Kerry-Ann Knight is a former British soldier and Black British woman who served for 12 years in the British Army.
Kerry-Ann Knight | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Years of service | 12 years |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | 26 Regiment Royal Artillery Army Foundation College |
| Known for | British military recruitment Victim of racial discrimination |
She is most notable for her face being featured on British military recruitment advertisements across the United Kingdom in an attempt to attract more women and ethnic minorities into the British military. She was described by the BBC as a "poster girl" for the British Army, and the Guardian described her as the "face of British army recruitment."[1][2]
After 12 years in the British Army she left the military after suffering from sustained racial and sexist discrimination which was widely covered in British media.
Military service
editDuring her military career, Knight served in Germany with the 26th Regiment Royal Artillery, where she was the only Black woman in her entire regiment.[3] She also earned the rank of Corporal, and in 2021 she became an instructor at the Army Foundation College.[2]
In 2019, Knight became the face of a British military recruitment posted titled "Me Me Me Millennials. Your Army Needs You and Your Self Belief."[4]
Racial and sexist discrimination
editDuring her time in the military, Knight became the victim of bullying and sustained sexist and racial discrimination which she began to secretly record. Her Army colleagues made watermelon stereotypes towards her, threatened to hotbox, made jokes about tarring and feathering her, and repeatedly called her a "black bitch".[2] She was also made to serve alongside people who professed support for racist organisations such as the Ku Klux Klan, Britain First, and the English Defence League.[5]
During her training, Knight was reprimanded by a senior soldier for the style she wore her braids and told "this isn't the ghetto". In 2013 Knight was assaulted by a senior colleague in an attack that was suspected to have been racially motivated. While stationed in Germany she was told to avoid a corridor because her fellow soldiers had displayed swastikas and Confederate flags. While working in the Army Foundation college, fellow British soldiers stacked dirty items and boxes on her desk and loudly played Django Unchained when she was nearby, and the instructors posted photos of penises and Adolf Hitler on the professional WhatsApp group which she was a part of. She also secretly recorded British soldiers threatening to lynch her.[1]
When Knight brought evidence of the abuse to her superiors, she was removed from her role under the guise of protecting her mental health.[6]
Legal fight and settlement
editIn 2022 Knight sought legal advice with help from the Centre for Military Justice and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).[6]
In a statement from Knight's lawyer:
“For the army, it was not the racists that needed to be dealt with it, it was Kerry-Ann, because she’d had the audacity to complain about racism and misogyny. It is all dreadfully familiar and shows again that, in the British army, it’s worse to accuse someone of racism than it is to be racist.”[7]
Knight won a substantial settlement with the Ministry of Defence in 2024 and the Army made a public apology.
Knight was praised by the Baroness Baroness Kishwer Falkner of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, calling Knight a "an inspiration to young soldiers".[8]
References
edit- ^ a b "British Army racism apology to black 'poster girl' soldier". BBC News. 2024-08-02. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ a b c Al-Othman, Hannah (2024-08-02). "Face of British army recruitment drive wins payout for racist and sexist abuse". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ Wyatt, Honey (2024-08-07). "Only black female soldier on regiment wins settlement". HR Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ Moore, Hannah; Norton, Emma; Kent, Sami; Zygadlo, Rudi; Yusuf, Courtney (2024-08-20). "Racism in the army: the soldier who took the UK military to court - podcast". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ Moss, Rob (2024-08-02). "British Army settles racism and sexism claim with black poster-girl soldier". Personnel Today. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ a b "British Army apologises to Black 'poster girl' soldier for racist, sexist abuse". Firstpost. 2024-08-02. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ Lee, A. L. (2024-08-07). "'Humiliated and Mocked': Black Female Soldier Who Was the Poster Girl for Diversity In Army Says Colleagues Took Turns Shouting 'Watermelon' When She Walked Into a Room". Atlanta Black Star. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ Overton, Iain (2024-08-02). "Army apologises for racism against black 'Poster Girl' soldier". AOAV. Retrieved 2024-09-12.