Anti-racism March

After the Notting Hill riots in 1958, the tradition was revived by Claudia Jones. Jones is a Trinidadian member of the Communist party that arrived in London in 1955 who propose that a Caribbean carnival was the best response to the racists. She also organized a cabaret program at St. Pancras Town Hall, complete with steel bands and a carnival queen beauty contest, on January 30, 1959 following a small procession in Powis Square, Notting Hill. Claudia Jones and Pearl Prescod led an anti-racism march in St. Stephen’s Gardens in 1963 at John Hopkins. The nearest thing to a carnival procession took place on August 31, 1963 when she led an anti-racism march from Ladbroke Grove station to the US embassy in Grosvenor Square. During this march, they sung ‘We Shall Overcome’ in solidarity with the Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have A Dream’ demonstration in Washington.

London Free School

When it comes to literary and artist works towards the Notting Hill Carnival, the most predominant ones are from a press ad by the London Free School covering the ‘Caribbean Touch to Notting Hill’s Carnival Procession’ and the progressive music by Pink Floyd performed at the Tabernacle. Pink Floyd played at All Saints Church Hall, initially as part of the Notting Hill Fayre (Carnival). Pink Floyd did a series of pageants and fund-raising concerts for London Free School (LFS). Pink Floyd is also, best known as the organization that found the Notting Hill Carnival. The press ad of ‘Caribbean Touch to Notting Hill’s Carnival Procession ‘ features pictures and articles of important moments that happened during the progression of the carnival.

1976 Notting Hill Riot

In 1976, there was a Carnival police clash in Notting Hill. Darcus Howe's militant Carnival committee, the Golborne 100 group, and a clash of 1,500 officers went to the carnival to conduct order. The crowd of the carnival was drawn back, which sparked the Notting Hill riot of 1976. Two hundred people went running and there was fighting 10 blocks in every direction. Their fighting back was shown to many as a spiritual awakening of black Britain. This was described as a demo of solidarity and peace with the black community. The year of '76 showed the strength of feeling with the reggae raging during those times, people putting on silly costumes and dancing in the street. As a result, the 1976 riot expanded the pop culture into reggae, feeding dun effects, "heavy manner" stencil graffiti, and the apocalyptic Rasta rhetoric included.

People's Free Carnival

In 1971, there was an angry hippy carnival in Notting Hill that was a call to all progressive people. Black people were to smash the racist immigration bill and worker of Britain to smash the Industrial Relations bill. All progressive people united and smashed growing fascism, and rallied on July 25 1971 for ‘Black Unity and Freedom Party’. In the summer there were several occasions of this at different locations. They had gigs to benefit local causes. There was an underground press add for the ‘People’s Free Carnival” August 29-September 4 1971’ proclaimed that ‘The Streets of Notting Hill Belong to the People’. And if people wanted or had more information about rock n’ roll, street bands, street theatre, many goodies, any bands, people, ideas or help of any sort, to contact Frendz or People’s Association. The fest continued all week, and people wanted it to be as noisy as possible in the road to make their voices be heard. They made the Notting Hill Free Carnival become a week of music, theatre, and dancing in the street. Unfortunately, the Angry Carnival was busted by a bomb squad. However, to stand up for their rights through positive methods are consider remarkable. 

Food with Jamaican Influence

Very famous foods known at the Notting Hill Carnival are jerk chicken, curry goat, and rice and peas. Here are the recipes of each dish if you wish to get a taste of authentic Caribbean food (though these dishes are mostly Jamaican-influenced).

Jerk Chicken

• 6 lb Roasting Chicken
• 1 tbsp. Salt
• 2 tsp. Garlic powder
• 1 tsp. Paprika
• 1 tsp. Soya Sauce
• 1 small onion
• 3 tbsp. Jerk Seasoning

First, rub the whole chicken with salt. Grater the onion and rub it into the chicken. Add the Paprika and Garlic powder to the chicken. Rub the Jerk Seasoning all over the whole chicken and allow the chicken to marinate for at least 2 hours. Roast in oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Curried Goat

• 2 lbs. Mutton or lamb trimmed and cut into cubes
• ¼ cup chopped onion
• 2 tbsp. Turmeric
• 2 cloves chopped garlic
• ½ tsp. Hot pepper sauce
• 2 tsp. Grated ginger

• ½ cup red wine
• ¼ tsp. cooking oil
• ¼ cup tomato ketchup
• 1 tsp. curry powder
• ½ tsp. Salt
• 1 tsp. vinegar
• 3 tbsp. Chutney

Season meat with garlic, salt, vinegar and hot pepper. Allow to marinate for about 1 hour. Heat oil, add curry powder, then meat and brown. Add remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer over low heat until meat is tender. Adjust seasoning. Serve on a bed of rice.

Rice and Peas

• 1 ½ c Dried red kidney beans, Soaked overnight
• 1 Clove garlic, crushed
• 1 tsp. Salt
• ½ c Unsweetened coconut milk
• 2 Scallions, chopped
• 2 Sprigs fresh thyme
• ½ Whole Scotch Bonnet Pepper
• ½ tsp. Black pepper
• 2 c Long-grain white rice

Boil the beans, garlic and salt until the beans are tender. Save three cups of the liquid, discarding the garlic. Return the beans and the three cups liquid to the pot (if there’s not enough of the cooking liquid use water), along with the coconut milk, scallions, thyme, scotch bonnet pepper, and black pepper and salt to taste. When it comes to a boil, add in the rice. Let it boil for 20 minutes, then remove it from the heat and let it sit for 15 minutes. Stir it with a fork to taste.

Russ Henderson

Russ Henderson and his Trinidad Steel Band were leading figures in the steel band movement within Britain. For more than 60 years Henderson used music as a focus for community cohesion, bettering race relations, and being directly involved in the establishment of Notting Hill Carnival in London. He also gave a sense of rhythm and beats that moved and connected people's souls.

The steel band started off playing in the Coleherne pub, then embarked on a road march. Henderson grew up in a middle class environment and became talented in piano, waltz, and jazz that later turned into "calypso-jazz."

Trinidadian steel pans were introduced in the band's act in 1952. His band performed at Buckingham Palace, and made history as the first steel band to play for royalty. Henderson toured in various places with the steel band and did theatre and radio work. Henderson lectured on the steel pan in school, organized workshops and percussion ensembles, and remains to be in demand for social functions.

Static Sound Systems

Static sound systems have been a very important part of the Notting Hill Carnival for the past 50 years. They produced a social life for the Caribbean. These sound systems were needed for the youth to put their energy into. The display and use of these gave black Brits a sense of self-empowerment. Throughout the hardships they face in everyday life, sound systems gave Caribbeans a reason to enjoy life more. The most important people that operate these parties with the sound systems are the Sound Man, the MC, and the DJ.

Sound Men are specifically skilled coordinators of operating the sound system, which isn't easy to do and requires a lot of help. The MC is the life of the party, able to influence the crowd to live in the moment and express themselves through dance and music.

DJs make sure to acquire all types of music, including rare collections or singles. They do this to not only entertain the crowd but to make them feel complete and truly satisfied. The early days started off with sounds of reggae and root rhythms, then expanded over the decades to music of reggae, hip hop and R&B, house/garage/drum and bass, Latin, SKA, soul, and techno. Sound systems occupy the central street along the carnival route to give the best experience.