Rodney Hinds, sports editor for The Voice newspaper and co-founder of the Football Black List, pays tribute to Lord Herman Ouseley, the former chair of Kick It Out, who sadly passed away this month at the age of 79.
Lord Herman Ouseley will never know exactly how many lives he has touched and influenced. I feel privileged to include myself among that number.
His contributions to tackling racism within football and beyond were characterised by his persistence and boldness, as he tirelessly campaigned against discrimination in all forms.
I was a young journalist starting out at the West Indian World newspaper when I first heard the name Herman Ouseley. I knew how important he was back in the 1990s just by how others spoke about him.
At the time, he was the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) and his organisation’s work featured prominently and regularly in our paper.
He grew up determined to work to overcome racial prejudice rather than exact revenge, and he was fiercely determined to improve the future of others.
To have met him while he led the CRE gave this impressionable young hack a boost and more importantly the belief that I could make a difference. I am just a small cog in the legacy that Lord Ouseley has influenced over the decades.
Tackling racial inequality
Lord Ouseley's work in combatting racial inequality and championing the rights of underrepresented communities earned him the admiration and respect of many, both within and beyond black British communities.
He was to take his passionate beliefs into his role at Kick Racism Out of Football, later to become Kick It Out. He fought not only for black players but against anti-Semitic chanting, and remained Chair of the charity for 25 years.
His CRE experience meant that he was more than capable of tackling a sport that had allowed racism to get out of hand. He was the most powerful voice as black players, as the rest of the community, looked for answers that were not forthcoming.
Lord Ouseley was highly motivated by his goals; 'there is no room for racism' was his mantra. He often shared that, as a teenager, he was taunted and beaten up, but he felt compelled to work to overcome racial prejudice rather than get his own back. It was a measure of the man that he would not cower to the racists; in fact they made him more focused to rid the sport, and wider society, of the problem.
While he carried out his work, tackling discrimination across the game, he was inspiring others too in great numbers.
I have many abiding memories of this special individual. Chief of many was that he was never prepared to walk away from a battle. He was a public servant and campaigner like no other.
Celebrating Black community
Without Lord Ouseley there is no Football Black List (FBL), the initiative created by myself and my co-founder, Leon Mann. The FBL seeks to reward those within the black community and inspire next generations.
Lord Ouseley was always keen that the black community should receive recognition and let those that follow understand that there is a place for them within the beautiful game, despite the racism.
Indeed, the very first FBL Celebration, now supported by the Premier League, took place at the House of Lords in 2008 with Lord Ouseley, as ever, diligently ensuring that the event took place and more than playing his part in proceedings.
The FBL and other initiatives and organisations that seek parity for the black community within football stand on the shoulders of this particular giant.
Some within the aforementioned community may never have met him but they are beneficiaries of his work.
Pushing the boundaries
For decades, Lord Ouseley advocated that the underrepresented and disadvantaged get their due recognition. The process has been painfully slow, and there is so much more to do and consider.
Lord Ouseley got the wheels in motion at some cost to himself, but that was a measure of the man, selfless. He was always prepared to start the uncomfortable conversations and push the boundaries. Whenever he conversed with me, I felt that I had more to do.
He was fearless for sure. He had no backup, as many of us do today. It was essentially just him on the frontline. He stood and fought until he found allies inspired by his own resolute actions. His legacy of courage and commitment will resonate for generations.
Lord Herman Ouseley was a true champion and a great man who made a unique contribution to tackling racism in football and beyond.
He may no longer be with us but he will never be forgotten and he proved, time and again, that one man can make a difference.
Lead image illustration by Kingsley Nebechi
