Honouring Black influences who shaped Medway

This year, In honour of Black History Month I thought it would be amazing to highlight influential black figures that lived in and impacted Medway Kent. This is to spread awareness of their influence over the city.

1. Chatham Cuffay

irst man I want to bring recognition to is Chatham Cuffay. Born 1755 – 1815, Chatham was originally from St.kitts and Nevis where he was born. Chatham emigrated with his mother to Medway in 1772 via a naval ship. Chatham was never enslaved, however, his parents were former slaves who had been freed. Cuffay is not the first black worker at the dockyard although he was the first black worker at the dockyard to be documented by his first name. Chatham is also documented many times within the paybooks. His last entry in them was in March 1803 where he was reported to be working as a stone labourer. Chatham represents the unknown figure of slaves that were either forced to or free willingly boarded the Naval ships in the Caribbean and began a new life in England. Cuffay now has a plaque at Chatham dockyard where he worked and boarded the ship from. 

2.Dolce b

Dolce B is one of the only hair salons in Chatham that cater to black people and the owner Dolce feels as though it is very important to bring a business to Chatham that can help many black people to feel accurately attended to and comfortable. He was cutting hair locally in the area and after the demand from customers, he began to open up a shop on the high street. Dolce B has many loyal clients within the area as hair services are constantly being requested. He constantly does hair services for roughly 300 people a week.  Dolce has witnessed more businesses catering to black people increase in the area now from when he first began his salon and constantly encourages more businesses to open up on the high street to bring more culture into the city.

3. Black History Month

As it is Black history month it would be amazing to bring awareness to black members of society who are an advocate for change within the area and are promoting awareness being spread about the injustice of black lives. Rochester Students Elizabeth Bernasako, Mikayla Adigun, and Tolu adelaja organised a black lives matter protest in 2020 as they felt as though there was not enough coverage focusing on racism and oppression that black people in Medway face to ‘March for justice’. This protest was influential as these organisers want change to be made and are passionate about Medway becoming more involved with the Black Lives Matter movement as a whole to eradicate racism within the Kent community. They have organised numerous marches along Kent to raise awareness for Black lives and continue to hope that the residents of Medway not only recognise this issue but are effective in reducing hate crimes and ill manners towards black people. Protests were also held outside Kent police station in honour of George Floyd in 2020.