Black London Culture
Historian Tony Warner has run Black History Walks and Talks for 15 years. At our recent FACE community meet, Tony delivered an inspirational talk that has stayed with us all.
The only way to defeat racism is through investment in Black History knowledge by schools and youth clubs
Our audience agrees wholeheartedly
Tony Warner is a community activist and guerrilla historian. He is the chair of the African Odysseys programme. This grassroots initiative has been exhibiting African diaspora films plus Q&As on a monthly basis at the British Film Institute’s Southbank cinema since 2007. It is the only such programme in the country and has been attended by tens of thousands of people.
Image Tony Tokunbo
Tony is also the author of Black History Walks in London Volume 1. The book explores the African/Caribbean presence in London over the last 2000 years. He is also author on the Pearson GCSE history exam text book on migration and Black British Civil Rights
An inspirational speaker; as feedback on Tony’s website shows, his presentations reveal the hidden history of a city that has always been a melting pot of diverse cultures and identities.
Tony begins his FACE presentation with questions to the audience.
Answer: There were many of course and knowledge of this is one challenge to race bias.
This was followed by a quick poll to our audience, and had us calling out our knowledge of the first people of colour to the UK… Nope not Windrush generations, nope not Tudor merchants.
Answer: Let’s go back much further to 200AD where the Roman Empire travelled people from every level of society, to acknowledge that Black people are our heritage and our history, actively creating culture here for 2000 years.
In all walks of life Black culture is rich and inspiring. Tony’s theatre talk reveals actors and theatre directors operating since the 1800s. Meanwhile we are thrilled to learn the British Film Institute: BFI hold screenings once per month of Black film creativity and agendas that are overlooked or ignored for mainstream distribution, much to all our cost.
The Great Debaters with Denzil Washington is one such example of sidelined excellence recounting a true story of Black academic achievement.
Shirley Chisholm for President is another true and inspirational story: the first African American woman to campaign for the Democratic Party presidential nomination in 1972 with the slogan “Unbought and Unbossed,” and the first African American woman elected to Congress where she served for seven terms beginning in 1969.
Why are we Black and white audiences denied such powerful and uplifting stories unless it is down to racism?
We also learn of the $46m fine to a French production company for failing to distribute Spike Lee’s film Miracle at St Anna (2008) and American - Italian epic war story of four Buffalo Soldiers of the 92nd Infantry Division who seek refuge in a small Tuscan village, where they form a bond with the residents.
And what of acknowledgement for the truth and extent of historic British theft and appropriation of resources from stolen lands under British colonial rule? One example; Ghana: formally known as the Gold Coast and renamed by its first Prime Minister and President, Kwame Nkrumah after independence in 1957, was part of the Guinea area which included a huge part of west Africa.
The Guinea coin pictured here, is just one example of the plunder of precious metals, which bolstered the British economy.
NB Another example of race disinformation is the redrawing of the world map to reduce the size of Africa and enlarge Europe and the UK. See further discussion here
The only way to defeat racism say’s Tony is through investment in Black History knowledge by schools and youth clubs. Our audience agrees wholeheartedly as this speaks to our FACE agenda with the demand that higher education do the same. It’s our launch slogan in fact: The goal of FACE is to embed culture and diverse perspectives into the curriculum. FACE demands acknowledgement of the contribution of Black culture and creativity, to history, society and of course to fashion.
Tony runs a variety of tours: these events such as theatre and museum tours and lectures to packed halls, two-hour treks through London or a double decker luxury coach four times a year, even a river boat tour of the Thames drenched in Black history, show us all how Black builders, creatives, makers and thinkers have developed and improved London. Book your tour or learn more here
See also the breadth and variety of talks here
Thank you Tony. If only our school curriculums could make history half as interesting and empowering for us all.
Text Caryn Franklin
Member comments
CH I feel like I have just been fed.
ND Very refreshing talk... Such an education and so uplifting
DH Can’t wait to go on the tour! Will take my kids. This is such an important tour - part of british history that needs to be in the school curriculum
LHK It is shocking to see how positive black narratives have been blocked and the film distributors are so adamant to restrict the narrative that they will pay millions in fines - and just accepted that its a business expense
AC The omission of the historical narrative around 2000 years of Black history in the UK is a huge loss to everyone, all nationalities not just Black people. But the biggest loss is to White English people, because fear drives their thoughts instead of knowledge.
CF Avis so well put
SL The optics of history and the acknowledgement of the contribution of the African continent to the wealth and culture of continent needs to be revised. The richness of culture belongs to us all.
CH An Absolutely enlightening and engrossing talk, so much knowledge, and a rich reminder of our deep deep history and contribution to civilisation.
SL The curriculum needs to have a more informed context.
SC Engaging and informative talk that enables you to learn about the extent that Black history has played in the construction of British society.
SL Tony how do we get hold of your book?
TW www.blackhistorywalks.co.uk
JG I was always so confused with Blackboy Hill and Whiteladies Road in Bristol When I was a child I mean 😂
SL Black Boy Lane is to be renamed ‘La Rose Lane’. After John La Rose, a Black Caribbean publisher, poet and essayist.
JG Thank you so much Tony ! Really energised by that!