ROY FRANCIS 

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​​' WRITTEN OUT OF HISTORY' -Celebrating Black History Month. 
 

October in Britain is Black History Month, a vital opportunity to learn, reflect, and celebrate aspects of Black history that often go unnoticed or unrecognised. For many, the term "Black history" may seem vague or nebulous. What does it truly mean? While we might confidently identify Caribbean, African, or British histories, "Black history" often remains less clear. This is where Black History Month serves as a crucial reminder to explore and reflect on a history that has frequently been overlooked or denied. Fortunately, a new generation of historians, many of whom are Black, is rewriting much of what we thought we knew, offering fresh perspectives and narratives.

 

A History Written Out

Britain is a nation fascinated by its own history. Yet, in many period dramas, Black individuals are conspicuously absent, leading to a one-dimensional portrayal of the past. This lack of representation fails to acknowledge that Black people have been an integral part of Britain for centuries. As Peter Fryer notes in Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain, “Africans were in Britain before the English,” yet this fact is often obscured in historical programming.

Historians like David Olusoga echo Fryer’s sentiments, revealing that Black people were present in Britain long before their contributions became widely recognised. For instance, during the Tudor era, Black individuals were so prevalent that in 1590, Elizabeth I issued a proclamation to expel “blackamoors” (a term used for Black people) out of the country. However, one would scarcely know this from watching Tudor dramas, which often depict an entirely white England.

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The 18th century offers another example. The Gentleman’s Magazine reported that there were approximately 20,000 Black servants living in London, many brought over from the West Indies by plantation owners, while others made their way to England after the American war of independence. They worked as servants in Britain, and some like Ignatius Sancho and Olaudah Equiano, gained their freedom, but most lived their entire lives as the property of their owners. When they were deemed no longer useful, they could be found in the East End of London, struggling to survive among the poor and destitute.

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​Contributions During the Wars

In more recent history, during the First and Second World Wars, Black individuals once again contributed to Britain’s efforts for ‘King and Country.’ Many forget that the conflict was not just between Germany and Britain, but also involved the British Empire, which supplied over three million soldiers. Despite this, the annual Memorial Services at the Cenotaph in London often feature few Black soldiers, highlighting the lack of national recognition for the role Black people played in these wars.

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The Windrush Generation

In the 1960s, the Windrush Generation arrived in Britain. There was hope that things might improve, as the physical presence of thousands of Caribbeans became hard to ignore. However, little was known about them, and what was publicly acknowledged was often negative. They were primarily seen as ‘immigrants’ or, at best, workers, and although they came with their own history, culture and traditions, they were not considered important or worthy enough for attention. This alone is reason enough to have a Black History Month—to set the record straight, learn this vital aspect of British history, and ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past or lose sight of our future by forgetting the past.

My Journey in Chronicling Black History

Three years ago, I embarked on a personal journey to chronicle Black history in Britain, driven by my background in politics and a fascination with history. My focus has been on gospel music in the UK, exploring how West Indian church music fused with Black American gospel to create a distinct British gospel sound, now heard across churches, concert halls, and even in royal palaces.

Following the success of my first book, (How to make gospel music successful) I wrote a second (Windrush and the Black Pentecostal church in Britain) focusing on the experiences of Christians from the Windrush Generation. This work highlights how Pentecostal Caribbeans established their families, churches, and communities in Britain, contributing significantly to the society we have today.

 

In my forthcoming book, Windrush: 7 Events That Changed Britain, I weave together themes from my earlier works, exploring pivotal moments in the history of Caribbean people in Britain. It recounts the long struggle to make racial discrimination illegal in Britain, led by figures like Harold Moody, Sir Learie Constantine, and Claudia Jones—individuals whose contributions remain largely forgotten yet were crucial in shaping current laws.

The history of the Notting Hill Carnival shares a similar trajectory, rooted in resistance and defiance, it originated in Trinidad during the era of slavery, it is deeply rooted in resistance of the enslaved, and in the 18th-century, it emerged as a form of rebellion among enslaved people who were barred from the masquerade balls and celebrations that their master’s held at the end of the sugar cane season. The enslaved responded by forming their own masquerade celebrations, - "Canboulay" or "Cannes Brûlées," which over time grew into Carnival as we know today. This spirit carried over into Britain, with Trinidadian activist Claudia Jones organising the first Carnival at St Pancras Town Hall in London,; in response to the racially motivated murder of Kelso Cochrane in Notting Hill.

Today, the Notting Hill Carnival is a well-established event which is synonymous with the August Bank Holiday Weekend in Britain. It stands as one of the lasting legacies of the Windrush generation, attracting over 2 million visitors each year, including thousands of international tourists who come to celebrate Caribbean culture. It's second only to Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival, the world's largest Carnival, and significantly contributes over £93 million to London's economy, supporting over 3,000 full-time jobs, with those attending over the three days, spending over £45 million.

Complexity of History

 

History is not merely a collection of dates and events; it is a living narrative that continues to evolve and in Windrush: 7 Events That Changed Britain, I  tell a personal story that showcase how Caribbeans transformed Britain, while being transformed themselves by the experience. Thankfully, a new generation of historians is actively debunking traditional narratives, and moving toward a more inclusive account of the past—one that recognises multiple perspectives and voices, rather than one solely written by the victors, and in so doing play a crucial part in shaping Britain's evolving national identity.

 

 

 

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