..as a media professional he's
proved good at getting his message across - the outspoken
CRE boss is no stranger to criticism either |
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Arguably we've listed the most influential
Black people in Britain. Whether they work in the public or private sector,
are wealthy or not. They are here by virtue of the influence they have had
and still have in defining life and how we as a community live, are viewed
and treated in Britain today.
This list is in no way complete, and we are not saying we are right - but justify the reason for an
inclusion or exclusion and we will
happily amend. |
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 There
is no getting away from Trevor Phillips. It could be said he pops
up everywhere but as a media professional he's proved exceptional at
getting his message across and being heard.
Phillips replaced Lord Ouseley as
Chairman of the Commission for Racial
Equality (CRE), the race watchdog in 2003.
Born in London in 1953, his early years were spent between Guyana and
Britain. Reports says his parents wanted him to have the best education
possible.
Phillips is a graduate of Imperial College, London and in 1978, he became
the first Black president of the National Union of Students (NUS).
He joined London Weekend Television (LWT) as a researcher and rose to
present and produce the current affairs magazine 'The London Programme'
and later became LWT's head of Current Affairs and one of very few Black
television executives of the day.
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Family ties
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For
1998 Windrush anniversary, his
independent production company, Pepper Productions produced an
entire series, charting the recent history of Black people in
Britain. The series also saw Phillips working alongside his brother
the author Dr Mike Phillips.
Sometimes
outspoken, Phillips is no stranger to criticism and has been
attacked from various quarters for his views on multiculturalism and
British-ness.
The former chairman of the Runnymede Trust, the independent race
relations think-tank is a member of the Labour party and tried his
hand at mainstream politics running for Mayor of London. He lost out
Ken Livingstone but became a member of the Greater London Authority
before being appointed to the CRE.
He has been awarded an OBE and is thought to be in line for a
knighthood before or after the CRE is merge into the Commission
for Equality and Human Rights.
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Copyright © 2006 Black In Britain. All rights reserved. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Black In Britain.
WRITE TO US: Black In Britain, Unit 49, Brockley Cross, Business Centre, 96 Endwell Road London SE6 2PD
TEXT US ON: +44 774242 4185 CALL US ON: 020 7732 3195
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