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Black History Icons
UK Black History Icons
Dizzie Rascal
Who is your Black History Role Model?
“My black history role model would have to be 2pac, as a kid he really inspired me to be really honest in my music and to fight for a cause.”
What do you want your legacy to be?
“I’d like my legacy in the history books to say someone who has pushed the boundaries of music and was never afraid to say what he was thinking and feeling. Some one who brought j oy to peoples lives, that’s what I want my legacy to be”
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David Lammy
Who is your black history hero?
First and foremost, my mother springs to mind – after my father left us, she made huge sacrifices, working all hours of the day to provide for her four children.
Looking at black history, Rosa Parks stands out as a remarkable figure. After all, it was her bravery that spawned the civil rights movement in America that produced heroes like Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, and made it possible for Barack Obama to be elected US President.
What do you want your legacy to be/the history books to say about you?
I want to be known as a good father, a good MP and as someone who helped to transform Tottenham into a vibrant and prosperous community. And if by my actions I can inspire more young black men and women to aim high and be the best they can be, I’ll be happy.
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Linford Christie
Linford Christie OBE former British athlete who specialised in the 100 meters. The only British man to win a gold medal in the 100 m at all four major competitions:
The Olympic Games The World, Commonwealth, and European championships.
He was the first European to break the 10-second barrier in the 100 m and he still holds the British record in the event. He is a former European record holder in the 60 meters, 100 meters and 4 x 100 meters relay events. With 23 major championship medals and 10 gold medals he is the most decorated British male athlete.
Who is your black history hero?
Well mine is my grand mother she’s gone now but was a great person who was the person that moulded me into the person I am today. for me she is my hero for Black history month. Why is it only a month! Black people do things all year around and sometimes I think its wrongs, it shouldn’t be a month it should be all the time and I think its about time they started teaching black history in schools and especially tell people of the good that black people have done. Sometimes we come across people who say negative things and its only because of ignorance and its because they don’t know we fought in the war and all the other things we have done, we done a lot of good its about time they told the true story to make our youngsters proud of what we have achived and maybe it will stop them doing the negative things on the streets.
What do you want the history books to say about you?
I came, I saw, I conquered I came from a little tiny island and for me my grandmother would be proud, she used to say that you came from nothing, from little Jamaica to being captain of England. It’s a great achievement and to let people know that I did my best.
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Luol Deng
Born in Sudan in 1985, Luol Deng is the UKs biggest basketball export in history. Learning his trade in Croydon south London Luol is a fantastic example of a fantastic UK role model. At 24years old he has been signed up by world famous basketball team Chicago Bulls for an estimated $71m in comparison to David Beckham’s £27m! and has been hailed by US president as his favourite player.
For all his fame and wealth in the US Luol holds the UK close his heart and returns every summer (during his holidays) to help young basketball players in his coaching camp The Luol Deng Foundation. The foundation provides the opportunity for those from disadvantaged backgrounds the chance to train with him and other professional players.
As well as this Luol is the ambassador for the world food programme (the food branch of the United Nations).
Luol has been recognised for his humanitarian work and received the refugee humanitarian award to which President Obama led the tributes.
Luol is truly an inspirational young role model and one the UK are proud of.
Who is your black history hero?
For me it’s so easy you’re always going to have to martin Luther King just for everything that he has done, just for the opportunities that we have. You know a lot of us talk about changes, we want to see other things, here’s a man who actually stood up for everybody, saw the bigger picture before everybody, so every time we have something like that we have to have it forever, so a lot of thanks to martin Luther King and others.
What do you want the history books to say about you?
I want the history books to say that I was very caring, very sharing with everything that I have. That’s really it I just want to help others
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Other notable UK Black History Icons
- Sir Trevor Macdonald – Renowned broadcaster and first UK black TV news anchorman
- Mary Seacole – Crimean war veteran nurse and original lady of the lamp, Mary Seacole's reputation after the Crimean War (1853-1856) rivalled Florence Nightingale's. Unlike Nightingale, Seacole also had the challenge to have her skills put to proper use in spite of her being black.
- Diane Abbott – Representing the London constituency of Hackney North and Stoke Newington, Diane Abbott was Britain's first Black woman MP.
- Viv Anderson – Viv Anderson broke through the taboos to become the first black player to appear in a full international for England, making his senior debut against Czechoslovakia in 1978.
- Mary Prince – One of the first black writers to publish a book in England c.1831
- Claudia Jones – Founder of Britain's first black weekly newspaper "The Westindian Gazette", also known as the mother of the Notting Hill Carnival.
- Tessa Sanderson – First British black woman to win an Olympic gold medal
- Val McCalla – Founder of Europe's largest ever black newspaper "The Voice" also founded "Black Britain" and "The Weekly Journal"
- Lewis Hamilton – the first driver of black heritage to win Formula One World Championship
- Lenny Henry – comedian and one of the founders of comic relief
- Walter Tull – was the first black/mixed race officer in the British Army, and the second black/mixed race player in the top division of the Football League.
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