I have heard of Mary Seacole. Never knew she was black though.
Comment on Half of Britons can’t name a Black British historical figure, survey finds
tony@lemmy.hoyle.me.uk 11 months ago
“She would have expected people to name figures such as Quintus Lollius Urbicus, who became governor of Roman Britain; the formerly enslaved Olaudah Equiano, who became an abolitionist and writer; Mary Seacole, who provided sustenance and care for British soldiers during the Crimean war, and the composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.”
I’ve literally never heard of any of these people… schools don’t cover them - I couldn’t name any white romans either from the UK… Obviously I’ve heard of some of the emperors, but that’s it.
BirdyBoogleBop@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 months ago
Emperor@feddit.uk 11 months ago
Mary Seacole is taught about in schools these days, alongside Florence Nightingale as I helped my friends’ son with his homework on that one.
I was aware of Quintus Lollius Urbicus but don’t think I could remember his name off the top of my head. I might stash it away now for future reference. He was born in Numidia and died in Rome, so if we use that definition you can claim Julius Caesar as white Roman historical figure. And Hadrian who built The Wall.
Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk 11 months ago
I’d heard of Coleridge. Victorian poet and friend of Mary Shelley and Lord Byron. He wrote The Rime of the Ancient Mariner which Iron Maiden covered some years later.
Emperor@feddit.uk 11 months ago
I’d heard of Coleridge.
Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk 11 months ago
Oooooooops.
Emperor@feddit.uk 11 months ago
I may have thought “Coleridge was black?” and then Googled it to find out. If you are going to get anyone confused it’s probably be Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.
echodot@feddit.uk 11 months ago
The only Romans I know are the ones from Plebs I’m sure that’s historically accurate.
RobotToaster@mander.xyz 11 months ago
Quintus Lollius Urbicus was a Berber, while from Africa they aren’t really black.