Extending the plan
1974 – 1984
I am pleased to post my 1974 -1984 Decade as 2024 Black History Month (also known as African History month) comes to a close in the UK. Newham Council Black History Month theme for this year fits well with my own story celebrating 60 years serving the East London community.
The theme Reclaiming Narratives signifies the Councils dedication this year to addressing historical inaccuracies and seizing control of narratives by highlighting stories, allegories, and histories.
Due to my growing family and a changing environment I took on more responsibility in my life. This galvanised me to do better for my family and the community around me especially supporting Young people.
My venture into self employmet did not provide me with the financial success I expected but gave me many valuable learning experiences.
I returned to engineering in 1976 and started evening classes to gain some educational qualifications at West ham College (now Newham College). Seeing as I did not complete my formal education in Barbados, I felt this was a way for me to better my chances at getting a well paid job in the future.
One winter evening in January 1976 on my way to evening classes I was racially attacked in Vicarage lane E15. The victim of a Terror trail as described by the local newspaper. They quoted me as saying – The victim Mr Harrington Cumberbatch of Clova Road Forest Gate said “The van mounted the pavement, narrowly missing two children who ran away screaming. A man jumped out and tried to hit me over the head with a crank handle, but I fended the blow off with my arm. Then he got back in the van shouting and swearing and they drove off. (See article below)
I did not participate in sports after I left the buses, however I did enjoy the success of the West Indies Cricket team and made sure when they were touring England to give them my support. Especially any test match at the the Oval cricket ground.
The 80s was a great year for West Indian cricket, when they won all 5 test’s on the 1984 tour.
Captain of the WI team Sir Clive Llyod stated ‘We shall only call our victories a wash instead of a Black or a Whitewash’
I also enjoyed football and attended a few West Ham home games at The Boleyn in Upton Park, East Ham.
However, was put off by the behaviour of Westham supporters who made monkey noises even to their own Black players, not that they were many. Throwing bananas onto the field plus other remarks did not make me feel comfortable.
In 1978 a Sikh work colleague invited my family and I to spend a day at his Gudawra in Barking. The memory of that visit remains one of my most treasured experiences. Being brought up as a Christian, this was the first time I got a physical insight into another religion and culture.
After a warm welcome, we took off our shoes, covered our heads and joined in a communal meal. A guided tour by the Gudawra archivist explaining the history of the religion and the relevance of the Khalsa.
The Guru Granth (the Sikhs Holy book) was read throughout the day, before the afternoon entertainment, which was followed by announcements including support for start up businesses and a special charity call for a building expansion. What stood out was the kind way we were treated. I admired their humbleness and their approach to develop their community, politically, economically and socially.
What it looked like in 1975 when I attended.
The original building.
What it looks like today. You can see the original building to the right.
I was one of the founding members of the Newham Afro Caribbean Youth Association set up to provide supplementary youth provisions and develop race consciousness. The Chair went on to become the first worker of the Newham Black Performing and Visual Arts Workshop.
Here is a Fund raising appeal to send 3 young people to the Black Arts and Cultural Festival held in Nigeria in 1977.
Education
The British schooling system has been a challenge for many West Indian families. School age children who came from the caribbean to be with their parents here experienced their own kind of culture shock and the young people born here found themselves victims of low expectations. The 1977 House of Commons Select Committee on Race Relations and Immigration highlighted widespread racism and had recommended that the government should institute a high level and independent inquiry into the causes.
In the neighbouring borough of Redbridge there was a report commissioned and titled ‘Cause for Concern’, Parents took action and opened their own supplementary school. The school was led by my school class mate the late Phil Perry and my second daughter attended, she later attended East London Black Women Organisation ELBWO’s supplementary school, where I also helped out when needed.
Also, here in Newham a local teacher Grenadian born Bernard Coard wrote his book ‘How the West Indian child is made educationally sub normal in the British School System’.
I got the opportunity to be trained as a part time Youth Worker for Newham Youth Service. After working at the West Ham Youth Centre and the Hartley Centre for a number of years I did a number part time courses.
1979 was a busy year in British politics. As party agent for Newham North West Continuency Park ward I had two elections to contend with that kept me busy.
As a mature student studying full time for two years took me out of my comfort zone and opened me to learning like I had never experienced before. It not only prepared me for a career in Youth and Community work but also felt like a delayed Rites of Passage. (It’s never too late to learn!)
My first post after college was with the Newham Local Education Authority as Deputy Warden of Eastlea Centre. I was the first Black full time Youth worker they employed and was interviewd in a committee room at the old West ham Town Hall now called Old Town Hall Stratford.
The first contact I had with the Principal Youth Officer after my appointment was an eye opener. Here I was newly qualified and ready to affect change and much to my surprise he asked me ‘When are you leaving?’ To which I politely replied ‘When I am ready!’.
This began an interesting relationship which I will say more about in my 1984 – 1994 Decade. Eastlea Youth Centre now an Independent Learning Centre and based in the prescints of Eastlea Community School, Canning town, East London.
The centre mainly provided a Junior and Senior Youth club programme, which was made up of mainly white young people. It also ran a lunch club for Eastlea school pupils which was popular with Black pupils. As Deputy Warden I was faced with many challenges and on reflection it felt like E R Brathwaite experiences in the book ‘To Sir with Love’. Only that mine was in an informal educational setting.
In those days part of the induction package for Full time youth workers was a period of non mamagerial supervision. I was fortunate that Mr Winston Pinder a Black Youth officer in Islington kindly agreed to be my supervisor. I was truly tested in the post. I was the only Black staff member, I remember the badminton instructor promptly resigned upon my arrival and some of the young Black people were confused about my presence at the centre.
The Warden resigned after my first year and after many obstacles I successful interviewed for the Warden’s post as they were called at the time.
In 1982 I help form NALGO Black Members Committee due to our voice not being heard in the main committee’s. Thanks to the Convenor Monty Maision and Adminstrator Ratna Dutt for their untiring efforts.
Here is the front page of one of our newsletters. Which gives some background on why we needed to organise.
An article from one of our newsletters featuring a Black Mothers Plea !
A Black Mothers Plea!
Social life in the Caribbean / West Indian community.
Individuals and organisations from various islands regularly provided entertainment. We attended big Independence dances, boat trips, regular dances, concerts, domino tournaments and the big family sea side coach trips. Where halls were hired to accommodate the people and all their food baskets. Plus, popular sound systems provided the music.
We held our first conference in 1983.
Working with colleagues from the voluntary sector and P/T youth workers, the conference went ahead. A few white colleagues even kindly volunteered to provide security outside of the venue since we were threatened with disruption.
Newham supported the Greater London Councils’ (also known as the GLC) anti racist year intiative by funding local projects.
The first of two educational confercences the training group held in 1984.
(Click to enlarge images)
The training group worked closely with Newham Monitoring Project and some of our members also served on their management committee.
The second educational conference we organised was Afrika – Mother of civilisation a powerful and radical event featuring talks from Community leaders, academics and distinguished professionals. The Newham Black Workers Training Group believed it was very important to put on a series of lectures. Firstly, to raise the consciousness of the general community in Newham, especially young Black people on the issue of racism and Afrika’s contribution to civillisation as seen from a Black perspective. Secondly, we regard these lectures as a positive contribution to the Anti-Racist Year programme.
Thirdly, the lectures provided the opportunity for deeper appreciation of our history as well as contributing ideas for future training programmes.
Please take a moment to read through a summary of the lectures.
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Some of the activites that I was involved in with other black voluntary organisations during Newham’s Anti Racist year of 1984.
Here is a bit of satire from NALGO Black Committee on the GLC’ 1984 Anti Racist Year.
The Year of the R.A.T – A May Day tale by RAT SHED MOUSE – TY.
Read or enjoy the narration.
The Year of the R.A.T – A May Day tale
My Very Important Events of the Decade. VIE’s
I Qualified as a full time Youth and Community worker.
I became an orphan with the loss of my Dad.
I was informed by my beloved Brother through an International telegram (Pictured here) which was the quickest way of sending messages at the time.
I became a Father again with the birth of my 3rd daughter Nailah Sharifa.
International telegram
A little taster of 1984 to 1994…
The Eastlea Barbados Project for International Youth Year 1985.
