Apr 11

Apr 11 The History of Black British Media

Black British media is relatively young in the grand scheme of media in the UK, having only been established in the mid-20th century, when a wave of African and Caribbean immigrants arrived in the country. The UK presented many challenges for the new arrivals, as they faced widespread discrimination and marginalization, and their experiences were largely ignored by the mainstream media. We look back (as we do) at the history of Black British media to where we are now.

Claudia Jones, Black British Media Icon

In order to represent their voices and experiences, Black British activists and journalists began to establish their own media outlets. One of the first Black newspapers in the UK was The West Indian Gazette, founded in 1958 by activist Claudia Jones. The newspaper covered news and events of interest to the Caribbean community in the UK, and played an important role in promoting social and political activism.

Other notable outlets of the time included Claudia Jones’ second publication, The Caribbean Times, which she founded in 1959. Race Today was founded in 1969 by the Institution of Race Relations, a collective which included Darcus Howe, Farrukh Dhondy, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Leila Hassan and Jean Ambrose. The publication became a leading voice in the UK’s Black Power movement. For pure entertainment consumption, Black Echoes published in 1976, as a weekly newspaper covering soul, reggae and funk. In 2000, the publication rebranded to Echoes and became a monthly.

Black British Media in the 80s & 90s

During the 1980’s and 90’s, Black British media continued to grow and evolve to capture more of Black culture. The Voice, founded in 1982, by Val McCalla became one of the most widely-read Black British newspapers, covering news, politics, and entertainment. In 1991, Pride Magazine launched the fashion and lifestyle glossy for Black women and Menelik Shabbaz launched the Black Filmmakers Magazine in 1998.

On the airwaves, Radio Invicta became the UK's first pirate radio station for the Black community. Between 1970-1984, the London based station had audiences tuned in to listen to a mix of reggae, soul, and funk, and became a major influence on the emerging British Black music scene. In 1990, Neil Kenlock launched one of the most successful Black media companies in the UK, Choice FM. Colourful Radio, which launched in 2009, is the only Black-owned legally commercial radio station in the UK..

Digitisation Democratising Black British Media

Digital media has expanded the reach of Black British outlets with the likes of Gal-dem founded in 2015 by Liv Little, which focused on intersectional feminism and activism. Afridiziac, founded by Sophia A. Jackson, celebrates African-Caribbean theatre and Black Ballad, founded by Tobi Oderin and Bola Awoniyi in 2014, which gives a platform to Black women’s experiences and perspectives.

Gal-dem, was a vital voice in the UK media landscape, which provided a platform for women and non-binary people of colour that announced their closing in March 2023. We were saddened by the announcement of their closure and considered how it reflected the somewhat fragility of Black media, and not for the lack of talent, audience or entrepreneurial grind. If there was any doubt of Gal-dem’s importance in the media as a whole, then the support online after the news was shared would have wiped it out; it was responsible for launching the careers of diverse voices we have come to love and created a medium to share perspectives and experiences from marginal voices. It's unfortunate that Gal-dems' closure is now etched in the history of British media, where representation was at its core.

Black British Content Creators

Social media has also created new opportunities for Black British media. Platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube have enabled Black creators and influencers to build audiences and share their content on a global scale. Black British YouTubers such as Patricia Bright and Nella Rose have amassed large followings, and are now able to monetize their content and collaborate with brands. There are also a number of Black-led podcast networks in the UK, including Sounds of Black Britain and Black Gals Livin’, which produce a range of podcasts covering topics from music and culture to politics and current affairs.

Have we come a long way? Sure. Black British media continues to play an important role in shaping public discourse and leading on diversity and inclusion, not to mention a vital part of the country's cultural landscape.