2011 UK riots: Racist’s getting it twisted
This week’s UK riots have been viewed quite gleefully by racists as a ‘black thing. This has set race relations back about 10 years and when the next election comes the BNP will be trying …
Black in Europe
The Windrush Years – (1948-1998)
The arrival of the SS Empire Windrush at Tilbury Dicks, Essex, in June 1948 was a pivotal moment in British History. The ship carried 1,027 passengers from several Caribbean countries.
The Empire …
Pan-Africanism: A movement of unity and empowerment
Pan-Africanism is a global movement that focuses on strengthening the bonds of solidarity among all people of African origin, including those in the diaspora living in the Americas and Europe. The …
Ottobah Cugoano: African abolitionist and writer
Ottobah Cugoano, also known as John Stuart, was an African abolitionist who played a prominent role in the fight against slavery in England during the latter half of the 18th century. Born in …
The French colonial empire
The French colonial empire, which began in the early 16th century, encompassed vast territories spanning continents such as North America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. While it reached its peak …
Britain finally gets an official slavery remembrance day
In December 2007, the UK Government announced that a national Slavery Memorial Day will take place on 23 August, a date linked to the Haitian rebellion. Black campaign groups have welcomed the …
Arthur Wharton world’s first black professional footballer
Arthur Wharton was the world’s first Black professional footballer. Despite his sporting prowess, he was never fully accepted and died a forgotten man.
Arthur was born on 28 October 1865 in …
How did Black History Month start?
What we now call Black History Month was originated in the US in 1926 by Carter Godwin Woodson as Negro History Week. The month of February was selected in deference to Frederick Douglass and Abraham …
New Cross Fire – 13 dead and nothing said!
On Sunday, 18 January 1981, a fire broke out in a house in New Cross Road, Deptford, South East London, killing 13 people and marking a massive change for black people in Britain.
[Tweet “On …
Alexandre Dumas
You’ve seen the movies and maybe you’ve read the books but did you know that The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo were written by a decendent of an enslaved woman? Yes. That’s right, …
Ignatius Sancho
Ignatius Sancho (c. 1729 – 14 December 1780) is a noteworthy figure in British history, known for his numerous accomplishments as a composer, writer, and passionate advocate for the abolition of …
Mary Seacole – The Black Florence Nightingale
You’ve heard of Florence Nightingale but did you know she had a black equal? Up until recently, the story of Mary Seacole was untold.
Mary Seacole was born on 23 November 1805 in Kingston, …