| Description | An interview with Lester M.B.E. BURKE, a married man with three sons, two daughters, who is a Social work manager, born in Barbados and now living in Birmingham. Lester M.B.E. BURKE’s father was a Bank worker, born in Barbados and his mother a Housewife born in Barbados. In the interview, he talks about …
'LESTER BURKE MS2255/2/076 Logged by Lorraine Blakemore
01
I was born in Barbados….on 6th June, 1994…. Father was in the army, Mother a housewife. Grandparents looked after the family. Describes grandparents' character and lifestyle.
2.57 Experience of attending church in Barbados.
02
Education in Barbados.
50” Undertook a carpentry apprenticeship at the age of 16.
1.12 Parents separated when he was a teenager.
03
Left school at 15 in 1959 and arrived in England in October, 1960.
Disruption for family.
3.08 Disappointed in the reality of being in England.
3.56 Story about attending a (C of E) church service in Saltley on Christmas Day 1960. Poor turnout of people.
04
Story continued.
2.10 Describes his uncles in England.
05
Enrolled as a nurse at Rubery Hill Hospital at the age of 18. Transport was inadequate to get from home to work.
1.37 In 1962 joined the British Army.
1.51 Story about sitting a test during a job interview and experiencing prejudice.
06
Continued.
2.17 Went to the army building in Great Charles Street. Sent to Shropshire. Describes the environment.
07
Very few black recruits in the army.
2.03 Army routine.
2.52 Endured racist name calling. Gives examples.
08
Helped some colleagues to write letters.
Continued to attend church.
2.02 Part of training occurred in Wales.
3.23 I used to go to church in the camp and I remember these guys would wait until round the corner and throw snow, and I’d get into my bed at night and the sheets were full of snow….they’d put coal in the bed…
4.18 In Barbados you were never taught about racism….you mixed with blacks and whites…
09
Attending Church of England.
I never felt welcome. It was like a no-go area for me. The reverend had a tradition of walking down the aisle and spoke only to individuals. There was no connection there…I was so taken up with what he was talking about that I didn’t focus on the racism of the church….you look back on it now and see how racism was so indoctrinated in the whole of society and the church itself upheld racism in a very subtle manner….today….I have discussion with my own church….
10
Sent to Germany with the army. Returned to Salisbury.
30” Gives examples of more racist remarks.
2.55 Discriminated against by colleagues.
11
Played cricket in the army.
2.01 Married in 1963 at the age of 19. Daughter born in October, 1963.
3.54 Family lived in a caravan for a short time.
12
More black men recruited to army.
13
I think in 1962 racism began to rear its head and people took notice of what was going on… Story about a black colleague who killed a white officer and the repercussions for Lester.
14
Continues story.
15
Lists countries visited whilst in the army.
16
Left the army and became a driver on Midland Red buses. Marriage broke down.
2.04 I would visit my daughter often….but my wife said she wanted a clean break and I was hurt….I remember….when I was on the bus in the morning I could see my daughter at the bus stop waiting….Magistrate said we need to sort out your daughter before we sort out the divorce…Daughter said I want to live with my dad…
17
Wife very upset at losing custody.
How he adjusted to having his daughter living with him.
3.18 Story about meeting second wife.
4.27 Has 5 children. Gives details of their lives.
18
25” Lives in Woodview , Edgbaston. Describes the environment.
1.52 I begin to challenge the Housing Dept….I didn’t know the protocol…I remember going up to Bush House in Broad Street….saying to housing officers….the area where we live is a disgrace. There is nothing for the kids to do….used to burn tyres at night, pull the fences down….I formed a committee, knocked doors and said, can you help me?….they said they tried that before and never got anywhere…I was so determined….I went out and did some research….
19
We sat down and drafted a list of everyone we can think of …. Details difficulties with obtaining the community centre.
2.19 Youth and Community course at Birmingham Polytechnic.
20
Helped on shop floor as a welfare officer in mid-70s.
3.19 Only white people had houses, black people lived in maisonettes or tower blocks…
21
I challenged them and said, how can you not give black senior citizens a home….there are 70 houses/bungalows and not one black person in there….
52” The majority of pupils at Lee Bank School were black kids, but no black teachers…I joined and became a governor….Details some of the problems.
2.30 Black teacher recruited for probation period.
22
Own children attended local school, then dispersed to different schools at secondary level.
40” Whilst Edgbaston is affluent, the Woodview part of Edgbaston is poor.
1.37 In 1981 I was involved with the Scarman Report…. Lists people who participated.
2.28 Woodview itself was the original centre in terms of looking at blackness…I became involved with the police as a liaison officer….That was to make sure that the alleged brutality by the police officers didn’t take place…People would knock my door and say my son has been arrested, can you come?….
23
Continued.
34” Became Chairman of the Police Consultant Committee.
50” Comments on domestic abuse.
4.10 To challenge the system I became a social worker in 1989…social workers had power…
Had severe back problems.
24
Views on C of E.
1.55 Cooks for people with disabilities one day a week.
3.04 All of us from time to time suffer from depression or stress….If there was intervention at some point in our lives we wouldn’t have ended up in hospital….
25
Wife’s occupation.
1.04 Two homes were built for people with mental health problems.
1.57 Account of sexual abuse case.
26
Continued.
2.12 In 1998 the government offered some regeneration money to Lee Bank…but the government were not happy with the local authority….Elaborates.
27
Remains in Lee Bank area because he feels that the community need his assistance.
2.09 Views on Birmingham as a multi-faith, multi-racial city.
3.08 I would challenge some of the West Indian boys and girls’ attitude. I would tell them to look at themselves, ask questions…
4.13 History of black people in Birmingham.
28
Continued.
25” Thinks of himself as a Barbadian.
1.28 Wants to return to Barbados one day. Discusses children’s views on their Barbadian heritage.
29
Continued.
ENDS. |