Removing the Eraser: USPG Hosts Black History Month Panel Event with Diocese of London 

Erasers. Remember the ones you had in school? Some small, some brightly coloured. Some even in quite creative shapes and sizes. But what if it wasn’t just pencil marks they were wiping away? What if, for generations, entire stories, identities, and histories had been erased just as easily? 

These were some of the questions being asked at the Removing the Eraser event hosted by USPG, in partnership with the Diocese of London, to mark Black History Month. The evening was opened by Dr Lisa Adjei, Head of the Racial Justice Priority at the Diocese of London, who set the tone by saying: 

“To remove the eraser means to reclaim stories, to challenge the narrative and to imagine futures where black histories and experiences are seen, honoured, and celebrated in every corner of British life”.  

Tasked with discussing these key topics were The Revd Les Isaac OBE, founder of Street Pastors; The Rt Revd Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy, Bishop of Willesden; Annmarie Lewis OBE, the first black female prison officer at HMP Feltham Young Offenders Institute & Remand Centre; and Odile Jordan, a PhD student and researcher on the Mapping Black London project. 

“In the UK, I was often seen as a Black man from somewhere else. But when I returned to the Caribbean, I was no longer in the minority,” admitted Revd Les Isaac. 

Reflecting on this experience, Revd Isaac therefore stressed the importance of treating everyone as fully human and sharing stories that challenge false ideas. “We have the power to stop believing lies,” he added, urging people to speak the truth and recognise each other’s humanity. 

Bishop Lusa explored the Church’s responsibility in challenging erasure and shaping inclusive communities. Speaking to a diverse audience, he noted,  

“The Church has to rediscover its unique role in shaping history. God hasn’t called one culture to deal with His Kingdom. He’s called the Church.” 

Annmarie Lewis OBE shared insights from her pioneering work in the criminal justice system. She highlighted systemic inequities, noting that only 4.4% of the police force and prison staff in the UK are black. To live for God’s justice in the criminal justice system means better representation, naturally, but also better collaboration with the UK’s majority culture.  

“White colleagues who have supported and fought my corner have helped me make the changes I’ve needed to make” she added. “It’s important they know their own history too and stand together with us.” 

The most compelling voice on the importance of history came from Odile Jordan who highlighted the enduring resilience of black communities throughout history.

“And contrary to popular belief”, she joked, “there are black people in the future” – a nod to the international art project by Alisha B Wormsley addressing the historic oppression of black communities and a reimagined future where their “existence and lineage is untouchable”. 

In the Q&A, the panel explored the growing interest among Black communities in African spirituality and what it means for the Church. While some traditions feel more culturally familiar than church practices shaped by “the white man,” the discussion emphasised that the gospel is translatable – its truth speaks across all cultures, places, and peoples. As Bishop Lusa concluded:  

“What might it sound like to listen to Christ speak in a Yoruba accent?”.

Missed this event on the 8th October? Don’t worry! You can watch the full recording below.