next is to have Black girls as page 3 models - not that I'll notice!
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