Jamaica's Mary Seacole Named Greatest Black Briton
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• �IN t Jamaica'sM Seacole name greatest Black Briton; AMAICAN-BORN Mary Seacole Jwas named the "Greatest Black Briton" after topping the vote in a campaign that was launched last October to name the 100 Greatest Black Britons. The announcement was made at a ceremony held at the National Army Museum, which on Monday launched a special exhibition on the Crimean War and has a permanent display on Mary Seacole. The project was launched dunng the observation of Britain's Black History Month. The man behind the concept, Patrick Vernon, said the aim was to bring about a balance to the BBC's campaign to name 100 Great Briton� that did not include anyone from the SEACOLE ... named the greatest Black ethnic minority communities. Briton Other outstanding persons making the top 10 include: the list and questions about some of . those named to it. • Jamaican-born boxer, Lennox LeWis; • Bishop of Croydon, Wilfred Woods and But Vernon, who announced the Bishop OA Lyseight (Jamaican-born) results of the four-month vote, said that sharing the number two spot; one of the project's main goals was to Mary Prince, the first black woman to create discussion and debate. He publish a novel in Britain; conceded that the final list was really only one of hundreds of possible lists • sprinter Linford Christie; • that could be made. Olaudah Equiano, described as Black "The popularity and success of the Britain's political founding father; campaign highlights the fact �hat bl ck • Queen Phillipa; � history in Britain is intertWined With • jazz musician, Courtney Pine; British history. We have launched the LEWIS ... also made the list • Sir Bill Morris and newscaster, results to coincide with Black History Sir Trevor McDonald, share contribution to the care and welfare of Month in the United States because we seventh place; British soldiers during the Crimean War have our own successes and • singer, Dame Shirley Hassey; as had gone mostly unacknowledged. achievements that need to be well as The president of the Royal College acknowledged," he said. • late member of parliament, Bernie of Nursing, Sylvia Denton, also The 100 Great Black Britons had the Grant and Professor Stuart Hall. welcomed the result. support of the . Greater London According to Vernon, the 100 Great "It is wonderful news. What an Authority (GLA) and was launched by Black Britons website received more achievement. A black Jamaican woman the mayor of London, Ken Livingston. than one million visitors with 10 per cent in the 19th century, Mary Seacole stood The GLA's policy advisor on race, !S actually voting. The project sparked up against the d criminatio� and Jamaican-born Lee Jasper, welcomed debate in the UK about the role of the prejudices she enci.9Untered. Agamst all the naming of Mary Seacole as the black and ethnic minority community in odds, Mary had an unshakable belief in Greatest Black Briton. British history and development. There the power of nursing to make a He said it was significant, as her was also a debate about the make up of difference," she said. ----�------------�----------�==�--�· JAI'v\Ai'"',-. 1'\IATIONAL LIB'RARY Of .