{"id":2232,"date":"2021-10-18T20:09:09","date_gmt":"2021-10-18T19:09:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/167.172.54.60\/?p=2232"},"modified":"2026-04-14T14:06:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T13:06:10","slug":"black-history-month-2021-the-people-who-shaped-our-past","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.talking-talent.com\/us\/black-history-month-2021-the-people-who-shaped-our-past\/","title":{"rendered":"Black History Month 2021: The people who shaped our past"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div id=\"hero-article-6a0389fe07ec6\" class=\"hero-article page-block page-block--pdtop-reg page-block--pdbot-reg\">\n\t\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"hero-article__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"pill-tag pill-tag--blue-20\">Connection<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"hero-article__date\">18 Oct 2021<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<h1 class=\"hero-article__title\">Black History Month 2021: The people who shaped our past<\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-article__author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-article__author-avatar\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.talking-talent.com\/us\/wp-content\/themes\/talking-talent\/library\/images\/branding\/logo-icon.svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"hero-article__author-name\">Dru Patel<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-article__image\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.talking-talent.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/black-history-scaled.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.talking-talent.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/black-history-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/staging.talking-talent.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/black-history-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/staging.talking-talent.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/black-history-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/staging.talking-talent.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/black-history-550x367.jpg 550w, https:\/\/staging.talking-talent.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/black-history-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/staging.talking-talent.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/black-history-1440x960.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"sticky-content-sidebar-6a0389fe09aa9\" class=\"sticky-content-sidebar page-block page-block--pdtop-none page-block--pdbot-xl\">\n\t\n\t<div class=\"container sticky-content-sidebar__wrap\">\n\t\t<aside class=\"sticky-content-sidebar__sidebar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sticky-content-sidebar__sidebar-top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"social-share\">\n            <h4 class=\"highlight\">Share<\/h4>\n            <a href=\"mailto:?subject=black-history-month-2021-the-people-who-shaped-our-past&amp;body=Check out this post by US Site: https:\/\/staging.talking-talent.com\/us\/black-history-month-2021-the-people-who-shaped-our-past\/\" title=\"Share by Email\"><i class=\"fa-regular fa-envelope\"><\/i><\/a><a class=\"social-share__link social-share__link--facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fstaging.talking-talent.com%2Fus%2Fblack-history-month-2021-the-people-who-shaped-our-past%2F&amp;title=Black+History+Month+2021%3A+The+people+who+shaped+our+past\" onclick=\"javascript:window.open(this.href,'', 'menubar=no,toolbar=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=600,width=600');return false;\"><i class=\"fa-brands fa-facebook-f\"><\/i><\/a><a class=\"social-share__link social-share__link--linkedin\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaging.talking-talent.com%2Fus%2Fblack-history-month-2021-the-people-who-shaped-our-past%2F&amp;summary=\" onclick=\"javascript:window.open(this.href,'', 'menubar=no,toolbar=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=800,width=900');return false;\"><i class=\"fa-brands fa-linkedin-in\"><\/i><\/a><a class=\"social-share__link social-share__link--twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Black+History+Month+2021%3A+The+people+who+shaped+our+past https%3A%2F%2Fstaging.talking-talent.com%2Fus%2Fblack-history-month-2021-the-people-who-shaped-our-past%2F\" onclick=\"javascript:window.open(this.href,'', 'menubar=no,toolbar=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=600,width=600');return false;\"><i class=\"fa-brands fa-x-twitter\"><\/i><\/a>        <\/div>\n        \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/staging.talking-talent.com\/us\/insights\/blog\/\" class=\"ui-btn ui-btn--outline-b sticky-content-sidebar__back\"><span>Back to articles<\/span><\/a>\n\t\t<\/aside>\n\t\t<div class=\"sticky-content-sidebar__content\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"body-content\"><p>For its 34th year <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk\/article\/section\/news\/proud-to-be-black-history-month-uk-launches-theme-for-black-history-month-2021\/\">Black History Month UK<\/a> launched a new campaign: Proud To Be.<\/p>\n<p>Catherine Ross, editor of Black History Month UK, said: \u2018It\u2019s been a challenging time for many Black and Brown people, with so much in the media about racism, inequality and injustice. We wanted the theme of Black History Month 2021 to focus on celebrating being Black or Brown, and to inspire and share the pride people have in their heritage and culture \u2013 in their own way, in their own words.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>And with that in mind, here\u2019s a collection of some of those people who instil pride and inspiration within us.<\/p>\n<h3>Ignatius Sancho (1729 \u2013 1780)<\/h3>\n<p>Ignatius Sancho\u2019s remarkable life started on board a slave ship, where he was born somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. He was orphaned young, and arrived in England before his third birthday.<\/p>\n<p>Ignatius taught himself to read and write, and spoke out against the slave trade. He also composed music and wrote poetry: Ignatius was the first published Black British composer.<\/p>\n<p>In 1773, Ignatius and his wife opened a grocer\u2019s shop in Westminster, which became a meeting place for many famous writers, artists and actors.<\/p>\n<p>Because of his financially independent status, Ignatius was able to vote. And in 1774, he became the first Black person of African origin to vote in parliamentary elections.<\/p>\n<p>But this landmark event wasn\u2019t his last. After his death, Ignatius\u2019 letters were published and became an instant best-seller. Later, his writing was used to support the movement to end slavery.<\/p>\n<h3>Queen Charlotte (1744 \u2013 1818)<\/h3>\n<p>Packs of Pomeranians, a hand in developing young Mozart\u2019s career, and a champion of women\u2019s education: Queen Charlotte had a life far richer than simply being the wife of \u2018Mad King George\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>Though she was born to German royalty, historians believe Charlotte descended from a Black branch of the Portuguese royal family: the house of Sousa-Chichorro.<\/p>\n<p>And now, she\u2019s widely thought to be Britain\u2019s first Black queen.<\/p>\n<p>In 1761, 17-year-old Charlotte married the young King George III \u2013 just six hours after arriving in England. They had 15 children, 13 of which survived. (One of Queen Charlotte\u2019s grandchildren was Queen Victoria.)<\/p>\n<p>Charlotte was a patron of the arts and scientifically minded. She played a key role in expanding Kew Gardens, and was a committed botanist. She was also a patron of \u2013 and fundraiser for \u2013 the \u2018General Lying In Hospital\u2019: a pioneering maternity hospital. She surrounded herself with the women\u2019s education group, the Blue Stockings Group, and was a close friend of Marie Antoinette.<\/p>\n<p>And one of our favourite things about Queen Charlotte? Her attitude: \u2018I am of the opinion that if women had the same advantages as men in their education, they might do as well.\u2019<\/p>\n<h3>Mary Seacole (1805 \u2013 1881)<\/h3>\n<p>A hero of the Crimean War, a pioneering nurse, and an inspiration to thousands in healthcare: it\u2019s no wonder Mary Seacole was voted the greatest Black Briton in 2003.<\/p>\n<p>Mary grew up in Jamaica, where she learnt her healing skills from her mother \u2013 covering everything from treating injuries and tropical diseases to the necessity of hygiene, hydration, and nutrition.<\/p>\n<p>When the Crimean War broke out in 1854, Mary travelled to England to volunteer as a nurse. Yet on applying, she was turned away as \u2018no more nurses were needed\u2019. Mary read between the lines, knowing they rejected her because of the colour of her skin.<\/p>\n<p>Undeterred, Mary funded her own journey to the Crimea and built her own hospital: the British Hotel. From there, she tended to the wounded, provided food and medicine, and gave soldiers somewhere to rest and recuperate. Mary also took to the battlefields herself, treating wounded soldiers from both sides (even when under fire).<\/p>\n<p>In 1856, a journalist from The Times \u2013 William Howard Russell \u2013 arrived at the British Hotel, wanting to write about Mary\u2019s work. What emerged was just how much the soldiers loved her, calling her \u2018Mother Seacole\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>And after the war, back in London \u2013 where Mary was bankrupt \u2013 this love and respect came full circle. When Russell visited and discovered Mary\u2019s destitution, he wrote a story to remind the public about her work in the Crimea. What followed was a four-day Fundraising Gala on the banks of the Thames, attended by around 80,000 people (including royalty).<\/p>\n<p>Mary published the stories of her travels \u2013 \u2018The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands\u2019 \u2013 which, aside from becoming a bestseller, was the first autobiography written by a Black woman in the UK.<\/p>\n<p>But following her death in 1881, Mary was lost to history for almost a century.<\/p>\n<p>Now, her contribution to British history is well recognised: after Mary was voted the Greatest Black Briton, a campaign for her statue was launched, and in 2016, it was unveiled in the grounds of St Thomas\u2019 Hospital.<\/p>\n<p>From annual prizes to leadership programmes, Mary Seacole\u2019s legacy is entwined with British healthcare.<\/p>\n<h3>Walter Tull (1888 \u2013 1918)<\/h3>\n<p>An orphan, a professional footballer, and a World War I officer: the story of Walter Tull is as tragic as it is heroic.<\/p>\n<p>Walter\u2019s childhood was marred by tragedy. When he was just seven, his mother died of breast cancer, and two years later, his father, a carpenter from Barbados, passed away from heart disease.<\/p>\n<p>Both Walter and his brother were taken in by an orphanage in Bethnal Green. Not long after, his brother was adopted by a family in Glasgow.<\/p>\n<p>But joy was just around the corner: Walter was spotted by Tottenham Hotspurs while playing for his local football team \u2013 and soon enough, he swapped Clapton FC for White Hart Lane, playing in front of thousands of fans.<\/p>\n<p>Walter was one of English football\u2019s first Black players \u2013 and would soon become the British Army\u2019s first ever Black officer to command white troops.<\/p>\n<p>Because when World War I began, Walter enlisted.<\/p>\n<p>He joined the Footballers\u2019 Battalion \u2013 alongside other professional players \u2013 and quickly ascended the ranks to Sergeant.<\/p>\n<p>During the war, Walter\u2019s gallantry and bravery resulted in a promotion to officer. He led 26 men on a night raid against an enemy position, crossed into enemy territory, then returned under heavy fire. All came back unharmed.<\/p>\n<p>Walter overcame tragedy as an orphan. He overcame racial abuse while playing for Spurs. He overcame institutional barriers to advance in the Army.<\/p>\n<p>And at just 29 years old, he died in combat.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the efforts of a former goalkeeper \u2013 Private Tom Billingham \u2013 Walter\u2019s body was never found. Like hundreds of thousands who fought in the war, Walter\u2019s last resting place is a field in Northern France.<\/p>\n<h3>Claudia Jones (1915 \u2013 1964)<\/h3>\n<p>Notting Hill Carnival is a highlight for millions of people: it\u2019s one of the largest street festivals in the world, attracting almost 2.5 million people every year. (Not even COVID-19 could stop the Carnival, with a virtual experience replacing the normal festivities.)<\/p>\n<p>And its existence, in part, comes down to Claudia Jones.<\/p>\n<p>Claudia and her family moved to New York from Trinidad in the early 1920s.<\/p>\n<p>She became a member of the Communist Party USA, campaigning for issues like equal pay. She also worked to get Black women equal respect within the party, and pushed for \u2018babysitter\u2019 funds so women were free for activist duties.<\/p>\n<p>But in 1950, Claudia was ordered to be deported. After a trial and imprisonment \u2013 plus suffering a heart attack in prison \u2013 in 1955, she left for the UK.<\/p>\n<p>And the UK needed Claudia as much as she needed a home.<\/p>\n<p>Claudia worked within the British African-Caribbean community and was involved in the movement for equal rights, campaigning against racism in housing, education, and employment, as well as racism in the workplace. Claudia also knew people needed a voice. So, in 1958, above a barber shop in Brixton, she founded the West Indian Gazette.<\/p>\n<p>And she didn\u2019t stop there. After the Black British community was rocked by the Notting Hill race riots, Claudia realised they needed to be lifted up. The answer? Notting Hill Carnival.<\/p>\n<h3>William Robinson Clarke (1895 \u2013 1981)<\/h3>\n<p>William Robinson Clarke always wanted to fly. So, when World War I broke out, he left his home of Kingston, Jamaica \u2013 alongside over 15,000 other Black Caribbean volunteers \u2013 and paid \u00a3150 to travel to England.<\/p>\n<p>But this decision didn\u2019t just change William\u2019s life: it changed history.<\/p>\n<p>He became Britain\u2019s first Black pilot.<\/p>\n<p>In 1917, William qualified as a Royal Flying Corps pilot. And not long after, his skills were put to the test. During a flight to capture images of enemy territory, William came under attack from five German planes. Despite a serious injury \u2013 a bullet through the spine \u2013 he flew his plane back to relative safety, crash-landing behind allied lines.<\/p>\n<p>William recovered from his injury, and later received the Silver War Badge. He also became Life President of the Royal Air Force Association\u2019s branch in Jamaica.<\/p>\n<h3>Beryl Gilroy (1924 \u2013 2001)<\/h3>\n<p>A prolific writer and pioneering teacher, Beryl Gilroy\u2019s journey to becoming London\u2019s first Black headteacher wasn\u2019t an easy one.<\/p>\n<p>Born in Guyana, Beryl was raised by her grandparents, who home-schooled her until the age of 12. She learnt about everything from herbs and local medicine to folk culture and stories of slavery. Then, when she joined school, she progressed quickly, and eventually graduated with a first-class teacher\u2019s certificate.<\/p>\n<p>But on her arrival in London in 1951, the education board rejected her qualifications, meaning she had to start studying again.<\/p>\n<p>With new qualifications in hand, Beryl taught at schools across London, eventually becoming headteacher of Beckford Primary, in Camden.<\/p>\n<p>And that wasn\u2019t all. Alongside teaching, she continued her studies in psychology, she wrote textbooks for West Indian schools, and she wrote novels for children and adults.<\/p>\n<h3>Turn celebration into action<\/h3>\n<p>Learning about and celebrating Black history isn\u2019t a monthly tick-box affair. The work should continue all year round \u2013 and it should result in\u00a0<em>change<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>So, use this time to learn and reflect, then channel that into action.<\/p>\n<p>Here at Talking Talent, we wanted to better understand the stories of those who shaped the UK\u2019s society. Because the importance of learning about other people\u2019s stories \u2013 whether they\u2019re in our history or in our present \u2013 can\u2019t be understated.<\/p>\n<p>And we\u2019ll leave you with these parting words from Donna Herdsman, award-winning professional services executive and mentor, and judge for the Black British Business Awards:<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We all have the opportunity to shape the world, making it a better place tomorrow than it is today \u2013 a place where we all belong and know we will be embraced for who we are, and the diversity of thought we bring. We must continue at pace and be deliberate in our plans, actions, and execution to create a society where equality and equity is simply the right of all!\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"sticky-content-sidebar__related-insight\" aria-labelledby=\"related-insight-heading\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sticky-content-sidebar__related-insight-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 id=\"related-insight-heading\" class=\"sticky-content-sidebar__related-insight-heading h6\">Related insight<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"h6 sticky-content-sidebar__related-insight-title\">40% of senior positions now filled by high performing women, accelerated by Female Leadership Development Programme<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/staging.talking-talent.com\/us\/insights\/news\/40-of-senior-positions-now-filled-by-high-performing-women-accelerated-by-female-leadership-development-programme\/\" class=\"arrow-link arrow-link--dark arrow-link--underline 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10.7282L9.67518 12L16 6L9.67518 0L8.34192 1.27177L12.3761 5.08698H0V6.91315H12.3761L8.34192 10.7282Z\" fill=\"#2C2A29\"\/><\/svg><\/div> <span class=\"arrow-link__text\">Read more<\/span> <\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2987,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"topic":[18],"class_list":["post-2232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","topic-connection"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Black History Month 2021: The people who shaped our past - US Site<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Reflecting on 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