Black History - 100 Greatest

[Aidan]

Black History Month (BHM) is held every October in Britain. The aims are to promote knowledge of Black History and experience...

As part of this celebration there is the ubiquitous "top 100" count down for voting at www.100greatblackbritons.com

What I found of interest was that over 10% of the list has a connection (some admittedly slight) to Birmingham and I suspect a fair few more have connection to the Midlands. The ones I found are:

Bill Morris
Professor Stuart Hall
Phil Lynott
Baroness Valerie Amos
Frank Bruno
Joan Armatrading - see also https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=10394&p=349097#post349097
William Cuffay
Colin Jackson
Lord John Taylor
Dr. O.A. Lyseight
Olaudah Equiano - see also https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=32274

It would be interesting if anyone has reminiscences, thoughts, researches, pictures, videos to share on these or any others missed.

 

[jennyann]

Hi Aidan: Thanks for posting the 100 Black History persons list. Ben Zephaniah is last on this list as it is alphabetical. He is from Birmingham and has many contributions to Literature. https://www.100greatblackbritons.com/bios/benjamin_zephaniah.html

 

[Aidan]

Thanks Jenny, don't know how I missed the Dread Poet. Here is This Poetry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlnJ_WgAUYM

 

[Aidan]

Philip Parris Lynott was born in Hallam Hospital (now Sandwell General Hospital) in West Bromwich and christened at St. Edwards Church in Selly Park, Birmingham. I was never really a fan (though wish 'd picked up his poetry book) but I do remember Whiskey in the jar and Boys are back in town