Introduction
Most of us over the age of 30 remember
our school history lessons. We all learned
about notable figures and events from
the past: Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar,
progress in medicine and hygiene,
Edward Jenner and vaccination, Florence
Nightingale and the Crimean War. Nearly
all our history lessons were about the
achievements of European Society and
of white people. We learned very little of
the contribution to civilisation of NonEuropean Societies or of people that
weren’t white.
How many of us learned about the Black
Roman Emperor, Septimus Severus?
How many of us knew of the huge
contribution made to science and
medicine by Muslim scientists in The
Middle Ages? Who ever taught us that
the most advanced and prosperous city
in Europe in the Middle Ages was Muslim
Córdoba in Spain? When did we ever
learn of the Muslim and Indian doctors
that were using vaccination years before
Jenner? Who knew of the soldier’s
favourite nurse in the Crimean War –
Black Jamaican nurse Mary Seacole?
And it was not just history lessons. How
many of us know that huge chunks of
our mathematical heritage come from the
Muslim world? The numbers we use
today are called “Arabic numerals”
because they were given to us by Muslim
mathematicians; the word “algebra” is an
Arabic word because Muslim
Celebrating Black History
mathematicians invented it and the
concept of the number zero was given to
us by the Maya of Central America, who
passed it on to the Spanish, who then
brought it to Europe in the 16th Century.
Until then there was absolutely no
concept of zero in European Society.
Black History Month seeks to address
this imbalance and to promote the
important and positive contributions to
society by Black people.
Well before a man of Kenyan heritage
became the first black President of the
United States of America, in 2008,
members of the Black and Asian
communities have contributed greatly to
world civilisation.
In celebration of their achievements,
Cheshire, Halton and Warrington Race
and Equality Centre has produced a
unique exhibition. Some of the key
figures in Black and Asian History are
highlighted in this booklet that you may
take away.
The exhibition covers those that have
contributed to advancement in the areas
of Science, Literature, Architecture, the
Arts, Politics and Sport.
We hope you enjoy the exhibition and
we thank you for attending.
PAGE 1
Septimus Severus
- Black Roman Emperor, 146-211
Harriet Tubman - Abolitionist, 1820-1913
A runaway slave, Tubman went on to aid the escape of
hundreds of slaves via the Underground Railroad, a
network of houses willing to help those on their way to
freedom in Canada. Nicknamed "Moses", she later
served in the Civil War.
Septimus Severus was born at Leptis Magna in Libya in
AD 146. He belonged to a class of Romanised Africans
and received a good education in his native province.
After the murder of Marcus Aurelius' son Commodus,
Septimus, supported by the provincial legions, became
Roman Emperor in AD193. He died in Britain, at York,
in AD 211.
Dadabhai Naoroji – Political Leader,
First ever minority MP born 1825
Nanny - Maroon Leader, active 1720-34
Naoroji was a Parsi intellectual whose book entitled,
“Poverty and Un-British Rule in India”, brought into the
limelight the drain of India's wealth into Britain. He was
a MP in the House of Commons between 1892 and
1895. He was the first Asian to be a British MP. He is
also credited with the founding of the Indian National
Congress, alongside, A.O. Hume and Dinshwe Edulji
Wacha.
A national heroine of Jamaica, Queen Nanny was a
famous Maroon leader who frequently attacked slave
traders and is believed to have freed hundreds of
slaves. A symbol of Maroon resistance, she is thought
to have been killed by British forces.
Olaudah Equiano - Writer, Explorer, 1745-97
Equiano's autobiography, “The Interesting Narrative of
the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the
African”, is one of the most important works to address
abolition. A former slave who bought his freedom, he
toured the UK talking about his experiences.
John Archer
- First Black Mayor in Britain, 1863-1932
Born in Liverpool, his father was a ship’s steward from
Barbados. In his late 20s he moved to London and was
elected to Battersea Council in 1906. In 1913, he
became Mayor of Battersea, thus becoming the first
black mayor of a British borough.
Mary Seacole - Nurse, 1805-81
Seacole rose to prominence during the Crimean War
when she funded her own journey to Turkey after
British authorities refused her offers of help. There she
opened a hospital, and became a popular figure in
Britain, receiving various awards for bravery.
Mahatma Gandhi
- Spiritual and Political Leader, born 1869
Gandhi played a pivotal role in winning freedom for
India. Gandhi’s political views were largely shaped
when he travelled to South Africa. The ill-treatment of
Indians in South Africa led him to re-evaluate both his
life and the treatment of his people in British-ruled India.
He would adopt a life-long vow of non-violence and
completely dedicated his life to the service of humanity.
He was assassinated in 1948.
Bussa - Slave Leader, died 1816
A national hero of Barbados, Bussa led around 400
slaves in a revolt against slave owners in 1816.
Although Bussa was killed in battle and the revolt failed,
he is remembered as one of the key figures in the
emancipation of the slaves.
PAGE 2
Celebrating Black History
Celebrating Black History
PAGE 3
Haile Selassie - World leader, 1892-1975
Sir William Arthur Lewis
- Economist, 1915-91
Accepted by Rastafarians as a symbol of God
incarnate, the former emperor of Ethiopia became a
worldwide anti-Fascist figure after appealing to the
United Nations for help against Mussolini's invading
armies. An ally of the west and opponent of
colonisation.
In 1979, Sir Arthur Lewis became the first black person
to win the Nobel Prize for Economics. He advised major
nations around the world while his research on economic
development in emerging countries was pioneering.
Nelson Mandela
- Political Activist, born 1918
Jesse Owens - Athlete, 1913-80
A key anti-apartheid figure in South Africa and leader of
the African National Congress, Mandela spent 27 years
in prison for the cause. After his release, he became
the country's first fully democratically elected president.
In 1993 he won the Nobel Peace Prize.
At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Owens defied Nazi
propaganda and won four gold medals on the track.
When he died, the US President Jimmy Carter said:
"Perhaps no athlete better symbolised the human
struggle against tyranny, poverty and racial bigotry."
Malcolm X - Civil Rights Activist, 1925-65
Malcolm X was a major campaigner for civil rights in the
USA. A believer in militant protest, he was assassinated
not long after leaving the Nation of Islam and creating
the Organization of Afro-American Unity.
Rosa Parks - Activist, 1913-2005
Parks' refusal to give up her seat on an Alabama bus in
1955 became a symbolic moment in the American civil
rights movement. The fallout launched Martin Luther
King Jr to fame. The incident sparked a mass boycott
of the transport system by the black community.
Maya Angelou
- Author, Poet, Playwright, born 1928
Noor Inayat Khan - Heroine of the
Resistance, 1914-1944
A great voice of black literature, Angelou's memoirs
expose the difficulties of growing up as a black woman
in St Louis. Her achievements are many and varied,
and she was the first African-American woman
admitted to the Directors Guild of America.
Born to an Indian Father and an American mother,
Noor lived in France, before the outbreak of WWII,
upon which the family later fled to the UK. In 1940, she
joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and later
she was recruited to join the Special Operations
Executive. She was sent to France under the code
name Jeanne-Marie Regnier. In 1944, after being
betrayed, she was executed. She received the Croix de
Guerre and the George Cross for her efforts during the
war.
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Celebrating Black History
Martin Luther King
- Civil Rights Activist, 1929-68
The figurehead of the American Civil Rights Movement,
King became a national hero after leading the
successful Montgomery bus boycott. In 1964 he
received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his
work. He was assassinated on 4 April 1968.
Celebrating Black History
PAGE 5
Lata Mangheshkar - Singer, born 1929
Bill Morris - First black leader of British
Trade Union, born 1938
Mangheshkar was born in Madhya Pradesh. She is one
of the best-known playback singers in the Indian film
industry. Her career has spanned over 6 decades and
she has sung in over a thousand Bollywood films. She
is the second vocalist ever to have received the Bharat
Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour and was featured
in the Guinness book of World Records for having
made the most recordings in the world.
Sir Bill Morris was born in Jamaica and came to Britain in
1954. He became involved with the biggest Trade Union
in Britain, the Transport & General Workers Union. He
became the general secretary of the union in 1992, thus
becoming the first black leader of a British Trades Union.
He served in that role until 2003. He became a working
life peer as Baron Morris of Handsworth in 2006.
Derek Walcott
- Poet & Nobel Prize Winner, born 1930
Trevor McDonald - Journalist, born 1939
The first black news anchor in the UK, Trinidad-born
McDonald is one of the most popular figures on TV.
Starting his career on the BBC World Service, in 1999
he was given the Bafta Richard Dimbleby Award for
Outstanding Contribution to Television.
Born in St. Lucia in 1930, Derek Walcott won the Nobel
Prize for Literature in 1992. He is best known for his
epic poem “Omeros”, a reworking of Homeric story and
tradition into a journey around the Caribbean and
beyond to the American West and London.
Manmohan Singh
- Prime Minister of India, born 1932
Pelé - Footballer, born 1940
Born Edison Arantes do Nascimento in Minas Gerais,
Brazil and better known by his nickname, Pelé. He is
universally regarded as the greatest football player ever.
The International Olympic Committee named him
Athlete of the 20th Century. He won the FIFA World
Cup three times with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
Singh is an Oxford and Cambridge graduate and an
Economist by profession. He is the first person of Sikh
faith to hold the office of Prime Minister in India.
Shirley Bassey - Singer, born 1937
Muhammad Ali - Boxer, born 1942
Arguably the greatest Welsh singer of all time, Bassey
is the only artist to perform three James Bond themes.
The Cardiff-born diva has recently made a popular
revival (she was made a Dame in 2000) and can
apparently count the Queen as a fan.
Widely considered to be the greatest athlete of all time.
Not only did Ali dominate the world of boxing (the BBC
and Sports Illustrated hailed him "Sportsman of the
Century" in 1999), he was also a key figure in the civilrights movement after refusing to fight in Vietnam
because of how blacks were treated in America.
Kofi Annan - Diplomat, born 1938
Bob Marley
- Musician & Songwriter, born 1945
Annan was the seventh Secretary-General of the United
Nations. His role in working for global peace was
recognised when he and the UN were awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. He helped to reform the UN
and strengthen its peacekeeping abilities.
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Celebrating Black History
Recognised as the Father of Reggae, Bob Marley was
born in St. Ann, Jamaica. With his band, The Wailers
he made many popular and famous recordings such as
“I shot the Sherriff”, “No Woman, No Cry”, “Jamming”
and “Buffalo Soldier”. He died of cancer in 1981.
Celebrating Black History
PAGE 7
Steve Biko - Activist, 1946-77
Lakshmi Mittal - Industrialist, born 1950
A leading campaigner against apartheid in South Africa
and co-founder of the Black People's Convention, Biko
suffered a fatal head injury while in policy custody.
Richard Attenborough turned Biko's struggle for
equality into the feature film “Cry Freedom”.
Mittal was born in an small village in India. He is the
CEO and founder of ArcelorMittal, since the merger.
He also serves as a Non-Executive Director of Goldman
Sachs, EADS and ICICI Bank. As of 2009, Mittal is the
8th richest person in the world and the richest person
in the UK.
Freddie Mercury
- British Musician, born 1946
John Conteh - Boxer, born 1951
Boasting a record of 34 wins, one draw and four
losses, John Conteh is considered one of the greatest
ever English boxers. Born in Liverpool, he won the
WBC Light Heavyweight Championship in 1974 and a
gold medal at the 1970 Commonwealth Games.
The front man of Queen was born on the island of
Zanzibar, to Parsi parents. Mercury grew up in India
and in 1964 he and his family moved to the UK.
Mercury is best known for his flamboyant performances
and vocal prowess. In 1991, he passed away. He
continues to be cited as one of the most influential and
greatest singers/songwriters in the history of popular
music. In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked him number 18
on their list of 100 greatest singers of all time.
Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of
Bangladesh, born 1947
Jayaben Desai
- Leader of Grunwick Dispute 1976-1978
Daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding
father of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina became the
President of the Awami League Party in 1981. She
served as Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1996 to
2001 and was elected for a second time as Prime
Minister in 2008.
Born in Gujerat, India, Jayaben Desai came to Britain in
1969. In 1976, she led the strike against the appalling
working conditions at the Grunwick film processing
factory which dreadfully exploited a workforce of mainly
South Asian women. In 2007, she was honoured by
the Trades Union Congress.
Nirj Deva - Conservative MP, born 1948
Baron Taylor of Warwick
- Conservative Peer, born 1952
Nirj Deva was born in Sri Lanka of Gujarati descent. He
became the first Conservative MP of Asian descent in
1992 when elected for Brentford and Isleworth and
served as a junior minister under John Major. He lost
his seat in 1997, but returned in 1999 to be elected as
a Member of the European Parliament, where he still
serves.
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Celebrating Black History
John Taylor was born in Birmingham in 1952, the son of a
professional cricketer. He went to Keele University and
became a lawyer. In 1992, he fought Cheltenham for the
Conservatives in the General Election but lost. In 1996, he
was made the first black Conservative peer by John Major.
Celebrating Black History
PAGE 9
Benazir Bhutto
- Pakistani Politician, born 1953
Keith Vaz - Labour MP, born 1956
Bhutto was a Pakistani politician who chaired the
Pakistan Peoples Party. She was the first woman,
elected to lead a Muslim state, having twice been
elected as Prime Minister of Pakistan. She is Pakistan’s
first, and to date, only female Prime Minister.
Vaz received his law degree from Cambridge and worked
as a Solicitor for a number of years, before becoming a
Labour MP for Leicester East and has been the
Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee since
July 2007. In 2006, he was appointed as a member of
Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.
In 2007, she was assassinated whilst leaving a
campaign rally.
Benjamin Zephaniah - Poet, born 1958
Zephaniah decided to become a poet after being sent
to prison, aged 14. He is now one of Britain's top
contemporary poets and has also written novels. He
publicly rejected an OBE in 2003 because the award
reminded him of "thousands of years of brutality.
Diane Abbott - Labour MP, born 1953
In 1987 Diane Abbott made history by becoming the first
black woman ever elected to the British Parliament. She is
currently the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.
James Caan – Entrepreneur, born 1960
Born Nazim Khan in Lahore, Pakistan, James Caan is
one of Britain’s leading business people. With a personal
fortune of around £75 million he has made his fortune in
a diverse number of companies that he set up over the
last 30 years. He has been a panel judge on BBC 2’s
popular programme; “Dragon’s Den” since 2007.
Baroness Amos
- Cabinet Minister, Born 1954
Baroness Amos was born in Guyana and is the first black
woman cabinet minister and joint first black woman peer
and was appointed Leader of the House of Lords, the
third woman in history to lead the upper house of
Parliament. She was created a life peer in 1997.
President Barack Obama
- 44th President of the USA, born 1961
Baroness Scotland
- Attorney General, born August 1955
Born in Hawaii to a Kenyan father and a mother from
Kansas, Mr. Obama paid his way through school with
student loans and scholarships. He graduated from
Harvard Law School, and was the first African-American
President of the Harvard Law Review. Upon graduation,
he worked as a Civil Rights Lawyer in Chicago. Later he
served in the Illinois State Senate and then in the US
Senate. On 4 November 2008, he was elected the first
black President of the United States.
Born in Dominica, Baroness Scotland’s family moved to
Walthamstow when she was 3 years old. She received
her LLB from London University. She received lifetime
peerage as Baroness Scotland of Ashal, under the
Labour Party’s list of working peers in 1997.
Viv Anderson – Footballer, born 1956
Viv Anderson was born in Nottingham in 1956. He was
the first black footballer to play for England in 1978. He
won a total of 30 caps for England. At club level he
played for top ranking clubs: Nottingham Forest,
Arsenal and Manchester United. With Nottingham
Forest he was a twice winner of the European Cup
(now Champion’s League) in 1979 and 1980.
PAGE 10
Celebrating Black History
Celebrating Black History
PAGE 11
Shami Ahmed - Entrepreneur, born 1962
Came to Britain from Pakistan in 1963 with his parents,
in 1986 Shami Ahmed set up “The Joe Bloggs” jeans
company in Manchester which became an icon of
youth culture in the 1980s and 1990s. He made his first
million by the age of 24.
Adam Afriyie - Conservative MP, born 1965
Adam Afriyie was born in Wimbledon, the son of a
Ghanaian father and English mother. He was elected as
MP for Windsor and Maidenhead in 2005. He is the first
black Conservative MP. In 2007, he was appointed
Shadow Minister for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
Kelly Holmes - Athlete, born 1970
Holmes became the first British woman to win two gold
medals after winning both the 800m and 1,500m at the
2004 Athens Olympics. She was named BBC Sports
Personality of the Year in 2004 and made a dame in
2005.
Monty Singh Panesar
- Cricketer, born 1982
Born in Bedfordshire to Punjabi Sikh parents, Panesar
is the first Sikh to represent a nation other than India in
Test Cricket. He plays Test and One-Day Cricket for
England, and County Cricket for Northamptonshire. He
is a crowd favourite in England.
Amir Khan - Boxer, born 1986
Khan is a British Boxer from Bolton. He became the
WBA World Light-Welterweight Champion, after
defeating Andreas Kotelnik, making him Britain’s thirdyoungest world champion.
PAGE 12
Celebrating Black History
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GHANDI
Cheshire Halton and Warrington Race & Equality Centre
92 Watergate Street, Chester CH1 2LF
Tel: 01244 400730 • Fax: 01244 400722
Email: [email protected]
www.chawrec.org.uk
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