Hi
Sharing details of a talk for Black History Month 2015 at BU.
Feel free to share with colleagues.
James
Race Relations Act 50 years on
Thursday, 29 October 2015 at 16:30 (GMT)
Race Relations Act 50 years on
Date: 29 October
Time: 16:30-17:30
Location: KG01, Kimmeridge House, Bournemouth University
Speaker: Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, OBE
Event Description:
Baroness Lawrence, an advocate for justice, who because of the race of her son
came into the limelight, has been effective in the change of laws in the United Kingdom. She will provide a personal perspective on her experiences, whilst reflecting on changes to UK Race Relations legislation over the last 50 years, focusing on:
- The arrival of the Windrush
- Race Relations Act 1965
- Race Relations Act 1968
- Racial discrimination: The Race Relations Act 1976
- Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000
Biography
Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, OBE was born in Jamaica and travelled
to the UK at an early age. Baroness Lawrence completed an Access course as a mature student, a starting point to embark on a BA Hon Humanities degree. Stephen, Baroness Lawrence’s first son was murdered in the first year (1993) of her course and she was left
with no choice whilst still studying, to challenge the justice system and the police because of their racist behaviour against her family.
Baroness Lawrence successfully completed her degree in 1995.
After enduring the initial bungled investigation, the acquittal
of suspects, the Macpherson Report’s findings of institutional racism and its conclusion that ‘Stephen Lawrence’s murder was simply, solely and unequivocally motivated by racism’, a measure of justice was achieved with the conviction of two suspects of Stephen’s
murder in January 2012.
Baroness Lawrence is the Founder and Life President of the Stephen
Lawrence Charitable Trust (SLCT). A Charity she set up in 1998 to give bursaries to young people who want to study architecture because her son Stephen aspired and worked towards being an Architect. The Stephen Lawrence Centre built in Stephen’s memory is
situated in Deptford in the London Borough of Lewisham and provides a broader range of the professional and vocational skills that help shape our environment.
Baroness Lawrence was appointed OBE for services to community
relations in 2003, awarded the Freedom of the Royal Borough of Greenwich in 2012 and received a life peerage in 2013, taking office in the House of Lords as a Labour Peer in October 2013. Baroness Lawrence is the only person to have carried the Olympic Torch
and Olympic flag at the London 2012 Olympics.
Baroness Lawrence OBE was admitted as an Honorary Freewoman of
the London Borough of Lewisham on 14th March 2014 in recognition of her work in seeking justice for her son, Stephen and creating a positive and dynamic legacy in his honour through the setting up of the Stephen Lawrence Centre and Charitable Trust. Baroness
Lawrence was named the number one on the Woman's Hour Power List 2014 Game Changers.
Baroness Lawrence has recently worked with Peter Neyroud CBE QPM
and Keir Starmer QC to publish the Victims Taskforce Report.