Ansel Wong is a cultural and political activist. His work in the arts has played a vital role in transcending racial boundaries and highlighting Caribbean culture across Britain. He has worked for and with diverse communities for decades breaking down barriers and helping them share their cultural heritage. He has also held influential positions within the education sector and has contributed to important changes to implement equality and diversity. Wong’s career has provided significant advancements in Black educational and cultural projects.
Ansel Wong was born in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago on 4 October 1945. His father was an immigrant from China and his mother of multiple heritages: African, Carib & Spanish. [1] While growing up in the West Indies, he was educated at San Fernando Boy’s Government School and Naparima College. From an early age, Wong developed a keen interest in the arts, studying drama and learning modern dance. [2] Trinidad’s rich eclectic mix of Indian, Spanish, Jewish, Arab, British and African cultures likely influenced Wong as they went on to shape aspects of his life and future career.
In the mid-1960s, Wong moved to Britain where he attended Hull University and studied for his Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and American studies between 1965 and 1968. He chose to study in this region because he was interested in Caribbean and American literature and at the time Hull University had a professor whose specialism was in this area. [3] Despite his chosen topic, Wong came to Britain with the intention of pursuing a career as a Jesuit priest. However, he lost his faith during his studies and although he tried to reclaim it by moving to the Catholic chaplaincy to live, he did not go on to have a religious profession. [4]
Writing about his time at Hull University, Wong outlined the personal significance of the region. He explained 'Hull is an important part of my life. I have now lived more years in the UK than the country of my birth - Trinidad and Tobago- Hull was the first step in that odyssey. It shaped my integration into the UK as well as my responses that enabled me to cope. From the paternalistic induction by the British Council representative to the defeat we inflicted on the University's second Cricket team. What punctuated that journey were very pleasant memories and the unpleasant ones we mediated with grace and the comfort of solace and support from members of the African Caribbean Society complete with steel band and popular parties.' [5]
Politics
In an era of activism, Wong was heavily involved in student politics and was a member of the Radical Student Alliance (RSA) at Hull University. He was also elected as a member of the student senate after protesters occupied a building on campus to enable them to vote for their own advocates. [6]
In an era of activism, Wong was heavily involved in student politics and was a member of the Radical Student Alliance (RSA) at Hull University. He was also elected as a member of the student senate after protesters occupied a building on campus to enable them to vote for their own advocates. [6]
During university breaks, Wong travelled to London to spend time with members of his family. [7] While in the capital, he became involved with the West Indian Student Centre (WISC) funded by the Caribbean governments and located in Earl's Court. Wong was involved in student politics at WISC and was an advocate for promoting Black culture. [8] He later became Chair of the Centre's House Committee which was responsible for its management. In this role, he campaigned to broaden WISC's access to the wider Black community. Wong was also involved in setting up the C. L. R. James Supplementary School and the Black Arts Workshop to show people with African heritage that the theatre could be used to convey experience and expose Black culture to a wider audience. In addition, he was heavily involved with members of the Caribbean Artists Movement, notably Andrew Salkey and John La Rose.
Wong's role in politics extended from the student scene to larger scale movements such as the Black Liberation Front (BLF). He edited their paper, Grassroots under the pseudonym of Ade Kimathi to keep his identity a mystery from the police and secret service, played an active role in the organisation of the BLF and liaised with the groups international contacts. [9] Wong was also involved in the Ujima Housing Association.
An influential career in education and equality and diversity
In the early 1970s, Wong was a scholar at the Institute of Education at the University of London where he gained a Post Graduate certificate in education. He later studied at Brunel University where he graduated with a Master of Education.
In the early 1970s, Wong was a scholar at the Institute of Education at the University of London where he gained a Post Graduate certificate in education. He later studied at Brunel University where he graduated with a Master of Education.
In 1971, Wong secured a position at Sydenham Girls Secondary School and worked there as an English Teacher until 1973. During this time, he started lunchtime educational classes and engaging with the Black children at the school. He shared Caribbean culture through food, history and dance. He then gained employment at the Council for Community Relations in Lambeth as an Educational Coordinator and subsequently at Westminster Community Relations Council.
In 1974, Wong established the Ahfiwe School, at the Gresham Road Project, which was famously the first ILEA funded Black Supplementary School. His vision for Ahfiwe was for there to be "homework sessions… opportunities in terms of basic skills, and… mainstream education provision on African history, Caribbean history, dance, drama; and all sorts of things." [10]
In the late 1970s, after Ahfiwe was closed due a fear of growing radicalism in British society, Wong was involved with Len Garrison and the Afro-Caribbean Education Resources (ACER) project which eventually developed into the Black Cultural Archives.
In 1982, he became a Principal Race Relations Advisor for the Greater London Council (GLC) under Ken Livingstone and four years later, on Thatcher's abolition of the GLC, he was employed as the Head of the Race Equality Policy Group; a successor body for the GLC. In the mid-1980s, Wong led an anti-racist initiative which eventually resulted in a push for Black History Month to be celebrated in Britain. The first celebrations of Black history marked the 'African Jubilee Year and ran from August 1987 and July 1988 with October designated as Black History Month.' [11] During this time, a series of lectures were presented by prominent people celebrating Black heritage and were published in Our Story which was edited by Akyaaba Addai-Sebo and Wong.
Read a pamphlet, written by Ansel Wong, published last year on the 30th anniversary of the first Black History Month celebrated in Britain.
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In 1988 Wong started a new job as an Education officer for the London Borough of Ealing and later gained a position as the Director of Education Policy and Evaluation for the London Borough of Lambeth. In 1992, the Trinidadian was employed as the Vice Principal of Morley College, a position which he occupied for over a decade.
After the turn of the century, Wong has continued to have a very successful and influential career in education and equality and diversity. He has worked with various institutions and government departments such as Durham University, University College London, Savile Row Academy, Highbury Grove School, London Fire Brigade, Metropolitan Police, Department of Transport and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. He has also worked on many high profile as well as community projects including the Notting Hill Carnival (see below for Wong talking at the Notting Hill Carnival). Recently Wong has been working as an arts advisor, editor, artistic director and external assessor.
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Footnotes
- [1] Rob Walters, ‘Student politics, teaching politics, black politics: an interview with Ansel Wong,’ Race and Class, vol. 58:1 (2016), pp. 17-33, p. 20.
- [2] The Windrush Foundation, Ansel Wong, accessed on 26/1/2018.
- [3] Ibid, p. 18.
- [4] Ibid, p. 18.
- [5] Personal correspondence with Ansel Wong in January 2018.
- [6] Ibid, p. 20.
- [7] The Windrush Foundation accessed on 26/1/2018.
- [8] Ibid.
- [9] Rob Walters, ‘Student politics, teaching politics, black politics: an interview with Ansel Wong,’ p. 23.
- [10] Ibid, p. 27.
- [11] Ansel Wong, Black History Month UK (1987-2017) pamphlet.