John Blanke: Representation Matters

When I began plotting my middle-grade time-slip adventure, I deliberately included characters that I identified with in some way: A British Asian girl, a White working-class boy and Black Tudor Trumpeter, John Blanke.

As a schoolteacher, I’d witnessed Children of Colour respond with joy and curiosity, when we shared books featuring characters with whom they identified. Yet, as a child, all the books I’d read were written by white authors, with only white characters. Even when I studied Tudor England in my history ‘A’ level and degree, Black Tudors weren’t mentioned.

So, in 2021, I did an internet search, asking, ‘Were there any Black Tudors?’ and John Blanke appeared!

I’ve been inspired by John Blanke and imagine him as...

Cool, proud and resilient: From being enslaved to becoming a Royal Trumpeter who commanded respect.

Strong and fit: Mentally strong to have endured and achieved so much against the odds and physically fit to have sat on a horse for hours, whilst playing his trumpet without falling off!

Highly talented and valued: Why else would he feature twice on an important scroll, be gifted a purple velvet cap and gown from the king and receive the huge wage increase he’d requested? Henry VIII loved music (he even wrote some) so, perhaps John had jamming sessions with the king.

Representation matters as by seeing ourselves in stories, we learn and dream of what we could become and achieve. To know that Black people existed in Britain in the past is powerful as it counteracts the racist rhetoric we hear in society claiming People of Colour are ‘foreigners’ that don’t belong.
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We may never find a better representation of a Black Tudor than John Blanke and this is why I believe in celebrating his amazing journey, talents and phenomenal success.

Seema McArdle
Writer , Educator and PunGeordie