LONDON—There are more than 900 circular blue plaques on buildings around England’s capital city, each of them bearing the name of an exceptional person who lived or worked there in the past.
The ongoing effort, maintained by nonprofit English Heritage, celebrates pioneers in their fields—including politicians, scientists, artists and musicians—and aims to commemorate them. But the vast majority of plaques celebrate white people, leaving the famously diverse city lacking in monuments to its Black pioneers.
To change this, the nonprofit Nubian Jak Community Trust—which determined 1.6% of London’s official blue plaques celebrate Black people—created its own plaque-placement project to honor those who are not represented, and the group will install 32 Black Plaques across London over the next year.
In collaboration with Havas London, the Trust has also kicked off an outdoor, social and long-copy print campaign that will run across donated media for the next 12 months, telling the story of remarkable yet largely forgotten Black heroes.
Each installment will include a unique QR code, which takes users to an immersive microsite and brings the forgotten stories to life. The agency has also created a short launch video to promote the project.
Stories that need to be told
Dr. Jak Beula, founder of the Nubian Jak Community Trust, said: “Black history is British history. For generations, Black pioneers have been making positive, lasting change to the social fabric of this country, often in spite of systematic discrimination. Unfortunately, this discrimination persists to this day in the way we remember both these individuals and their remarkable achievements.
He said the campaign was created “to tell these stories, celebrate our rich, diverse past and to inspire future generations.”
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The people who will be commemorated in the campaign include:
Fanny Eaton, the mysterious muse of pre-Raphaelite artists; Ken “Snakehips” Johnson, who kept the British public entertained during World War II and who died on-stage during the Blitz; Justin Fashanu, Britain’s first openly gay professional footballer; Ethel Scott, the first Black woman to represent Great Britain in international athletics; and Johnny Kwango, a pioneering musician and dancer turned professional wrestler.
Speaking of the figure known as “William Brown,” Havas London CCO Vicki Maguire said: “How could anyone hear about the woman who became the first to serve in the Royal Navy—by disguising herself as a man for more than a decade—and not itch to know more? It’s not just wrong that these stories have been forgotten from a historic and cultural point of view, but a travesty from a storytelling one—because they’re just so damn interesting. They deserve to be heard, just as these remarkable people deserve to be remembered.”
CREDITS:
Creative Agency: Havas London
CEO: Xavier Rees
Managing Director: Jennifer Black
Global Brand Director: Tamara Greene
Account Director: Sophie Amodio
Account Executive: Hannah Thomas
Chief Creative Officer: Vicki Maguire
Creative Partner: Andy Lockley
Copywriter: Ken Abalos
Art Director: Sam Adio
Head of Production: Ali Cooper
Agency Producer: Joseph Ogunmokun, Nikola Oksiutycz
Strategy Director: Ravi Matharu, Ally Chapman
Junior Strategist: Milan Zum Hebel, Asa Nowers
Head of Creative Services: Shaun Musgrove
Resource Assistant: Evie Ungemuth
Head of Business Affairs: Annika Sintim
Art Buying Director: Claire Lillis
Head of Design: Lorenzo Fruzza
Digital Design Director: Simon Baker
Diversity and Inclusion Manager: Bukola Garry
PR: Faye Raincock, Ollie Dearn
Production Company: HKX Productions
Director: Andy Lockley
Executive Producer: Lou Hardy
Producer: Adam Javes
Assistant Producer: Phil Sheed
Content Creator: Simon Allinson
DoP: Felix Schmilinsky
Camera Operator: Jonathan Smith
Gaffer: Jonathan Smith
1st AC: Claire Smith
Sound Recordist: Ryan Windley
Runner: Liam Green
Camera Equipment: Filmstore
Post-Production: Absolute Post
Editor: Tom Higgins
Colorist: Juliette Wileman
Executive Producer: Jenna Le Noury
Production Assistant: Ava Millard
Postproduction (30” trailer): Bubble TV
Executive Producer: Kabir Malik
Colorist: Marty McMullan
Editor: Ashley Joiner
Sound Engineer: Liam Conwell
Sound Mix: Dave Williams
With special thanks to Gregg White, MD, Envy Advertising
Podcast production: Unedited
Co-owner and Producer: Andrew Spence
https://www.adweek.com/media/only-1-6-of-londons-historic-plaques-celebrate-black-pioneers-a-campaign-aims-to-fill-the-gap/