Black Politicians — Black British Hidden Stories
1987 marked an essential step forward for Black British political representation
Originally published on Jamii for Black History Month 2018
On June 11 1987, history was made as three black MPs were elected to parliament in the British general election for the first time. Paul Boateng, Bernie Grant and Diane Abbott — the first black female MP — all won seats and so marked an essential step forward for Black British political representation.
A story beginning with the political and social context of the era, trade union and grassroots activism were rising up in response to growing wealth disparities, racism and police brutality. Black political activity at council level was increasing, leading to a more powerful network of change-makers in the black community; Diane Abbott and Paul Boateng were founding members of Black Sections, a movement that galvanised black self-organisation and put pressure on the Labour Party, which depended considerably on the black vote, to tackle racism.
In this context, it is no surprise that 1987 also happened to be the year of Britain’s first Black History Month. But even before then, Lord David Pitt was the first black man to contend for a parliamentary seat when he stood to be MP of Hampstead in 1959. Born in Grenada in 1913, he spent his life campaigning for the rights of the Black British community; although he was never a member of the House of Commons, he became the first chair of the Greater London Council in 1974. After Pitt was appointed to the House of Lords in 1975, he played a central role in the 1976 Race Relations Act.
The 2017 election saw more BAME MPs elected than ever before, with 52 representatives including four new black women: Kemi Badenoch, Marsha de Cordova, Fiona Onasanya and Eleanor Smith. Dawn Butler is the Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities and last year founded the Parliamentary Black Caucus, while Diane Abbott (pictured above) still serves the Labour party as Shadow Home Secretary. Labour MP for Tottenham David Lammy takes a leading role in alerting our government to issues pertinent of the Black British community. In April he made a powerful speech to the House of Commons denouncing the Windrush scandal and reminding Britain of its colonial slave trade past; he has also condemned Oxford University for admitting low numbers of black students and continues to be vocal about Grenfell Tower.
The tide is clearly changing on a parliament disproportionately low on black representation. Since 1987 black politicians have made headway into government championing causes that affect the black community, setting a remarkable example in times when the country has tried to resist diversity or ignore inequalities.