How a 1970s London courtroom drama exposed the hidden history of the Mangrove Nine
In short: Steve McQueen’s 2020 film Mangrove chronicles the true story of Frank Crichlow and the Mangrove Nine, activists who challenged systemic police harassment in Notting Hill. By dramatizing their landmark 1970 trial, the film restores a vital, often overlooked chapter of British history to the screen for a new generation.
In the late 1960s, Trinidadian immigrant Frank Crichlow opened the Mangrove restaurant in Notting Hill, a hub for the local Caribbean community. The establishment soon became a target for Constable Frank Pulley, who initiated a series of violent raids under the guise of policing drug activity and gambling. These actions pushed Crichlow into financial ruin and sparked a community-led protest march. When police provoked violence during the demonstration, nine individuals—including Crichlow, Altheia Jones-LeCointe, and Darcus Howe—were arrested and later charged with riot and affray.
The subsequent 1970 trial became a platform for the defendants to challenge institutional racism. Representing themselves, Jones-LeCointe and Howe exposed fabrications in police testimony and highlighted the judge’s clear bias toward the prosecution. Despite Judge Edward Clarke’s refusal to grant an all-Black jury and his harsh treatment of the defendants, the trial concluded with the acquittal of five of the nine. The film, part of McQueen’s Small Axe anthology, captures this struggle not merely as a legal battle but as a reclamation of identity.
McQueen developed the project to ensure these stories were not lost as the elders who lived them passed away. Letitia Wright, who portrays Jones-LeCointe, noted that such histories are frequently absent from British school textbooks, which often prioritize American civil rights narratives over local struggles. Critics have praised the film for its meticulous detail and emotional resonance. By focusing on the daily life of the restaurant alongside the courtroom drama, the film offers what historian Paul Gilroy describes as a historical transfusion, providing viewers with a deeper understanding of the last 50 years of British history.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Mangrove (film)
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