When I think of Black History Month, I see it as a commemorative acknowledgement of people, historical events and even my own chronological timeline of achievements. My past and present consciousness allows me to think and imagine future possibilities. This is my reality lens.
October 2023: First OTnews Black History Month special issue
When Tracey Samuels, OTnews editor, suggested that I undertook the role of guest editor for the first-ever commemorative OTnews Black History Month special issue in 2023, I did not hesitate to accept.
Read last year’s issue at rcot.co.uk/otnews [Member only resource]
I shared the co editorial with Kalimah Ibrahiim, Associate Professor at Buckingham New University, who is the first British-born Caribbean person to achieve this role.
I am passionate about the needs of my tribe - namely the Afro Caribbean community who are a marginalised segment of the population, who live with deep-seated trauma linked to racism.
This passion is shared and commemorated in the Black History Month events marked by the occupational therapy profession. The energy from contributors allowed readers to appreciate the outstanding achievements of Black occupational therapists.
I proposed a system of rotating editors, so that opportunities can be shared amongst members of the Black African and Caribbean community for years to come. I initially nominated Anna-Marie Dorsett and Kwaku Agyemang as co-editors of 2024’s Black History Month focus.
Read this year’s issue at rcot.co.uk/otnews [Member only resource]
November 2023: The OT Show
It was a tremendous honour and a privilege to have been invited to be a speaker at The OT Show in Birmingham. The central message of my presentation was a biographical map of my journey from childhood to my present role as a senior lecturer at Leeds Beckett University.
I found the experience positive and reciprocating, as it was an opportunity to engage and give back to people who shared the same cultural values from all over the UK.
Giving back to the community is something that I witnessed great community leaders do, particularly when I was growing up. One of those was a Nigerian elder, now deceased, Mr Ola Talabi.
In the 1970s and 1980s, I attended his free supplementary education classes from the basement of a Church in Paddington, London. The focus of these classes was to uplift children from the African and Caribbean community. The enthusiasm passed onto me through Mr Talabi now allows me to do the same when I teach.
November 2023: BHM in the London Borough of Brent
I was born about three miles from Brent, but to all intents and purposes grew up in Brent. Our family home is in Alperton, Wembley, and Black History Month commemorations in the borough therefore had deep significance. The audience comprised of adult health and social care professionals, all of whom really identified with my journey.
I shared my experiences of being unsuccessful in higher education job interviews over a 10-year period. Our parents encouraged all of us to strive to become educated, believing that it would help us to secure financial opportunities in an ever-pressured economic environment having to deal with inflation, deflation and recession.
Having to deal with recurrent job rejections almost made you feel that striving for better paid jobs was nothing more than a hazy dream. My message was that being living examples of the social determinant’s trends and racial disparities in education, health and employment encourages all of us to challenge these stereotypes, despite feeling deflated following job interview rejections at times.
February 2024: Caribbean Writers Network
A group of little over 30 OTs of Caribbean heritage have been meeting for almost two years. We meet on average every six to eight weeks, to offer support to one another, with focus on a book publication.
The group is led by Odeth Richardson, RCOT Chair of Council. She provides invaluable leadership and is an inspiration to all members of the group. I am operating in an editorial role for the textbook, which will be the first of its kind written by people of Caribbean heritage about people of Caribbean heritage.
April-May 2024: Full time care role and end of life of my father
My dad was an 86-year-old widower, born on the island of Dominica, West Indies, in 1937. He arrived in Southampton, England in 1957, on the ship known as the Askania. At the time he was aged 18 – four weeks short of his 19th birthday. In appearance he was beautiful, dark brown, standing at 5’9” and slim built.
Dad had a range of interests – formal and informal. These included the following occupations: retired chef, 1979 to 2014; and worship leader, introducing the congregation to early morning hymns before the start of the church service at the Ealing Road Methodist Church in Wembley.
He was also a farmer in his native village, 1955-1957 and 1974-1976. He was a gardener of his local allotment in Wembley from 1982 to 2021. He continued to be an active gardener at his home in Wembley. He grew a range flowers, fruits and vegetables in large flowerpots, making it accessible as he aged.
He tended to fruit trees – plumbs, cooking apples, bay tree, and a range of herb plants such as rosemary and thyme.
Special thank you to friends and family who supported us until the end of his life and at the funeral ceremony. Dad paved the way for me to be the occupational therapist I am today and for this and much more I am eternally grateful.
October 2024: Black History Month RCOT guest speaker
In line with equity, diversity and belonging strategies and operational practices, I have been invited to be an RCOT guest speaker to commemorate Black History Month. This means so much to me, being part of a profession that is continuing - although a struggle at times - to be more representative.
My message aims to be one of hope and optimism in a society that still is hostile towards Black people. These positive coping experiences, etched in deep forms of social and psychic oppression, can resonate with all Black and Brown people aiming to live a decent and happy working life.
October 2024: Black History Month CNWL guest speaker
I have been invited to share my experiences with a workforce of OTs at Central and Northwest London NHS Trust (CNWL). There is a sense that, after 30 years as a qualified OT, I have some inspiring advice and messages to share with the current generation of occupational therapy staff.
RCOT Merit Award
My contribution to the profession has been recognised with a 2024 RCOT Merit Award. I dedicate the award to my late parent’s father Cuthbert Robin and my mother Delia Robin, whose values included love, hope, justice and a disciplined work ethic.
Therefore, this award for me is about raising the profile of Black excellence in every part of the profession. Society is better for our contribution in the face of persistent racial and society disparities.
Research collaborations and scholarship
I am involved with three research projects. First, I am now in the write-up phase for a Leeds Beckett University School of Health Small Grants Scheme (SGS), valued at £3,000. This project is exciting, as it explores what more can be done by the occupational therapy profession to work with underrepresented groups, specifically the African Caribbean populations.
The second Leeds Beckett University School of Health Small Grants Scheme (SGS), valued at £3,750, is a scoping review appraising taught content formulation of information for moving and handling education of trainee health professionals, which will commence in September 2024 and end May 2025.
I am also part of the research working party on a project entitled ‘Epistemic exclusion and patient safety participation evaluation (EPSPE)’. The Principal Investigator is based at King College London.
This is a brilliant opportunity, as it aligns with my background and interest in excess mortality among people of African and Caribbean ethnicity. I have also been appointed as a peer reviewer for the Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy. I accepted the voluntary role and immediately got to work reviewing a paper submission.
Unlocking our potential
In conclusion, I would like you to get a sense of what is possible after reading this occupational review.
We all have the inner strength of excellence within us to unlock our potential. After 30 years of practice, training and teaching, I am developing a special interest in the needs of people of African Caribbean heritage.
It does take time to find a special interest in research and scholarship. I always encourage all learners to be curious about issues, form hypotheses and pursue your interest with vigour and determination until you get the answers you need, in order to help others.
Success does not come quickly for me. Success and setbacks are sometimes closely aligned. It is how you learn from setbacks that shape your momentum.
It is important to be intentional about your career aspirations. I aim to inspire others to consider research as a career pathway. My advice to all new graduates is to get writing and publishing as soon as possible.
Words Dr Blaine Robin, Senior Lecturer, School of Health, Department of Rehabilitation and Health Professions, Leeds Beckett University, email b.robin@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Article originally from OTnews October issue.