Black Washed History

S3.Ep 9-The Mangrove Nine: When Justice Faced the Truth

Brittany Wilkins Season 3 Episode 9

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Black history doesn’t begin or end with one nation—it’s a global story of resilience and resistance.
In this episode of Black Washed History, we travel to 1970s Notting Hill, where a small Caribbean restaurant called The Mangrove became the frontline of Britain’s civil rights movement.

Twelve police raids.
Nine activists.
One trial that changed the course of British justice.

Discover how Frank Crichlow, Altheia Jones-LeCointe, Darcus Howe, Barbara Beese, and others transformed a courtroom into a battleground for truth — forcing the British legal system to confront its own racial bias for the first time.

🎙️ Black Washed History is where we reclaim, retell, and rebuild the narratives history tried to erase.

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I’m Brittany Wilkins, and this is Black Washed History—where we reclaim the untold stories that shaped our world. 

[Opening Hook]

Black history is not confined to one nation—it’s a global phenomenon that threads through every corner of the world.

From the intellectual centers of Timbuktu to the revolutionary spirit of Haiti, from the Harlem Renaissance to the Windrush generation, the story of Black people has always been a story of resilience, creativity, and contribution that transcends borders.

Each region adds its own verse to this shared narrative of triumph over adversity and the ongoing pursuit of equality.

This October, as we celebrate Black History Month in the United Kingdom, we honor the pioneers, thinkers, and changemakers who shaped British society and continue to redefine what it means to stand firm in power and pride.

Today, we travel to Notting Hill—1970—where a small Caribbean restaurant became the frontline of Britain’s civil rights struggle.

 

Segment 1: The Setting — Notting Hill, 1970

 The Mangrove Restaurant wasn’t just a place to eat—it was a home.

A meeting ground for activists, artists, and dreamers from across the Caribbean diaspora.

 Founded by Frank Crichlow, a Trinidadian entrepreneur, the Mangrove became a heartbeat for Black Londoners—a place where people could share food, culture, and conversation without judgment.

But with visibility came hostility.

Between January 1969 and July 1970, police raided the Mangrove 12 times, searching for drugs they never found.

The message was clear: Black spaces were not meant to thrive.

Segment 2: The Protest

Fed up and determined to be heard, community leaders organized a protest on August 9, 1970.

Led by Altheia Jones-LeCointe, Darcus Howe, and Barbara Beese, hundreds marched through Notting Hill demanding an end to police harassment. 

What began as a peaceful demonstration soon turned chaotic when police clashed with protesters.

Nineteen people were arrested.

Nine of them would stand trial—not for rioting, but for daring to resist.

They called themselves the Mangrove Nine.

Segment 3: The Trial That Changed Everything

The trial that followed lasted 55 days, and it exposed the deep racial bias woven into Britain’s justice system.

Representing themselves, activists like Howe and Jones-LeCointe turned the courtroom into a stage for truth.

They cross-examined officers, challenged corruption, and demanded accountability from the very system that sought to silence them.

Their courage forced Britain to look in the mirror.

For the first time, a judicial body recognized evidence of racial prejudice within the Metropolitan Police.

In the end, all nine were acquitted of the most serious charges—and their victory echoed far beyond the courtroom.

  

Segment 4: Legacy and Reflection

The Mangrove Nine didn’t just fight for themselves—they fought for generations.

Their stand helped ignite a movement that reshaped Britain’s conversation around race, justice, and belonging.

 As The National Archives notes, the Mangrove Nine didn’t just change a verdict—they changed a nation.

Their story reminds us that resistance is not rebellion—it’s restoration.

A reclaiming of space, dignity, and voice in a world that tried to erase them.


Segment 5: Closing Reflection

When we tell these stories, we don’t just remember the struggle—we reclaim the legacy.

So, as you listen today, ask yourself:

Where are the “Mangroves” of our generation?

The spaces that give us voice, unity, and strength in the face of injustice?

Because history doesn’t just repeat—it invites us to respond.