Nubian Jak Community Trust
Nubian Jak Community Trust (NJCT) is a commemorative plaque and sculpture scheme that highlights the historic contributions of Black and minority ethnic people in Britain. The first NJCT heritage plaque, honouring Bob Marley, was unveiled in 2006 after "two years of research and behind the scenes negotiating".[1][2] The scheme has been run and managed by the not-for-profit organization Nubian Jak Trust Ltd since August 2016, with a remit to commemorate and celebrate the diverse history of modern Britain. Its objectives include the promotion of social equality and to encourage activities that promote cultural diversity in society.
Overview
The Trust was founded by Jak Beula and works in partnership with educational groups, cultural institutions, local government, and public- and private-sector organizations. Its activities include exhibitions, seminars, workshops, and learning programmes, as well as managing a national plaque and sculpture scheme. The scheme, which is the only one of its kind in Europe, highlights BME presence in Britain by commemorating individuals who have made a recognisable contribution to the nation.[3] These individuals (mostly deceased) are either nominated by members of the public, or recommended by a special panel within the Trust, to receive a commemorative plaque. One of the most famous plaques of recent years is the Bob Marley Blue Plaque,[4] which the Nubian Jak Community Trust arranged in partnership with the Mayor of London in October 2006.[5] It was the first commemorative event organised by the Nubian Jak Community Trust, as well as also being County Hall’s first ever blue plaque. The installation of the Bob Marley plaque was filmed as a feature for a 90-minute Arena documentary aired on BBC1 the following October called Bob Marley: Exodus 77.[6]
The next three Nubian Jak Community Trust plaques were installed as part of the bicentenary commemoration for the British abolition of the Slave Trade Act 1807.
The first of the plaques installed in 2007 had a public ceremony unveiling inside Luton Town Hall in February 2007. The Luton Bicentenary Plaque[7] is now installed outside Luton Central Library in Central Square.
This was followed by the historic plaque to Ignatius Sancho[8] erected on Her Majesty's Foreign Office in October 2007. It is the only black plaque in Whitehall. A couple of weeks later, another Nubian Jak Community Trust bronze plaque was installed on Senate House, part of the University of London, to Bermuda-born abolitionist and author Mary Prince.[9][10] To date, the Nubian Jak Community Trust Plaque Scheme has installed 36 commemorative plaques around the UK.
Nubian Jak Community Trust plaques 2006–present
- British West Indies Regiment Seaford Plaques x 2, November 2015[11][12]
- Sidney Bechet Plaque: November 2014[13]
- Walter Tull Plaque: October 2014[14]
- George Africanus Plaque: October 2014[15]
- Dr John Alcindor Plaque: July 2014[16]
- Laurie Cunningham Plaque: October 2013[17]
- Pete Robinson Plaque: July 2013[18]
- Stephen Lawrence Anniversary Plaque: June 2013[19]
- Frank Bates Plaque: June 2007[20]
- Frederick Douglass Plaque: February 2013[21]
- Samuel Coleridge Taylor Plaque: December 2012[22]
- Bernie Grant MP Plaque: October 2012[23]
- Sir Arthur Wint Plaque: October 2012[24]
- Leslie Palmer Plaque: August 2012[25]
- Russell Henderson Plaque: August 2012[26]
- Dennis Brown Plaque: April 2012
- Malcolm X Plaque: February 2012[27]
- Frank Crichlow Plaque: December 2011[28]
- Claudia Jones Plaque: August 2011[29]
- Rhaune Laslett Plaque: August 2011[29]
- George Padmore Plaque: June 2011[30]
- New Cross Fire Plaque: January 2011[31]
- Mayor John Archer Plaque: December 2010[32]
- Rudy Narayan Plaque: November 2010[33]
- Lord Learie Constantine Plaque: September 2010[34]
- ANC Nelson Mandela Anniversary Plaque: February 2010[35]
- Amy Ashwood Garvey: November 2009[36]
- Kelso Cochrane Plaque: May 2009[37]
- Claudia Jones Plaque x 2 (Bronze and Blue): August 2008[38]
- Connie Mark Plaque: May 2008[39]
- Mary Prince Plaque (Bronze): October 2007[10]
- Ignatius Sancho Plaque (Stone): October 2007[8]
- Luton Bicentenary Plaque: February 2007[7]
- Bob Marley Plaque: October 2006[4]
African and Caribbean War Memorial
On Armistice Day 2014, as part of the four-year centenary commemorating World War I, the Nubian Jak Community Trust temporarily displayed Britain's first dedicated African and Caribbean War Memorial to servicemen and women from Africa and the Caribbean, who served alongside Britain and the Allied Forces during World War I and World War II at the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton, before its eventual permanent installation on London’s Windrush Square, on 22 June 2017 (Windrush Day).[40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48]
References
- ↑ "London honours legendary reggae artist Bob Marley with heritage plaque", Africa Unite, 26 October 2006.
- ↑ Glen Munro, "Honouring Our Plaque Heroes", The Voice, 28 December 2016.
- ↑ Kim Sherwood, "New Plaques for Black Icons: Sancho, Aldridge and Prince", Culture24, 11 October 2007.
- 1 2 Hugh Muir, "Blue plaque marks flats that put Marley on road to fame", The Guardian, 27 October 2006.
- ↑ "Plaque honours memories of Marley", BBC News, 26 October 2006.
- ↑ "2007-07-03 ✡ Bob Marley Exodus '77 - BBC documentary". YouTube.
- 1 2 "Nubian Jak Community Trust Commemorative Plaques 2006 – 2012", SlidePlayer.
- 1 2 "Ignatius Sancho", The Abolition of Slavery in London, 21 September 2012.
- ↑ Sara Wajid, "Plaque Tribute For Mary Prince, Author And Abolitionist", Culture24, 6 November 2007.
- 1 2 Caroline Mallan, "Slave girl's bravery remembered", BBC News, 26 October 2007.
- ↑ Shez Chung Blake, "African and Caribbean War Memorial unveiled at the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton – photos", Brixton Buzz, 12 November 2014.
- ↑ "Plaque to honour the West Indies fallen", Eastbourne Herald, 12 November 2015.
- ↑ "Jazz Giant and Pioneer, Sidney Bechet, Honoured With Blue Heritage Plaque in Fitzrovia", BenTV, 20 November 2014.
- ↑ "Pioneering footballer and WW1 soldier Walter Tull honoured with plaque in London", Centenary News, 23 October 2014.
- ↑ Norma Gregory, "Blue Heritage Plaque Unveiled for George Africanus", Nottingham News Centre, 10 October 2014.
- ↑ William McLennan, "Heritage plaque tribute to doctor who treated wounded soldiers as they returned from First World War battlefields", West End Extra, 25 July 2014.
- ↑ "Leyton Orient To Unveil Laurie Cunningham Plaque", Kick It Out, 4 October 2013.
- ↑ "Plaque: Pete Robinson", Memorial, London Remembers.
- ↑ "Plaque: Stephen Lawrence - Deptford", Memorial, London Remembers.
- ↑ "London jazz legend commemorated", ITV News, 19 May 2013.
- ↑ Francine Fernandes, "Frederick Douglass: Blue Plaque Unveiling", Operation Black Vote, 19 February 2013.
- ↑ "Conductor Alwyn unveils blue plaque to Croydon composer", Inside Croydon, 2 January 2013.
- ↑ "N15: There were never such devoted Sisters", Walking London one postcode at a time, 16 November 2015.
- ↑ "Jamaica’s Gentle Giant Honoured in London", Jamaica Information Service, 21 October 2012.
- ↑ Berny Torre, "Leslie Palmer and Russell Henderson to be honoured", Operation Black Vote, 23 August 2012.
- ↑ Mick Hutton, "Russ Henderson: Inspirational jazz pianist and steel-pan player who played a central role in establishing the Notting Hill Carnival", The Independent, 14 September 2015.
- ↑ Steve Bradley, "New plaque marks the day Malcolm X visited Smethwick", Birmingham Mail, 22 February 2012.
- ↑ "KCTMO supports blue plaque honouring Frank Crichlow", Kensington & Chelsea TMO, 1 December 2011.
- 1 2 Hazelann Williams, "Notting Hill Carnival 'Mothers' Honoured", The Voice, 26 August 2011.
- ↑ "George Padmore blue Plaque Unveiling & Reception", George Padmore Institute.
- ↑ "New Cross Fire - New Cross Road, London, UK" - Blue Plaques on Waymarking.com.
- ↑ "Pupils From Putney & Wandsworth Schools To Unveil Tribute To London's First Black Mayor", PutneySW15.com, 14 December 2010.
- ↑ "Civil rights: Rudy Narayan honoured", Operation Black Vote, 15 November 2010.
- ↑ Sandra Jackson-Opoku, "Black London History", Soul Of America.
- ↑ Andrew Johnson, "MP’s Commons tribute to Nelson Mandela recalls the ‘massive surveillance’ of Islington refuge for anti-apartheid fighters", Islington Tribune, 13 December, 2013.
- ↑ "Blue Plaque honour for Amy Garvey", Jamaica Observer, 11 November 2009.
- ↑ "Kelso Cochrane Honoured With A Blue Plaque", itzCaribbean, 27 April 2009.
- ↑ "'Formidable' Claudia the Carnival Queen", GetWestLondon, 28 August 2008.
- ↑ "Jamaican Community Activist Honoured with Blue Plaque in London", Jamaica Information Service, 4 July 2008.
- ↑ "African and Caribbean War Memorial, Brixton", WW2 Talk, 31 January 2017.
- ↑ "Events", African and Caribbean memorial website.
- ↑ "Countdown To Unveiling Of Historic Memorial Begins", The Voice, 22 May 2017.
- ↑ Stephen Spark, "Brixton memorial will honour African and Caribbean troops", Soca News, 23 May 2017.
- ↑ Linda Quinn, "Brixton’s Windrush Square to be home of the brave", Brixton Bugle Blog, 26 May 2017.
- ↑ "First ever memorial to African and Caribbean Service Personnel unveiled in Brixton", Ministry of Defence, 22 June 2017.
- ↑ "First war memorial to Afro-Caribbean soldiers unveiled in London", BBC News, 22 June 2017.
- ↑ "Sir Michael Fallon hopes to see more ethnic minority recruits join armed forces", Aol, 22 June 2017.
- ↑ "African and Caribbean war memorial finally unveiled in Brixton", ODN, 22 June 2017.
External links
- "Nubian Jak Community Trust" at African and Caribbean Memorial website.
- www.nubianjak.org