BLACK HISTORY MATTERS Volume 1 MADE IN MANCHESTER BLACK CONTENTS HISTORY MATTERS MADE IN MANCHESTER 6 LEN JOHNSON 10 ADERONKE APATA As home of the industrial revolution, Manchester and the whole north-west of England have played a part in shaping 12 MANJEET KAUR events on the world stage. This book is dedicated to shining a light on some of 14 the people who have done extraordinary LEMN SISSAY things, and shaped events, both in the north-west and further afield, those who 17 OLIVE MORRIS have helped to build communities, or understanding, or ideas that have 20 impacted the lives of ordinary people. CHRIS OFILI ‘Made in Manchester’ takes a brief look at the lives and contributions of just 23 GUS JOHN some of the notable Black people who have come from Manchester or made n Published by: 26 the north-west their home, MANCHESTER STAND UP TO RACISM RAMILA PATEL remembering that these are just a October 2020 n Cover concept and illustration: 30 handful from amongst the multitude of Ruby Sherwood-Martin DR ERINMA BELL Black folks that have helped to build the n Design and production: region over the years. Andy Smith & Denise Bell 32 The book is dedicated to the memory n Printed by: Rapspiderweb, Oldham ANWAR DITTA of Olaudah Equiano, who is known as n Thanks to Raf Mulla and Mark Krantz for the ‘Father of Black Literature’ in the UK, help with the editing of this book 34 n CLR JAMES and who inspired so many that followed Manchester mural of George Floyd by Akse him in the centuries afterwards. n To buy more copies of this book please 36 WILLIAM ANDREW BELL We hope that you enjoy this snapshot email: [email protected] and welcome contributions and ideas as n Follow us on Twitter: @Manchester_SUTR to who to include in the next volume. n Facebook: @ManchesterStandUp 38 OLAUDAH EQUIANO 2 3 CONTRIBUTORS INTRODUCTION n Len Johnson n Ramila Patel Hello ! My name is Tamera. to make a difference here in my DEEJ MALIK-JOHNSON is a GEOFF BROWN is writing a I’m 15 years old and live in own country, but also in my own co-founder of Black Lives history ‘from below’ of the fight Manchester. city. I wanted to learn about and Matter Manchester, the Len against racism and fascism in I became more active as an be inspired by the people who Johnson Memorial Campaign the 1970s anti-racist after the death of fought and challenged racism in and ROSA Consultancy George Floyd. Along with most the streets and places I know. n Dr Erinma Bell people it made me feel sick and I was asked to write this n Aderonke Apata LAMIN TOURAY led a campaign angry. But I did not want to just be foreword, so I got to read all the JON-CONNOR LYONS is a that forced his Drama College angry, I wanted to take action so I chapters before anyone else. I Manchester Labour Councillor to acknowledge they were took part in protests and helped had never heard of most of these racist lead some, but I also wanted to people. There are people here I n Manjeet Kaur n learn. I wanted to learn about can relate to. I went through NAHELLA ASHRAF is co-chair Anwar Ditta fighting racism and about the care system like of Manchester Stand Up To VIJAY JAGADESHAM is a Black history. Lemn Sissay. My mum Racism human rights barrister who During an online IMAGE was a kid in apartheid represents asylum-seekers meeting with other South Africa, so n Lemn Sissay students, teachers, NEEDED Ramila Patel’s fight MOLLY BURBRIDGE started the n CLR James and activists we talked HERE clicked, and my mum online learning platform RAF MULLA is a long standing about how Black was also cruelly treated Alternative Curriculum campaigner for racial and history was taught in as an asylum seeker like JEANNIE BOYLE helped launch social justice schools. During Black Manjeet Kaur. Seeing parts of MUFC fans against racism History Month in my school, we my life in other people is n William Andrew Bell covered the same people and inspiring. n Olive Morris MARK KRANTZ is a long topics: Rosa Parks, Martin I hope you enjoy this first RAF MULLA is a long standing standing anti racist Luther King and slavery. Rosa volume of Black History Matters: campaigner for racial and campaigner Parks, Martin Luther King and Made in Manchester. If you are a social justice slavery again and again! We teacher, I hope it will give you n Olaudah Equiano watched the same films, looked ideas and confidence to explore n Chris Ofili LUCY MAIR is a human rights at the same websites and read Black History in your schools. Or EMMA MARTIN is an artist, barrister who represents the same books over and over. It if you are a student like me, I hope living and working in asylum-seekers and victims of made it seem that there were no it will help you see yourselves in Manchester. modern day slavery Black British heroes and that the the people who have made a fight against racism was just in difference and inspire you to n Gus John America. I felt let down by the make change happen. AMEEN HADI is the Chair of lack of representation. That is This pamphlet is a starting North West Unison Black when we discussed the idea of point, perhaps you want to Members Committee making this pamphlet. suggest people to include in As a young black person, I volume 2 or write a chapter for us wanted to know about people yourself? who had contributed and fought Tam, October 2020 4 5 First World War the Johnsons returned to Manchester and Len found work as an apprentice at a factory. It was after a fight with another apprentice that Billy decided to take Len and his Pictures: Manchester Libraries Pictures: Manchester brother to a nearby boxing gym to train and ultimately this was the start of Len’s boxing career. Between 1921 and 1933 Len fought 127 times winning 92, losing 29 and drawing six, LEN JOHNSON defeating some of the most world-renowned Middle and Cruiser weights. Len was due his shot at the British championship, but racist Incredible Mancunian campaigners and the home secretary Winston Churchill activist and organiser along with others, pressured the British Boxing Board of Control to introduce Rule 24. This IMAGE forbade non-white contestants Len Johnson was born in wartime hero, trade unionist in title fights. This meant that as Clayton, Manchester on 22nd and writer. NEEDED a Black British boxer, Len was October 1902, the first son of During his childhood the not allowed to compete for titles. Sierra Leonean William Johnsons were part of a small Despite protests, the ban Johnson (Billy) and Irish Black community in HERE continued until 1947 and Len Mancunian Margaret Johnson Manchester. Prejudice and retired to train other local young (née Maher). racism were rife and Len’s boxers. Although Len gained fame as mother was physically attacked During the Second World War a boxer, he was much more than and targeted by other white he served as a rescue foreman that. Even though he was denied women. Struggling to find stable putting out fires in Gorton and the opportunity to be a champion work in Manchester, the family Moss Side and saving lives of in the ring he was most definitely would travel with Billy around those bombed out by the Nazi considered a champion of the the country where he would blitz. people. Amongst his titles, he earn money as a boxer. Inspired by the fight against was a campaigner, organiser, Following the outbreak of the fascism, Len got involved in left >>> 6 7 >>> wing politics, he joined the Communist Party and became a IMAGE Breaking the leading member. NEEDED Len Johnson was invited to join the 5th Pan African HERE colour bar at the Conference (PAC) held in Manchester in 1945. Here, Black leaders from Old Abbey pub around the world discussed their plans for anti-racism and in Hulme independence, these attendees went on to be key figures in the first free governments of Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Kenya. Len went on to co-found the New International Club in 1946. This served Manchester’s growing Black population and was a welcoming space for its black and white workers. Members successfully campaigned around many causes, including desegregating lines at Labour Exchanges and overturning the laying off of Black sailors. In his later years Len continued to train young boxers and he campaigned for discovered Len it was a On Monday 28th September Party, Wilf was secretary of the improved safety standards in revelation. Here was this 1953 Len Johnson and Wilf Moss Side branch. With over boxing and the need for more incredible Mancunian activist Charles, a scaffolder, walked into 30,000 members nationally it sports facilities for working and organiser who did so much the Old Abbey pub in Hulme. was the most active force on the class children. Len passed away for the community and laid the Len, a lifelong teetotaller, left at the time. They wrote up in 1974 whilst living in Oldham, foundations for so many of us to asked to be served and was the story for the party’s paper, aged 71. build on. refused. Johnson and Charles the Daily Worker, and went to After being involved in On a personal note the fact protested strongly without the town hall to get support organising Black Lives Matter that he was a mixed race man is success and left the pub.