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We have heard about the Notting Hill Carnival but there isn’t enough recognition about the visionary behind the popular street festival. Claudia Jones created the Notting Hill Carnival as a solution to celebrate Caribbean cultures.

This was a dangerous time because of the rise of racist and violent attacks from white people when many Caribbean citizens were moving to the UK from 1948 to 1971. Jones took matters into her own hands despite her health challenges.

This topic explores the life and legacy of Claudia Jones, a journalist and communist who championed the rights of black people, a community activist who challenged racism and wrote about the experiences, exploitation and mistreatment of black women.

Who was Claudia Jones?

Claudia Jones was a Trinidadian journalist, community activist and founder of the West Indian Gazette newspaper and Notting Hill Carnival. Born Claudia Vera Cumberbatch on the 21st February 1915, in Trinidad and Tobago and grew up with 4 sisters.

She moved to Harlem, New York after her parents moved to the United States of America to seek better opportunities and a better quality of life.

Her mother died when she was only 13, she did well in school but financial issues prevented her from attending her high school graduation.

Furthermore, living in unfit living conditions affected her health and she was diagnosed with tuberculosis.

What did Claudia Jones do for a living?

After graduating from high school, she worked various jobs to earn a living, including writing for the local black nationalist newspaper, Harlem Journal. In 1936, she joined the National Youth Communist League and became a member of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People.

Her efforts were recognised as she quickly rose through the ranks and in 1937 she became the editor of the Daily Worker and then edited the Weekly Review in 1938.

On top of that, it was dangerous to be a communist during the time because the American government was targeting people who were communists or people they suspected to be part of the political organisation.

Also, she understood the importance of black women’s rights and wrote an essay about black womanhood called An End To The Neglect of The Negro Woman in 1949.

Why did Claudia Jones move to Britain?

She was arrested because she was an important member of the Communist party in the USA and she served time in a women’s prison because of her health challenges, she had to seek medical treatment.

British colonial governor Hubert Rance refused to let Claudia Jones return to Trinidad and Tobago in case she succeeded in empowering the people and mobilising the communities in her native country.

Instead, she was deported to Britain in 1955 and spent the remaining years in London.

What did she do in London?

Once Jones settled in London it didn’t take long for her to return to journalism and political activism. She noticed the prevalent racial discrimination in housing, employment and education. In March 1958 Jones created a a local newspaper called the West Indian Gazette and Afro-Asian Caribbean News.

This newspaper was crucial in informing the black communities of events that were happening since the mainstream newspapers focused on negative stereotypes, the West Indian Gazette focused on the things that mattered to the black communities.

Jones also created the Notting Hill Carnival on the 30th January 1959 at the St. Pancras Town Hall to celebrate and uplift the Caribbean communities during a difficult time and to bring joy despite the harsh realities of dealing with racism.

“A people without a voice are lambs to the slaughter.”

-Claudia Jones

On the 31st August 1963, she organised the March for Washington for Jobs and Freedom in London.

When did Claudia Jones pass away?

She died on Christmas Day 1964 in her sleep after her long battle with tuberculosis which affected her health since she was a child growing up in New York.

Her funeral was attended by many left-leaning counterparts and friends and she was buried in Highgate in London. After her death, the West Indian Gazette stopped selling the newspaper and Notting Hill Carnival is one of the most celebrated and popular Caribbean street festivals in Europe.

Final Thoughts

Claudia Jones was a remarkable and powerful journalist and activist ahead of her time. She deserves her flowers for her work and for the difficulties she faced in dealing with her health.

Claudia Jones’ legacy is a powerful reminder of the impact one person can have on society. As a champion for civil rights, she fought tirelessly for equality and justice, inspiring many to continue her work. Her contributions to culture, especially in the Black community, still resonate today.

Thank you for reading this blog post about Claudia Jones and her important work in journalism and activism. I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback about this post, so don’t forget to comment below. Let me know what other topics in black British history you want me to write about in the future.