Black History Month is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the contributions of black people to society and to the NHS, serving as an opportunity to inspire and empower future generations.
This year’s theme, ‘Reclaiming Narratives,’ encourages Black communities to take ownership of their stories, which define their culture, contributions, and identity.
Below we have shared some stories and inspiring messages from people across the region.
Tell us about yourself and your career aspirations growing up? From a child I was attracted to a career in the health sector. I am a people person and wanted a career where I could make a difference to people’s lives. Growing up I always wanted to be a nurse. I migrated to this country in the 80s and found a job as a healthcare assistant in one of the large teaching hospitals in London working in theatres at the time. My boss encouraged me to do nursing but I came across OT when I was sent to the Rehabilitation ward on an errand. I was hooked and never looked back since.
What was your career route to the role you have today? I started working as a Health Care Assistant before going on to train to become an OT. My first OT role was as a Basic Grade OT in a rotational post at Hillingdon Hospital once I qualified. I knew early on that I wanted to work in Social Services but also wanted to get my foundation skills developed hence the rotational post. Following my rotation I went to work for Harrow Social Services for a few years before moving onto Brent Social Services. Whilst at Brent I was appointed as Duty Team Lead. I left Brent and came to Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals as Head of Service for Occupational Therapy. I have been appointed Chair of Council for the Royal College of Occupational Therapists / British Association of Occupational Therapy. This is a national role with responsibility for Occupational Therapies across all four countries in the UK. Whilst navigating my career journey, I volunteered in a number of areas which gave me additional skills and insights that I transfer into my current roles today. For example, I volunteer with Northumbria Police as part of their Strategic Independent Advisory Group. I’m also a chair of the Board of Trustees at The Angelou Centre which is a charity in the North East that supports women and girls suffering from domestic violence and abuse.
How has your heritage influenced your career? My mother always told me “to whom much is given, much is expected” She also taught me that if I could do something to make someone’s world a little brighter then I should do so, expecting nothing in return. These values have been instilled in me at an early age and I consistently live by these. I was also told that I would have to work twice as hard to get recognition for my contribution. These have spurred me on to be the best version of myself. I continually seek to improve by focusing on my own development. I was also taught to be resilient from a young age and these have helped me to bounce back quickly from setbacks and to use them as a springboard for improvement. These are all traits and tools that I have used to develop my career.
Is there a person from your cultural group or background who has inspired you? One of my inspirational role models is Maya Angelou, after whom The Angelou Centre is named. She always seems to find the right words for any given situation and her ability to rise above situations has been a source of inspiration for me. I quote her a lot in my day to day work.
What changes would you like to see to make our organisation more inclusive? Walk the walk and talk the talk. No use just saying you are inclusive as an organisation if that is not backed up by actions.
Have visible role models.
Treat your staff well and they will be adverts for you.
Provide equal opportunities for staff to progress and to flourish.
Do you have a message for Black History Month? “I’m hopeful for the day we don’t have Black History Month, when Black people will be treated the same equity as our white counterparts. Until then, I will continue to advocate for those who are less heard. Black History Month is about shouting about what we do and all the wonderful achievements that Black people have contributed to this country over the decades, and making sure this country is more equitable so everyone can thrive.” We can be loud and proud twelve months of the year, not just during black history month.
What does this year's theme, "Reclaiming Narratives", mean to you? Over the years, the narrative about black people has been diluted and stereotypes have become negative. The valuable contributions that black people have made has become eroded and replaced with negative connotations about the black race. Reclaiming our narratives gives us an opportunity to correct some of the misconceptions that are being spread about us. Promoting cultural awareness and sensitivity requires ongoing work and focus. Part of this work requires us to reclaim our narratives.
The black history of slavery and colonisation is filled with stories of resilience, bravery, trauma and triumph. Glimpses of these legacies can be found across towns and cities across the UK. Stories of the Windrush generation and the continued injustice and challenges they continue to face makes it imperative for us to reclaim our narratives. In reclaiming our narratives we can focus on deconstructing the systemic barriers that we face each day. A vital part of this is addressing the generational trauma that will allow us to heal. The resilience shown by our fore-parents are powerful narratives that we can draw upon for inspiration. We can use these to channel our energies and focus on reducing the harmful and damaging stereotypes that remain. I embrace this theme as tool to support us on our journey to dismantle the structural and systemic injustices that remain.
Tell us about yourself and your career aspirations growing up? Growing up in a small town in Zimbabwe, I aspired to be a women’s rights lawyer. I grew up observing great injustices, especially gender based and I knew from as young as I can remember I wanted to advocate for the voiceless. I suppose those aspirations have been the driver in my current role improving access to health services for marginalised communities.
What was your career route to the role you have today? I joined NEAS at the start of Covid as a temporary health advisor, this was extended to permanent and later that year I was successful in getting the positive action role. I had been exploring community development opportunities, therefore this was an ideal role for me. Over the last three years the role has developed and expanded and I continue to feel fortunate to work in the NHS.
Do you have any advice for people with Black Heritage who may want to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering or maths? Yes, over the years I have met many highly skilled people from Black Heritage working on level jobs. My advise is always apply for the job, prepare and over prepare for the interview, seek feedback if you are unsuccessful and use that to develop and prepare for the next role. Do not be scared of failure as this is where learning and growth is.
How has your heritage influenced your career? I have always been determined to use it to my advantage and hopefully help inspire others from my heritage. I love showcasing my culture in the workplace so celebrations like Africa Day and Black History Month are always an opportunity for me to share information about my heritage and culture with.
Do you feel supported in your role? I have great support from my colleagues, management and the senior team. I always accept opportunities to connect and network with colleagues and this has allowed me to build a strong supportive network of colleagues.
What changes would you like to see to make our organisation more inclusive? We have already started great initiatives to be more inclusive and I think if we continue on this work we will be in a better place in no time. The positive action project is an example on how we care for our marginalised communities, however we are working on empowering our staff networks and listening to our communities through stakeholder engagements amongst other initiatives.
How will you be supporting Black History Month? It is quite difficult to narrow this question to just this month as it is Black History every day for me. I have been supporting the wider team in getting the key messages out both externally and internally. I am also linking to local Black Heritage community groups educating our communities and empowering each other.
What does this year's theme, "Reclaiming Narratives", mean to you? I see this as an opportunity to educate and dispel common myths about Black Heritage that we hear on a daily basis. It is an opportunity to educate about the Windrush’s positive impact on the NHS, talk about influential black and brown people in our region and celebrate similarities rather than focusing on differences.
Mary Seacole was a Scottish-Jamaican nurse who set up the British Hotel to care for injured soldiers during the Crimean War. She worked as a healer and doctor in Jamaica in the 1800s before working in Central America. During the Crimean War her request to be an army nurse, caring for injured British soldiers, was denied. Self-funding a trip from Panama to Crimea, Mary established the British Hotel behind the frontline, providing food, supplies and medical support to British soldiers, often visiting the battlefield herself, and providing care on the frontline.
One of the first known Afro-Caribbean nurses to work in Britain during the 19th Century, Annie had been born in St Vincent in the Caribbean, moving to South London with her family when she was 2 years old. She worked in London Hospital, Whitechapel for 20 years, first as a probationer nurse for two years in 1881, before becoming a full member of the nursing team in 1884. She was then made the nurse in charge of the Ophthalmic ward in 1888, where she continued working for another 1901, where she became known as Nurse Ophthalmic due to her skill and care in treating patients with eye conditions. At the time of her passing, the matron in charge said of Brewer that, "With her quick intelligence, she became very skillful in the treatment of ‘eyes’ and her kindness to the old people who passed through her hands during this period was unwearied."
Born in Jamaica, Harold moved to Britain where he studied medicine at King's College London. He graduated top of his class in 1910 but was denied work due to racial prejudices, causing him to establish his own medical practice in Peckham.
Harold was also a prominent civil rights activist, and was credited to overturning the Special Restriction Order of 1925, which was a discriminatory measure that provided subsidies to shipping companies who only employed British Nationals, and required mariners of other nationalities to register with the police. This Order resulted in many Black and Asian British nationals being made redundant, due to the lack of proof of their identity. As a result, Harold founded and presided over the League of Coloured* People (LCP) in 1931, which focused on getting rid of racial restrictions within British workplaces, social lives and housing, and improving race relations in Britain. With the work Harold led within the LCP, the Order was finally revoked in 1942.
In addition, Harold was also a community doctor during the Second World Wat, with historians noting that he was the first doctor on scene following a Peckham bombing during the Blitz and saving numerous lives.
*We recognise that this is often considered outdated language, which some may find offensive or inappropriate, and the term has only been used in the context of historical accuracy.
Dr Charles Drew was an African American, physician, surgeon and scientist who pioneered the science behind blood transfusions, with his research and techniques helping to save thousands of lives during World War II and beyond. His doctoral research broke new ground on the collection and storage of blood and in 1939, on request of the Blood for Britain (BFB) program, he came to England to establish blood banks for the was effort. By the time the programme ended in 1941, BfB processed more than 5000litres of plasma. Charles work went on to become the founding basis of the American Red Cross program to establish a national blood banking scheme. Appointed Assistant Director of the program, Charles went on to create bloodmobiles, mobile blood collection sites. His pioneering techniques helped save thousands of lives. Despite this, prejudice still existed and Charles resigned in 1942 from his position after the armed forces ruled that the blood of African Americans could be accepted but would require separate storage from that of white individuals.
Monica was the first Jamaican woman to become a fellow of The Royal College of Surgeons of England. Born in Jamaica in 1926, she went on to study medicine at the Royal Free Hospital in London on a Jamaican government scholarship. After qualifying, she held a series of posts as house surgeon and house physician, and served in Brighton, the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital and the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital. She passed the FRCS exam in 1962 and returned to Jamaica where she served as a senior registrar and was made surgeon to the Children's and Kingston Public Hospitals a year later. During the unrest in Kingston in the 1960s, she worked tirelessly to treat gunshot and machete wounds, saving countless lives while working close to danger, before eventually returning to the UK where she worked as a clinical assistant in the accident and emergency departments of Royal Northern and Whittington Hospitals, before retiring in 1988.
Dame Elizabeth Anionwu started out as an NHS school nurse assistant in Wolverhampton when she was 16. Continuing her studies, she became a nurse, health visitor, and tutor, working with black and ethnic minority communities in London. In the 1970s, she travelled to the United States to study counselling for sickle cell and thalassemia centres, as these courses were unavailable in the UK at the time. Working with Dr Milica Brozovic, Dame Elizabeth helped create the UK's first sickle-cell and thalassemia counselling centre in Brent in 1979, a model for over 30 other centres across Britain.
