Dame Jocelyn Barrow DBE - educator, activist and pioneer of multicultural Britain

Dame Jocelyn Barrow DBE was a pioneering British educator, civil rights activist, and public servant whose work transformed race relations, education, and cultural heritage in the UK.

Born on 15 April 1929 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Dame Jocelyn Anita Barrow’s life and work would span continents and redefine what equality could look like in Britain’s classrooms, institutions, and cultural spaces.

The daughter of Charles Newton Barrow, from Barbados, and Olive Irene Pierre, from Trinidad, Jocelyn grew up in a politically engaged household. From her early years she was drawn to activism, joining Trinidad’s People’s National Movement before training as a teacher. In 1959, she moved to Britain to study English at the University of London - and there, she encountered a society still blind to its own racial inequalities. Rather than turn away, she confronted them head-on.

In 1964, Barrow helped to found the Campaign Against Racial Discrimination (CARD) - the first national civil rights organisation in Britain - alongside figures such as Lord David Pitt, Anthony Lester, Dipak Nandy, and CLR James. CARD became a vital force for legislative change, successfully lobbying for the Race Relations Acts of 1965 and 1968, which made racial discrimination illegal in public life.

Reflecting years later, she said:

“CARD was a very effective organisation… led by people like me, Lord Pitt and Anthony Lester. The people at the bottom were too busy trying to survive - though some did join.”

Barrow also co-founded the North London West Indian Association (NLWIA), which fought against racial bias in schools and became a crucial voice for Black Britons in the aftermath of the Notting Hill riots. These organisations were more than committees - they were lifelines for communities confronting racism, exclusion, and indifference.

A notable achievement was her campaign to challenge discriminatory hiring practices at Marks & Spencer's Brixton store. Barrow lobbied for a meeting with Lord Sieff, the head of Marks & Spencer, and convinced him to employ Black staff, thereby breaking the colour bar. The threat of legal action from the new law convinced many other shops to follow suit.

A passionate teacher, Barrow saw education as the foundation of equality. As a senior lecturer and teacher-trainer at Furzedown Teachers College and the Institute of Education in the 1960s, she pioneered the concept of multicultural education, long before it was widely accepted. She believed that every child in Britain - regardless of background - deserved to see themselves reflected in what they learned.

Barrow’s activism also brought her into direct confrontation with prominent figures who opposed equality. In 1968, she appeared on a television programme in Birmingham hosted by Sir Robin Day, discussing the Race Relations Bill with an Asian psychiatrist and Enoch Powell MP. Powell refused to share the studio, and the BBC arranged for him to be in a neighbouring studio, so there could be no direct conversation, although he could hear their responses through the microphones.

Barrow later recalled:

“This clearly showed him a racist coward, and he knew that he would lose any arguments on why he was wrong regarding the Bill and his speech.”

This experience shaped her later work as Governor of the BBC, where she ensured that future television interviews could not enforce racial segregation and promoted greater opportunities for Black talent as reporters, presenters, and actors in light entertainment and drama.

A passionate teacher, Barrow saw education as central to equality. As a senior lecturer and teacher-trainer at Furzedown Teachers College and the Institute of Education, she pioneered multicultural education long before it was widely accepted. She believed every child in Britain, regardless of background, deserved to see themselves reflected in the curriculum.

Barrow also co-founded the North London West Indian Association (NLWIA) to tackle racial bias in schools, particularly after the Notting Hill riots, providing support and advocacy for Black families. These efforts illustrate the practical activism celebrated by the “Legacies of Action” campaign, which traces 60 years of Black British struggle, resilience, and achievement.

Barrow’s influence extended into Britain’s most powerful institutions. In 1981, she became the first Black woman Governor of the BBC, serving until 1988, and from 1989 to 1995, she was the founder and Deputy Chair of the Broadcasting Standards Council, shaping ethical media representation.

She co-founded Arawidi Publications, producing children’s books in Caribbean dialects and local languages to ensure representation from an early age. As Chair of the Mayor’s Commission on African and Asian Heritage (MCAAH) in 2005, she oversaw the landmark report Delivering Shared Heritage, establishing standards for diversity in cultural institutions. She was also instrumental in founding the Black Cultural Archives (BCA), serving as its first patron and advocating for it as a national monument to Black British history.

The BCA later reflected on her impact:

“Dame Jocelyn recognised the need for a national monument like the Black Cultural Archives - to educate future generations.”

Barrow’s work was formally recognised throughout her life. She was awarded the OBE in 1972 for her contributions to education and community relations, and in 1992 became the first Black woman appointed Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) for her services to broadcasting and public policy.

She received honorary doctorates from the University of Greenwich (1993) and the University of York (2007), and was named among the 100 Great Black Britons in both 2003 and 2020.

Beyond accolades, her legacy lies in the generations she empowered - students inspired to see new possibilities, communities emboldened to speak up, and institutions that began to embrace Britain’s diversity as a strength. Her work is central to understanding the activism celebrated in “Legacies of Action: Understanding 60 Years of Change and Challenge,” which highlights decades of struggle and achievements by Black Britons.

Dame Jocelyn Barrow passed away in London on 9 April 2020, aged 90. She was married to barrister Henderson “Hendy” Downer of Lincoln’s Inn.

Her life stands as a testament to the belief that education, culture, and justice are inseparable - and that lasting change begins with those who dare to imagine it.

Sources

Black Cultural Archives, Dame Jocelyn Barrow Profile. https://www.blackculturalarchives.org

Obituary: The Guardian, 14 April 2020. https://www.theguardian.com

YouTube, 1000 Londoners channel '97 Dame Jocelyn Barrow is knighted for her work in race relations' 2018 https://youtu.be/vRo02yOmWk8

BBC Archives, Governor Records 1981–1988