Great Black Briton: A CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY IN THE UK CONTENTS

Foreward/Message to readers ...... 3

Influential People ...... 4

Influential Movements ...... 16

Further resources ...... 22

Lead and Be Led information ...... 23

2 | Great Black Britain FOREWORD

As young in the UK, we movement. By Black people entering spaces believe that it is essential to have a means of politics, journalism, art, entertainment, of support and continuous celebration of sport we are changing the narrative and our efforts to society. Growing up in the UK deciding how we want to be perceived. We with a curriculum that places importance on want to celebrate those who have worked educating British culture without including endlessly to transform and create new the significant contributions of Black Britons narratives and histories for Black Brits and is disheartening. inspire many locally and globally.

A vast majority of schools educate their We hope this booklet of Black excellence will pupils on Black British history that has either inspire you to fight against the oppressive, been taught over previous years which racist and classist system that regularly can be diluted version of history or focused ignores, undermines and harms communities on Black suffering. Raising awareness of colour. We have only named a few about the importance of celebrating Black amazing figures and movements that have History in Britain in will allow students and attempted to break racist structures, but staff to have a better understanding of the we urge you to find out more about these history that goes on within the country powerful moments in history and learn about that has shaped many people’s lives. We others figures who may have not been as imagine that young Black children and successful, recognised, or put in the spotlight students should be given the chance to be as some of the people in this booklet have inspired in the same way their white British been. Look into your own communities, and counterparts are. we are certain that you will find countless amazing and inspirational people. There are many limitations placed on an individual due to circumstances they had This brochure is an example of how much no choice in deciding. These create barriers hard work, passion and dedication our that restrict our abilities, dreams and hopes. have in social justice and celebrating the This resource aims to show that with a achievements of Black Britons in the UK. vision, nothing is capable of preventing Please enjoy the booklet and we hope you you from accomplishing and fulfilling your are all inspired! ambitions. The people discussed on the coming pages overcame every challenge This booklet would not have been and created opportunities which carved the made possible without Cohort 5 of path for a fair and just society. The Anti-Tribalism Movement’s youth leadership programme who worked hard Media portrayal of Black people in various to research the contents inside. contexts, may it be beauty standards, class, wealth, education and career, has been A special thanks to: unreliable for decades. Black communities Nadra Adan Ayaan Ali are often generalised as working class and Hannah Abdalla Ismail Ali coming from a place of struggle. When Nadiya Haji-Abdi Yasmin Nur creating a place for themselves in society Iqra Moalin Liam Duke by fighting for it, its labelled as “violent Samira Moalin Faizaan Butt and aggressive”, which has been proved Nurah Mahamud by the reception to the A Celebration Of Black History | 3 INFLUENTIAL FIGURES

Professor Laura Serrant OBE, PhD, making a difference and included MA, BA, PCGE, RGN comes from Serrant for her work in community and a working class and immigrant public health nursing at the University background, she was one of the first of Wolverhampton. people in her family to go to university where she studied for a Bachelor In 2017 it was announced that of Arts degree, later qualifying as a Serrant was recognised in the 2018 nurse. Serrant specialises in sexual Powerlist as the eighth most influential and reproductive health, working in black person in the , outreach supporting sex workers, and in the same year she was people with drug and alcohol awarded an honorary doctorate by dependence, the homeless community Abertay University. and tackling negative social attitudes to In the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours, HIV and AIDS, her work in these fields she was appointed an Officer of the especially her work for the homeless Order of the British Empire (OBE) community has not only raised far more for services to health policy. Serrant awareness for them but she has also has also been included on the 2019 improved many of their lives and she and 2020 Powerlist of the 100 most continues to do so. influential Britons of African/African She has gone on to hold positions descent. Laura Serrant Professor nationally and internationally, leading work at NHS England as head of evidence and strategy and working on the Prime Minister’s commission for the review of nursing and midwifery by the Department of Health. Serrant claims that time and time again she has found herself to be the sole voice to represent the minority community within medicine as Manchester Metropolitian’s Head of Nursing, a position which has led her to empower others to join her. Her work has also brought her into the educational field where she currently works part time as a lecturer in Nottingham University.

In 2014, the Health Service Journal compiled a list of the 50 people from Black & Minority ethnicities working within the NHS that are inspiring and

4 | Great Black Briton Gold medalist in both the 5000m and 10,000m.

Sir Mohamed Muktar Jama Farah, and the first in history to defend both CBE OLY, commonly known as Mo distance titles in both major global Farah, is a British distance runner. competitions Since finishing 2nd in the 10,000 metres at the 2011 The most successful British track World Championships in Athletics, athlete in modern Olympic Games Farah had an unbroken streak of ten history, he is the 2012 and 2016 global final.

Mo Farah Olympic gold medallist in both the 5000m and 10,000m. Farah The streak ended in Farah’s final is the second athlete in modern championship track race, when he Olympic Games history to win both finished second to Ethiopia’s Muktar the 5000m and 10,000m titles at Edris in the 2017 5000 metres successive Olympic Games. He also final. In his final track race, the 2017 completed the ‘distance double’ Diamond League Final in Zurich at the 2013 and 2015 World in August 2017, Farah gained his Championships in Athletics. He was revenge, edging out world champion the second man in history to win Edris to win his only IAAF Diamond long-distance doubles at successive League title at 5000 metres. Olympics and World Championships,

A Celebration Of Black History | 5 6 |Great BlackBriton Abdulrahman ‘Abby’ Farah Information Service. including asDirector of theSomali fromcapacities 1951to1961, by hisfather.invarious He served administration, sentthere age17 theTrustwith Territory ofSomaliland Farah beganhisdiplomaticcareer Cardiff RaceRiotsinJune1919. onfromhigh atthetime,following the tensions inSouthEast Wales were Anderson, ran aboarding house.Racial Kingdom.Hismother,United Hilda uponarrival inthe communal support time inneedofaccommodationand tosailors inwar service his community sailor, was awarded who anMBEfor Farah, was aSomalientrepreneur and in Barry, Wales andhisfather Abby Farah was bornon22October1919, governmental organization. Chairperson ofthePaSAGO non- of SomaliatoEthiopia.Hewas the United Nations, and as the Ambassador Representative ofSomaliatothe asthePermanent He served Nations1979-1990. the United General of He was Secretary Deputy born Somalidiplomatandpolitician. 1919 –May14,2018)was aWelsh Abdulrahim Abby Farah (October 22,

Undersecretary General fromUndersecretary 1979 Political Questions, laterbecomingthe Undersecretary-General for Special From 1973to1978,hewas the League ofArab States. Somalia’s representative the within 1978. Additionally, as Farah served Political Questions between 1973and Assistant Secretary-General for Special Council in1972. Heactedasthe NationsSecurity session oftheUnited presiding over aspecial Apartheid, of theUNSpecialCommittee Against to 1972,Farah was theChairperson of Foreign Affairs in1966.From 1969 Director General ofSomalia’s Ministry astheActing concurrently served NationsinNewUnited York City. He Representative ofSomaliatothe to 1972,Farah was thePermanent (OAU) in1964and1965.From 1965 the Organisation ofAfrican Unity at Council ofMinisters meetings of Farah alsorepresented thenation for Africa (ECA) in1962.Ambassador NationsEconomicCommissionUnited acted asSomalia’s representative tothe Somalia’s AmbassadortoEthiopia.He Between 1961and1965,Farah was the United Nations.the United system through hisworkapartheid at of dismantlingtheSouth-African was beinganinstrumental proponent the ageof98.Hisbiggest achievement Chairperson. Farah diedinMay2018at organization’snon-governmental (PaSAGO). asthe Helaterserved African Grassroots Organizations toStrengthen the Partnership In 1998,Farah helpedfound South Africa’. Destructiveits Consequences on and the Declaration onApartheid UN Missionon‘Progress madeon to 1990.In1990,Farah headedthe Dr Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah activist andcontributestosocial activist Zephaniah isananti-racist ralliespolitical andnurseries. at performing for everyone, shouldbeaccessible that poetry War writers. Hestrongly believed one ofTime’s 50greatest Post- 1980. In2008,hewas declared bookin published hisfirst poetry dyslexia.and having At 22he age of13,unabletoread or write, was expelled from schoolatthe musician. novelist/ teacher/ arts actor/ martial professor/ Zephaniah isapoet/ Born andraised inBirmingham, book in1980 his first poetry At 22hepublished Zephaniah Centre inGlasgow. founded thefirst African Caribbean housing crisis. In2009,Campbell poverty, andthe race equality He is also passionate about resolving young age,thisisapersonal issue. after hisschizophrenic motherata Looked After looked Children, having He advocates for therightsof councillor inGlasgow. was thefirst African-Caribbean movement inScotland. He Campbell isamemberof theanti- word empire ontopofallhiswork. He therefore refused toplacethe the government ormonarchy. through notimpress hiswork, people aims are toconnect with andcolonialism. His slavery andfightingagainst equality dedicated hislife topromoting however rejected this. Hehas offered anOBEfor hiswork, based inBirmingham.Hewas Movement Arts to Handsworth campaigns against racial violence police abuseandself-defence regards with to based efforts British’ toorganising community- movements concerning Black A Celebration Of Black History | 7 A Celebration OfBlack History

Graham Campbell 8 |Great BlackBriton John Archer Movement- was unmissable. sun butintheUSby Rights way oftheCivil left-wingemancipatory politics- not just in the year.the following Hisrole and influencein returned tocouncilin1932anddiedsuddenly successfully defended hisseatin1919and Almost nothingisknown ofhisearlylife. He recognises amanfor thework hehasdone.” hasnoracialthat it prejudice and thatit greatest hasdone hasbeentoshow thingit butthe has donemanythingsinthepast, andsayBattersea looktoBattersea will tonight…Inthefuture, people made history Upon hiselectionheproclaimed “You have actually thefirst blackmayor inLondon. the first buthe blackmayor inthe UK, was 1913. and was themayor elected of Battersea in was attheforefront of theLabourParty John Archer (8 June1863–14July1932) Many peoplemistake Archer for being and HoganLovell’s pro bonounit. Leighton Paisner firms suchasSkadden Berwin of haswon thesupport charity The services. in thelegalprofession, amidst arange ofother young peopletosecure work and/or experience for resources, information andopportunities organisation called UrbanLawyers, providing Bar Society. In2010,Tunde founded acharity for Hackney Community LawCentre andBristol persevere against theodds. Heisalsoapatron young peoplefrom similarbackgrounds to remarkable accomplishmentshave inspired his undergraduate grades. Hisjourney and hewaswhere proven tobeasuccesswith barschool, scholarshipa meritorious toattend a director ofthe charity. Hewas thenawarded work tobecome andwasin community invited hecontinuedtoengage thissetback, Despite obtained a2.2inundergraduate studies. person and inhisfamily toattend university the eldest of four children andwas thefirst Dr Tunde Okewale grew upinHackney, being

Dr Tunde Okewale Lemn Sissay Pinter Prize. He was awarded the 2019PEN museum’s fellows. been appointedoneofthe years later, previously having Museum’s board oftrustees two 2015, andjoinedtheFoundling University of Manchester since has beenchancellorofthe the 2012London Olympics Sissay was theofficial poet of English author and broadcaster. Pinter Prize. the 2019PEN Lemn was awarded immigrants who cometoEngland. immigrants who Bitch” ontheinjustices faced by refugees and social conditions. Healsowrote “InglanIsA on thedeathofhisfather in1982,blaming weapon”. Johnsonwrote “ReggaefiDada” was acultural actandpoetry a political African-Caribbean “Writing inBritain: was mainly ontheexperiences ofbeingan Most ofJohnson’s focussing ispolitical, poetry dub-reggae. of hisown verse inJamaicanpatoisover involves therecitation poetry performance in thePenguin ModernClassicsseries. His tobepublished poet andtheonlyblackpoet, 1963. In2002hebecamethesecondliving Kingdomsince has beenbasedintheUnited is aJamaicandubpoet andactivist ,alsoknown asLKJ, , A Celebration Of Black History | 9 A Celebration OfBlack History who who

Linton Kwesi Johnson 10 |Great Black Briton Dianne Abbot and sheheldshadow ministerial positions. onsocialandinternational issues committees parliamentary multiple served Diane Abbott raise achievement towards blackchildren. to workedChild Initiative which particularly the founder oftheLondonSchoolsand Black humans’ rightsawards. became DianeAbbott ofrecognitionand gainedplenty atthe2008 speechoftheyear awards“Parliamentary oftheSpectator’s magazine’sthe winner Counter –Terrorism Bill 2008.Dianebecame duringthedebate liberties a speechoncivil began hercareer in1986.Shemade inpolitics atNewnham College, Cambridge.history She born inPaddington andstudied adegree in broadcaster andacommentator. Shewas she went ontodoinclude:aparliamentarian, House of Commons. woman tobeanMPinthe to beelected Diane Abbot was thefirst BlackBritish boosting SomaliBasketball intheUKandAfrica. has beencelebrated asastrong leadinginfluencein Tanzania andUganda.BanaAlidiedinApril2020 Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia,SouthSudan, in East andEastern Africa includingBurundi,Eritrea, Basketball board member, covering upto10countries From 2010-2014,heasanInternationalFederation of East andCentral Africa’s Basketball InterCity Committee. national basketball team.andwas alsoamemberofthe general andheadofmarketing forsecretary Somalia’s various points over asboththe theyears, heserved University andworked for Transport for London.At hesecuredwhere anengineeringdegree from Middlesex late 1980sbefore theoutbreak ofSomalia’s war, civil Somalia’s war began. civil 2020) andawell-known player inMogadishubefore 1966-28April A basketball enthusiast (11January and central Africa’sand central Member of theeast Sincethenthecareers inter city basketballinter city committee Hemigrated toEurope inthe

Bana Ali Joseph Marcell in speechanddanceatcentral schoolof thentookcoursesat theUniversity ofSheffield the ageof 9. born inSt Lucia butmoved toPeckham at 14August 1948)was Joseph Marcell (born shows inthe80s. andmovies rolesplayed TV manylittle inmanyBritish Midsummer nightdream andOthello. Healso roles Shakespeare inmultiple plays: suchas a Air. Inthebeginningofhiscareer heplayed role ofGeoffrey intheFresh Prince ofBel speech anddrama. Heismost known for his He studied theatre andscience of Sheffield at theUniversity theatre and science Joseph studied Random HouseChildren’s. Crosses series, Crossfire, ispublished by Penguin on BBCOne,andthefifth novel inherNoughts& recently, series Malorie wrote for theDoctorWho 2015 shewas theChildren’s Laureate. Most to children’s literature, andbetween 2013and In 2008Maloriereceived anOBEfor herservices major BBCproduction ofNoughts&Crosses isalsoa Mahfouz ofNoughts&Crosses. There stage adaptationby Sabrina and aPilotTheatre Boy award-winning BBCproduction ofPig-Heart for includingaBAFTA- stage andtelevision, adults. Manyofherbooks have also beenadapted over bookswritten sixty for children andyoung become aprogrammer. MalorieBlackmanhas become anEnglishteacherbutlaterwent onto wantedLondon. Malorieinitially to Clapham in of novels. plenty author towrite Malorie Blackmanwas thefirst BlackBritish

A Celebration Of Black History | 11 A Celebration OfBlack History Shewas born

Malorie Blackman 12 |Great Black Briton people’s isthegenesisoftheirfreedom’. art early celebrations were heldinhallsandwere by epitomised theslogan,‘A she helpedlaunchin1959as an annualshowcase for These Caribbean talent. Hillcarnival,Claudia Joneslasting legacyisundoubtedlytheNotting which black newspaper, West HillCarnival. in1958&Notting IndianGazette (WIG), subsequently resided Kingdom.Shefounded intheUnited Britain’s first major in1955and persecution shewas ofCommunists deported intheUSA, the false nameJonesas“self-protective disinformation”. Duetothepolitical Mary Prince also thereality ofmanyotherslaves. ofpersonal experience theauthority slavery. and with Prince wrote ofslavery experience with legal, andshewrote about herandfamilies unfortunate was still princesbookwas published,slavery to theanti-slave society. When Pringle, anabolitionist andsecretary Thomas After toEngland,sheworked moving for inthefirstreprinted its year of twice release. knownwas around widely theUKandwas Herbook autobiography publishedintheUK. and was thefirst black woman tohave her to escapeslavery. She was anautobiographer wasmarried DanielJames, alsoable amanwho therefore couldn’t beaslave anymore. She developed rheumatism inherjointsand enslaved family. born inBermudaandwas bornintoan Prince 1788–1833)was (1October Mary As shegrew older, she Tobago-born journalist andactivist. December 1964),was aTrinidad and 1915–24 Claudia Jones(21February black nationalist through Communism, using and activist shebecameapolitical where herfamily totheUS,child shemigrated with Founder of Britain’s first majorblack newspaper As a

Claudia Jones born British-based community leader and activist in the feminist, Black inthefeminist, leaderandactivist community born British-based Olive ElaineMorris(26June1952–12July1979)was aJamaican- London and support groups inManchester. Black ShejoinedtheBritish London andsupport theOrganisationco-founding ofWomen ofAfrican andAsian Descentin a key organiser intheBlackWomen’s Movement Kingdom, intheUnited andsquatters’nationalist, rightscampaignsof the1970s. Jawahir Roble the InternationalSomaliAwards. Person oftheYearSports Awards at them. Jawahir was nominatedfor the regardless others maythinkof ofwhat girls like hertopursue their dreams her success. She hopestoencourage asabarrierto her Muslimidentity in Somaliaandhasnever considered war shefledtheongoingcivil when Referee qualification. Football Association’s Level Six Muslim referee andhastheEnglish Jawahir RobleistheUK’s first female Shewas 10 to young Blackwomen. was alsoestablished tooffer bursaries Morris House buildings after herinBrixton Lambeth Council key namedoneofits Road inBrixton. Panthers 121Railton andsquatted Women’s Movement organiser intheBlack Morris was akey . The Olive MorrisFund . The A Celebration Of Black History | 13 A Celebration OfBlack History Morriswas The Olive The

Olive Elaine Morris 14 |Great Black Briton

Leila Hassan Howe New Cross Fire. People’s DayofActionmarch duetothe theBlack In 1981,sheco-organised around blackradical thoughts. releasedit monthlymagazinecentred Today published16books. Additionally, America. From 1977to1988,Race North UK totheBlackPower movement in of topicsfrom inthe blackwomen living she explored anddiscussedavariation editor. Collective, andin1986becoming its founding memberof theRace Today Born ontheJune1948.Hassanwas a Institute ofrace Relations. worked asanInformation Officer for the From movement. 1970,she In thelate1960s, Hassanjoinedthe As afrequent for writer thejournal, inaugural Afria Writes Lifetime Achievement Award. Swanzy Award andtheRoyal African Society’s of Literature’s BensonMedal,theBovas Henry contribution topublishingsuchastheRoyal Society Busby hasreceived various accoladesfor her Warriors, andtheAfrica Centre inLondon.Margaret Fund, Literary on theboards of organisations suchastheRoyal prizes includingtheBooker Prizeliterary andserved Allison &Busby in1967.Shehasjudgedprestigious thepublishingcompany sheco-founded when first and youngest Black female bookpublisher, critic broadcaster andliterary Margaret Busby isaGhanian-bornwriter, editor, Margaret co-founded the publishing company Allison& Busby in1967 Wasafiri magazine,Tomorrow’s . SheisalsoBritain’s

Margaret Busby Beverley Bryan against onthe theracialised attack of racial hatred”. At aprotest Metropolitan policehad“evidence thatthe inBritain acknowledgement resulted inthefirst judicial Nine, theirarrests andacquittal wasAltheia oneoftheMangrove 3000 members. leader ofthemovement ofaround 1970s, shewas considered the PanthersBlack British involved was with heavily Altheia A Tobago andTrinidad native, it won the Martin Luther Kingaward. wonit theMartin inthe1970s. In1986, history and its feminismdiscussed theBlackBritish bookdocumented and authored. This sheco- Lives which inBritain, oftheRace:BlackWomen’sHeart The for; She was publishedby Virago . issues e.g. housing,educationand Women’s Group, taking onsocial and toset uptheBlack 1970s Panthersthe BlackBritish from the was anactive memberof Bryan . Sheworked alongside LizObi . Intheearly and research scientist. at UCLandworked asaphysician completed herPhDinbiochemistry she As well activism, asher political of theblackcommunity. Hill the policepersecution inNotting referredclosing speech,Altheia to as unfittoproduce a fair trial.Inher to dismiss63jurors were who seen to defend themselves inthetrialand andDarcusAltheia Howe’s choices Mangrove Ninewas largely dueto phenomenallegalsuccessofthe The criminal activity. therealthough was of noevidence became thetarget of12raids, span of18months, theMangrove Mangrove, they were arrested. Inthe restaurant hubthe andcommunity biochemistry atUCL biochemistry completed herPhDin Altheia activism, As well aspolitical A Celebration Of Black History | 15 A Celebration OfBlack History

Altheia Jones Lecointe INFLUENTIAL MOVEMENTS

The All Lewisham Campaign Against Racism and (ALCARAF) movement are notably mentioned in the Battle of Lewisham (1977) against Neo-Nazis and the National Front who led a march in Lewisham - an area predominantly populated by minorities - which made for a great target to display their hatred for minorities.

The ALCARAF gathered on 13/08/1977 to fight back against the National Front and the police who were protecting the National Front marchers from being attacked. The ALCARAF (now joined with many of the young people disgusted by the march) blocked the path of the National Front, the ALCARAF clashed severely with the police using every ounce of force that they had to show their anger and disdain.

Due to this unexpected demonstration the police lost control and for the first time in history the police had to bring out riot shields, they also mounted police horses in order to regain control. Not only did this act of bravery show the National Front that they were not as powerful as they had once believed it demonstrated the passion minorities had, they weren’t going to stop fighting back until there was nothing to fight against.

To this day their bravery is celebrated in Lewisham and all across the city, in and out of the parliament. This movement resulted in 200

ALCARAF Movement deaths from police brutality and general violence.

16 | Great Black Briton They weren’t going to stop fighting back until there was nothing to fight against

A Celebration Of Black History | 17 1963 sparked The Bristol Bus Boycott. Led by youth worker Paul Stephenson and the West Indian Development Council

The Bristol Omnibus Company which made “racial discrimination refusing to employ black or asian unlawful in public places” and crews in 1963 sparked The the Race Relations Act 1968, Bristol Bus Boycott. Led by youth which extended the provisions to worker Paul Stephenson and the employment and housing. West Indian Development Council, the boycott of the company’s To begin with, no-one admitted buses lasted for four months the fact black people were banned until the company backed down from working there. Ian Patey, the and overturned the colour bar. general manager of the Bristol Stephenson recalled the year-long Omnibus Company, told the paper bus boycott in Alabama after Rosa that they did employ a few non- Parks famously refused to give up whites but this was labouring her seat. work; he would not tolerate them working as drivers or conductors. The boycott shined a national light For as long as most of the younger to racial discrimination in Britain, staff could remember, the absence where the campaign was supported of any black colleagues had by national politicians, with been an unmistakable, if rarely interventions being made by church acknowledged, fact. Nethercott, groups and the High Commissioner now aged 90, insists the bus for Trinidad and Tobago. The Bristol workers were not motivated by Bus Boycott was considered to colour prejudice but by a fear that

Bristol Bus Boycott Bus Boycott Bristol have been influential in the passing their income would be eroded. of the Race Relations Act 1965

18 | Great Black Briton In 1978 Stella Dadzie, Olive which gave the police the powers Morris, Gail Lewis founded of stop and search without any OWAAD, which over the next cause and was disproportionately four years campaigned on used against young Black men. issues including immigration and The impact of OWAAD and its deportation; domestic violence; initiatives are undeniably powerful exclusion of children from school; and revolutionary. As Stella industrial action by black women; Dadzie (co-founder of OWAAD) policing and defence policies; and emphasised, OWAAD worked health and reproductive rights. to ‘show people sisterhood in operation’. Not only did OWAAD Attracting over 300 women to its take on the responsibility of first national conference, OWAAD upholding the Black-british successfully prompted the community, they also established a establishment of Black women’s legacy of justice and perseverance and Asian Descent and Asian groups across London. The that remains a fundamental pillar ‘’s Black Women’s Group’ of Black British History. Despite opened in London as the first existing for 4 years, OWAAD Black Women’s Centre and Asian effectively provided a safe space and African – Caribbean women for many Black women in London. founded the ‘Southall Black Sisters’ in North West London. As well as its undeniable influence, OWAAD contributed to several campaigns for the progression of the black experience in the United Kingdom. OWAAD joined the campaign to scrap the SUS laws, Organisation of Women of African African of Women of Organisation

Successfully prompting the establishment of Black women’s groups across London

A Celebration Of Black History | 19 In Britain, protests have been taking Then five years after it began and place around the country in over 150 elsewhere conversations about the need locations. Solidarity marches and rallies to confront colonial and imperial histories have been held in even small towns are finally being given attention. The and cities that have seen little political numbers of people going to protests mobilisation in the past decade, from taking place across the country have Torquay to Tunbridge Wells. been huge, with protests in London still attracting as many as 10,000 people In the major cities, the backdrop of each week. The slow-motion execution of Covid-19 has meant smaller protests George Floyd has ignited an incandescent have sprung up in local neighbourhoods social movement. and communities, rather than the usual choreography of centralised city centre In every state and around the world, demonstrations. In Bristol, the statue people of all colours, genders, and ages of slave trader Edward Colston was have come together to march in fury and pulled down and thrown into the river in in hope, to renounce the past and redeem a glorious moment of mass, collective, the future. reclaiming of the public space.

At Oxford University, the campaign to remove the statue of Cecil Rhodes has In every state and around the world, almost secured victory. people of all colours, genders, and ages have come together Black Lives Matter UK Matter Black Lives

20 | Great Black Briton By 1970, the British gained around 3000 members

Inspired by the US Black Panther Howe. The BPP was initially Party, The British Black Panthers named the British Black Power (BBP) or the British Black Movement but underwent a name- Panther movement (BPM) was change. By 1970, the British Black a Black Power organization in Panthers gained around 3000 the United Kingdom that fought members and reached its peak for the rights of Black people and in a trial known as peoples of colour in the country. Nine Trial where black activists They sought to educate Black and other members of the party communities and campaign against did demonstrations against police racial discrimination. Like the US raids on the Mangrove, a Black- , they were owned restaurant. They also fought established to fight against racism, against the repatriation bill – a bill segregation and police brutality. which would send Commonwealth citizens to their ‘home’ Countries – The formation of the BBP was and succeeded. inspired by Malcom X’s visit to the UK in 1964-65 and Stokely Despite being a strong example of British Black Panthers Carmichael’s address at the Black-unity, liberation and exposing Dialectics of Liberation Congress the injustices of the British Police, in London 1967. It was founded in the BPP were eventually dissolved Brixton – which was notorious for in 1973 due to various reasons police violence against black people such as British police creating and anti-racist uprisings. Founders specific branches to infiltrate and include Obi Egbuna, Linton Kwesi- harass them. Johnson, Olive Morris and Darcus

A Celebration Of Black History | 21 FURTHER RESOURCES

Most of the information we found was available to us online. If you enjoyed this booklet then please check out some of these organisations that are dedicated to educating the community on Black British history and sharing stories from the unheard. Get in contact with your schools and local youth councils to see how you can push for a fairer curriculum and representation in your community. Migration Museum The Black Curriculum A is for Activism Black Cultural Archives BlackBritishHistory.co.uk

22 | Great Black Briton LEAD AND BE LED INFORMATION

Lead and Be Led is a youth leadership perspective. Social action projects can programme designed to produce young be just like the brochure you’re reading leaders within the UK. Our programme now, or a podcast, film, play, event – aims to bring out the very best in each anything our young people want to put young person to ensure that they access their minds to. the opportunities to improve their lives. The Anti-Tribalism Movement’s mission If you’re interested in our leadership of creating fairer communities free of programme and want to work with us tribalism is rooted in improving life- in creating further social action projects chances for young people to steer them as a young person OR would like to away from divisive ideals. collaborate with the Anti-Tribalism Movement then please follow us on The key goal for our programme is instagram and twitter @movementatm. to ensure that young people in our community are given the courage to develop their leadership skills and be a support system for those seeking any opportunity presented to them. Lead and Be Led trains youth aged 16-24 on important leaderships skills that can be used in various aspects of daily life such as confidence building, time management, decision making, critical thinking and much more. Connect with us on By the end of the programme, our instagram and twitter: young people work together to create a social action campaign and put their @movementatm skills to practice as they create a project advocating for change from a youth

A Celebration Of Black History | 23 Learn more about us and our work: theatm.org