Black Changemakers From British History That Should Replace Colonial Statues In The UK

As the statues of slave traders Edward Colston and Robert Milligan are removed from Bristol’s city centre and Museum of London Docklands respectively, non-Black Brits must pause to remember where the country currently stands. In the time since Britain erected a memorial glorifying a man who made his fortune from the oppression of Black people, Black communities and individuals have continued to face extreme racial discrimination, anti-Blackness, and systemic racism reinforced daily by those wielding power in the UK. Though the optics of oppression have shifted, the methods are still very much there – Colston and Milligan's removal are just the first in a long line of changes that need to be made in a country failing to address its deeply entrenched racism.

Black Lives Matter marches across the globe have sparked petitions calling for increased education on the legacies underpinning statues like Colston's. In the UK, where the country's commanding role in the global slave trade and pervasive history of colonialism have been continuously underplayed by governments and the schooling system, these calls are rightly louder than ever. Alongside these calls are campaigns for better Black History education in schools, something that is currently absent at all levels of teaching. These much needed across-the-board updates to national curriculums cannot be understated – without such changes, the individuals with power will continue imposing their "out of sight, out of mind" attitude towards racism and inequality in the UK. Challenging these systems of power is vital.

While we push towards future generations' right to a comprehensive education on Britain's shameful past, and real learning about Black Britons' immeasurable impact on the country's history, non-Black allies must do the reading now. Learning about and amplifying the voices of those that fought for change and racial equality long before they were listened to – and the voices of those still fighting today – is just one step towards achieving an anti-racist society in the UK. A commitment must be made to celebrate the achievements, the victories, and the breakthroughs of our Black communities where those before us insisted on memorialising their oppressors.

The below list features only a handful of the heroic Black changemakers that have played a part in British history, many of whom were firsts in their fields – no matter how their legacies are honoured, we must know their names.

Olaudah Equiano

Lobbied for the abolition of the British slave trade – Equiano and his sister were abducted from their home (now Southern Nigeria) by slave traders and taken across the Middle Passage.

Olive Morris

Community activist and co-founder of Brixton Black Women’s group, Morris was known for her work supporting Black women and advocating for feminism, as well as her central role in the British Black Panther Party.

Claudia Jones (above)

Founder of The West Indian Gazette, Britain’s first Black weekly newspaper, and key player in the launch of Notting Hill Carnival – Jones is often remembered as the “Mother of Notting Hill Carnival”.

Malorie Blackman

Award-winning children’s author (‘Noughts and Crosses’, ‘Crossfire’) who became the UK’s first Black children’s laureate in 2013.

Ignatius Sancho

An influential 18th century creative, Ignatius Sancho is recognised for his writing, composition and social reform. Sancho is also the first known Black voter.

Frank Bowling (above)

Artist specialising in abstract expressionism, twice awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship and the first Black artist elected to the Royal Academy Of Arts.

Margaret Busby

Writer, editor and co-founder of Allison & Busby (founded 1995), which made her the youngest and first Black woman publisher in the UK.

John Edmonstone

A key figure in 19th century scientific research, Edmonstone was born into slavery and learnt taxidermy upon gaining freedom – he went on to lecture at Edinburgh University where he taught Charles Darwin.

Paul Stephenson OBE (above)

Led the Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963, a reaction to Bristol Omnibus’ refusal to hire Black and Asian bus crew. The boycott is considered influential in passing the Race Relations Act 1965, which made “racial discrimination unlawful in public places”.

Mary Seacole

Known as Britain’s Florence Nightingale, Seacole established the British Hotel which cared for sick and injured soldiers in Crimea – she funded her trip to Crimea independently.

Justin Fashanu (above)

Fashanu was the first openly gay Black footballer in the UK, coming out in 1990 despite being paid £75k by his brother to stay in the closet. Fashanu died by suicide in 1998.

Val McCalla

Founder of The Voice, Britain’s only Black-owned national newspaper

Joan Armatrading (above)

Three time Grammy-nominated singer songwriter, credited as the first British female artist to gain international success.

Fanny Eaton

One of the most influential pre-Raphaelite muses, Eaton came to the UK soon after the abolition of slavery and sat regularly as a model at the Royal Academy. Her involvement was groundbreaking for a style of painting that favoured white women.

The Mangrove Nine

A group of Black radicals that stood trial following a protest against the Metropolitan Police’s harassment of the Black community in Notting Hill. The trial, in which the Mangrove Nine were acquitted, lead to the first judicial acknowledgement that racial hatred existed within the Metropolitan Police. The Mangrove Nine are:

• Barbara Beese
• Rupert Boyce
• Frank Crichlow
• Rhodan Gordon
• Darcus Howe
• Anthony Innis
• Altheia Jones-LeCointe
• Rothwell Kentish
• Godfrey Millett

Tessa Sanderson (above)

The first Black British woman to win an Olympic gold medal.

Diane Abbott

Abbott became the first Black woman elected to parliament in 1987 and has served as the Labour Party MP for Hackney & Stoke Newington ever since. When asked about why she when into politics, Abbot said "I knew how hard Black people’s lives are generally and I wanted to do something about it.”

Una Marson

Writer, activist and radio producer who became the first Black woman to work for the BBC during World War II.

Len Garrison (above)

One of the founders of Black Cultural Archives, Garrison dedicated his life’s work to educating on and preserving Black British History. He also founded the African and Caribbean Educational Resource whose schemes helped launch the careers of many Black writers.