The History Hotline

Winston Churchill, is historically ranked as one of the greatest British prime ministers and the greatest Briton to ever live. But has the British public been ignorantly avoiding the truth about one of their heroes and are concerns about his inflammatory and racist comments warranted? Tune into this weeks episode to explore why Winston Churchill's comments are viewed as problematic at best and dan...

Michael X, died on the gallows in the royal jail in May 1975, despite urgent last‐minute pleas for commutation of his sentence. The first execution on the Caribbean island of Trinidad since 1957, was not met with any public demonstrations or protests in Trinidad but marked by international support of Malik by activists in the UK and USA. Michael was charged with the murder of 24 year old Joseph Sk...

Michael X, who was born Michael de Freitas, was a Trinidad and Tobago born self proclaimed black nationalist, revolutionary and civil rights activist. He migrated to London in 1957 and lived a life alongside some of the seediest characters of West London. The first person prosecuted under the race relations act (1965) and a face on the desk of the Special Branch surveillance team.

David Oluwale, a Nigerian man was "hounded to his death" by police in Leeds in the 1960s. His death led to the first prosecution of British police for involvement in the death of a black person, but this was 'hollow justice' to say the least. In April 2022, a plaque to honour him in Leeds was put up, but devastatingly it has been vandalised and stolen twice in what was less than 3 days. Articles m...

In 1901 near Sycamore Terrace in York, the remains of a woman we now refer to as the ‘Ivory Bangle Lady’, dating all the way back to the second half of the 4th Century, were found. The first written record of African people in Britain dates back to the 3rd Century AD. They came via the movement of the Roman Empire which due to its expansive span through trade, military movements, civilian migratio...

Darcus Howe, a British broadcaster, writer and racial justice campaigner. He arrived in Britain as an 18 year old in 1961. He studied law but as his life panned out he became more involved with journalism, broadcasting and activism. He has been one of the most powerful voices for Black rights in Britain, always articulate and dominant, speaking with great eloquence and pride. He was a fearless cam...

The Black and White Minstrel Show ran for 20 years, at a time in Britain where race relations were growing ever tenser. How did a show like this manage to run for so long? Where did minstrelsy come from? (America if you didn't know) How did the show eventually draw to a close?** **hint: We can thank Diana Ross!!

President Joe Biden signed a bill into law on Tuesday 29th March that makes lynching a federal hate crime. This episode will explore the bill, the harrowing story of Emmett Till, and the consequences of an act such as this in 2022. TW// Details of extreme violence, racism, lynching, murder

A new episode on all things Jamaican politics. Will it be the next republic, following in the footsteps of Barbados? This week we will discuss Jamaica's new pledge to become a republic, what that means and how the royal visit did more harm than good. Brief history The royal visit to Jamaica What next? Reparations? TW// Slavery and racism

TW// racism, violence In 2020, a 15 year old Black girl was strip-searched at school after being wrongly suspected of carrying drugs. This week the report revealing these details was released and this episode hopes to shed light on this case and the problems of racism within policing and education and the traumatic impact that has on young Black children.

This episode is about Olive Morris, the Jamaican born activist, community leader, radical feminist, Black nationalist and Marx-Leninist communist, thinking about her life and legacy. Early life and education The assault by the metropolitan police A life of activism Housing campaigns and squatting Life after death

The Brixton Black Women's Group was an organisation formed by Black women in 1973 to 1985. It aimed to raise the consciousness of Black women and also organise around specific issues affecting black women in British society.

In July of 1967, Stokely Carmichael, the leader of SNCC, "Honorary Prime Minister" Black Panther Party and one of the most prominent leaders in the American Black Power Movement, arrived in London as part of an international tour. He made a speech at the Dialects of Liberation Congress during his time in London is widely regarded as a pivotal moment in the British Black Power movement. Carmichael...

This episode we'll be looking at immigration from the Caribbean to the US in the latter part of the 20th century. The impact of the McCarran Walter Act (1952) on immigration to the US from around the world. The experiences of Caribbean people under segregation and jim crow laws, by looking briefly at the story of Colin Powell. This episode can be enjoyed on its own but might be more easily digeste...

This week we will be continuing the conversation about Caribbean immigration to the US. Focusing on the early 20th Century, we'll explore how African Americans and Caribbean immigrants' understanding of race shaped their perception of one another. How that impacted the job and housing sectors in the Northern US states, regarding these two groups of people. Also, paying attention to the experience...

Caribbean Immigration to the US began forcibly during the transatlantic slave trade. The pattern of immigration continued into the early 20th century, creating Caribbean-American heritage, culture and communities. This week we'll be discussing these waves of immigration beginning in the 17th Century and finishing in the 1930s.

This week's episodes looks at the horrors of Nazi Germany, specifically on Afro-Germans. We'll be thinking about: Where did Black people in Germany come from? Mixed race children in the Rhineland. The German colonies in Africa. The Impact of the 1935 Nuremberg Laws. Reparations or a lack of for Black victims and their families. The stories of: Thomas Holzhauser, Hans Hauck, Hans-Jürgen Massaquoi,...

This week's episode will explore the Black sitcom: Desmond's. A 6 series comedy, set in a Guyanese barbershop in Peckham. We'll look at: 1)Why it started? 2) How important it was in challenging negative stereotypical portrayals of Black people at the time? 3) How important is the show for viewers today? 4) Some political commentary in the show. 5) The Cast: Where are they now?

This week we'll be talking about: 1) The five bills currently being passed through the House of Commons and the House of Lords. 2)The Nationality and Borders Bill. 3) The points on asylum 4) The infamous clause 9 5) Protests and Comments on the bill.

This week we'll be exploring: 1) Who was Edward Colston? 2) How long have Bristolians wanted the statue to come down? 3) How did it come down? 4) Where is it now? 5) The Case of the Colston Four. Documentary mentioned: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000wvzx

Britain's first Black bookshop, New Beacon Books is potentially facing closure after over 50 years as the first Black publisher, book shop and international book distributor. It was founded by John La Rose and Sarah White and has continued to be run by the family, surviving longer than any other bookshop of its kind. To support head down to the shop in Finsbury Park or shop online at: https://www....

This week we're looking at the history of another Caribbean Christmas tradition. You might know it be the name sorrel, roselle, bissap, wonjo, foléré, dabileni, zobo, sobolo, hibiscus, auga de Jamaica, red drink or something different entirely. The roselle hibiscus plant is the base of a drink that spans across many continents and due to its history became a THE Caribbean Christmas drink.

Guyanese pepperpot a dish typically enjoyed on Christmas day. Its roots start with the indigenous populations of South America and the Caribbean, transported across the transatlantic slave trade to America. Many cultures having their own version of this iconic dish. Tune in to find out what makes it so special and how it travels the world.

On the 55th anniversary of Barbadian Independence, they transitioned from a 'constitutional monarchy' to a parliamentary republic'. By removing the queen from her position, the democratic nation of 300,000 people is finally free of one of the last institutionalised vestiges of British colonialism. Barbados is officially the world’s newest republic... To find out what this means, how it will impact...

On 21st April 1968 Enoch Powell, addressed an invited audience of conservative supporters, to present his prophecies for the future of Britain should immigration continue. This episode will think about: 1. Who was Enoch Powell? 2. When and why did he make the speech? 3. What did the speech say and mean? 4. What was the impact of the speech, then and today?