This October, we celebrate Black History Month (BHM) under the theme ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride’. This year’s theme invites us to reflect on the strength, resilience and pride that characterise the Black experience, and to recognise the importance of representation and leadership within our communities and organisations.
Today, we’re shining a spotlight on Paul Kelly, an English and Maths lecturer and sports coach at Nottingham College. Below, we sat down with Paul to find out more about his heritage, his love of cricket and the importance of becoming a positive Black male role model in young people’s lives:
What is your heritage?
My father came from St Kitts, a small island in the West Indies. My mother is white and from Nottingham, so I am from a mixed heritage background.
How does your heritage shape your identity? Why is it important to you?
When I was growing up, I saw lots of Black West Indian cricketers playing on TV and I instantly fell in love with the game and still play now. I manage Nottinghamshire under 14's. I represented Nottinghamshire from 9-19 and more recently have played for Nottinghamshire over 50's team. I think having these positive role models on TV shaped my view on playing cricket.
What are your thoughts on Black History Month and its significance?
I think Black History Month is significant and helps young black people to realise the struggle that their ancestors had and how black people eventually became recognised after slavery as having equal rights as their white counterparts always had.
I think the transition of Black people from slavery is something that many young Black people find hard to comprehend. They do not understand why black people were enslaved.
This year’s Black History Month theme is ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride’. Can you tell us something you’re proud of that links to your heritage?
I think that This year’s Black History Month theme is apt as since Black people were freed from slavery many Black people have become leaders in sport, education and politics.
More recently Barack Obama was President of the United States, something that many generations of Black people living in America would never envisage happening.
Why do you think it’s important that we see more Black male teachers in the UK?
I am proud to manage Nottinghamshire under 14's, a team which consists of young people from Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and white backgrounds. I am proud that I have a young multi-cultural team as the great West Indies teams of the seventies and eighties were made up of players from all of the different islands in the Caribbean.
It is extremely important that we have Black teachers in the UK so that they can be positive role models for future generations of Black students and teachers.
What do you love about your job?
I love teaching and coaching sport as I know that I can make a positive difference to young people's lives. I take pride in helping young people move their lives forward.
