WWhy have we been forgotten?? AnAn EducationalEducational GuideGuide toto TheThe HistoryHistory ofof BlackBlack PeoplePeople PastPast andand PresentPresent Azumah Kwartey Titus - Glover BA (Hons) MSc © Copyright 2004 Azumah Kwartey Titus-Glover. AKT Glover asserts his moral right to be known as the author of this work. Educational organisations may reproduce parts of this book for educational training purposes and their own internal use. All sources must be credited. Reproduction for any other purpose or storage in a retrieval system requires the prior written consent of the author Azumah Kwartey Titus-Glover Fata He BME Development The Welcome Hall 4 Fore Street Devonport Plymouth Devon PL1 4DW This book has been written as an educational aid to assist children, young people, and their families and communities in better understanding the many issues facing Black people in schools, the workplace and other areas where they come into contact with people from wider communities. Designed and typeset by AKT Glover Cover design by AKT Glover This book is dedicated in loving memory of my father. This book is dedicatedA proud in Black loving African memory of my father. IsaacA proud Titus Black -AfricanGlover Isaac 1916Titus -1972-Glover 1916 -1972 This book Is Dedicated In memory of my loving father A proud ‘African’ Isaac Titus-Glover ThisThis book book is dedicated in loving memory Whois dedicated inspired inme loving from memory an early age. ofof my my father. father. AA proud proud Black Black African African IsaacIsaac Titus-Glover Titus-Glover 19161916 -1972 -1972 Picture taken shortly after my father arrived in England after being torpedoed by a U-boat in 1944, while serving in the Merchant Navy. Voices From the Past Do not forget me, or my brothers and sisters. We existed in the past and through you we will exist long into the future. Do not weep for me children for you were born to change our future. Hold your head high, and be proud on account of the colour of your skin and who you are – an individual who holds the history of many. Do not fight the person who calls you names, or use similar foulness to challenge them. Look, listen and learn from your parents and elders, for those that do will develop a powerful tool – your voice, a voice which will be added to the many (A.K. Titus-Glover, 2004). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I was inspired to undertake writing this book on the history of Black people, past and present, by a few members of a community who at a meeting one day in April 2001, reached a unanimous decision that they did not wish to receive racism awareness training. Sadly, other members of communities including our own Black children, are being denied the right to being able to fully understand issues of identity, who they are, and why the history of Black people has been forgotten, and the many positive contributions that Black people have made in this country. I hope that this book, a positive image of Black people, will encourage everyone to make their own informed decisions. I personally wish to thank my wife, Jenny for her patience, encouragement and support. To the many sincere and unselfish Black people I have come into contact with, who gave of their time to discuss their own personal issues, which affect them and their children, often on a daily basis, many, many thanks . To Valena Jones, Principal at Parkside Community College, Barbara Mitchell, my Access course English tutor at Estover Community College, my tutors at the College of St Mark and St John, Plymouth and PhD Supervisors at the University of Plymouth, you have taught me so much and contributed so much to my learning. A very special ‘thank you to you all’. Finally, to my family, both in Ghana, West Africa and England, and in particular my children, Kerry,(who sadly died on 16 August 2003, at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth) Trevor, Sonia, Chelsea, Sonny and Charlie, whose love has kept me focussed. This book is also dedicated to you. ‘TO ALL STUDENTS – BLACK AND WHITE’ ‘…You will hear much about careers, security and prosperity. I will leave the discussion of such matters to your deans, your principals and your valedictorians. But I do have a graduation thought to pass along to you. Whatever career you may choose for yourself – doctor, lawyer, teacher – let me propose an avocation to be pursued along with it. Become a dedicated fighter for civil rights. Make it a central part of your life. It will make you a better doctor, a better lawyer, a better teacher. It will enrich your spirit as nothing else possibly can. It will give you that rare sense of nobility than can only spring from love and selflessly helping your fellow man. Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in’. (Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. 18 April 1959) CONTENTSCONTENTS Page no. PART 1 1-7 Introduction PART 2 8-10 Images of Black people PART 3 A brief history of slavery – ‘how it all began’ 11-15 The roots of racism Slavery Statistics The carriers Delivered to Taken from Slave labour PART 4 The county of Devon and its role in slavery 16-19 Sir John Hawkins The bones of Rapparee Cove, Ilfracombe PART 5 The transatlantic triangle 20-21 From Africa to the New World PART 6 22-30 Historical calendar of the early dispersal of Black people in Britain PART 7 31-32 The survival of slaves in England PART 8 33-49 The forgotten history of Black people in Britain, and their positive contribution to early British society Page no. Olaudah Equiano John Richard Archer Walter Tull Arthur Warton Great Black Inventors Achievements of Black and minority ethnic women Mary Seacole Sophia Duleep Singh Noor Inyat Khan Grunwick 1976 PART 9 50-57 The War years and Britain’s first race riot The outbreak of War and Black participation Record of achievement Britain’s first race riot 1919 Black people’s participation in World War 2 PART 10 58-61 The post-war period – rejection of the Black community in Britain. A dream that turned into a nightmare – the ‘Windrush’ experience The 1958 riots against racism PART 11 62-77 Legislation – Britain’s answer in controlling and reducing the number of Black people in, and entering the country 1824 Vagrancy Act 1948 Nationality Act 1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1965 Race Relations Act 1968 Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1968 Race Relations Act 1971 Immigration Act 1976 Race Relations Act 1981 & 1983 British Nationality Acts 1985 Schengen Agreement 1987 Immigration (Carrier’s Liability) Act 1993 Asylum & Immigration Appeals Act 1996 Asylum & Immigration Act 1998 Human Rights Act 1998 Crime & Disorder Act 2000 Race Relations (Amendment) Act Page no. PART 12 78-84 The issues What is racism? Race discrimination Institutional racism The murder of Stephen Lawrence 1993 85-87 PART 13 National and local response to institutional racism PART 14 88-93 Roll of honour – how many more racist deaths? 94-97 PART 15 Equal opportunities Issues – national and local 98-102 PART 16 Control and resistance The police, and the lead up to the 1981 riots The police response to Black and minority ethnic communities 103-109 PART 17 A calendar of hope and despair PART 18 110-112 Conclusion and future directions PARTPARTPART 111 IntroductionIntroductionIntroduction OutlineOutlineOutline ofofof thethethe bookbookbook Unfortunately, we live in a racist society in which Black people continue to be at the receiving end of deprivation,disadvantage and victimisation. Much has been written over the years on race and racism. Jacobs, suggests that racism is a deep-rooted social and economical phenomenon in modern society, and that society must strive for change in combating discrimination, harassment and prejudice (Jacobs, 1988). It is against the background of heightened racism experienced by Black and minority ethnic communities that this educational Black history awareness book has been written. My first experience of racism took place where I was born in Notting Hill, West London, where race riots occurred in 1958. Racism can, and does leave mental scars on some Black individuals, and their families which may never heal. Growing up in an environment, where you might be treated differently, and where exclusion might be the norm for those with a visible skin colour is not easy. The provision of statutory services such as education and the criminal justice system are no exception. As this is where many young Black people and their parents may first encounter racism, discrimination and the negative stereotyping which impacts on their lives. I sincerely hope that this book highlights some of the inefficiencies of statutory and voluntary and community sector organisations in being able to understand how racism impacts on the lives of Black and minority ethnic people,and equally more important acknowledges the experiences of how Black and minority ethnic communities are further isolated in predominantly white areas. There are clearly problems within small urban conurbations, such as the City of Plymouth which unintentionally serves to discriminate against Black and minority ethnic people through colour- blind attitudes and behaviour which impacts on their quality of life, in communities and in the inability of key service providers engaging with such families, groups, and individuals. Awareness and education are said to be the key to combating racism as it may enable ALL individuals to gain a better understanding and knowledge of racism in contemporary British society. The enclosed parts of this book provide an overview of the history of Black people, immigration and, contrary to public opinion, acknowledges the fact that Black people have been present in Britain as early as the first century AD.