‘We mustn’t forget our black labour movement heroes’

The contributions of men like John Archer and William Cuffay to our labour movement is often overlooked

William Cuffay
PIONEER: William Cuffay played a significant role in British political history.

FORGOTTEN BLACK heroes from history are featured in a new book by an anti-racist and trade union activist turned author.

They include London’s first African Caribbean mayor John Archer, who was elected to be the leader of Battersea Council, south London, in 1913.

William Cuffay, a leader of Britain’s pioneering Chartist labour movement, more than half a century earlier, is also featured.

In his victory speech, after becoming mayor, Archer said: “My election tonight marks a new era. You have made history. For the first time in the history of the English nation a man of colour has been elected mayor of an English borough.

“That will go forth to all the coloured nations of the world. They will look to Battersea and say, ‘It is the greatest thing you have done. You have shown that you have no racial prejudice, but recognise a man for what you think he has done’.”

Archer introduced Indian-born communist Shapurji Saklatvala, the subject of Marc Wadsworth’s book, Comrade Sak, to Battersea politics in 1919.

At the second Pan-Africanist Congress in London, in 1921, to which Archer invited him to speak, Saklatvala brought greetings “from the coloured world”.

Saklatvala, a charismatic fighter for Indian independence, socialism and the anti-colonialism, went on to become North Battersea’s Labour MP a year ater, with Archer as his staunchest supporter.

He was re-elected to parliament in 1924. Photographer Archer was born in Liverpool to a father from Barbados and an Irish mother.

Stalwart

He married Bertha, a black Canadian. Archer was a stalwart of the Battersea Trades Council and Labour Party and an influential member of the local Board of Guardians, the organisation responsible for looking after poor people before Labour created the welfare state after it came to power in 1945.

Pre-dating Archer, Cuffay’s Chartists aimed to gain political rights and influence for the working class long before the Labour Party was founded
in 1900. His father was from St Kitts, and mother an English woman, born in Gillingham, Kent.

John Archer was the first African-Caribbean mayor of London

Standing four feet 11 inches tall, he was sacked for going on strike in 1834 with his fellow tailors, to demand a 10-hour work day and better pay. Cuffay was put on a list of those people banned from working in his craft after organising a trade union five years later.

It was called “blacklisting” a notorious practice that some employers still use today. By 1842, Cuffay had been elected to the National Executive of the Chartist Metropolitan Delegate Council.

He was one of the organisers of the historic mass Chartist rally on Kennington Common, south London, on April 10, 1848.

Weakness

But, dismayed by the weakness of his fellow leaders, who rejected the idea of making it a show of force by the working class, Cuffay formed a more radical faction of the organisation.

He was accused of being involved in a proposed armed uprising against Britain’s rulers, convicted and then sentenced to be transported to Tasmania, off the coast of Australia, where he died in 1870.

Our labour movement heroes must not be forgotten.

Marc Wadsworth’s Comrade Sak, Shapurji Saklatvala MP, A Political Biography, is published by Peepal Tress Press, Leeds.

Comments Form

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*
*

Support The Voice

The Voice Newspaper is committed to celebrating black excellence, campaigning for positive change and informing the black community on important issues. Your financial contributions are essential to protect the future of the publication as we strive to help raise the profile of the black communities across the UK. Any size donation is welcome and we thank you for your continued support.

Support Sign-up