Brave man saves children, actress hits out at Disney 'not saying anything' on racism & more news from Black, Asian and Arab communities you shouldn't have missed this week curated by Melissa Sigodo

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I hope you enjoyed the mini-podacst I’ve put together. As mentioned, Reuters Institute of Journalism at Oxford University published their research into the coverage of missing people in British media which I contributed to as a journalist who has covered stories on ethnic minorities who disappear. The work was done by journalist fellow Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff who looked at the disparities between Black and white missing people, conspiracy theories and how the media can improve. You can read this important report here.

As also mentioned, Black History Month (BHM) continued this week and I took great pleasure in sharing more stories, this time about Black men who shaped Black British History. Akyaaba Addai-Sebo who initiated the first BHM in the UK, Val McCalla who founded The Voice Newspaper, Dr Harold Moody who launched a GP practice after being denied a hospital job because of racism, Learie Constantine - the first Black man to sit in the House of Lords and John Edmonstone who helped Charles Darwin form his ideas on evolution.

Lots of entertainment news this week, some honours, some apologies and the ever present issue of racism in the industry as well as people having a lot to say about a Daniel Kaluuya statue. The Chris Kaba trial continues and climate change hit the headlines with some troubling news in the Sahara desert as well as the storm in Florida.

Enough of me and without further ado, here are the stories you shouldn’t have missed this week.

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News

A brave man, McArthur Okorocha heroically saved two kids aged four and six who were savagely attacked by a ‘big dog’ described as a Staffie in Orpington, London. A woman has been arrested on suspicion of having dogs dangerously out of control & has been taken into custody. Full story.

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A woman who was reunited with her husband after he was stuck in Gaza is now homeless after she claims she lost her job for speaking up for Palestinians. Afshan Abubakar and her partner have been evicted along with her three children, aged four, six, and 14. Full story.

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Male Violence Against Women and Girls

Award-winning singer and actress Beverley Knight has called on men to ‘call out’ other men for their toxic behaviours after revealing the ‘troubling’ & ‘disturbing’ online abuse she experienced when she was targeted for being Black and a woman. The star has also previously shared how she suffered domestic abuse but after meeting her husband, she says she is fortunate that he calls out other men’s toxic behaviours. Full story.

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Entertainment