Patrick Vernon

Aggrey Burke Interview for 100 Great Black Britons

Professor Aggrey Burke’s work in psychiatry spans over 50 years and has been defined by a commitment to equality, cultural understanding and social justice. Speaking as part of 100 Great Black Britons, he describes the recognition not as a personal achievement, but as a reflection of a wider movement challenging systemic injustice.

Central to Burke’s career has been questioning psychiatric practices that failed to account for culture, language and lived experience. He has consistently highlighted how Black Caribbean and migrant communities were misdiagnosed and misunderstood, leading to long-term harm, particularly for children, families and young people.

His early research in Jamaica exposed the damaging impact of repatriating mentally ill migrants from Britain without adequate support—contradicting assumptions that returning “home” ensured recovery. Many faced stigma, isolation and poor outcomes, while those with strong family networks fared better.

Following the New Cross Fire, Burke helped establish counselling and support for bereaved families in the UK and Jamaica, responding to collective trauma when institutional systems fell short.

For Burke, inclusion in 100 Great Black Britons represents recognition of communities whose contributions and struggles have too often been overlooked. He hopes it encourages continued progress toward fairness, understanding and equality.

Watch the full interview here