Hall of Fame: Britain's First Black Sports Star

Hall of Fame: Britain's First Black Sports Star

Author: trappedhistory January 5, 2026 Duration: 3:27

After demolishing and rebuilding Halls of Fame through the ages, our guest Habib Hajallie has chosen his own nominee for the Trapped History Hall of Fame: the great Bill Richmond, an African-American born into slavery who by the early 19th century had become Britain's first Black sports star. Bill was the terror of the boxing ring, winning 17 of 19 matches, fighting the All England Champion, declining a title shot, and being a member of the sports first governing body.

More than that, Bill trained figures like Byron and Hazlitt, performed in front of European royalty and was an usher at George IV's coronation.

His was an astonishing life and Bill is a worthy entrant to the Hall of Fame.



This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Trapped History digs into the corners of the past that standard narratives often overlook, guided by James Baldwin's idea that people and history are mutually confined. This podcast is a deliberate effort to loosen that grip, one story at a time. You'll hear detailed accounts of individuals and events sidelined by traditional textbooks, from strategic minds in forgotten battles to cultural pioneers whose influence was deliberately minimized. Each episode reconstructs a specific moment or life, focusing on the nuanced realities of women's history, Black history, military history, and cultural history. The aim is to provide a more complete and human picture, moving beyond dates and dominant names to the textures of lived experience. By engaging with these overlooked chapters, the podcast invites a deeper understanding of how our present is shaped. It’s for anyone who suspects there's more to the story, offering a thoughtful and researched alternative to the history many of us were first taught. Listening feels like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend, one committed to unearthing truths that resonate with our contemporary world. The result is an educational and compelling narrative that challenges simple takeaways, encouraging listeners to question what they think they know about the forces that have built and bound our societies.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 76

Trapped History
Podcast Episodes
The Women who Ran The Resistance: Anne Sebba on the Forgotten Heroines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:28
During the war, hundreds of RAF airmen escaped through France and into Spain along the Comet Line – an escape route run by women. Hear about the courage of Dédée, the Comet's leader, as she climbed the Pyrenees and brave…
How The Newsies beat the Press Barons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:15
It's not just Disney – the 'newsies' still inspire young people everywhere. Tune in to hear what today's youth think about the biggest child-led strike in history.
Hall of Fame: The Silent and Unseen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:05
Tune in to hear Clare Mulley's nomination for the Trapped History Hall of Fame.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Hall of Fame: The Genius in the Library [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:00
It's Hall of Fame time! Tune in to hear an extended nomination from Sums of Anarchy's wonderful Dominique Miranda. This has everything: revolution, freedom and poetry, with a smattering of maths thrown in . . .This podca…
Emmy Noether: Einstein's Greatest Mathematician [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:03
Do you know who the greatest mathematician of the 20th century was? Someone who even Einstein bowed to? Listen in to hear all about Emmy Noether and her struggles in ultra-conservative Germany. You may even get to unders…
Hall of Fame: Helping Ukrainian Refugees [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:41
Polly Vacher's nomination for the Trapped History Hall of Fame is a true hero of our time.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy