“The more we know about ourselves the more we can grow as a people”
In this blog, Sharon Cumberbatch, an NHS nurse, shares her life story as a first-generation black British Caribbean, a health care trainee and a health care professional. In honour of Black History Month, Sharon reflects on the aspirations that have driven her in life, her experiences of systemic racism but also experiences of solidarity. She highlights the importance of learning – about the world but also about our own and others’ histories – as the cornerstone of caring communities.
I am a first-generation black British Caribbean born in the early sixties. My parents came by plane in 1958/9. My mum was Jamaican, and my dad was from Barbados. They both accepted the invitation to come to the ‘motherland’ (UK) to build a future – among other things – for ‘Great Britain.’ I was born in North London. At the age of five, my parents moved us to Hertfordshire. Being very aware of my surroundings, it became evident that there were not many black people living in our town. The adults came together to form the Stevenage West Indian Sports & Social Club (SWISSC). My mum became a member, and we had many good times socialising with new friends at the club. There was always a feeling of togetherness. Even today when I walk past a black person, I always smile or say ‘hi’. It is what my parents did.
My parents and my faith are my inspiration. Career-wise I followed in my mum’s footsteps and achieved senior matron posts in nursing. My nursing career started in 1981. From the get-go I was held back from training as a Registered General Nurse (RGN). During my interview I was told that I could only do the State Enrolled Nurse (SEN) course even though I had five ‘O’ Levels which was the entrance qualification for the RGN course. At the school, every group consisted of thirty students but only two people were black. This was noticeable in the groups five years ahead of me. I became aware of the institutional racism in the trust. However, it did not stop me from pursuing my career doing what I loved: caring for people. For me, forty-two years of nursing has been my dream job. I have made many friends and achieved professional success.
I experienced my biggest challenge just before I was due to qualify as a SEN. My placement was on a thirty-bed female orthopaedic ward. An American tourist aged sixty-five had broken her hip. While she was an inpatient she accused me – the only black member of staff on the ward and a student – of stealing her transistor radio. The police came in as she demanded. The nursing staff, the doctors, and the consultant stuck up for me through a tough time. I had to remain on the ward working until I was cleared of any wrongdoing. Her radio turned up a day before she was discharged. Although progress has been made over the years, more needs to be done to promote black nurses in leadership positions.
My dad always encouraged me to learn as much as possible to improve myself. So, I got a degree in Psychology, and I keep learning! Recently, my dad and I researched our family history and made a book about it. Only two weeks ago I received my ancestral DNA which is very exciting and has surprising finds. Black History should be a curriculum in every school in the UK. The more we know about ourselves the more we can grow as a people, support each other, and share our knowledge with everyone.
About the author: Sharon Cumberbatch is a first generation black/ Caribbean British Registered General Nurse (RGN), with a BSc (hons) in Psychology. She has 42 years of experience in nursing in the NHS. She has also worked in the commercial sector, private healthcare, and served as an educational coordinator within Her Majesty’s Prison service.