Patrick Vernon

Social Commentator, campaigner and cultural historian

About Me

‘We are tired, traumatised and fatigued’: Black Britons’ ongoing fight for mental health and rights

We have come a long way as a society from ‘Negro History Week’, established by Carter G. Woodson in 1926 at the height of the Jim Crow laws enforcing segregation in the US, and renamed ‘Black History Month’ during the rise of the Black Power Movement in the 1960s. In the 1980s it was taken […]

New ‘Diversity Built Britain’ coin unveiled

It is great that the campaign has influenced the government and the Royal Mint to recognise the Black and Minority Ethnic contribution to Britain. I was inspired to be involved in the ‘We Too Built Britain’ as result of the successful 100 Great Black Britons Campaign which Mary Seacole was voted Greatest Black Briton in […]

EVENT – 100 Great Black Britons Official Book Launch

A long-overdue book, 100 Great Black Britons honours the remarkable achievements of key Black British individuals over history, in collaboration with the 100 Great Black Britons campaign founded and run by Patrick Vernon OBE and Dr Angelina Osborne. With a foreword written by David Olusoga, this book includes a list of Black British names and […]

Crack Magazine – Patrick Vernon OBE Playlist

24 September marked an important moment for British Literature and, in turn, British history. It was the day that 100 Great Black Britons, which pays tribute to key Black British individuals, was published. Written by political activist Patrick Vernon OBE and researcher Dr Angelina Osborne, the two have been running a campaign under the same […]