Head of Eton says sorry for black pupil’s bully ordeal
ThE head Master of Eton College has apologised to one of its first black pupils for the racism he suffered in the 1960s.
Dillibe Onyeama revealed how he was bullied every day by other boys during his four years at the elite fee-paying school.
he was asked questions like ‘Why are you black?’ and ‘how many maggots are there in your hair?’
Other slurs included: ‘Does your mother wear a bone in her nose?’
Mr Onyeama, who is Nigerian, was also accused of cheating when he performed well and pupils attributed any poor marks he got to his race. he detailed his ordeal in a book when he finished school in 1969.
Three years later, he received a letter from Eton informing him he was banned from visiting.
head Master Simon henderson yesterday said he was ‘ appalled’ by the historic racism suffered by Mr Onyeama. he told the BBC: ‘Racism has no place in civilised society, then or now. As millions of people around the world rightly raise their voices in protest against racial discrimination and inequality, we have to have the
‘Dehumanises victims’
institutional and personal humility to acknowledge we still have more to do.
‘We must all speak out and commit to doing better, permanently, and I am determined that we seize this moment as a catalyst for real and sustained change for the better.’
Mr henderson, who became head Master in 2015, invited Mr Onyeama to meet him so he could apologise in person and on behalf of the school.
he added that he wanted to show the writer he would always be welcome to visit Eton.
Mr Onyeama – who is now in his late 60s – told the BBC that the apology was not necessary and he did not change his view of Eton, which on the whole was positive.
he added that the apology ‘compels the recognition that prejudice on the grounds of colour or race dehumanises its victims in a way that ordinary forms of prejudice do not’.
Many educational institutions have come under increased pressure to ‘decolonise’ the curriculum, tackle racism and boost diversity on campus. Most notably, Oxford University’s Oriel College promised to take down its statue of controversial imperialist Cecil Rhodes.
Some schools named after historical figures linked to the slave trade – such as Colston’s in Bristol – are also considering changing their names.
It follows weeks of global Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in the US.
Eton College, near Windsor, charges fees of more than £40,000 per year and has been attended by both the Duke of Cambridge and his brother the Duke of Sussex.
Since 1945, five prime ministers have been educated at there, including Boris Johnson and David Cameron.