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Half of Britons can’t name a Black British historical figure, survey finds
(www.theguardian.com)
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this post was submitted on 26 Oct 2023
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"She would have expected people to name figures such as Quintus Lollius Urbicus, who became governor of Roman Britain; the formerly enslaved Olaudah Equiano, who became an abolitionist and writer; Mary Seacole, who provided sustenance and care for British soldiers during the Crimean war, and the composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor."
I've literally never heard of any of these people.. schools don't cover them - I couldn't name any white romans either from the UK.. Obviously I've heard of some of the emperors, but that's it.
Quintus Lollius Urbicus was a Berber, while from Africa they aren't really black.
Honestly that list sounds like scraping the barrel for an outrage clickbait article.
Mary Seacole is taught about in schools these days, alongside Florence Nightingale as I helped my friends' son with his homework on that one.
I was aware of Quintus Lollius Urbicus but don't think I could remember his name off the top of my head. I might stash it away now for future reference. He was born in Numidia and died in Rome, so if we use that definition you can claim Julius Caesar as white Roman historical figure. And Hadrian who built The Wall.
I have heard of Mary Seacole. Never knew she was black though.
I'd heard of Coleridge. Victorian poet and friend of Mary Shelley and Lord Byron. He wrote The Rime of the Ancient Mariner which Iron Maiden covered some years later.
Iron Maiden might be a bit surprised to hear that.
Oooooooops.
Now I look like a silly billy.
I may have thought "Coleridge was black?" and then Googled it to find out. If you are going to get anyone confused it's probably be Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.
The only Romans I know are the ones from Plebs I'm sure that's historically accurate.