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'... a springboard for future sustainable change' - Black History Month 2020
As we celebrate Black History Month this October, we ask retired superintendent Dr Leroy Logan, MBE what Black History Month means to him.
It has been six months since we witnessed a resurgence of Black Lives Matter (BLM), due to the killing of George Floyd that has created a movement across the world; in particular the US and the UK. Consequently it is incumbent on all of us, regardless of our background or ethnicity, to ensure it is a movement and not just a moment, by our personal proactivity in challenging racial prejudices and promote greater equality, leading to sustainable social equity. Notwithstanding macro organisations have been in a similar obligation, in addition to ensuring they do not have any skeletons in the cupboard linked with slavery, compelling many to enhance their corporate social responsibility focus by supporting voluntary sector organisations that challenge injustices and inequalities.
Even though every day should be celebrating black history, I believe 2020 Black History Month (BHM) has greater relevance and poignance than quite a few Octobers in the past, due to the BLM movement and the impact it has had. Therefore I hope BHM is not only a greater celebration but also a springboard for future sustainable change. Ultimately for me I want to see my grandchildren‘s generation living a more equitable life, without the injustices and inequalities faced by my children’s generation and of course my generation. One way of doing that is to take a leaf out of the John Lewis - former United States Democratic Representative playbook by creating or be a part of ‘Good Trouble’, to challenge and speak truth to power.
Born in 1957 to Jamaican parents, Dr Leroy Logan, MBE, is a proud Londoner, a staunch Arsenal fan, an advocate for good relationships between the police and Britain’s minority ethnic communities, a mentor to young people, and an advisor on knife crime.
His book Closing Ranks: My Life as a Cop tells of an illustrious career, giving a behind the scenes look at the workings of the Metropolitan Police.
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