TfL launches Black History Tube Map with BCA
Today the Mayor of London, Saddiq Khan launched an evolved tube map dedicated to Black History, which was developed by BCA and Transport for London (TfL). The map features over 270 people, venues, and organisations to acknowledge and celebrate the rich and varied contribution Black people have made to London and the UK, from Pre-Tudor times to the present day.
The reimagined map replaces station names across the iconic Tube map with notable black people from history, with the associated Tube lines renamed to link them together by common themes – Firsts and Trailblazers; Georgians; Sports; Arts; LGBT+; Physicians; Performers; Literary World, and Community Organisers. By doing so, the map aims to highlight how Black people have played an intrinsic role in all parts of British life for thousands of years.
BCA x Tfl Black History Tube Map
Fascinating figures from Black British history can be found on the map, such as:
Cecile Nobrega - an accomplished classical composer, poet, sculptor and educator who led a 15-year campaign to establish a monument in Stockwell Memorial Gardens, Bronze Woman, the first public monument to black women to be on permanent display in England, who replaces St Paul’s station
HMS Queen Charlotte’s sailor and ‘captain of the fore-top’ William Brown, the first Black woman to serve in the Royal Navy by disguising herself as a man, who replaces Barons Court station.
Norwich born Pablo Fanque, equestrian extraordinaire and hugely successful Victorian circus owner, immortalised in The Beatles song “Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite!” who replaces Embankment station.
Jamaican born Edinburgh resident John Edmonstone who taught Charles Darwin taxidermy, who replaces Upminster Bridge station
Claudia Jones, a feminist, communist, political activist and pioneering journalist who was the co-founder of Notting Hill Carnival, who replaces Camden Town station
Joe Clough, made his first home in London and in 1910 Joe became London Transport's first black motorbus driver, who replaces Elm Park station.
“Arike Oke, Managing Director, Black Cultural Archives said: “London’s Black history is deeply embedded in its streets and neighbourhoods. We’re delighted as part of our 40th anniversary celebrations to use this opportunity to share new and old stories about Black history with Londoners and visitors to London. We hope that the map will be an invitation to find out more and to explore.”
— Arike Oke, Managing Director, Black Cultural Archives
“Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “I am really proud that we’re able to launch Britain’s first-ever Black history Tube map, which celebrates the huge contribution Black Londoners have made, and continue to make, to our great city. This clever adaptation of TfL’s recognisable Tube map presents a wealth of information and history about the accomplishments of Black people in Britain in a fun and creative way.”
— Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London
Find out more information about the 270+ Black people, venues and organisations represented on the map