A fitting way to close Black History Month by Ann Osborne

As I navigated the newness of Chambers, having moved to 42BR just over a month ago, I ventured to ask “what is Chambers doing to mark Black History Month?” Perhaps quite fittingly my question was bounced back to me - “what would you like to do to mark Black History Month?” 

The question forced me to consider what Black History Month means to me. I must admit that as the question whirled in my head I struggled to refine my thoughts on the subject for several days. Having spent much of my childhood living in South America and the Caribbean where there was no question that people of colour could be doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, captains of industry or heads of state meant that discussions around a concept of Black History Month did not arise. Sadly, that understanding of possibilities regardless of skin colour is not the shared experience for many young people of colour growing up in communities where we are minorities. Rather it still remains the case that within wider society people of colour are not usually expected to well spoken, to ‘truly’ be from a middle class background or to hold particular positions. The comments “don’t you speak English well”, “have you had elocution lessons”, “do you think that you are middle class now” and the surprise on discovering that you are not the first in your family to have gone onto university or to hold a professional position does convey that message.

The silence about the achievements of the black diaspora throughout British and European history has sadly contributed to a reinforcement of those assumptions of what it is to be a person of colour along with what people of colour, in particular black people are and are not capable of. When discussing the contributions of important black figures, the names of sporting heroes and singers are frequently the only names to make the cut. The names Dido Belle, Olaudah Equiano, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Florence Price, CLR James, Dr Walter Rodney, Louise Bennett, and Sir Derek Walcott remain seemingly unfamiliar.  

It is unsurprising therefore that Akyaaba Addai-Sebo in 1987, following the footsteps of Carter G. Woodson in the United States of America 11 years earlier, decided that “every child growing up in the UK must have an appreciation and an understanding of Africa, Africans, people of African descent – their contributions to world civilisations from antiquity to the present, and especially to the growth and development of the UK and Europe.” That decision marked an important step towards the recognition of black achievement not only for children of colour but for all children. It provides a unique opportunity to re-educate the adults charged with our children’s education but also across a cross section of society.

For me, Black History Month, whilst a celebration of black achievement, provides a platform to expand the understanding of black figures in history and the potential to see people of colour as we are - three dimensional,  diverse, talented, and able. The spotlight on black achievement each October serves to reinforce self-belief. That positive view of self is a key component of confidence. My  confidence in what I can aspire to as a person of colour was instilled by my parents who were professionals. Trailblazers in their own right. The benefit of being surrounded both at home and at school by books which detailed our achievements across a range of spheres not simply through sport or entertainment has been immeasurable. It is the stuff that helps to form resilience and self-belief which is fundamental in every walk of life, but particularly so at the Bar. So as we draw towards the close of Black History Month, I reflect on the words of Dr Mae Jamieson “Never be limited by other people's imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination."

Ann Osborne

26 October 2023

26th Oct 2023

Ann Osborne

Call 2016 | Admitted as a Solicitor: 2006