In the face of systemic racism, Dr. Aggrey Burke was a trailblazer who dedicated his career to challenging unfair practices in the British mental health system. As the first Black consultant psychiatrist in the UK, he worked tirelessly to ensure fair treatment for Black patients and support those caught up in the criminal justice system.
Burke, who passed away in 2025 at the age of 82 after a battle with prostate cancer, rose to prominence in 1986 when he and his colleague Dr. Joe Collier exposed discriminatory admission policies at medical schools across London. Their groundbreaking research led to a Commission for Racial Equality inquiry and sweeping changes to ensure more diverse representation.
Throughout his illustrious career, Burke advocated for the fair treatment of Black individuals within mental health services. One of his most notable cases involved the Rastafarian Stephen Thompson, who was sectioned in 1980 at Rampton secure hospital in Nottinghamshire for violently resisting prison officers who cut off his dreadlocks, disregarding the religious significance of his hair. Burke was one of the independent psychiatrists who intervened, ultimately securing Thompson’s release through diplomatic negotiations.
Born in Jamaica, Burke moved to the UK as a teenager and faced challenges integrating into the predominantly white school system. However, this experience only strengthened his resolve to support marginalized communities. During his studies at the University of Birmingham, he volunteered with the Harambee Organisation in Handsworth, providing educational support to Black children.
After completing his psychiatric training in the West Indies, Burke returned to the UK, taking up a senior lectureship at St. George’s Hospital in London in 1976. It was here that he and Collier exposed the discriminatory admission practices, risking their careers to champion fairness and equality.
Despite facing backlash and a lack of formal recognition, Burke remained a tireless advocate for the Black community. He co-founded the George Padmore Institute, an archive dedicated to preserving Black British history, and published countless articles on mental health disparities. In 2019, he was honoured as one of the 100 Great Black Britons, and in 2023, the Royal College of Psychiatrists established the Aggrey Burke Fellowship to support Black medical students.
Aggrey Burke’s legacy lives on as a testament to the power of courageous leadership and unwavering commitment to social justice. His pioneering work has paved the way for a more equitable mental health system, inspiring generations of professionals to follow in his footsteps.
