Bernie Grant - People's Champion

This link opens in a new window - A powerful orator - Opposing the Gulf war - addressing 200,000 in Hyde park.

The 1990's

The 1990's saw Mrs Thatcher still in power, and the continuing repositioning of the Labour Party. The decade began with the Gulf War which Bernie vigorously opposed. Britain saw record levels of unemployment, coupled with privatization of public services, the introduction of the hated Poll Tax, and a renewed emphasis on law and order, all of which disproportionately affected black communities. There were a mounting number of black deaths in custody, and growing evidence of police racism, evidenced especially by the failure of the investigation into the death of Stephen Lawrence. With the introduction of the Single European market in 1992, new trade rules threatened impoverishment for African and Caribbean countries, and were seen by many as establishing a xenophobic "Fortress Europe", with strict immigration rules to keep out non-European citizens.

This link opens in a new window - Bernie founded the Standing Conference on Racial Equality in Europe in 1990.

Internationally, he campaigned against racism in Europe and took up the concerns of the many communities in Haringey - visiting Ireland, Turkey and Cyprus. Early campaigns included campaigning against racism in Europe and he travelled extensively to link up with black communities in other European countries to mobilize against the rise of racism and xenophobia.

This link opens in a new window - Jamaican Blitz

He exposed discrimination against Jamaican visitors and fought against the effects of stricter immigration laws on local families.

This link opens in a new window - Vauxhall Election Speech

One of many occasions when Bernie put principle before Party. In this Parliamentary speech, he angered his own party by publicly rebuking Labour for failing to select a black candidate in the inner city seat of Vauxhall -one of many parliamentary speeches held in the collection.

This link opens in a new window - Bernie Withe Nelson Mandela

'A place in history' - He saw common cause between the struggles of black people and home and abroad. He travelled with Rev Jesse Jackson to greet Nelson Mandela on the day of his release. An original handbill circulated in Capetown publicizing Mandela's famous town hall address is preserved in the collection as is Bernie Grant's programme and invitation to the Inauguration of President Mandela in Pretoria, 1994.

This link opens in a new window - Mrs. Thatcher's letter to Bernie

On his return he persuaded even Mrs Thatcher to help the emerging new South Africa.

This link opens in a new window - Campainers for the Tottenham three

Miscarriages of justice involving the black community were commonplace. Campaigns for justice for the Tottenham 3, convicted of the murder of PC Blakelock, were a constant theme of Bernie's work. After 7 years the evidence against the Tottenham three was shown to have been falsified.

This link opens in a new window - He represented Britain at the historic Abuja conference as Africa called for Compensation for Enslavement and Colonisation (Reparations).

He was elected with an increased majority in the General Election 1992 and began to campaign on the issue of reparation for Africa. An early day motion in the House of Commons attracted over 70 MP's in support of his motion on Reparations.

This link opens in a new window - Bernie Grant with Joy Gardners Mother and sister

Fortress Europe brought tighter immigration controls and abuses of human rights, illustrated by the horrifying death of Jamaican deportee Joy Gardner. The death of Joy Gardner in a brutal attempt to deport her provoked outrage, and a campaign led by Bernie to bring the Police officers involved to justice. As anger mounted on the streets, the Metropolitan Police sought Bernie Grant's co-operation to calm the situation.

This link opens in a new window - Bernie clarifies his position

Hard times in Britain caused many to return to the Caribbean, but his call for financial support for those lacking the means to do so, was willfully misunderstood in some quarters. He went on to set the record straight in Parliament.

He launched the African Reparations Movement (UK) at a packed meeting in the House of Commons and drew large audiences on a national speaking tour. Some tapes of these speeches survive in the collection as do a large quantity of material relating to ARM (UK).

Brixton Reparations Speech, Nov 1993

This link opens in a new window - Building Links with Africa and the Caribbean in the 1990s

His growing reputation led to the award of a honorary doctorate by Pace University in New York, 1993.

Bernie Grant's reputation made him a vital connection for African and Caribbean causes in the UK Parliament. He travelled widely as nations sought him out to take up their cause in Europe.

This link opens in a new window - World Development Movement once-off publication 'Bananas'

The Caribbean was always close to his heart and he became an advocate for justice for the region in times of trouble. For example, in relation to the threat to the Banana trade and to the crisis after the volcanic eruption on Montserrat.

The economic empowerment of black people was a key theme of his work and the records show his involvement in sponsoring a number of initiatives. Examples include his critical role in establishing an IT center in the townships of the Free State in South Africa (which now bears his name); the establishment of the Global Trade Centre to foster economic links between black business at home and abroad.

This link opens in a new window - Bernie with Pensioners - An example of the many local causes championed by Bernie.

This link opens in a new window - An early day motion proposed by Bernie Grant

1990's domestic cases
He continued to take up many local causes throughout ranging from tuberculosis to the closure of local post offices and was particularly popular amongst local pensioners who he regularly hosted at the House of Commons. A particular issue arose from his insistence on the ethnic monitoring of the discriminatory use of Stop and Search procedures by the police.

This link opens in a new window - ARM Repossession Notice

"Tackling cultural imperialism" - As part of the reparations campaign, he demanded the return of Africa's cultural treasures stolen during colonization and confronted leading cultural institutions which claimed ownership of them.

This link opens in a new window - Letter to Blair

This link opens in a new window - Blair Response

In his own words:
"Black people have rich history and culture and tradition. Our history has been wiped out, and re-written to suit the white world. Enslavement and colonisation took away our culture, our history and our languages�and our young people don't know their roots".

After the 1997 Labour victory, he hoped for a new era in race relations in this letter to the new Labour Prime Minister and his appointment to the Select Committee on International Development at last gave him a new opportunities to press for global justice - and to make new contacts in Africa and elsewhere.

Sadly however, his diabetic condition worsened in 1998 and heart surgery followed. He insisted on attending the debate on the report into the death of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence in Feb 1999.

This link opens in a new window - press release re Stephen Lawrence

In 1999, the House of Commons listened intently as an ailing statesman gave his stern verdict on the Stephen Lawrence enquiry.

Now desperately ill, his last Parliamentary intervention, in characteristic style, demands a formal apology for slavery of the British Prime Minister.

Excerpt from 1993 Speech:
"We want an apology and an acknowledgement from the British Government because this is the country that was at the centre of the slave trade. Why do we want it? Because we are still suffering today as a result of colonization and enslavement - racial discrimination grew out of them. To justify the cruelty they inflicted on our people, they had to make out we were uncivilised and inferior brutes, who would benefit from subjugation".