Black Wandsworth Show information
Welcome to Black Wandsworth.
A Show of portraits celebrating the people of Wandsworth from the African Diaspora who have made a contribution to society and or culture
Olive Morris
Olive dedicated her life to the struggle for liberation, democracy and socialism. She went to Heathbrook Primary School and Lavender Hill Girls School. She became part of the British Black Panther Movement in 1968, of which she became a core member, along with Linton Kwesi Johnson, Althea Johnson, Neil Kenlock and Clovis Reid. She was central to the squatters’ campaign of the 1970s, opening the 121 Railton Road squat in 1973 with Liz Obi. According to Darcus Howe’s biographers, Robin Bunce and Paul Field, Olive was a woman who turned squatting into an art form. In honour of that skill set, Olive is photographed scaling the wall of a house on the front cover of the Squatters’ Handbook.
She took a degree in social sciences at Manchester University and became involved in community groups in Moss Side, and was an active member of the Manchester Black Women’s Cooperative. The struggle of black women was at the heart of her activism; she was the co-founder of the Brixton Black Women's Group in 1974, and the Organisation of Women oAsian and African Descent (OWAAD). She travelled extensively, visiting China on a student delegation organised by the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding, to see how Chinese people were building a socialist society.
Olive packed so much into her 27 years dying of cancer aged 27 in 1979 Olive was a community activist in South London in the 1970’s leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of local activism.
Extract from
https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/blog/black-history-month-power-olive-morris
By Dr. Angelina Osborne, Historical Researcher and Heritage Consultant
Photography By Neil Kenlock MBE https://kenlockphotography.com/
Printed by Michael Mapp
Cllr. Maurice Mcleod.
Maurice McLeod was born in Battersea, London. He grew up on the Surrey Lane Estate and later in Earlsfield, with his mother who was a nurse.
Maurice went to Spencer Park School and then got a scholarship to Emmanuel. Maurice was committed to working on anti-racism, as a result of racial abuse from the community and police whilst growing up and having been stopped and searched countless times.
Then the Grenfell disaster was the catalyst that prompted Maurice to stand as councillor and represent Wandsworths’ under-represented BAME community.
He is also a writer, editor and consultant. Maurice is now, at the time of writing, the Labour Councillor for Queenstown Battersea, and the Vice-Chair for Race on the Agenda.
Taken from https://www.blackheroesfoundation.org/wall-of-fame-exhibtion/maurice/
Marie Hanson MBE
As. survivor of Domestic Violence Marie was able to rebuild her life and in doing so help countless women and families through tribulations and strife. Setting Up S.T.O.R.M. Empowerment charity in 2004 to help women through hardship and D.V. whilst supporting children and young people as the children can often end up the silent victims. Since then Marie has been Councillor for her local ward,
She has also set up STORM Nursery along with having set up the peace concert a staple in the hearts and minds of of young people from all over the borough as it provides them with an opportunity to see some the hottest emerging musical and creative talent for the best part of the last 20 years.
For more information about Marie Hanson MBE visit https://stormfamilycentre.com/
Councillor Kemi Akinola.
As well as being the 1st Black Deputy Leader of Wandsworth Council, Kemi is also the founder and CEO of Be Enriched a food charity with two principal aims – engaging young people in the community in a way that allows them to genuinely ‘give back’, and serving healthy meals to those struggling to make ends meet.
Originally Kemi was on the path to becoming and Architect when she was hit by a car altering the direction of her life from that point on. Leading her to start volunteering during her 2 year recovery period in which she found she had a knack for volunteering and organising. She then readucated herself and retrained and began working with young people and the rest is still being written...
For more information on Kemi ther is and interesting article in The Stylist Magazine https://www.stylist.co.uk/
The Worshipful The Mayor Of Wandsworth Cllr Juliana Annan.
The 3rd Black Mayor in the last 100 years, the 2nd Black Woman and the 1st Ghanaian Mayor of Wandsworth. Cllr Annan
John Richard Archer
The First Black Mayor in London.
John Archer was the former Mayor of Battersea and the first black person to hold a senior public office in London. He lived at 55 Brynmaer Road in Battersea for almost 20 years, including the period of his most significant political achievements...
Archer entered local politics after attending the Pan-African Conference held in London in 1900, where he met leading members of the African diaspora.
He was voted onto Battersea Borough Council in November 1906. He was elected again in 1912 after which on the 11th November 1913 John Archer became the first Black Mayor in London by a majority vote of one instantly having to defend his position as a man of colour. Despite being the avid political activist he had a Photography Studio at 208 Battersea Park Road, there is also evidence of him being a singer who's musical interests had him as a friend to Samuel Coleridge Taylor along with being a student of medicine.
Hadas Hagos
Founder & CEO
Hadas has lived in Battersea for nearly 20 years. She founded Waste Not Want Not Battersea in 2017 out of a love of food and exasperation for seeing perfectly edible and nutritious food going to waste. Hadas also runs The Venue, a community centre, as well as local organisation SpaceMax.
To Find out more about Hadas and her Project visit https://www.wastenotwantnot-battersea.org/
Marcia Rigg
Is Political Activist and Campaigner who moved from Birmingham to London in 1980 to live in Tooting. A also lived in Balham and Battersea. She remembers growing up with her brother Sean Rigg and having family picnics on Wandsworth and Clapham Common. Sean tragically died in police custody in 2008, at the age of 40 in controversial circumstances by Brixton police officers.
"Since Sean's tragic death at Brixton police station, I have been vigorously campaigning for truth, justice and accountability of state related deaths in Britain and internationally, particularly deaths in police custody, mental health and the criminal justice system."
Follow Marcia on socials
@marcia_rigg (Twitter)
@Marcia Rigg (Facebook)
@riggmarcia (Instagram)
Calvin Rattray
Calvin opened Hype Coiffure in 1995 to clients at his first site in Balham. Seventeen years later, and with a few changes to the Battersea and Brixton salons, Hype continues to offer an extensive range of first class, yet affordable hairdressing services. Having won over twenty hairdressing, customer service and business awards, Hype Coiffure's handywork regularly graces the pages of top national and international trade and consumer magazines, with stylists often invited to work on photo-shoots, perform at top hairdressing shows. As well as taking care of a vast swathe of the A-list population (in need of Black hairstyling obviously).
"My ever lasting memory would be of the sense of community that was fostered in Balham and the support that was given by Wandsworth not only in the support of the shop but also in establishing Balham Festival which was a celebration of all that was good in Balham. Those were the days my friend."
Joseph Maye
Is a Social Entrepreneur Founder of Jimmy Asher Foundation, JAF Global and Joe Ride (Uganda) to name a few in all of his social endeavours Joseph strives to empower and support people and young people in various ways from providing them with employment, food, shelter, training, youth engagement and more.
"I was born and raised in Wandsworth. I know have a office in Wandsworth, where I grew up in Balham it was like a village, everyone looking out for each other. It took many people to help grow me into the man I'm today."
To keep up with what Joseph's projects are doing click the link below.
https://www.jimmyasherfoundation.org/
Morris Roots
Mr Roots, founder of Morris Roots Salons, has been a Loctician for the past 22 years, opening the first Salon in 2001 at 184 Tooting High Street. Since then 3 other Salons has been opened in and around London, including the Morris Roots Academy, School of Locs. He has also personally trained over 50 employees some of whom are still working for Morris Roots and others in different Salons both locally and internationally.
Internationally acclaimed and Award winning Mr Roots has been recognised and equally awarded for his dedicated hard work over the years.
Start your natural hair journey below
Lerrone Richards
Is a British professional boxer who has held the IBO Super Middleweight title since 2021. At regional level he has also held the British, Commonwealth and European super-middleweight titles between 2019 and 2021. As an amateur Richards compiled a record of 91–9. He represented Ghana at the 2012 African Olympic Qualifier, losing in the quarter-final to Abdelmalek Rahou by 9:16. Around this time Lerrone trained in Wandsworth, during which he won the SW division championships. His Current Professional Career records stands at 17 wins, 4 KO's and Zero Losses.
Follow Lerrone @ Snipertheboss
Rodney P
A British MC, as well as a radio and television personality who first gained attention via the UK Hip Hop scene in the 1980s. A former member of UK hip-hop group London Posse, Rodney P is known for rapping in his London accent, the dawn of UK Rap a whole decade before it became widely accepted. Back in 1986, London Posse supported Mick Jones of The Clash and his new band Big Audio Dynamite on a UK tour. Soon after a recording contract with Big Life Records followed, where they recorded songs such as "Live Like the Other Half" and "Money Mad", featuring on the group's only album, Gangsta Chronicle. Gangsta Chronicle was voted the most important UK hip-hop album of all time in the 2007 poll of music magazine Hip hop Connection.
Rodney also launched his own label, Riddim Killa, a collaboration with Low Life Records, on which he released a series of singles including "Big Tings" and the "Riddim Killa". In 2003, he released the solo album The Future and in 2007 he released Klashnekoff's debut album.
"I was Born and Breed around here. I now own what is now the ex council house I grew up in just off Lavender Hill.
I've always loved the number of youth services, and clubs there were in Wandsworth. I grew up using them, and now my children attend many of the same clubs I did.I think it's important for young people to have safe places to go to where they can connect, socialise and have their minds opened up to new ideas."
Follow Rodney p @rodneyp_uk
Mac (So Solid Crew)
One of the founding MC members of So Solid, with one of the most recognisable verses on the 2001 Smash Hit 21 Seconds. Mac Is also an entrepreneur turning his hand to Clothing Production and music production opening a new music studio in Morden and a supported of Urban Studio Sessions Local Non Profit Organisation providing Urban Sport and Arts training and workshop to the public.
"Raised and lived here for over 35 years and the strong community figures that helped us to stay of the streets, by providing activities throughout ,community centres, playschemes. Helping us find our talents I.e football, basketball, table tennis, roller hockey, djing, singing, rapping and plenty more which helped myself and many others, just take a look at all the greats that have come out of Wandsworth and you'll understand the impact of good youth provision."
Keep up with Mac @officialmacsosolidcrew
DJ PDS (So Solid Crew)
One of the founding members and the first Dj and Producer of the So Solid Crew, a professional dancer, choreographer, dj tutor, youth/childcare worker. Paul was always an integral part of the strong youth provision in Wandsworth in the 90's work as a youth worker in the Fabled Battersea Par Adventure Playground of the time a gnarly and adventure soaked arena of bumps, scrapes and stories of close calls to tell.
My mother was well known due to her dedication to her job, managing York Gardens Adventure playground aswell as Battersea park Adventure playground where I grew with the community and the other main members of So Solid.. The Adventure playgrounds united all the youths of our time, bringing talents together and creating careers/Businesses for everyone.
Keep up with DJ PDS @deejaysosolid