Colouring in Britain: Recent Episodes
BBC Radio
Tomi Dixon returns home to London to tell the story of Trinidad-born journalist and political activist Claudia Jones, the woman who went toe to toe with the US government and fought just as hard when she found her way to Britain in the 1950s.
Communist, immigrant and vocal. She simultaneously became a target for imperial powers and a beacon of hope for marginalised communities, educating and uplifting so many of those she met.
Tomi investigates, with the help of academics Carole Boyce Davis and Colin Prescod, how the issues Claudia faced decades ago still prevail in modern Britain. He hears how she created celebration from tragedy, establishing Britain’s first major black newspaper and planting the seeds that grew into Europe’s biggest Caribbean carnival in the heart of Notting Hill.
Actors: Shvorne Marks, Lloyd Thomas, Matthew Durkan, Rita Estevanovich, Jonathan Forbes Technical Producers: Sarah Hockley, Keith Graham and Mike Etherden Production Mentors: Alasdair Cross and Ciaran Bermingham Executive Producers: Leanne Alie and Khaliq Meer Commissioned for BBC Sounds Audio Lab by Khaliq Meer Artwork by Tasia Graham
Tomi Dixon takes a trip to Bristol docks to learn about the struggles of the Windrush generation, their efforts to establish a life in Britain and the extraordinary changes they made to the nation.
Tomi starts at the M Shed museum of local history and navigates his way through Bristol, piecing together the life of city legend Princess Campbell. She was a Jamaican-born Bristolian who made history, becoming Bristol’s first black psychiatric ward sister, transforming the treatment of mental illness in the city.
He speaks with close friends, Shelagh Hetreed and Cherry Hartley, Princess's son Dennis Campbell and Glenside Hospital business manager Jan Richardson to understand how Princess became Bristol’s favourite sister.
Written, produced and presented by Tomi Dixon Actors: Danielle Vitalis, Matthew Durkan, Colin Ryan, Rita Estevanovich and Ruth Everett Technical Producers: Giles Aspen, Keith Graham and Mike Etherden Production Mentors: Alasdair Cross and Ciaran Bermingham Executive Producers: Leanne Alie and Khaliq Meer Commissioned for BBC Sounds Audio Lab by Khaliq Meer Artwork by Tasia Graham
What allows people to be remembered in history? Who decides which stories get told? What is British History? That’s the question as Tomi Dixon reflects on his memories and conflict with British History.
He takes a journey to St. Pauls in Bristol to tell the story of civil rights activist Paul Stephenson. Paul fronted the country’s first major black-led civil rights movement to fight against racism in the 1960s, drawing inspiration from Martin Luther-King's struggle in the United States. He challenged the 'colour bar' that restricted rights in Bristol and brought people together locally and internationally to fight for change throughout Britain.
How could the story of a man who helped pass the UK's first law to outlaw racial discrimination be so little known outside Bristol? That’s what you’ll find out in this episode of Colouring In Britain.
Written, Produced and Presented by Tomi Dixon Actors: Ammar Dufffus, Matthew Durkan, Jonathan Forbes and Ruth Everett Technical Producers: Giles Aspen, Keith Graham and Mike Etherden Production Mentors: Alasdair Cross and Ciaran Bermingham Executive Producers: Leanne Alie and Khaliq Meer Commissioned for BBC Sounds Audio Lab by Khaliq Meer Artwork by Tasia Graham
Tomi Dixon asks how complete British History is and why do we only hear certain stories?