Black History Month 2020

Welcome to Black History Month Magazine 2020

2020 has held a mirror up to the world and forced many to see the reality of racism in all its guises. From Black people dying disproportionately in the pandemic, to the horrific murder of George Floyd and no justice for Breonna Taylor – the 26-yearold emergency medical worker killed by police in her own home.

In the UK, the scale and impact of institutionalised racism has been laid bare, with young Black men stopped and searched 20,000 times in London during the coronavirus lockdown (the equivalent of 1 in 4 young Black men), along with Black MPs, barristers, senior police officers, sportspeople and many more.

#BlackLivesMatter protests around the world sparked a commitment among many individuals and organisations to educate themselves about Black history, heritage and culture – as part of understanding racism and standing in solidarity against it.

If that commitment is to transcend beyond social media into real change, everyone, from all communities, needs to embrace Black History Month as a starting point for exploring, discovering and celebrating Black history, heritage and culture – both past and contemporary. From the incredible achievements and contributions, to the many untold stories and barriers to progress – the day-to-day reality of institutionalised racism.

Crucially, this year’s Black History

By Catherine Ross

Editor of Black History Month

Founder Director, Museumand - The National Caribbean Heritage Museum

Month is a time to shine a light on our shared British history and tell the whole story honestly and truthfully, to decolonise and reclaim history, and tell stories from the perspective of all people – not just the rich white men in power. The felling of contentious statues and monuments is just the start, now it’s time to ask communities how colonial objects and symbols are used to tell the true story of history.

Black History Month 2020 is also a time to look forward and celebrate the here and now – and the future possibilities. In years gone by, October has been the only time of year when the UK talks about the achievements of Black people in Britain. Hopefully,

the events of 2020 will be a catalyst for Black history to be shared much more widely – in museums, galleries, schools, universities, public spaces and communities.

Black people have always made history and always will – but it’s equally important that Black people take the lead on how that history is discovered, explored, researched, recorded, archived, curated, exhibited and shared. That means supporting Black-led heritage organisations and professionals; making national and local institutions much more accessible and representative; and empowering communities to define and share what Black history means to them.

‘Black History Month 2020 is a time for people to come together and hopefully learn lessons for the present and the future.’

Black culture isn’t just a commodity to be appropriated and monetised, and Black history isn’t just a month to be ticked off a calendar dominated by a white-washed version of history.

Black History Month 2020 is a time for people to come together and hopefully learn lessons for the present and the future. It’s a time to honour the commitment to learning and standing united against racism. It’s a time to reclaim history and re-imagine how our shared history will be told in the future.

04 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2020

MESSAGE FROM THE PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON

For countless generations people of African and Caribbean descent have been shaping our nation’s story, making a huge difference to our national and cultural life and helping to make Britain a better place to be.

It is this contribution of black British people that I am proud to be celebrating this October.

That contribution is overwhelmingly apparent today in the energy, talent and dedication of business leaders, lawyers, academics, musicians, artists and many more. This year we have seen the heroic efforts of all the frontline workers and the doctors, nurses and medical professionals who have been tirelessly supporting our NHS throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Of course, there is much more work to be done to ensure that every person of every skin colour, background and creed has the opportunity to succeed, and to stamp out discrimination and racism. I understand the force and depth of feeling that has been expressed following the death of George Floyd in the United States, and share the determination of all those seeking a more equal and just world. That’s why I have set up a Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities to make the progress so many have called for, and to bring about lasting change. But I also believe that alongside tackling the substance of the problem, we should be giving due praise and recognition to all those who have played such an important role in helping to positively shape modern Britain and our modern Commonwealth.

Because it’s a great shame that more people do not know more about Paul Stephenson or Mary Prince. Or that they haven’t heard about the many brave black servicemen who served in the World Wars – from those grappling in the mud of the Western Front, to the valiant Caribbean pilots and aircrew in the Second World War, and the heroes who fought further afield, in places such as Burma. Or even that they

know so little about the Windrush generation, from the nurses who were there at the very start of our NHS to all those who helped rebuild our country after the war.

A key part of the Commission’s work will be to look at how we ensure society is more aware of the significant role people from different ethnic backgrounds have played in our shared British history. Let’s use this Black History Month to celebrate not just the achievements of people today, but of all those who have shaped our nation. Let’s raise up those names. Let’s remember their acts. And let’s celebrate them – because black British history is all our history.

KEIR STARMER LEADER OF THE LABOUR PARTY

This month we celebrate the huge achievements of Black Britons and the Black community.

I have immense admiration for the Black Britons who have helped shaped our country’s history and culture. Iconic figures like Mary Seacole, whose heroic service as a nurse during the Crimean war inspires us today in the fight against Covid-19. And of course, my friend Doreen Lawrence, who has done so much in fighting for justice for her son Stephen.

And I pay tribute to Diane Abbott, Bernie Grant and Paul Boateng – the first Black Labour MPs elected to Parliament 33 years ago. We are proud of the achievements of these towering figures. Their tireless campaigning has paved the way for brilliant Black Labour MPs, who I am proud to work with in my Shadow Cabinet and across Labour’s front and backbenches.

Any self-respecting Arsenal fan who remembers the 1990’s like

06 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2020

ED DAVEY LEADER OF THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

October is Black History Month - a time to celebrate the enormous contributions Black people have made to our country.

Their contributions have shaped our national identity and are evident in every field from literature, politics, science,

business, music and arts.

Throughout this month, we remember icons from the trailblazing composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, to Margaret Busby - Britain’s youngest and first Black female book publisher. We also celebrate those who helped establish our National Health Service, joined the war effort, marched for justice and worked tirelessly to build a better world for all of us.

Just a few months ago, the world watched in horror as George Floyd died at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis. The violence inflicted on him and so many other Black people across America is abhorrent, and it is time everyone woke up to the multiple injustices Black people face - and not simply in America.

In the wake of George Floyd’s killing, the demand for justice, that Black lives matter, has reverberated around the world and a new generation of activists has arisen in the longstanding battle for racial justice. We must support these movements and help them provoke reform, in America, in our own country and wherever racial

injustice and racial discrimination raises its ugly head.

The shocking reality is, systemic discrimination is a lived reality for Black people; we see it in classrooms, in offices and throughout the criminal justice system. For example, in the UK a Black person is 47 times more likely to be subject to Section 60 ‘Suspicionless’ Stop and Search than a white person. This is unacceptable. That’s why I have demanded that the government scrap that power once and for all.

The last few months have made it clear that there must no longer be anywhere to hide for racial injustice: the curtain must be finally being pulled down on systems complicit in the oppression and dehumanisation of Black people. We can longer be content with the status quo, nor can we merely pay lip service to issues of racial injustice. It’s upon all us to start doing the honest, hard, uncomfortable work of dismantling anti-Black racism.

As a party, we will continue to stand with Black communities and we will keep affirming the fundamental truth that Black lives matter.

I do would also include Ian Wright among their heroes.

I’m lucky to live in and represent a constituency with a rich history of Black culture. I want my kids to know about that, and for all children to have the opportunity to learn about it – and not just in Black History Month.

That’s why this week I called on the Government to ensure Black British history is taught all year round, as part of a truly diverse school curriculum that includes and inspires all young people and aids a full understanding of the struggle for equality. Black history is British history.

I know this year has been extraordinarily difficult. On behalf of the Labour Party I want to pay tribute to all those in the Black community who have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, lost loved ones or have heroically kept our country going as key workers.

It was clear from early on that this pandemic was disproportionately affecting people from the Black community. I asked Doreen Lawrence to lead a review into the impact of Covid-19 on Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

Alongside Doreen and Marsha De Cordova, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, I have been pressing the Government to go further and faster on protecting those most at risk from this virus.

Alongside Covid, we are at a historic point in the fight for racial equality. The Black Lives Matter movement shone a light on racism

in the UK and around the world.

We need action now, not apathy. It’s why on becoming Labour Party leader, I personally announced a series of measures to improve diversity within the Labour Party, including increased representation across our MPs and councillors through the Bernie Grant Leadership Programme.

But we also need to see action from government ministers. We need them to act on the repeated reviews and recommendations made over recent years. It was disappointing that in response to the Black Lives Matter movement they simply announced another Government review.

There have been countless recommendations made to the government over recent years. Like Ethnicity Pay Gap reporting, or a national target to achieve a representative judiciary – as recommended by my friend and colleague, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, David Lammy. They should be implemented now, not kicked down the road. We are at a historic point in the fight for racial equality and it deserves immediate action, not another review. Ultimately, I believe what we need is a wholesale race equality strategy to tackle the structural inequalities and institutional racism which still exists.

Our nation’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths and we should celebrate that at every opportunity. I say thank you to all those in the Black community for helping make our country what it is today.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2020 07

BY LYNDA LOUISE BURRELL

Creative Director, Museumand - The National Caribbean Heritage Museum

THE CREATIVE GENIUS WHO HELPED BRING OUR IDENTITY TO LIFE

It’s not every work event I go to that I meet someone who’s acknowledged as a legend by his peers. At a private viewing of Michael McMillan’s exhibition, Rockers, Soulheads and Lovers: Sound Systems Back in Da Day, on 19 March 2016, I had such an opportunity.

The exhibition at the 198 Gallery in London was curated as a Blues Party. It was wonderfully nostalgic and immersive and the graphics and branding were amazing. I expressed my admiration of them to Michael, who said he’d introduce me to the person who designed them. I had never heard of Jon before that moment, but in the short five minute conversation I had with him, I knew I was in the presence of brilliance, a very affable and generous one. I plucked up the courage to assert my belief in the expression carpe diem and asked if he would help me, a newbie in the heritage world, to design a logo for a museum I had set up. At the early stage of its life, the museum needed a knock-out logo to grab people’s eyes, hearts and minds.

I explained my ambitions and aspirations for a new kind of museum to Jon. A museum that would be inclusive and appeal to everyone, tell heritage stories in new and exciting ways, and create unique, innovative, must-see exhibitions and events. At that point, the museum’s name was The National Caribbean Heritage Museum,

and its tagline was Museumand, because I was envisioning a heritage organisation that would be a museum…but so much more.

Jon grasped the idea immediately and said I should make the tagline part of the name. Then he focused on the word ‘and’. He explained how it would give us scope to grow and continue to share heritage in many different forms, and how it would be more powerfully presented if it was used as a symbol in our branding. Inspired! A true Jon inspiration! Whenever anyone comments on the museum’s name they say it’s genius and how powerful the ampersand looks dressed in colours found in many Caribbean flags and cultural identities.

I’ve continued to apply the lessons I learned from meeting Jon following our chance encounter, including ‘always get the best person for the job’. I certainly did!

Jon was an award-winning art director and graphic designer who worked on memorable campaigns for IBM, Virgin Direct and NHS Careers. A man of many talents, Jon was also an author, collector and curator who championed African culture and heritage and supported Black organisations such as Black Cultural Archives, Black History Month’s online and paper magazine, and of course, Museumand, The National Caribbean Heritage Museum.

08 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2020

DIANE ABBOTT MP

33 years as a Titan of British Politics

BY BELL RIBEIRO-ADDY MP

Diane Abbott stands to give her

maiden speech and make history as the first black woman ever elected into the House of Commons. It’s 1987. There are Tory men shouting and jeering. There are Labour MPs who regret her very presence in the House. This won’t be the last time in Diane’s career that she will

make history whilst staring the forces of reaction in the face. As well as going on to give award winning speeches, Diane would also become the first Black Labour leadership candidate, serve as the first Black shadow Home Secretary and become the first Black woman to represent her party from the dispatch box during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs).

Diane’s election in 1987 saw the start of a career that would make history and inspire hundreds of young Black women. Among them, one two-year old growing up in Streatham, who – unbeknownst to the both of us – would later be so inspired by Diane’s story that she would go on to work for her and later serve as an MP alongside her. I never dreamed that I would get the opportunity to work for a living legend, a trailblazer, and the first Black woman to enter Parliament. For a Black woman in politics there could be no better mentor. Diane’s honesty, integrity, tenacity and consistency continues to inspire me, and is the reason why I am pleased to call her a mentor, a colleague and most of all, a friend.

For women in politics, life can be hard. For Black women in politics, doubly so. We have seen time and time again reports of the abuse that Black female MPs experience, something that

Diane is no stranger to. For many of us, this abuse now takes place on social media, but Diane has experienced abuse on a multitude of platforms and from a variety of directions.

The 1987 election in Hackney North and Stoke Newington wasn’t just notable for opening a new chapter in Black history, but also for overcoming the contempt of

her opponents and the dislike of her own Party. The contest for the seat quickly became nasty, with Diane facing hostility from opponents on the grounds of her race and receiving no support at all from some in the Labour Party. She even had a brick thrown through her campaign office window. Despite this, Diane went on to win her seat with a 19.8% majority – a majority that she has continued to build on ever since.

Along with Keith Vaz, Paul Boateng and Bernie Grant, Diane Abbott demonstrated to Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic people across the UK that we can be elected into Parliament. Fast forward 33 years and we now boast the most diverse Parliament in the UK’s history. Whilst diversifying Parliament is an ongoing struggle, Diane’s historic election in 1987 marked the first successful steps and we are eternally indebted to her because of this.

Having been an MP for 33 years, Diane has made some memorable contributions in the House, but perhaps none as notable as her contribution to the 2008 Counter Terrorism Bill debate. A speech that won The Spectator magazine’s “Parliamentary Speech of the Year” award and received further recognition at the 2008 Human Rights awards. A speech so powerful that, when set to follow it, Tory MP David Davies noted it to be one of the finest speeches he had heard since being elected to the House of Commons. Unwilling to be intimidated by Party whips, Diane offered a strong defence of civil liberties, something she has never shied away from in her 33 years in Parliament.

In 2010, Diane decided to throw her hat into the ring and run in the Labour Leadership election, becoming the first Black woman to run for the position. She entered the election promising to address the issues left neglected under previous Labour leaders, particularly the issue of an immigration system that was, and still is, unfair and inefficient.

12 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2020

Though her leadership bid was unsuccessful, Diane has continued to stand up for a fairer immigration system. In 2015, she was vocal in her criticism of Labour’s “Controls on immigration” pledge – along with the grim accompanying mugs – and has continued to fight against the hostile environment perpetuated by consecutive governments.

It was as Shadow Home Secretary under Jeremy Corbyn MP that Diane was truly able to bring the injustices of our immigration

system to light. The UK Home Office has consistently demonstrated a hostile attitude to non-UK born residents but perhaps never has it been more evident than when Theresa May was Home Secretary and then Prime Minister. The Windrush Scandal saw the Home Secretary purposefully mislead Parliament about deportation targets. To set these arbitrary targets in the first place is deplorable; to subsequently lie about their existence is unforgivable.

Diane and her team, which I was proud to lead as her Chief of Staff, helped to expose the governments disgraceful behaviour. Though successive Home Secretaries have demonstrated similar hostilities, we can both count the resignation of Amber Rudd and securing the Windrush Compensation scheme as well as the Lessons Learned Review, as a consolation for some of the victims of the Home Office’s hostile environment.

Another massive achievement in Diane’s political career took place most recently on the 2nd October 2019, when she became the first Black MP to represent their Party at the dispatch box during Prime Minister’s Questions. Her appearance at the dispatch box that day showed us that, although several glass-ceilings are in place to stop Black, Asian and Ethnic Minorities from achieving, Diane has been smashing them since 1987 and will continue

to do so, so that we don’t have to.

Working for Diane has truly been the experience of a lifetime. The care and dedication that she puts into her role as a constituency MP is something that cannot be taught, but if it could be, then every aspiring MP should receive a lesson. With order and efficiency, Diane treats every constituent’s concern with the upmost importance, and this is something that I strive to emulate in my office.

Not only does she embody what it means to be a good representative, she also demonstrates what it means to be a true socialist. From her election back in 1987 right up to present day, Diane has stayed true to her beliefs, regardless of what the party or parliament thought. Over the decades, she has maintained a principled, unfaltering stance on opposing austerity, war, cuts, racism and bigotry. She has consistently supported peace, Palestinian human rights and LGBT+ rights.

Regardless of whether it was politically expedient or popular with press, parliament, or – at times – party, Diane has always stood on the right side of history, shoulder to shoulder with the oppressed. Diane is a titan of British politics, socialist hero, and a Black icon for the ages.

We are Community. The modern union For a changing world.

We’re proud to be a campaigning union. Together we are tackling racism in the workplace and pushing for better policies to protect Black workers from coronavirus.

We have a growing membership in every sector of the UK economy. The bigger we are, the stronger we are. Join us today.

Community-tu.org @CommunityUnion CommunityUnion

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2020 13

British society, with its organisations, establishments and those who lead them, cannot change the past. They could however accept and publicly acknowledge the African Holocaust known as the “maafa” that was inflicted on people of African Heritage via the Mohomadon Enslavement, Transatlantic Enslavement and then the colonisation of Africa as a result of the Berlin Conference of 1884, which laid the foundations for European and Western national wealth creation. These systems have resulted in the UK Black community being most likely of all ethnic groups to have an average weekly income of under £400 according to Gov.UK

While British society recoils at scenes from the United States showing unimaginable treatment of African Americans, the roots of the tree can be seen firmly in Britain and Europe, as it was the Roman Catholic Church who passed a Papal Bull to enslave indigenous people in the Americas and Africa.

Descendants of those who were enslaved have never received any financial reparation, and the message from some quarters is ‘Sorry, but you are free now, get on with it.’ No systematic actions have been taken to address the massive inequity still existing for those of African heritage in Britain and further afield.

As we navigate this historic Coronavirus Pandemic, many Black/African community activists have experienced being racially ‘gaslit’ whenever we fight or speak for the race we

CONFRONTING AFRIPHOBIA

were born into (as defined by European/ Arab classifications). All too often, this is by individuals and organisations stating that they stand for equality.

Black people have fought alongside many who have experienced different forms of racism, however - and it is grieving to say - those others only sometimes demonstrate they want the same equity for blacks as for themselves. The form of racism experienced by people of African heritage has been self-defined as ‘Afriphobia’ which is the prejudice, discrimination, fear, hatred and bigotry towards people of African Heritage and things African.

Afriphobia is strongly interlinked with colourism and the hierarchy of racism. Those of African heritage have experienced Afriphobia not just from Europeans, but also from Asians. This can and will no longer be ignored, or quietly go unmentioned. All forms of wrong done to those of African heritage must now – is and increasingly is being - called out, no matter who is contributing to the injustice.

Many in Britain repeatedly say, “We are not the US” and assert “All lives matter!” to close down calls for equity and liberation, which go beyond equality. The illustration shows that equality does not translate into equity, and in this world equity is about economics and money. The creation of racism was always about economic power and subjugation.

As an African Heritage woman, I have seen and experienced first-hand, in so many ways, covert Afriphobia at work and in politics. British society and the current world order wants us for our strength, intelligence and creativity but do not demonstrate a wish for us to ever have equity with them, or build for ourselves in ways that do not increase their wealth like my ancestors did.

This brings us to Windrush, where a generation of people who were told they were British were invited to this country to rebuild it after many had volunteered, fought and died in World War Two. The Government’s definition of those included in the Windrush Generation includes people of the Commonwealth from African nations, Australia, Canada, Caribbean Islands, New Zealand, South East Asia who migrated to the UK between 1948 and 1971. Yet strangely, the victims of the Windrush Scandal – the Government conveniently forgetting the citizenship given - have been predominantly of African and Caribbean heritage.

I am so proud of the African Heritage youth in the UK, US and worldwide who have lifted their ancestors by ‘self-organising’ within the Black Lives Matter movement. When we were talking, singing, crying, stressed and traumatised by the Afriphobia we experienced on a daily basis, the younger generation were listening, learning and taking it all in.

By Jacqui Burnett (Cllr) FMAAT, MCMI Vice Chair of the African Caribbean Community Development Forum Ltd (ACCDF) Chair of Luton Sankofa Committee

14 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2020

Baroness

Doreen Lawrence

OBE

Stephen, but I am proud that in overcoming the barriers I faced. Britain is becoming a fairer society than it was – although as recent events show, including treatment of the Windrush generation, we still have a very long way to go.

Twenty-seven years on and not all young people have heard the name Stephen Lawrence or know his story. But 2020 has shown us that Stephen’s story – unequal treatment because of skin colour, and exposure of embedded prejudice in systems, structures and institutions – is as relevant today across the whole world as it has ever been. George Floyd’s murder opened many people’s eyes to the extent to which racial inequality remains prevalent. And research on pandemic mortality rates has created further awareness of how pernicious racial inequality is, and the wide but still little-understood consequences of it. Covid-19 mortality disproportionately affects the Black population, with Black males having the highest Covid-19 death rates of all.

I nonetheless have great hope for the future. The tragedy of George’s death was met with an unprecedented and passionate response from people around the world for an end to racial inequality. It was acknowledged that this was ‘a moment’, one of those truly rare opportunities for a step change. Five months on, there is now widespread acceptance that we must all do better and, critically, this desire is accompanied by energy and purpose to make it happen. For those of us who have been on this path for decades. This is an extraordinary, unexpected, and meaningful place to have reached – and on which we must capitalise. We must redouble our efforts, think bigger, create more opportunities for more people.

This is the purpose of my new charity, The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, which launches this month. You may remember

I am proud to announce the launch of The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation for Black History Month 2020

When Black History Month was first

celebrated in the UK, my son,

Stephen, was 13 and dreaming of becoming an architect. Five-and-a-half years later he was dead, murdered in a racist attack just as his life as an adult was beginning. What do you remember about being 18? What a great time it is. But Stephen never got to experience that, nor to fulfil his

potential. Instead, when Stephen’s life ended, my fight began. I had one simple goal: justice for Stephen. But it was 1993 and it turned out that attaining justice for the murder of an innocent Black man was difficult. Far harder than I had imagined, for reasons that shouldn’t exist and which required time, persistence and insistence to be acknowledged. I was not able to fully accomplish justice for

16 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2020

Theresa May’s announcement in 2018 that the 22nd April every year will be Stephen Lawrence Day. Marking this day every year – the day that Stephen died – will help keep the focus on racial inequality and celebrate efforts to remove it. The Day will also be a celebration of everything that Stephen was and could have become, and it will celebrate what is being achieved in his name.

The Foundation will be the only home of Stephen’s legacy. We’ve structured our efforts around a virtuous circle of ‘3 Cs’ – Classrooms, Community and Careers. We want to inspire children to dream freely without barriers and to realise the absolute importance of education; we want to support and create new connections within all types of communities; and we want to work with big business to put Black men from low-income families on a path towards the Boardrooms of the UK’s most prestigious organisations. The ‘Careers’ element directly responds to Stephen’s ambitions for a professional career, but which he never got to realise. Instead, we will make that a reality for many thousands of others by creating our own multi-sector scholarship in Stephen’s name, in partnership with some very impressive founding names that will only

grow and grow. We believe this is globally unique. Our 3 Cs model will benefit all of society. This will be done by; raising aspirations, working within communities in new ways, creating real pathways to success. We will also develop the creativity, leadership skills and profitability of many organisations by exposing them to increased cognitive diversity. And while we’re starting in the UK, we have global aspirations to do everything we can to support greater racial equality.

“We want to inspire children to dream freely without barriers”

How does Stephen Lawrence Day fit with the 3 Cs? Well, the 3 Cs model will create many programmes which will run 365 days of the year. Whilst the 24 hours of Stephen Lawrence Day itself will have many facets, including a celebration of everyone participating in the Foundation’s programmes, plus a multitude of individuals, schools,

communities, and businesses across the country! So much already happens in Stephen’s name. I am frequently contacted by people and businesses who are fund-raising in Stephen’s name, and now the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation will be the home for everything that happens for Stephen’s legacy.

We are formally launching the Foundation on October 22, exactly 6 months before Stephen Lawrence Day itself. The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation will be the only Charity with Stephen’s name, with all activities, programmes and fund-raising supporting his legacy. The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust was the original charity I set up in Stephen’s name. However, I have not been working with them for several years. As, I am no longer associated with them they are shortly changing their name to reflect this.

I have been lucky to have so much support from so many people across the country and beyond over the last nearly thirty years. As I embark on this new chapter, I hope many of you reading this, during this momentous and memorable Black History Month, will continue to support me through the work of the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation.

Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon, OBE

THE BRITISH ARMY CELEBRATES

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Search for: army.mod.uk/BHM

to discover the interesting stories and history of some of our soldiers

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2020 17

Marcus Garvey famously wrote: “A people without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots”

Black History Month reminds us of where we are from, we what have achieved and the beauty and richness of our culture. This year’s Black History Month feels more poignant than ever.

2020 is the year we witnessed two viruses killing Black people: Covid-19 and racism.

Many of our brothers and sisters were taken away from us this year – some before our very eyes. Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd to name a few. We saw hundreds of people from the Black community lose their lives to Covid-19 – many who were working on the frontline.

We also said goodbye to those precious souls, like Dame Jocelyn Barrow whose work has left an indelible mark on the Black community in the UK.

2020 has truly tested us. It nearly broke us.

…and yet, in the words of Mayo Angelou, still we rise. And rise we did but this year felt different. The younger generation from all backgrounds stood, knelt and shouted side by side declaring Black Lives Matter. They set a tempo for their inclusion and anti-racist melody watched and, in many cases, admired, by the world.

BREONNA TAYLOR

GEORGE FLOYD

We saw statues of slave traders come tumbling down and emblems of Britishness and colonialism come under scrutiny and challenge. We saw parts of the UK get into what the late Civil Rights activist John Lewis called: “good trouble, necessary trouble”.

Even in the midst of the backlash marches from far-right groups, we went higher. We saw five Black men led by Patrick Hutchinson, save a former policeman, Bryn Male. Newspapers showed Hutchinson carrying Male on his shoulder taking him to safety as he was knocked over by his colleagues as they made their racist chants.

We are powerful people. There is strength in amalgamating voices to call out behaviours, actions and attitudes that are racist and discriminatory. Be that through employee networks for Black staff, or more influential voices such as Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, John Boyega, and John Amaechi. We need more organisations like Argos and ITV, rejecting complaints about their adverts or television programmes because they solely feature Black people or support the Black Lives Matter movement. I congratulate those leading race equality sessions helping white people sit with their discomfort as they explore the power of white privilege, the importance of white allies, and necessity for organisations to be anti-racist. Let us keep our collective foot on the accelerator. The road to race equality continues to be hazardous with many barriers and sadly, fatalities. There are those who want to sabotage our endeavours to prevent this agenda progressing. That is why this October, we remind ourselves of our history in the UK (which goes beyond the transatlantic slave trade). Our roots are strong; our presence is powerful; and our contribution should be celebrated.

BY

CHERRON

INKO-TARIAH MBE

18 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2020

DR VIVIENNE

CONNELL-HALL (PhD)

Sociologist and Visiting Lecturer in Social History

For me, BHM means that

for 31 days out of 365 days of the year there is an opportunity to say to everybody that will take the time listen, look at all that we have done. Although, you tried so hard to stop us, put all kind of obstacles in our way, yet we still contributed. We still participated and we are still here. Paradoxically, we must squeeze 100s of years of our story, the story of Black people, into 31 days that can never be enough time. There is an opportunity for a concentrated focus on Black historical input and achievement. It is also a period tinged with disappointment, when I reflect upon the limited time given over to this during the rest of the year. As well as to the extent of the whitewashing and omissions; for example, in the recent scandal surrounding the Windrush Generation, polls have shown that the majority of the population were partially or wholly ignorant of that aspect of British history.

It is also a time tinged with disappointment, when I think of the limited time given over to our story, yet every year we still only talk about Jesse Owens, Garvey, Mandela and Mary Seacole, whilst their stories are beautiful and need to be told, we have WWI and II heroes unheard of, the story of William Cuffay, the Black Chartist, languishing only on Google.

We have contributed so much but go unrecognised. Because of this narrow focus the wider community still doesn’t

What does Black History Month 2020 mean to me?

“Black History is British History!”

understand us. As I mentioned earlier, in the recent scandal surrounding the Windrush Generation, polls showed that most of the population didn’t know about this. The truth is what the symbolism of The Empire Windrush presents, is that Black people came here at the invitation of a Conservative government as much needed vital labour to rebuild this country after the devastation and ravages from WWII. Sadly, this vital piece of British history has been for many years until recently been left out of the school curriculum and off our TVs. We are now playing 70 plus years of catch-up to try and educate a new generation and remind previous ones at the same time.

I am fortunate enough to be sufficiently informed in these matters, enabling me to teach my children (and 10 year old grandson) what the state has failed to do, saving them from such ignorance and instilling them with a sense of pride along the way. My aim, and that of my generation, is that all children

will have at least heard the names and stories of our Black heroes and contributors.

Why is it important? Because Black history is British history. The cherry picking of history, the focus on only the palatable aspects of history, means that we are all poorer - poorer in thought and knowledge. We have presented history as Swiss cheese for years, with huge gaping holes, BHM is an attempt to fill some of those holes. It is also important because it allows the non-Black communities to learn or, at least, become aware of what essentially is part of their own history that they have been denied, given its absence from school’s curricula. The consequence of which is that history is being taught in a sanitised and exclusionary fashion.

What am I doing? Until 18 months ago, I worked full time, as a subject matter expert in diversity and inclusion for six years. However, I have been involved in this sphere for most of my adult life - from equal opportunity to diversity - through various voluntary (external) and corporate activities within the civil service. For example, setting up and running BAME staff networks. This owes much to my cultural and familial inheritance.

“Black people should never forget that Africans had a history before slavery”

My maternal grandmother was a founding member of Marcus Garvey’s organisation, the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) that was first formed in Jamaica. I am proud that she served as Secretary for a regional branch in her Parish. Marcus Garvey, of course, was the Father of pan-Africanism and part of the UNIA’s philosophy was that “Black people should never forget that Africans had a history before slavery” and that’s the message that has been

20 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2020

passed on to my grandmother’s descendants as part of our socialisation.

What is my wish? I would like to see the nascent campaign to debase and smear the objectives of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement fail. If these efforts succeed, we will continue to lament the exclusion of Black people’s contributions, the historical injustices perpetrated against them and the lessening of the price they have paid on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic. I would like BLM to flourish, bolster changes (or at least generate conversations) and to make Blackness visible; and shame on us if we allow this movement to wither. We need to shout from the pinnacles of society, all that we have done. The sharing of knowledge and revelation of lesser known facts shine a light on ignorance and offers us all an opportunity to eliminate group think, tackle xenophobia and reduce racism.

We as elders have to be the ones to teach the younger ones. There is an African saying that “when an elder dies, we lose a library”, I ask all who are reading this page to ensure that you are the library, that you have left your knowledge for others to use.

I would like to see plans to mainstream Black history in history curricula, presented in historical and cultural contexts

and certainly no further attempts to dilute or rebrand BHM as “Diversity Month”. Racism and Xenophobia are born of ignorance; therefore, if history is imparted at an early stage in the education sector, then people will understand, for example, why the Empire Windrush brought Caribbean immigrants to this country and there would be no need for them to question what they see.

And, more importantly, the dissemination of outrageous stereotypes against a section of society would cease.

Maybe in the future there will be no need for BHM, because our books and TV screens will show us as we are, contributors to world history and not just for 31 days but every day.

Merseyside Police is one of the best performing forces in the country and it takes people from all sorts of different backgrounds with a wide range of skills and experience to achieve that.

Do you have what it takes to be one of them?

• Serving our Communities

• Reflecting the Communities we serve

• If you want personal development/ progression

• If you want to make a difference in a diverse environment

• If you want to be part of ‘One Team’

www.merseyside.police.uk

•

•

For the latest on current vacancies Search Merseyside Police Careers

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2020 21