A Tribute to Claudia Jones

A Tribute to Claudia Jones at the Marx Memorial Library
With
Claudia Webbe, Islington Councillor and member of the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee – Chair
Winston Pinder, friend of Claudia – on Claudia’s life as socialist, organiser and writer
Meirian Jump, Archivist & Library Manager – on Claudia’s archives at the MML

Claudia Jones (1915-1964) was a political activist and tireless anti-racist campaigner. Her activity as a member of the Communist Party USA - during a period of McCarthyite attacks on the left in America - led to her imprisonment and deportation in 1955. She moved to the UK where she was instrumental in founding the Notting Hill Carnival in 1959 and established the first major black British newspaper The West Indian Gazette. She was an inspirational speaker, addressing numerous peace and trade union meetings. At her funeral in 1965 Paul Robeson gave the following tribute ‘It was a great privilege to have known Claudia Jones. She was a vigorous and courageous leader of the Communist Party of the United States, and was very active in the work for the unity of white and coloured peoples and for dignity and equality, especially for the Negro people and for women’.