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Moments in time is an archive of historical events, people and places.
On Sunday, 18 January 1981, a fire broke out in a house in New Cross Road, Deptford, South East London, killing 13 people and marking a massive change for black people in Britain. On Sunday 18 January 1981 a fire broke out in a house in New Cross Road, Deptford, South East London, killing 13 …
The saying “Each one teach one” is an African proverb that originated in America during slavery times. Slaves were seen as chattel and therefore denied an education so when one slave learned to read or write, it became his duty to teach someone else. Frank Laubach, a Christian missionary went on to use the phrase …
One of Jamaica’s National Heroes, George William Gordon was born to a slave mother and a planter father who was an attorney to several sugar estates in Jamaica. Seeing that his son George had special characteristics, Joseph Gordon decided to take an interest in his education from an early age. George went to live with …
Malcolm X was a prominent civil rights leader, Black nationalist, and minister who served as a spokesman for the Nation of Islam during the 1950s and 1960s. As an influential figure in both the Nation of Islam and the civil rights movement, he played a significant role in shaping the political and social landscape of …
The Morant Bay Rebellion was an uprising that took place in Jamaica on 11 October 1865. This rebellion is one of the most significant events in the history of the Caribbean nation, as it led to major political and social changes on the island. The revolt was a response to widespread poverty, social injustice, and …
You’ve seen the movies and maybe you’ve read the books but did you know that The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo were written by a decendent of an enslaved woman? Yes. That’s right, Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) was of mixed heritage. On 24 July 1802, Alexandre Dumas was born to Marie Louise Labouret …
Ignatius Sancho (c. 1729 – 14 December 1780) is a noteworthy figure in British history, known for his numerous accomplishments as a composer, writer, and passionate advocate for the abolition of slavery. Sancho’s journey from being born on a slave ship to becoming a prominent British citizen who fought against the inhumane institution of slavery …
Often referred to as Queen Nanny, Nanny of the Maroons stands out in history as the only woman among Jamaica’s National Heroes. She possessed that fierce fighting spirit generally associated with the courage of men. In fact, Nanny is described as a fearless Ashanti warrior who used militarist techniques to foul and beguile the English. …
You’ve heard of Florence Nightingale but did you know she had a black equal? Up until recently, the story of Mary Seacole was untold. Mary Seacole was born on 23 November 1805 in Kingston, Jamaica. Mary’s mother ran a lodging house, called Blundell Hall, which was much respected by local people in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital …
Martin Luther King Jr delivered one of his most famous speeches on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963. Most people only remember the ‘I have a dream…’ parts. Here is the speech in full. Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand, signed the …
Jamaica’s National Heroes dared to challenge the institution of colonialism and in so doing changed the course of Jamaica’s history giving social and political freedom to its people. Today, the statues of Jamaica’s seven National Heroes stand in proud acknowledgement, in the National Heroes Park in Kingston where they are viewed with inspiring pride, unforgettable …
Samuel Sharpe is one of Jamaica’s National Heroes. He was the main instigator of the 1831 Slave Rebellion, which began on the Kensington Estate in St James, Jamaica and which was largely instrumental in bringing about the abolition of slavery. Because of his intelligence and leadership qualities, Sam Sharpe became a “daddy”, or leader of …
Norman Washington Manley is one of Jamaica’s National heroes. Born in Roxborough, Manchester, on 4 July 1893, he was the son of Margaret and Thomas Albert Manley who were both mixed race. He was well educated, attending high school, before going to Jamaica College. He made headlines as an outstanding athlete, as well as excelling …
As one of Jamaica’ National Heroes, Marcus Mosiah Garvey stands out in history as one who was greatly committed to the concept of the Emancipation of minds. Garvey’s early life Garvey who was born on 17 August 1887, in St. Ann, Jamaica became famous worldwide as a leader who was courageous and eloquent in his …
Paul Bogle is one of Jamaica’s National Heroes. It is believed he was born free about 1822. Bogle was a Baptist deacon in Stony Gut, a few miles north of Morant Bay, and was eligible to vote at a time when there were only 104 voters in the parish of St. Thomas. He was a …
The Arawak were a once-predominant group of Native Americans originally inhabiting an area that stretched from present-day Florida down through the islands of the West Indies and the coastal area of South America as far as southern Brazil. The group is in the Arawakan linguistic family. The Arawak were the first natives of the Americas …
Barbados, a small island nation in the eastern Caribbean, has a complex and fascinating history. The island has experienced multiple stages of development, from early Amerindian settlements to British colonisation, the arrival of African enslaved people, the growth of the sugarcane industry, and, ultimately, the path to independence. Early Amerindian settlements Arrival of the first …
Black History does not start with slavery, contrary to popular belief, there was Black history before slavery. Long before we were bought and sold, we were making history, and after slavery, Black people were still making history. Africa before slavery Hundreds of years before Europeans arrived in West Africa; West Africans had rich and diverse …
Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister, civil rights activist, and a pivotal figure in American history. Through his tireless work, inspirational speeches, and unwavering commitment to nonviolence, he played a crucial role in the advancement of civil rights for African Americans, leading to the end of legal segregation and the passage of key legislation such …
The transatlantic slave trade was a horrifying period in history that lasted from the 16th to the 19th century. It involved the transportation of millions of enslaved Africans across the treacherous Atlantic Ocean to the Americas and the Caribbean. This trade formed the second leg of the triangular trade, where goods such as arms, textiles, …
