Jamelia Confronts Racist Stereotypes Linking Her To Crime She Had Nothing To Do With

Jamelia has been linked to a murder crime simply because she used to know someone as a child, decades ago...

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by Sophie Wilkinson |
Updated on

Jamelia has confronted the racist way many, many newspaper articles linking her to a murder trial. The singer, 38, wrote in a blogpost about the 'lazy articles being flung out by every national newspaper in the country, linking me to a 2015 "gangland" killing.'

You see, decades ago, when Jamelia was a toddler, her mum dated a guy for a couple of years. His son, Tafarwa Beckford, has now grown up to be involved in violence and has been convicted of murder. Jamelia has grown up to do all sorts of positive, useful things with her life, from singing to presenting TV to working with charities. She has also used her platform to speak out against the many ways racism has negatively impacted her and her family.

When Beckford's conviction was reported, though, Jamelia's name was attached to the stories, which she 'played no part in whatsoever, other than to have been the “stepdaughter” (and that is in the loosest of terms) of someone for 2 years of my life, almost 35 years ago.'

In the post, she detailed the effects of these biased links on her children, her relationships with other family members - her mum is so fearful of repercussions that she won't be seen with her daughter - her mental health, her work prospects and her finances. The huge fear is that, 'someone may come and kill me in retribution because of what you’ve written and what your articles have led them to believe.'

Jamelia insisted: 'I am not essential to these stories.I do not deserve this. It’s unfair. It’s careless. And all in the name of selling more papers and generating clicks.'

Later speaking on Channel 4 News about her experiences, Jamelia explained the racism behind attaching her name to that of a criminal's. And, quite rightly, pointed out, that 'Honestly, if it wasn't for the media, I wouldn't have to work as hard as I do I wouldn't have to undo the damage that they do.'

'I am being vilified, my job prospects are affected, my daughters are affected, my daughters' friends are being affected.'

'I didn't want to come here today but there are the things we have to do. I have to come here and state my case and fight for things that I shouldn't be fighting for. Particularly when my white counterparts do not get this type of abuse. They do not get continuously linked to stories that they could be...some of whom have committed crimes and it never gets mentioned again.'

When asked 'is it racism?' she said 'Of course it is!' and called out the lack of diversity in newsrooms, when it comes to both race and class.

As coversations about racism within football and the media representation of black men have been sparked by Manchester City player Raheem Sterling, after he was allegedly racially abused by a Chelsea fan, Jamelia's input is valid and deserves to be heard.

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