Leroy Channer is the author of
The Black Presence in Early Modern Britian
A Jamaican-born historian passionate about the history and culture of Black Britain
The Black Presence in
Early Modern Britain
Many believe that Black people first arrived in England aboard the ship Empire Windrush, which brought 492 passengers from Jamaica and Trinidad on June 22, 1948.
The Black Presence in Early Modern Britain unveils surprising artworks that capture the presence of Black people in Britain as early as the 16th century, during what historians refer to as the 'early modern period.'
These paintings provide a fascinating glimpse into the rich heritage and journey of Black people through the British Isles.
Leroy Channer invites you to reflect on Britain’s past and hopes that this exploration will inspire you to rethink your historical, social, and moral perspectives.
Available on Amazon
“History is a mirror that reflects our past. It is the instrument through which we are perceived by others. History reveals our aspirations, contributions, self-image, and identity. Therefore, history must be our best friend and our first teacher. Today, you are warmly invited to spend a few moments looking into the mirror of the early presence of black people in Britain’s past. My intention in researching the history of the early black presence in Britain is to challenge the accepted misconception that Britain has always been a white-only society.”
Leroy Channer
“It is often forgotten that archaeological and historical evidence reveals that centuries before Empire Windrush, the African-born Roman emperor Septimius Severus and his son Caracalla ruled Britannia in the third century AD. Moreover, archaeologists from the Natural History Museum have determined that the first Britons, who lived many thousands of years before Septimius Severus, had dark-to-black skin.”
Leroy Channer
