Official Black History Month Magazine 2016

MAGAZINE 2016 www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk

inside...

Time to Reset the Mindset The History of the Black Olympics

Muhammad Ali Remembering the Greatest ÂŁ3.95 where sold

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

22

12

08

18 42

34

48

40 4 INTRODUCTIONS

UNIT 4, 2a Glenville Grove London SE8 4BP

Featuring Prime Minister Theresa May; Jeremy Corbyn MP, Leader of the Labour Party; Tim Farron MP, Liberal Democrat Leader; Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, Helen Grant MP, David Lammy MP

Tel: 020 3 105 2161 www.sugarmediaandmarketing.co.uk

8 MUHAMMAD ALI - REMEMBERING THE GREATEST

PUBLISHER: Ian Thomas

10 INTRODUCTIONS CONT’D

PUBLISHED BY SUGAR MEDIA AND MARKETING LIMITED

EDITOR: Omar Alleyne-Lawler LISTINGS EDITOR: David Ruiz CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: John Stevenson, Megan Pollard HEAD OF ADVERTISING: Ayana Hussein COMMUNITY LIAISON ORGANISER: Paul McDade DESIGN: Becky Wybrow, James Mutton SPECIAL THANKS TO: Geta Jaggan and Benguela Eleuterio

Messages from Scratchylus, Chi Onwurah MP, Keith Vaz MP

2016

36 DISABILITY IN SPORT:

Interview with Ashley Hull-Owolabi

40 MARGARET BUSBY

Doyenne of Black British Publishing

42 DALTON GRANT INTERVIEW 44 BLACK POWER, A FORGOTTEN ALLY AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES

12 AN INTERVIEW WITH SUZAN-LORI PARKS

46 SPORTING HEROES

14 PATRICK VERNON AND ONE HUNDRED GREAT BLACK BRITONS

48 EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS

16 HOWARD GAYLE

The Scouser who ran Bayern Munich’s defenders ragged

18 THE LOVER’S ROCK MONOLOGUES

Black History at the Olympics

56 ASPECTS OF BRITISH GUNBOAT DIPLOMACY Jaja King of Opobo

58 CARIBBEAN WOMEN AND THE NHS

20 LORD HERMAN OUSELEY

60 PARLIAMENT AND THE BRITISH SLAVE TRADE

22 DIVERSITY IN ENGINEERING

46 WE REMEMBER SAM “MR WINDRUSH” KING MBE AND PRINCE

Equality and Inclusion Champion

blackhistorymonth.org.uk

34 TEAM GB’S BLACK MEDALLISTS

24 TALKING ABOUT RACE IN HIGHER EDUCATION 30 DIVERSITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016 03

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Black History Month 2016

Message from Prime Minister Theresa May

W

elcome to this year’s National Black History Month Magazine.

This October brings another year of inspiring and engaging events from across the country; each hoping to entertain, teach and involve you in creating another chapter in Black History.

Over the past twelve months, our community portal; www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk has grown thanks to your help and it means that you can find a complete list of events that are going on in your area.

For this year’s magazine, our theme is about tackling conscious and unconscious bias, with messages from the Equality and Inclusion Champion; Lord Herman Ouseley and the creator of the 100 Great Black Britons list; Patrick Vernon going some way to show the effects of just how damaging bias against BAME communities truly is.

We have also taken some time to recognise the sporting greats from within our community who represented us and Great Britain at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio. Older sporting heroes of old are remembered too and the iconic moments that surround them, such as the iconic image we were presented with on the podium at the 1969 Mexico games.

Also in this issue are the excellent Pulitzer winning playwright, Suzan-Lori Parks and the ‘Doyenne of Black British Publishing’, Magret Bubsy Yet 2016 has also been a year of loss and we take a moment to remember “Mr Windrush” himself, Sam King, Muhammad Ali and the musical icon that was Prince.

With so much in this year’s edition, it promises to be the most exciting edition to date and I hope that you will agree.

If you have any thoughts or comments on this year’s magazine, I would be happy to hear from you, just send an email to omar@blackhistorymonth.org.uk and I hope that you too will have a fantastic October.

Happy Black History Month!

Omar Alleyne-Lawler Editor

04 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

I am so pleased to support Black History Month which recognises, rewards and celebrates the contribution made to our society over many years by the African and Caribbean communities.

“It is an opportunity for us all to recognise the incredible achievements of successful African and Caribbean men and women across sectors including financial services, retail, media, the arts, science and technology and sport.

“I remember, like many others in our country watching Mo Farrah and Kadeena Cox, along with many other athletes, proudly representing this country at the Rio Olympics. African and Caribbean athletes have always had a hugely positive impact over young and old around the world and, for many years, here in Britain.

“Celebrating these achievements is really

important – but moreover, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our African and Caribbean communities in the UK for the enormous contribution you make to our country.

“Equally, Black History Month is a time when we can be thankful for the huge progress made in the UK over recent decades in tackling racist attitudes, increasing diversity, and improving equality of opportunity – while of course recognising that we still have much further to go.

“My mission is to build on what we have already achieved to make Britain a country that truly works for everyone, whoever we are and wherever we’re from.

“So let me congratulate the organisers and volunteers for making this month such a bright and vibrant event and I wish everyone involved all the best.

Message from Black History Month is an opportunity for us all to reflect on Britain’s diversity and rich culture, as well as serving as a reminder of the inequality that still exists.

This year, more so than others, the significance of Black History Month cannot be overlooked.

Following the referendum result we have seen a rise in racist attacks and xenophobic hate crimes reminding us that we must remain vigilant against division, and always celebrate our differences as well as our shared humanity and compassion.

Britain leads the world in so many different arenas from the Olympic medal leaders board

INTRODUCTION

Message from Jeremy Corbyn MP I am looking forward to Black History Month 2016, as it will provide, as it does every year, the opportunity to learn more about the history and heritage of our communities here in Britain.

At the heart of the Labour Party is the promise to always campaign for equality, equality of rights and opportunity for all. As a lifelong campaigner for equal rights I will do all I can as Leader to ensure the Party delivers on that promise.

Recently we launched a race equality consultation to engage communities across the country in our policy making process, to ensure that we continue to deliver policies that improve race equality in the UK. Please do get involved and share your ideas with us through the Your Britain policy website.

I hope you enjoy Black History month, a time to reflect, to learn but also to celebrate the wonderful diversity of Britain. I encourage everyone to look up and attend local events as I will do both in my constituency and on my travels across the country.

Jeremy Corbyn MP Leader of the Labour Party

Message from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan Black History Month is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the myriad of contributions Black people have made to our country and to London. Throughout October I will be joining Londoners from all backgrounds at a variety of events across the city to pay tribute to our African and African Caribbean communities and all they have done to add to the life of the capital, helping to make it one of the most diverse, vibrant and successful places on the planet.

Here in City Hall, we will do more than any Mayor has done before. We will be hosting an amazing programme of African culture, including a photographic exhibition with English Heritage, a special production of King Lear and a performance from the Black Heroes Foundation. We are also keen to use Black History Month to improve the wellbeing of the capital’s Black communities by raising awareness of important health issues, including the need for more Black and BME Londoners to register as donors. Another highlight will be visiting the wonderful Black Cultural Archives in Brixton.

To top it all off, Africa on the Square will bring together thousands of Londoners and visitors to the capital for an incredible line-up inspired by the traditions and cultures of the African continent. In London, we do not just tolerate each other’s differences, we respect and celebrate them and for me, that’s what Black History Month is all about.

London is a very open city, but improving social integration is still one of the big challenges we face. That’s why I want to use times of celebration, like Black History Month, Ramadan and Diwali, to bring communities together and strengthen the social fabric that underpins London’s prosperity. I also want to tell everyone around the world, loud and clear, that London is open to people of all backgrounds.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Black History Month and a fabulous day out at Africa on the Square!

Tim Farron MP to university league tables thanks to the diversity of those who have made this country their home and we must always strive to remain open and united against intolerance. The continued standing of this island depends on the contribution of all of those who live, work and study here – many from BME communities, some who have been here for hundreds of years and others who are newer arrivals.

Once again, the sheer number and quality of the events and activities being put on to celebrate Black History Month this year is breathtaking.

It promises to be another wonderful year filled with talent and joy. I wish everyone a successful and enjoyable Black History Month and offer my congratulations and thanks to all those involved in making it a success.

Tim Farron MP, Liberal Democrat Leader

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016 05

INTRODUCTION

Message from David Lammy MP

Message from Helen Grant MP Every year since the mid-eighties Black History Month has grown in importance to become what is now an essential national commemoration and celebration within British culture. Hundreds of voluntary organisations take part to raise awareness of 500 years of Black History in these islands, highlighting many contributions to our shared existence and bringing communities closer together in the process.

In 2016 there is even more need and purpose in reflecting on such things; to help sustain respect and understanding between our peoples, and combat the racism and xenophobia that has been catalysed by despicable populist referendum campaign messages.

To that end, in this Olympic year, let us recall the magnificent achievement of Jesse Owens winning four gold medals in the face of Nazi racism at the 1936 games; Let us remember the passing of one of the 20th Century’s greatest sporting figures – Olympic boxer and civil rights activist Muhammed Ali; And let us celebrate the fantastic achievements of our BME athletes in Rio, making modern Black history and inspiring millions both here and around the world in the Olympics and Paralympics. They demonstrate the power of sport to change lives through the development of self-confidence and self-esteem, teamwork, discipline and co-operation.

In my own life journey I remember as a young girl at school being on the receiving end of racial jibes. But through sport, as captain of several school teams, I was suddenly leading many who were once my worst abusers. We played together, learned to laugh together, we won together and mutual respect was born.

I hope Black History Month will long continue to help us create a better society, where difference is celebrated and diversity is embraced. The initiative has my wholehearted endorsement.

Helen Grant MP Maidstone and The Weald 06 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

There is no doubt that we are living in very troubling times indeed. In the face of the spectre of terrorism writ large in Europe, the worst refugee crisis we have seen for generations and a political climate in which populism is in the ascendancy the need to cherish our common humanity and recognise the contributions made by our minority communities is more important than ever before.

Almost 300 languages are spoken in my constituency, and I firmly believe that having such a rich and diverse ethnic mosaic of people and communities that all proudly call our country their home is at the very heart of what makes Britain great.

As the son of West Indian immigrants and the Member of Parliament for one of the most ethnically diverse constituencies in the country it is a privilege to be asked to write an introduction for Black History month, and I am delighted to support and endorse this vital opportunity to explore and take pride in our history and culture.

After the tumultuous events of this year, we must come together and recognise that we have far more than in common than that which divides us. Black History Month therefore represents a fantastic chance to celebrate the rich and diverse tapestry of cultures and ethnicities that make up our national identity.

There is no doubt that we are living in troubling times and the EU referendum campaign and Brexit vote has unleashed a wave of intolerance, xenophobia and racist abuse that is absolutely abhorrent and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. I simply don’t recognise as my home a country in which a black BBC presenter is racially abused in the street and teachers write to the Education Secretary to warn about a spate in racist incidents taking place in schools.

In the face of a despicable spike in hate crime, it is crucial that as a community and as a country we are able to appreciate and commemorate the many vital contributions to our that have been made by members of Black and Ethnic Minority communities. We must come together to proudly stand for unity and firmly against division and intolerance.

This year special tribute must also be paid to Barack and Michelle Obama, who will be leaving the White House in January after eight years. The election of an African American as the forty fourth President of the United States was a momentous occasion and Barack Obama leaves behind a rich legacy both in terms of all he has achieved in office and also as a shining example to our young people that they too can achieve their dreams and kick down doors that may previously have been closed to them. With the passing of Muhammad Ali and Prince we may have lost two of the great Black sporting and cultural icons of our age this year, but I am sure that in communities all over the globe new generations will emerge with boundless talent and a determination to make their own mark on the world.

I sincerely hope that across the country Black History Month is embraced in homes, schools, communities and places of work.

Once again, I pay tribute to all those who work hard to make the month such an integral part of our cultural calendar by organising a range of fantastic events and I encourage everybody to get involved and participate in any way that they can.

With my very best wishes to you all for October.

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FEATURE

Muhammad Ali REMEMBERING ‘THE GREATEST’:

“When will they ever have another fighter who writes poems, predicts rounds, beats everybody, makes people laugh, makes people cry, and is as tall and extra pretty as me? In the history of the world and from the beginning of time, there’s never been another fighter like me. Eat your words! Eat your words! I am the greatest.”

The passing of the first Three Time World Heavyweight Champion, Muhammad Ali on June 6th, polarised mainstream media and their audiences in the coverage on his life and Legacy.

Muhammad Ali was ‘more than just a Boxer’. He was a Black, Muslim man in Pre-Civil Rights Era America and he would go on to be an activist for the remainder of his life. Erasing these facts not only erases his importance to Black people worldwide, but the prejudice and struggles Ali endured.

When asked why he would not join the US Army draft to fight in Vietnam, Ali said; “My enemy is white people, not Viet Cong, Chinese or Japanese. You are my opposer when I want freedom, you (are) my opposer when I want Justice, you (are) my opposer when I want equality.

“I was the Elvis Presley of boxing.”

You won’t even stand up for me in America for my Religious beliefs, and you want me to go somewhere and fight, but you won’t even stand up for me

08 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

Pictured with Joe DiMaggio wearing gold medals, Ellis Island, NY

here in America.” Ali spent three years in an American Jail for this belief and his refusal to give in to pressure. Muhammad Ali was called a terrorist for his affiliation with the Nation of Islam, Radical for his close relationship with Malcom X and was deemed ‘un-American’ for his name change (from Cassius Clay), despite his Gold medal at the 1960 Olympics for the USA. Muhammad Ali did not ‘transcend race’. Ali was the Blackest version of himself, and was proud to be. Ali’s pride is what made him a champion not just in the ring and realm of Boxing, but as an Activist and as a campaigner of Civil Rights movement in both America, and across the world.

To remember Muhammad Ali, is to remember who he was, more so that what he became. Ali may have become a three time world heavyweight champion, he may have become a Muslim, a Civil Rights Campaigner, a world megastar, a sports personality of the century, a husband and father, an Olympic Gold medalist, a ‘draft evader’, a conscientious objector, a counter-culturalist, a sufferer of Parkinson’s disease, a suicide preventer. But who he was, was a man that believed he was the greatest at what he did and that belief is what made him become who he is; an inspiration for generations that have been and are to come.

FEATURE

“Cassius Clay is a slave name. I didn’t choose it, and I didn’t want it. I am Muhammad Ali, a free name - it means beloved of God - and I insist people use it when speaking to me and of me.”

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016 09

INTRODUCTION

Message from Chi Onwurah MP

Message from

Scratchylus

SOCIETY NEEDS TO FINALLY PRESS THE RED BUTTON AND RESET THE MINDSET Resetting the Mindset and the need to overcome both the conscious and unconscious bias which is extinguishing the hopes and dreams of our families across the world today is vital.

Reset The Mindset for me is the thinking and thoughts come before the word and action. We all think before we act in order to give context to the situation. It is not to rush to judgement(assume). This in turn gives confidence to complete competent activities.

Until we as a society Rest our Mindset’s and deal with the symptoms of unconscious bias which are perceptions built up by society, myths, illusions, ignorance, insecurity and a refusal to address the responsibility of accountability of actions, the same system will prevail.

Education and training are key to overcoming the unconscious bias. We need to educate the masses against just adopting the status quo, to do research, and learn to incorporate life experiences into assessment.

Music has always played a role in Resetting the Mindset.

Reggae music which was formed out of injustices and oppression in Jamaica. Reggae Music is the Universal language that communicates and resonates with people around the world. It highlights corruption and injustices in society and love for all people.

With the global messages that came from Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Sizzla Kalonji, Kiddus I, Garnet Silk, Junior Reid, Empress reggae and among others. Each artist encouraging humanity to work for an equal society.

Global messages have also been developed in Hip Hop in the USA to highlight civil right issues with artist such as KRS ONE, Lauryn Hill, Tupac Shakur, Public Enemy, Jay-Z and among others, In the UK many messages have also transcended and resonated from artist such as Oasis, UB40, Pink Floyd, General Levy, Sweetie Irie, Tippa Irie , Smiley Culture, Philip Levi, Michael Prophet, Aswad as well as artist that rap on drum and bass, and Dubstep.

We also have to give full credit to all the Soundsystems and DJS that promote the messages such as Sir Coxsone, King Stur Gav, David Rodigan, and David Katz.

Let’s all collectively take the red pill.

10 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

As I child I would have been hard put to name a dozen famous black people outside music or sports. My knowledge of black achievement was limited to those two sectors and a few walk-on parts in the great histories of nations, generally as hapless victim or stereotypical villain.

I was fortunate that I knew I wanted to be an Engineer from a young age, certainly I knew of no Black role-models to inspire me, I had to believe I could ‘be it’ without ever being able to ‘see it’.

That is why Black History month matters so much. Yes there is justice in telling the stories of those who History has overlooked and that is important. But there is also the very practical power of showing the diversity of achievement that is our history and should, even more so, be our future. So when for example I discover that Frederick Douglas the American campaigner and abolitionist lectured in my home town of Newcastle in the 1840s and worked with a local Quaker family to secure his freedom, I am both inspired by his personal achievement and reassured by the long history of black achievement in Newcastle.

My own achievement of being Newcastle’s first black MP is therefore put in context, I am no longer an ‘outlier’ but merely standing on the shoulders of the many, many heroes and heroines of our shared past. There are many, many such stories to be discovered.

For too long History has been written by the ‘victors’.

We want a world in which success is open to all. Black History Month helps achieve that, rewriting our history in colour.

Chi Onwurah MP Newcastle Central

Message from Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP “Black History Month shines an important spotlight on Black and minority ethnic communities in the UK and celebrates the significant contributions that these groups have made to the economy, society and our culture.

I am proud to be the Member of Parliament for Leicester East, one of the most diverse communities in the country. Every day I see the important contribution that Black and minority ethnic communities make to our country.

When I was elected in June 1987, I was one of four Black and minority ethnic MPs to sit in the House of Commons at that time and the first Asian- origin MP to have been elected since 1922. Today there are 41 BAME Members of Parliament. The progress that has been made over the last 30 years is remarkable, but there is still a long way to go. Whilst we must celebrate our success, we must not forget our history.

Black History Month is both an opportunity to educate and remind people of this.

I want to thank and commend everyone involved in organising this year’s celebration and wish you every success.

Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP Member of Parliament for Leicester East

INTERVIEW

An interview with:

Suzan-Lori Parks Named among Time magazine’s “100 Innovators for the Next Wave,” SuzanLori Parks is one of the most acclaimed playwrights in American drama today. She is the first African-American woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize in Drama, and is a MacArthur “Genius” Award recipient.

She returns to the Royal Court with Father Comes Home From The Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3) which has been described by as “Thrilling. A masterpiece.”

By New York Magazine and as “Extraordinary. The best new play I’ve seen all year.” by the New York Times She talks to Black History Month about returning to London and her new play.

12 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

You have returned to the Royal Court with Father Comes Home From The Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3).

Can you tell us about the play? What inspired you to write it?

My father was in the military, an Army Colonel. If you think of your life as a piece of music, the recurring motif in mine was dad going to war and coming home. And so these plays started out as something for him. But then it grew! :). Now it’s not just one play, but a series of plays, interconnected by story and character, moving from the 1800s into the present day. Parts 1,2&3 centre around an enslaved man called Hero who is offered his freedom in exchange for his war service.

Are you looking forward to being back at the Royal Court and in London?

The Royal Court is a writer’s theatre! It produces the works of all my favourite playwrights! Beckett, Churchill, green, Kane, and many others! I’m happy to be included!

The play was awarded the Horton Foote Prize, the Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama and was a 2015 Pulitzer Prize Finalist. How did that make you feel?

You are one of the most acclaimed playwrights in American drama today. You were the first African-American woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize in Drama? What does that mean to you?

It’s nice to have your work recognized. With recognition comes responsibility. I’ll take it on. When I was a child (we lived all over the world) my parents would tell me “you’re an ambassador of your race,” because most folks back then had never seen a black person before. Now that phrase is still true and with a new understanding: I’m an ambassador of the Human Race. I’m down with that :)

Who would you say has most inspired you in your life?

Love. Music, Hard work. And all the people who have come before me, all colours, all races, all persuasions who helped pave the road I’m walking on now.

It’s Black History Month so we have to ask you.

Who would you choose to be your black history month hero for 2016 and why?

The woman who climbed the flagpole in South Carolina to remove the Confederate Flag. I don’t remember her name but she is an awesome sister.

What advice would you give to a young person who is considering a career in the arts or in the theatre?

Go for it and get ready to work!

Finally, President Obama is coming to the end of his presidency, do you think he’s been a good President?

Yes. What do you think his legacy will be?

Being the first at something sure isn’t easy. For the rest, time will tell.

Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3) 15th Sept – 22nd Oct Royal Court Theatre Sloane Square London SW1W 8AS

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FEATURE

Patrick Vernon and One Hundred Great Black Britons

P

atrick Vernon is a man who you view from several perspectives. To his wife, he is a husband, to his colleagues he is OBE honoured for his work in healthcare and to the Black British community he created the most important list for a generation: The 100 Great Black Britons.

Created in 2003, the 100 Great Black Britons was a response to the largely white-male orientated ‘Top 100 Britons’ created by the BBC, which saw Winston Churchill’s name perched atop the list at number one. Self funded and run by a team of merely three people, Patrick Vernon’s list was a bold statement, reminding the public the Black people of Britain were not a new, nor did we simply appear post Slavery.

The 100 Great Black Britons reminded the General public that we have been on this small island for centuries, as noted by the inclusion of the African born Roman Emperor, Septimius Severus.

The list, which would go on to conclude Mary Seacole as the greatest Black Briton of all time, is a project that had every opportunity to fail. From empty promises of sponsorship, to promises being turned into threats, underfunding and over-stretched staff, a lesser man would have let the project steer into the rocky shores of failure- which is what everyone else wanted Patrick to do.

Yet the phrase ‘good things come to those who wait’ certainly applies to the concluding months of the 100 Black Britons list, where Vernon and his team would be approached by the BBC and Channel 4 before receiving full page spreads in every major newspaper outlets, including the Daily Mail and the Sun who released a full double page spread, twice.

“I will admit that I was surprised so many of the mainstream media outlets offered their support.” Vernon tells me, smiling.

The website was an instant success, racking up an unprecedented 500,000 hits in one day, which for 2003 was a strong enough result to crash the website on its’s rise to viral status.

“With the mainstream support and now the website being an instant hit, we were all surprised.”

The surprise was warranted, as no sooner did the success of the voting campaign begin to pick up steam, did backlash against the project begin to make the rounds.

“During the three month voting campaign there was a forum on the website which people could discuss their thoughts and feelings on the contenders.” The idea was an innocent one, until right-winged bigotry saw the platform being shut down. “Eventually we were forced to shut the forum down because the racial abuse, the 14 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

hate mail- it was simply too much.”

Upon the announcement of the greatest Black Briton being declared on national television during Channel 4’s lunchtime news, Patrick Vernon had cemented his place as an influential Black Briton himself, ultimately becoming the poster boy and ‘gatekeeper’ to Black History.

But Patrick, like the list, is anything other than straight forward. His OBE for instance is not for his role in creating the list, but is for his work as a Healthcare professional, and whilst the list is praised for the positive depiction of Black peoples, Women’s rights activists and LGBT groups have praised the list for doing what the BBC list failed to address; which was to include Women and Gay icons.

Yet despite the list of great Britons being extensive, with 500 profiles on the 100 Great Black Britons website, Vernon’s own favourites never made the cut. “There are a lot of celebrities who people expected to make the list, but they did not meet the criteria. Joel Augustus Rogers (Jamaican Author, Historian and Journalist) is someone I wanted to put on the list, but because he is a Jamaican who lived in America, I could

not add him even though his contribution to society is worthy of going into our list.” Patrick tells me.

Regardless of who occupies the list, the impact of the list has created ripples which are still felt today, both in wider society and in Patrick’s personal life. One prime example of this is the Mary Seacole statue which was unveiled in June this year outside St Thomas Hospital. Initially, the 10ft Bronze statue had very few financial backers, though with the announcement of Seacole making the list of Greatest Black Britons and being ranked at number 1, funding campaigns very quickly steamrolled. The ripple reaches farther than financial backing however and when Michael Gove attempted to remove Mary Seacole from the national curriculum, Vernon’s list was once again the sited source in her defence.

But the 100 Great Black Britons list has overshadowed the accomplishments Patrick has achieved in the past 13 years, at least within the Black Community. The overlook is somewhat ironic, as his company, Every Generation Media specialises in Black History and heritage research, creating books and publishing them as well as films, with a potential documentary in the works.

But would he have time to create a new 100 Great Black Britons list? Patrick answers with one sentence. “I certainly want to, definitely.”

Life in the Royal Air Force

T

he Royal Air Force is one of the world’s most advanced military forces, offering exciting opportunities to the right people.

Whether in the skies above Britain, or airspace around the world, it is the RAF’s job to protect the UK and its interests 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

We require highly-trained personnel throughout our organisation and there are currently more than 50 careers to choose from in a range of different trades. From pilot to engineer or chef to aircraft mechanic, our job roles guarantee a multitude of exciting opportunities.

Our Role at Home The RAF’s primary role at home is to defend UK airspace. We do this through reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, surveillance, and cuttingedge technology which enable rapid responses.

Equally important is the work we do in communities across the UK and beyond. We’re actively involved in raising money for a range of charities, hosting youth leadership courses, protecting environments and taking part in community projects. This is in addition to the world-famous aerobatics displays and ceremonial events which form an integral part of life in the RAF. If you are looking for a responsible job that is challenging and rewarding, the RAF has a career for you.

Our Personnel RAF personnel form the foundation of the Service and are based all over the UK or wherever in the world they are called upon. They live an exciting life while developing vital skills that will serve them throughout their careers.

Our personnel come from a range of

different backgrounds; have varying educational qualifications, interests and abilities. This is the perfect mix for an organisation which has more than 50 different job roles to choose from.

Our Facilities The RAF has many bases across the UK, each with its own role to play. From front-line operations to training establishments, most bases are like small, self-contained villages with shops, gyms, playing fields, childcare facilities and in some cases even cinemas and bowling alleys! Some are close to large cities while others are in more remote locations because things like night flying need to be conducted in less populated areas.

Support In the RAF you will be part of a large community.

Advice and support services will be available to help with everything from settling in, to planning a foreign posting for you and your family.

We do everything we can to cater to the individual requirements of our personnel, including religion. Chaplains are on hand, along with other religious counsellors. Prayer facilities are also usually available and we will adapt your uniform, catering and duty roster to meet your religious requirements, where possible.

Friends & Family Most RAF personnel work normal hours and have evenings and weekends free to spend with family and friends. If you’re not on duty, and your family isn’t already living with you on base, you can leave to visit them whenever you wish after your basic training is complete.

Benefits The benefits of joining the RAF are vast and the accompanying lifestyle isn’t too bad either!

Joining the RAF entitles you to: • Competitive pay and pension • Training and life-long learning • Free medical and dental care • Subsidised food and accommodation • Sports and adventurous training • 6 weeks’ paid leave

To find out more about a career in the Royal Air Force and the various roles on offer, please visit www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment or feel free to come and ask us any questions you may have on www.facebook.com/rafrecruitment or @RAF_Recruitment on Twitter.

FEATURE

Howard Gayle THE SCOUSER WHO RAN BAYERN MUNICH’S DEFENDERS RAGGED

H

oward Gayle is best remembered by Liverpool fans as the Scouser who ran Bayern Munich’s defenders ragged in the second leg of the 1981 European Cup final. But Gayle, better known as first black footballer in Liverpool’s 89-year history, was born in Toxteth and spent many of his teenage years knocking around on Granby Street – a gritty melting pot of a community south of Liverpool’s city centre.

A Liverpool supporter, he followed the team home and away as a self-confessed football hooligan before he emerged from the terraces as a first team player.

Howard later joined Birmingham City, taking in spells at Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers also. He now lives back in Liverpool’s south end, on the streets where he spent his earliest years.

Gayle who has just released his autobiography, 61 Minutes in Munich talks to Black History Month about his exposition of life in the city of Liverpool during one of the most turbulent periods in its history.

16 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

Your autobiography, 61 Minutes in Munich, is released in October. Why now?

Circumstance. I’ve been working on this project for more than six years. There have been one or two complications along the way. I just feel that now is the right time; the right moment. I wanted it to be right for me, my family and my friends. And I think it is.

A big theme in the book is the issue of race. How much of an impact do you think race had on your life?

What I am today is a consequence of what has happened to me in the past. I had difficulties growing up with institutions affecting my path along the way and how I view life: the education system, the judicial system and even Liverpool FC. I’ve experienced inequality. It shapes who you are. The bad experiences and the good experiences contribute towards the personality of who I am today: how I see life, how I see people and how they judge me.

Do you think your football career would have been different at Liverpool had you been in a working environment where

you weren’t in the minority?

Yeah, maybe it would have been.

As a 19-year-old entering a famous institution, you are always conscious of your surroundings anyway, regardless of race. It was a club that I’d supported – a club that I loved. I’d experienced inequalities on the terraces supporting Liverpool throughout the 1970s and perhaps that helped prepare me for what was to come to a certain extent…

As Liverpool’s first black player, were you conscious that you were making history, though?

No. There were other black players at Liverpool. It wasn’t something we spoke about. There was Stevie Cole and Lawrence Iro playing in the A and B teams, though they didn’t go as far as I did. I made my Liverpool debut against Manchester City and on that day, nobody mentioned that I was the first black player. It was only when I left Liverpool that historians looked back and realised the significance.

What kind of issues did you have to face that maybe others did not?

I remember my brothers telling me that I’d have to be twice as

good as the white people to make it as a footballer. Perhaps that was true. First of all, as a footballer, you always have to convince the decision makers at the club that you can play football. That never stops. But I felt there was more focus on me to see whether I could handle the pressure of playing football – and more importantly, playing football for what was considered one of the greatest sporting institutions.

Liverpool was a juggernaut in English and European football. As the first black player, some people at Liverpool didn’t understand the black culture. If they’d have known a little bit more about me and understood a lot of the challenges that I needed to go through to get to where I was, then maybe I’d have had a bigger role in the club’s history.

Instead, I only made a small contribution. I felt I had more to offer. I trained with world class every single day and didn’t feel out of place. In the end it was a big decision to move away from a club and a city that I loved. But it was something I had to do.

Liverpool’s growth as a city is linked to the empire isn’t it – more than people care to recognise?

Yes. I’m from Toxteth and you only

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www.bedsfire.com have to look around there to understand the impact it had and the wealth it generated. Liverpool grew strong through its links with West Africa and the Caribbean and the distribution of cotton, sugar and other commodities. That was only made possible because of the slave trade. Liverpool became a major port as a result of many unfortunate people suffering.

There are issues in isolation covered the book that many people will be able to relate to. Yet your story when all of those issues are placed together is quite unique…

There are stories in the book that I’ve had to live with my whole life without being able to tell anyone for a number of reasons. I’d rather people bought the book to read them in their full context instead of detailing them here. When readers arrive at the end of the book, I hope they have a better understanding of who I was then and who I am now.

All the way through my football career, for example, it was said that I had a chip on my shoulder.

It was a criticism levelled at other black players too. If that’s the case, then it’s there for a reason: due to attitude and treatment. I’d

like this book to enlighten people and help them understand the issues that I have faced and why they have affected me.

In August, you rejected an MBE because of the empire’s links to the slave trade…

All of the reasons for this are explained in the book. But the stand-out issues behind my reasoning, I’ve made clear. The slave trade is a part of my history, my upbringing and my culture. I don’t see why I should move on and ignore what has happened in the past. My ancestors would turn in their grave. What happened was appalling. I also think about the Hillsborough disaster and how the establishment treated the affected families and the city of Liverpool.

Through political machinery, they tried to blame Liverpool people and capitalise on the stigma that existed. It was a smear on the people of Liverpool. In my opinion, the establishment had not forgotten what happened during the Toxteth riots of 1981 and this was their opportunity to condemn the city.

Wherever you are in the UK, you are never very far from a Prospect member

Prospect believes that all workplaces – and society generally – will benefit from a more diverse and inclusive environment.

If you are a scientist, engineer, manager or a specialist and a member of the BME community, then Prospect is the union for you.

We work hard to ensure all our workplace negotiations are underpinned by a clear commitment to equal opportunities for all members .

Satnam Ner, a leading Prospect equality activist, national executive member and vice-president of the Scottish TUC talks about the work he does for Prospect at: www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk

*Howard Gayle’s 61 Minutes in Munich (deCoubertin) will be available from October.

www.prospect.org.uk/joinus

T: 0207 9026600 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016 17

INTERVIEW

The Lover’s Rock Monologues is the Brainchild of three titans of the genre; Victor Romero Evans, Janet Kay and Carroll Thompson. For October, the trio take their tour nationwide, showcasing their talents on a number of topics, from falling in lover, to being fashionable in what has been dubbed ‘a revival for the genre’.

What can you tell us about the Lovers Rock Monologues?

The Lovers Rock Monologues is a Lovers Rock musical. There are a series of short stories with the music in the background. The two together tell that story.

So does the show’s timeline reflect any of your lives in particular, or is this a story a creative one?

It is a mixture. There are aspects which are true to all of us. The first monologue charts the journey of our parents. How they found the country and the reaction to them. A lot of things are charted in the monologues, such as falling in Love for the first time, high fashion, dealing with cheating; we have monologues that deal with a lot of different aspects and dealing with life in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. So really, the stories are both creative as well as true.

Speaking of your lives, the three of you, have made your names as singers, having charted well individually, but what made you decide that you should move from the studio to the

18 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

stage in a completely different format?

Speaking for myself, I grew up singing, acting and dancing and in fact I’ve been on the stage professionally since 1979, so making the switch was not a new thing. I’ve known Janet a long time and in fact, we have worked together in the past when I worked with her group the Black Theatre Co-operative in a show called Mother Dragon. So Janet is very familiar with the stage as well. But for Carroll, I believe this is her first ‘show’. (The Lovers Rock Monologues has been performing since 2013) But even with Carroll being new to this, the show has grown enormously over the years and I expect it will grow again once we hit the road because we are always looking to improve the show.

This year’s tour takes place during Black History Month, the first show being Friday 21st. Can you tell us why you made that decision?

Well October is the perfect month because it is the time we have set aside to learn about our community and Lovers Rock is part of, at least my generations history.

Lovers Rock was an integral part of growing up in the late 1960’s through to the 1980’s, and it was very much a part of our lives.

So really it was a perfect month to do the show.

You also work alongside Janet Kay and Carroll Thompson, two people who have been dubbed ‘Queens of Lovers Rock’. What is it like working alongside two people who are so talented?

A Joy for me, working with two artists who I rate very highly. In fact, they were a part of my upbringing. Their music would be played at every party I went to during my late teens.

But (Janet and Carroll are) two, quality artists that whenever you see them perform it is always of the highest quality so it is great to work with them, to work with them as a fan.

We had spoken for a long time about making a Reggae musical, but a reggae musical would have been too expensive. But we spoke some more and the idea came from the book ‘The Vagina monologues’. I read it and from there, the idea came for a monologue based musical and that’s how the show was born.

INTERVIEW

Lover Rock is largely seen as the genre that allowed Black Caribbean’s to carve their own piece of distinctive culture here in the UK. How would the three of you describe Lovers Rock as a genre and what it has meant to you?

If you see our audience, you would be surprised how many different people love and have bought into Lovers Rock. People telling their stories, loving the music Lovers Rock to me, defined a what it meant to me. I came here as 9 years old. Lovers Rock tuned you into every different type of music.

Even if you came from a calypso based island or a Salsa based island, growing up in this country you were exposed to every different type of music. It’s why you see so many different types of people joining in to sing Lovers rocks songs. It was never exclusive to any one culture, any one island. It grew here in London like many of us did.

For me, Lovers Rock is romantic. It helped many of us relate to the girls of our age. It brought young boys and girls together in a dance, romantically.

With the three of you having very strong sole vocal careers, Carroll having been a session singer with Michael Jackson, Janet being a number 1 Reggae chart topping singer and yourself as well; what benefits have you found by working alongside Janet and Carroll?

Iron sharpens iron. That is the case with us. We all have qualities that help each of us. Janet is very technical, she is our creative designer and engineer- so things like the posters are all done by her. Carroll is a great communicator, fantastic with people, so we all have qualities that we can borrow and can help each of us grow.

Are there any projects the three of you hope to do in the future together?

Well every year the three of us get together and do gigs. For instance, we do a Valentines show where the three of us sing our songs. Next year’s gig is at the Clapham Grand.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016 19

FEATURE

LORD HERMAN OUSELEY EQUALITY AND INCLUSION CHAMPION

F

or the past four decades, Herman Ouseley has been a non-party partisan champion against racial inequality. Today, he is the Founder and Chair for the anti-racism charity; Kick It Out. Over forty year’s, Herman’s continued success in not only highlighting racial inequality, but challenging it too, has seen him go from a figure within the framework of British Politics, to a champion of the Black-British community. However, it is a title he feels has been misappropriated.

“I have never claimed I speak for Black people as no one has given me the authority to do so.”

He tells me. “I talk about my own experiences and those of people who I know and I utilise every opportunity to help empower people to be confident to speak up for themselves.”

In the past, this mantra of public empowerment has seen Herman become the first of our kind in a number of unprecedented roles. For example, Ouseley was the first Black Race Equality Adviser in Local government for Lambeth in 1978, then became the first Black Policy Advisor for Ethnic Minorities with the Greater London Council in 1981. The next title he would take would be as the first Black Chief Executive in a local authority in England with the former Inner London Education Authority in 1988, followed by the CEO of the London Borough of Lambeth in 1990, before finally becoming the first Black Executive Chairman for the former Commission for Racial Equality in 1993.

These are not the only roles that Lord

20 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

Ouseley of Peckham Rye has taken on over the years, nor are Black people the only people he has had a hand in helping, as his influence has helped to form equality measures in Gender, Disability and Religious injustices too.

Yet to confront Herman on his achievements comes with a stern reminder. “This is not about me, it is about us.”

The words ring loudly because the point behind them is poignant.

“We have to remember that unity is our strength. Too often we think we have beaten a Racist system by putting a Black person into a role, but find that someone creates a backdoor so that the people who they want to get a role, will get it anyway.”

single room in the capital city of the Kingdom that colonised 90% of the world.

It is a living condition that gave a radicalised edge to much of the Windrush generation, as overt prejudices reminded you about how hard it was be to be seen and treated equally.

“Whilst we have worked hard to overcome the barriers of prejudice, we have failed to prepare the next generation of young, Black leaders.”

Herman tells me. It is a failure he accredits to people exercising their prejudices covertly, which has created a dichotomy in opinion between those who have seen conditions improve, and those who have not.

“Before, the simplicity of talking about race was its strength. ‘Black’ referred to the African,

The true impact of Herman Ouseley and his allies is impossible to quantify This humbleness coupled with a nononsense, almost uncompromising approach to do everything ‘we’ can is somewhat intimidating, as you find that his arguments for a collective community have a striking sharpness to them. This sharpness is one that Herman attributes to the community of his childhood, one that revolved around communal living spaces, where entire families shared a

Caribbean and Asian communities. And whilst it is great that people have formed their own identities, it has made the interests of those communities individual as well. So when we previously talked about minority communities, it included everyone who was non-white, but now, some people choose to exclude themselves from that narrative.”

The irony that some would want to exclude

FEATURE

themselves from the conversation around inclusion has not been lost on myself, nor Ouseley who makes an important distinction.

“When you talk about race, you talk about every other form of discrimination too. Sexism, albinism, religious intolerance, homophobia; because you can be a Black man who is prejudice towards disabled women.”

By recognising this distinction, it very quickly becomes apparent as to why advances in eradicating racial prejudices has been slow, because whilst an employer may be happy to hire able bodied, straight, Black men, everyone else is left behind. Then, the communities which go on to fight discrimination against Women, LGBT+, disabled and different-faith groups, have a fractured foundation to make their fight.

But Herman Ouseley knows that by fighting one injustice, he can help the others and it is partly due to this realisation that Kick It Out has been so effective.

Initially founded by Herman in 1993, following the wake of Stephen Lawrence’s murder and the establishment of the Commission for Racial Equality; Kick It Out has covered every element of discrimination that has brought itself to the world of Football.

Initially tacking the racial abuse of top-tier players, Kick It Out has managed to reach every blade of grass, from the Misogynistic practices that prevented women from becoming top flight Referees and coaches, to helping establish

Disabled, Multi-faith and Gay football leagues across the country.

Yet forty years, almost one hundred different roles and the ordination as a Lord later, the true impact of Herman Ouseley and his allies is impossible to quantify. So to quantify his legacy, which is to empower us so that we may speak for ourselves, is also immeasurable; which is what the best legacies are- immeasurable.

FEATURE

Diversity in Engineering There are 5.4 million engineers employed in the UK across 576, 440 organisations, generating £455.6 billion GDP for the UK. However, there is an engineering skills crisis and engineering companies are projected to need 182,000 people with engineering skills each year to 2022.

Black History Month speaks with Bola Fatimilehin, Head of Diversity at Royal Academy of Engineering who is heading up a Programme to increase diversity and inclusion both inside the Royal Academy of Engineering itself, and across the engineering profession.

What is your role at Royal Academy of Engineering?

I am Head of Diversity, heading up a Programme to increase diversity and inclusion both inside the Royal Academy of Engineering itself, and across the engineering profession. My role is fairly challenging in that the engineering profession is huge! I hope the Diversity and Inclusion programme will help attract recruit and retain more people in engineering and contribute to addressing this skills shortage.

The lack of diversity in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professions is a long standing and well-documented problem for many years, why do you think this is?

There are a number of reasons why lack of diversity in STEM professions persists. In general, STEM workforces tend to be male-dominated – although some areas have large proportions of women e.g. biomedical sciences. To most people, the image of an engineer is most likely a white male, and whilst this is not always true, this perception persists. This leads to a lack of visible female and ethnic minority role models. Over recent years, more action has been taken by a number of organisations, including the Academy, to bring more diverse role models to the attention of young women and ethnic minorities, illustrating that engineering is for ‘people like me’. Another factor is the perception of engineering as dirty, greasy and manual which often puts people off.

However, many engineers work in office and other environments with tools and equipment that don’t reflect this image – for instance engineers working on robotics, software, developing instrumentation, surgical equipment and prosthesis. In addition, maths and physics, the typical gateway subjects to a qualification in engineering, are often 22 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

perceived as difficult by many young people, although lots of women and ethnic minority people achieve these qualifications.

Do you think this is down to unconscious bias within the industry?

Unconscious bias is what happens when our brains make incredibly quick judgments and assessments of people and situations without us realising. Our biases are influenced by our background, cultural environment and personal experiences. It is likely that everyone has some level of unconscious bias and/or pre-judges people and situations based on own their particular experience and background. Organisations are a subset of society and it is highly likely that all work places have some level unconscious bias.

It is likely that unconscious bias impacts crucial decision-making which is why many employers deliver training to staff to minimise its impact.

What would you say, to the young graduate, who has followed all the advice, worked hard to get good GCSE’s and A levels; excelled at university; got his or her degree in engineering and can’t find a training placement?

First of all, I would say well done, you are well on your way to securing a job in engineering. If you have not yet begun your university degree, I would say look for an engineering degree that offers the option of a Year in Industry or industrial placement as this will put you in a good position to secure a job in future. High Fliers, an organisation that provides analyses of the graduate employment market reports that this year, 32% of entry-level positions are expected to be filled by graduates who have already worked for the same organisation, either through paid internships, industrial placements or vacation work. Finding a work placement is really important to improving

employment chances. If you are finding it difficult securing a placement, speak to lecturers, teachers, fellow students, networks friends and family to find out if anyone knows someone who works in engineering. If you do, this person could be your mentor and help you put together a plan of action. I would encourage all students to be persistent because the rewards of working in engineering are excellent. On average, the graduate starting salary for engineering and technology is £27,079 – over a fifth more than for all graduates.

Do you think that the problem is; that many recruiters only recruit from the top universities, and not from the newer inner city universities, where black students are more likely to study engineering?

There is definitely an issue with many recruiters focusing much of their attention on Russell Group universities. I would like to think that this view is being challenged as organisations and recruiters realise talent exists in newer universities (former polytechnics). It takes years to change tradition and behaviour; and whilst the more prestigious universities are perceived to turn out more highly qualified graduates, there are plenty of talented graduates coming out of the newer universities.

The engineering skills crisis suggests a need to double the number of graduates going into engineering employment which will not be possible through a focus on top universities alone.

What is the Royal Academy of Engineering doing to ensure that Equality and Diversity and the recruitment of a more diverse workforce is at the top of the agenda within Engineering?

We currently collaborate with around 55 engineering employer and employer-led organisations under the umbrella of the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Group (DILG). Board level representatives

FEATURE

have been working with us for the past 3 years to increase diversity and inclusion across the sector, and within their companies. This year, the Group will be working to promote best inclusive recruitment practice. It will consider areas such as levels of data collection necessary to successfully monitor the progress of minority ethnic, female and other diverse groups through recruitment processes; the impact of typical recruitment and assessment approaches and cultural preparation necessary within companies to ensure diverse graduates have an inclusive experience once in their organisation.

What schemes do you have in place to get more young black students into Engineering careers?

The engineering skills gap and the realisation that only 6% of engineering professionals are from ethnic minority backgrounds (despite 25% completing engineering degrees) has been a trigger for two initiatives to get more Black students into engineering. The first project, called Designed to Inspire brought ethnic minority students together with a number of ethnic minority engineering role models at different points in their careers to give insight into what engineers do and the range of people working in the sector. A number of videos, booklet and posters were developed to support the events. The second initiative, the Engineering Engagement Programme (EEP), built on the first by bringing 13 engineering companies together with SEO London to deliver events

targeted at minority ethnic, female and socially disadvantaged engineering students. The events aim to increase the chance of students successfully applying for graduate opportunities in engineering.

Employers from all organisations are actively involved in delivering the events by giving insight into engineering careers, recruitment practices, CVs and different types of interviews. Each event finishes with a speed networking event where all students get to discuss opportunities available at all companies with engineering and human resource managers.

You are a respected and experienced HR and Diversity specialist and of course you see not only the ethical case but always the business case for more diversity, what would your advice be to HR managers and graduate recruiters when recruiting new talent.

To HR managers and graduate recruiters, I would say, widen the net as much as possible to attract and reach diverse talent. Use your networks both inside and outside your organisation and make sure your managers recognise the impact unconscious bias can have on recruitment decisions. Make potential candidates aware that your company positively welcomes applications from people from all backgrounds and if possible, make them aware of the diverse people working in your organisation – show them your organisation employs ‘people like me’. If you use recruitment agencies, alert them to the need to put forward diverse candidates and challenge them if they

IBM inventor Stacy Hobson

don’t. Steer clear of homogenous recruitment panels and do all you can to make all diverse candidates feel welcome. Most importantly, monitor the outcome of your recruitment activity e.g. proportions of ethnic minority candidates who apply, are shortlisted and appointed.

It’s Black History Month so who would you choose to be your black history month hero for 2016 and why?

I would choose Barak Obama. As he comes to the end of his term as President of the US, I think he has done a reasonable job against the odds.

He is a great orator and role model for everyone.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016 23

EDUCATION

Talking about race in

higher education People find it difficult to talk about race equality.

We find it easier to discuss gender and gender inequalities, and even label things as sexist, but find it much harder to do so with issues of race.

There are probably many reasons for this, for example, people worrying about saying the wrong thing, or about exposing their own limited knowledge of racial inequalities, or even people understanding the issues but not knowing where to begin in finding solutions. But if we don’t talk about it, we can’t change it.

To help instigate conversations within the higher education sector, and to help universities navigate those conversations and analyse what’s wrong and what they need to do, ECU developed a Race Equality Charter.

The Charter helps universities to improve the representation, progression and success of minority ethnic staff and students in higher education.

Our Race Equality Charter provides a framework through which universities work to assess what race equality problems they have on campus, to understand the lived experiences of their minority ethnic staff and students, and to develop specific actions to tackle the issues identified. And then, crucially, they have to implement the actions in order to keep their award.

It’s not easy. Even with the best intentions institutions can be unsuccessful. And one of the main areas universities fall down in the process is in developing solutions to racial inequalities.

Understanding bias We know that solutions are complex: there is no magic bullet or ‘top three’ things universities should implement.

But we do know that when people have honest conversations and understand their own biases, and the impact these can have on the lives of minority ethnic students and colleagues, change can begin to happen.

ECU has been providing training on unconscious bias to universities, colleges and organisations outside of higher education for several years.

We’ve worked directly with university staff, and also trained people on the ground to share what they’ve learned back on campus.

While this is a good place to start, challenging ingrained biases and then helping people change their behaviour takes more than a one-off

• • • • • •

Top 40 UK university 92% employment rate Aberystwyth bursary & scholarship recognised as the most valuable in the UK World leading research One of the safest places in the UK to be a student Open day Saturday 15th October

For more information:

www.aber.ac.uk/undergrad www.aber.ac.uk/openday 01970 622065 | openday@aber.ac.uk @AberUni_UG | @Aberuni | #AberOpenDay www.facebook.com/AberystwythUniversityNewStudents youtube.com/aberystwythuni

EDUCATION

training session. In order to make a real and lasting difference, universities need to build on this work, ensuring they have long-term strategies in place in. We hope that joining the Race Equality Charter will help universities to do this very thing.

Start the conversation Talking about race and racism is difficult, but if we don’t start the conversations, we will never progress.

This Black History Month, help ECU to get the conversation started across the higher education sector by joining us for a live online Q&A session on 20 October 2016.

We’ll be joined by Race Equality Charter patrons and award holders to answer your questions about how to get conversations started, about race in higher education, and about the Charter as a process and a tool.

Full details will be available on the ECU website (www.ecu.ac.uk) and through the Race Equality Charter twitter account @ECURaceCharter.

26 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

Continue the conversation Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) helps universities and colleges to advance equality, promote diversity in their staff and student bodies and build inclusion into the heart of higher education. We believe in equality in representation, progression and success for all staff and students.

ECU has over 15 years’ experience of supporting universities and colleges to advance equality, diversity and inclusion. Over this time, we’ve seen, and been part of, a great deal of progress within higher education, and in wider society. However, the pace of change in removing systemic discrimination and enhancing equality has been slow, and we believe it is ECU’s role to lead and accelerate change.

Universities can sign up to ECU’s Equality Charters – these are awards schemes that measure the commitment to and action on equality for race and gender within the university, and in different departments. Our gender equality charter, the Athena SWAN Charter, has been running for over ten years and 138 universities hold 570 awards between them.

Last year we launched ECU’s Race Equality Charter.

Currently 25 universities have signed up to show their commitment to race equality, and 8 have successfully received awards.

You can look out for the ECU Equality Charter logos to tell you if a university or department holds an award. You can also find information on which universities are members on our website: www.ecu.ac.uk/equality-charters.

ECU provides bespoke training and consultancy for members and the universities and colleges we are funded to support, as well as for organisations outside the education sector. Evidence-based and firmly solution focused, our training is designed to motivate and support systemic change. For further information, and to explore how ECU might work with your organisation.

Contact training@ecu.ac.uk.

Guess what matters?

Black History Month At London South Bank University we believe that we should be celebrating diversity and inclusivity throughout the year, we should use our powerful position in the local community to shine a light on inequality and unfairness wherever we see it, and we should empower our students and staff to reach their full potential.

So in celebration of Black History Month, we have organised a series of events that we hope will show the progress that has been made, and highlight where we want to be in future.

At LSBU, we employ 6% of the UK’s black professors. We’re rightly proud of that, but call upon other universities to follow our lead.

Our local community and students are diverse (55% of our students are BAME) and we want to show them positive and effective role models.

Embracing diversity is key to our success and our students’ future successes.

Our strategy, ‘All People Matter’ aspires to create a welcoming, safe, and diverse environment for our students, our staff, and our neighbours. By doing that, we will change lives, businesses, and the community.

lsbu.ac.uk

Become what you want to be

LJMU Athena 2ND Lecture Series WEDNESDAY

NOVEMBER 2016

EVENT SCHEDULE 1pm (Refreshments will be served at 1pm with actual talks from the speakers starting at 1.30pm) TALKS

After each presentation the audience will have the opportunity to engage the speakers in an in an interactive question and answer session which we expect to provide invaluable learning to participants and delegates.

1.30pm - 3.30pm EVENT HOST Professor Robin Leatherbarrow (Pro-Vice-Chancellor Scholarship, Research and Knowledge Transfer) SPEAKERS Professor Laura Serrant - Professor of Nursing, University of Sheffield Hallam University.

Talk title: “Lifting as you climb: Enabling others and celebrating self”

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is committed to promoting equal opportunities for all those involved within the University community, whether staff, students, visitors, contractors or clients. This commitment is to ensure that people’s individual qualities are recognised and celebrated; and that people are treated with dignity and respect.

Dr Sandeep Parmar - Poet, BBC New Generation Thinker and Researcher in Modernist Literature, Co-Director of Centre for New and International Writing and Academic Organiser, Creative Writing, Continuing Education at the University of Liverpool.

Talk title: Sandeep will share her research experiences, building a credible research portfolio and walking your way through obstacles on the path of progress.

LJMU’s Dr Isabella Degroote - Isabella is based within the Research Centre in Evolutionary Antropology and Palaeoecology of Liverpool John Moores University. Isabella’s research interest is human evolution, with a focus on modern human diversity.

Talk title: “There and back again: an anthropologist’s journey”

Liverpool John Moore’s University General enquiries Rodney House, 70 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5UX

www.ljmu.ac.uk T: 0151 231 2121

LSE BLACK ACHIEVEMENT CONFERENCE

O

n Saturday 15 October 2016 LSE will host its 9th annual Black Achievement Conference. Held as part of national Black History Month, the Conference is a free one-day event for African-Caribbean students in school years 10 through to 12 and their parents/carers.

Hosted by presenter and entertainer Kat B from MTV, the Conference includes a line-up of high profile engaging speakers and role models from across the African-Caribbean community. The day is run by LSE’s Widening Participation Team and is designed to help students and their families to plan for their future. We provide a taste of higher education and focus on inspiring participants to aim higher, think bigger, realise their potential and make informed decisions about what to do with their futures.

The Programme includes: Motivational sessions; Parent/Carer workshops with practical tips on supporting their child’s education; and student life workshops led by LSE’s African Caribbean Society.

Interested in attending? Applications for a place are available via the LSE website from September 2016. We prioritise attendance for those from within Greater London, but we are open to applications from other parts of the Country providing that

participants can travel to London to attend the day. More information about our other priority criteria for attendees is available on our website: lse.ac.uk/wideningparticipation.

Early completion of the application is strongly encouraged as the Event is extremely popular.

The Black Achievement Conference is just one of the many Projects run by LSE’s Widening Participation Team aimed at removing barriers to accessing higher education study. Each year the Team works with over 2,400 young people most attending London State Schools and Colleges, targeting participants from those groups underrepresented within higher education. Look out for a future update about other areas of our work that might be of interest to readers.

If you are interested in attending the Conference or have any further questions please contact us via widening.participation@lse.ac.uk

K E E H IS CE W H T I R B IEN ARC SC –19 M 10 17!

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EDUCATION

Diversity in Higher Education There are 18,500 professors in the UK, only 85 (0.4%) of those are from African and Caribbean background whereas people from African and Caribbean backgrounds form 3.3% of UK population and 5.9% of UK student population.

Black History Month talks to Ben Browne, Chief Operating Officer at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) about Diversity in Education and what our universities are doing to improve these numbers.

Do you think the HE sector has a problem when it comes to equality and diversity?

Yes, I think there has certainly been a delay in recognising and reflecting the changing demographics of British society across a wide variety of professions, and this includes HE. Although our students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, this is still not properly reflected in the make-up of the academic body or those in professional services in the sector. It is certainly improving, but there is still more we can do to ensure our talented BME staff can develop their potential and encourage talented students to aspire to a career in academia.

One in five of DMU’s professional services staff is from a BME background, which is far higher than the sector average of 9.9%. Some 14.4% of the university’s academics are BME compared to 12.2% in the HE sector, which is encouraging but we know there is room for improvement.

Why do you think there are so few black academics, professors and lecturers within the HE sector?

Partly, this gap is created by the timescale of career progression as it takes time to work your way up the ranks of academia. This means that there is a lack of role models and wrongly gives aspiring, talented students from BME communities the perception that a university career is not for them.

Unconscious bias – which says that we tend to prefer people similar to us - also plays a role. My career has always been in human resources, developing and managing people. I believe the more diverse a workforce is, the more diverse it will continue to become as people from different social backgrounds, faiths, ethnicities and so on are empowered to make hiring and career development decisions.

We are aiming to tackle the unconscious bias challenge by providing Positive Action training for future leaders, helping to build more representative interview panels and by developing academic mentoring networks.

What difference has the emphasis on equality and diversity within HE with schemes like the Race Equality Charter and Athena SWAN Charter made?

Great strides have been made in equality and diversity and these schemes have contributed to this by focusing attention of universities on their performance and working culture.

30 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

“See the best and worst in leaders and take forward the best”

EDUCATION

They provide a framework for genuine reflection on our progress and make us ask tough questions of ourselves. By measuring and interrogating the data we now know, for example,that we have slightly fewer job applicants from BME backgrounds so now we need to discover why that is and how we can change that. We know there are fewer women in senior roles, particularly in the sciences, and research can help inform how we attract and develop opportunities for them to reach their full potential.

We are extremely proud of our Bronze award from Athena SWAN and inclusion within the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index Top 100 Employers. DMU was delighted to be one of just eight UK universities to be awarded a Bronze Race Equality Charter mark.

Achieving this benchmark also sends a signal to potential applicants that we are an organisation which is serious about equality and diversity, and determined to create equality of opportunity for all. We let people know that we want to develop and progress their careers.

We analysed data on the ethnic diversity of our staff and how it mapped across the roles, as well as student retention and achievement.

Based on the data and research in the area, we came up with a four-year strategy to tackle under-representation and I’ve personally pledged to take action at all levels to ensure that we meet our commitments.

Could you tell us a bit about DMU’s REC journey which culminated in the Bronze award?

The application process was challenging and exacting. We formed a steering group with representatives from each faculty, the students’ union, cultural and religious societies, DMU’s Black and Ethnic Minority Staff Group, plus colleagues from HR, student welfare and strategic planning to ensure we had as many viewpoints as possible.

Who has been the most inspirational figure in your life so far?

My father. He has been an inspiration in his own career as a senior officer in local government.

Throughout his life he championed equality and diversity in the community and even after retirement continues to work tirelessly to break down barriers, particularly in respect of race equality.

What else do you think needs to be done?

I think society has a very long way to go before equality and diversity becomes business as usual.

Everyone needs to realise that their business or sector ought to properly reflect the make-up of society - although I will say that everything I have read about the latest research and reports in the sector media leads me to believe that this collective recognition is happening within higher education.

Aside from the numerous other reasons for promoting equality and diversity, the business case for championing it within any organisation is undeniable and that should drive improvements.

Do you have any advice for anybody looking to get into HE? I would encourage anyone wanting to work in higher education to acquire as much knowledge of the sector as they possibly can – talk to people who work in professional services about their roles, and read the trade press to get an idea of the issues you will face. I think it is the best sector to work in. The payback is immense in terms of the opportunities you have to engage with so many talented people and the joy and pride in seeing students progress. It is a challenge but a very rewarding one.

Do you have any advice for anybody with aspirations to progress in leadership?

Learn from what you observe. See the best and worst in leaders and take forward the best practices. Know your own strengths and weaknesses and play to your strengths, but challenge yourself to improve in areas where you perform less well.

While I think you can learn from others, your leadership style should be authentic; it should represent who you are as an individual and reflect your beliefs.

Who would be your Black History Month hero for 2016?

Usain Bolt, for carrying the torch not only for the Olympics movement but also successfully carrying the hopes and aims of black people across the world.

“Education is a public good – it should be accessible to all and for everyone’s benefit.

Knowledge must be taken outside the ivory towers of higher education.” Rachel Williams Rachel graduated with a first class degree in Neuroscience and she is now studying for her PhD at King’s College London

Be inspired by the achievements of the students and staff at King’s College London.

Visit www.kcl.ac.uk/OpenDoors BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016 31

At De Montfort University (DMU) we have the freedom to be ourselves. We inspire open minds to push boundaries and challenge convention in a supportive environment with inclusivity at its core. This year, we launched DMUfreedom, our equality and diversity charter for 2016-2020, clearly declaring our commitment to equality and diversity.

Through DMUfreedom, we encourage all staff, students and partners to have the freedom to be, to inspire and to succeed. We are a progressive hub of creativity, which is only possible in an environment where everybody can be proud of who they are.

DMU is one of only eight Race Charter Mark award holders across the higher education sector in the UK. Inclusion is central to our commitment to remain at the forefront of higher education, reiterated by our nine ‘game-changers’ and equality objectives. These ‘game-changers’ are a series of projects including a regular ‘parliament’, ‘ensuring our teaching and learning is accessible and inclusive’ and ‘embedding the #NoBystanders campaign to end bullying and discrimination’.

We continue to set ourselves ambitious targets, such as our commitment to be in the top quartile of the higher education sector, as measured by relevant diversity charters and audits.

Read all about studying at DMU by visiting dmu.ac.uk/study

The Quality Assurance Agency recognised the extent to which ‘equality and diversity is explicitly embedded in the curriculum design and delivery’ at DMU, noting this as a key feature of our good practice.

Based in Leicester, in the heart of England, DMU is a vibrant, multicultural hub of creativity and innovation – a truly international place where our students represent more than 135 nationalities and we can offer more than 150 international partnerships. DMU is the combination of award-winning teaching, first-class facilities, a fantastic student experience and a great place to work.

Team GB’s Black Medallists

Being an Olympian is hard enough, but to rank and medal is astonishing. BHM takes a moment to commend the Olympic medallists from our communities.

GOLD MEDALLISTS Mo Farrah: x2- Mens 10,000m and Mens’ 5,000m Athletics Nicola Adams: Women’s Flyweight 48-51kg Boxing

SILVER MEDALLISTS Dan Norton and Marcus Watson: Men’s Rugby Sevens Joe Joyce: Mens’ Super Heavyweight over 91kg Boxing Jessica Ennis: Women’s Heptathlon Louis Smith: Men’s Pommel Horse Lutalo Muhammad: Men’s Taekwondo

BRONZE MEDALLISTS Joshua Buatsi: Men’s Light Heavy 81kg Boxing Kadeena Cox: Women’s 100m T38 Kare Adenegan: Women’s 800m T34 34 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

Captivity

by Gita Jaggan A cry for mercy Whispers if fear Those were the voices Of the yester year

Inspirational, inclusive...

He had just left The breast of his mama To play with his friends Down by the river and There, he was captured

let the Greenwich experience navigate your path to success...

A shackled of chains was then Bound to his figure And he was sold for a very little price To the highest bidder He became a slave forever My heart goes out For this true story retold They were captured, beaten And then they were sold A story told by his for father About the great loss of his human empire Gita Jaggen is a poet and songwriter from Trinidad and Tobago her writing background came from her Dad Jaggan Pandohie who was a singer and songwriter a descendent of the indentured labourers who worked in the Sugar Plantation after the freedom of slavery. Gita is inspired by the Black History of Trinidad and Tobago.

@www.gre.ac.uk

UniofGreenwich

www.gre.ac.uk

IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON POSITIVE ADULT CULTURAL TALENT IMPACT stands for Imperial Positive About Cultural Talent, our talent development programme for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) staff.

IMPACT focuses on helping staff who wish to further their careers at Imperial by developing and fine tuning both new and existing skills and talents, by utilising their different cultural approaches, and setting themselves SMART objectives to advance their careers.

The IMPACT programme attempts to address some of the issues still faced by some BAME staff. Statistics show that the majority of staff of minority ethnic origin still occupy lower level positions despite possessing qualifications and skill sets equivalent to those of none minority origin. IMPACT guides To find out more email

equality@imperial.ac.uk or visit

individuals to take responsibility for their own careers and help them to develop strategies to overcome barriers that they may face. A key element of the programme is mentorship from senior leaders within the business, who gain an insight into delegate’s roles and aspirations.

2016 has seen the third cohort of IMPACT delegates at Imperial College.

We are also delighted to be working with London School of Economics to develop their equivalent, the CADET programme. IMPACT has been nominated for BITC’s Race Equality Developing Talent Award alongside other key players in this area. Imperial College London’s Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre proud to be a leader and realising the talent of BAME leaders.

www.imperial.ac.uk/equality

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016 35

FEATURE

DISABILIT Y IN SPORT:

Ashley Hull-Owolabi

W

hen we talk about sport, the conversation around disabled athletes is saved every four years time. So what is it like being a disabled athlete? I met with Classroom Assistant, Forever Living associate and former Wheelchair Basketball player, Ashley Hull-Owolabi to find out.

Ashley is a 28 year old who lives with Cerebral Palsy due to being asphyxiated at birth. Over the past two decades, Ashley has taken up a variety of disability specific sports, with Judo, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Football, Wheelchair Slalom and Weightlifting to his name and in 2004, Ashley was approached

by Team GB to join the Athletics program.

“I just wanted to be treated like a normal guy.” Ashley tells me as we sit in the living room of his Enfield home, which he shares with his younger sister and mother.

It is a testament he has lived by for some time. Despite his disability, Ashley’s property does not have a lift or ramp, nor have his work surfaces been adapted for a wheelchair user and his favorite place to be- his room, is situated up a flight of stars without a stair lift.

“I was always active as a child.”

He explains, showing me one of the many medals he has won over the past 16 years. This particular one is Gold from 2004 for winning a Wheelchair Slalom event in Blackpool.

“School is the reason I got into sport though because it was a way to keep active.” Participating in Judo, Wheelchair Football, Wheelchair Slalom and some minor Weightlifting, Ashley’s only access to sport was when it was integrated with his studies.

“Before 2012, the number of Disabled sports clubs that I could actually get to was minimal, but because I was active at school it wasn’t a problem.” It is for this reason that Ashley believes that “sports should be a fundamental part of the education system.”

38 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

Is a core belief of Ashley’s for a number of reasons: “Sports not only keeps you proactive, but it is involving and develops socially, physically and mentally. Sports offers family-like support structure and everyone needs a network that is supports them.”

It is a support structure that Ashley missed as he took a hiatus from sport in order to focus on his Business Management degree.

“After university I joined the London Titans Basketball team.”

As a Wheelchair Basketball player, Ashley’s dream of being a professional athlete was being realised, even if being a member came with an entirely new set of problems.

“When you start doing sport at school, there is a lot you don’t have to worry about. I went to a boarding college, so travel wasn’t a problem and it was covered in my school fees. Sport out of school is a completely different problem!”

One of these problems would be transport. As Ashley is unable to drive, he was forced to use London’s inadequately adapted Underground Rail network to make the 16.8mile journey from Enfield in North London,

to Stanmore in West London.

However, as there is no direct connection from Ashley’s home to the London Titans training facility, he was forced to travel first into Central London before making his way out west, making a 30minute drive, a three hour public transport ordeal- each way, every week.

“What you have to remember is that when you are in a Wheelchair, using public transport is about being safe. Personally, I try to only use step-free stations and I won’t use a the train when it’s busy because you can’t move along the platform and some people think it’s funny to push you. The worst is that in London, people won’t move if they take up the wheelchair spaces so you can’t lock your brakes safely. In the end, you might have to miss a few trains.”

The second problem was funding.

“Luckily, my mum has been very supportive in trying to get me jobs, but not many people want to hire people with disabilitiesdegree or not, so for a long time I was unemployed.”

Regardless of the limitations, Ashley was a member of London Titians for 18months before an unforeseen dilemma plagued not only his social life, but his very ability to live independently.

“There were roadwork’s at the end of my road for three months!”

Ashley signs exasperatedly. “I couldn’t go anywhere because of the pavement restrictions and it just killed my enthusiasm (to go to training).

“Fundamentally, the biggest problem with disabled sports is funding. Everything around being disabled is expensive. Getting a wheelchair and a building adapted to accommodate wheelchair users is expensive. Then you have to get a coach and the equipment the team needs and lastly you have to get there, none of it is cheap or really all that affordable. Yet the people aren’t being hired for jobs and need benefits to survive are expected to pay for it, which doesn’t make sense. A lot of disabled sports clubs are privately funded, but there is no incentive for new investors; because when you take it right to the top, to the paralympics- even then, the events organisers are pulling money from it to put into able bodied sports.

Disabled sports needs someone to remember us when they make their decisions on what sport they want to throw money at next.”

GREATER MANCHESTER

FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE There should be more emphasis on firefighting being a career and the different areas that people can go into and the opportunities available.

Donna Gyles GREATER Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) strives to protect and serve one of the most diverse communities in the UK. With a rapidly growing population, investment from across the Globe and a renowned cultural scene, Greater Manchester is one of the most desirable cities to live and work in the UK. GMFRS is on a journey to ensure its workforce reflects the diverse communities it serves and there are many paths to success within the Service.

With the most advanced firefighting technology in Europe and over 12,000 incidents each year GMFRS is one of the most exciting places to become a firefighter in the UK. But GMFRS offers a variety of roles from the frontline to the back office, with skills as diverse as ICT development and health and social care.

The Service offers an employment pathway through its youth and volunteering schemes and strives to offer something for everyone it serves in Greater Manchester.

If you’re interested in working for one of the most innovative fire services in the world visit www. manchesterfire.gov.uk and start your journey with GMFRS.

Donna Gyles has worked for GMFRS for almost 10 years and has had a variety of roles within the Service. She is currently the Partnership Liaison Officer for GMFRS.

“It was really interesting because it was about breaking down perceptions and giving people information, so that they could make informed decisions about the role.

Before joining the fire service Donna had a varied career path ranging from banking and finance to working with young people in the care system and youth offending.

“I think traditionally fire and rescue services have relied on the traditional image of the role, when actually people want to know that they have prospects, within an organisation.

It was her role at a youth offending team which brought her into contact with GMFRS for the first time when she worked in partnership with local firefighters to help reduce offending.

“There should be more emphasis on firefighting being a career and the different areas that people can go into and the opportunities available.”

During her career at GMFRS Donna has been involved in many projects, which have made a huge difference to people’s lives, including setting up apprenticeships, running a work experience programme for ex-offenders and helping to develop Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club.

Donna said: “Originally I worked for the Service as the Equality and Diversity Trainer and Outreach Worker.

“In this role I worked with recruitment to look at how we could attract more women and people from minority ethnic backgrounds to become Firefighters.

Three characteristics, which have propelled Donna to a successful career with the fire service, are passion, patience and ingenuity.

She said: “You need passion, because if there was no passion, nothing would ever get done especially when you are trying to influence people - if you don’t believe in it then why should they?

“Patience, because things don’t always happen the way (or in the time frame) you want them to.

“Ingenuity, sometimes you have to be creative to get the outcome you desire.”

Twitter @Manchesterfire|Facebook.com/manchesterfire|Instagram.com/manchesterfire

FEATURE

Screening for Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia

Sickle cell disease and Beta Thalassaemia major are serious, genetically-inherited blood disorders which affect haemoglobin and its oxygen-carrying capacity.

Sickle cell disease is the name given to a family of conditions. The most serious type is sickle cell anaemia (Hb SS). Symptoms include pain known as a ‘crisis’, severe anaemia, susceptibility to infections and damage to major organs.

Beta Thalassaemia major is caused by a defect in the normal haemoglobin gene, which prevents the body from producing haemoglobin. The result is severe anaemia, and people need life-long treatment with regular blood transfusions for survival, and medicine to clear excess iron from the body.

Carriers for a haemoglobin disorder are healthy. They have inherited one unusual haemoglobin gene and one gene for normal haemoglobin A. Carriers are unaware of their status unless they have a specific blood test and they will never develop a haemoglobin disorder.

But the gene is still there in the background, and they could pass it on to their own children.

Anyone can be a carrier of a haemoglobin disorder. It tends to be most common among people whose ancestors come from Africa, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, some parts of India, Pakistan, south and south-east Asia and the Middle East. This is because carrying a gene for a haemoglobin disorder may give partial protection against malarial infection, so in places where malaria has been widespread, the genes have become more common.

Carriers can still get malaria, and should 38 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

always protect themselves when travelling.

Where both parents are carriers, there is a one in four (25%) chance that their baby could inherit both unusual haemoglobin genes and have a condition that requires treatment.

Whether you accept screening or not is your choice Since 2008, all pregnant women in England (and the baby’s father where the woman is identified as a carrier), are offered screening for carrier status. All newborn babies are offered screening for sickle cell disease as part of the newborn blood spot (heel prick) test.

Sickle Cell &Thalassaemia Antenatal Screening Programme The sickle cell and thalassaemia screening

programme require women to be offered antenatal screening by 10+0 weeks of pregnancy. This is supported by the National Screening Committee and the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence, which state that women should access antenatal care by 10+0 weeks of pregnancy.

In fact, early access to antenatal care is generally preferred by women.

Offering screening early in pregnancy One of the reasons for encouraging early booking for antenatal care is to facilitate timely screening of the baby’s mother and father. Prenatal diagnosis (to identify if the baby has a haemoglobin disorder) should be offered by 12+6 weeks of pregnancy, if the woman/couple require it. This is really important, as it allows the couple sufficient time to make informed choices regarding the pregnancy.

Diagram shows the chances (for each pregnancy) of two carriers parents having a child with a Sickle Cell or Thalassaemia disorder.

FEATURE

There is a known link between when screening is offered and uptake of prenatal diagnosis (PND).

An early offer of screening is linked to a greater uptake of PND. This is confirmed by evidence from research conducted within the UK population.

Early screening is challenging to achieve, given the variation in the practice of booking women for antenatal care throughout England.

However, since the establishment of targets to measure the quality of the screening programme, some hospitals have been working hard to improve early booking of women for antenatal care and screening.

Testing at other times Blood tests for sickle cell and thalassaemia can be offered at any stage in life. It may be helpful for people to know their carrier status before they plan a family. The test can be done by either a GP or at a specialist sickle cell and thalassaemia centre. People should ask for a full blood count and haemoglobinopathy screen.

Asking for a test is particularly important when a couple is considering fertility treatment.

They should check that either their GP or the fertility clinic can provide a test for both partners before treatment starts.

Options for couples who know they are carriers If the woman is already pregnant, the couple can ask their GP or midwife for a rapid direct referral for prenatal diagnosis.

Some carrier couples choose to consider a procedure called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). This involves IVF (in vitro fertilisation) treatment. The fertilised eggs are tested to see whether the baby would inherit sickle cell or thalassaemia. Only eggs which are free of unusual haemoglobin genes are replaced in the womb.

Couples can discuss this option either with their GP or a specialist genetic counsellor.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Public Health England www.gov.uk/population-screening-programmes www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england Sickle Cell &Thalassaemia Screening Programme www.gov.uk/topic/population-screening-programmes/sickle-cell-thalassaemi Email: phe.screeninghelpdesk@nhs.net Sickle Cell Society sicklecellsociety.org/ UK Thalassaemia Society ukts.org/ Patient information and resources www.nhs.uk/conditions/thalassaemia/pages/symptoms.aspx www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Sickle-cell-anaemia/Pages/Introduction.aspx

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016 39

FEATURE

MARGARET BUSBY OBE: Doyenne of Black British Publishing

A

woman of firsts, Margaret Busby OBE is a publisher, editor, writer and broadcaster. Born in Accra in the Gold Coast to parents with roots in Barbados, Trinidad and Dominica, she became Britain’s youngest and first Black woman book publisher, when in 1967 she co-founded Allison & Busby with Clive Allison (1944-2011).

Also titled Nana Akua Ackon, Busby was Britain’s youngest and first Black woman book publisher, when in 1967, she co-founded Allison & Busby with Clive Allison (1944-2011).

She recalls her naïve beginnings in the world of book publishing: “We started off with virtually no money and thought we would go into making volumes of poetry accessible and affordable to young people like ourselves. So we printed 15,000 paperback poetry books priced at 5 shillings. Our idea of distribution was stopping people on the street and asking them to buy our books”.

“Our idea of distribution was stopping people on the street and asking them to buy our books”

BY JOHN SEVENSO

N

​ Busby went on to become A&B’s editorial director for 20 years, publishing a cluster of significant titles such as Sam Greenlee’s The Spook Who Sat By the Door (the first novel A&B published in 1969), Buchi Emecheta’s Second-Class Citizen, C.L.R. James’s books, including The Black Jacobins, and George Lamming’s The Pleasures of Exile.

Though A&B did not exclusively publish Black authors, it was nevertheless a major catalyst for bringing the work of several writers from the African Diaspora (in Africa, North America, the Caribbean and Britain) to critical public attention. Other authors included Val Wilmer, Miyamoto Musashi, Michele Roberts, Rosa Guy and Andrew Salkey.

Busby subsequently became the editorial director of Earthscan, before pursuing a freelance career as an editor and writer.

She is hopeful about the future of writing in the21st century, hugely advanced throughthe Internet and web publishing platforms, which in turn have democratised the enterprise of publishing:

FEATURE

“Nowadays, the technology permits you to be your own publisher and editor, which should encourage a lot of us, especially our young people, to write and express themselves.”

As a frequent Wikipedia author, she believes that more people of colour need to document important figures in African and AfricanCaribbean communities - past and present - by giving them an online presence through the popular online encyclopaedia. However, Busby cautions that writing is a demanding calling, frequently unglamorous and financially unrewarding: “Write because you really enjoy it and learn to be a good reader because the best writers read voraciously. Get to know the best books out there, and please, don’t give up the day job.”

Despite the challenges faced by young writers,especially young African writers, she is optimistic about the future: “I have been impressed with the energy and enthusiasm shown by new publishing outfits such as Cassava Republic Press, originally based in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, which now operates out of London.

Barbadian novelist Karen Lord’s Redemption in Indigo is an example of some of the great work coming out of the Caribbean at the moment and let’s not forget that Marlon James, a Jamaican, was the first Caribbean writer to win the Man Booker Prize in 2015”.

Constantly in demand as a reviewer and obituarist, Busby is a frequent contributor to publications such as The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Independent among other publication​s. Since the late 1960s, she has worked regularly in radio and television, first presenting ​ Break for Women on the BBC Africa Service​and L​ ondon Line for the Central Office of Information. She has ​also ​contributed to programmes such as Open Book, Front Row and Woman’s Hour.

Her play based on C.L.R. James’s Minty Alley, broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1998, won a Commission for Racial Equality​Race in the Media Award​​​ i​n 1999. She is also a lyricist, having penned the words for jazz standards such as Sergio Mihanovich’s​​​​Some Time Ago​.​​

Margaret Busby is passionate about women’s writing. In 1992, she authored the pioneering compilation, Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Words and Writings by Women of African Descent. She has served over the years as a judge for many literary competitions around the world, including the Wole Soyinka Prize, the Commonwealth Book Prize, the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, the Caine Prize for African Writing and the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize. She is currently the Prize Ambassador of the SI Leeds Literary Prize and a patron of the Etisalat Prize for Literature.

Her career has been marked by a devotion to a cause that is larger than herself, constantly placing her outstanding literary and publishing acumen at the service of others, and echoes the proverbial instruction to ‘plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit’.

Can I transform my potential into a career?

Course you can.

Find out about the University of Opportunity Visit: wlv.ac.uk/courseyoucan #courseyoucan

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016 41

FEATURE

Dalton Grant interview with:

Dalton Grant is a three time Olympian who opened the 1997 World Championships with a World Record jump of 2.32m. In 2011, Grant was inducted into the London Youth Games Hall of Fame and was a Board Director responsible for London’s winning 2012 Olympic bid.

As a four-time British High Jump Champion and three time Olympian; which would you say is the highlight of your career and why?

The highlights of my career are firstly: Being Captain of the British team and secondly, that through my career in sports, I was part of the team that was able to bringing the Olympics to London as a Board Director.

However, some countries you went to, the things around the event changed the feel. For example, I was the first, Black high class High Jumper in Europe and I would be going to places and be hearing monkey chants from the fans.

Another example was going to Split in 1990 and not being allowed to wear jeans because of Communism.

In your professional on-track Athletics career which spanned 18 years, you were one of the few Athletes who seemed to find their comfort zone in both Indoor and Outdoor meets. Looking back, would you say you preferred one format over the other?

No, as long as everyone is competing on the same field, that was it. I had a very strong mindset and no matter where I was, whether that was in a stadium full of people, or if it was empty, I knew I was going to perform. The key of being an Elite Athlete is peaking at the right time. I would say I did because I’ve always done my best jumps at major championships.

So growing up in Hackney, you are now a London Youth Games Hall of Famer. Was that ever a goal when you first started out?

Or was your nomination and induction a complete surprise?

It was a shock, but I knew that I had done a lot during my time as an Athlete, I was well liked, kept away from controversy and people respected me. So when they called me to be recognised, it was an honour. To think I came from a one-bedroom house in Hackney to being on a hall of fame is humbling.

You are also a former Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, which you achieved in 1998 at the Malaysia Commonwealth Games. Tell us how the Commonwealth games differs in feel as an Athlete to that of the Olympic Games.

It entirely depends on the field. IF the best athletes within your field are at the Commonwealth, you are going to have to turn up. Like for middle distance runners, knowing that the Kenyan team were going to be there, you would have to be at your best.

42 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

You’re also well-travelled, having visited Countries like New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia and former countries such as East Germany and Yugoslavia; what has been your favourite travel story from over the years?

The best story I have is when I went to Sarajevo in 1996. Before I ever started going, the trip was crazy. Michael Johnson’s mother was ever saying that he shouldn’t go but even when I heard those sorts of things going on, I still wanted to go.

Even as I land, oh Lord you should have seen the runway. I’m still grateful that it landed safely because there were holes everywhere. The Airport was half built, you could see right the

way through to the other side and you had to be careful where you walked because there were mines. Some people were wondering why they had just built a £3million stadium when the hotel had bullets on the outside, the ‘H’ was hanging off and if you went into the room you could see where the bullet went.

But then you go to the stadium and you could just feel the energy, the positivity. It was packed and it was a show for the people, even if it was for a few hours.

Afterwards I was given a certificate for my ‘extraordinary contribution in the organisation of the IAAF Athletic meeting of solidarity Sarajevo 96 and in the reconstruction of the Olympic and Athletic Stadium which was nice.

You were also a part of the very first IAAF World Indoor Championships. How have you felt the sport develop since the 1980’s?

Technology it has developed. But I don’t know about the athletes because there are great athletes back then who would blast away the field today.

In 1991 I jumped 2.36meters, a Personal Best and finished fourth, but in 2012. A 2.29 meter jump secured the Bronze medal so it’s hard to say how the sport has developed because I don’t know, it’s very different now.

Will you be hosting any Events over BHM? During October I will be making an appearance at Holloway Prison to talk to some of the people there as well as making an appearance at Luton Sixth Form College, hopefully to inspire the young Black people there who may be feeling the influence of Peer pressure, to be their own person.

FEATURE

Black power, a forgotten ally and the Olympic Games

O

ne of the most recognisable images of the 20th Century is the image of Tommie Smith and John Carlos on the first and third steps of the podium, with their gloved hands up, heads down and feet bare.

The build-up to the 1968 Summer Olympic games in Mexico City, was quiet and scandal free. However, just above their northern boarder in the United States of America, civil unrest had gripped the nation for more than a decade, which threated to derail an Olympic schedule which they had been expected to perform.

For the past 18 years, the Civil Rights movement had been picking up momentum,

44 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

culminating in the passing of the 1965 Voting rights act. Yet for ‘African-Americans’, the previous three years had not brought an improvement in living or working conditions, nor how Black Americans were seen within their own communities or overseas.

It meant that for many Black Americans, such as Professor Edwards, the chance for Black Americans to perform at the Olympics for the USA was just that; a performance, as if the athletes were ‘performing animals in the games.’

Professor Edwards and his organisation, the Olympic Project for Human Rights felt so strongly opposed to the conditions that Black citizens were subjected to, that he called for Black Athletes to boycott the 1968 games.

It was a decision that divided the AfricanAmerican community to the core. On one side, the argument was that Black Americans should not represent a country that views them as second class citizens, and if it meant the United States missed out on medal winning opportunities because of it, it was the United States’ own fault. In contrast, the opposition felt that using the platform for athletic excellence provided an opportunity for the world to see Black Americans as people who are just as good- if not better, at what they do as their white peers.

Whilst the two sides differed on action, their core intent was the same: to show the world that Black Americans should be treated no different from their White peers and that should help to apply pressure for legislative change back home.

However, neither side had agreed to make the medal ceremony for the Men’s 200m Final the staging area for a silent protest, yet when the gloved fists of Smith and Carlos went into the air and became Olympic folklore- the US, and indeed the world, were forced to listen.

FEATURE

But in the 48 years since this iconic day in 1968, a missing part of this legacy has gone unnoticed, even though, in every image; bar the statue in San Jose, California- features the third and final member of this iconic image; Peter Norman.

Peter Norman was an Australian athlete in the 200m discipline and was, until his untimely death in 2006, an avid anti-apartheid and anti-discrimination supporter. Yet despite his public support for Racial equality, his position in iconic image in 1968, was never questioned, simply assumed to be another White man in an image of Black freedom.

But Peter Normans role in this image is one of an ally and was entirely deliberate. Before the three took their steps on the podium, the winner of their event, Tommie Smith asked

Norman two simple questions.

“Do you believe in human rights?” and “Do you believe in God?” Both times Peter Norman answered; ‘yes.’

Before saying “I will stand with you.” By all accounts, the protest itself was not planned, yet it was intentional.

A closer analysis of the image shows that Carlos, the runner who placed third, has his glove on the left hand. This contrasts the traditional, right handed salute synonymous with Black Pride, as shown by Smith. The reason for this is simple; Carlos had forgotten his gloves back in the Olympic Village, and Smith only had one pair.

However, if more pairs were available, Norman would have adopted a glove in solidarity with his fellow sportsmen.

Furthermore, the badge, which Norman wears, was not one he owned, but was borrowed from the US Rower, Paul Hoffman who he asked on the way to the podium.

These four men and their differing roles of involvement in the image, helped to create not only a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement, but one that would go on to serve as an Olympic Icon.

Nevertheless, all three athletes felt the fallout from the protest. Smith and Carlos were immediately sent home from the games, but would go on to continue a career in sport, with Smith going on to be an NFL player and Carlos

remaining as a Track Athlete.

Norman, however, would become ‘blacklisted’ in Australia, never once appearing on behalf of the country again, despite setting the national record for the 200m in 1968- a record that still stands today.

‘...the three fastest men in the world each believed that all men were created as, and therefore should be treated, as equals.’

As members of the Black Community, we remember Smith and Carlos for their inspiring individual performances as Athletes, and for their contribution to the Civil Rights Movement as Activists.

Yet the truth is far more powerful than the narrative we have been lead to believe. Consider this. A silent protest against racial discourse took place on the winner’s podium at the 1968 Olympic games, and the three fastest men in the world each believed that all men were created as, and therefore should be treated, as equals.

Britain’s leading Black and multi-ethnic community-focused publication, promoting and supporting unity, faith and family values

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016 45

FEATURE

Sporting HeroEs: Black History at the Olympics The sporting legacy left at Black Olympians at Olympic games are often the most memorable.

BHM recalls a number of inspiring performers on the world’s most prolific sporting stage.

46 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

FEATURE

1

The first Black Olympian is the American, John Taylor who participated at the 1908 London Games. In his first outing, the US Athlete would go on to win Gold for his involvement in the Men’s Medley Relay team.

2

USSAIN BOLT:

The most famous Black Athlete of the Modern Games is Jesse Ownes.

Participating in the 1936 Berlin Games, Owens would win four Gold Medals in the Men’s 100m, 200m, Long Jump and 4x100m Relay. Owens would go on to break world records in the 200m, Long Jump and 4x100m Relay, whilst also matching the 100m Record.

Whilst Jesse’s accomplishments are outstanding, they are best remembered for outraging the Nazi elite who oversaw the games.

7

Jackie Joyner-Kersee is ranked amongst one of the all-time greatest Women athletes for her outstanding achievements in the Heptathlon. Between 1984 and 1996, Joyner-Kersee won 3 Gold, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze medals.

8

Michael Johnson made history at the 1996 Atlanta Games by becoming the first man to win both the 200mand 400m races at the same Olympic games. In both events, Johnson would go on to set records which would not be broken until 2008 and 2016 by Usain Bolt and Wayde Van Niekerk respectively.

9

Currently the only man to win and retain his 100m, 200m and 4x100m medals over three consecutive Olympic games

For the latest generation, Usain Bolt is the star of Athletics. Currently the only man to win and retain his 100m, 200m and 4x100m medals over three consecutive Olympic games, the Jamaican showman is also the World and Olympic record holder in each of the three events.

10

3

Wilma Rudolph is considered a pioneer for changing the attitude of the USA’s Athletic program, particularly for how it perceived African-American women after her record breaking performances at the 1960 games in Rome. Breaking the 200m Olympic record and the 4x100m world record in Rome, Wilma would go on to win for medals in her career, totalling 3 Gold and 1 Bronze.

5

When Athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos of the USA raised their gloved fists in the air whilst on the podium of the 1968 Mexico Games, they created the most iconic image of any Olympic games.

The man on the second step, Peter Norman of Australia, also supported the protest, as Smith and Carlos stood bare foot, a sign to show their solidarity with impoverished Africans and to make a stand against racial injustice in America.

In 2016, Nicola Adams became

the first two-time Gold medallist

in Women’s Flyweight Boxing, making her the only Gold medallist in the category. Adams is also the current Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European champion.

11

Ade Adepitan is the most famous

of Britain’s Paralympians. Contracting

Polio as a child, Ade lost the use of his left leg and has used a wheelchair since.

In 2004, Ade won Bronze with the Team GB Wheelchair Basketball team and has gone on to be an ambassador for disabled athletes, most notably in his Television appearances for the Paralympic games.

Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

4

Abebe Bikila was another outstanding performer at the 1960 games. The Ethiopian marathon runner is credited with a Gold medal, an achievement he accomplished whilst barefoot for the entirety of the race.

Andrey Yurlov / Shutterstock.com

6

Between 1979 and 1996, Carl Lewis’s 10 medals ranks him amongst the greatest Athletes of all time. With 9 Gold Olympic medals, Lewis’ career ended on a high, as in his final race he took his 9th Gold medal; and 10th medal overall.

HIGHLIGHTS

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS KANE BROWN ‘THE OATH’ COMEDY SHOW Saturday 1st October

Kane Brown’s brave and bold comedy has seen him light up the audience at venues such as Comedy Store, Glee Club, Hackney Empire and Indigo 02, among others. A compelling one man comedy show; one of only two UK dates!

Tickets: £10 advance | £15 on the door, 7.30pm – 10.30pm 2Funky Music Café, Leicester LE3 5NH 2funkymusiccafe.co.uk

LYDIA TOWSEY FOR WORD! AND EVERYBODY’S READING FESTIVAL PRESENTS: WORD! WITH MALIKA BOOKER Tuesday 4th October

Join us for this WORD! special with Malika Booker, international artist, working with everyone from BBC to British Council. Workshop and potentially share your work in the evening. She will read from ‘Pepper Seed’, shortlisted for the Seamus Heaney Centre prize.

Tickets: Workshop free, evening £7 | £4 concessions The Y, East Street, Leicester, LE1 6EY T: 0116 255 7066 Email: secretagentartist@hotmail.com ytheatre.co.uk

THE DANDY LION PROJECT: A GUIDED TOUR Sunday 2nd October

The Dandy Lion Project explores global expressions of the Black Dandy phenomenon against the backdrop of contemporary life. The exhibition presents more than 150 images from over thirty photographers and filmmakers and is curated from an international open call by US curator, Shantrelle P. Lewis. The first comprehensive exhibition of its kind, this project highlights young men in cityscapes, defying stereotypical and monolithic understandings of Black male identity, by adopting Edwardian-era fashion and fusing this with traditional African sartorial sensibilities.

University of Brighton Galleries, Brighton BN2 0JY. Tel: 01273 643010

48 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

HIGHLIGHTS

MOVING HERE: THE HARRY JACOBS ARCHIVE

SCRATCHYLUS AND EMPRESS REGGAE RESET THE MINDSET UK UNIVERSITY TOUR

Wednesday 12th October, 2pm

After the arrival of the SS Empire Windrush, as immigrants from the West Indies began to settle in Lambeth, posing for a portrait at Harry Jacobs’ Landor Road photography studio became a rite of passage for many local people. Jacobs took over 60,000 photos during this time, and a collection of these are kept at Lambeth Archives. The photos often celebrated achievements and helped to show friends and family oversees their lives in England. This inter-generational workshop will examine the photo archive through creative writing, drawing and discussion to try and understand what life was like for people moving here.

Saturday 15th October

This year Black History Month and Student Times are organising a university tour to coincide with the release of the brand new Educational Vinyl Reset The Mindset along with smash hit singles ‘Is Change A Game They Play’, ‘I Hear The Children Cry’ and ‘Plant The Food’. The title track Reset The Mindset has been the inspiration for this year’s theme for Black History Month. The tour will include SOAS , Kingston, Durham, Birmingham, Bournemouth universities and others

West Norwood Library 14 - 16 Knights Hill London , SE27 0HY Tel: 020 7926 8092

Aberystwyth University Penglais, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3FL Tel: 01970 623111 www.aber.ac.uk

TWILIGHT TALK: THE BIRTH OF COOL Thursday 13th October

Can I transform my potential into a career?

Course you can.

Find out about the University of Opportunity Visit: wlv.ac.uk/courseyoucan #courseyoucan

10422734_Advertisement_Living_with_Disability_2015_HR.indd 1

A special talk to celebrate Black History Month 2016. Professor Carol Tulloch will showcase and share stories and images of black fashion and style in Britain, drawing on the research for her recent book ‘The Birth of Cool’. “This obsession with dressing well is almost part of the DNA in the black community”, noted Tulloch in a recent interview and this talk at the Fashion Museum will explore those thoughts further.

Professor Carol Tulloch, University of the Arts London is a writer, curator and a specialist in dress and black identities. Tulloch’s knowledge of this area of study has led to appearances on television and radio. Sharon Stone, Muhammad Ali, Diana Ross at Muhammad Ali’s Celebrity Fight Night XIII, JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, Phoenix, AZ, March 24, 2007 Fashion Museum, Assembly Rooms , Bennett Street, Bath, BA1 2QH www.fashionmuseum.co.uk

12/08/2015 12:08

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016 49

HIGHLIGHTS

BOY WITH BEER 8th - 26th November

Brixton, 1991. The morning after the night before.

“That club last night... I was buzzing, you know” As London waves goodbye to the 1980s and embraces the new rave scene, Karl is having a hard time holding on to his Ghanaian roots and Donovan is on the run – from his girlfriend.

THE POLITICS OF RACE IN BRITAIN AND SOUTH AFRICA: BLACK BRITISH SOLIDARITY AND THE ANTI-APARTHEID STRUGGLE Monday 24th October

Elizabeth Williams will be discussing her book on global struggle against racism. She will talk about the solidarity of the African Diaspora people of Britain and the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. The two were inextricably linked against an implacable foe which sought to exploit the divisions that inevitably arise in all movements but which ultimately was defeated with the political liberation of South Africa. Elizabeth Williams is a visiting lecturer in modern history at several universities and works as a subject librarian at Goldsmiths University of London.

Time: 6pm Free – bookings essential: 020 8921 5750 Woolwich Library, 35 Wellington Street, London, SE18 6HQ

50 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

Set to a soundtrack of dub, Paul Boakye’s witty and tender play explores identity, sex and new beginnings – and how in the search for ourselves we might discover what we really want.

The King’s Head Theatre, 115 Upper Street, London, N1 1QN Box Office: 0207 226 8561 boxoffice@kingsheadtheatre.com

PLANNING YOUR NEXT HOLIDAY TO THE CARIBBEAN? Royal St Lucia Resort & Spa enjoying an unrivalled location on Reduit Beach, our flag-ship all-suite hotel.

The peaceful St Lucia resort that offers all-deluxe suite luxury accommodation and a pampering Spa, an elegant blend of privacy and sophistication on the beautiful island of St Lucia.

Prices start from ÂŁ165 per room for 2 people all inclusive.

And for Royal ÂŁ304 (as featured on the photo).

To book or for any queries please contact our sales office Tel: 0208 741 5333 Email: res.mriuk@rexresorts.com

*Prices per room, per night based on 2 adults sharing for stays within 21st April - 30th Sept 2017 when booked at www.rexresorts.com. Prices inclusive of flights available through all leading Caribbean Tour Operators. Correct at time of publication (Sept 16)

HIGHLIGHTS

RAISING LAZARUS Wednesday 19th-Friday October

Kat Francois’ critically acclaimed show returns following a sell-out performance at The Last Word Festival.

Raising Lazarus charts the true story of Kat Francois’ relative, Private Lazarus Francois, from the Caribbean island of Grenada, who joined the British West Indies Regiment in 1915 to fight for Britain during the First World War. Francois weaves a story of how she discovered she was connected to a part of British history that she previously assumed had no relevance to her, whilst exposing a small part of the journey undertaken by thousands of Caribbean soldiers who volunteered for King and Country.

The evening will also include special guest performances from Roundhouse Resident Artists.

Time: 7.30pm Tickets: 0300 6789 222 Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1 8EH

AFRICA ON THE SQUARE Saturday 15th October

Africa on the Square returns to Trafalgar Square for the third time on Saturday 15 October. This popular event celebrates African arts and culture. There’ll be a range of activities highlighting communities from across the continent.

You can expect a fantastic line-up of entertainment on the day including live music, DJs, dancing and a talent show. Plus an African market, food stalls, fashion show and lots of fun stuff for kids.

Africa on the Square is organised by the Mayor of London for Black History Month 2016.

Time: 12:00pm to 6:00pm Tickets: No ticket required Trafalgar Square, Westminster, London, WC2N 5DN

AUNTIE

Monday 17th October Introducing AUNTIE; Dame Edna meets Nollywood meets Hyacinth Bouquet via the fictional pan-African nation of Kengeria. Auntie vocalises her disdain for tracksuits and chicken shops, which are far from her ‘Ey! Ey!’ glossy mag dreams of sipping champagne in Buckingham Palace.

Mtoto, her gay, mixed-race son throws razor-sharp shade, exposing her bigoted and hypocritical views with a ferocity that rivals the drag queens of Ru Paul’s Drag Race.

This fresh new comedy explores the poignant issues of immigration, post-colonialism, gentrification, and of course, worship Tickets: £5 Book: www.picturehouses.com Email: ciao@gavinodivino.com Hackney Attic Hackney Picture house, 270 Mare St, London, E8 1HE

52 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

HIGHLIGHTS

CLASSICALLY BRITISH 2016 Friday 14th October

After two decades of dazzling performances to packed audiences, in Edinburgh and London, Classically British is again at its home The Tabernacle, W11 as part of Black History Month.

The event has found a very clear purpose in instilling fresh hope and inspiration through their community programme initiative.

Children from local schools are welcomed for an interactive afternoon; comprising of a dress rehearsal, a historical account from Black Dance Pioneers, and an opportunity to speak to emerging upcoming talent who are embarking on their professional career.

Classically British 2016 continue to cross boundaries, with fusion of dance, artistry, passion, energy and bold choreography that is unrivalled. This year’s company presents Classical Ballet, Flamenco, Indian, Contemporary and Street. The artist BeatFox will collaborate in a new dance piece called “Breath” with dancer Salome Pressac.

Innovative, terrific, talented; these are just some of the words that describe the versatile performer Ash Mukherjee returns to Classically British 2016. Voted Best Indian Dancer, UK by Dance Europe, Ash is a choreographer who has been noted for his uniqueness, speed and precision by some of the top names in the industry.

Come and be a part of this not-to-be-missed dance event.

Portobello Dance Tabernacle, Powis Square W11 2AY Contact: Mark Elie 07947484021 Email: Info@portobellodance.org.uk www.portobellodance.org.uk

NINA - A STORY ABOUT ME AND NINA SIMONE Saturday 15th-Saturday 29th October

Olivier Award-nominated actress Josette Bushell-Mingo OBE returns to the UK to perform for the first time in over a decade. Nina - a Story about Me and Nina Simone is a theatrical explosion of rage, love, doubt and fear in a world where racism, the charge for civil rights and Nina Simone’s exceptional legacy still passionately resonate. The production is part theatre, part gospel, part concert. Featuring the iconic songs of Nina Simone, with music performed by a band of extraordinary musicians.

Performing in the UK for the first time in over 10 years, this is Josette’s most personal show to date: a performance that she has to give, in a production that she had to make.

Unity Theatre, Liverpool. Tickets can be booked via Unity Theatre’s Box Office, by calling 0151 709 4988 or via www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk.

RIOTS, RACISM AND RESISTANCE IN IMPERIAL BRITAIN Friday 28th October

The riot at the Broomielaw was the first of nine around British seaports shortly after the First World War. It came against a backdrop of job shortages when sailors’ unions tried to preserve jobs for white locals by imposing a ‘colour’ bar, a policy that was soon applied to black African and Caribbean colonial Britons. The riot was tied up with wider industrial unrest on Clydeside and took place only a few days before the notorious ‘Battle of George Square’ from 13:00 to 15:00. Tel: 0141 287 3050 Gallery of Modern Art Royal Exchange Square G1 3AH BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016 53

HIGHLIGHTS

ELIZABETH WILLIAMS Monday 24th October

CELEBRATING DR KWAME NKURUMAH Saturday 29th October

The Ghana Norwich Residents Group would like to invite you to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr Kwame NKurumah. Dr Nkrumah’s work fighting for freedom and independence still remains an inspiration around the world. There will be food and drinks plus lots of entertainment.

Time: 5:00pm Everyone welcome Bridge Plus Community Hub, 44 Magdalen St. Norwich NR3 1JU

EXPLORING BLACK PEOPLE’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR Saturday 15th October, 2pm-5:30pm

More than one million black people from Africa, the Americas, and Europe were actively involved in the First World War. They fought and laboured in most of the major campaigns but particularly in Europe, Africa, and western Asia. This workshop will look at how their experiences can be followed through official and private records and how their contributions are remembered in Britain today.

The event will feature talks from historians of Black Britain, Stephen Bourne, Dr Caroline Bressey, John Siblon, and Anna Maguire, and social commentator and political activist Patrick Vernon. There will also be the opportunity to find out more about conducting research in this area, learn about IWM’s collections and enjoy free refreshments.

Tickets are free but registration is advised: http://bit.ly/BlackpeopleinWW1 IWM London, Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ

Pic Troops of the West Indies Regiment cleaning their rifles on the Albert – Amiens road, September 1916 © IWM (Q 1201)

54 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

Elizabeth Williams will be discussing her book on global struggle against racism. She will talk about the solidarity of the African Diaspora people of Britain and the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. The two were inextricably linked against an implacable foe which sought to exploit the divisions that inevitably arise in all movements but which ultimately was defeated with the political liberation of South Africa. Elizabeth Williams is a visiting lecturer in modern history at several universities and works as a subject librarian at Goldsmiths University of London.

Time: 6pm Free - bookings essential: 020 8921 5750 Woolwich Library 35 Wellington Street, Woolwich, London SE18 6HQ

THE AFRICA EXPO 2016 Saturday 22nd October

The Africa Expo is the must attend event for anyone interested in: Launching a business in the UK or Africam, Starting a social enterprise, Working in Africa. The event will include: Information sessions and presentations from expert speakers, Q&A sessions, Networking.

Be inspired by hearing first hand from individuals who have made a success of starting a business in the UK and Africa, Get practical advice and information to help take you forward, Find out about all the options for financing your new business , Learn about the opportunities you can explore in Africa.

Tel: 0203 488 1519 E: info@africaexpo.co.uk W: africaexpo.co.uk Islington Assembly Hall, London

The Centre for Research in Race and Rights (C3R), in association with Nottingham Contemporary and Renaissance One, present THE OCTOBER DIALOGUES 2016

On the 200th f Bussa’s o y r a s r e iv n n a nd slavery e to g in is r p U join us in Barbados, logues ia d f o y a d a for on and debates slavery transatlantic ies. and its legac ing of Plus an even s with performance reeze, Jean ‘Binta’ B a Michael SureShot ak us Joseph Brome, Marc anjoko.

B a y n a P d n a

S G N I H T E L B A K A E P UNS U N S POKE N Conversation blic

Transatlantic Slavery – A Pu

Wednesday 12 October 9.30am to 9pm

FREE. Lunch included. Please register: http://octoberdialogues2016.eventbrite.co.uk

The Space Nottingham Contemporary

FEATURE

ASPECTS OF BRITISH GUNBOAT DIPLOMACY Jaja King of Opobo

56 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

FEATURE

K

ing Jaja is probably one of the most fascinating rulers in the Niger Delta during the 19th century. He arrived in the Kingdom of Bonny in 1833 - the year the Slavery Abolition Act was passed by the British Parliament - as a child with no weight in substance, and in the space of thirty-seven years; he rose through the ranks by sheer force of personality to become a clan sub-chief, Head chief of a trading House (Opubo Annie Pepple House), and King of Opobo.

Jaja founded the Kingdom of Opobo after he retreated with members of his clan into Andony territory after Bonny civil war in 1869. King Jaja was a middleman broker of palm oil (the “Legitimate trade” that replaced the slave trade in the region) and he controlled the important trade routes from 1870 until the mid-1880s. Jaja’s troubles with British traders began in the early 1880s when George Watts, opened his factory in Kwa Ibo (an enclave within Jaja jurisdiction, which was situated along the route leading to the palm oil fairs in the hinterland). As a result, King Jaja led the first punitive expedition to the region on 11 April 1881 and that was followed by a second expedition, on the night of 16 May 1881.

Following both expeditions, the disagreements between Jaja and the British Consular Authority worsened.

Another contentious issue arose when Consul Hewett met with King Jaja to discuss the Protectorate Treaty. The consul met fierce opposition from Jaja -and his chiefs- over a clause that called for free trade and freedom of movement for the British traders. (The Protectorate treaty was the forerunner of the Berlin Conference and it was designed to guarantee British traders access to the hinterland).

However, King Jaja signed the treaty after the disputed clause was removed, and Consul Hewett had given him assurance in writing to state that

‘Queen Victoria did not want to take his country or markets’. On 5 June 1885, King Jaja ordered his armed men - in a show of force - to place booms across Opobo River to block the route leading to the interior when the British traders attempted to enforce the treaty.

In 1885, European traders requested a reduction in the price of palm oil due to the drop in the world price. But King Jaja rejected their request. However, when Alex and George Miller (owners of Miller Brothers & Co.) withdrew membership from the African Association - an amalgamation of British trading firms - and agreed to purchase Jaja’s palm oil at the preferred rate; they secured much of the trade within King Jaja’s jurisdiction.

The disagreement over ‘comey’ (brokerage charge), which derives from the word commission, was another cause of resentment. Consul Hewett and members of the African Association called the charge a ‘shakehand’. The word that was contrived to make it seem as though the British traders were being extorted. But they made no complaints about the comey charges imposed on them in other neighboring city-states. What the British traders sought was free trade. The firms were quite keen to set up shop (their factories) closer to the fairs so that they could buy the palm oil directly from growers (thus bypassing the agents working for King Jaja and his chiefs).

On 19 September 1887, King Jaja was deposed for obstructing British commercial and political expansion, and he was taken out of Opobo River on 21 September 1887 for trial in Accra, Gold Coast (Ghana). His trial took place on 29 November 1887; he was accused of administering illegal oaths to the native people in his markets ostensibly to frighten them from dealing directly with European Agents. He was accused of barring trade to the inland districts beyond his jurisdiction, of blocking the highway and sea-lane entrance into Opobo River - thereby flouting the terms and spirit of the Berlin Treaty of 1884.

On 1 December 1887, Sir Walter Hunt-Grubbe found Jaja guilty, and he was exiled to the West Indies. When King Jaja was pardoned and released to return to Opobo he died in Santa Cruz, Tenerife in the early hours of the morning of 8 July 1891.

‘...in the space of thirty-seven years; he rose through the ranks by sheer force of personality to become a clan sub-chief, head chief of a trading House and King of Opobo.’

ABOUT THE AUTHORS So Jaja is an author who lives in London. Educated in Worcestershire, England, studied in Indiana, USA, and City University London.

He works in publishing.

Aspects of British Gunboat Diplomacy is the only book he co-authored with his late father Amaopusenibo E. A. Jaja, who was a journalist and former Managing Director of the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc. (he served on King Jaja Executive Authority Opobo Town as Chairman of Queen Osunju Jaja House).

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015 57

FEATURE

CARIBBEAN WOMEN AND THE NHS A The NHS was established in post-war England to tackle the major social and economic problems of the day, including ill-health and disease. Following the destruction caused by the Second World War and labour shortages in England, it was critically important for hospitals to recruit staff from the Caribbean to work in the new NHS. In response to recruitment drives in the Caribbean, many people responded and arrived in this country to help the NHS establish itself.

58 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2016

neurin Bevan, the post-War Labour Minister of Health, believed that society should collectively contribute, through a National Insurance scheme, to provide free health care for all. In July 1948 the National Health Service Act was born, heralding the birth of the Welfare State.

Until then, only the well-off and those in work were catered for. The National Health Service (NHS) would address the inequalities that left vast number of Britons suffering through lack of money to pay for healthcare. The government became caretaker of Britain’s 2,688 hospitals in England and Wales.

Resourcing this venture was problematic from the outset. The cost of administering the service, researching new cures and maintenance of hospital buildings was far greater than the government had first thought. But the most taxing concern of all was the chronic shortage of nurses.

Britain found itself with a new expanding health service which it was unable to staff.

Why were British people unwilling to train as nurses? In the wake of the post-War boom, men were reluctant to work long hours, in poor conditions, for low pay. Single women, with their newfound freedom, were being more selective

about their career choices, opting for occupations such as secretaries and journalists. In the 1950s and early 1960s married women’s place was still considered to be in the home.

Recruitment

The authorities embarked on a two-pronged plan to relieve the shortfall. One scheme was an aggressive national campaign, with central government funded exhibitions, lectures and gimmicks to attract recruits in the regions from London to Liverpool. The campaign was not especially successful. The Tottenham Hospital Management Board reported that ‘such energetic

FEATURE

hospitals. It was in these hospitals that the great majority of young Caribbean women found themselves placed as resident trainees.

The Training

campaigning deserves better results’, when, for example, there were just 17 enquiries for 737 vacancies. Out of this number, only two potential students and one qualified nurse came forward.

The other scheme was devised by the Ministries of Health and Labour in conjunction with the Colonial Office, the General Nursing Council (GNC) and the Royal College of Nursing.

From 1949, advertisements were placed in the Nursing Press encouraging candidates from the colonies to come to Britain to apply for work as auxiliaries and trainee nurses. The advertisements featured interviews with nurses, who confirmed that across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom ‘jobs could be found easily’.

Recruitment campaigns were extensively and energetically pursued with senior British nurses visiting commonwealth countries for this purpose. Local selection committees were set up in 16 British colonies. Trainee nurses were drawn from all over the world, including Ireland, Malaysia and Mauritius, but at this time, the majority were recruited from the Caribbean Islands.

Colonial women interested in training as nurses came from diverse educational and economic backgrounds. From 1955, the British government had devised various schemes to assist with fares to Britain, but many recruits ended up funding their own journey in whatever way they could. One said: ‘My mother borrowed the money and sent me up here. I had to pay it back when I began to work’. Another said: ‘A friend sponsored me, the bank paid my fares...it wasn’t free.’

The great majority, however, had high expectations from their period of training in Britain. They imagined they would train for three years and, after a further two years gaining vital work experience, they would then return to help the Nursing corp in their various islands. At the same time they felt they would be relieving Britain’s staffing problems.

These expectations mirrored the plans negotiated between the GNC, Colonial Office and Colonial Governors, that Caribbean women, trained to the highest level in Britain, would return to take up responsible nursing posts. In the 1950s and 1960s, such posts were almost exclusively held by expatriate staff (British women) General hospitals and teaching hospitals were already relatively well staffed, but there were major shortages in hospitals caring for the chronically sick, disabled and the elderly.

Post-war trauma had also greatly increased the numbers of people admitted to psychiatric

Until 1986, there was a two-tier system of nursing training: staff and pupil. The ‘Staff’ or State Registered Nurse (SRN) qualification included training in ward management, while the ‘Pupil’ or State Enrolled Nurse (SEN) qualification concentrated on the clinical side of nursing.

Most Caribbeans, like other Black nurses, were placed on the two-year SEN course. Due to racial discrimination few were accepted on the SRN course despite possessing the requisite qualifications. One recruit recalls: ‘This (difference) wasn’t explained to us. I was sent to a psychiatric hospital in Cheshire, when I really wanted to do general nursing’. Like most others, her ambition was to work in general hospitals.

Neslyn Watson-Druée was disappointed that, “after being met by the home sister, two or three days later, the matron informed me that the group of hospitals had its GNC inspection the week prior to me arriving and that the group was downgraded from SRN training to SEN training.”

Neslyn was given the choice of leaving or staying.

“I did not have anywhere to leave to and I didn’t want to work as an auxiliary, so I started the SEN training and the matron promised that under the circumstances, because I came for the SRN training, she would do all that she could to get me a good school … just before I took the SEN final examination, I applied [to Tunbridge Wells] for SRN training on her recommendation.”

Joyce Bleasdille-Lumsden had been accepted for student nurse training at Tynesdale General Hospital. “The next morning when I saw the matron … she sent me to the sewing room to be measured for uniform. They had me measured for a green uniform and I saw one or two nurses in purple uniform. So when I went back I asked my Jamaican friend what is the green uniform?

She said, ‘We are pupil nurses, a lower grade of nurses, stupid nurses,’ and I went back to the matron and I said to her I was accepted for student nurse training and not pupil nurse training. I had to do the pupil nurse training, otherwise they would send me back to Grenada.”

After their two year basic training, most of the women found they could not get onto the higher level course, and certainly ‘couldn’t get promoted at all’. Yet many accepted night

duties, to enable them to fit in with family commitments, and found they were ‘wholly in charge’. As one nurse remembers: ‘We had to get on with all the drugs, the drips, whatever treatment...but our pay remained the same.’

Once they arrived in Britain, young recruits were dispersed to their appointed hospitals all over the United Kingdom. Some were met at the train station, but many had to find their own way, dressed more for the sunshine they had left behind than the cold and gray weather and bracing winds they now encountered.

The new trainees lived in the Nurses’ Homes attached to the hospitals, and worked alongside other Colonial trainees. They provided an important support network for each other, as many felt isolated and far away from home.

‘When anyone new came and brought food, the girls got together, sitting on the floor, [or] anywhere like a big family. We would eat whatever, dividing it up between all of us’.

At that time, there were few Black people in Britain, particularly in smaller towns. As a result, many nurses moved to large centres like London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Bristol, with existing African, Asian and Caribbean populations.

After Training

Many Caribbean women who had come to Britain did not return home afterwards, as they had intended to do. They all held British passports, a requisite until 1962, when they were granted leave to remain here indefinitely. But why did they stay? There were a variety of reasons.

Some felt unable to return to their islands.

The Enrolled Nurse (SEN) qualification was not recognized in the Caribbean, and they would not qualify for the senior posts. Most remained in Britain, however, because, at some point in their career, they became wives and mothers and found themselves settled with a family in England.

Experiences were varied. Caribbean nurses were well respected by the patients they cared for but there were also examples of abuse and accusations. Overall they gained a great deal of knowledge and satisfaction from looking after sick people, often in specialities which the indigenous population refused to occupy.

Caribbean nurses made a choice to come to Britain, and made a choice to remain here, but all agree that: ‘We contributed to the NHS. We have built the NHS because we were committed to our work and our nursing careers.’

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FEATURE

Parliament and the British Slave Trade

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries Parliament significantly shaped the progress and development of the transatlantic slave system. The Act of Parliament to abolish the British slave trade, passed on 25 March 1807, was the culmination of one of the first and most successful public campaigns in history.

Written by House of Commons

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B

y the end of the 17th century Parliament, with Royal support and backing, had supervised the development of a large and growing African population throughout English colonial possessions in the Americas.

The tentative efforts under Elizabeth I to break into the foreign monopolies on lucrative overseas trade whetted the appetite for more.

But it was the military and political turmoil in Europe in the early 17th century which allowed the English to establish their own trading systems to Africa and the Americas.

Above all, it was the pull of exotic commodities and riches which proved irresistible.

At first, Europeans were not drawn to Africa for slaves, although they did occasionally acquire them. The continent was more attractive to the early pioneering settlers for its valuable commodities – especially gold. The early trading companies focused on gold, dyes, timbers, ivory and hides.

What transformed everything was the development of colonies in the Americas.

The settlement of these and the Caribbean islands was to transform Europe’s dealings with Africa. The introduction of plantations, especially those growing sugar, led to the extensive use of African slave labour. In time some 70 per cent of all enslaved Africans shipped across the Atlantic were destined to work in the sugar fields.

Pioneered by the Spaniards and perfected by the Dutch, sugar plantations were eagerly adopted by the English from the 1620s. Sugar though was not the only crop. In the North American colonies the development of the tobacco industry – a crop acquired from local Indians – also led to the use of enslaved African labour.

Parliament and commerce

The outbound slave ships to Africa were packed with British goods, such as metal goods, firearms, textiles and wines for exchange for human cargo. Vessels returning from the colonies heading to their home port were filled with plantation produce.

Here was a trading network on an integrated international scale, lubricated by slavery, and all approved, regulated and monitored by Parliament.

Dozens of Acts were passed specifically to encourage, regulate and monitor the trade in Africans.

Legislation relating to the more personal and private aspects of the slave trade, brought its consequences directly into the Parliamentary arena.

In the years after the Restoration in 1660, the wider economic importance of the English sugar trade became more obvious. There were also international economic pressures.

On 8 April 1671, West Indian planters presented their arguments to the House of Lords for a stronger defence against their commercial and political rivals.

The City of London’s Corporation, the Bank of England, Lloyd’s insurance – and a host of banking facilities – all thrived on the Atlantic trades. So, too, did the industries which provided goods for exchange in Africa, equipped the slave plantations of the Americas, and processed and sold the imported slave grown produce.

Consumption rose and the number of shops increased, and exotic goods formed an important element in the growth of England’s finances. Duties and taxes raised by Parliament became critical sources of income. As a result, complex rules came to govern trade between England, Europe and the wider world.

Major ports and docks flourished in London, Bristol and Liverpool but the different levels of customs duties encouraged illicit imports which developed into a remarkable smuggling industry. To prevent such fiscal abuses, the state developed powers of scrutiny and punishment. Shopkeepers and tradesmen complained about such powers in petitions.

Sugar, tea and coffee

During the 17th and 18th centuries tobacco, but above all sugar, transformed British life.

Britons developed their famous sweet tooth because their drinks – tea, coffee and chocolate, all naturally bitter – needed to be sweetened

Trading with Africa

The plantations in the Americas created a rush of traders to the African coast. Trade there expanded enormously and became a source of great European rivalry and strategic positioning.

The initial ad hoc ventures gave way to licensed companies, chartered and monitored from London.

A string of major trading posts were developed on the West African coast. The major forts and castles were designed more to protect gold and local officials, rather than to house enslaved Africans waiting for the slave ships.

Most captured Africans were herded on board ships from beaches, from barracoons on the shore, from river stations, or were rowed out to the waiting vessels.

The Africa trade quickly emerged as a massive and lucrative form of international trade. By 1720 its most important branch was the dispatch of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic. But even that simple assertion does an injustice to its complexity.

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FEATURE

The problem of the black poor

with sugar. They were also celebrated for the profusion of their puddings and desserts.

At the heart of this was slave-grown sugar.

This led to a massive proliferation of shops across Britain, whose main source of income was goods from the West Indies.

There was also the problem of the black poor in London in the mid-1780s and discussion about what to do about them. This resulted in the Sierra Leone Scheme, designed with government backing to relocate them to Africa. It proved disastrous and gave focus to the issue of slavery and the slave trade.

Parliament regulates the Africa trade

The growing trade with Africa soon came under the gaze of Parliament.

The Royal Africa Company’s monopoly in particular angered other merchants who wanted a share of the trade. The 1698 Trade with Africa Bill – which proposed that the company’s monopoly be broken – became an Act in the same year.

Many traders and merchants did not want regulation and duties applied to the Africa trade.

They expressed themselves through pamphlets and petitions to Parliament. As the latter became involved in the regulation of the trade, it discovered a lot more about it.

Leading members of London’s black community

By the late 18th century the black population in London was in the thousands. Among them were Ignatius Sancho and Olaudah Equiano.

Ignatius Sancho Oil painting by Thomas Gainsborough, 1768, National Gallery of Canada.

Ignatius Sancho

Born on a slave ship, Ignatius Sancho (1729-80) was brought to England as a baby. He was educated in London and established himself in Westminster, buying a shop on Charles Street.

Sancho was an accepted and respected member of London’s intellectual and artistic society, and his life illustrated that Africans were equal in every way to the Europeans who enslaved them.

Olaudah Equiano

Olaudah Equiano (1745-97) was an active opponent of the slave trade. He lived and worked in London for several periods of his life. He was employed by the British government to work on the Sierra Leone settlement scheme, which was established to repatriate former enslaved Africans living in London.

Equiano was a leading member of the black community, working with Granville Sharp on legal cases involving Africans fighting to establish their rights to freedom in Britain. His autobiography was published in 1789.

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Boycotting slave-grown sugar

Abolition: the argument

The boycott of slave-grown sugar became an important feature of the abolition campaign.

Refusing to buy sugar for the home, and preventing its domestic use, emerged as a contribution by women to the campaign.

The movement against the slave trade had deep and slowly developing roots. Was slavery legal in England? Could slaves be removed from the country against their wishes? What was to be done about the maltreatment of black people?

The birth of the formal abolition campaign

Legal battles

The abolitionists

All these questions and more surfaced in legal battles from the mid-18th century onwards.

The Somerset case of 1772 ruled that slavery was illegal in England, calling into question the right of slave owners to hold jurisdiction over slaves brought to England.

In the Zong case of 1781 the owners of a British slave ship sought compensation for the loss of cargo, when over a hundred enslaved Africans were thrown overboard.

Both these landmark cases had been backed by the theologian, Granville Sharp, who became a key member of the abolitionist movement.

Defeat in North America

With the British defeat in the war in North America in 1783 slavery was set in a different context. Slavery had been at the heart of that conflict, and many of the defeated British came home with former slaves.

At the time of these events a small band led by William Wilberforce in Parliament and by Thomas Clarkson in the country as a whole, launched the formal campaign to abolish the slave trade.

William Wilberforce

William Wilberforce

William Wilberforce, MP for Hull from 1780, took up the cause of abolition after meeting a former slave trader, John Newton. Wilberforce would become the Parliamentary mouthpiece for the campaign.

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Petitioning Parliament

Thomas Clarkson

Born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, Clarkson was at Cambridge University preparing to become a clergyman when he entered and won the 1785 annual essay competition, the title set being ‘Is it lawful to enslave the unconsenting?’.

During his research he learned about, and was horrified by, the transatlantic slave trade.

It was then that he decided that something should be done.

Within a year Clarkson had given up plans to enter the church and had decided to devote himself full time to the cause.

In 1787 Clarkson became one of the original 12 members of the London Committee, which also included Granville Sharp and was part of the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade.

As the only Committee member without business commitments, Clarkson researched for evidence that could be laid before Parliament, and also promoted the cause nationwide.

He had earlier met many Quakers who were campaigning for abolition and when he travelled to all the major British ports, as well as cities and towns around Britain, Clarkson was supported by local Quaker groups.

His research was to prove crucial to William Wilberforce’s subsequent work in the House of Commons.

In 1788, a number of petitions in favour of the abolition of the slave trade were received by Parliament.

However, the powerful federation of planters, merchants, manufacturers and ship owners – all central to the slave trade – put up a dogged rearguard action against abolition in both the Commons and Lords.

Both sides presented petitions to both Houses of Parliament.

Those petitioning against the trade were encouraged by Thomas Clarkson. One of the purposes of Clarkson’s tours of Britain between 1788 and 1794 was to organise and encourage a new public petitioning campaign.

Both sides were using a means of communicating with Parliament that had a long history, but was now on a scale not seen before. The petitions show that a time when the right to vote was very restricted, the petitioning movement gave many excluded from the electoral process an opportunity to communicate with Parliament

session. Dolben’s Bill was passed after a series of debates, receiving Royal Assent in July 1788.

Thomas Clarkson, a member of the London Committee of the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade, drew up a plan of the Brooks slave ship, graphically illustrating the 16 inches (40cm) allocated to each person.

This plan was sent to every member of the Commons and Lords by the London Committee, who were lobbying for further debate. It was also distributed around the country where it had an immediate impact.

The first parliamentary debates

The MP for Hull, William Wilberforce, had met the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade and, with the encouragement of William Pitt, the Prime Minister, agreed to raise their cause in Parliament.

In February 1788 the prime minister commissioned a report on the slave trade and the effects and consequences for British commerce. The report was undertaken by the Privy Council committee for trade and foreign plantations.

This was followed by a statement in the Commons by William Pitt on 5 May 1788. He said that he would raise the issue by moving a motion “That this House will, early in the next session of Parliament, proceed to take into consideration the circumstances of the Slave Trade”.

Following a debate, which revealed divided opinion, the motion was agreed. During the debate, the MP for Oxford University, Sir William Dolben, suggested that some limited regulation should take place.

Dolben introduced a Bill on 21 May to regulate the numbers of enslaved Africans carried from Africa to the West Indies. The Bill received Pitt’s support, providing that the measure was temporary pending discussion in the next

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FEATURE

Wilberforce makes the case

The movement to abolish the slave trade drew on a remarkably wide range of activities, including collecting signatures on petitions, female activism, and distribution of print and graphic images.

It was, however, at its heart, a parliamentary campaign, headed by William Wilberforce. A measure of his success was the fact that by 1792 abolition was an issue entrenched in Parliament.

However, it faced a protracted and difficult struggle.

Wilberforce was not formally involved until he was asked by his close friend, the newlyelected Prime Minister, William Pitt, to become the parliamentary spokesman for the campaign in 1787.

The London Committee, part of the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade, made occasional contact with Wilberforce from October 1787, mainly to ask him to raise the issue in debates.

He formally joined the Committee in 1791 and became their spokesman in the House of Commons.

Pitt set up an enquiry into the slave trade in 1788, and laid its report before the Commons in April 1789.

The following month, Wilberforce pushed for a committee to consider the anti-slave trade petitions that had been presented to the House.

He made a long speech emphasising the harsh realities of the slave trade.

Although it was eventually decided to postpone more discussion until the following parliamentary session, Wilberforce had done enough to secure the appointment of a select committee to consider the matter further.

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The evidence

Perhaps the most decisive and influential blow against the slave trade was the evidence presented to various enquiries from men who knew the slave ships and plantations at first hand.

What these committee reports told of African suffering had a profound impact. They produced revulsion in those who read them and helped to win over armies of supporters to the abolitionists’ side.

The enquiry set up by Pitt produced a 900-page report and detailed the evidence of abolitionist Thomas Clarkson.

In one particular example, Thomas Clarkson’s argument that Africa had many goods worthy of trade was corroborated by fustian manufacturer John Hilton. Hilton had looked at a sample of cotton wool from Senegal, collected by Clarkson, and rated it highly.

Olaudah Equiano also expressed support for trade with Africa and wrote a letter to the Privy Council committee carrying out the enquiry.

Other evidence heard by subsequent committees was contradictory. Two witnesses gave evidence describing slave ships. Captain John Knox said that he had no knowledge of the kidnapping of slaves or obtaining slaves by fraud or oppression, whereas James Towne spoke of slaves shackled on overcrowded ships.

Drive for abolition slowed by external events

Despite the pressures for change which built up between 1788 and 1791 the abolitionist cause was not yet won.

Two events were responsible. The first was the French Revolution, which became ever more extreme. The second was the massive slave uprising in St. Domingue, a French colony in the West Indies, led by Toussaint-L’Ouverture.

A series of revolts began on the island shortly after news reached it of the start of the revolution in France in 1789. The British attempt to seize the colony proved a disaster, with the loss of more than 40,000 British lives.

All this served to halt the drive for abolition, which did not pick up momentum again until after the death of William Pitt in 1806, and the emergence of a more sympathetic government under Lord Grenville.

There had been a string of parliamentary regulations tightening the conduct of the slave trade, but the final abolition had to wait until 1807. Despite this, the 1790s saw repeated attempts by William Wilberforce to keep the issue in the public arena.

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Parliament abolishes the slave trade

In 1805 an abolition bill failed in Parliament, for the eleventh time in 15 years. The London Committee decided to renew pressure, and Thomas Clarkson was sent on a tour of the committees nationwide to rally support for a second petitioning campaign.

The Foreign Slave Trade Abolition Bill of 1806 became a focus for these petitions. The Bill, which would prevent the import of slaves by British traders into territories belonging to foreign powers, was introduced – as a government measure – by the Attorney - General, Sir Arthur Leary Piggott.

The abolitionists inside Parliament, led by Wilberforce, seemed to pay it little attention, and it passed its early readings without much notice.

However, by the third reading, the anti-abolitionists understood its broad implications and that Wilberforce and his colleagues had implemented a clever strategy to play down its wider ramifications.

The Bill was passed on 23 May 1806 and the stage was set for full abolition of the British trade.

The Prime Minister, Lord Grenville, introduced the Slave Trade Abolition Bill in the House of Lords on 2 January 1807 for its first reading.

Its introduction by the head of the Government marked it as official policy, and its second reading in the Lords was agreed 100 votes to 34, despite resistance from the Duke of Clarence (the future king William IV) and other peers with West Indian interests.

After consideration by committee and a third reading, the Bill arrived in the House of Commons on 10 February.

The London Committee members rented a house in Downing Street to be close to Parliament to lobby MPs. After 18 years of promoting abolition Wilberforce received a standing ovation during the key Commons debate on 23 February. The debate lasted ten hours and the House voted in favour of the Bill by 283 votes to 16 – a victory far in excess of expectations.

The remaining stages took a further month, and the Bill received Royal Assent on 25 March 1807.

What happened next

Although the British ended their slave trade in 1807, slavery itself continued in the British colonies until full emancipation in 1833. An illicit slave trade continued across the Atlantic, and more than a million Africans were landed in the Americas (mainly Cuba and Brazil) after 1807.

Historians remain puzzled by the abolition of the slave trade. Was it ended because it was no longer profitable? The economic data, and the tenacious support of the slave traders, suggest not. But is it plausible to see abolition being brought about by outraged sensibility or religious

sentiment? If it was wrong or un-Christian in 1807, why not in 1707?

What exactly changed in Britain and the Atlantic world – and indeed in Parliament – in the years between 1600 and 1807? There seems to have been a shifting of the tectonic plates; a small series of movements which produced massive consequences.

Read House of Commons Historic Hansard for debates from 1803-2005.

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FEATURE

Sam ‘Mr Windrush’ King MBE passes away at 90

Remembering Prince The ‘Purple Rain’ singer was a superstar in his own right, having sold 100 million records during his lifetime, his vast array of musical talents in both instrument and song, coupled with his extravagant dress sense and polarising personality, made Prince a globally recognised musical icon.

Born in Minneapolis, Prince’s childhood was marred by frequent epileptic seizures and the separation of his parents; though his gift with music was prominent, creating his first song ‘Funk Machine’ on his father’s piano at just seven years old.

‘Funk Machine’ would be the first of thousands of songs, as Prince’s writing credits as a songwriter spanning several aliases, including; ‘The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, Camille, The Artist, Jamie Starr, Joey Coco, Tora Tora, Alexander Nevermind, Christopher Tracy and (Love Symbol).

These Aliases would go on to span several genres, including RnB, Pop, Synthpop, Funk and Rock as well as more than a dozen associate acts.

Ranked 27 on a list of 100 All Time Greatest Artists by Rolling Stone, Prince was dubbed “the most influential artist of the Rock and Roll era.”

His career would not be without controversy, with the most infamous of them being his contractual dispute with Warner Bros. in the early 1990’s.

Initially signing with the company at 18, Prince’s had been with the label since 19778 with the release of his album ‘For You.’ However, by 1993, Prince was unhappy that the label would not release his records regularly enough and so he changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol, which he would go on to copyright as ‘Love Symbol.’ Releasing himself from his contractual obligations, Prince would release five albums between 1994 and 1996 and would go on to sign with Arista Records in 1998, before going back to referring to himself as Prince in 2000.

Prince is a seven time Grammy Award winner, a Golden Globe Award winner and for the film ‘Purple Rain’ in 1984, Prince also won an Academy Award for the soundtrack. In 2004, in his first year of eligibility, Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

On April 21st, 2016, Prince tragically passed after accidently overdosing on the painkiller fentanyl in his recording studio and home of Paisley Park, aged just 57.

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The former Southwark Mayor was best known for his insightful opinions, which made him a beloved member of the community since his arrival in Britain in 1948.

Sam King passed away in the early hours of Friday morning with his close family at the age of 90 in Brixton, South London.

Born in Portland, Jamaica to a family of nine siblings, King initially worked on the family farm before the call to support mainland Britain in the World War reached the colonies.

It was a call that Sam King answered at the age of 18 and he would go on to join the Royal Air Force after believing that if Germany were to win the war, Hitler’s German government would re-introduce slavery to the West Indian colonies.

After serving in the Second World War as an Engineer at Fire Station RAF Hawking, King was demobbed and returned to his country of birth; Jamaica like many other Caribbean and other colony status servicemen and women at the time.

Like many other veterans, resettling back into civilian life was difficult for Sam, so when he saw an opportunity to migrate to England being advertised in the Gleaner, a Jamaican Newspaper in 1948, he seized the opportunity.

In doing so, King would become one of the first people to arrive in England via Empire Windrush and would continue his time in England by first re-joining The Royal Air Force before later working for Royal Mail, helping to establish what we know as the Notting Hill Carnival and becoming the elected Mayor for the London Borough of Southwark in 1983.

However, Sam King is best known for his work with the Windrush Foundation, which he and Arthur Torrington established in 1995.

The objective of the Windrush Foundation was to preserve the memories of the West Indian pioneers who left their homes to migrate and help rebuild a post-war Britain.

On the 40th anniversary of the Windrush’s first docking in 1998, Sam King would be awarded his MBE for service to Britain, an achievement recorded in his 2004 autobiography, ‘Climbing up the rough side of the mountain’, which has become a strong piece of source material in his campaign for a public holiday in recognition of ‘Windrush Day’.

After the loss of his friend, Arthur Torrington released a statement reading: “Sam was a giant with a voice that commanded respect that provided a positive message to all about the contribution of the Caribbean community but the wider benefits of migration.

We need to give our gratitude to men and women like Sam who made sacrifices and laid the foundations that we take for granted today in the community.”

Sam Beaver King MBE 20th February 1926- 17th June 2016

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