This extraordinary dual portrait has been in the @penshurstplace collection since 1743, it is a mystery ✨
No known artist. No clear purpose.
The Black figure—unidentified.
The white sitter—named… but now known not to be who we thought.
And yet… the clues are there.....
Now following the launch of the Two Boys Project the public along with the @nationalportraitgallery have been invited to help solve that mystery!
I’ve written about the mystery and why this astonishing painting is perhaps unique, and of international historic significance for the Black presence in Western European art in the 17th and 18th centuries—check my bio for the link.
#BlackBritishHistory #BlackHistory
Black British Civil Rights, 1965-2025 with renowned academic who fought for, then wrote laws and trained nations on racial equality
60 Years of Struggle: Black British Civil Rights, a film on education, housing, policing, health, migration and anti-racism since 1965. Plus a deep conversation with legendary academic, activist and octogenerian, Professor Gus John.
PLUS Caribbean in Crisis rare screening of 1989 film linking to Cuba/Venezuela/Grenada
The films and conversation will cover:
His UK arrival in the 1960s to become a priest
Life as a gravedigger
Setting up Birmingham's first Saturday school in 1964
Fighting the Far Right in the 1970s
Setting up the Black Parents Movement with John La Rose/New Beacon books
20,000 people and the Black People's Day of Action 1980s
The first Black Director of Education in Hackney
The London School and Black Child conferences of the 1990s
Breaking academic barriers and mentoring
Writing anti-racist laws in the 2000s and advising governments on equality
The Home Office/Windrush scandal
Police brutality and systemic racism at the BFI in 2025
He will discuss problems, solutions and lessons learned in 60 years of fighting the power.
The film was produced by Souleyman Garcia. Like many African Odysseys titles it has rarely been screened since the initial sold-out British Film Institute event in 2015 when 2000 people chased 450 tickets. In 2025 the British Film Institute cancelled the African Odysseys monthly, educational film programme, ignored a 18,000 strong petition to keep it and refused do a legally required Race Equality Impact Assessment and refused to meet Professor John on two separate occasions.
The film will therefore tour different London locations over the next 6 months to recognise 60 years since the first ever Race Relations Act in 1965
The film wll be followed by an extended Q&A You can see the original 2015 Q&A HERE
Other coming events HERE
Black History Steam train tour
Black History Bus Tour/ River Cruise
Afeni Shakur and the trail of the Panther 21
6 African Leaders removed by the French
Hackney, Mayfair, St Paul’/Bank, Theatreland and Soho Black History Walks
@victoriaevaristo1 aka Victoria Evaristo "Ma Joyce’s Tales from the Parlour" award winning one woman play was a pure delight. I saw it a couple of days ago at the @redbridgedramacentre and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.
Set in Liverpool 8 aka L8 aka Toxteth of the 1960s and early 70s, where I was brought up, it captured my Black Liverpudlian experience in a way that felt deeply personal. It was like seeing fragments of my own family and our lives acted out on stage.
There were so many cameos – some subtle, some direct – many funny and, sadly, some not, that touched both my heart and soul. When Ma Joyce took us to Nigeria and recalled being called “Oyinbo” – the white man – it resonated profoundly with me, as I had the very same experience.
For me the whole play felt authentic, moving and brilliantly done. I thoroughly #Recommend it.
At the @imperialwarmuseums Imperial War Museum London. Went to research a book I'm working on and stumbled on something deeply personal. In the Second World War galleries I found the story of Thomas Andi - a Nigerian seaman in the British Merchant Navy captured in 1940 and held as a POW. Seeing his log book and thermos made history feel really human to me. 
My Dad was also a merchant seaman in the war — he joined in ’43 in the Seaman's Union in the Catering Dept. Seeing Thomas’s story preserved reminded me how many people from across the world helped shape this country. 
Not just research- it was family. See bio Linktree for link
#ImperialWarMuseum #MerchantNavy #WW2 #BlackHistory #FamilyStories #HistoryFeels #BlackHistory #BlackBritishHistory #WW2history
Black History in the Bank of England Black History in the Bank of England. Britain's Black History 3 of 4 - Gold
Designed as Lesson Starters - (key stage 3 for Teachers TV in English schools) this is 2 of 4 educational videos about the black presence in Britain which goes back to Roman times and the arival of African Roman Emperor Septiimus Severus and units of troops from North Africa.
This clip looks at how Britain got rich from Africa gold and Mansa Musa, the African King who was the richest man in the world in the year 1325
More info at for walks, talks, films, bus tours, river cruises and steam train trips all year long
#blackhistory #blackhistorytiktok #blackhistorywalk
ITV news 5th January 2026 covers Bill Richmond and Tom Molineaux 200 years ago African-Americans, Bill Richmond and Tom Molineaux were the top boxers in Britain.
In 1810 Bill (New York), having fought his way into wealth and high society, owned a pub on the site of the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square. As a Black business and property owner, he trained people like Lord Byron and his fellow boxer Tom Molineuax (Virginia).
Bill and Tom took on the might of the British establishment, long before slavery was abolished, when they organised a fight for the British bare knuckle boxing championship with white sailor Tom Cribb in 1810
Both men made a massive impact on boxing history and books have been written about their exploits and legacy. Professor David Olusoga recognised Bill in his 2016 BBC TV show Black and British a Forgotten History. They were referenced in Netflix' Bridgerton and Disney Plus 'A Thousand Blows'. There are several books about them; Black Ajax by George Mcdonald Fraser, Richmond Unchained by Luke G Williams, etc
Bill and Tom have featured on our Black History Walks in Trafalgar Square/Theatreland, bus and river tours for 20 years but there is no physical memorial about the legendary venue.
After over a decade of detective work, lobbying and negotiating we have now got permission to install a historic blue plaque on the side of the National Gallery to honour both these remarkable men for the first time in two centuries.
Black History Walks having raised funds for ten plaques so far, the most recent being to James Baldwin, is raising money to fund the cost of a Nubian Jak Blue plaque, and any donation will make a difference. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause which will make a massive impact on the lack of Black historical representation this central London area.
Nubian Jak has put up two statues and 130 blue plaques so far but this will be the first one in the Trafalgar square area. The money will pay for legal fees, listed building application, plaque manufacture, publicity and the unveiling ceremony. /f/blue-plaque-to-honour-bill-richmond-and-tom-molyneaux
So sorry to hear the sad news that Eric Huntley has passed. I’ll remember Eric with love and great affection – his great wit and that infectious, lovely smile. He taught me the importance and power of the first-hand published word in telling the story of Black British history. I will miss him.
Nadia Denton aka @nadiajacintadenton on the BBC web site /articles/c79xje85x13o talking about her tours about the African Gaze at @Tate Britain and @Tate Modern where she looks at African Modernism and Afro-Surrealism - movements #GoodRead #BlackArt #AfricanArt
Great to actually meet @jenniebaptiste on the last day of her excellent solo show at @somersethouse "Rhythm and Roots" with Leslie Primo aka @artfirstprimo some great images - intimate, quietly powerful, never forced.
