This October is Black History month and 2022’s theme is, Time for Change: Action Not Words.
In the wake of 2020’s Black Lives Matter protests, many organisations and individuals committed to tackling racism. This year’s theme hopes to encourage continued action to tackle racism, reclaim Black history, and ensure it is represented and celebrated all year round.
One of the enduring images of the protests in 2020 following the death of George Floyd was the photo of a Black man carrying to safety a White man who had been protesting against a BLM march. It went viral on social media and made front-page news around the world. A picture is worth a thousand words: this one spoke volumes about the hope and the spirit behind the protests.
The Black man in question was Patrick Hutchinson, a personal trainer and children’s athletic coach from Wimbledon, now activist and published author.
A day after the photo went viral, Patrick posted on his Instagram page: “It’s not Black Vs White. It’s everybody Vs the racists!” This would inspire the title of his book- ‘Everyone Versus Racism: A Letter to My Children’ (Publication date 12 November 2020).
Patrick is someone clearly not afraid to take action to address the racial inequalities we face, and writing his book was his way of educating others on Black history and sharing his hopes for the future.
Ernest Evwaraye, Co-Chair of Merton’s Racial Equality Network, (REN) recently had the pleasure of speaking to Patrick about his story:
EE: The picture that went viral of you carrying a counter-protester on your shoulder to safety during the BLM protests of summer 2020 is a memorable moment. What was going through your mind as it all unfolded?
PH: I get asked this a lot. There were a number of things going through my mind at the time. First thing was to get this man to safety as I feared the worst might happen. Let’s just say at the very least he could’ve ended up with life threatening injuries.
Secondly, I considered the outcome for a number of young people in the wrong place at the wrong time and getting caught up in a ‘herd mentally’. They’d be predominately Black and we all know the judge and jury would care very little of the provocation and thuggery they faced from the far-right protestors which was the catalyst for the attack.
Many young students would have been criminalised. Thirdly, the Black Lives Matter movement in my opinion, would never fully recover its credibility if a white man had died at one of their demonstrations. It would be a gross contradiction to what the movement stands for.
EE: What inspired the idea for your book ‘Everyone Versus Racism’?
PH: During my younger years I experienced a lot of racism and wanted people to share my lived experience. I also wanted to speak on education and what was being taught as well as my hopes for the future.
EE: What were the key challenges you faced when writing the book?
PH: I had a remit from the publisher of 43,000 words, so had to trim it down somewhat.
EE: What was the highlight of writing EVR?
PH: Working with the talented writer/poet Sophia Thakur. She is a spoken word genius and her work is incredible.
EE: In 2020 you won a GQ man of the year award. What was that experience like?
PH: It was amazing to be a nominee and then to win an award. However, Covid severely watered down the event. No huge award ceremony and no after party lol. It was all done online. The award sits proudly on my mantelpiece.
EE: You have done some work with young people in Merton. Tell us a bit about that.
PH: Yes, I work very closely with an Alternative Provision called ‘New Horizon’ in Pollards Hill which falls under the Merton borough. I support in mentoring alongside health and wellbeing. My background in the last ten years has been in the health and fitness industry.
EE: If you could invite any three people for dinner, who would you invite?
PH: Jack Johnson, Mohammed Ali, Bob Marley and Bruce Lee. Sorry, there’s four, and they are no-longer with us.
EE: If you had to describe yourself in just three words, what would those be?
PH: Reserved, introvert and empathetic.
EE: Favourite book you have read as an adult?
PH: ‘Celestine Prophecy’ by James Redfield.
EE: What do you hope your readers take away from EVR?
PH: Seeing the world through the eyes of a middle age Black man, who experienced racism in his younger years but who didn’t let it fester within and breed hate. I hope it educates on Black history and I hope it creates one or two allies. Most of all want it to be a thought provoking read.
‘It’s easy to sit by and say to any individual to be the bigger person and not to react and not let things escalate, but when you’re on the other end of racism and oppression it’s very difficult’
Patrick Hutchinson