We return to the fight for justice for the “Educationally Subnormal” (ESN) School Survivors, institutions themselves rooted in the discredited (but resilient) pseudo-science of racial superiority called eugenics. (1) In a recent debate in the House Of Commons, Kim Johnson, member of parliament for Liverpool Riverside, called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to bring justice to survivors and to also expose the long-term effects it has had in the education system. She expressed concern that it is still unclear how many black children were forced into ESN schools for physically and mentally disabled pupils in the 1960s and 70s and did not receive support from the system while some also suffered physical and sexual abuse. She added that “many racist barriers still exist in education [that have] “evolved directly from the policies and attitudes that drove the ESN scandal” and demanded a public Inquiry to address these issues. (2)
She follows the likes of Lesley Thomas KC, who was among those that put out the call for an inquiry two years ago as part of a ten point plan. (3) Public inquiries, however, though being able to unearth a veritable trove of hitherto unknown information, can be quite elusive to achieve. The families of the New Cross Massacre’s demands date back forty years and although there was one for the Grenfell Tower fire, it ignored issues of racism and discrimination. (4) Moreover, the conclusion of the Grenfell Inquiry has not markedly increased the likelihood for justice in terms of criminal convictions. (5)
All things considered then, it came as little surprise when education minister Catherine McKinnell, responding on behalf of the government said that it “doesn’t currently plan to establish a public inquiry.” But they are, she added “committed to ensuring Britain is a country that will respect your contribution and will give you a fair chance to get on in life.” (6)
Given the government’s stance the only practical response has to be a groundswell of public support. One way to gauge this is the the petition, “Justice for ESN Survivors: apologise and fund financial compensation,” launched by ESN survivor Bro. Noel Gordon (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/718292). The target is 100,000 signatures by October 1 2025. At the time of writing it has attained 108.
Thus, the campaign will need to ensure that it raises awareness of this issue, first documented by Bernard Coard over fifty years ago, which in turn compels people to sign the petition. In a climate of competing interests and mass distractions this is no unsubstantial undertaking. One wonders whether there are any “Movement Intellectuals/Academics” that are willing to jump in to this task, perhaps within the framework of reparatory justice. (7)
(1) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (11/07/22) ‘SUBNORMAL’: Has the education scandal really ended? https://alkebulan.org/2022/07/10/aswag-389-esn-scandal/; Tré Ventour-Griffiths (26/09/22) “Subnormal”: How a British Postwar Education Scandal Gives a Human Context for ‘Neurodivergence while Black.’ https://neuroclastic.com/subnormal-how-a-british-postwar-education-scandal-gives-a-human-context-for-neurodivergence-while-black/; Arthur Caplan & James Tabery (17/10/24) Donald Trump Wants to Make Eugenics Great Again. Let’s Not. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/donald-trump-wants-to-make-eugenics-great-again-lets-not/
(2) Aletha Adu (13/03/25) MP calls for inquiry into labelling of black pupils as ‘educationally subnormal.’ https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/mar/13/mp-calls-for-inquiry-into-labelling-of-black-pupils-as-educationally-subnormal; Claudia Lee (13/03/25) Campaigners and victims call for inquiry into Windrush children’s education scandal. https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/news/campaigners-and-victims-call-for-inquiry-into-windrush-childrens-education-scandal/
(3) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (06/03/23) ESN Schools – what is their legacy? https://alkebulan.org/2023/03/06/aswag-423-esn-scandal-2/
(4) Diane Abbott MP (07/09/24) The Grenfell disaster was made in Downing Street — it cannot happen again. https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/grenfell-disaster-was-made-downing-street-it-cannot-happen-again
(5) Alice Watkins (10/11/24) Grenfell: The Press And The Police – Yvette Williams MBE. https://hackinginquiry.org/grenfell-the-press-the-police/
(6) Adu. Op. cit.
(7) Bernard Coard (20/05/21) Black children still underachieving. https://www.chartist.org.uk/black-children-still-underachieving/; Myriam Kane (09/03/21) The Tories Use Racism as a Weapon of Mass Distraction. https://labouroutlook.org/2021/03/09/the-tories-use-racism-as-a-weapon-of-mass-distraction-myriam-kane/; Joel A. Bowman, Sr. (25/10/24) Weapons of Mass Distraction. https://progressive.org/latest/weapons-of-mass-distraction-bowman-20241025/; Marcus Morgan (2020) Movement intellectuals engaging the grassroots: A strategy perspective on the Black Consciousness Movement. https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/219667486/PURE_Movement_intellectuals_engaging_the_grassroots.pdf
ESN Scandal: Time for a Public Inquiry?
1) Can we get the government to change its mind on a public inquiry?
2) If we did, how would it benefit us?
3) What’s the most effective way to raise awareness?
4) Would the the involvement of ‘Movement Intellectuals/Academics’ help?
Our Special Guests:
Bro. Noel Gordon: was wrongly sent to an ‘Educationally Subnormal’ (ESN) school for ten years from the age of six. In spite of being unable to read or spell when he left school he gained a raft of impressive qualifications as an adult, including a degree in computing. Bro. Noel is now spearheading a campaign to get an apology, justice and compensation for thousands of victims of the ‘ESN’ Scandal (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/631043). Start: 476
Sis. Maisie Barrett: was wrongly sent to an ‘Educationally Subnormal’ (ESN) school for seven years from the age of six. She entered mainstream school aged thirteen she was diagnosed with dyslexia, but the damage was already done and she never really caught up. However, she later applied herself in evening classes and qualified as a social worker. She is the author of Windrush Children: Our Stories and Subnormal: How I was Failed by The British Education System and a Colonial Family: The Windrush Generation published on 1st March. 2023 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Subnormal-Education-Colonial-Windrush-Generation/dp/B0BW23RXXV/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=subnormal+how+the+british+failed&qid=1678024613&sr=8-1)
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