So, I’m kicking off BHM this year with re-introducing an inspiring women who I came across for the first time last year. Claudia Jones (21 February 1915 – 24 December 1964), was a Trinidad and Tobago-born journalist and activist. Now you know that I have to give a shout out to a one of my fellow Trini ancestors (thanks to my mum) who (as well as others) has passed down her activist spirit to me. My goggle search revealed that as a child, Claudia migrated with her family to the US, where she became a Communist political activist, feminist and black nationalist, adopting the name Jones as “self-protective disinformation”. Due to the political persecution of Communists in the US, she was deported in 1955 and subsequently lived in the United Kingdom. Upon arriving in the UK, she immediately joined the Communist Party of Great Britain and would remain a member for the rest of her life. She then founded Britain’s first major black newspaper, the West Indian Gazette, in 1958 – I can so see myself in Claudia.
Now I like to dance and was so trilled to learn about Claudia Jones who is known for inspiring the Notting Hill Carnival.
Childhood Memories
I have so many great memories of Notting Hill carnival, I always remember my dad parking at my great aunt’s house and waling, as a family, over to the parade to watch the floats and the dancers in their colourful customs pass before my eyes. As a young child my dad would position my brother and me on each of his shoulders so that we would have a birds eye view of the procession. He proudly got to experience this tradition with his family year after year until I started to share this experience with my friends in my 20s, 30s and 40s. One year my dad purchased a manual ice-cream churn so that he could make ice-cream to sell at the carnival.
I remember having to sit at the churn tuning the handle whilst my dad poured in the ice, ignoring my pleas of “my arm hurts” whilst encouraging me not to stop. I remember the excitement on his face, liking his lips at the thought of tasting his delicious creation that would make its mark at carnival. I remember being on the staff (with his Dominican Nation Overseas Association group) where carnival goes would stop by dubious at the though of peanut butter ice-cream. “Buy one and taste it with your friends” my dad would say. One of the group bravely parted with their money on exchange for the cone that my dad proudly handed over. 2 minute later they were back ordering cones for the rest of the group, I can hear my dad’s laughter now – he knew they’d be back. I have tears as I remember those moments, moments that my children will never have of me.
There was one year that ‘jumped up’ in a Trinidadian band with my friends. Man that was a great year!!! We bought our compulsory T-shirts and customized them around our style and personalities – I think I created slashes in the back of mine – and we partied, jumping up and around the carnival route. Nope I never got to share the magic of carnival with my own children but I have so many great memories that I created with my friends over the years thanks to the role Claudia Jones played.
Recent Comments