The Story of Britain's Black Nurses

Here is a very timely book, written by an author who is well-known for her Black history books for children. In this hardback, Chimbri covers enslavement, colonialism, and their impact on Black people who became much-valued nurses. Chimbiri begins with healthcare in ancient and medieval Africa and ends with Professor Dame Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu, a former nurse who played a significant part in Charles III’s coronation.

I learned a great deal about how enslaved people brought knowledge of the healing properties of herbs and plants with them across the Atlantic from West Africa. Chapter 6’s story of Couba Cornwallis, and how she nursed Admiral Nelson back to health, was also enlightening. The author has included many biographical details about a wide range of nurses working during different wars and time periods. Mary Seacole from Jamaica has a couple of interesting chapters devoted to her work and later in the book the beginning of the NHS is seen as a huge watershed moment.

This accessible book is well laid out with colourful illustrations and quotations working well with the text. Young readers will find they can look up the words in bold print in the helpful glossary at the back of the book.

A quotation on page 8 by Miriam Mulonge, as recorded in The Zambia Nurse Journal, 1965, summarizes this unifying profession: ‘I like nursing because it is not selfish. That is, I do not help my family alone but everyone in need of help – whether white, black or any other race.’ I am sure youngsters will enjoy learning about skilled, kind and resilient nurses throughout the ages and around the world.