Meet the authors of:
Through Sweat and Tears - the African Caribbean Presence in Walsall
&
Through Sweat Tears and Triumphs - reflections on the African Caribbean Presence in Walsall
Jennifer Blake
Jennifer’s professional background, qualifications and work are in Change Management, Leadership Development, Organisational Development and Leadership Coaching. She is a qualified, experienced lecturer and has extensive experience in local government, the community/voluntary and further education sectors. Jennifer is the Director of Change Partnership Limited, a management consultancy, and works with clients both nationally and internationally. Jennifer has a passion-and drive for history and is especially keen to play an active role in researching, documenting and raising awareness in and knowledge of history. This is especially the case in relation to the African Caribbean presence and experience in Walsall as well as from a wider world perspective. She believes that the activities of the Walsall African Caribbean Black History Project (WACBHP) makes a significant contribution to understanding British and Caribbean history. She dedicated her time, her tenacity and determination to make the book a reality. She is delighted that my own parents John and Lileth Blake (nee Ebanks), who were pioneers from Jamaica who came to the West Midlands Uk in the 1960’s are part of this pioneering generation. I am delighted that the studio photograph of both my grand father James Blake (taken in Jamaica in the 1920’s) and and my father John Blake (taken in the UK in 1958) are featured in the earlier pages of the book.
Evadney Drysdale
Evadne is of Jamaican background and attended Tutorial College before coming to the UK. Shortly after arriving in the UK, she went to Wood Green College in Wednesbury prior to going into Nursing. Evadne completed a Registered Nurse Training and Family Planning as an extra accreditation. Evadne later studied Midwifery as well as gaining a Diploma in counselling and a Certificate in NHS Management. It was unfortunate that Evadne had to give up midwifery before she was due to retire. Evadne was 'bored out of her wits' at home so she went to the Afro-Caribbean Centre where she met Tony who informed her of the Black History class at Walsall College. She was interested and went along and her interest grew even more when she realised that it wasn’t just going to be lectures but at the end there was an exam and the creation of a book. This project and book opened up a new world - one away from nursing. Having to research, interview people and document information, Evadne’s excitement grew, hence she became involved with the other authors and in creating this book. Evadne dedicates this book to Gloria Reid, her mother, who featured in the book - standing defiantly in a studio photograph taken in the 1980’s.
Pat Houslin
Pat is the youngest in the family of 6, born in Walsall in the early 1960’s to pioneer parents. They came to Walsall to work in industry after the call from Enoch Powell. They were very traditional and they wanted the very best in education for their children, and encouraged us to be ourselves and, indeed, to speak patois. Pat was one of the first generation to attend school in the UK that was not equipped or qualified to teach black children. Leaving with not much qualifications and hope of a good career or prospects due to the 80’s recession. Nevertheless, there was a constant love for history; not for the one they taught at school but the truth about history, black history. So after the death of both parents at 22 Pat truly felt a very strong urge to continue in the ways of her parents doctrine. The love of the black culture and passionate willingness to do anything within her power to sustain it. She could see there is a possibility of it dying if it was not used. We would lose it! After her parents' death she was involved in Walsall Black Sisters who were right minded women like herself. WSBC gave a lot of opportunities to individuals which is where she was able to mix her two loves - study black history at Walsall College and working with the older generation which in her view are the living history. Pat hopes production of this book will serve the younger generation as a starting point. Pat is happy that her father Jervis Granville’s passport photograph is featured on the cover of the book.
Dr Tony Talburt
Tony Talburt has a B.A. in History and Social Science from the University of the West Indies and and an M.A in International Studies from the University of Warwick. He completed his PHD in International Politics and Development at South Bank University in London in 2001. He is a Lecturer at The Centre for African and International Studies at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.. Tony specialties in African and Caribbean Studies and International Politics. He is the author of a number of book including "Rum, Rivalry and Resistance - Fighting for the Caribbean" - Hansib - 2010) as well as the ground breaking children’s novel "History on the Face - Adventures in Black British History" (New Generation - 2012), "Andrew Watson - the Worlds First Black Football Superstar" (Hansib (2016). Tony is also the Co-Editor of the forth comic "Fight for Freedom: Black Resistance and Identity" (Sub-Saharan Publishers 2017)
Confidence Confidential - authors:
Grace Forrester
Angela P Gordon
Paula Poole
Jennifer Beth Blake
Joanne Benjamin Lewis
Shelly Allmark
Jenica Leah
Norma Bradstock
Tonia Daley Campbell
Nataleen Henry
Renee Spence-Cork
Yanique Taylor-Francis
Maya Benjamin
Marcia M. Spence
