Jump, and the net will catch you
I Rise
Empowering through health, wellness and historical knowledge
Moments in time is an archive of historical events, people and places.
Throughout American history, race riots have played a crucial role in moulding the nation’s societal, political, and economic fabric. These violent eruptions, frequently instigated by perceived injustices or disparities, have inflicted enduring wounds upon communities and emphasised the deeply ingrained issues of racism and discrimination that persistently plague the United States. We previously discussed the …
Throughout American history, race riots have been pivotal in shaping the nation’s social, political, and economic landscape. These violent outbreaks, which often occurred in response to perceived injustices or inequalities, have left lasting scars on communities and highlighted the deep-rooted issues of racism and discrimination that continue to persist in the United States. This article …
John Lewis, born on 21 February 1940 in rural Alabama, was a prominent civil rights leader and politician known for his tireless activism, dedication to social justice, and unwavering commitment to nonviolent protest. As the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and a leader of the historic Selma March, John Lewis left an …
Claudia Jones was a feminist, political activist, pioneering journalist, and visionary. She is known for being the ‘Mother of Caribbean Carnival in Britain’. Early years Claudia Jones was born on 21 February 1915 in Belmont, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. At the age of eight, her family emigrated to Harlem, New York, following the post-war cocoa price crash …
The London Borough of Lewisham is a multicultural borough with a large Black and Asian community, as many of the Windrush generation settled in Lewisham from the late 40s onwards. Just like Brixton and Notting Hill, Lewisham has experienced its share of racism and fascist uprisings. It was in Lewisham that British fascism suffered …
George Arthur Roberts was a remarkable man who made significant contributions to British society and the armed forces. Born in Trinidad, he travelled to the UK and became one of the first black men to join the British Army. Throughout his life, George Arthur Roberts fought for equality and made a lasting impact on his …
The Notting Hill Race riots were the result of a campaign of attacks on the Caribbean residents in a bid to drive them out of their homes and ultimately out of Britain. Much like the 1919 race riots, the growing Black presence in Britain was a major factor in these events. Although dubbed the Notting Hill race …
A 32-year-old black man from Antigua named Kelso Cochrane was brutally murdered in a racist attack in the early hours of 17 May 1959. After receiving treatment at Paddington Hospital for a fractured thumb, Kelso Cochrane was walking home shortly after midnight when a gang of white youths surrounded him, called him derogatory names, beat …
The Somerset v Stewart case, also known as Sommersett v Steuart, Somersett’s case, and the Mansfield Judgment, was a pivotal legal case in the history of slavery and abolition. Decided in 1772 by the English Court of King’s Bench, the ruling established that slavery was unsupported by English common law and that an enslaved person …
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the oldest and most prominent civil rights organisation in the United States. Founded in 1909, the NAACP has a long and storied history of fighting for equal rights and racial justice. This comprehensive overview covers the organisation’s founding, key campaigns and victories, prominent members, …
The abolition of slavery in Britain marked a significant turning point in history, leading to the end of a brutal and inhumane practice that had persisted for centuries. This article delves into the long and arduous journey towards abolishing slavery in Britain and the British Empire, exploring the key events, influential individuals, and societal shifts …
Israel’s control of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza has been referred to as an “occupation” for decades. Yet until recently, many people have not fully understood the significance of the historical event that led to Israel occupying Palestinian territory since 1967. The history of this conflict is long and complex, but understanding it …
Olive Morris was a political activist and key figure in the fight for black women’s rights in Britain during the 1970s. In her short life, Morris raised awareness of inequalities by travelling, writing, organising protests, and setting up support groups. Her tireless efforts to combat racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression left an indelible …
Miss Read (17 April 1913 – 7 April 2012) Miss Read was the pen name of Dora Saint, who wrote over thirty books from the mid-1950s to the mid-1990s. Dora Jessie Shafe was born on 17 April 1913 in South Norwood, London, the youngest of three daughters of Arthur Shafe and his wife Grace Read. …
The British Black Panther Movement (BBP) emerged in the late 1960s as a response to growing racial tensions and discrimination faced by the black community in the United Kingdom. Drawing inspiration from the American Black Panther Party, the BBP sought to address issues of racial inequality, police brutality, and social injustice in Britain. This comprehensive …
Sybil Phoenix is a community leader who has devoted her life to helping other people, especially in Lewisham, the town she made home. Early years She was born Sybil Theodora Marshall on 21 June 1927 in Georgetown, British Guiana (now Guyana). Sybil’s mother died when she was nine, and, as her father worked in the …
When I was writing about the Catford Broadway Theatre I was lucky enough to get into an email conversation with the daughter of Norman D’Alquen, a local Forest Hill businessman and amateur photographer who took the picture of the theatre under construction in 1932. I found his history interesting and hope you do too. Norman …
Lewisham’s famous women: Rosa May Billinghurst ( 1875 – 1953) Rosa May Billinghurst (commonly known as May Billinghurst) was born on 31 May 1875 at 35 Granville Park, Lewisham. She was the second of nine children. Her father, Henry Billinghurst, was a banker. Her mother, Rosa Brinsmead, was the daughter of a wealthy piano manufacturer. …
6 February 2018 marked 100 years since the Representation of the People Act 1918 – the act which allowed some women in the UK the right to vote. This was a major landmark in the history of our democracy. Influential consideration Only 58% of the adult male population was eligible to vote before 1918. An …
Lewisham’s famous women: Edith Lanchester (1871-1966) Many people know of famous Catford born actress Elsa Lanchester, but what do you know of her socialist and feminist mother, Edith? Edith ‘Biddy’ Lanchester was born in Hove, Sussex on 28 July 1871. She was the fifth child of a family of eight. Her parents were Henry Jones …
In the nineteenth century, women had no place in national politics. They were not eligible to run for Parliament. They were not even allowed to vote. The assumption was that women did not need to vote because their husbands would handle political issues. A woman’s role was seen to be child-rearing and taking care of …
Lewisham’s famous women: Clemence Dane (1888-1965) Clemence Dane was born Winifred Ashton on 21 February 1888 in Westcombe Park Road, Blackheath. In 1897 the family moved to 22 Westwood Hill, Sydenham in the borough of Lewisham, where they stayed until 1901. During this period young Winifred attended Sydenham High School. Her family then moved out …
Lewisham’s famous women: Eleanor Marx (1855 – 1898) Although commonly remembered as the daughter of Karl Marx, Eleanor Marx achieved a great deal in her own right as a feminist, a socialist, a translator, a journalist and an editor. Eleanor lived in Jews Walk, Sydenham in the borough of Lewisham, from 1895 to 1898. Eleanor …
Lewisham’s famous women: Marie Lloyd (1870-1922) Marie Lloyd is considered to be the greatest and most popular of the music hall artists, lived for several years in Lewisham, between 1887 and 1893. The house where she lived, 196 Lewisham Way, called Lewisham High Road back then, no longer exists. The site was covered by the …
