Over half a million Black African and Caribbean soldiers served in the British forces over the two World Wars; tens of thousands died. Today, it’s estimated that around 80,000 workers within the NHS are black, and around 14,000 Black teachers work in state-funded schools – and yet, most of us will never know their names.
Black History Month commences on the 1st of October, with the theme this year being Honouring our communities. When celebrating black history, we usually consider the extraordinary people: the incredible musicians, the flawless athletes, the resilient campaigners. The achievements of these inspirational figures are certainly not to be undermined, but in no way are these the only people who shape our society and our everyday life.
It’s the ordinary black soldier who devotes their life to serving – Major Herb Cameron. It’s the ordinary black surgeon who stays up all night receiving patients – Dr Samantha Tross. It’s the ordinary black teacher who gets up every day and moulds the lives of young people – Dr Beryl Gilroy. It’s the mentor, the sports coach, the volunteer, the chef, the bus driver, the police officer, the builder, the entrepreneur – or maybe it’s that friend who checks on you when you’re upset. These are the people who shape our society and the goal of Black History Month this year is to ensure they do not go unrecognised.
It’s devastating that we are living in such a divisive time. Black people are being stopped and searched at four times the rate of white people, whilst debates around immigration, race and who truly belongs in Britain have become increasingly prominent in our politics. People are questioning whether they are welcome in this country, simply because of the colour of their skin.
In times like these, it’s essential to recognise and remember that Black Britons have built, shaped and served our country for generations. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr, “We must learn to all live together as brothers, or we will all perish together as fools.”
Harper
Senior Prefect