Exhibition celebrates early Black African East Enders

THE SLAVE TRADE was running across the Atlantic – but in Tower Hamlets, between 1567 and 1802, Black people were finding refuge and telling their stories. Now a new exhibition tells their stories.

Six local residents have dug into the archives to find these stories which are now re-told through artworks, poetry, podcasts, creative writing and achive material. The people whose stories are told include:
•Sabinah, who was transported from Jamaica and found refuge in Whitechapel;
•Pompey, a trumpet player in Bethnal Green;
•Ann, a “maid” in Limehouse who escaped from her captor.

Cllr Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, reminded the audience at the launch that Tower Hamlets has a long history of being a place of refuge, before reflecting on the innovative nature of this exhibition and the people it celebrates. “Until now there has been no public recognition that so many people from Africa and the Caribbean lived and survived here, in what is now Tower Hamlets,” he said. The Council hopes this exhibition is the first step towards creatng an outdoor public memorial of these early Black residents.

The exhibition is being funded by Historic England’s Everyday Heritage grant programme, which supports those celebrating working class history. Sean Curran, Head of Inclusive Heritage at Historic England, said that exploring their heritage is good way for young people to, “learn new skills, build pride in the places they live, and to connect them to people from the past.”

●The exhibition can be seen in the entrance lobby to the Town Hall in Whitechapel from 9m to 6.30pm during the week, with late opening till 8pm on Thursdays.
It will then tour other venues in Tower Hamlets for the rest of the year, while the Council carries out a public consultation on the memorial.

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