Culture And Memory

Portsmouth Black Stories

To fill a gap in the Portsmouth archives by placing on the public record the experiences of the pioneering Africans and Caribbeans who made the City their home after World War II. Many of us are in our 80s which is why we need to undertake this project now. We plan to use oral history as this will not only capture our stories but also the accents and patterns of speech that are so distinctive to the Black community. Depositing the recordings and transcripts with the Portsmouth History Centre will ensure they remain available into the future. They will reveal the challenges we faced and overcame in finding employment and housing, in tackling ignorance and racism and expressing our culture. We hope that the project will lead to a greater appreciation of the City's diversity and greater respect and tolerance for all its individuals and their cultures.