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Moments in time is an archive of historical events, people and places.
The Scramble for Africa, also known as the Partition of Africa or the Conquest of Africa, refers to the invasion, annexation, division, and colonisation of most of Africa by seven Western European powers during an era known as New Imperialism (between 1870 and 1914). This period of rapid European colonisation led to a significant shift in the …
Bayard Rustin was an influential civil rights activist, advisor to Martin Luther King Jr., and the main organiser of the 1963 March on Washington. Despite his significant contributions to the movement, Rustin’s story remains less known due to his open homosexuality and past affiliations. In this comprehensive article, we will explore his life, beliefs, accomplishments, …
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, better known as Mahatma Gandhi, was the leader of India’s non-violent independence movement against British rule. Gandhi is often referred to as Mahatma, which is a Sanskrit term meaning “Great Soul.” The title was bestowed upon him for his unwavering commitment to non-violent resistance, civil rights, and social justice. Gandhi’s early life …
Crispus Attucks was the first American and African American to be killed in the Revolutionary War. Born into slavery around 1723, Attucks was said to be the son of Prince Yonger, an enslaved African brought to America, and Nancy Attucks, a Natick Indian. We know very little about Attucks’ life or his family, who were …
The 1778 case of Knight v Wedderburn is a significant turning point in the history of slavery and the fight for freedom in Scotland. Joseph Knight, an enslaved man from Guinea, challenged his master, John Wedderburn, in a series of court battles that would ultimately lead to the abolition of personal slavery in Scotland. This …
Leopold II was the second King of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909. Born on 9 April 1835 in Brussels, he was the eldest surviving son of Leopold I, the first King of the Belgians, and his second wife, Louise-Marie of Orleans. Although Leopold II played a significant role in the development of the modern …
The Springfield Race Riot occurred between 14 and 16 August 1908. It was a pivotal moment in American history, serving as a catalyst for the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and shaping the future of the civil rights movement in the United States. As a city rich in …
Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, also known as James Albert, is said to be the first published black author in Britain. His autobiography, A Narrative of the Most Remarkable Particulars in the Life of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, An African Prince, as Related to Himself, was the first slave narrative published in England. Gronniosaw was born in Bornu (now …
The Bristol Bus Boycott landmark event in Black British history. It helped to raise awareness of racial discrimination in Britain and influenced the passing of the Race Relations Act 1965, which made “racial discrimination in public places” unlawful. Background: The Windrush Generation After the Second World War, Britain experienced a labour shortage, so Caribbean colonists …
Roy Hackett, a remarkable figure in the civil rights movement, not only left an indelible mark on the city of Bristol, but he also played a crucial role in shaping its history. Born in Jamaica and later moving to England, his life’s experiences prepared him well for his role in one of Britain’s most significant …
Emperor Haile Selassie ruled Ethiopia between 1930 and 1974. He steered his country into mainstream post-World War II African politics through his modernisation efforts. Ethiopia was admitted to the League of Nations and the United Nations under his leadership. Addis Ababa became the primary centre for the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union). …
India was one of the largest and wealthiest empires in the world before the arrival of the British East India Company in the late 16th century. The East India Company used its military strength and financial resources to gradually expand its control over India, eventually colonising the entire country. This colonisation significantly impacted Indian society, …
In 1781 over 100 enslaved Africans were thrown overboard the Zong slave ship to allow the slave owners to collect insurance money on their human commodities. This is one of the most egregious acts of inhumanity in Black history. The slave trade brought vast wealth to British ports and merchants but conditions were horrific. Enslaved …
The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is an American white supremacist terrorist hate group founded after the American Civil War to suppress and victimise newly freed African American slaves. Over the decades, their targets have grown to include Native Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Catholics, Jews, atheists and Muslims, as well as immigrants and homosexuals. On 24 …
On 1 July 1962, the Commonwealth Immigrants Act came into effect, ending the automatic right of people of the British Commonwealth and Colonies to settle in the United Kingdom. The Act applied stringent restrictions on the entry of Commonwealth citizens into Britain. Only those with work permits (which were typically only for high-skilled workers, such …
Dido Elizabeth Belle was a unique figure in 18th-century England, a time entrenched in the transatlantic slave trade. Born in 1761 to an enslaved woman named Maria Belle and a British naval officer, Sir John Lindsay, her story tells of her rise from a difficult start to becoming an influential figure in her own right. …
The Opium Wars, also known as the First and Second China Wars, were a series of conflicts between the British Empire and the Chinese Qing Dynasty during the 19th century. These wars were primarily triggered by trade disputes, as British merchants sought to smuggle Indian opium into China, despite its illegality. The resulting conflicts opened …
The European colonisation of Southeast Asia was a significant historical event that drastically transformed the region’s political, economic, and cultural landscape. European imperialism in Southeast Asia spanned from the 16th to the 20th centuries. It was driven by various factors, such as the desire for trade, competition for power, and the ambition to spread European …
Francis Kerr-Jarrett was a landowner and sugar manufacturer in Jamaica. He served as Custos Rotulorum of Saint James Parish, Jamaica, from 1933–1965. Custos rotulorum is Latin for ‘keeper of the rolls. It is a civic post in Jamaica that involves helping to maintain law and order. The Kerr-Jarrett Family Francis Moncrieff Kerr-Jarrett was born …
The brutal abduction and murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till on 28 August 1955 brought nationwide attention to the racial violence and injustice prevalent in Mississippi. It also spurred the emerging civil rights movement in America. Emmett Till – Early life Emmett Louis Till was born on 25 July 1941, the only son of Mami Carthan …
It is often thought that World War I (WW1) was a European War fought exclusively by Europeans, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Not often mentioned is the fact that there were Caribbean, Asian and African soldiers who served in the war. Walter Tull is the most celebrated Black British soldier of the …
Madam C J Walker was an entrepreneur best known for inventing Black haircare products. She was a political social activist, philanthropist and the first female self-made millionaire. Early years Born Sarah Breedlove on 23 December 1867, Madam C J Walker was the first child in her family to be born into freedom after the signing …
We often think of the British Armed Forces as exclusively male, but it may surprise you to know that many Caribbean women served in World War II. Historically, most Armed Forces were almost exclusively composed of men. However, many women joined the British Armed Forces during WW2. The exact number of Caribbean women serving in …
Lilian Bader was born in 1918 in Liverpool’s Toxteth Park neighbourhood to Marcus Bailey, a merchant seaman from Barbados who fought for the British in the First World War, and Lilian, a British woman whose parents were Irish. The Baileys were married in 1913, and Bader was their youngest child. Bader and her older brothers, …
