Edit

Categories

  • Album review
  • Art
  • Article
  • Arts and Culture
  • Blogs and Lifestyle
  • business
  • Clubs
  • Comedy
  • Comment
  • covid
  • entertainment
  • Features
  • Festival Feature
  • Film
  • Flame
  • Football
  • Gallery
  • Gig Guide
  • Homepage
  • In The Middle
    • Blogs and Lifestyle
      • Food
      • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Lifestyle & Culture
  • In The Middle
  • Interview
  • Leeds Internation Film Festival
  • Lifestyle
  • Literature
  • Live review
  • Music and Clubs
  • Music Features
  • Music news
  • Music news
  • Musical Theatre
  • News
  • Poetry
  • Poetry
  • Previews
  • Satire
  • Science
  • Sport
  • Street Style
  • Television
  • Theatre
  • Uncategorized
  • University
  • Views
  • world
Saturday May 21, 2022
The Gryphon The Gryphon

12:53 am

  • Home
  • News
  • Features
  • Views
  • Fashion
  • Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Music
  • Business
  • Science
  • Sport
 Leeds Black History
Blogs and Lifestyle Blogs and Lifestyle In The Middle Lifestyle

Leeds Black History

by Chloe-Nicole Arnold October 22, 2021 0 Comment

It’s Black History Month in the UK, and this year The Gryphon is celebrating Black Liberation within its print issue. Black History Month is of course commemorated nationally, but it’s important to educate yourself on the history of your local community. Here’s a rundown on some of the important events and people within the city’s extensive Black history, using resources provided by Secret Library Leeds.

The Windrush Generation 

1948 marks the first arrival of economic migrants from the Caribbean Islands to Yorkshire. By the early 60’s, the Black population in Leeds was estimated to be 4,000; made up of skilled labourers, carpenters, teachers and tradesmen. The Windrush generation were promised work and a good life in the UK, and were instead met with poor living conditions, limited job prospects and outright racism. Despite these setbacks, the African-Caribbean community flourished in the local area, creating groups and organisations such as the Caribbean Cricket Club and the Aggrey Society.

Norma Hutchinson

A Trade Unionist and local councillor to Chapeltown, Jamaican-born Norma Hutchinson moved to Leeds in 1968 as a nurse. After being elected in 1991, Hutchinson went on to have a successful career in local politics and activism. Before sadly passing away in 2004, Hutchinson was an activist for women’s rights, as well as a chair for environmental health and housing committees. Hutchinson also did a lot of work for her home country, raising money for health campaigns back in Jamaica.

Rock Against Racism 

Leeds Beckett University was home to the second Rock Against Racism (RAR) concert in the UK, a series of gigs to raise awareness against prejudice and systemic violence. Fascism was sadly present in 1970’s Leeds, due to post-industrial decline and the rise of far-right groups such as the National Front. RAR directly opposed these views, organising gigs and clubs in support of anti-racism throughout the decade. In Leeds, the local RAR organisation was supported by musical acts such as Delta 5 and Gang of Four, and in 1981 the last RAR Carnival took place in Chapeltown.

Cedric Clarke

This pillar of local politics was elected as the first Black councillor in Leeds in 1980, and remained in his position for the Labour Party for a decade. Whilst holding his position, Clarke was part of the Education, Nursery, Industrial and Employment committees, as well as vice-chairman to the city’s Equal Opportunities sub-committee. Clarke’s main focus was to improve the lives of minorities living in his city, introducing 220 affordable new houses for the area and creating more diverse teaching within local schools.

Tags: black history black history month change chapeltown chloe-nicole arnold education history leeds local community rock against racism windrush generation
Previous post
Next post

Chloe-Nicole Arnold

contributor

Recent Posts
Fashion

Beauty Without Brutality: Vegan cosmetics

May 17, 2022
In The Middle

A chat with The Goa Express ahead of their first headline tour of the UK

May 15, 2022
In The Middle

The Heart Part 5 – the momentous return of Kendrick Lamar

May 12, 2022
In The Middle

Sea Girls – Homesick Album Launch @ The Wardrobe

May 12, 2022
Categories
  • Album review 22
  • Art 24
  • Article 8
  • Arts and Culture 85
  • Blogs and Lifestyle 33
  • Blogs and Lifestyle 36
  • business 9
  • Clubs 5
  • Comedy 1
  • Comment 1
  • covid 1
  • entertainment 2
  • Fashion 34
  • Features 58
  • Festival Feature 3
  • Film 22
  • Flame 25
  • Food 7
  • Football 3
  • Gallery 2
  • Gig Guide 13
  • Homepage 74
  • In The Middle 71
  • In The Middle 61
  • Interview 7
  • Leeds Internation Film Festival 1
  • Lifestyle 53
  • Lifestyle & Culture 14
  • Literature 11
  • Live review 36
  • Music and Clubs 118
  • Music Features 65
  • Music news 41
  • Music news 1
  • Musical Theatre 2
  • News 52
  • Poetry 2
  • Poetry 4
  • Previews 2
  • Satire 1
  • Science 18
  • Sport 25
  • Street Style 1
  • Television 14
  • Theatre 5
  • Travel 1
  • Uncategorized 53
  • University 2
  • Views 34
  • world 1
The Gryphon The Gryphon

Opportunities

Write for us
Advertise with us

Internal Links

Home
About Us
Feedback

External Links

University of Leeds
Leeds University Union
VisitLeeds
Leeds City Council

Follow Us

Subscribe

© Copyright The Gryphon 2012 – 2022. All Rights Reserved.
Web Design by Small Key Studios.