Brixton

Electric Avenue (sign at the very top of the picture)

Many agree that London was built on the backs of POC. A modern tragedy of this history is that it is ignored. In a United Kingdom Parliament debate, Claudia Webbe stated in Column 33WH that “black history is taught in only 10% of all schools.”

This is among a few reasons I chose to study “Diversity in London” as an elective course. History is written by the victors, so a personal value of mine to dig deeper to understand the truth of any new space I occupy. When the real story is ugly, it may be romanticized or just hidden altogether. So I basically wanted to cut to the chase right away.

In my diversity class, we read “White Teeth” by Zadie Smith, which didn’t shy away from stories of identity, cultural heritage, and the lives of immigrants in London.

I highly recommend this book, and engagement with historic museums and areas around London. Such as, the Museum of Immigration and Diversity, Chinatown, Camden Town, Kingsland Road, Migration Museum, Brick Lane, The Archives, and Notting Hill.

One special place I was lucky to have a tour of is called "Brixton". This tour was through my school but not led by my teacher. We were guided by local blue-badge tour guide, Anne-Marie Walker.

We learned about the U.K version of America’s “KKK”. They called themselves the “Teddy Boys”. They supported the Oswald facist party, and dressed in Edwardian style.

In 1959, the West Indian Gazette came about, and Claudia Jones proposed the Notting Hill Carnival.

*keynote for U.S. readers: in England, Asian people are referred to as “oriental” and  African/Caribbean people are called “west Indian”.

This carnival is important because it was an attempt for unity amongst constant racist tension and hate crimes throughout this time. 

Caribbean immigrants were not allowed to open a bank account or mortgage, so they had to band together as a community to get a house. There were up to 8 rooms per house, and entire families, like Anne-Marie’s, would live in a room with no running water or facilities. 

In 2017, the U.K. acknowledged their Caribbean soldiers for the first time. 

Though Afro-Caribbean culture is still prevalent in Brixton, gentrification is currently pushing out immigrant families who created a life there. The average price of one house is a million dollars. 

Brixton is rich with culture and incredible food, so if you find yourself there, take in the street art, stroll down electric avenue, and try a vegetable patty at East of Eden.

While you’re there, it will be beneficial to pay special attention to Brixton’s complicated history and current struggles with gentrification.

Thanks for reading :P