Black History Month - Mrs Betty Campbell

I AM Wales Podcast

Press Release - Black History Wales
For further information, please contact Lisa Gardener, Marketing & Communications Manager for Race Council Cymru & Black History Wales on 077863 77064 or [e-mail].
Born in Cardiff in 1934, from a Welsh Mother and Jamaican Father, Elizabeth Campbell became a school teacher in 1963. In the early 1970s, Betty raised her profile by becoming the nation’s first black Head Teacher with her post at Mount Stuart Primary in Butetown.

She was also becoming known outside of Wales as an important authority on education and a leading academic.

Her contribution to the world of education was noted when later she was invited to be part in the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Commission on Education. The commission produced many papers on education including the well-received book ‘Learning to Succeed’, which included examples of excellent practice at Mount Stuart Primary School.

Pupils who attended Mount Stuart Primary under Betty’s guidance soon discovered that every month was Black History Month as the curriculum included wherever possible,references to and examples of Black people’s experiences and positive contribution to British society.

Betty herself has said: “When I was a head in my school I looked at Black History, the Caribbean, Africa and slavery and the effects. That was just a junior school. But there were people that said, ‘You should not be teaching that’. But why not? It happened. Children should be made aware.

Even now I have ex-pupils in their 60s saying, ‘Thanks for the Black History that you taught us’. What should come out is that you can eventually rise up from these depths.”

It’s no coincidence that a number of children left Mount Stuart with a reading age of 13 and above.

This surely shows that when we engage and empower children, we inculcate a sense of belonging and significance, they can go onto succeed.

During the 1980s Betty became a member of the Board of BBC Wales, overseeing editorial and production issues. In 2003, Betty was made an honorary fellow of UWIC for services to education and community life, for which she was also awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Betty has also stirred up local politics representing Butetown for both Labour and as an independent. She was anexceptional community activist who tirelessly dedicated her life to the education of young people, continuing to be anactive advocate for the people of Butetown even after her retirement, continuing to run her Saturday classes for local young people and planning workshops for Black History Month.

In 2015, Betty was presented with her lifetime achievement award by Kebba Manneh, chair of Unison Cymru Wales’ Black Members Group, for her lifetime contribution to Black History in Education in Wales.

It’s been said that Black History Month in the UK, can be traced back to trips, class assemblies and workshops organised by Mrs Campbell in 1973. Forging the way ahead for Black History Wales 365, where Black History is taught and celebrated not just annually, but throughout the year.