Black History Month Message from David Lammy

As the son of West Indian immigrants and the Member of Parliament for one of the most ethnically diverse constituencies in the country it is a privilege to be asked to write an introduction for Black History month.

There is no doubt that we are living in very troubling times indeed. In the face of the spectre of terrorism writ large in Europe, the worst refugee crisis we have seen for generations and a political climate in which populism is in the ascendancy the need to cherish our common humanity and recognise the contributions made by our minority communities is more important than ever before.

Almost 300 languages are spoken in my constituency, and I firmly believe that having such a rich and diverse ethnic mosaic of people and communities that all proudly call our country their home is at the very heart of what makes Britain great.

As the son of West Indian immigrants and the Member of Parliament for one of the most ethnically diverse constituencies in the country it is a privilege to be asked to write an introduction for Black History month, and I am delighted to support and endorse this vital opportunity to explore and take pride in our history and culture.

After the tumultuous events of this year, we must come together and recognise that we have far more than in common than that which divides us. Black History Month therefore represents a fantastic chance to celebrate the rich and diverse tapestry of cultures and ethnicities that make up our national identity.

There is no doubt that we are living in troubling times and the EU referendum campaign and Brexit vote has unleashed a wave of intolerance, xenophobia and racist abuse that is absolutely abhorrent and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. I simply don’t recognise as my home a country in which a black BBC presenter is racially abused in the street and teachers write to the Education Secretary to warn about a spate in racist incidents taking place in schools.

In the face of a despicable spike in hate crime, it is crucial that as a community and as a country we are able to appreciate and commemorate the many vital contributions to our that have been made by members of Black and Ethnic Minority communities. We must come together to proudly stand for unity and firmly against division and intolerance.

This year special tribute must also be paid to Barack and Michelle Obama, who will be leaving the White House in January after eight years. The election of an African American as the forty fourth President of the United States was a momentous occasion and Barack Obama leaves behind a rich legacy both in terms of all he has achieved in office and also as a shining example to our young people that they too can achieve their dreams and kick down doors that may previously have been closed to them.

With the passing of Muhammad Ali and the artist Prince we may have lost two of the great Black sporting and cultural icons of our age this year, but I am sure that in communities all over the globe new generations will emerge with boundless talent and a determination to make their own mark on the world.

I sincerely hope that across the country Black History Month is embraced in homes, schools, communities and places of work. Once again, I pay tribute to all those who work hard to make the month such an integral part of our cultural calendar by organising a range of fantastic events and I encourage everybody to get involved and participate in any way that they can.

With my very best wishes to you all for October.

David Lammy
Member of Parliament for Tottenham