A book claiming to show African people lived as equals in Tudor England has been nominated for an award.
Onyeka Nubia, resident author of Waltham Forest historical group Narrative Eye, published Blackamoores Last year.
The book, challenges the notion that ethnic minorities were ever widely enslaved in England during that period, has been nominated for a People’s Book Award.
Tt identifies the presence of Africans in Waltham Forest from the 15th century and highlights historical documents which indicate slavery was not an accepted practice.
The author said: “So many people are confused about their identity and the cultural identity of this country.
“I was always told by curators at every place that I went to that I wouldn’t find anything, but I did.
“I found African people living all over in place like Tower Hamlets, Westminster, East Ham, Waltham Forest and Redbridge.”
“English noblemen were involved in slavery abroad but not in England.
“There were no laws to support slavery of people of any colour. There was a moral dislike for enslaving anybody.”
“Africans in the Tudor period were fully integrated into society and had relationships with their white counterparts.”
Narrative Eye has launched a petition calling on Education Secretary Michael Gove to add black Tudor history to the National Curriculum. It currently has 3300 signatures.
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