Edward Scobie

Dr. Edward Vivian Scobie (1918 – 14 November 1996) was a Dominican-born journalist, magazine publisher and historian. He is best known for his research into the black history of Western Europe and his 1972 seminal book Black Britannia: A History of Blacks in Britain.

Early life and career

Scobie was born Vivian Edward George Dalrymple in Roseau, Dominica. He was educated at the Dominica Grammar School. At school, he displayed an aptitude for athletics, eventually representing the national teams in cricket and football. He first went to England during World War II to join the Royal Air Force, where he served as a pilot in Bomber Command, holding the rank of flight lieutenant.[1][2] After the war Scobie became a correspondent for the Chicago Defender and other Johnson Publishing Company titles with a largely African-American readership.[3]

In 1948, Scobie published Checkers, calling itself "Britain’s Premier Negro Magazine"; the magazine only lasted five issues, folding in January 1949.[4] By 1960 he joined with Charles I. Ross and Patrick Williams to produce monthly magazine Tropic. Published in London, the magazine announced that it intended to be "the voice of 250,000 coloured people in Britain", aligning itself with "coloured people everywhere in their struggle for Independence. In their fight to live with dignity and freedom". In addition to covering politics and current affairs in Britain, Africa and the Caribbean the magazine published short stories by the likes of Samuel Selvon, Jan Carew and included among its contributors George Lamming and Donald Hinds. Tropic ceased publication at the end of 1960.

In September 1961 Scobie launched Flamingo as editor, a monthly London-based magazine aimed at Black people in Britain and internationally, focusing on glamour, culture, sex advice and international politics, it was one of the first magazines to target Britain's African-Caribbean community. Flamingo was part-funded by the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), through founder Peter Hornsby and publisher Chalton Publishing, who along with the CIA wanted to support left-leaning writers and politicians who would oppose communism. It is unclear if Scobie was aware of this funding.[5] The second issue claimed to have sold 20,000 copies in Britain and 15,000 in America. By 1964 Flamingo political articles had become more serious, and were similar to media releases from the British Foreign Office's semi-secret Information Research Department. Flamingo closed in May 1965.[5][6]

His first book Black Britannia: The History of Blacks in Britain published in 1972, bought him "international acclaim".[7] Black Britannia: The History of Blacks in Britain is the first book-length history of African presence in Britain.[8]

At the time of his death in 1996, Scobie was Professor Emeritus of History in the Black Studies Department at City College of New York.[9][7]

In 1998, Scobie was featured on a commemorative postage stamp, which featured portraits of five notable Dominicans who served in the RAF during World War II, to mark the 80th anniversary of the Royal Air Force.[10]

Selected bibliography
  • Black Britannia: The History of Blacks in Britain (1972), Johnson Press, ISBN 978-0874850567.
  • Global African Presence (1994), A & B Books, ISBN 9781881316725.
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References
  1. "Dr Edward Scobie: African Presence in Early Britain: Dominica political figure". thedominican.net.
  2. Martin, S. I. (23 October 2013). "Pilots Of The Caribbean". The Voice.
  3. "About books and authors". Black World/Negro Digest. Johnson Publishing Company. January 1973. pp. 93–.
  4. Simon, Andy (18 October 2013). "Black History at the British Library". Untold Lives blog. British Library. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  5. Doward, Jamie (26 January 2019). "Sex, ska and Malcolm X: MI6's covert 1960s mission to woo West Indians". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  6. Hoyles, Asher; Hoyles, Martin (2011). Caribbean Publishing in Britain: A Tribute to Arif Ali. Hansib Publications. ISBN 978-1-906190-42-2.
  7. Asante, Molefi Kete, ed. (2004). "Elder Scholars, Edward V Scobie". Encyclopedia of Black Studies. SAGE Publications. p. 227. ISBN 9781452265445. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  8. Duffield, Ian (2012). "Skilled Workers or Marginalised Poor? the African Population of the United Kingdom, 1812-52". In Killingray, David (ed.). Africans in Britain. Routledge. p. 77. ISBN 9781136300066. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  9. Chung, Clairmont (2012). Walter A. Rodney: A Promise of Revolution. NYU Press. pp. 134–. ISBN 978-1-58367-329-4.
  10. "Edward Scobie Dalrymple". Caribbean aircrew in the RAF during WW2. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
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