LONDON -- Footballer Sol Campbell is fronting a provocative campaign, weeks ahead of the UK general election, to encourage black and ethnic-minority Britons to vote on May 7.
The former England international player is joined by rapper Tinie Tempah, Homeland actor David Harewood and Paralympian Ade Adepitan, who were all photographed with makeup that whitened parts of their skin, as part of the Operation Black Vote campaign.
Make your voice heard this election. VOTE. Register now: http://t.co/YZ415aYrHV #BlackVote pic.twitter.com/ftcBAjhDRV— Operation Black Vote (@OpBlackVote) April 15, 2015
Operation Black Vote said Wednesday in a statement on its website that it reversed the offensive blackface tradition to create a powerful campaign that urges minorities to register to vote, so they are properly represented in Parliament.
Make your voice heard this election. VOTE. Register now: http://t.co/AJ2EX9S0aA #BlackVote pic.twitter.com/Ar1BySpmqW— Ade Adepitan (@AdeAdepitan) April 15, 2015
"Voter registration and voter turnout is the only currency relevant to politicians, and if you're not voting, you come last in a long list of voting communities whose voices are heard, whilst yours is ignored," Operation Black Vote said about the campaign, which was shot by British photographer Rankin.
If you’re not registered to vote, politicians won’t represent you. Register today. http://t.co/YZ415aYrHV #BlackVote pic.twitter.com/C4njJla3Ze— Operation Black Vote (@OpBlackVote) April 15, 2015
Only 4.2% of the House of Commons are comprised of an ethnic minority, which is out of step with the UK's population -- 12.9% of which is non-white. If the UK continues selecting black and minority ethnic MPs "in winnable seats" at its current rate, the country would have to wait until 2060 to see a representative Parliament, according to Operation Black Vote.
The campaign attracted a lot of attention on Twitter, but not all positive, with some people calling it racist.
.Twitter peops re #BlackVote I have to get on the bball court and train right now this conversation will be continued!— Ade Adepitan (@AdeAdepitan) April 15, 2015
People have until April 20 to register to vote. All British citizens and UK residents from Commonwealth countries and Ireland, who are over the age of 16, can register. However, people must be over 18 to actually cast a ballot next month.