Legendary jazz singer and activist becomes first Black…

Legendary jazz singer and activist becomes first Black woman to receive purple plaque

Late singer and activist Patti Flynn has become the first Black woman to have a purple plaque dedicated to her in Wales. The Black History Wales patron and celebrated jazz singer was known for her 26-year campaign for a memorial to Black and ethnic minority servicemen and women.

According to BBC Wales, her son Michael Flynn welcomed the award for his mother, who passed away in 2020, saying she "stood on the shoulders of other strong, Black women". The plaque will be unveiled on Friday at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.

The Purple Plaques campaign was created to improve the recognition of "remarkable women in Wales" and award them with a plaque to commemorate their achievements and cement their legacy in Welsh history. So far, the campaign has commemorated the likes of Dr Frances Hoggan, who was a pioneering doctor from Brecon, Thora Silverthorne - a trade unionist and nurse from Abertillery, and Charlotte Price White, who was a suffragist and peace activist from Bangor in Gwynedd.

Born in Tiger Bay in 1937, Patti lost her father and two brothers in World War Two. A contemporary of Shirley Bassey, she became a jazz singer, author, model, actress and social activist.

In 2017, Patti was honoured as one of the founding members of the Black History Month movement in Wales and in 2019 was given an Ethnic Minority Welsh Women's Lifetime Achievement Award. Following 26 years of lobbying, a plaque in honor of Black and ethnic minority soldiers, servicemen and women who died in conflict was finally unveiled at the Welsh National War Memorial in Cardiff in 2019. Patti attended the ceremony, which was held in front of 200 people.

Speaking to BBC Wales, her son Michael said that Patti did not let her skin colour define who she was and had a legacy that "lives on and has a huge effect on people". He added: "She was very proud and she said you are not what you look like it is what you do that makes you special."

He said that he was looking forward to the day when strong women were not defined by their ethnicity, but also acknowledged that Patti "stood on the shoulders of lost of young women and black activists", and should be applauded for her achievements.

Patti Flynn unveiling the war memorial in Alexandra Gardens in 2019 (Richard Swingler)

He added that due to the fact that she died when Covid lockdown restrictions were implemented in 2020, the accolade would be an opportunity for people to gather, remember and recognise her. He said: "It's going to be emotional. We only had about 20 people in the service [after her death], and we couldn't have a wake or a drink after it.

"So this will be the time for people to come and do that. I thought it was going to be a small thing but everyone's coming to me from all over the place, some kids I grew up with. I'm very proud and we're very humbled."

In response to the news, the CEO of Race Council Cymru and Black History Wales activist Professor Uzo Iwobi said: "Patti was a force of nature which is epitomised in her relentless campaign for 27 years to ensure that a historic injustice of the failure to acknowledge and thank ethnic minority servicemen and women who served in World Wars was remedied.

"Patti was one of a kind, her love for Jazz and music set her apart and I know she lives on in her children, grandchildren and all her future generations to come. Today we celebrate our Black History patron - the once met never forgotten jazz diva from Tiger Bay. Patti Flynn Rest In Peace and Power."

The chairwoman of Purple Plaques Wales, Sue Essex, said that the campaign was "delighted to be celebrating Patti", who was a "truly remarkable woman".