The History Hotline

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, John William, and Theodor Michael Wonja.

TW: This episode contains conversations about genocide, violence, murder, forced sterilisation, rape and assault to adults and children.

Articles and Documentaries mentioned:

https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/features-news/2022/01/27/hitlers-forgotten-victims/

https://theconversation.com/what-happened-to-black-germans-under-the-nazis-53599

https://twitter.com/ajplus/status/1254284069040459776

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlvC4QjwNbs&t=981s

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.newbeaconbooks.com/

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 the Caribbean and of course a brief history of Barbados, tune in!

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?