People in history

The death penalty is flawed: The case of Glenn Ford

On hearing that Clayton Lockett suffered during his botched execution, many of you may have looked at his crime before deciding whether he was worthy of your compassion. That’s okay. We’re all human …

Nelson Mandela: A life of resilience and triumph

Nelson Mandela, an anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist left an indelible mark on the world through his resilient journey to freedom and equality in South Africa. From …

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass, a towering figure in American history, was a former slave who became one of the most prominent abolitionists, human rights advocates, and orators of the 19th century. His life and …

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman escaped slavery to become a leading abolitionist. She led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom along the route of the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman was born in Dorchester …

Before Rosa Parks – Ida B Wells

Ida B Wells was born into slavery on July 16, 1862, in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Her father, James, was a carpenter, and her mother, Elizabeth, was a famous cook. Both parents were literate and …

Princess Sara Forbes-Bonetta-Davies

Sarah Forbes Bonetta was the princess, born into the Egbado royal family of south-western Nigeria, who became a favourite of Queen Victoria and a regular visitor to Windsor Castle. Sarah was captured …

Tommie Smith and John Carlos – Black Power Salute

On 16 October 1968, American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos took a stand that would see them banished from the Olympic games. In 1968, the United States already had a lot on its plate. This …

Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche – the only black man to have died on the Titanic

Not many will know of Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche, who is notable for being the only black man to have died on the Titanic. Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche was born in Cap Haitien, Haiti, …

The Rodney King Story

Rodney Glen King, born on 2 April 1965 in Sacramento, California, became an unintentional symbol of racial tension and police brutality in the United States after his violent arrest in 1991. The …

Who was Sarah Baartman?

When 20-year-old Sarah (also spelt Sara) Baartman got on a boat that was to take her from Cape Town to London in 1810, she could not have known that she would never see her home again. Nor, as she …

Video – Dr Chancellor Williams The Destruction of Black Civilization

The Destruction of Black Civilization took Chancellor Williams sixteen years of research and field study to compile. The book, which was to serve as a reinterpretation of the history of the African …

African American Women and the right to vote: Pioneers in the Suffrage Movement

‍Throughout history, African American women have played a significant role in the fight for universal suffrage. Despite facing numerous obstacles due to their race and gender, these trailblazers made …