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What happened in 1969

• After losing the space race in the 50s to Russia, the USA make history by putting Neil Armstrong on the moon. Back on earth they hadn't managed to sort out the issue of race relations or the Vietnam War. This is the year of the Chicago Eight /Seven - a trial famous for the defendants mocking the system and ultimately being released. These anti-war protestors were accused of inciting riots in Chicago the previous year and were mainly white but did include Black Panther, Bobby Seale. He threw so much abuse at the judge that he was famously ordered to bound and gagged in the courtroom.
• In December Chicago police shoot two members of the Black Panthers.
• In the same month the US Supreme Court orders the end of segregation in the South.
• In London there are several police battles with anti-racist protesters - one was during the South African rugby tour of Britain in November.
• The Jamaican, Frank Cousins creates the Dark and Light Theatre - the first black theatre in Britain to receive government funding and have its own building. They create their own touring circuit and stage plays from America, Africa, the Caribbean and Britain including Blood Knot, The Trials of Brother Jero and The Slave.
• Horace Ové produces a documentary called Baldwin's Nigger about the visit of author James Baldwin to England. Based in London since the 1960s, Ové had photographed the emergence of black politics in Britain, taking pictures of Stokely Carmichael and Michael X at the UK's first Black Power meeting.As well as being a renowned photographer he made what's considered Britain's first black feature film, Pressure. (see 1975)
• The Roar of the Crowd on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ 2 - a series in which sports stars talk about themselves features cricketer 'Six sixes in one over-Gary Sobers'. Regarded as one of the finest all-rounders of the modern times, he still holds the unbeatable record of six sixes in an over. His test record of 365 was only beaten decades later by another great from the Caribbean, Brian Lara.
• In this year Clyde Best signs for West Ham United. In the following 7 seasons he plays 186 games and scores 47 goals. Earning his first national cap at the age of 15 and through the increasing television coverage of matches he was a role model for many black youngsters and a generation of black footballers who rose to fame during the mid to late 70s.
• Star Trek (started in '66) made it to UK TV screens. Nichelle Nichols, playing crew member Uhura, was the first black actress to feature in a major US series. Previously a singer with Duke Ellington, she nearly gave up the role as she felt it lacked significance, but was persuaded to stay by Martin Luther King who said she was a role model for black children.