It’s Black History Month in the UK this month, and we’re celebrating the contributions of Black British people. In this week’s blog, we’re looking at some spectacular Black Londoners from present day and history. 

 

Stormzy

This famous musician shot to fame in 2014, and has gone on to do incredible things ever since. Stormzy, real name Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr., was raised in Thornton Heath in South London. He made history as the first solo Black artist to headline the Glastonbury music Festival. Since gaining popularity, he has used his fame to contribute to the black community by creating the #Merky Foundation which has promised to donate £10 million over ten years to charities and other organisations committed to tackling racial inequality in the UK. The foundation has also helped provide scholarships for Black students attending Cambridge university.

Listen Stormzy’s song Superheroes, which is a celebration of Black Lives, in the video above.

 

John Richard Archer

London’s first Black Mayor, John Richard Archer, became mayor of Battersea on 10th November 1913 aged fifty years old. born in Liverpool, Archer settled in London with his wife in the 1890s where he studied medicine and opened a photographic studio. He was nominated for Mayor of Battersea in 1913, winning by 40 votes to 39, and gave a memorable victory speech: 

“My election tonight means a new era. You have made history tonight. For the first time in the history of the English nation a man of colour has been elected as mayor of an English borough.

“That will go forth to the coloured nations of the world and they will look to Battersea and say Battersea has done many things in the past, but the greatest thing it has done has been to show that it has no racial prejudice and that it recognises a man for the work he has done.”

Learn more about John Richard Archer in this Youtube video.

 

Diane Abbott

The first ever Black Female Member of Parliament, Diane Abbot is the country’s longest serving black politician in the House of Commons. She is MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, in London. Born in Paddington, London, Diane Abbott has also created the Diane Abbott Foundation, which undertakes research into the causes, and manifestations of, racial disparity in the United Kingdom. She speaks frequently about her views on human rights issues, as well as issues surrounding race and equality.

Learn more about Diane Abbott’s time at Cambridge University and her thoughts on Black History education in this Youtube video.

 

Naomi Campbell

One of the greatest supermodels in history, Naomi Campbell grew up in Streatham, South London. Naomi was the first black model to appear on the cover of “French Vogue”, and also appeared in Bob Marley’s music video “Is this love” at the age of 7. She has worked closely with many famous fashion designers throughout her career. Campbell has also founded 2 charitable organisations, Fashion Relief, which raised over $1 million for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in the United States, as well as We Love Brazil, which targeted poverty through supporting local artisans.

Learn more about Naomi Campbell’s iconic career in this video.

 

Mary Jane Seacole

British-Jamaican nurse, healer and business woman Mary Jane Seacole lived from 1805 to 1881. She set up the ‘British Hotel’ behind the lines during the Crimean War. Seacole approached the British Government for funding for her project, but was refused. Despite this, she funded her own travel to Crimea (now part of Ukraine) and created her ‘British Hotel’. The hotel provided a place where sick and recovering soldiers could rest and receive treatment. During the war, Mary was as well-known in Britain as Florence Nightingale, because her work was so impactful. 

You can find out more about Mary Seacole’s life in this BBC video.

 

Mo Farah

The Olympic champion Mo Farah, fled Somalia with his family when he was young. After arriving in the UK, he attended Feltham Community College and Isleworth & Syon School as he grew up in Hounslow. He is the most successful British track athlete in modern Olympic history, he has 4 Olympic gold medals, and a world record. He also set up the Mo Farah Foundation in 2011, which is a charity focused on health improvement, education and the alleviation of poverty in the horn of Africa and the UK.

In this video Mo Farah shares his experience being a world class athlete and a devout Muslim. 

 

Olaudah Equiano

Equiano (1745 -1797) was one of the most important Africans involved in the British movement towards the abolition of the enslavement of Africans. After being enslaved as a child in Africa, he was taken to the Caribbean and sold as a slave to a Navy officer. He was sold twice more but purchased his freedom in 1766, after which he moved to London. He then published his autobiography in 1789, which depicted the horrors of his life in slavery. This book became very popular, educating a lot of people, and helped to pass the Slave Trade Act of 1807 which was the first step in abolishing the slave trade.

This quick video explains a little more about Equiano’s life story.

 

 

If you’d like to learn more about Black History Month, visit the organisations website by clicking here.