John Alcindor

John Alcindor (8 or 9 July 1873 – 25 October 1924) was a physician and activist from Trinidad who settled in London. He is known for his role in the African Progress Union, of which he became president in 1921.

Life and career Alcindor was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, where he was educated at Saint Mary's College; after winning one of the four Island Scholarships he went to study medicine at Edinburgh University, Scotland, graduating from there with a medical degree in 1899. He then worked in London hospitals, in Plaistow, Hampstead and Camberwell, going into practice on his own around 1907. In 1911, he married Minnie Martin, a white British woman.

Refused a place in the Royal Army Medical Corps, Alcindor was awarded a Red Cross medal for his work with the wounded at London rail stations during World War I.

Alcindor served as senior district medical officer of the London borough of Paddington from 1921 until his death. As a medical officer he worked under the Poor Law which meant that he could offer free treatment for poor people in their homes.

Research Alcindor published articles on his research on influenza and tuberculosis. He also wrote about the correlation between cancer and poverty, examining the effects of unhealthy surroundings and poor diet. At the conference he met composer Samuel Coleridge‐Taylor and W. E. B. Du Bois with whom he later developed friendships.

Alcindor became the second president of the African Progress Union in 1921, succeeding John Archer. He spoke at the 3rd Pan-African Congress in November 1923.

Legacy

In July 2014, a blue heritage plaque in Alcindor's honour, organised by the Nubian Jak Community Trust, was unveiled at the site of Alcindor's surgery, which is now the Medical Centre in Harrow Road, Paddington.