Inspirational young Black woman honoured, the lack of Chris Smalls coverage & other stories from Black, Asian & Arab communities you shouldn't have missed - curated by Melissa Sigodo
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Thank you for subscribing to The Source and thank you for your patience.
It has been busy but as usual, I have recapped all the stories you should know about.
This week, we heard that activist Chris Smalls was allegedly ‘beaten’ by the Israeli Defence Force after his group’s aid ship was blocked from entering Gaza. However, you’d be forgiven for having missed this story as it barely got any coverage.
It wasn’t that long ago that photos of starving Palestinian children were splashed across the front pages with headlines telling us this was a crisis that could no longer be ignored. Yet one week later, allegations of assault against the only Black man on board a ship carrying baby formula and nappies for those very same children - hardly made the news.
Ethnic minority coverage and reports that don’t attempt to justify racism are becoming increasingly scarce as the far-right embeds itself as a supposed morally acceptable ideology in mainstream media. Now, a report by race think tank Runnymede Trust has found that ‘the UK government and media are complicit in enabling racist violence.’
It’s very tempting to lose hope in all this. However, giving up isn’t an option and if anything, it is important now more than ever to continue highlighting our experiences.
Since I began this journey as an independent journalist and founder, it’s been incredibly encouraging to see that the stories told on this platform are reaching thousands of people. In the last week alone, my latest story garnered over 118,000 views on TikTok with thousands of supportive comments. But the most encouraging part was that the story moved people to donate a total of around £2000 so far towards a GoFundMe to help pay for medical costs. I know some of you wonderful subscribers donated too as I recognise the names. For that, I just want to say thank you. You are making a huge difference.
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This week, I have recapped a number of world news stories on Sudan, Congo and Angola, as well as a few big stories on legal matters.
Without further ado, here’s what you shouldn’t have missed this week.
News
England striker Michelle Agyemang has been named the Young Player of the Tournament at Euro 2025 following the team’s win against Spain in the final. The inspirational 19-year-old said she “thanked God” for the victory and urged aspiring footballers not to give up and to believe in their abilities. Read the full story by ESPN.
England footballer Jess Carter says she was “scared” to play in the Euros final after the racist abuse she received during the tournament which forced her to quit social media. The defender shared that ultimately, the support of her team pushed her through. Read the full story by Jamie Braidwood at The Independent.
A 78-year-old pensioner has completed a skydive where she jumped out of a plane at 12,000ft to raise funds for a man who miraculously survived an unprovoked attack. Tharel Thompson, 30, was stabbed in the head by then-serving British Army soldier Krisma Anthony last year, and now his mum desperately needs £160,000 to pay for his NHS surgery as he is not a UK citizen. Read the full story by Melissa Sigodo at The Source.
The mother of Anthony Walker who was murdered with an ice axe during a racist attack in 2005 says she is ready to speak to his killers to ask why they did it. Cousins Paul Taylor and Michael Barton- the brother of ex-footballer Joey Barton- were convicted of his murder. Read the full story by Lauren Hirst at BBC.
Health
A 40-year-old dad who suffered a heart attack which left him ‘clinically dead for ten minutes’ is urging more Black people to give blood after a transfusion saved his life. Matthew Allick will be paying an emotional visit to thank staff at the NHS Blood and Transplant’s donor centre where London blood donors “regularly roll up their sleeves” to donate. Read the full story by Sinai Fleary at The Voice Online.
Immigration
The Indian embassy has warned its citizens to take safety precautions in Ireland following a rise in targeted attacks including that of an Indian man who was beaten by a group and stripped from the waist down in an unprovoked assault. Read the full story by RTE.
Crime
Out of 899 people arrested for taking part in the violent disorder last summer, 41 per cent had been reported for crimes linked to ‘intimate partner violence’, a Guardian obtained Freedom of Information request (FOI) has revealed. The FOI also found that “for those arrested by one police force, this figure was as high as 68 per cent.” Read the full story by Nic Murray and Rajeev Syal at The Guardian.
Fifteen people have been arrested after “protests” outside hotels across England housing asylum seekers. Read the full story by BBC.
Tributes
A brother and sister who drowned off a beach in Spain after being ‘swept up’ by ‘powerful currents’ have been named. Deeply loved Ameiya, 13, and Ricardo Junior, 11, were on a family holiday swimming with their dad. Their father survived the tragedy. Read the full story by Tara Cobham at The Independent.
Entertainment
MasterChef contestant Sarah Shafi has been edited out of the BBC show after she called for the programme to be shelved following allegations against its presenters. Gregg Wallace was accused of inappropriate sexual language and unwanted physical contact while John Torode faced allegations of using racist language. Both men have since been fired. Read the full story by Michael Savage at The Guardian.
Windrush
An 82-year-old grandmother who arrived in the UK in 1996 has finally been allowed to permanently live in the country after 50 years of being flying between England and Nigeria. Comfort Olufunmilayo Olawo previously had indefinite leave to remain in the UK but lost it after travelling to Nigeria to give birth to her third child. Read the full story by Diane Taylor at The Guardian.
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