John's career, spanning social research, education management and youth work, started in 1965, when as a 20-year-old, he left Trinidad for Oxford to study theology as a Dominican friar.
The young monk's transition to social affairs started when he took on the role of education secretary at the Oxford Committee for Racial Integration, which led to his involvement in issues affecting the children of migrant workers in Oxford schools.
"I don't think the schools generally understood the children's background, their language and culture," says John. "And pretty prevalent at the time was the notion that we as Black people are not as intelligent as White people. As a consequence, people were confusing their lack of understanding of the children with lack of intellectual ability."
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