Bernie Grant - People's Champion

Young at heart

Bernie Grant took a special interest in the upcoming generation and reached out to youth of all cultural backgrounds, locally and internationally. He was praised for always being willing to listen and give of his time. Bernie Grant enabled many school children the opportunity to visit the House of Commons and encouraged young leaders of the future in both words and actions.

In addition to defending youth against police harassment, Bernie Grant took on a more far-reaching role in the fight against racial stereotyping of young people, both at home and abroad. He often looked to arts and culture as a means of generating new opportunities for youth in society and hoped that this would work in tandem with creating a more positive representation of black identity.

This link opens in a new window - Bernie Grant with British Rap artists B.R.O.T.H.E.R

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Photograph of Bernie Grant with British Rap artists B.R.O.T.H.E.R (Black Rhyme Organisation to help Equal Rights) in August 1989.

Bernie Grant, in his capacity as a Member of Parliament and the Parliamentary Black Caucus, made a special guest appearance on the 'all-star anti-apartheid single' for the group's record.

This link opens in a new window - Bernie Grant playing Cricket

This link opens in a new window - Bernie Grant With the Jewish Community

This link opens in a new window - Bernie Grant with the West indians

This link opens in a new window - Bernie Grant with the Asian Community

Black and white photographs by Henry Jacobs

One Voice: Many Stories

This link opens in a new window - Letter from the Islamic Defence Council

Through his work on a variety of causes, Bernie Grant sought to establish a mutual respect and common cause between the many minority ethnic communities in Britain. This is vividly documented within the archive - communities such as the African, Caribbean, Asian, Irish, Central American, Cypriot and Kurdish to name but a few. He also stood side by side with those whose religious beliefs were under attack.

This link opens in a new window - The Bernie Grant Funeral

On 18 April 2000 thousands of people lined the streets of Haringey to follow the last journey of a charismatic political leader. Bernie Grant had been the Labour leader of Haringey Council during the politically turbulent late 1980s and early 1990s, and went on to become the Member of Parliament for Tottenham, a multi-cultural area of north London. The 4000 people who attended the service at Alexandra Palace made this one of the largest ever public tributes at a funeral of a black person in Britain.

By the time of his death, the activist of the 1970s and 1980s was seen as a statesman of rare integrity. Cabinet Ministers, scores of MP's, ambassadors and high commissioners, Scotland Yard Officers and most notable black British figures attended the funeral at Alexandra Palace. His family were joined by members of the public, black and white in equal measure, united in a multi-cultural celebration of his life. Locally, Alexandra Palace was known as the People's Palace: it was a fitting place for the many who admired his tireless struggle against injustice to unite in a multi-cultural celebration of Bernie Grant's life.

This link opens in a new window - This letter of condolence from Bernie's niece is one of many that stand testament to the fact that Bernie Grant will endure in the hearts and minds of people of all ages and diverse backgrounds.

Countless expressions of condolence are held within the archive ranging from community organizations and global, national and local leaders, to letters from numerous individuals. This letter of condolence from Bernie's niece is one of many that stand testament to the fact that Bernie Grant will endure in the hearts and minds of people of all ages and diverse backgrounds.