October celebrates Black History Month, a chance to shine the light on important people and events that often go under the radar and neglected by history. This year's theme is 'reclaiming narratives' and aims to correct the narratives of Black history and culture.
It's important to challenge the narratives that have often overlooked the contributions and achievements of Black individuals in the UK and overseas. The journey of reclaiming narratives is not just a theme for Black History Month; it’s a movement towards acknowledging and appreciating the myriad contributions of Black individuals throughout history.
Cherron Inko-Tariah MBE said: "Reclaiming narratives is more than just a theme - it's an invitation. An invitation to every member of the Black community to take part in shaping how our stories are told.
READ MORE: The energetic life of former TOWIE star Vas J Morgan now friends with Rita Ora and Paris Hilton
ALSO READ: Rebuilding of crumbling schools after Raac crisis to be key feature in upcoming Budget
"It's about ensuring that our voices are heard, our experiences acknowledged, and our contributions celebrated. This theme encourages us to shine a spotlight on the untold stories, the unsung heroes and the everyday individuals who have made an indelible impact on our communities."
With that in mind, we’re celebrating the changemakers, the unsung heroes and the sheer talent that represents what it’s like to be Black in Essex in 2024. From pioneering emergency workers, politicians, sports people, and musicians these are just some of the many people paving the way for future generations.
George Coulthrust.
In 1967 George Coulthrust. became the first minority ethnic officer to join the Essex County Constabulary. After his initial training he was posted to Colchester where he remained through 28-year career.
Born in Barbados, George came to England in 1962 as a member of the Royal Army Medical Corps. After completing his military service George joined the Essex County Constabulary in 1968.
During his time working for Essex Police, George received the Long Service and Good Conduct medal and received three Chief Constable’s commendations for the contribution he made during investigations into offences of kidnapping and conspiracy to rob in Essex from 1976 to 1993 before retiring in 1995.
Rochelle Humes
Rochelle is a face familiar to many thanks to her starring role on This Morning. But the Barking-born celeb has not always had the easiest life and previously spoke about feeling "embarrassed" about being mixed race in a white home.
The Saturdays singer and TV host has admitted she even felt like she had to explain her background as a teenager as though she came with a "disclaimer". The 35-year-old star was born to a Jamaican biological father and an English mum, but she didn't have a relationship with her dad.
Rochelle previously shared to The Sun: “My mum and dad split when I was less than one, and then she moved on and had my sister with another guy, who was lovely. But me and my sister looked completely different, she is white and I am half black."
Rochelle spoke out about overcoming challenges and her experiences of racism in 2020. She admitted that she "tried to scrub" her skin off. She added: "I allowed myself to open up and be vulnerable about this topic publicly to help support others through shared experience and also educate people on the lasting impact racism and discrimination can have on people."
Dr Jason Dungu
Around six per cent of staff in the NHS identify as being from a Black background and many of them carry out crucial life-saving treatment. The work of Jason Dungu, a heart specialist at Basildon Hospital, is so important that he was recently recognised at the Black Healthcare Awards.

Dr Dungu, a consultant cardiologist and lead for cardiology at the world-renowned Essex Cardiothoraic Centre (CTC) at Basildon Hospital, is a veteran in heart care having been working at the centre for almost a decade. He carried out extensive research into areas such as amyloidosis, a condition known to affect black people where protein builds up in the heart leading to heart failure.
Jason said: "It was a lovely surprise to see that I’d won this award. I think it’s so important to celebrate the work of staff in ethnic minority groups who can sometimes go unrecognised. I’ve put in a lot of time and effort into my research and making a difference for my patients is my main drive and focus."
Chris Powell
Born in Lambeth in 1969, it was not until August 1990 that Powell started to form a concrete bond with Essex and, in particular, Southend. The talented footballer signed for Southend United and over the course of six years he made almost 300 appearances for them.
In 2004 he was voted to be the club's all-time cult hero by the supporters. He left the Shrimpers in 1996, however, to join Derby County. Later on in his career he played for Charlton Athletic, Leicester City and West Ham.
After an impressive playing career - that included several promotions - he stepped into management. He operated as a manger for a number of the clubs that he used to play for and returned to Southend United between 2018 and 2019. He played for England a handful of times and also worked with the men's senior team as a coach during a short period.
Powell was included in the King's Birthday Honours list for 2024, receiving an MBE for his services to football, and is a highly-respected pioneer for many charities such as Prostate Cancer UK, Show Racism the Red Card, and The Football Foundation.
Linda Lewis
Having been blessed with a talented voice, Linda Lewis' musical talents stood out at a very young age. She overcame all sorts of challenges and went on to be the very first British Black woman to enter the UK charts and also played at the legendary Glastonbury Festival in 1971 when just 21.
Her iconic appearance and talent led to her often being in the company of major music legends including David Bowie, Rod Stewart, David Essex and Stevie Wonder among others. Born at Custom House in Newham in 1950, Linda kept close to her Essex roots until her death in Waltham Abbey at the age of 72 in 2023.

She was best known for her singles 'Rock-a-Doodle-Doo' (1973) and her version of Betty Everett's 'The Shoop Shoop Song' (1975). A blue plaque in her honour has been erected at the home in west London that she lived in during the early 1970s.
James Cleverly
When Conservative MP James Cleverly was elected to serve Braintree in 2015, he joined an exclusive group of ethnic minority politicians in the UK. The 55-year-old, who was born in Lewisham to an English dad and Sierra Leonean mother was privately educated in Lee, south east London.
He was selected to be the Conservative candidate for Braintree after previously serving as a London Assembly member and a period of military service too in which he reached the rank of Lieutenant colonel.
During his time on the Assembly he worked alongside Boris Johnson to create a separate wing at Feltham young offender's institute to stop first-time offenders mixing with hardened criminals. He was part of one of the UK's most diverse Cabinets under Liz Truss.
Princess Dinubolu
Princess Dinubolu arrived in Southend to take part in a beauty pageant. The year was 1908. Pageants were popular attractions, particularly in Southend where up to 5,000 people could fit inside the town's Kursaal to experience the shows.
But news of this young woman's entry into the competition caused an international frenzy, so much so that it made the front pages as far away as Australia and New Zealand. It was because she was Black.
More than 100 years on, her story has been retold by British African-Caribbean artist Elsa James from Southend. She featured the Princess in her 2018 Forgotten Black Essex exhibition after being inspired by her story.
"I found it extremely uplifting," Elsa said. "What a woman to take on what would have been a white, male media establishment. "There were no women let alone people of colour. She caused a national frenzy with her presence wanting to enter this competition."
Alford Gardner
Most of Alford Gardner's life was spent away from Essex, but his time in the UK began when he arrived in Tilbury on the Empire Windrush from Jamaica. He worked to break down racial barriers by setting up Britain’s first Caribbean cricket club, founding the club in Leeds just three months after arriving in the UK.
Sadly he died in October 2024 at the age of 98. He was one of the last surviving passengers from the journey. Mr Gardner had also served in the RAF as an engineer and motor mechanic during the Second World War.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said Alford "did so much for the black cricketing community in this country" whilst actress and campaigner Baroness Floella Benjamin said he "encapsulated joy, dignity and courage".
Alford's legacy is remembered in Essex where an image of him can be seen on the Walkway of Memories in Tilbury. He was 22 when he boarded the ship in Kingston, Jamaica, with his brother Gladstone before they and hundreds of Caribbean migrants called on to rebuild post-war Britain disembarked the ship at Tilbury Docks in Essex.