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Black History Year

Why Was This Black-Owned Restaurant Always Being Raided?

Black History Year

PushBlack

History

4.62.2K Ratings

🗓️ 7 January 2026

⏱️ 3 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Like clockwork, cops would raid the young man’s restaurant looking for drugs. And every time, they found nothing! He had to do something about this harassment – but how could he fight against such a huge system by himself?

2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. We exist to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work.

The production team for this podcast includes Cydney Smith, Len Webb, and Lilly Workneh. Our editors are Lance John and Avery Phillips from Gifted Sounds Network.

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Like clockwork, cops would raid the young man's restaurant looking for drugs, and every time they found nothing.

0:08.0

He had to do something about this harassment, but how could he fight against such a huge system by himself?

0:15.0

This is Two-Minute Black History, what you didn't Learn in School.

0:21.6

The Mangrove Restaurant was the spot for black people to gather in London, England.

0:30.6

There was always excellent food, strong drinks, community, and incredible service.

0:36.6

But there was something terribly wrong too.

0:39.6

The police constantly raided the mangrove, accusing the owner of selling drugs.

0:44.9

And that's despite the fact that no drugs were ever found.

0:49.0

The owner knew police weren't doing this because of drugs.

0:52.8

They were doing it to harass the black owner and the black patrons.

0:57.0

But something was about to change.

1:05.0

The black population in Britain was growing rapidly.

1:12.6

Several black community leaders were inspired by the Black Panther Party in the United States.

1:18.6

What if they could create an organization like that and help our people survive the racist system in England too?

1:26.6

So that's exactly what happened.

1:30.1

The British Black Panther Party were inspired by the elements of justice, community organizing,

1:36.6

self-sufficiency, and self-defense that the United States Panthers espouse and use them to help

1:43.8

protect their neighborhood.

1:45.9

So what happened to the Mangrove Restaurant?

1:49.4

Community residents organized and fought the police in court.

1:53.4

Law enforcement even admitted its cops were ingrained with racial hatred.

1:58.8

This confession helped begin the reforms that continue today. No matter

...

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