--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The black presence in our British history…" description: "\"The black presence in our British history has sometimes wilfully, sometimes neglectfully, been whitewashed out of our national tale. This is not only d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/paterson-joseph-6527_british_the-black-presence-in-our-british-histor_393516.jpg" --- # The black presence in our British history has sometimes… ![“The black presence in our British history has sometimes wilfully, sometimes neglectfully, been whitewashed out of our national tale. This is not only deeply hurtful and enraging, but also foolish in the extreme.” quote by Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/paterson-joseph-6527_british_the-black-presence-in-our-british-histor_393516.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/paterson-joseph-6527_british_the-black-presence-in-our-british-histor_393516.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/paterson-joseph-6527_british_the-black-presence-in-our-british-histor_393516.jpg) > “The black presence in our British history has sometimes wilfully, sometimes neglectfully, been whitewashed out of our national tale. This is not only deeply hurtful and enraging, but also foolish in the extreme.” [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Whitewashing erases Black contributions, causing pain and ignorance. **In simple terms:** Ignoring Black history harms society. Key Takeaway Recognize and teach Black contributions. Themes history race representation Mood reflective urgent Type educational activist When to use this quote - education curricula - public monuments - media representation - family discussions Key Concepts colonialism cultural erasure Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure inclusive narratives? - What steps can institutions take to correct past omissions? A Different Perspective Some may argue history is already inclusive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Presence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presence/) ## Related quotes > [The black presence in our British history has sometimes wilfully, sometimes neglectfully, been whitewashed out of our national tale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/the-black-presence-in-our-british-history-has-sometimes-wilfully-2/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) > [The idea of anyone contemplating our family and witnessing the affection that we all have for one another and seeing evil in it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/the-idea-of-anyone-contemplating-our-family-and-witnessing-the/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [ If I'm not mistaken, that relationship \[of Barack Obama\] with Mr.\[Bill\] Ayers on this board continued after 9/11 and after his reported comments, which… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-m-not-mistaken-that-relationship-of-barack-obama-with-mr-bill/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“has been so high that they’ve already had to expand twice. The tidy, whitewashed new Leopold Brothers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/has-been-so-high-that-they-ve-already-had-to-expand-twice-the-tidy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Whitewashed World (The Sonnet) I once sent my sonnets for an official recognition, They rejected me saying, I lack skill and significance. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/whitewashed-world-the-sonnet-i-once-sent-my-sonnets-for-an-official/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Maps of the world are whitewashed, history of the world is whitewashed, ethics of the world are whitewashed, knowledge of the world is whitewashed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/maps-of-the-world-are-whitewashed-history-of-the-world-is-whitewashed/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [They never lynch children, babies, no matter what they do they are whitewashed in advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/they-never-lynch-children-babies-no-matter-what-they-do-they-are/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“of whitewashed office buildings and apartments crammed into the Greek capital. It was then—with his eyes wide open—the same vision had appeared to him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/of-whitewashed-office-buildings-and-apartments-crammed-into-the-greek/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [“Making the nation safe for white people could be more easily accomplished with the help of a whitewashed tale of its origins.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabari-asim/making-the-nation-safe-for-white-people-could-be-more-easily/) [Jabari Asim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabari-asim/) > [“Distance and time and a whitewashed mind hadn’t kept a child from growing, from existing, from demanding a place on this earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-s-kemanis/distance-and-time-and-a-whitewashed-mind-hadn-t-kept-a-child-from/) [V.S. Kemanis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-s-kemanis/) > [“The sudden and uncalled for coldness with which you treated me just before I left last night, both surprised and deeply hurt me -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-sudden-and-uncalled-for-coldness-with-which-you-treated-me-just/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Silence has a deep explanation in every situation. Its either you truly don't care anymore or pretending unaffected but deeply hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhay-babista/silence-has-a-deep-explanation-in-every-situation-its-either-you/) [Jhay Babista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhay-babista/) > [The Muslim world is deeply hurt by the campaign of violence initiated against our Palestinian brothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-muslim-world-is-deeply-hurt-by-the-campaign-of-violence-initiated/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Neither parenting, Christian education, heritage, nor fine church involvement can alter anyone’s essential sin nature. To lie, make self-centered choices, be destructive, or be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-horne/neither-parenting-christian-education-heritage-nor-fine-church/) Rick Horne > [“I don't understand women that call themselves a "bitch". It doesn't empower a woman. Rather, it reveals to everyone that you were deeply hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/i-don-t-understand-women-that-call-themselves-a-bitch-it-doesn-t/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) ## More by Paterson Joseph > [We must have belief in BAME artists and have total trust in their work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/we-must-have-belief-in-bame-artists-and-have-total-trust-in-their-work/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) > [It takes a long time to shoot 'Peep Show' whenever I do a scene - that's probably why I don't do much stuff on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/it-takes-a-long-time-to-shoot-peep-show-whenever-i-do-a-scene-that-s/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) > [It's essential for people to socialise with each other, to play games, to open up, to role-play. It brings empathy and that is vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/it-s-essential-for-people-to-socialise-with-each-other-to-play-games/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) > [I'm not a big movie-watcher, but I do watch quite a bit of TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/i-m-not-a-big-movie-watcher-but-i-do-watch-quite-a-bit-of-tv/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) > [My career started off very well in classical theatre, a genre that I shouldn't perhaps have done so well in. As a result it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/my-career-started-off-very-well-in-classical-theatre-a-genre-that-i/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) > [I'm not a gambler. And I don't approve of gambling unless it's for the Grand National.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/i-m-not-a-gambler-and-i-don-t-approve-of-gambling-unless-it-s-for-the/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) > [I mean, ethnic is a meaningless term because everybody thinks it means brown or something, but actually, we're all ethnic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/i-mean-ethnic-is-a-meaningless-term-because-everybody-thinks-it-means/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) > [When I got to secondary school I copped out and started bunking off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/when-i-got-to-secondary-school-i-copped-out-and-started-bunking-off/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) > [People who are racist, they love, they laugh, they are committed to their family and their friends. They're human beings. This is what's so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/people-who-are-racist-they-love-they-laugh-they-are-committed-to/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) > [You can transform somebody just by telling them, 'I'm listening.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/you-can-transform-somebody-just-by-telling-them-i-m-listening/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) > [That's the mentality of the soldier. You act on order, not on your own cognition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/that-s-the-mentality-of-the-soldier-you-act-on-order-not-on-your-own/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) > [One of the excuses used for not casting culturally different actors is authenticity. But theater is not documentary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/one-of-the-excuses-used-for-not-casting-culturally-different-actors/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) > [When I was 14 I was really taciturn - I hardly said a word - but then I auditioned for Shylock. With Shakespeare's words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/when-i-was-14-i-was-really-taciturn-i-hardly-said-a-word-but-then-i/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) > [Great African-American stars who can command major theatre and film roles in successful international projects are not uncommon: James Earl Jones, Denzel Washington, Halle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/great-african-american-stars-who-can-command-major-theatre-and-film/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) > [About two months after I'd finished filming 'The Beach' in Thailand, I found myself on a roof in Croydon at 2:00 A.M. in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/about-two-months-after-i-d-finished-filming-the-beach-in-thailand-i/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) [Explore all 99 Paterson Joseph quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) ## More British quotes > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I shot for French and British Vogue. The British Vogue one featured clothes by Chloe and was shot at Highgate and the John Soane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-shot-for-french-and-british-vogue-the-british-vogue-one-featured/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [I always wanted to make a 'James Bond' film, and they only seemed to hire British directors, and I'd made 'Swingers' - they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-a-james-bond-film-and-they-only-seemed-to/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [All the cliches of glamorous sophistication have little appeal to me. Do I want to live the British version of 'Dynasty?' No thanks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/all-the-cliches-of-glamorous-sophistication-have-little-appeal-to-me/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) > [Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-don-t-have-anything-against-people-from-other-countries/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [While we like to think queueing is unique to British culture, the truth is that we are mere amateurs. The old Soviet Union turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartley-brewer/while-we-like-to-think-queueing-is-unique-to-british-culture-the/) [Julia Hartley-Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartley-brewer/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The whole nuclear-arms-control and non-proliferation policy of the nuclear powers is a fraud: The Americans could not prevent the Soviets from replicating their weaponry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/the-whole-nuclear-arms-control-and-non-proliferation-policy-of-the/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) [Browse all 3,149 British quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The black presence in our British history has sometimes wilfully, sometimes neglectfully, been whitewashed out of our national tale. This is not only deeply hurtful and enraging, but also foolish in the extreme.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paterson Joseph" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/the-black-presence-in-our-british-history-has-sometimes-wilfully/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "British" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/the-black-presence-in-our-british-history-has-sometimes-wilfully/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/paterson-joseph-6527_british_the-black-presence-in-our-british-histor_393516.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/paterson-joseph-6527_british_the-black-presence-in-our-british-histor_393516.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/paterson-joseph-6527_british_the-black-presence-in-our-british-histor_393516.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The black presence in our British history has sometimes wilfully, sometimes neglectfully, been whitewashed…” — Paterson Joseph", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paterson Joseph", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The black presence in our British...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/the-black-presence-in-our-british-history-has-sometimes-wilfully/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/the-black-presence-in-our-british-history-has-sometimes-wilfully/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```