Haringey Council’s Corporate Committee have taken the decision to rename Black Boy Lane to La Rose Lane.
The new name commemorates a local celebrated artist – John La Rose - who founded the first Caribbean publishing company in Britain and co-founded the Black Parents Movement from parents involved in the George Padmore Supplementary School to combat the brutalisation and criminalisation of young black people, and to agitate for youth and parent power and decent education.
John La Rose died on 28 February 2006. He is part of a Caribbean tradition of radical and revolutionary activism whose input has reverberated across continents.
Councillor Peray Ahmet, Leader of Haringey Council, said: “Under the Haringey Council constitution the Corporate Committee have the power to rename roads.
“The committee have taken that view after considerable consultation and we must respect that decision. The process will take some time and we want to ensure we support residents through this period.
“We consulted on the renaming of Black Boy Lane in favour of La Rose Lane as part of a review of monument, buildings, place and street names, aimed at ensuring that our public spaces across Haringey are reflective and respectful of our wonderfully rich and diverse borough.
“As part of our commitments to tackling systematic inequalities and responding to the Black Lives Matter movement we will work alongside residents, and stakeholders to celebrate our diversity through commemoration, public artworks, education and more. A road name change is only a small aspect of the bigger picture in our fight against inequality.”
Cllr Mike Hakata, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and the Climate Emergency and Deputy Leader of the Council, said: “The council is undertaking a strategic review of how we pay tribute to historic figures through monuments, buildings, places and street names. In a borough that celebrates its uniquely rich cultural heritage and diverse population this is a necessity.
“Ahead of any report from this review we have agreed to rename Black Boy Lane to La Rose Lane. Regardless of questions over timing or the origins of the name this is an important step. However, changing the name of a street does not change the structures of inequality or the fortunes of everyone who is caught on the wrong side of prejudice.
“As a local Black councillor, I must ask, have we done enough? Have we invested enough? The answer is simple - we need to do more, invest more, and with urgency, in collaboration with the black population of our borough whose lives matter not only in name but in action.”
