The History Hotline

13th August 1977, the National Front clashed with anti-fascist and anti-racist organisations in the heart of South East London. To find out about the national front in the 1970s in Britain, how this clash happened and why... tune in!

We often think about war as a time of personal sacrifice for the 'greater good' but have you ever thought about the economic costs of the world wars from the perspectives of former British colonies? This episode we will be exploring the 'men, money and materials' sent by the West Indies to Britain during WWI. For more information on the Black Poppy Rose: https://www.blackpoppyrose.org/

This week I'm joined by a very special guest Kayleigh Oliver, who is currently developing an app called FOBBS (Figures of Black British History) in order to help educate school children on some of the key figures within Black British history. Tune in to find out her motivation for the app and what she hopes to achieve with it. The History Hotline is in partnership with FOBBS for the creation of th...

Every October, Black History Month rolls around again, but will there be a time where we no longer need it? Here's my 10 Things I Hate About Black History Month. Disclaimer: Please take this episode with a pinch of salt, it is meant to be somewhat lightheartedly.

This episode we're thinking about the importance of people in studying history or if this a problematic erasure of other more important factors in history. With a special focus on the life of Claudia Jones and announcements on upcoming exhibitions curated by me. https://www.methodist.org.uk/about-us/news/latest-news/all-news/exhibition-at-wesleys-chapel-leadership-on-a-journey/

This episode we will be discussing these five texts: 1) Letters from London - C. L. R James 2) Small Island -Andrea Levy 3) The Lonely Londoners -Sam Selvon 4) Second Class Citizen -Buchi Emecheta 5) Things Fall Apart -Chinua Achebe I won't be spoiling any of the books, but I hope they will give you some fiction titles that help understand Black Britain. Buchi Emecheta interview I wanted to add bu...

Black History Month 2021 started off with news of the unveiling of a statue of Betty Campbell, Wales' first Black headteacher. We'll be exploring her life as well as the significance of statues as a way of memorialising people and understanding history. Are they necessary? Are they for the moment they were unveiled in, or is their purpose to stand for eternity?

With Britain contemplating relaxing current immigration rules we discuss the immigration acts and laws that have shaped who and who isn't welcome in Britain. Starting in 1905 and ending in 1981... we'll be exploring several different laws and their historical context and reasons for existence. Whilst looking at how immigration policy 'othered' different migrant groups and continues to do so.

Following the recent announcement that OCR has included more texts written by Black authors on the A-level and GCSE specification we're discussing: -Who the new authors are. -Why curriculum change is important. -Sam Selvon's The Lonely Londoners -Problems with GCSE/A-level specification changes with no changes in KS3. -The role of teachers in these changes.

Britain's first Black bus driver -Joe Clough. We'll be exploring his life and experiences in Victorian Britain, his role as a serviceman in WWI and his subsequent career as a taxi driver. Call for information: “We are also trying to make contact with descendants of Joe Clough,” said Louise Townsend of Townsend Theatre Productions. “We know that one of their daughters married into the George family...

When the Bristol Omnibus Company refused to hire Black or Asain bus crews, Roy Hackett, Owen Henry, Audley Evans, Prince Brown and Paul Stephenson formed an action group and decided that a boycott was the only way to force the bus company to change.

Exploring the roots of Notting Hill Carnival, back to its Trinidadian traditions through slavery, its growth in the UK from St Pancras Hall, to a mini street party to the biggest "street party" in Europe.

This weeks episode will set the context for Notting Hill carnival, we'll be thinking about: Racial tensions in the 1950s The Notting Hill Riots in 1958 The murder of Kelso Cochrane in 1959

On 22nd June 1948 the Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury docks bringing over 1000 passengers from the Caribbean and 73 years later, it's the 2nd ever Windrush Day! Tune in to hear 25 facts about the ship, the passengers, its voyage and the reception it got as it touched British waters.

During the summer of 1981; major UK cities such as London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Leeds were overcome with “race riots.” After decades of police harassment, brutality and racist attacks from numerous far right and fascist groups, as well as racist individuals. We will be exploring the reasons for the riot: the political, social and economic climate. The role of policing in the build up and duri...

A conversational episode with special guest Montel Gordon, discussing 'protesting racism' in a modern day context and in comparison to the 1981 riots which forms part of a long history of anti-racist protests/riots/uprisings in Britain. Montel's article: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/george-floyd-black-lives-matter-b1853451.html

This week's episode is all about Caribbean women serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) during WWII. The spirit of resistance that lives through Caribbean women from Nanny of the Maroons to Mary Seacole and all those 20th Century Caribbean women that paved the way in migration to Britain will be explored.

An episode exploring the colonial education system in the British Caribbean and the impact that had on class hierarchies in Britain and the long lasting legacy this had one Caribbean children, educated in Britain, in the post war era. Documentary mentioned: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000w81h

This week we're exploring African and Caribbean solidarity in Britain and on a global level, with special guest Seun Matiluko. Pushing back against the currently quite divisive conversations that can happen around African and Caribbean individuals... we talk about the British Black Panthers, Olive Morris and the Nigerian diplomat, the 1986 Commonwealth games boycotts, Marcus Garvey and his politic...

We're thinking about the second test match in the four match series between the West Indies and England in the summer of 1950. Immortalised by the calypsonians Lord Kitchener and Lord Beginner, this match 'it bound to go down in history'. To listen to Victory Calypso: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFl9x3XzKSw

This is the last episode in our migration series where we will be looking at Nigerian migration into Britain with our special guest history student Abigael Fagbolagun! We'll be discussing a brief history of Nigerian and also looking at the main ways Nigerian's in Britain created community and settled: Faith and the Church and Access to home.

Another episode in our migration series this week, with special guest, history PhD student Satya Gunput. He will be exploring his PhD research and his role as a historian currently working within the structures of UK academia . This is a part 2 to episode 31 and follows on from the discussions that took place in part 1. Together we continue discussions on migration, focusing on the Punjabi communi...

Another episode in our migration series this week, with special guest, history PhD student Satya Gunput. He will be exploring his PhD research and his role as a historian currently working within the structures of UK academia. Together we continue discussions on migration, focusing on the Punjabi community in Southall, different forms of anti-racist struggles, the Southall riots, the organisation...

The first episode in the three part migration series... this week we're looking at the islands of the Seychelles and the waves of migration into Britain with special guest Vanessa Stewart.

Is Britain still institutionally racist? This episode will focus on the recently published by the Commission for Race and Ethnic Disparities. Primarily, thinking about what this means for race relations today...