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 |  | Review by Georgiana Ndlovu, site user and journalism student at Coventry University
Coventry enjoyed its second Black History Month this year with exhibitions and events being held in collaboration with Coventry Black Experience.
As part of the celebration, Phillis Williams, a local nurse, presented the story of Mary Seacole at The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum on 31 October.
| Μύ |  | Phyllis Williams as Mary Seacole
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Speaking for the second time in two years, Phyllis moved a crowd of over 60 people with the tale of Mary, a black nurse who served on the front lines during the Crimean War in the 1850s.
Phyllis began the event with a stunning entrance where she sang the words of Mary: "Nobody knows the struggles I've seen but Jesus".
Phyllis told the sad story of how Jamaican-born Mary Seacole had faced a constant struggle to gain respect for her work as a nurse in a highly prejudiced world.
Mary, who yearned to travel, faced racism and rejection in London and in her home country and was refused work despite the desperate need for nurses.
| Μύ |  | Laugh Jamaica was at the Belgrade Theatre as part of Black History Month
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Mary was a kind and instinctive nurse who continued to nurse where and when she could, yet her jointly owned business 'The British Hotel' was eventually taken away from her and she was made bankrupt.
Phyllis told how she continued to work even without pay with the natural remedies such as water and cinnamon that she had bought when in business. Mary was known to practice her healing on cats and dogs and even dolls when she was refused access to the patients. Phyllis said:
"Everywhere Mary went she was met with doubts and suspicion, though still she continued to work, funding herself and supplying the soldiers who lovingly called her 'mother Seacole' with saddles, laces, tea, coffee and vegetables."
| Μύ |  | Poet and activist Roi Kwabena performed for Black History Month
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The one-hour presentation included a selection of visual aids for audience participation. Phyllis was dressed in a billowing red dress, likened to the 'yellow and red' dresses that Mary was said to have favoured and she asked child volunteers to dress and serve as soldiers.
The event was received well by an audience of various ages and ethnicities. Children in particular were encouraged to get involved in bringing history alive.
One spectator said: "Phyllis portrayed Mary with a personal identification for her trials. It was evident that she has witnessed some of these trials even as a nurse today.
"It has been highlighted today that while nurses like Mary Knightingale and Elisabeth Vince were recognised in history books, Mary Seacole was not."
| Μύ |  | Hunter dance in the First People exhibition for Black History Month by Amanda Gazidis
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Mary died in 1881 and apart from a short period of media recognition in 1957, her story has largely been lost in history.
The event was a good way of bringing Mary's name into significance. Mary's struggle can be acknowledged today by her book, 'The wonderful adventures of Mrs Seacole'. This was produced by Elsie Gordon in 1973 and published thanks to a Royal School of Nursing bursary of Β£25,000 raised in 1984 to allow nurses to extend their practice.
The presentation was based on this book, which is still available at bookshops.
The event, which was met with incisive questions and applause is set to return next year.
Black History Month
Black History Month was on in Coventry throughout October.
Coventry Black Experience organised an exhibition of photographs from the Kalahari, recorded interviews of Coventry people, poetry readings, plays, music events, comedy, textile workshops and more.
The exhibitions and events were across a number of venues, including the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, The Belgrade Theatre and the Warwick Arts Centre.
We also have an online exhibition of one of the shows, The First People of the Kalahari.
Follow the link on the left to see the exhibition and to read about the artist's work.
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