BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2024 :
SPECIALFEATURE
WILLIAM CUFFAY
BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2024 :
KENT ’ S UNTOLD STORIES
October marks Black History Month in the UK . Beginning in 1920 ’ s America , this important commemorative period was first celebrated in the UK in 1987 , with October chosen as the host month partly because it ’ s traditionally a time when African leaders gather to talk about important issues , and partly because it ’ s at the start of the school year . Shockingly , although the UK government agrees that Black history is an important topic , supporting schools with the freedom to teach it within the existing history curriculum from primary-school age onwards , for many children in the UK , October is the only time of the year they will learn about Black history , so it ’ s more vital than ever that we raise , expand and continue the conversations surrounding the topic with our families , friends and peers .
One of the most important aspects of Black History Month is that it gives everyone the opportunity to share , celebrate and understand the impact of Black heritage and culture . People from African and Caribbean backgrounds have been a fundamental part of British history for centuries , however many campaigners believe their contribution to society has often been overlooked or distorted . Although greater attention has been paid to the importance of the Windrush generation and the Black Lives Matter movement in recent years , especially since the tragic 2020 death of unarmed African American man George
Floyd , it ’ s essential that we discover and discuss the positive contribution of our Black contemporaries in a constructive and unifying way too , which is something Black History Month has helped to bring to the fore .
This year ’ s Black History Month theme , Reclaiming Narratives , marks a significant shift towards recognising and correcting the narratives of Black history and culture . Emphasising this innovative and empowering theme helps shine a brighter light on stories , allegories and histories that underscore Black History Month ’ s commitment to correcting historical inaccuracies and showcasing both the untold success stories and the full complexity of Black heritage . In the spirit of this , we ’ re excited to introduce you to some of historical Kent ’ s most inspiring , successful , brave and brilliant Black residents , whose surprising stories deserve to be celebrated and shared this month and every month .
MILITARY : William Brown
William ’ s birth name is unknown , and she – yes , you read that correctly – she has been recorded in history under the name she used to enlist in the Royal Navy . ‘ William ’ was born between 1789-94 and was originally from Grenada in the Caribbean . Like many other women of her time , William disguised herself as a man to enlist in a profession that was off limits for women .
One of the earliest records of William details her joining the crew of HMS Queen Charlotte , built in Chatham Dockyard , between May and June 1815 as a landsman sailor , until it was discovered that she was a woman and discharged . The 1815 Annual Register , however , paints a much more prestigious account of William as a 26-year-old woman of African heritage who served in the navy for 11 years , spending some time as captain of the foretop and beloved by her crew . This record also states : “ She is a smart figure , about five feet four inches in height , possessed of considerable strength and great activity ; she says she is a married woman and went to sea in consequence of a quarrel with her husband . She declares her intention of again entering the service as a volunteer .”
POLITICS : William Cuffay
William Cuffay was an influential leader of the Chartist movement , which fought to gain rights for working-class people in Britain . His grandfather had been kidnapped from modern-day Ghana and shipped to St Kitts in the Caribbean , where his father was born into slavery but was able to gain his freedom , although it ’ s not known how , and worked as a cook aboard British warships . William ’ s father came to Chatham in approximately 1775 , where he married a local woman and William was born in 1788 . After working as a tailor in London , he became part of the Chartist
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