Writing Family History

15/10/2022

Black workers have been historically underrepresented in trade union membership.

The contributions of black workers to the trade union movement also remain undervalued and largely undocumented, even though organisations such as the Black People’s Alliance were campaigning for workers’ rights alongside many larger unions.

From the late 1970s onwards, trade unions have steadily become more involved with anti-racist work and this poster is therefore a significant addition to our collection as it showcases anti-racist campaigning in trade unions with Black people at the centre.

Find out more in our latest blog, Black People’s Resistance Movements in PHM’s Poster Collection: bit.ly/3rx3fCd

Image: May Day March and Rally Against Racism and Fascism poster, around 1970

[Image description: A poster with a black banner at the top reading ‘May Day March and Rally Against Racism and Fascism.’ Beneath, is a photo of a Black woman with fist raised in the air. Beneath this is further detail about the event: ‘Saturday 30 April. Assemble 12 noon. Ladybarn Park, Parrs Wood Rd/Egerton Rd. Called by Manchester Trades Union Council & Manchester Unity Committee Against Racism and Fascism.’ In the bottom right is a map of the location, in Fallowfield, Manchester.]

04/08/2022

It’s a little known fact, but our Geese start every day with some Tai Chi in the pocket park

04/08/2022

30/04/2022

in 1789, the anti-slavery campaigner Olaudah Equiano published his autobiography. As a former enslaved person himself, he wrote about how he was captured at 11 years old, taken to Barbados and sold onto a plantation in Virginia, America. ⁠
⁠
After being sold to Robert King, a Philadelphia Quaker merchant, Equiano worked for payment on King's trading ships. He was eventually able to save enough money to purchase his freedom. ⁠
⁠
During the latter part of his life, Equiano settled in England and became involved in the movement to abolish slavery. He was a prominent member of the 'Sons of Africa', a group of 12 Black men who campaigned for abolition.⁠
⁠
In 1789, Equiano published 'The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, The African'. His autobiography is one of the most important publications of the abolition movement, with his book having been translated into Dutch, German and Russian.⁠
⁠
✏️ Olaudah Equiano ('Gustavus Vassa') by Daniel Orme, published by Olaudah Equiano ('Gustavus Vassa'), after W. Denton⁠
stipple engraving, published 1 March 1789 © National Portrait Gallery, London⁠

30/04/2022

30/04/2022

With approaching this Sunday, PHM’s Researcher Shirin Hirsch explores how the labouring masses made a lasting imprint on this day born out of Spring rituals. Read the new blog: https://bit.ly/3vmJm3n

Artist Walter Crane saw it as a day for powerful unity between nature and workers, as can be seen in the illustration pictured, A Garland for May Day, 1895.

Listen to Shirin discussing May Day history with Presenter Matthew Sweet for May Day Rituals, n BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking today and afterwards on BBC Sounds.

🖼️ A Garland for May, Walter Crane, 1895



Image description: A Garland for May, 1895, Walter Crane. Front page of The Clarion. Image courtesy of Labour History Archive & Study Centre, People's History Museum

The Clarion
May Day Number

An illustration of a barefoot woman holds up a wreath with slogans of ‘the land for the people’ and ‘hope in work, joy in leisure’ woven through.

15/04/2022