Eric L. Huntley

Eric Lindbergh Huntley (born September 25, 1929) is a Guyanese-born activist, publisher and educator whose work promotes Black literature and social justice in the United Kingdom. Alongside his wife, Jessica Huntley, he co-founded Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications, a pioneering independent publishing house that provided a platform for radical Black voices and literature in Britain.

Early life and political activism

Huntley was born in British Guiana (now Guyana), where he became politically active from a young age. He was involved in the start of Guyana's People's Progressive Party (PPP), an anti-colonial movement advocating for Guyana's independence from British rule. His activism led to a year of incarceration in 1953 when the British government suspended the country's constitution. In 1957, facing political repression, he emigrated to London, with Jessica joining him a year later. Once in the UK, the Huntleys quickly became involved in the growing struggles for racial and social justice, particularly within the African-Caribbean community.

Publishing and advocacy

In 1968, Huntley and his wife founded Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications, named after Caribbean freedom fighters Paul Bogle and Toussaint L’Ouverture. The immediate catalyst for this venture was the banning of the Guyanese historian Walter Rodney from returning to his teaching position in Jamaica due to his radical political views. In response, the Huntleys published Rodney's ''The Groundings with My Brothers'' in 1969, marking the beginning of their efforts to amplify the voices of Black intellectuals, writers, and activists. The publishing house went on to produce works by notable figures such as Linton Kwesi Johnson, Valerie Bloom and Lemn Sissay, contributing significantly to the dissemination of Black radical thought in Britain.

The Walter Rodney Bookshop

In addition to their publishing work, the Huntleys opened a bookshop in West Ealing, London, in 1974, initially known as "The Bookshop" and later renamed the Walter Rodney Bookshop following Rodney's assassination in 1980. The shop became an important cultural and political hub, hosting readings, community meetings, and discussions on Black history and activism. Despite facing repeated racist attacks, the bookshop remained a central institution for Black British literature and activism until its closure in 1989 due to rising rents.

Community organizing and activism

Huntley and his wife were also deeply involved in grassroots activism beyond their publishing and bookselling efforts. They were key figures in the Caribbean Education and Community Workers Association (CECWA), an organization dedicated to improving educational opportunities for Black children. In 1975, they helped establish the Black Parents Movement (BPM) in response to the wrongful arrest of a Black schoolboy, highlighting the systemic racial discrimination within the British education system. In 1981, the Huntleys played a significant role in organizing the Black People's Day of Action, a landmark protest that brought 20,000 demonstrators to the streets in response to racial injustice and police brutality following the New Cross Fire.

Legacy and recognition

The legacy of Eric and Jessica Huntley has been widely recognized. In 2005, they deposited their extensive archives at the London Metropolitan Archives, preserving decades of materials related to Black British activism and literature. Since 2006, an annual lecture series has been held in their honour, focusing on themes of racial equality and social justice. Their contributions were further commemorated in 2023 with the establishment of the Jessica Huntley Community Garden in Ealing, a space dedicated to fostering community engagement and education.

A Nubian Jak Community Trust blue plaque was unveiled in October 2018 outside the Huntleys' West Ealing home, commemorating their contributions to Black literary culture and activism.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Huntley, Eric L.

1929 births
Living people
Black British activists
Book publishing company founders
British community activists
Guyanese activists
Guyanese emigrants to the United Kingdom