The untold stories of a city

Louis is bringing Liverpool’s black history into focus

A fifth-generation black Liverpudlian, Louis Julienne a significant black presence in the city for hundreds of years.

So seven years ago, Louis and co-trustees Albert Fontenot and Ray Quarless set up the Heritage Development Company Liverpool, to tell the story of its black population.

Delving into 200 years of history proved an emotional experience. “Researching the difficulties and racism black people faced here left me angry and sad,” says Louis, 75.

“It was a challenge to get the project going. But on the opening night of our first exhibition – focusing on black musicians in the city – I felt as if my ancestors were smiling down at me.”

More recently, the Black Punch exhibition was another major success. Supported by The National Lottery, it told the stories of local boxers such as Peter Banasko, who was prevented from competing for a national title because of the colour bar

– a ban on black British boxers competing for these, and which wasn’t lifted until 1947.

But touring plans for the exhibition were knocked out when the pandemic struck, and Louis feared for the future of the HDCL as it only had three months’ worth of cash reserves.

He applied for National Lottery funding, and received almost £13,000.

“It brought us back from the brink,” says Louis. “It kept us afloat and extended the reach of the exhibition as we were able to take it online. “We’re determined to keep the exhibition and future projects going,” he adds. “Black people have been in Liverpool since the 18th century, yet people think we came with the Windrush generation from 1948 as it wasn’t taught in schools. So we had a

By playing The National Lottery, you raise £30million for good causes every week*, helping people like Louis continue their important work.

Louis has now been nominated in this year’s National Lottery Awards, which celebrate the ordinary people using National Lottery funding to do extraordinary things.

This year’s awards have six different categories, with the winner of each receiving £5,000 for their organisation.

Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond to inspire change, brought their community together or taken on major challenge? Nominating them is quick and easy using the website below.

“It was a great surprise to find out I’d been shortlisted, a lovely pat on the back,” says Louis. “I don’t do this for personal recognition, but that makes it all the more special.”