Meet Our Team

Learn about the passionate individuals behind blacklegacieslondon who bring history to life.

Here’s a polished, confident, and warm brief bio that captures you, your voice, and the spirit of Black Legacies London:

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Rod Westmaas, Founder of Black Legacies London

Rod Westmaas is a London‑based heritage educator, writer, and cultural ambassador whose work bridges Caribbean, Black British, and global diaspora histories. Drawing on deep family roots in Guyana and Barbados, and years of research into colonial power, migration, and memory, Rod founded Black Legacies London to illuminate the stories so often left in the margins.

His tours are known for their emotional resonance, scholarly depth, and welcoming atmosphere. Participants describe them as transformative—rich with archival insight, lived experience, and the kind of storytelling that makes history feel immediate and personal. Whether guiding visitors through hidden corners of the city or unpacking the legacies of empire, Rod creates spaces where people feel seen, connected, and empowered.

Black Legacies London has quickly become one of the most thoughtful and engaging heritage experiences in the city, celebrated for its accuracy, dignity, and the care Rod brings to every group he leads.

A strong way to frame it is to treat the book as both a guide and an act of reclamation—something that deepens the walk rather than simply repeating it. Here’s a polished, resonant description you can use in conversation, publicity, or panel notes:

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The Black Legacies Westminster companion book, authored by Rod, extends the walk into a richer, more reflective space.
It gathers the stories, sites, and archival fragments explored on the route and sets them within a wider historical frame—revealing how Black presence, resistance, and creativity have shaped the heart of Britain’s political and cultural power.

Rather than a simple guidebook, it functions as a portable archive:

• Contextual essays that illuminate the forces behind the monuments and institutions.
• Biographical sketches that restore visibility to figures too often left out of mainstream narratives.
• Images, maps, and annotations that help readers revisit the walk at their own pace, or discover new layers they may have missed.

It’s written with the same clarity, dignity, and sense of purpose that define the walk itself—inviting readers to see Westminster not just as a seat of empire, but as a landscape shaped by centuries of Black life, labour, and legacy. £12+postage or available on the trail.

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Dr Juanita Cox 

Dr Juanita Cox is a distinguished scholar of Caribbean and Black British history whose work has reshaped contemporary understandings of diaspora identity, memory, and cultural continuity. With a career grounded in rigorous archival research and a deep commitment to community knowledge, she brings an exceptional breadth of expertise to the Black Legacies London team.

Her scholarship spans literary studies, political history, and the lived experiences of Caribbean migrants across the twentieth century. She is widely recognised for her authoritative research on Guyanese writer and activist E.R. Braithwaite, as well as her broader contributions to documenting Caribbean intellectual traditions. Dr Cox’s work consistently bridges academic inquiry with public history, ensuring that the stories of Black communities are preserved, contextualised, and made accessible to new generations.

Within Black Legacies London, Dr Cox serves as a guiding voice on historical accuracy, narrative integrity, and the ethical stewardship of heritage. Her knowledge of Black legacies—across the Caribbean, Britain, and the wider Atlantic world—strengthens the team’s mission to illuminate overlooked histories with dignity, nuance, and scholarly precision. She is especially valued for her ability to connect archival fragments to lived experience, offering interpretations that are both intellectually rigorous and deeply human.

Dr Cox’s presence on the team reflects her lifelong dedication to amplifying diasporic histories and honouring the resilience, creativity, and contributions of Black communities. Her leadership ensures that Black Legacies London continues to stand on a foundation of truth, care, and uncompromising historical excellence.

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Dr Angilina Osbourne 

Dr Angilina Osbourne is a historian, author, and cultural strategist whose work illuminates the overlooked lives, labour, and legacies of African and Caribbean people in Britain. With a doctorate in Public History and a career spanning archives, education, and community heritage, she has become a leading voice in widening access to historical knowledge and reshaping how Black British stories are researched, taught, and remembered.

Her scholarship bridges rigorous archival investigation with a deep commitment to community empowerment. She has contributed to major national projects, curated exhibitions, and developed learning resources that centre Black presence in Britain across centuries. Her writing and public engagement work consistently challenge silences in the historical record, offering new ways for audiences to understand belonging, identity, and the long arc of diaspora experience.

Contribution to Black Legacies London

Dr Osbourne plays a pivotal role in shaping the intellectual and ethical foundations of Black Legacies London. Her contribution includes:

• Historical Guidance and Research Leadership
  She provides expert insight into archival sources, ensuring that the stories presented by Black Legacies London are accurate, contextualised, and grounded in the lived realities of Black communities across time.

• Curatorial and Editorial Support
  Her curatorial eye strengthens the organisation’s exhibitions, heritage panels, and public‑facing materials, helping to craft narratives that are both accessible and academically robust.

• Community Engagement and Education
  Dr Osbourne supports the development of workshops, talks, and learning programmes that empower young people, carers, and community groups to connect with their histories and see themselves reflected in Britain’s cultural landscape.

• Advocacy for Inclusive Heritage
  She champions ethical storytelling, ensuring that Black Legacies London remains a space where dignity, accuracy, and cultural pride guide every project.

Through her partnership with Black Legacies London, Dr Angilina Osbourne helps to anchor the organisation’s mission: to surface hidden histories, honour ancestral resilience, and build a more truthful and inclusive understanding of Britain’s past.

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