Who were the black elite of the early nineteenth century? How did they contribute to the emerging social structure?

In the United Kingdom, the black community has largely consisted of immigrants and their descendants whose residency in the country dates from either the time of the old Empire or that of the new Commonwealth. Persons classified as being of African descent have nevertheless been a recognizable component of British society since at least the Elizabethan period.

An elite developed within the community over the course of several centuries. Its ranks were increased over time by the mixed-race children of colonial British aristocrats (such as Dido Elizabeth Belle),members of the older black elites of British Africa and the Caribbean (such as Sara Forbes Bonetta), the rise of black and mixed-race national leaders (such as Paul Boateng), and the success of numerous black and mixed-race persons in specialized industries, such as the arts (for example, Lenny Henry).

Like their counterparts in the United States and elsewhere, members of the black elite historically took part in the campaign to abolish slavery in the empire. Some, like former enslaved African Olaudah Equiano, even became politically prominent by way of their efforts.

Following the abolition in the early 1800s, black people continued to gain prominence in Britain's social, political and cultural life. Mary Seacole was a heroine of the Crimean War, and Learie Constantine was an important cricketer.

Today, Britain's black and mixed-race people are included in the annual Powerlist - a ranking of the nation's most prominent people of colour. A number of them, such as Boateng and Henry, are also peers and/or knights of the realm.There is also a small community of British aristocrats that are of partially black descent. Emma Thynn (née McQuiston), the Marchioness of Bath as the wife of the 8th Marquess, belongs to this sub-group. Another notable member is the mixed-race royal Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, the son of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

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