October 2018 is Black History Month. This is a national
celebration and aims to promote and celebrate Black contributions to British
society, and to foster an understanding of Black history in general.
The Liverpool Black Community is distinguished from others
by its continuity, some black Liverpudlians being able to trace their roots in
Liverpool for as many as ten generations. This community dates back to even
before the American War of Independence, which caused numbers of free Black
Loyalists to settle in London and the growing township. Early settlers ranged
from freed slaves and black servants to the student sons and daughters of
African rulers, who had visited the port from at least the 1730s.
The Liverpool Black Community is the oldest black community
in Europe and much of the black population of the city settled in the Liverpool
8 area of the city . Over the years many members of the community have made
great achievements, jus some of them are listed below.
James Clark - Swimmer
Samuel Cole - Soldier
Samuel Cole was a seaman from Sierra Leone who settled in
Liverpool during the First World War. He has many descendants living in the
port with various surnames, obviously according to the marriages of his
daughters. Samuel served in the Merchant
Navy as a 'donkeyman' one of the most dangerous jobs, as the engine rooms were
a prime target for enemy u-boats. he
also worked for several shipping firms.
Otto Ephriam - Student
The name of another such student who recieved his education
in Liverpool has come down to us as one of the late eighteenth century rulers
of the Efik, a people of present-day Nigeria.
Calbar, the Efik country of the "Oil Rivers" in the Niger
delta, was ruled by a sophisticated hierachy of chiefs who encouraged Europeans
to build forts and factories in the area. This Liverpool student received his
European education in the most unfortunate of circumstances. In 1767, a number
of british ships including the 'Edgar'
of Liverpool, became involved in a rivalry between princilpal chiefs ol
Old Calabar and the residents of New Town
In a letter written by the former Captain of the 'Edgar', in 1733, some
six years after this incident, which was to become known as the 'Massacre of
Old calabar', we are offered a picture of the early life of the young Ephraim,
one of the prisoned survivors:
Marcus Bailey - Sailor
The family of Marcus Bailey, a seaman born in Bridgetown,
Barbados, 1883, have an astonishing history of service to what they felt to be
their country. Marcus married in
Fleetwood and found his way to Liverpool, where his three children were
born. He served on no less than 34
merchant ships and ships from the fishing fleet before joining the crew of the
Royal Naval vessell HMS Chester as an
able seaman after recieving his certificate in 1912. HMS Chester was known for taking part in the
famous battle of Jutland during World War 1, during marcus's service.
Emily Orgill
A beautiful statuesque woman Mrs Emily Orgill, the great grandmother of Mary Jane Sweeting
(1912) - (1994) was born in Liverpool in the first half of the ninetheenth
century, Emily's descendants know that she was half Portuguese, but are
uncertain where her black parent came from.
It is possible that he too was Liverpool born.
John Archer,
Mayor (1863-1923 )
In 1913 Liverpool born Archer became the first person of
African descent to become a mayor in Britain, in Battersea, South London.
Laurence Westgaph, Local historian and Black Activist
Toxteth born and bred Laurence was eight when the 1981 riots
broke out and campaigns for the Lodge Lane regeneration group. The ECHO
columnist was recently honoured with a Black History Month Achievers Award for
his work raising the profile of the history of Liverpool. A writer on the
city’s role in the slave trade Laurence was heavily involved in the
commemoration of the 200th anniversary of its abolition.
James William Ross Brown
( b 1858 )
Liverpool –born Black barrister and Deputy judge.
In 1888 James William Ross became a lawyer at the age of 30,
rising to the position of deputy judge.
Practising on the Northern Circuit and London, James,
a friend of F E Smith, later Lord Birkenhead, became a Queen’s Council,
a bencher of Gray’s Inn and edited a section of Chitty’s Statutes. James relationship with Gray’s began with him
studying law in the morning and supplementing his earnings by employment as a
House of Commons reporter for the rest of the day into the evening.
John Conteh ( b 1951 )
Liverpool – born Black Commonwealth, European Light
Heavyweight, and World Light Heavyweight boxing Champion.
Claire Dove MBE ( b
1952 )
Liverpool-born Black female college principle and Chief
Executive of Blackburne House Women’s Technology and Education Centre. For her
work, Claire Dove was awarded the MBE and how has the distinction of being the
Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, assistant to the Queen’s representative
in the area.
Howard Gayle ( b 1958
)
First black player for Liverpool Football Club.
Toxteth-born Gayle was the first black player to represent
Liverpool FC. He also played for Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland, Stoke City,
Birmingham City and Halifax Town. Today he works in youth development and
campaigns against racism in football.
“There is one thing I can be pleased with in my life and
that is that some of the positive things I have hopefully done and said may
have helped some young people playing football after me”.
Cliff Hall (b 1924 )
Black musician and member of the Spinners Folk Group.
The Real Thing were a phenomenon: one of the very few black
British soul bands to achieve world renown. The Real Thing were "huge
pioneers of black music in the UK" and the first all-black British band to
have a UK number one single. You To Me Are Everything, topped the charts in
1976. The song returned to the charts in 1986, when it reached number five.
Eddy
Amoo, the lead singer of the Real Thing sadly passed away in Australia on 23rd
February 2018.
On the band’s website, he was described as “a showman, a
songwriter and a legend in British music. Eddy will long be remembered as a
tour de force in British music and he will be sorely missed.”
The Real Thing continue to tour the country.
A few more people we should remember during Black History Month...
Gloria Hyatt (b 1966
)
Headteacher of the Elimu Academy, an independant school for
black learners.
Alan Johnson ( b 1960
)
Liverpool –born Black Everton Football Club coach, scout and
Race and Diversity Manager.
Christine Margaret Johnson
( b 1961 )
Liverpool-born female barrister
William Masters ( Gordon Stretton ) ( 1887 – 1983 )
Internationally known Liverpool-born musician and composer.
Joan Elizabeth Morton Stober ( b 1928 )
Liverpool-born Black community activist and founder of the
Liverpool Black Organisation (LBO).
Glynn Georg Pratt ( 1931 – 2003 )
Liverpool and Merseyside County Council’s first black
councillor.
Derry Wilkie ( 1941 – 2001 )
Liverpool-born Black musician. Known as ‘The Black Beatle.
The above are justa few of the famous names associated with
Liverpools Black Community many more have made great and worthy contributions
to the city and many more will in the future.
Liverpool Black community trail Explore the history of Liverpool's Black community in a free
trail exploring highlights from the Museum of Liverpool's displays.
You can download it here: Liverpool's
Black community trail (pdf)
Schools and groups
Find out what is available at the International
Slavery Museum.
Sources
Dr Ray Costello
Liverpool Museum
Central Library
The Guardian
Photograph of Eddy Amoo © Bob Edwards Photography
The Guardian
Photograph of Eddy Amoo © Bob Edwards Photography
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