BHM LR slides 2014

2014
Celebrating Black and Ethnic Minority
Culture and History in Britain.
What is
Black
History
Month?
Every October we celebrate Black History Month (BHM), it is a way of
marking the important contribution that diverse ethnicities and cultures
have made to the history of Britain.
BHM is for everyone; it’s a great way to explore parts of our history that
are sometimes untold and often surprising. So why not take a little time
to delve into some of the hidden stories behind Black History Month and
discover why Black history is our history.
Sue Ghani
PCS NBMC/LR GEC/EOAC
0300 006 0727
Through The
Lens
A major new exhibition
sheds light on the beautiful
Victorian photographs that
have lain hidden for over
120 years.
A new exhibition highlights some of the
earliest photographs of black people in
Britain.
Between 1891 and 1893 the South African Choir
toured Britain. The choir; formed to raise money for a
school, performed for many people including Queen
Victoria at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. During
their tour the choir visited the London Stereoscopic
Company, the company specialised in small postcards,
known as ‘carte visite’, which were used by performers
as publicity aides. The resulting plate-glass negative
portraits are truly amazing as many were also taken in
stereo, which when viewed through a special viewer
creates the image in three-dimensions. The portraits
are a striking centrepiece to the exhibition called Black
Chronicles II; and the images have not been shown for
over 120 years when they were printed in the London
Illustrated News in 1891.
The exhibition is running until the end of November at
London’s Rivington Place, they are being shown in
conjunction with other photographs from the Hulton
Archive and the National Army Museum and the show
has been co-curated by Autograph ABP, a foundation
which examines black cultural identity. It is part of a
larger project called the Missing Chapter which uses
photography to explore chapters in British history, art
and culture that have been overlooked; especially the
history of Black and Ethnic Minority people. The
history of photography is full of examples of Black
people from the art form's earliest conception in the
1830s.
Sarah Forbes Bonetta
The show, delves into the history of colonialism and
also challenges preconceptions around the history of
Black people in Britain. As well as some famous
names such as Sarah Forbes Bonetta – the Goddaughter of Queen Victoria, there are also portraits
that give a tantalising glimpse of unknown, but no
less intriguing sitters.
Click on the link below to find out more and see
more images from the collection.
Black Chronicles II
Lest We Forget
2014 marks the centenary of the outbreak of WWI,
throughout the years 1914 – 1918, over 1,400,000 Indian
and 20,000 West – Indian soldiers saw action; read more
about a selection of them here.
Walter Tull
Born in Folkestone in 1888, Walter was the son of a
joiner, and former slave who had come to Britain from
Barbados in 1876. He and his brother were raised in a
Methodist orphanage at Bethnal green, London after
the death of his father and mother.
Walter was a keen footballer and he became the first
Black outfield player to play professional football in
Britain when in 1908 he was discovered by a scout for
Tottenham Hotspur with whom he signed; he played
with Tottenham until 1910 when he was transferred to
Northampton Town for a large fee.
At the outbreak of WWI, Walter left behind his football
career and joined the 17th Battalion of the Middlesex
regiment. During training he was promoted three
times and by November 1914, as a Lance Sergeant he
was sent to Les Ciseaux in France. In 1916 Walter was
sent back to Britain suffering from Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder or as it was known then ‘shell shock’.
He returned to active duty in September 1916 and
fought in Somme, between October and November
1916. His natural leadership and courage lead to his
superior officers recommending he become an officer,
and in December of the same year he was sent back to
Britain to begin his training.
At the Italian front Walter successfully led his
Company twice across the River Piave on hazardous
raids and on both occasions returned safely with all of
his troops. He was mentioned in Dispatches for his
'gallantry and coolness' under fire by his commanding
officer and was recommended for the Military Cross,
which he never received.
Transferred back to the Somme Valley in France, On
March 25th 1918 Walter Tull was killed by machine gun
fire while trying to help his men retreat.
Walter was such a popular man and several of his men
risked their own lives in an attempt to retrieve his body
under heavy fire but they were unsuccessful due to the
enemy soldiers advance. Walter's body was never found
and he is one of thousands of soldiers from World War
One who has no known grave.
Click here to read the story of
G. E. K. Bemand
At the time there were laws prohibiting 'any negro or
person of colour' being commissioned as an officer,
despite this, Walter became a lieutenant in 1917.
Walter was the first ever Black officer in the British
Army, and the first black officer to lead white men into
battle.
Walter Tull
During WWI (1914–18), more than 200,000 Gurkhas served in the British
Army, suffering approximately 20,000 casualties, and receiving almost 2,000
gallantry awards. Thirty-three battalions saw service in both non-combatant
roles, serving in units such as the Army Bearer Corps and the labour
battalions; as well as in combat in France, Turkey, Palestine, and
Mesopotamia. They served on the battlefields of France where during the
Battle of Loos (June–December 1915) a battalion of the 8th Gurkhas fought
to the last man, advancing many times against German defences, after
which Lieutenant-General Sir James Willcocks said, "... found its Valhalla“.
Gurkhas also saw action at Givenchy, Neuve Chapelle and Ypres; in
Mesopotamia, Persia, Suez Canal and Palestine against Turkish advance,
Gallipoli and Salonika.
During the doomed Gallipoli campaign in 1915, the Gurkhas were among the
first troops to arrive and the last to leave. The 1st/6th Gurkhas, having
landed at Cape Helles, led the assault during the first major operation to
take out a Turkish vantage point, the area became known as "Gurkha Bluff".
Gurkhas –WWI
Click on the links below to
find out more
Black Soldiers in Britain
India in WW1
Royal British Legion
WW1 & The West Indies
Women pin flowers to departing Indian troops Leicester c. 1914
FESTIVAL OF
LIGHTS
Diwali (meaning row of lights) also known as the
‘festival of lights’ falls this year on October 23rd.
Diwali is a Hindu festival celebrated each autumn to
mark the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil,
knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair. The
festival is held in honour of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess
of wealth and prosperity.
Calculated by the Hindu lunar calendar the festival can
fall on different days, but each year takes place over five
days. The height of the festival is celebrated on the
fifteenth day of Kartika ( sometime during
October/November by the Gregorian calendar); with the
fourth day of Diwali marking the Hindu New Year.
The festival is a magical time where Hindus make
religious observations, many lamps are lit, presents are
exchanged, homes are decorated and family and friends
visited.
Celebrations occur across the UK with spectacular
events in most major towns and cities. Why not have a
look at the link (above) to find out more. Or check your
local press to see what is happening near you?
Click on the links below to see some
interesting historical facts; explore
timelines and a wealth of articles and
pictures.
HISTORY TIMELINE
QUICK FACTS
BRITISH LIBRARY TIMELINE
OFFICIAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH
SITE
BBC BLACK HISTORY
Try the link below for some
activities for children, (just
register for free for hundreds of
teaching resources and
activities).
BLACK HISTORY FOR CHILDREN
BHM Books
‘A little learning, indeed, may
be a dangerous thing, but the
want of learning is a calamity
to any people’
Frederick Douglas
Black History Month Films
There are hundreds of films that cover
all areas of Black history; from stories of
day to day life to extraordinary tales of
heroism and flights of fancy. Try the
link above to see what might take your
fancy.