In celebration of Britain’s Black History Month, London’s public transport company (TFL) has chosen to reinterpret one of the city’s symbols: the Underground map.
Designed in the 1930’s by Harry Beck – an employee of the London Underground – the London Underground graphic has inspired those of many other cities around the world, becoming a favorite subject for all kinds of souvenirs.
In collaboration with London’s cultural archives, TFL has paid tribute to 272 (as many as the number of Tube stops) black historical figures who have made a contribution throughout British history, from the Tudor era to the present day. The idea comes directly from the capital’s mayor Sadiq Khan, in office since 2016 and the son of two Pakistani immigrants.

Each of the tube’s 11 lines is thematic, divided according to the field in which the characters stood out or inspired a change in British history. So the Piccadilly Circus stop becomes Cassie Walmer, actress and singer of the late 1800s, or Camden Town, which changes its name to Claudia Jones, activist and journalist who immigrated to London from Trinidad and Tobago. Covent Garden now appears on the map as Billy Waters, Liverpool Street as Darcus Howe, and still Notting Hill becomes The Yaa Centre, a London-based arts association.
“This is a way to get into black history without starting with police brutality, violence or gangs. Each line is themed, so you can spark a dialogue with teachers, friends or parents by starting with one line at a time,” said Arike Oke of the Cultural Archives of England.