Generation Black TV - Live
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The Prince of Wales edited a version of the British African-Caribbean newspaper The Voice. This edition will feature interviews with Lady Doreen Lawrence and Idris Elba to mark its 40th anniversary.
The Voice is the only national black British newspaper operating in the UK. Founded in 1982, Prince Charles described the paper as an institution and mentioned how he was touched to be requested to edit its special anniversary edition.
The issue has been available since 1 September, exploring themes such as community cohesion, education, climate, the Commonwealth, faith, and the arts.
It also features a long-awaited interview with Baroness Lawrence, the mother of teenager Stephen Lawrence. The teenager was murdered in a racist attack while waiting for a bus in South London on 22 April 1993.
The Prince’s Foundation established a partnership with the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, seeking to offer young people from diverse backgrounds affected by socioeconomic inequalities an easier time applying to art scholarships.
On the other hand, Idris Elba opens up about the opportunities she obtained when she benefitted from a Prince’s Trust grant at the age of 16.
It opened doors that changed her life. Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo elaborated on her career and role as the Royal Society of Literature president.
Idrissa Akuna Elba OBE is an English actor, producer, and musician. An alumnus of the National Youth Theatre in London, he has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film, winning one. He has been nominated five times for a primetime Emmy Award. His films have grossed over $9.8 billion at the global box office.
Prince Charles’ edit commemorates some of the achievements made by the Black community throughout the last four decades.
The edition celebrates Notting Hill Carnival, an annual Caribbean festival in west London, and features another interview with Baroness Floella Benjamin.
Prince Charles has previously guest edited editions of Country Life to commemorate his 65th and 72nd birthday.
Some Twitter users pointed out that Prince Charles editing the only national Black British Newspaper seems like performative White allyship.
Others claimed that the only reason the British Royal Family is collaborating with The Voice is due to the racist allegations, which seems to be drowning out the message made by his actions.
Despite mixed reactions from the public, what’s certain is that Prince Charles was beyond honored for the opportunity of editing an important voice for Black British people, which was long provided thought leadership articles and awareness of their struggles and victories. Namely, The Voice.
