Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Aug 04, 2025

I wrote a letter to my son about what it means to be a Black man in the UK today

I wrote a letter to my son about what it means to be a Black man in the UK today

My wife Deborah had chosen my son’s name, Zion, before he was born; meaning ‘the Promised Land’, it’s synonymous with destiny.

Together we were busy preparing for Zion’s due date, 26 May 2020 – I had suspended all meetings and had saved enough money to spend the next few months off work.

But the day before he was due, on 25 May last year, George Floyd was needlessly killed by US police officers.

Personally, it was a difficult time for me. On one hand, I witnessed the murder of a Black man due to police brutality while at the same time I was expecting the birth of my son; a Black boy.

In that period I wrote ‘Letter to Zion’ as a catalyst for change, to encourage leaders to commit for the long run.

George Floyd’s murder caused many to take to the streets in protest. People of all colours and creeds came together and said enough – Black Lives Matter.

In truth, immediately following the news of George Floyd’s killing, I felt tired, but I received hundreds of messages from people asking for my thoughts and guidance.

In December 2018, to challenge the negative portrayal of Black men in the media, I had set up 56 Black Men to put a positive spotlight on Black men in the community – the campaign challenged the stereotypical preconceptions of ‘the Black man’ and the negative connotations often attached.

Clearly, those stigmas were going nowhere anytime soon – I knew I had to take real action. I felt distrust for the statements that were coming out from businesses around the UK in the wake of George Floyd’s senseless murder.

Organisations were so quick to come up with a ‘solution’. Systemic racism existed for hundreds of years, how could it be solved within weeks?

Lots of letters and manifestos were making promises for change, but I noticed that many were not written by Black people.

In my view, the Black Renaissance needs to be led by Black people – supported by our non-Black allies. After speaking to a number of business leaders, I knew I had to do something to make sure Black voices were not just heard in the UK, but that our request for change was sat next to legacy – something that would last.

Amidst the world’s chaos, Zion didn’t arrive until 8 June. For the first few months he was constantly raising his hand into the ‘Black power’ symbol; the clenched fist, with his arm up in the air. He’s also a really happy baby, always smiling – a true blessing.

As I gazed at Zion – a Black boy who’s going to become a Black man, of course I felt concerned for his future.

I want Zion to be seen as a human first – to live on a planet where he’s not just ‘tolerated’ but included


Growing up, I saw the good, the bad and ugly – in the playground people called me a monkey and the N word. I’ve also experienced racism in my adult life, too. For instance, a few years ago, when I was trying to get into my business premises, the police were called to a report of ‘two Black boys breaking into a block of flats’.

When I think of how the situation may have turned out if I had responded in a way they didn’t like, or if I expressed my frustration. I could have left that day in handcuffs or worse.

The reality is that we are not treated with the same dignity as others in the community – you don’t know what you are going to get when you encounter the police as a Black person. Not just in the USA, over here in the UK, you can be bullied and baited; made out to be a criminal, physically abused and in some cases killed.

I had to find a way to articulate my concerns and hopes for Zion while at the same time making a personal effort to bring about change.

So, I wrote my open letter to him for all to read: ‘It’s a sad fact that in some places, people with skin like yours and mine are not treated the same as others or with the respect they deserve. I knew that for the sake of your future, I had to take a stand.’

​In order to centralise Black voices and the support of our non-Black allies, the letter also gave birth to my personal commitment to Zion and his generation’s future. The Black British Network is an organisation that will focus on working together so that by the time Zion is 20, he will not be fighting the same battles we have had to but rather enjoying the manifestation of our efforts.

For businesses to join, CEOs or company founders must read and sign my Letter To Zion – our pledge includes a promise that people will no longer be afraid to listen to the Black community, accept the inequalities we experience and genuinely work with us to usher in long lasting, tangible change.

I’m interested in real relationships and an enduring approach to ending systemic racism. It’s encouraging that already 45 business leaders have signed it and 18 businesses, including Tesco, Ernst & Young, O2, Unilever, Facebook have too.

I want Zion to be seen as a human first – to live on a planet where he’s not just ‘tolerated’ but included.

I don’t know if things will change in my lifetime but if we don’t do anything now then by the time Zion and his generation are my age they will be having the same conversations.

My son should be free to achieve and do whatever he wants to do – I do not want him to be held back based on the colour of his skin.

At some point his happiness is out of my control; from a young age he will be engaging with social media and the wider society.

I recently released a project entitled ‘The World I Want To See’, run in collaboration with MIND HFEH – working with a handful of Black boys aged nine to 16 to write letters to their older selves.

One boy shared that he wanted to go to the shops without worrying ‘about taking a receipt just in case they accuse me of stealing’ while another wrote that teachers ‘make us feel unwanted or lower standard than everyone else’.

It was sad to hear, and I was shocked that even in Gen Z – in which I have often been led to believe that racism will not exist – the kids said they had experienced negative, racist comments at school, on TikTok and other platforms from their peers.

As much as there has been some progression we still have a long way to go.

Letter to Zion is just the beginning – my hope is that by the time my boy is old enough to read it, we will be one step closer to the world I want to see.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
OpenAI’s Bold Bet: Teaching AI to Think, Not Just Chat
Tesla Seeks Shareholder Approval for $29 Billion Compensation Package for Elon Musk
Nvidia is cutting prices on its RTX 50-series graphics cards after sales slowed and inventories piled up
Ghislaine Maxwell Transferred to Minimum-Security Prison Amid Ongoing DOJ Discussions
U.S. Tariffs Surge to Highest Levels in Nearly a Century Under Second Trump Term
Matt Taibbi Slams Media for Role in Russiagate Narrative
Pilots Call for Mental Health Support Without Stigma
All Five Trapped Miners Found Dead After El Teniente Mine Collapse
Ong Beng Seng Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case Linked to Former Singapore Transport Minister
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
Italy Fines Shein One Million Euros for Misleading Sustainability Claims
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
Declassified Annex Links Soros‑Affiliated Officials and Clinton Campaign to ‘Russiagate’ Narrative
UK's Online Safety Law: A Front for Censorship
Nationwide Protests Erupt in Brazil Demanding Presidential Resignation
Parents Abandon Child at Barcelona Airport Over Passport Issue
Mystery Surrounds Death of Brazilian Woman with iPhones Glued to Her Body
Bus Driver Discovers Toddler Hidden in Suitcase in New Zealand
Switzerland Celebrates 734 Years of Independence Amid Global Changes
U.S. Opens Official Investigation into Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith
Leaked audio of Canada's new PM Mark Carney admitting the truth about the Net Zero agenda: "We're gonna make a lot of money off of this."
China Enforces Comprehensive Ban on Cryptocurrency Activities
Absolutely 100% Realistic EVO Series Doll by EXDOLL (Chinese Company) used mainly for carnal purposes
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab: "In this new world, we must accept... total transparency. You have to get used to it. You have to behave accordingly. But if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be afraid."
Meet Mufti Hamid Patel, head of Office for Standards in Education in Pakistan
George Soros tells the World Economic Forum: "President Trump is a con man and the ultimate narcissist, who wants the world to revolve around him."
Hamas are STARVING the hostages.
Decline in Tourism in Majorca Amidst Ongoing Anti-Tourism Protests
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
Poland Begins Excavation at Dziemiany After New Clue to World War II‑Era Nazi Treasure
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs Over Palestinian State Recognition
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Trump Sues Murdoch in “Heavyweight Bout”: Lawsuit Over Alleged Epstein Letter Sets Stage for Courtroom Showdown
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
×