A highly respected and decorated businessman has spoken out about the racism he and his family experienced while growing up in the North East.
Tyneside entrepreneur Ammar Mirza has revealed the harsh reality of the racial abuse he faced in Newcastle, recalling incidents that began when he was as young as five years old, including being subjected to racial slurs and even having dogs set on him by local residents.
Appointed a CBE in 2014 for his outstanding contributions to business and community development, Mr. Mirza shared his powerful story on the PRsonal podcast.
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He recounted his early life in poverty in Newcastle’s West End, where he and his family were frequently targeted by skinheads.
“Some of my earliest memories are of my parents having countless bolts on our front door – there was literally a metal bar across it and bolts from top to bottom,” Mirza said, describing their home as “Fort Knox.”
He recalled drunken individuals shouting abuse at their home on weekends, with people yelling, “P**** go home,” before he was even five years old.
Despite those traumatic experiences, Mirza went on to become one of the region’s most successful business figures.
Raised on Beaconsfield Street in Arthur’s Hill, he overcame adversity to achieve national recognition, earning numerous awards for his work in promoting business growth across the UK.
In 2019, he was named British Asian Entrepreneur of the Year.
As an angel investor and growth strategist, Mirza has supported the launch of thousands of businesses worldwide.
He currently leads the Inclusion by Default Campaign, which aims to make the North East and Tees Valley the most inclusive regions in the UK by the end of 2025.
Speaking on the podcast, produced by North East PR agency Harvey & Hugo, Mirza reflected on the challenges of growing up in an Asian household during the 1970s and 80s.
“There were a couple of individuals who lived opposite us on Stanhope Street who had an Alsatian and would regularly set the dog on us,” he recalled.
“My brother and I would often climb trees in Leazes Park to escape.”
He explained that while blatant racism has lessened over the years, it has been replaced by unconscious bias. “Even working with colleagues on certain projects, as soon as there are two Asian people involved, they’ll often mix up our names.
It’s not outright racism, but it’s that underlying bias that still exists.”
Mirza also reflected on his personal life, expressing regret that his late parents were not alive to witness his achievements.
He discussed his charity work, the difficulties of raising a premature baby, and a recent experience where he was mistaken for Habib Rahman, Newcastle’s first non-white Lord Mayor, at a civic event.
Despite the prejudice he has faced, Mirza remains proud of his roots and optimistic about the region’s future.
“I genuinely believe the North East is the best place in the world,” he said. “My goal is to make it even better and ensure that inclusivity is at the heart of its growth.”
