Chuka Umunna

The Black Socialist Society (BSS) members will vote to decide whether to change the society’s name to reflect the many minorities it represents.

On Saturday, November 24, the society will hold the 2007 Black Socialist Society Special Conference in Manchester, an event where members contribute to various Labour policies. One of the main discussion points on the day will be the changing of the society’s name. Members will have the opportunity to vote on whether BSS should be kept or take up another title.

Some of the titles under consideration are Black and Asian Society; Black and Asian Socialist Society; Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Society; BAME Labour Society; and BSS will be included on the list.

Leading BSS organiser Chuka Umunna told OBV that there were a couple of reasons for the need to change its name. One being that the term socialist had different connotations and that “the Labour Party today is not socialist but social democratic”.

He felt that things had moved on since the 1980s and added: “Black as a political term is not used in the way it was. A lot of minorities don’t describe themselves as Black but instead as Pakistani, African or Chinese for example. It was felt that the name should be changed to reflect that.”

The name BSS was given to the society in 1990. Lambeth Councillor and former Vice-Chair of BSS, Kingsley Abrams, believes that the name should not be altered.

He said: “I think it’s a mistake for the society to change the name. I’m hoping individuals will vote to keep the title. The word Black is used in the UK as a political definition which encompasses people who are of Asian, African and other minority ethnic origins.”

“We have far more important things to do as an organisation, for instance getting more Black MPs into parliament rather than changing the name,” he continued.

BSS chair Ahmad Shahzad, however, disagrees and argues that the name should try to represent everyone. He said: “People have expressed concern about the name. The new members of the BSS are from various countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Our members should be given the opportunity to decide the name of the society.”

The BSS Conference is the first since the society re-launched itself earlier this year and will include training and presentations from government ministers.