J.S Celestine Edwards

Moving from the island of Dominica to the UK, J. S. Celestine Edwards developed radical political opinions and became a human rights supporter.

Edwards became the editor of a weekly Christian newspaper, Lux, from 1893 to 1897 and the editor of the anti-racist monthly journal, Fraternity, from 1893 to 1897. As well as becoming the executive secretary of the Society for the Recognition of the Brotherhood of Man.

Edwards made public speeches in his spare time, speaking out about slavery in Victoria Park, the lynching in America in Bristol and ‘American Atrocities’ in London. He also gave lectures in Liverpool, Plymouth, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow on topics including ‘Blacks and White in America’, ‘The Negro Race and Social Darwinism’ and ‘Liquor Traffic to West Africa’.