Articles

The Royal African Company: England’s colonial commerce and the transatlantic slave trade

The Royal African Company (RAC), founded in 1672 under a royal charter by King Charles II of England, played a pivotal role in shaping England’s involvement in the Atlantic slave trade and its …

Nobody Canna Cross It – Clifton Brown goes viral

In June 2011, Jamaica experienced some devastating rains. This is not unusual. What is unusual is that the misfortune faced by the people of St Andrew could inspire a viral video. A section of the …

The History of Rocksteady: Jamaica’s influential music genre

Rocksteady, a music genre that originated in Jamaica around 1966, played a significant role in shaping the sound of modern reggae music. This short-lived yet impactful genre evolved from its …

The Dutch East India Company: A colossus of trade and power

In the annals of maritime and colonial history, the Dutch East India Company, known as the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) in Dutch, casts a long and formidable shadow. Founded in 1602, the …

The history of Ska music

‍Ska music is a unique and influential genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, laying the foundation for rocksteady and reggae music. With its catchy rhythms and upbeat melodies, Ska has …

Booker T. Washington: The great accommodator and educator

‍Booker T. Washington, born into slavery in 1856, rose to prominence as an influential African American intellectual and educator of the 19th century. Washington’s life and work continue to …

UK riots – everyday life amplified

People have branded the recent UK riots and uprising as senseless violence. For me it has been a highlighted section of our normal life, just sped up and multiplied. Violence, crimes and fear. Those …

More deaths following police arrests

The last time we mentioned someone getting tasered by police we received a threat of legal action on behalf of the police. Despite the fact that we did not mention the name of the officer or officers …

Red verses blue black – WTF!!

Despite the abolition of slavery in the 1800s, the slave mentality has not left black people. Yeah. I said it. Some of us are still trapped in the divide and conquer that was slavery. We are a …

The Toxteth Riots: Causes and outcomes

The Toxteth riots, also known as the Liverpool 8 disturbances, were a series of violent confrontations that erupted in Toxteth, Liverpool, in July 1981. These riots were emblematic of the social and …

Brixton Riots 1985

The 1985 Brixton riots, started on 28 September in Lambeth in South London. It was the second major riot that the area had witnessed in the space of four years, the last in 1981. It was sparked by …

UK Riots of 1981

The 1981 UK riots were spurred by police handling into the investigation of the New Cross fire where 13 young black people lost their lives as well as serious social and economic problems affecting …