Black Edwardians: Black People in Britain 1901-1914

by Jeffrey P. Green

This study reveals the presence of black people in all walks of life all over the British Isles at the height of the imperialist era - challenging conventional views on imperialism, racism and British social history. Historians of British society have largely ignored this most visible of minorities, and commentators on racism have been silent on the period.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

308 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1998

Reviews

[Yasmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a very good read and worth recommending, however, it could easily have been a better read. The subject deserves a much better book, rather series of books to do it any justice. A minor compliant, to start, the grammar. There were sent and structures that needed fair tuning to them to make the reading clear. The other faults was that the author obviously had his own predjudice in that he all too quickly and readily swept the people in the book as "African". He would brush in quickly th country, not where in the country, then swipe in the next moment Afican and leave it as such. Another unfortunate aspect is to suggest that because two people had ancestry from the same continent and where living in a slightly similar area of London they would be "close". This is very narrow minded and frankly idiotic to assume because two black men, Coleridge-Taylor and Mohamed were not on two separate planets therefore they would be chums is absurd. I was also unfortunate to make the sweeping generalised remark of the "Arab world", which is to say hat the Arab people live in a completely different world to everyone else. Furthermore in a country like Syria, whose official language is Arabic, there are Christian people and they don't all necessarily call themselves Arab. Not only that, but not every "Arab" government is in exact alliance with its neighbour, a country that has the official language of Arabic. With Tustin mind there were people that spoke that travelled and live in other countries for most of their lives, and so this broad term of "Arab world" is very much inaccurate and out of place. For the subject matter, of course, this is the book to read; it's important and must be read.

[Derneeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a shame that this book doesn't have any reviews and it seems very much so underrated and ignored. This book is amazing and I am so happy that I managed to get my hands on one. The premise of the book is to undercut misconceptions that the very first presence of black people in Britain, bar the victims of the slave trade, was the landing of SS Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in June 1948. For some reason the presence of black people in Britain seems to be masked and has been falsely pinpointed as truly beginning in 1948. This book gives a great narrative as to why this is the case and also who were these people and why they had chosen to settle in the 'Mother Country'. Not only was this eye opening but it also modified the way I understand the history of this country, it truly is a shame that the history taught in British schools forgo important aspects of British history such as the colonies and how the landscape of Britain steadily and radically transformed. I recommend this for everyone to read! This books should not go unnoticed and it is tragic that it has been.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The black people of Britain and the wider world have always contributed to society but their achievements were never appreciated simply because of their skin colour. Wished I could have learnt more about the people in this book. Lots of books to look out for.