F.A.Q
Black Presence owner, Phil, answers questions put to him by various readers over the years.
Why Black British History?
When I had the idea to build the site, there were very few black British history resources on the Internet. It was hard to find out anything at all about the lives of black people who lived in Britain prior to the 1950s. I thought it would be great if there was one place on the web where students could find information about black British history. It is my hope that black British history will be integrated into school history lessons in the United Kingdom, thus giving children a clearer view of how multicultural Britain has existed throughout history.
Who is Black Presence aimed at?
This site is intended to be used as a starting point for anyone who is interested in British History. So, teachers, students and researchers will benefit from the existence of this site. The main purpose of the site is to make British history more inclusive and to give Black Britons a go-to place to find out more about their history and contributions to the UK. I wanted people to know about Black Politicians, Civil Rights Campaigners, Soldiers as well as entertainers and Sports Personalities.
Isn’t it racist? What if there were a site called “The White presence in Britain”, surely this is a double standard?
Black Presence is specifically focussing on one area that is frequently overlooked. There are lots of sites and thousands of publications about British history that largely exclude the contribution of black people.
This site seeks to make the information available to anyone who wants it, irrespective of race.
Inadequate and incomplete history books do not give a true representation of British history. I think that’s something that has to change, and this site aims to make a contribution to that.
7) Given that there are so many black British websites out there now, and black people are using the net much more. Is there still a need for your site?
Absolutely, websites come and go as their respective owners and authors change interests and take on new projects. This website has been online for over 20 years.
During that time, I’ve moved house several times, changed 5 jobs, bought houses, started a family, buried family members and started a business, but the site is still here, and still being added to and updated.
I aim to make Black Presence one of the best sites on the Internet for black British-related information. All I need is time, the will and the interest of the people. As long as users click the ads every now and again, the site will pay for itself and hopefully still be around in another 10 years.