Darrel Blake

Thank you to everyone at 𝗔𝗜𝗚 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘆𝗱𝗼𝗻 who attended my “𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘤𝘺: 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯 & 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦” workshop. I was genuinely moved by the level of engagement, the insightful questions, and the openness you all brought to such a complex and often uncomfortable topic. Your willingness to explore Britain’s financial links to slavery shows a real commitment to learning and change.

This is my 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 working with AIG on this subject, and I’d like to give a special thank you to Vanessa Bridgeman for making it happen once again. Creating space for this kind of dialogue within a corporate setting isn’t easy, but it’s essential. These conversations help us connect the dots between the past and present, encouraging us all to think more critically about legacy, accountability, and equity.

Work like this reminds me why public history matters. It’s not just about the facts, it’s about 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘴. Thank you again for showing up so fully. I hope the conversation continues long after the day has gone.

Another tour, another great learning experience 🙏🏾

This tour was particularly energising, with a cohort that included keen members of the public, secondary school teachers and university lecturers working across English Literature, Colonial Studies, and Africana Studies. Their presence speaks to the growing intersection between public history and academia, and the importance of taking historical inquiry beyond the classroom and into the built environment.

Together, we examined the enduring legacies of the transatlantic slave trade embedded in London’s financial institutions, architecture, and cultural memory. The questions raised and insights shared by attendees reflected a deep commitment to decolonial pedagogy, interdisciplinary dialogue, and historical truth-telling.

It was also powerful to see the diasporic diversity among the group, with heritages stretching across Brazil 🇧🇷, the Caribbean 🌎, India 🇮🇳, Ireland 🇮🇪, the UK 🇬🇧, and the USA 🇺🇸. These global lineages underscore the international dimensions of Britain’s imperial history and the necessity of reckoning with its ongoing impact. As always, this tour is not just about facts, it’s about reflection, critical analysis, and reclaiming historical space.

𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲

Secure your place via Eventbrite:
🎟 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/city-of-london-slave-trade-money-trail-tour-tickets-1141630520619

🌎 Massachusetts Confirmed ✊🏾

Second Seminar on my US Tour 🙏🏾

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve been invited as a guest speaker by 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 (𝗔𝗔𝗟𝗦𝗣) to deliver a seminar at 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘀! This marks not only my first visit to Brookline and Boston but also adds to my first experience in the USA—what an incredible opportunity to connect across the Atlantic.

On 17th January, I’ll be discussing the powerful transatlantic connections between the 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜.𝘚. 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘍𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴. This is a topic that means so much to me, and I’m eager to engage with young people, especially sophomores and other students, sharing insights about the Black British experience and exploring the history of the British Empire.

What makes this moment even more special is that the day before, I’ll be speaking in New York City. Two amazing days of dialogue, history, and shared knowledge! I can’t wait to hear from the students, exchange ideas, and deepen our understanding of our interconnected struggles and triumphs.

Let’s make this a conversation to remember. See you soon, Brookline! 🇬🇧➡️🇺🇸

✊🏾 New York... I'm Coming ✊🏾

London 🇬🇧 > NYC 🇺🇸

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆! On January 16, 2025, I’ll be speaking at a powerful event titled "𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘚𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦, 𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘴 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘤𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘙𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘒 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥."

I’m honoured to share my research and reflections on how London’s colonial history connects to today’s struggles for racial justice, both in the UK and globally. This will be an incredible opportunity to discuss, learn, and connect across borders.

The event will be hosted at 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗿𝘆 𝗝. 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹, 1752 Park Ave, New York, NY 10035, starting at 𝟲:𝟯𝟬𝗣𝗠 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗽. Organised by the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Epsilon Chapter, this conversation will bridge history, activism, and empowerment. As this marks my first time in the United States—and my first international lecture—this moment feels truly special. If you're in the area, I’d love for you to join us and be part of this important dialogue!

For more information and tickets, contact Epsilon Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Happy Black History Month ✊🏿

This year's theme: 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀

Thank you, 𝗔𝗸𝘆𝗮𝗮𝗯𝗮 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗮𝗶-𝗦𝗲𝗯𝗼, for creating Black History Month in the UK.

Akyaaba Addai-Sebo is a Ghanaian-born political activist and social worker who is best known for his pivotal role in establishing Black History Month in the UK. In the 1980s, Addai-Sebo worked as a coordinator for special projects at the Greater London Council (GLC). He became concerned about the lack of recognition of Black people's contributions to British society and the negative impact this had on the self-esteem of Black children.

In 𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟳, Addai-Sebo initiated and organised the UK's first official Black History Month, modelled after the American version that began in 1926. The aim was to celebrate Black culture, history, and contributions, as well as to educate the wider public about the African diaspora’s influence on British society. Let's honour Akyaaba and the other masterminds for developing Black History Month in the UK, which has since given us a significant annual event, highlighting the achievements of Black Britons and the broader global Black community.

Addai-Sebo's work is important to the UK because it helped address issues of racial inequality, promote cultural understanding, and contribute to the fight against racism in Britain. His legacy continues to inspire efforts towards greater inclusivity and historical recognition in the UK.

Another tour, another experience.

Thank you to this incredible bunch of keen thinkers. The laughter and intense emotions kept us all warm.

I'm ever so grateful to have the space and capacity to bring people together under one common cause; to learn the true history hidden in plain sight.

There is only one tour left of the year:

Saturday, 2nd December 2023.

Tickets are available via eventbrite:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/black-rooted-16934113793

Thank you, Lewisham Council, Children's Social Care department, for having me as a Keynote Speaker to close out the Black History Month Celebrations.

Second year in a row and once again, the event was packed full of inspirational talks around Social Work, Youth Development, and Black History. It was a pleasure to present an insight into my journey of researching and uncovering history.

Special thanks to Karen, Maleeka and Marcia for the amazing hospitality and allowing me to have the time and space to educate and bring a discussion on Black History facts. Congratulations to the quiz winners. I look forward to having you all join me on my next tour.

I look forward to working with more local authorities, corporate businesses, and educational services providers to keep the conversation going on tackling systemic racism, prejudice, and recognising racial bias.

And that's a wrap!

City of London: Slave Trade Money Trail Tour Black History Month special is over.

Thank you to the 21 guests who made the final day so special. This incredible group has roots that span across the USA, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

I am overwhelmed by the amazing people I have met this month. To be able to bring people together to discuss history on a wider perspective is a blessing. I can't stress enough how much we can all grow together by sharing thoughts and ideas.

2 more dates left for 2023:

November 11th
December 2nd

All tickets are available via eventbrite:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/black-rooted-16934113793