Across the Commonwealth, Europe, and North America David Lammy is best known as a British born parliamentarian. First elected to Parliament at age 28, he has served in ministerial positions and won reelection consecutively since 2000 for his Tottenham constituency. It is his place of birth considered London’s poorest neighborhood. In a society with stark class and race demarcations, he made good of the supporting institutions by using his singing talents to gain scholarships from his early school days. He went to boarding school, obtained a first-class degree at the University of London, and a Master of Laws from Harvard University. Its attainment gave him the distinction of being the first black Briton to reach that standing. Mr. Lammy’s profile depicts an immigrant story; a Guyanese story; a poverty story of trying circumstances overcome through the dedication of his single mother and pursuit of his aspirations. His life and work are also a compelling bridging story.
The Lammy couple, his parents, emigrated from Guyana and “the sojourn of the family created an enduring connection for their son David.” His pride of Guyanese heritage and his boyhood experience of an absent father from age 12, influence his activities in support of young men. His life experience has shown how social order could impact lives. Growing up in Tottenham, motivated his political thinking and as opportunity permits, “he applies his social sensitivities to his parliamentary responsibilities where there is need to foster change and stability.” David’ Lammy’s leadership during the 2011 riots is well regarded and his book on the subject, ‘Out of the Ashes: Britain after the Riots’ has been acclaimed as an “unparalleled commentary” as a mix of “autobiography and policy”.
Parliamentarian Lammy has been active as “a conduit for successive Guyanese Prime Ministers with the UK government and has frequently lobbied on their behalf for many years. The Commonwealth secretariat, on two occasions, requested his help to develop parliamentary capacities both before and after the last general election. He travels frequently to Guyana to support and work with the Guyanese government. His most recent visit was in March 2016 for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Post-Election Seminar for the Parliament of Guyana.”
“David Lammy is also a long-standing supporter of the Caribbean region more broadly. In 2013, he travelled to Trinidad and Tobago to deliver inspiring talks to young black men across the country. In 2010, he went with Action Aid to Haiti to support relief efforts in the region following the earthquake. “
Mr Lammy has “worked hard to ensure that the black community’s historic plights have not been forgotten by introducing the history of the slave trade and its abolition to the British school curriculum. In addition, he led the commemoration for the bicentenary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade in 2008. As Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, he oversaw work for the opening of the International Slavery Gallery in Liverpool in 2007 which is the only museum of its kind to look at historic and contemporary slavery as well as being a centre for human rights resources.”
Honoree approved nomination for submission. Content composed by Ronald H. Lammy May 2016.