PROFESSOR SIR PATRICK VERNON OBE FRHistS
Campaigner • Author • Historian
Professor Sir Patrick Vernon OBE FRHistS connection to Hackney is deeply rooted both in community and culture. As a trailblazer of racial justice, health equity and Black British Cultural History, he stands as a social architect and custodian whose relentless advocacy brought Windrush Day into national recognition.
Image Credit: Sharron Wallace Photography
Vernon’s career spans public health, racial justice and cultural heritage. His connection to Hackney began as a Labour councillor for the borough from 2006 to 2014, advocating for residents and tackling health inequalities and structural discrimination. He is widely recognised as the mastermind and driving force behind the influential national campaign that secured official recognition for Windrush Day in 2018. He also co-founded 100 Great Black Britons in 2020 and was awarded a knighthood in 2026 for services to racial equality.
Why Hackney Matters
“Hackney has been part of my journey as a resident, councillor, writer and activist, and it is a place where culture, community and resistance have always mattered. To have my name included on the Hackney Writers Legacy Steps is a tremendous honour, particularly knowing that young people helped to choose the writers represented. I hope these Steps inspire another generation of young people in Hackney to understand that their experiences matter, their voices have power, and they too can become the writers, historians and storytellers of the future.”
Did You Know?
Patrick Vernon created the original 100 Great Black Britons campaign in 2003, after becoming frustrated by the lack of Black representation in mainstream accounts of British history.