Echoes of Brighton’s Past Black & Minority History

Monica Lewin

April 9, 2026

Read about Monica Lewin, a pioneering surgeon with a Brighton link, and her place in Black medical history and local community memory.

Olaudah Equiano

April 4, 2026

Explore Olaudah Equiano’s story and the links between his abolition work, Black presence in Britain and Brighton’s anti slavery networks.

Image showing Bob Marley or related reggae imagery linked to Brighton

Bob Marley in Brighton

April 3, 2026

Discover Bob Marley’s Brighton connection and the place of reggae, sound systems and Black music in the city’s cultural history.

Sarah Lee

April 1, 2026

Sarah Naomi Lee co-founded Brighton & Hove Black History in 2002. Discover her role in uncovering hidden stories and shaping Sussex heritage.

Historic Brighton scene representing the city’s links to slavery and empire

Brighton and Slavery’s Legacy

March 28, 2026

Explore how Brighton’s past was linked to slavery, wealth and empire through local people, places and historical records that reveal these legacies.

Brighton and Hove Black History – community heritage project

Brighton & Hove Black History

March 18, 2026

Brighton & Hove Black History has uncovered hidden stories since 2002. Explore the group's legacy, oral histories and impact on Sussex heritage.

Ebou Touray

March 14, 2026

Ebou Touray co-founded African Night Fever and chairs Brighton & Hove Black History. Discover his role in Brighton's African and Caribbean culture.

Amy Z Glass

March 8, 2026

Amy Z Glass founded Writing Our Legacy CIC, supporting Black, Asian and diverse writers across Sussex and the South East for over 20 years.

John Agard

February 25, 2026

John Agard, Queen's Gold Medal poet and GCSE set text author, lives in Lewes, Sussex. Explore his Guyanese roots and his deep Brighton connections.

Dr Bert Williams MBE.

Bert's Story

At the heart of Echoes of Brighton’s Past is Dr Bert Williams MBE, a well‑respected local historian, storyteller and community advocate. His decades of work have inspired many to explore and understand the region’s Black history.

Bert moved from Jamaica to England in 1960 at the age of 16. After serving in the RAF, he worked in the NHS until his retirement. He has lived in Brighton since 1967 and has been married to his wife Shirley for over 57 years. They have two children.

His varied career, from factory work to public service, shaped his understanding of British life and the challenges faced by Black and minority communities. These insights fuelled his later work in community engagement.

In 2002, Bert co-founded the Brighton and Hove Black History Project, a long-running initiative that uncovers overlooked local stories and celebrates the city’s diverse heritage.

Bert’s work has earned national recognition:

MBE (2011) awarded by Prince Charles for his voluntary service to Black and minority ethnic communities in Sussex. Read more here.
Honorary Doctorate (2017) From the University of Brighton for promoting racial equality. Read more here and view the video here.

His passion for researching Black history began in 1995 while leading Mosaic, a group for Black and mixed-heritage families.

A child’s question about their own heritage sparked his research into Brighton’s Black history, despite being told it didn’t exist.

His passion for uncovering history continues today and he has released a series of podcasts.

Podcasts

Our Stories

Videos

HISTORICAL FIGURES

Monica Lewin

Olaudah Equiano