My grandmother was Wales’ first black headteacher (Photo: The Family of Betty Campbell / Mirrorpix / Western Mail Archive)
Elated, delighted, overjoyed, proud; and disappointed.
I feel all this at the same time when I think about what my grandmother – Betty Campbell – became in the 1970s Wales‘first black headteacher.
Of course, I am honored to be related to someone who has achieved such a monumental achievement.
But at the same time: I have been working in education for 18 years and know the structure racism what my grandmother faced in her desire to become a teacher – let alone a headteacher – is still very much alive today.
Research carried out by the Education Workforce Council in Wales found that there were no black headteachers or black assistant headteachers in Wales between 2018 and 2022; and only one black deputy headteacher was listed in those years.
The ERA statistics for 2024 showed that there were no headteachers, no assistant headteachers and only one deputy headteacher in Wales who identified as Black/African/Caribbean/Black British.
That’s not to say my grandmother didn’t give us hope – she did. She changed the face of education in Wales and integrated Black history in her school curriculum. Today, children go on school trips to visit her statue and learn about her life because of the legacy she left behind.
In fact, my grandmother gave us more than a ripple effect of hope. I would call it a tidal wave of power and opportunity in the face of structural racism.
My grandmother was born in 1934 in Butetown, Cardiff – one of the oldest diverse communities in the country – and although Butetown is considered a ‘deprived’ area, my grandmother would have described her childhood and upbringing as very rich and well-cared for.
What a legacy she left behind – a legacy that all of us in her family are so proud of (Photo: Simon Campbell/PA Wire)
Challenges were experienced, but my grandmother always described her childhood as full of love, understanding, knowledge, cohesion and warmth. Her community was exceptionally close-knit and she had the support of everyone around her to thrive and excel. It was a community that prioritized genuine relationships, as it would continue to do throughout her life.
She won a scholarship to Lady Margaret High School for Girls in Cardiff, where she expressed a desire to one day teach, but was told by a teacher that the problems would be ‘insurmountable’.
When I think about my grandmother hearing this, I feel heartbroken.
I have been deputy director for seven years. My mother and godmother were both principals; I come from a background of really strong female Black leadership.
But I know that the message that being a teacher is an ‘insurmountable’ goal is something that many young children from Black African and Caribbean backgrounds still hear today; if not verbally, then through lower expectations of teachers.
My grandmother opened up so many people’s worldviews to different cultures, languages and lives (Photo: Mirrorpix / Western Mail Archive)
The prevalent systemic racism that my grandmother faced is still very much alive today; and it is the experience of too many children today.
But my grandmother didn’t give up. In 1960 she was able to attend Cardiff Teacher Training College, where she was one of the first six female students.
After completing a degree and teaching at other schools, my grandmother began working at Mount Stuart Primary School in Cardiff for 28 years, becoming headteacher in the 1970s.
Today the Welsh curriculum is clear about its aims, one of which is for children to be informed and ethical citizens not just of Wales, but of the world.
My grandmother did that long, long before it became official – because of her desire for equality and her keen understanding of its importance.
My grandmother opened up so many people’s worldviews to different cultures, languages, and lives; insofar as she is associated with helping to create Black History Month in Wales.
In 2019 it was decided that a statue of my grandmother should be built (Photo: Polly Thomas/Getty Images)
I think that has to do with her view of her school curriculum, and her sense of, ‘It doesn’t matter what your background is – you learn about the history of people from different backgrounds. This is something all children need to learn.”
This was a truly groundbreaking attitude in the 1970s, when there was very little understanding of the need for this multicultural approach. But flying into the face of structures and systems that have been – and still are – racist was never something my grandmother was afraid of.
She was part of the Commission for Racial Equality and made sure her students were educated about this apartheid; so much so that when Nelson Mandela came to Wales he sought her out for a meeting. The current King Charles visited Mount Stuart in 1994 and my grandmother’s ability to connect with people from different backgrounds was a gift.
A pioneer is exactly who my grandmother was (Photo: Betty Campbell’s family)
I was fortunate to have 37 years with my grandmother; and my favorite memories of her are our family vacations together. We went everywhere; she passed on the importance she attached to the global community to her family, for which we are grateful.
During these holidays we just talked – often about our family history. My grandmother told us how she fought long and hard to be recognized for the contributions merchant seamen, for example, made to the war effort.
My grandmother had a large family and was incredibly supportive and encouraging to all of us; and not to mention inspiring.
Her legacy of leadership has also been passed down to many in our family. We all think we think of something ourselves; but in reality we absorb messages about ourselves and what we can do from all around us. And subconsciously, I think my grandmother showed us that we could see ourselves in these prominent professional positions and deserved to take that space.
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When she passed away in 2017, it was incredibly painful for all of us. She was such a loved, beloved person. But what a legacy she left behind – a legacy that we, in her family, are all so proud of; and one that is observed to this day.
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It is lived up to by the fact that in 2019 it was decided that a statue of my grandmother – the first statue of a named woman, who actually lived, in an outdoor public space in Wales – should be built.
And I have no doubt that the anti-racist work happening in Wales today, including the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, would not happen without her.
The word ‘pioneer’ is used a lot; and it has often been used in reference to my grandmother.
But a pioneer is really exactly who she was.
Let me tell you about…
This black history month, Metro.nl wants to share the stories of Black pioneers who should be remembered – and celebrated – for their remarkable achievements.
Let Me Tell You About… is Platform’s exciting miniseries, celebrating the lives of Black pioneers from the people who knew them best.
Prepare to meet the descendants and friends of Black history makers – and learn why each of their stories is so important today.
If you have a story to share, email [email protected].
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