Update from Tony T on his freelance project…

My freelance work on groundbreaking Black history project “Communities of Liberation” is on to its third and last chapter. We are now preparing to share our work publicly as a touring exhibition, pamphlet, and web pages with downloadable resources – launching at east London’s Tower Hamlets Town Hall, in February 2025. 

Spotlight on the research and creative interpretation by our fantastic co-producers – Dani, Daniela, Nadia, Nanette, and Natalie – all of them residents from Tower Hamlets. 

The stories we’re bringing to light are inspired by real African women, children and men encountered in Tower Hamlets historical sources from the 1700s. We’ve researched records of baptisms, marriages, and ‘runaway notices’ (offering rewards for Africans who liberated themselves from enslavement in London’s East End).

The picture below is a source from 1744 that I found recently. Have a look on the right hand page and see if you can find him. It’s the baptism record of a young boy at Saint George in the East Church… I can’t stop wondering about him: Where are his parents? Was he the exotic addition to a household? Was he born in Britain…? There’s a transcript at the bottom of this blog.

I am so proud to be able to contribute to the Communities of Liberation project. Huge thanks to all collaborators this year, not least the public support and feedback during my outreach across the borough. A special thank you yet again to colleagues, volunteers, and Board at Sweet Patootee Arts for allowing me the time – and urging me on.

Tony x

(Here’s that transcript)

1744 – 10th July: John Dulwich, a Black Boy. Virginia Street, 8 years.