The Notting Hill Carnival can trace its roots back to the first Caribbean carnival held in
Trinidad in 1833 to celebrate the introduction of the Abolition of Slavery Act. The freed slaves,
previously banned from holding their own celebrations, celebrated by singing and dancing through
the streets. Some dressed up in costumes with faces whitened with flour like their previous slave
owners, thus the tradition of dressing up in costumes and dancing and parading through the streets
was born, commonly known as Mas, it derives from this masquerade. Claudia Cumberbatch Jones (1915 -1964) was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad but raised in the US and is often
referred to as 'The Mother of the Notting Hill Carnival.' She lived in Harlem, New York from 1923 to 1955 and
whilst there became a prominent black nationalist, political activist, community leader and journalist. Frequently harassed, threatened and spied on, Jones was eventually imprisoned four times whilst in
America and was denied US citizenship. On her release she was deported and was eventually granted asylum
in Britain. Many people sent messages of support and many others gathered at her hotel to see her off.
In the UK Jones became an anti-fascist and anti-racist campaigner and in 1958 she published the first
edition of the West Indian Gazette, the UK's first black newspaper. Jones was adamant that a community
which wants to be heard needs its own voice. Many world leaders visited Jones at the Gazette office
including Norman Manley of Jamaica. There had been a large movement of West Indian settlers to the UK in the 1950's and Jones found a society
where there was open social, housing and employment discrimination. It was common to be greeted by signs
saying 'No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs' when looking for accommodation. Claudia Jones with her former
experiences in the US became an ideal spokesperson and activist to deal with the discrimination faced
by the West Indian community.
Race riots broke out in Notting Hill over the August bank holiday in 1958. Several racist organisations
had moved into Notting Hill such as the White Defence League and followers of fascist Sir Oswald Mosley.
The West Indian community in Notting Hill numbered 7,000 at the time and running battles between them and
racist gangs lasted four days and nights. During these riots a young Antiguan man called Kelso Cochrane was
murdered, and Jones was amongst the first to defend the black community along with Amy Ashwood-Garvey
(the wife of Marcus Garvey.) After the riots Jones organised a walk from Powis Square, Notting Hill to
Tavistock Square to highlight positive aspects of Caribbean culture, although the walk contained dancers
and steel drum players it was not an official carnival. The Caribbean community wanted something to celebrate its arrival in Britain, a symbol of hope and understanding. Claudia felt that a
Caribbean style carnival would be the answer, and organised this a few months later. Unfortunately Claudia Jones did not live to see her dream of a full Caribbean style outdoor carnival realised.
She died on December 24th 1964. Her funeral in January 1965 was attended by thousands and she was buried in
Highgate cemetery next to Karl Marx. Skip forward to 2013 and the 49th Notting Hill Carnival is now the largest street festival in Europe with
millions attending over the August bank holiday weekend and the second largest carnival in the world after the
Brazil carnival held in Rio De Janeiro. From such humble beginnings the Notting Hill carnival is estimated
to contribute around £100 million to the London and UK economy and is one of Britain's biggest cultural and
tourist events. It is attended by an estimated one million people over the two days.
Written by Angela Hinds
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Your commentsI didn't know there is a carnival in London. Thanks Angela and My Continent for informations. We don't know when a black people create something great! We thinks everything that's good it's created by white people. It's good know Black people too can create something and been popular and enjoy by all the races. Thanks Cladia Jones Thanks to my continent for creating wondefull platform where people can post and show that black people also are doing or contribuiting good things in this world. very interesting post. Thanks Angela first would like to thank claudia jones to start this in london,and show pple our culture, but it been there for over centures in angola we been celebrating this years, once more thank you C. Jones R.I.P And thank you Angela we need to bring out our proper name's angela,jy,jackson etc they are slaves name, plz dont get me wrong Long walk to Freedom it was never and will be an easy walk The African woman has always been strong ! We celebrate her and others like her whose bravery echo in eternity Respect to C.J, but once again what ever we create as black people slowly but surely gets taken over by THEM and I can assure you that C.J. would role in her grave if she knew what it has become, its unrecognizable and is more like Glastonbury than any west Indian or Africa carnival its disgusting, and needs to be returned to its roots. I have been going to the carnival for decades not any more. We are here to do whatever we can to keep our traditions and customs of our Nation. Thanks for the insight.
I love it and God bless us. WoW what else can i say to such an ambitious and courageous woman, we really needed and still do need power and blessed women like Claudia Jones she definitely sets an example and is a role model to many women. WE salute our mother Claudia Jones for setting a foundation as the VOICE for our black people that were oppressed severely. May her soul rest in peace. The ED resulting from that surgery can be either temporary or permanent. However, it is important to get the doctor's opinion first before you take these oral medications because they may have bad side effects for the body. |