Interview
Steve McQueen: “We want meaningful change – so, let’s get on with it.” ALLFIE’s Disabled Black Lives Matter group interview with Small Axe film-maker
In April, members of ALLFIE’s Disabled Black Lives Matter (DBLM) group, ALLFIE Director, Michelle Daley, and one of our trustees, Mike Lambert, had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing artist and Oscar-winning film director, Sir Steve McQueen.
We had been impressed by his recent TV film series, Small Axe; a collection of five short dramas depicting the lives and struggles of Black, British people from the 1960s to 1980s. In particular, we were keen to talk to him about one of these dramas, 'Education', which has such obvious relevance to ALLFIE’s current work; combatting school exclusions.
‘Small Axe: Education’ is available on BBC iPlayer until November, 2021. It was clear from the outset of our conversation that he is completely downto-earth and unfussed by formality, wanting to be addressed as “Steve”. As the interview continued, he showed his understanding of intersectionality and his respect for the work of grassroots organisations, like ALLFIE.
Image: Scene from 'Small Axe: Education' ©BBC/McQueen Limited
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