The History Hotline

In the final episode of this mini series, Deanna, Weyland and Athian Akec trace how Darcus Howe carried C.L.R. James’ radical tradition from Black Power organising and Race Today into prime-time British TV, from The Bandung File to Devil’s Advocate. Through interviews, archive and biography, we explore his confrontations with British power and the legacy that continues to shape Black politics and media today.This episode features : Leila Hassan Howe – Veteran Black British activist, former member of the Race Today Collective and long-time campaigner for racial justice and Black self-organisation.Dr Tennyson Joseph – Political scientist and lecturer at the University of the West Indies, specialising in Caribbean politics, decolonisation, and the work of CLR James.Dr Robin Bunce – Historian of Black Power and radical politics in Britain, and co-author of Darcus Howe: A Political Biography.Athian Akec - Athian Akec is a political educator and community organiser focused on cultivating political imagination and building community capacity for positive change.Written, presented, and produced by Deanna Lyncook & Weyland McKenzie-WitterSpecial guest appearance by Athian Akec Mix and Sound design by Weyland McKenzie - Witter Series Theme Music by Kyron Akal Artwork by Rei Bleu - www.reibleu.com

In this episode, we trace Darcus Howe’s journey from Caribbean “global consciousness” and Trinidad’s Black Power uprising to the Mangrove Nine, the Race Today Collective and political organising in Britain. This episode uncovers how Howe built institutions, challenged the state and became a key target of the Special Branch’s Black Power desk.Leila Hassan Howe – Veteran Black British activist, former member of the Race Today Collective and long-time campaigner for racial justice and Black self-organisation.Dr Tennyson Joseph – Political scientist and lecturer at the University of the West Indies, specialising in Caribbean politics, decolonisation, and the work of CLR James.Dr Robin Bunce – Historian of Black Power and radical politics in Britain, and co-author of Darcus Howe: A Political Biography.Written, presented, and produced by Deanna Lyncook & Weyland McKenzie-WitterMix and Sound design by Weyland McKenzie-Witter Series Theme Music by Kyron Akal Artwork by Rei Bleu - www.reibleu.com

On Jan 4th 2022, Darcus Howe was honoured at the unveiling of a Nubian Jack plaque in Brixton. But who is Darcus Howe? In Part 1 of this series, we explore Howe’s politics, his relationship with C. L. R. James, and the Caribbean radical tradition behind his life’s work.This episode features: Dr Jak Beula - British entrepreneur, cultural activist, and "educartist" who founded the Nubian Jak Community Trust (NJCT) in 2006. Leila Hassan Howe – Veteran Black British activist, former member of the Race Today Collective and long-time campaigner for racial justice and Black self-organisation.Dr Tennyson Joseph – Political scientist and lecturer at the University of the West Indies, specialising in Caribbean politics, decolonisation, and the work of CLR James.Dr Robin Bunce – Historian of Black Power and radical politics in Britain, and co-author of Darcus Howe: A Political Biography.Written, presented, and produced by Deanna Lyncook & Weyland McKenzie-WitterMix and Sound design by Weyland McKenzie-Witter Series Theme Music by Kyron Akal Artwork by Rei Bleu - www.reibleu.com

4 incredible years and 150 episodes of The History Hotline later, the show has come to an end. I have decided to take a long break from podcasting and can't make any promises as to when I will be back. Thank you all for your support tuning into this podcast, this last episode is taken from the live show featuring Dr Jade Bentil. For bookings and other inquiries email: [email protected] or find us on socials here.

"This was a continuation of the British Caribbean Experience: fighting with Britain during global wars, and during times of peace fighting British authorities for justice."This week I am joined by author Colin Douglas discussing his book 'The Caribbean and the Second World War'. We discuss the long military history in the region and the various ways the Caribbean were a part of the global conflict. We discuss the Caribbean as an important geographical location for both Britain and the allies and Germany and the axis powers. But also consider Britain's military colour bar during this time.Colin will be in conversation with Dr Kesewa John at Greenwich museum on 17th November 2024.Follow us on socials here.Follow Colin Douglas here

In November 2023, Hannah Gaffey on her flight to Kingston, Jamaica witnessed what she believed to be a deportation. After standing with other passengers to stop the plane taking off, the passenger then unknown to her was removed from the flight along with the 6 security personnel that were attempting to restrain him across the back row of a packed flight full of holiday makers.In this episode we'll be talking about the deportation, the hounding from the tabloid media and the key board warriors who sent death threats. We discuss the current rise of the far right following the events of this summer and the way in which immigration has been used as a political tool especially in the last year.TW: sexual violence, rape, death threats.Follow us on socials and keep up to date with us here.

This week I'm joined by Rebecca Adams, archivist at the Stuart Hall Archives housed at the University of Birmingham. We talk about the importance of archiving Black life in Britain and how it informs our historical research. The life of the educational psychologist Mollie Hunte and why she remains relatively unknown despite her tremendous contribution to British society. We also talk about access and the way you as members of the public can engage with the archives to conduct your own research.Rebecca: Instagram (@rebeccaadarchivi), Twitter (@rebeccarchivist)Stuart Hall Archives: Instagram (@StuartHallAP), Twitter (@StuartHallAP)Follow us on social media and keep up with what we're up to.The live podcast festival at the Imperial War Museum has been cancelled, contact the IWM if you have any issues of queries with ticket refunds.

Live events: The Imperial War Museum live show, 4pm, 19th October 2024.This week I'm joined by Paul Henriques to speak about the financial savings system Pardna, it's been successfully used all over the world and now it's in app form. Listen in to find out more about how Caribbean people in Britain used pardna to achieve their money savings goals and how it can be used a financial literacy tool today.To find out more about Pardna:Website: https://pardna.comTwitter: https://x.com/pardnaInstagram: https://instagram.com/pardnagram/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PardnaHQ/Keep up with us here. Episodes will be out weekly for the foreseeable future.

Live events: The Imperial War Museum live show, 4pm, 19th October 2024.Articles Cited: Amelia Gentleman: 'Home Office forced to release critical report on origins of Windrush scandal'Wawrick Mansel, 'Jamaican teachers at leading UK academy chain paid less than their British colleagues'Prof. Gus John, 'Jamaica needs teachers, yet England poaches them and classrooms lie empty. How can that be right?'Keep up with us here. Episodes will be out weekly for the foreseeable future.

Live events: The Imperial War Museum live show, 4pm, 19th October 2024Just an episode full of the books I'm currently reading, some Black British History and some not so much. Books mentioned:Blazing Trails: Stories of a Heroic Generation - Gus JohnMulticultural Britain: A People's History - Kieran ConnellThe Caribbean and the Second World War - Colin DouglasBlack Women Always: Conversations on Life, Culture & CreativityThe Treatment - Sarah MoorheadKeep up with us here. Episodes will be out weekly for the foreseeable future.

Live events: The Imperial War Museum live show, 4pm, 19th October 2024.On today’s episode I will be thinking about the far right. I’ll be continuing to think about this idea of 'little change' from last week and into next week. We'll be looking at the longer history of anti-immigrant sentiment in politics and the history of far riot uprisings.Racism Runs Riot by Dr Lambros FatsisThe Windrush story was not a rosy one even before the ship arrived by David OlusogaKeep up with us here. Episodes will be out weekly for the foreseeable future.

Live events: The live podcast show at Kings Place, 2pm on 15th September 2024. The Imperial War Museum live show, 4pm, 19th October 2024.On today’s episode I will be thinking about policing Notting Hill Carnival. I’ll be continuing to think about this idea of 'little change' from last week and into next week. We'll be looking at media portrayals as well as the 1976 and 1977 Notting Hill Carnival riots.Keep up with us here. Episodes will be out weekly for the foreseeable future.

Live events: The live podcast show at Kings Place, 2pm on 15th September 2024. The Imperial War Museum live show, 4pm, 19th October 2024.On today’s episode I will be thinking about policing and how little has changed since my grandparents came in the 1950s and 1960s. I’ll be thinking about this idea of 'little change' in the next few episodes. The next two episodes will largely focus on policing and then we will look into politics, the media and the far right…Keep up with us here. Episodes will be out weekly for the foreseeable future.

This week's episode discusses the current racial climate in the UK with the far-right taking to the streets in the name of 'protecting Britain', whilst burning hotels and libraries, vandalising public and private property and causing chaos and inflicting violence. We talk about this within the context of Jamaican Independence (shoutout to all those who celebrate) and what it means for the descendants of formerly colonised people to see violence similarly meted out to their ancestors on British streets today. We also talk about the situation at Goldsmith's University, where they continue to attack courses that highlight and educate on the histories of marginalised people and the lecturers and module convenors that teach them. To support and sign the petition, click here.We have two upcoming events, the Black British History quiz will be on 17th August 2024 and the live podcast show will be on 15th September 2024. Episodes will resume 27th August. To keep up with us on socials, click here.

This week we are joined by special guest Donald Campbell of The Forgotten Generations. TFG founded June 2021, is a not-for-profit organisation with aims and objectives to provide historical and current information of British African and Caribbean people for educational purposes. It was a pleasure to talk to Donald about his work collecting the stories of generations past and present and his own life migrating to Britain as a child and his long career in the RAF. Tune in to our interview on TFG here.Follow us on socials here, live show tickets here and to book tickets to the Black British History quiz here.

On this week’s episode of The History Hotline, I am joined by Kandace Chimbiri, children’s author and speaker dedicated to teaching children (and adults) about modern and ancient Black history. We spoke about her love of Black History, from ancient African civilisations to the post-war migrations from the Caribbean to Britain and everything in between.UK listeners can get Kandace's books at Black and anti-racist bookshops such as New Beacon Books, Afori Books, Book Love and Book and KultureUS and overseas listeners can get books via Awesome BooksTo get tickets for the live show on Sunday 15th September!!To follow us on socials and keep up to date with all things The History Hotline.

Live show tickets!! This week's episode looks at Norman Manley's visit to Birmingham, caught up in the political debate on immigration in 1961. It explores his motivations for coming and what that says about the transnational links between the migrated populations of commonwealth countries and their new homes. Featured article on Manley's visit. To follow us on socials and check out what else we're doing?

This week's episode is all about, UK elections, the ongoing genocide in Palestine and Sudan and the violence in Congo!We're having a live show, tickets available here!If you want to follow us on socials, click here

The Black People's Day of Action (1981) was a direct response to the New Cross Massacre that led to the deaths of 14 young Black people in New Cross, South London, 1981. This week I am thinking about the mobilisations and uprising of people we are currently witnessing across University campuses and in wider society... the response to a people that do not feel heard or seen. I will be contextualising these thoughts in the wider history of protest in Britain, thinking about the Black People's Day of Action as a response to the state's silence on the trauma of the fire.

This week's episode features the brilliant Alexandria Miller who is a historian, writer, and multimedia documentarian who is passionate about capturing Caribbean stories. This episode we talk about our academic journeys, doing a PhD and some of the differences in studying Caribbean history for a US vs UK perspective. We discuss Alexandria's work on Jamaican women and her motivations for researching a community so close to home. You can find out more about Alexandria's work on her podcast Strictly Facts: A Guide to Caribbean History and Culture and follow us for more here.