ONE OF Reading Today’s impactful poster fronts has been repurposed in a unique way, which means it certainly won’t be forgotten any time soon.
Alice Mpofu-Coles, councillor for Whitley ward, received a reusable tote bag and mug personalised with the paper’s front page from issue 56, published on November 23, illustrating an article she was interviewed for.
The headline ‘Unapologetically black: Just what is it like to be a person of colour in 21st century Reading’ fit in between representations of eight members of the town’s black community.
Cllr Mpofu-Coles received a large number of interactions after posting images of the alternative presents online and says many have commented on the bag while wearing it out and about.
She explained: “My husband gave them to me for Christmas. He always comes up with the most amazing gifts, ones he knows mean a lot to me.
“I got quite emotional when I saw the cover and the article was really special, the whole purpose of it. We went and bought several copies for our children, friends and family who wanted us to send it to them. We probably cleared out the store.
“A picture tells a million stories and this certainly did. It didn’t demean anyone by making the pictures small.”
The issues raised in the article and the manner in which they were presented on the cover struck a chord with the social justice advocate, who arrived in the UK as a refugee from Zimbabwe in 2002.
Despite enjoying a successful career as an advocate, councillor and completing her PhD at the University of Reading, she has faced numerous challenges based on the colour of her skin.
“Some of these things don’t get highlighted so much. But with what the university and the paper have done is capture everyone’s eyes, it was so powerful,” she said.
“Sometimes when there are pictures on a front page with lots of stories, the messaging can get muddled up. But in this case, you almost didn’t even need to read past the cover.
“Things have to be done differently in the 21st century, it’s got to be something we don’t just talk about in Black History Month only. The university’s ethos is not for a month, but something we get used to.”
The article also featured the words of Reading Borough Council’s first female West Indian-born Chaplain Una Chandler and her daughter Louise, Royals’ manager Paul Ince and Kenyan Family Fun Day organiser Ken Gathere.
Jemima McKenzie, inclusion and communities officer at Reading University Students’ Union, and youth workers Kelvin Husbands and James Pyle completed the line up of inspiring interviewees.
One of many issues Cllr Mpofu-Coles touched on was ignorance based on her interracial marriage with her husband of 12 years.
But for the mother of two, the fact that he is white British made the presents even more special.
She said: “The person who gave me the gifts makes it more special. My husband is white and British, and it means a lot that he understands the significance. Not that it doesn’t mean a lot when it happens from a black person, it’s just fantastic to see the reaction from different, diverse people, different vantage points.”
