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 this app.

The website: https://fobbs.uk/

To sign up for the app: https://fobbs.uk/#signup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fobbsplatform/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FOBBSPlatform

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fobbs-platform/

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 but didn't want the copyright violation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJPIJ8JpOFk

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 of Bedford, so we’d be grateful if anyone knows any of Joe’s descendants and could put us in touch.”

If you can help, please email [email protected] or phone 07949635910.

From: https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/thebedfordclanger/2021/debut-for-new-play-about-bedfords-joe-clough-britains-first-black-bus-driver/