WALTHAM FOREST: Obama an inspiration to young people

6:21pm Tuesday 11th November 2008

By Mhairi Macfarlane

BARACK Obama’s election victory should inspire Waltham Forest’s youth, the Government’s chief legal advisor has said.

Former Walthamstow resident, Baroness Patricia Scotland, who is one of the country’s most powerful and inspirational black women, was elated about his victory, and said it should give people “hope that democracy matters”.

“I think it is very significant for people in this country and in Waltham Forest. The fact that he has broken through so many glass ceilings, he has given people of all complexions hope,” she said.

“He overcame barriers that are presented by race, mixed parentage, the fact that he grew up in a mutli-cultural environment and in different areas of the world.

"People who are black, white, disabled, all the diverse sections of society think, if he can do that, so can I.".

Baroness Scotland can relate to Mr Obama’s meteoric rise against the odds because despite her humble beginnings.

Born the tenth of 12 children in the Caribbean before moving as a child to Walthamstow, she overcame prejudice and broke through many glass ceilings to become the first ever black Queen’s Counsel (QC), and then the first female and black Attorney General in its 700-year history.

She recalls how there were limited black role models she could look to for inspiration, and that the expectations of her by her teachers were low.

The mother-of-two said: “I was told when I was growing up in Walthamstow that I couldn’t succeed by a number of people.

"The career advisor said to me, “you don’t see anyone doing these jobs, such as a lawyer”.

“There wasn’t black men and women doing these jobs in their numbers. And we didn’t see many black people on television."

The 53-year-old thanks her parents for installing a hard-work ethic and ambition in her, that eventually led to her becoming ennobled, working as a minister and becoming appointed as Attorney General last year.

“I had a fantastic family who taught me many things. To take responsibility and not allow others to take it. That other people’s racism is their problem, not yours. And that every single person is given a talent.” she said.

She added: “We need our young people to see there is a great opportunity for them and they can achieve fantastically well if they strive to harness their talents."