Black History Month

This year’s theme for Black History Month is Reclaiming Narratives.

Black people haven’t always been recognised for their contributions to art, literature, business, sport, politics and more in the past. This year’s theme is about correcting historical inaccuracies and telling the untold stories of the achievements of black people in the UK and around the world.

Below we celebrate the experiences and the contributions of some of the black staff and volunteers across The Air Ambulance Service.

Hayley’s Experience

To be given a specific period within the year where black history, black excellence and black successes can be remembered and shared, just shows how far we have come from the times of silence and shame. To be given a platform where we can openly share encourages open communication. This year it encourages for the truth to be told.

Food and Music are significant cultural contributions that Black people have made to British society. Being very everyday cultural differences that also helped integration in the 50’s and 60’s  – there seemed to be a blanket of interests that was shared. People came together over food and music in houses late at night, we called them Blues Parties, black people, black food, black music, the smooth dancing that they brought with them, not to mention the dress code, sharp with a shine.  What’s not to love about it, so inevitably in time you saw the underground integration happening in these spots, even the entwinement of the two races romantically. That’s how my parents met.

Maya Angelou was my first independent interest when growing up, I became obsessed after doing a book report in English at 12/13, I know why the caged bird sings, that book was so creased and graffitied with my own highlight and notes it was like a colouring book, I will never forget Mrs West,  who saw the attachment I had with the book and stopped me from getting a detention from the librarian.  A 50 year age gap, yet I found it comforting, that parts of her life resonated with mine, she became instantly relatable. She had a voice, something I also had, trauma can do that to you, make you want what’s fair and right for everyone. She was part of the civil rights movement and brought people together through her writing and arts. I loved Malcom X book, a story of trying to obtain what’s right, but I didn’t find the violence fair, Maya wanted what was right and fair.

My favourite quotes of Hers that I have raised my children up on is – Do the best you can until you know better, then when you know better, do better. I call my daughter Maya.

Inspiration about Black History comes from my grandparents, it comes from their struggles their truths their outputs and their faith but mainly because they believed in me and loved me.

My grandparents were form Saint Kitts and Venezuela, we are descendants from a Irish potato farmers daughter who had red curly hair, my great great grandma, you can trace our name Hendrickson, back to Ireland and Spain.

My Grandad didn’t have much but my Grandma’s family was very very well respected on the island. Faith was very important to them and has played a big factor throughout my own life.

My Grandad came to England in the Windrush era, alone, moved to Bedford as it was much more accepting of black people, black families had to share houses and found it hard to get work, outside in the community was difficult for them, but inside their homes they relied on their culture and faith for comfort, in time they slowly began to build little black communities, but opened there arms to other ethnic minorities as well, especially the Asian community.

I still have this community around me, strong black people who arrived with nothing but built something, the elder community is dwindling and their stories along with them. Luckily for me I nagged and nagged constantly for tales of back home, I have letters, pictures, I have my grandads very first passport, priceless reminders of the sacrifices they made for me, constant reminders of the strength that I need for my children.

My Grandma did join my Grandad in the UK after 3 years, they settled in Northampton as well as bring my dad and his brother, she even brought her neighbours 2 children over with her on the boat. These two children were named in her passport, strange how this was allowed, but more than anything it showed the trust and faith that the black people from the small islands shared and the lengths they would go to help each other.

5 kids later,  11 grandchildren 16 great grandchildren 1 great great grandchild – a long marriage, long faith, their own home they owned,  2 land ownerships back home in St Kitts – they left this earth, and I was devastated and lost but etched  with their morals, their fight, some faith, but mostly engraved as a strong and proud,  Hendrickson who knows who she is and where she came from.

Growing up with a white mum and a black dad limited people who look like me was difficult at times the names I was called would be gasped at now,  but then they were normal I wasn’t seen as white but I certainly wasn’t seen as black by the black folks, I was that mixed race kid who was in between two races to the outside world but knew exactly who I was on the inside, my parents made sure of that,

Other races can show support during Black History Month and beyond by being open and ask questions. Be interested, and then independently grow that knowledge and awareness further.

If I’m to be honest, a month doesn’t define a time that’s acceptable be open and honest and interested in other people, this should be natural to us all, all the time.