Black History Month: Reclaiming Narratives
Black History Month is an opportunity for everyone to share and celebrate the impact of Black heritage. This year’s theme of Reclaiming Narratives allows us to contribute to the collective effort to reshape Black history.
As the organisers explain, “it’s about ensuring our voices are heard, our experiences acknowledged, and our contributions celebrated”.
The theme “encourages us to shine a spotlight on the untold stories, the unsung heroes, and the everyday individuals who have made an indelible impact on our communities”.
Despite only making up four percent of the population, people from Black heritage account for 14% of the adult social care workforce. Today, in celebration of the contribution they have on the sector, we are sharing the stories of two inspiring activists.
Past: Paul Stephenson, OBE
Paul Stephenson, OBE is an activist, civil rights campaigner and a pivotal figure in British Black History.
As a young social worker, Paul Stephenson and the West Indian Development Council led the boycott of the Bristol Omnibus Company, which refused to employ Black or Asian bus drivers or conductors – this is widely known as the Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963.
Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr and Rosa Parks, the boycott lasted four months and garnered support from high-profile politicians and students at Bristol University.
Paul’s activism brought nationwide attention to racial inequality and discrimination in Britain and was key to the passing of the Race Relations Act 1965, which made racial discrimination unlawful in public places.
Paul was awarded an OBE in 2009 and in 2014 was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Bristol “for his dedication to fighting for equality and civil rights across Bristol and around the world for over 60 years”.
Present: Dominic Makuvachuma-Walker
Dominic Makuvachuma-Walker was a passionate campaigner and activist for the rights of black people in the mental health system. After surviving a racially motivated arson attack and later psychiatric detention, Dominic dedicated his life to mental health activism and social justice.
He worked for over 15 years with the National Survivor User Network (NSSUN) was a founding member of Psychiatric System Survivors Together (PSST) and managed the national black and minority ethnic mental health service user network, Catch-a-Fiya.
Dominic used his personal experience to advocate for service user centred leadership in the NHS and the Mental Health Survivor Movement.
Dominic sadly passed away earlier this year.
Looking to the future
People from Black heritage still face discrimination in their everyday working life. According to Skills for Care, Black, Asian and ethnically diverse people are 20% more likely to have experienced harassment, bullying or abuse from service users, relatives or the public in the last 12 months, compared to white social care staff.
We strive to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion throughout all of our work and believe the mental health workforce should represent the people it supports.
With Insight Education Partnership
We’re pleased to have recently partnered with a charity, With Insight Education, who empower Black heritage students to embrace their potential through mentorship and skills development programmes.
Members of our Alumni Community will be sharing their experiences as mental health social workers, broadening secondary school students’ understanding of career opportunities available to them within mental health.
There are so many more people and stories to celebrate. From key activists like Peter and Benjamin shared here, to the unsung heros amongst us who are making a difference every day.
If you haven’t already, do have a look online at the breadth of stories being shared #BlackHistoryMonth.