Len Garrison/Black Cultural Archives

The late Len Garrison was a man of great vision, energy and purpose. In his life and work, he showed total commitment to building a monument in celebration of the presence of Black people in Britain. As founder of the Black Cultural Archives and the ACER (Afro-Caribbean Education Resource) Project, he has left a very valuable legacy. Zhana was privileged to interview him before his untimely death. Defining a Black Identity I am from Jamaica. I came to England to join my parents when I was about eleven, in the early Fifties. One was quickly caught up in this whole trauma of trying to adjust and adapt, being one of two Black boys in a white school and all that that entails. Even up to now, when I hear people say they were in a minority of one or two in a white school, I don't think many people can understand or appreciate what that meant. It was an enormous burden.

There was no language to explain racism at that time. People did not accept that there was such a thing. So you had to carry this enormous burden of experience of people mocking you. Whenever you went to anybody, they would say you were making a fuss. Enormous trauma every day. All sorts of things - I had so many experiences of it, which leaves a scar on you. People say you have a chip on your shoulder. And you are carrying these things. Whereas, today, you find people not only getting sympathy, but they are even prepared to go to court to get redress for the injury for much less than that. Some of the situations that I went through, I'll never forget them.