Black, Female, Scouse: The Story of Liverpools Black Women

Liverpool Central Library is offering a chance to see the often overlooked history of women from the city’s marginalised communities. ‘Black, Female, Scouse’ is an exhibition celebrating some of Liverpool’s strong, black women and their achievements over the years.

Consisting of an eclectic range of pieces, the exhibit aims to draw attention to local figures such as Dorothy Kuya, Bea Freeman and Sandi Hughes, as well as encourage others to look into their own family history.

Image: South Liverpool Surveyor

Co-curator Janaya Pickett, who was responsible for sourcing most of the pieces donated, said: “With the theme for Black History Month, it just seemed like a natural exhibition to highlight women from the black community that have achieved against the odds.”

The exhibit comes with a strong message of not just highlighting these stories, but also their preservation. Some of the items on display had been in lofts or storage for years. Becky Smith, 45, who contributed to the display with a collection of literature from the late 90’s, found her donations while clearing out the house.

"I knew that they’d be of value to somebody… I brought them on the off chance that they would be and they were welcomed."

Image: South Liverpool Surveyor

Merseyside has a long history of immigration, owing from it’s part in the Transatlantic slave trade and the British Empire. But it wasn’t until the 19th century when large numbers of west-African men came to settle in Liverpool and began the city’s burgeoning black communities.

Options for black women at this time were limited. In the first half of the 20th century, the only choices were essentially marriage or cleaning houses (although some broke into the entertainment industry as singers or dancers). ‘Black, Female, Scouse’ gives a voice to those who broke free from these barriers and established themselves in a variety of different fields.

Image: South Liverpool Surveyor

Julie Hughes, 54, daughter of Sandi Hughes, who’s work formed part of the pieces on display, said: “Seeing all this in the library is good for us, and it’s good for our kids and grandkids. It’ll always be in the library for us to see.”

‘Black, Female, Scouse’ is located on the fourth floor of Liverpool Central Library and will be available for free until February 2024.

Image: South Liverpool Surveyor

Written by Ollie Hughes