Episode thirty-one: Black Britain

The More We Know Community Show with Dr. Sylvia

Recorded from the heart of London, host Dr. Sylvia sits down with Michael Eboda, Founder and CEO of Powerful Media UK, whose mission is to connect great African, African, Caribbean, and African American minds through events, publications, introduction, and recruitment. This episode was recorded a few days after Britain elected its first Prime Minister of Indian descent and at the end of Black history month in the UK.

Michael shares his experience growing up in a working-class family in the UK and how being sent to live with his aunt in Nigeria after the death of his mother changed the trajectory of his life, providing him access to opportunities he never knew were available to him as a black man. Michael provides his perspective on the negative narrative about black Britons and drive for creating the Powerlist in 2007, an annual list of the 100 most influential people of African or African Caribbean heritage in the United Kingdom. He explains the importance of using the Powerlist as a springboard to connect black talent to senior leadership opportunities, collaborate with African American executives via the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) to support black talent, as well as support and showcase future leaders in an annual publication that profiles 150 of the most outstanding black university students in Britain.

About Michael Eboda: Before starting Powerful Media, Michael was Editorial Director of the Ethnic Media Group, which at one time published some 10 titles. He has worked for and written for many national newspapers and magazines, including The Observer, The Guardian, The Sun, The Evening Standard, The Sunday Times, The Times and The Independent. Michael holds Bachelors and Master’s degrees in Law and a post-graduate diploma in Periodical Journalism.