On Monday, 1st October, the Sylvans debated the motion ‘this House believes that Black History Month should be a time for regret rather than for celebration.’
It was proposed by Bill Moss and opposed by Elaine McLean.
The debate clearly brought to light the lack of focus on black history and the accomplishments of blacks in the UK. The proposer made a clear case that black people still face significant personal and institutional racism, and that the impact on their lives is tangible and significant. The opposer pointed out that regret is a negative reaction, and took the House on a closed-eye journey through a typical daily routine, highlighting the large number of black inventions improving our lives today. We also heard a number of interesting perspectives from the floor speeches on different aspects of black history.
In the final vote the motion was defeated.