Great-Grandmother Fought Racism, Wins Top Honour

Locita Brandy, a revered community leader and co-founder of the Manchester Caribbean Carnival, has received a prestigious University Medal of Honour. This award recognizes her extensive efforts to combat racism within the education system and her significant contributions to improving opportunities for black children. Brandy arrived in the UK from Nevis at age 21 and settled in Manchester, where she later worked as a school dinner lady.

During her tenure, Brandy observed that school meals did not cater to the culinary preferences of children from diverse backgrounds. She initiated changes to introduce familiar foods, aiming to bridge cultural divides and enhance the school dining experience. Furthermore, she established Saturday schools to ensure that children of Caribbean descent could learn about their rich heritage and culture, which were not adequately represented in the mainstream curriculum.

In the 1960s, discriminatory IQ tests wrongly classified many black and Asian children as less intelligent, leading to their placement in separate 'educationally sub-normal' schools. Locita Brandy actively campaigned against this injustice, mobilizing parents and challenging the education authorities. Her efforts, alongside others, contributed to a government inquiry and the eventual passing of a law in 1981 that banned such discriminatory classifications, ensuring greater inclusion for black children in mainstream education.