1896 – "The Birth of Claudia Jones, Mother of Black British Feminism"

Born on May 12, 1915, in Trinidad, Claudia Jones would go on to become one of the most important voices in Black British history. After migrating to the United States, she became a journalist and political organizer affiliated with the Communist Party. She was later deported to the UK in 1955, where she founded the West Indian Gazette—one of the first major Black newspapers in Britain. Jones used her platform to advocate for civil rights, workers’ equality, and anti-colonial causes. She also helped create the Notting Hill Carnival, a celebration of Caribbean culture and resistance. Her blend of feminism, Marxism, and Pan-Africanism laid the foundation for intersectional activism in the UK. May 12 marks the birth of a woman whose voice shaped the political consciousness of the Black diaspora in Britain and beyond.