Jason Okundaye’s insightful response to Diane Abbott’s second suspension from the Labour party points to the “cancellation” in the public sphere of a serious and necessary debate about racism and discrimination in British society (The Diane Abbott row shows how impoverished Britain’s conversations about race have become, 18 July). His considerations begin with Channel 4’s Devil’s Advocate, in which Darcus Howe challenged Bernie Grant MP on his call for a “voluntary repatriation” scheme for Black people in Britain.
I was Channel 4’s commissioning editor, co-conceiving the format and mission of Devil’s Advocate. It set out to challenge Black nationalism, which Darcus spent his life opposing, in his dedication to the postcolonial development of multi-ethnic Britain.
