Eighties

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1980s_image

1981 Founds Black Trade Unionists Solidarity Movement, becoming its development worker 1983-4

Conference flyer
Conference flyer
1983 Founder member of Labour Party Black Sections Movement.

Black Sections newsletter
Black Sections newsletter
Demands recognition of Black Sections at Labour Party Conference.
Organises support for year long Miners Strike.
1982 – 4 Supports New Jewel Movement in Grenada

Protest flyer issued by the New Jewel Movement
Protest flyer issued by the New Jewel Movement
1985 Equal Opportunities Officer, London Borough of Newham
1985 – 87 Elected Leader of Haringey Council, becoming first Black Leader in Europe. Attracts national attention as radically reforms council services.

Victory photograph following election as Haringey Council Leader
Victory photograph following election as Haringey Council Leader
1985 Broadwater Farm disturbances. Demonised in the tabloid press for his defence of alienated youth who suffered police racism.

Bernie Grant and opposition leader Neil Kinnock at the Memorial of Cynthia Jarrett, Nov 1986
Bernie Grant and opposition leader Neil Kinnock at the Memorial of Cynthia Jarrett, Nov 1986

Dorothy Kuya Report
Dorothy Kuya’s Report into Media Reporting of Blackwater Farm Riots
1986 Wins increased majority at local elections, despite adverse national media coverage
1987 Elected to Parliament, with Paul Boateng, Diane Abbott, and Keith Vaz, as the first Black MPs of modern times.

1987 electoral victory
1987 electoral victory
Attends State Opening in African dress.

Bernie Grant in African Dashiki at a State opening of Parliament. Photograph by Sharron Wallace
Bernie Grant in African Dashiki at a State opening of Parliament. Photograph by Sharron Wallace
Member of National Executive, Anti-Apartheid Campaign, speaking at ANC World Conference in Tanzania
Begins 4 year campaign for release of Tottenham Three, wrongfully convicted of murder of a policeman in Broadwater Farm disturbances.

Campaigners for the Tottenham Three 'On their way to submitting a petition to Parliament'
Campaigners for the Tottenham Three ‘On their way to submitting a petition to Parliament’
1988 Founds Parliamentary Black Caucus, developing links with the US Congressional Black Caucus

Invitation to the launch of the Parliamentary Black Caucus
Invitation to the launch of the Parliamentary Black Caucus
Speaking visits to France, St Kitts, Dublin and Turkey
1989 Hosts visit of 15 US Black Congress Members to UK

Congressional Black Caucus Commemorative booklet
Congressional Black Caucus Commemorative booklet
Launches The Black Parliamentarian Magazine

Autographed first issue of 'The Black Parliamentarian'
Autographed first issue of ‘The Black Parliamentarian’
Establishes Round Table Conference of Black Politicians and Academics
Castigates political parties for failing to field black candidates in Vauxhall by-election

 

 

 

Inventory of the Bernie Grant Archive