A workplace culture where fathers are encouraged to take paternity leave would result in stronger families, a more equal labour market and a better economy.
David LammyRead
My father was a taxidermist, not a run-of-the-mill profession for a West Indian immigrant. Having given up on becoming a vet, he settled for working with dead animals rather than live ones. Dad was a true craftsman, an artist.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the unique profession of the speaker's father and his artistic skill in taxidermy.
David Lammy's quote captures the essence of his father's unconventional career as a taxidermist, highlighting the artistry involved in transforming deceased animals into preserved forms. It underscores the pride in his father's craftsmanship and the unique cultural background of a West Indian immigrant embracing a path that diverges from expectations, emphasizing that true artistry can be found in even the most unexpected professions.
Themes
TaxidermyArtistryCraftsmanshipImmigrant ExperienceFather
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about creative careers, this quote could highlight the value of unconventional professions.
More from David Lammy
All quotes →People don't contest that I'm British as a black man, but they do contest that I'm English. Too many people are going back to an ethnocentric idea of what being English means.
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We cannot afford to lose talented young black people, who make it to university, overseas, or worse, to let other talented black people be put off by the notion that university is somehow not for them.
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The idea of a family sitting round the kitchen table and carefully planning their future family size based on the certainty of years to come is a complete fantasy. Back in the real world, jobs are lost, livelihoods taken away, families break apart, partners leave or pass away.
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Many black youths are defying stereotypes, achieving good academic results, finding employment and contributing to their communities. But helping those who fall behind is not an exercise in political correctness, it is a precisely what a compassionate - and sensible - state should concern itself with.
David LammyRead
Like many black men growing up in London, I have been stopped and searched by several policemen. I was 12 years old when I was first groped and frisked by police for walking down the road. It terrified me so much I wet myself.
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