S. I. Martin facts for kids

S. I. Martin, born on April 24, 1961, is a British writer, historian, journalist, and teacher. He focuses on the history and stories of Black people in Britain.

He has written books for adults, like Britain's Slave Trade, which went along with a TV show called Windrush. He also wrote a novel, Incomparable World, about three Black people living in London a long time ago. S. I. Martin has even written books for children to help them learn about the history of the slave trade.

Besides writing, Martin works hard to share knowledge about Black British history. He works with schools, councils, and museums like the National Maritime Museum and the Museum of London. He is also a supporter of Humanists UK.

About S. I. Martin

Steven Ian Martin was born in Bedford, England, on April 24, 1961. His parents came to Britain from Antigua in 1954. Martin went to school at Bedford Modern School.

Martin's main work is about Black British history and literature. He wanted to show that Black people lived in Britain long before the ship HMT Windrush arrived in 1948. This ship brought many people from the Caribbean to Britain.

His writing, teaching, and other work help fill in this missing part of history. He even leads walking tours in London called "500 Years of Black London."

S. I. Martin's Books

Books for Adults

Martin's first novel, Incomparable World, was published in 1996. It tells the story of three Black people who were exiled and lived in London in the 1700s.

His non-fiction book, Britain's Slave Trade, came out in 1999. He wrote it for Channel 4 to go with their TV series, Windrush. This series was about the history of Black people in Britain.

Books for Children

In 2007, Martin's children's novel, Jupiter Williams, was published. It tells the story of a boy named Jupiter who lives at the African Academy in Clapham, London, around the year 1800. Jupiter is the son of a rich family from Sierra Leone. The book explores ideas of being lucky and losing what you have. A real person named Cesar Picton is a character in the story.

The next book in the series, Jupiter Amidships, came out in 2009. In this book, Jupiter and his brother get caught by a pressgang. A pressgang was a group that forced people to join the navy. This happens before they can get on their ship to go home to Sierra Leone.

Sharing History

Besides writing, S. I. Martin actively helps people learn about Black British history. He works with many groups, including:

• London schools
• English Heritage
• Borough councils
• The National Maritime Museum
• The Museum of London
• The Museum of London Docklands
• The Imperial War Museum
• The Public Record Office
• The Black Cultural Archives

S. I. Martin lives and works in South London.