What a fantastic privilege it was to hear Baroness Floella Benjamin speak at Roedean this week!  Her talk is the centrepiece to a series of events and activities at School to mark Black History Month, and she was absolutely brilliant – she believes that Black History Month should be every month, and that it should be a catalyst for everyone to learn more and to think about what others have been through.  She radiated positivity throughout the talk, and her passion and enthusiasm were both powerful and infectious.

Addressing the entire school and fifty of our Roedean Academy partners from four local state schools, Floella shared some of her own story about coming to England from Trinidad, as part of the Windrush, to join her parents after a fifteen-month separation, and how her mother showered her children with love.  Floella was amazingly proud to be part of the commonwealth, yet, when she arrived, her experience was very different to what she had expected.  She hated the poor treatment she endured because she is black, and the very injustice of it – she recounted how she was bullied and ignored, and that it made that part of her childhood very difficult.  Then, aged 14, she had an epiphany, hearing a voice which told her to stop fighting and to love the colour of her skin.  From then on, she determined to react positively, and she said ‘my smile is my armour’ – her smile and her positivity have become her trademarks, and they were very evident while she was speaking.

Floella told the students to focus on her 3 Cs, which form the core of a very strong ethos for life:  consideration for others, a desire to seek personal contentment, and the confidence to look in the mirror and to like the person looking back at you.  And the overarching C is the courage to stand up for equality and to make a difference in the world.  Floella concluded her wonderful talk with a powerful unaccompanied rendition of the song ‘Smile’, written by Charlie Chaplin and recorded by Nat King Cole – the lines ‘if you smile through your fear and sorrow, smile, and maybe tomorrow you’ll see the sun come shining through for you’ seem to encapsulate her positive message perfectly.

It was wonderful to hear Baroness Floella Benjamin speak at Roedean, and there can be no doubt that her message will have chimed with many in our community! She had a special ability to connect with her audience – many students remained behind to speak to Floella individually, and she made time to talk to each one of them, sharing her experiences and advice. She made a strong impression on those listening, and it was our privilege to welcome her to Roedean.