Campaigning for change, television personality and author Baroness Benjamin came to the UK in 1960 during the Windrush.
Today she is Chair of the Windrush Commemoration Committee and has used her place in the Lords to draw government attention to the troubles faced by the Windrush generation.
In November 2021, Baroness Benjamin questioned government action on the Windrush Compensation Scheme.
Former civil liberties lawyer and first Black cabinet member, Lord Boateng has regularly pressed the government on improvements to mental health services for Black and ethnic minorities, and racial equality. Last Black History Month, Lord Boateng raised the case for mandatory ethnic pay gap reporting. Watch the full debate.
In addressing social inequality, the House of Lords is made up of a diverse group of people with a range of experience and expertise. Members often use their experience to challenge government action and policies through daily questions and debates. See more topics up for discussion in the Lords on:
· The national history curriculum
· Commission on race and ethnic disparities
Lord Constantine was the first Black member in the House of Lords in 1969. Actor David Harewood narrates our short video about his life, made to mark the 50th anniversary of his becoming a member of the House of Lords.
Medic and political pioneer Lord Pitt of Hampstead was the second Black member appointed to the House of Lords in 1975.
Learn more about his life campaigning for race relations in the UK in a House of Lords Podcast, in partnership with the Parliamentary Archives. Questions, debates and scrutiny of legislation are streamed live online for free.
You can watch chamber and Lords committee meetings on Parliament TV. All business in the House of Lords chamber and in Grand Committee is transcribed and available to read from around three hours after it happens.
You can read it free online in Lords Hansard.
