As our first Black British born Novelist – Norman became a pioneer – he spoke for a generation whose voice had yet to be heard in the long narrative form.
We come from an era when children born to Caribbean migrants were encouraged by their parents to work twice as hard as their white counterparts. They understood the disadvantages we faced because of the colour of our skin. Education was seen as the key – the route to our eventual success.
Not all of us made it; but those who did owe their gratitude to the foundations laid by those West Indians who took the leap of faith to discover the ‘Mother Country’ for themselves. Here we learnt the traditions of our parents. It’s where the Caribbean merged with the British way of life – and we became Britannia’s Children – creating a hybrid generation, the likes of which will never be seen on these shores again.
In his own way, Norman is that hybrid. Schooled in the oral tradition by his parents; (born and) made in Britain, where he put pen to paper.
His stories illustrate Black-British dialect and identity in their infancy. They speak of the past, present and our possible future. For some, they will be a history lesson; others, a trip down memory lane. Whichever category you occupy; read, enjoy and see beyond the words to discover their significance.
