Multicultural Week 2022: Stuart Lawrence Talk

Are you enough the make a change?

On Thursday 10 February, we were honoured to welcome Stuart Lawrence to speak to us for Multicultural Week. The talk was held in the MCT and live streamed to the whole of the pupil body from Year 7 to Year 13.

Mr Lawrence whose brother Stephen Lawrence was killed in 1993 in a racially motivated attack, spoke about the impact of our actions on others and the importance of inclusion through acceptance and tolerance and celebrating our differences.

As a teacher, mentor and coach, Mr Lawrence seeks to help change attitudes towards racism in British society. He spoke about his own journey as a shy 16-year-old at a London school to meeting and collaborating with influential people to get his message across. He drew some similarities with Edward Alleyn who evolved from actor to philanthropist and founder of this school, providing access to those most in need. He also noted that change goes hand in hand with culture and community. What was culturally acceptable back in Alleyn’s times is simply not acceptable today and we must always look to make change and demand change for the better.

“It’s astonishing that it was completely normal for Edward Alleyn to own a Bear pit but today we are outraged by footballer Kurt Zuma kicking a cat”, he said, "It is about culture and context and things that were once acceptable being rejected today."

Mr Lawrence explained that his mission is not just centred around racism but also toxic masculinity, mental health issues and dealing with grief and loss. But none of his work could be done on his own.

He revealed that one of his mentors Ian Downes is, coincidentally, an Alleyn’s alumnus and former member of Roper’s. He helped Lawrence to write his book Silence is Not An Option and spread his message more widely. And it is thanks to people like him that he has been able to come back to Alleyn’s and visit other schools to pay it forward.

“I believe that if I am able to change hearts and minds even just a little bit, perhaps the environment that my son grows up in will be better than the one I grew up in”, he said.

He concluded his talk by asking the audience how we would enable ourselves and others. What can we do to create change?