Bristol Black History Month 2019 by Bristol Black History Month

ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH ADVERSITY Bristol Black History Month Magazine provides an exclusive focus point for the city to celebrate the contributions and achievements of the African and Caribbean community. This year we are celebrating the many inspiring entrepreneurs, artists, speakers and scholars who are committed to raising the aspirations of future generations and continue to embrace their African and Caribbean heritage despite adversity. For this reason we chose to celebrate Ras Judah on this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s front cover, who, as a symbol of resilience, perseverance and tenacity, is a light of inspiration for Bristol and beyond. Thanks to all those who have submitted their articles, poems, listings and adverts. This a grassroots project and is made possible by the contributions of everyday people. There is a fantastic line-up of events this year, from respected commentators, historians, community leaders, artists and musicians; who discuss, debate, remember, preserve and continue the cultural heritage of the African and Caribbean Diaspora. Sibusiso Tshabalala Project Director Cognitive Paths

Black History Month came into existence at a time when African History was limited to a Eurocentric narrative, which created a negative and disempowering history for people of African descent and their ancestors. The need to balance this with positive and inspiring historical content is its purpose. We must always remember the struggle people faced to bring Black History Month to life while acknowledging that we are not confined to one month a year when it comes to telling our stories and history. Lawrence Hoo

Front cover image: I AM Judah - Nicole Gehle Cognitive Paths is not responsible for the content of any events or cancellations any listings. We endeavour to supply full and accurate information on the magazine based on all the submissions we receive, however we cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies and any inconvenience this may cause. For further information about event please visit the host provide directly. The views and opinions presented by the different organisations and individuals do not necessarily reflect the view of and full direction of the magazine.

PAGE GUIDE

CARGO by Lawernce Hoo

Rio EnCantos

Darren Alexander

Elevation by Splitz P

Crash Landing by Adebomi Olaitan

Questions of Identity by Shaun Clarke

Bristol Fostering

Ujima Radio by Angel Mel

Kwibuka 25 by Peninah Achieng-Kindberg

Poem by Pearl Kofi

Education through Sport by Khalil Abdi

In search of my Mother’s Garden by Jennifer Sharratt

Overcoming Anxiety

The International Decade for People of African descent by Ade Olaiya

How this man is changing the lived of young people in Bristol by Rema Mukena

The journey of a war veteran in the 60’s by Rema Mukena

52-73 Event Listings

or many years the Bristol legend, Lawrence Hoo has graced our minds and ears with his encaptivating poetry, such as Life in 2003, Inner City Tales (2006) and Hoostory (2011). His work reflects the impact of social imbalance on ethnic minority communities, which has shaped a profound and lasting impression on who he is. In 1963 The Bristol Bus Boycott took place, due to the refusal of the Bristol Omnibus Company employing Black or Asian bus crews in the city of Bristol. The Bristol Bus Boycott was seen to be influential as it was followed by the passing of the Race Relations Act 1965 which made “racial discrimination unlawful in public places”. Which then led to the Race Relations Act 1968, which extended the supply to employment and housing. When Mr Hoo moved to Bristol, this was a time where big changes have recently taken place. Black people were bridging the gap and gearing towards equality for all. Although, Mr Hoo says that Bristol has changed even more tremendously since those days, he explains: “It was deliberating to place the installation outside City Hall. It sits across the cathedral which celebrates a lot of the people who have been in this journey and its outside the library. “It’s also adjacent to the Lord Mayor’s chapel, which is a tiny little chapel on the bottom of Park Street that a lot of people don’t know. “So, its sitting at the base of its power structures and buildings which played a big part of this journey. “But, at the same time today, when we sit outside City Hall, we can see Marvin Rees walking out of there and that is showing the journeys and the achievements of people of the African diaspora have done and at the same time it shows that Bristol has moved forward. “Not enough, but it has gone through a change and the people have definitely changed. So, in a sense from people on the outside, Bristol is still viewed as a very racist city.” Upon reflection Mr Hoo said: “But, we must at the same time acknowledge, that the people of Bristol in 2016, voted in Marvin Rees to be their mayor. So, there’s definitely been a change, but it’s not enough, however at the same time we must be able to celebrate what we have done to create this change for ourselves.

As we chatted, he shared with me many interesting stories about his early days in Bristol in the 70s. He moved to Bristol officially in 1975 and he believes since then the city has had “tied its hands to address this situation” of its history of racial tensions. “Bristol just keeps reinstating the same old narrative while pushing Edward Colston forward as the main contributor and villain, but it hasn’t been able to address it in a positive or empowering way for people of the African diaspora.” He said. With believing that the city needs to be held accountable for its history and break the barriers in the 20th century, also comes bridging the gap himself. In Summer 2020, an installation will be coming right to the bustling centre of Bristol, outside City Hall. With the launch of his book CARGO imminent on October 14, four shipping containers will be positioned outside one of the most attractive buildings in Bristol. Lawrence Hoo and Chaz Golding, Senior Creative at Hello Charlie, who create visual content for Broadcast, Live Events, Music, Commercials, Branding and Digital Media, have been working intimately in order to launch the new project and art installation. CARGO is the narrative for unmasking the Bristol’s and the African diaspora’s histories and legacies. They have been working on a series of projects together for over 10 years. Contributors to the project also include The Bristol Old Vic, Icon Films, Watershed and Rife Magazine. The project is a housing cross-form work including spoken word, performance, moving image, and digital technology. He explained that “It stands for Charting African Resilience Generating Opportunities and it’s an empowerment narrative covering the last 500 years of Bristol’s and Africa’s diasporas shared history and legacy, which has been put into an immersive installation built off 12 poems to carry the whole narrative. “It looks at the achievements and accomplishments of people from the African diaspora through this timeline.” CARGO uses Bristol’s distinctive historical legacy to merge the threads of self-determination which you could say lead to Peaches Golding, OBE, being appointed as Her Majesty’s first female Lord Lieutenant of the County and City of Bristol, of BAME NAME origin.

Article by

Rema Mukena 7

RIO ENCANTOS Article by Kelly Tavares

io EnCantos is grassroots Tour Company in the heart of Rio de Janeiro. We are a network of guides, local businesses, and partner agencies passionate by Brasil’s Enchantments and its African legacy. Our goal is to ensure that clients, partners, and visitors have the best experiences in Brasil. Our mission is to make sure your entire trip runs smoothly and you enjoy your moments, being in Rio, São Paulo, Amazon, Minas Gerais or Bahia, just to mention a few destinations. We will take care of everything for you: Best lodging, transfers, plane tickets and experiences. We provide tours that go beyond the main touristic routes, offering a combination of “brazilians” life styles within their cities’s wonders. We believe that the best thing about Brasil is its people. Therefore meeting locals through locals’ perspectives and tips are the best way to go. We love samba and forró music, history, nature, love and peace, parties and art! We are advocates of our African legacy and through our way of living we acknowledge a history that is still under-represented and we believe tourism is an effective way to build bridges among people and

6 6

places. We support local businesses and value our communities and each person who become part of our network. Brasil has a diverse range of cultural programming and activities to enjoy on each day. Since we incorporate the dynamics of a lively culture when we design our itineraries, we take this diversity into account. Therefore our tours have a structured route based on the “must see” points of interest and alternative variations that will happen according to each day of the week. Therefore, consider spending your holidays with us and take the best of each place you go, take part of the biggest carnival parties in the world, and leave with a taste for more, because this is what Brasil is all about. Here is a link for two of our partner agencies in Rio: https://www.rioencantos.com/our-crew Lodging, tickets, and experiences throughout Brasil https://www.viaretravel.com/br/tipos-deexperiencias/base-comunitaria

o strength and expand the range of activities we have being creating partnerships with tour guides and organizations across the Atlantic, with special attention to initiatives around African heritage tours. The organization works with partner agencies in São Paulo, Bahia and internationally to guarantee a strong collaboration of players who offer the best choices in order to create connections. Besides city tours, we also develop a language program, providing locally and virtually, lingual and Cultural immersions, in Portuguese, for those who are studying the language and getting ready to travel abroad. Our goal is to provide a menu of activities with a window of flexibility. Depending on the routes you choose and on the particular group formed we can make choices together to design the routes’ themes. This makes our tours unique; each tour is shaped by the group’s personal interests and expectations with the local experts’ insights and highlights. In cities as diverse and exciting as Rio, Salvador, São Paulo there is something for everyone to love and we will ensure you get what you’re looking for! Follow your dreams and intuition. Tell us about what you are craving for and get what you need. We are here to be the bridge to your dream trip throughout the biggest country in South America and our local experts are eager to share their passion.

7 7

10 44

hen you act from the heart, you may not al ays e right ut you’ll never e rong. Darren Alexander is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Aspiration Creation Elevation CIC (ACE), an organisation that empowers disadvantaged young people through projects and programmes that offer arts activities, role model guidance and inspirational experiences. “I’m an 80’s baby born and raised in Bristol with a spark for creativity and a passion for justice. Finding myself misguided as a youth, the intervention of music mentoring became the outlet that steered me back on-track - opening my eyes to the wider world and my place within it. I realised that there is a systematic cycle to which many young people fall into, through no fault of their own - a cycle of inequality, low aspirations & negativity - which will ultimately have damaging affects on following generations.

“Be the change you’d like to see.” Through this transition, I came to see art as the common platform to guide, educate and inspire young people to take more positive paths in life.

Situated in the heart of St. Pauls Bristol, ACE deliver projects and programmes which revolve around arts activities, role model guidance and inspirational experiences.

“If you learn from every mistake, you’ll leave no room for regret.” We offer youths fun, positive and empowering outlets that help build skills, confidence and aspirations. Through ACE, I aim to see disadvantaged young people growing to reach their potential and having positive influence on the world around them.”

Today, as Co-founder and Managing Director of Aspiration Creation Elevation (ACE), I am able to drive this ideology to change young peoples’ lives.

11 45

Elevation They came, they saw, and conquered, To the rest of the Bristol nation, at first their culture seemed bonkers, Radiant black faces of all different shades deemed monsters, Different and labelled “other”, Fathers, sisters, mothers and brothers, Adapted to change fighting for a cause, And resided in the dynamic area of St Paul’s, Many shades of colour a pallet of art, Men coming home after work playing dominoes at dark, Whilst there children snuck out at night to receive an African energised charge, A consciousness developed where being black was pride and proudness, With Dennis Brown and the sound system basslines in loudness, Gatherings and unity to tie all together, Whether it was torrential rain, sleet, snow, a heatwave or any weather, As a young man I’ve experienced the southwest mecca go through changes, Where the culture has been appropriated, washed over and almost faded, I guess it’s important to read between the lines and various spaces, As the area still does contain many ethnicities, religions and faces, The core and heart of St Paul’s can never be scarred or tainted, Because new pilgrims arrive, feeling the vibe calling this land amazing, St Paul’s carnival, is it now only just red stripe and white faces? Middle class individuals with capital from far places? Money is going into the community accompanying fresh flats and new builds, But I feel its now important to reflect, organize and keep it real, The vibrancy of St Paul’s I once knew has withered and been killed, When I walk through now it feels like a ghost town and gives me chills, I want to inspire unity again as a source of motivation, Since I have hope in the mecca to return to its dynamism and breed elevation!

By Splitz P

@frenchyxvi

Illustration: lunarloie

[

“I am aiming to

celebrate my 15th

anniversary in

Article by

Adebomi Olaitan

[

October this year!”

started dialysis at the young age of nine. I remember being rushed to Middlesex Hospital from home after continuously vomiting. I think the name of the Hospital is correct, but for the life of me that particular detail seems blurred. All I can recollect is that I needed to go to the theater to have an operation ready for dialysis. This was a very daunting experience indeed, which I wouldn’t recommend to my worst enemy! I started doing my Renal Replacement Therapy in July 1984. I had my first kidney transplant in September 1984, which lasted two years. My next luck was in May 1987, when I had my second transplant, a 32 year old Caucasian (White) cadaver donor, who had a seizure. This time the kidney managed to survive from May 1987 to October 2004. From October 2004, the kidney showed signs of failure, hence I had to go back onto dialysis. I have been on this painstaking treatment since then. I am aiming to celebrate my 15th anniversary in October this year (2019) - If I am still to be alive! There are so many stories like this amongst your own family and friends from the Black Asian Minority Ethnics (BAME) communities. This is not a new phenomena, their stories are only getting stronger as more people from our communities are diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) or End Stage Kidney Failure (ESKF). It is called ESKF because the only result you can get without doing dialysis is death! This is because the toxins are building up in the person’s bloodstream, which begins to affect the other organs in the body! People with this condition do not realise they have it, as it is a “silent disease” - there are no symptoms and patients usually end up in a hospital bed.

To follow my journey futher, please go to: Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_r_w_a_c/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/768348790215220/

15 14

St Werburghs Community Centre Horley Road, St Werburghs, Bristol, BS2 9TJ

Tuesday 8 October 2019 – 10am to 3pm South Western Ambulance Service has over 4,000 employees, both on the frontline and in our support services. We offer excellent training and support for all our employees and there are plenty of opportunities depending on your skills and experience. You could be part of our amazing team. Whether that’s on the frontline as an Emergency Care Assistant or Paramedic, answering calls in our 999 Call Centres or as part of our Support Services within HR, Finance, Fleet and Governance. Whatever your skills and experience, we are sure to have an opportunity to suit you.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the Ambulance Service, we’d love for you to drop in to St Werburgh’s Community Centre for an informal chat, plus; • Refreshments • Listen to some real life 999 calls • Have a go at some basic lifesaving CPR

To find out more, simply visit us on the day, or for all our latest vacancies, application forms, job descriptions and person specifications visit; www. jobs.nhs.uk

151928-stwerburghsopenday-a4poster - updated 2 September 2019 4:32 pm authorised by the marketing and communications

Career Opportunities Open Day

Take the next step Improve your work and pay with free career coaching, training and support

Find out more at www.futurebright.org.uk For residents in paid work and receiving benefits or tax credits

Questions

Identity By Shaun Clarke

Urban Word Collective

Like the Last Poets, when you get to know them, Identity-wise I’m a human before I’m a black man, still proud of what my people have done for me to be able to say this today. They paved a way for me to have opportunities and hopefully bare fruits, do better than them even, which is what I hope for my children. Whatever happens I have dual heritage, and decided to support my community when I can, but then support the survival of people kind, lovers, brothers, sisters, mothers and misters, all with the right to some-kind of meaningful freedom.

“ Love my yard food like

it’s in my blood

“

Love my yard food like it’s in my blood and feel a connection to my ancestors through my parent’s patois, traditionalist Family Sunday Dinners and all, which I can appreciate, yet I’m diverse in my cultural practices. Times were different then, but growing up in the UK has produced me, not only defined by my struggles. I’m a man too, determined to establish a way to raise a family, though I have my challenges. We’ve come a long way since We Real Cool by Bell Hooks, inspired by a 1960s poem. There was Wretched of the Earth, and even Bob Marley chanting about Survival and Exodus, yet in some ways, things haven’t changed much, and do we really question this? Does it matter?

SOLIDARITY Seems to me that allies are allies if they active, not due to race, and given we need agreement and sometimes compromise to navigate any life, considering dimensions as the inter-racial. When it comes to survival instincts, it rings true that more connects than separates us. Maybe it’s a simple case of there comes a time to come together to stand up and fight a cause no matter your identity, or how it has adapted. And while being unique, we must meet halfway, and maintain respect and order when due. We all need good health before anything else. Part of my Identity is the need to face my fears, overcome and explore my potential. There have been rumblings of Black Men Talking, it’s that or we have nothing much in common, which isn’t true in my experience. 100 Black Men is about solidarity and effecting change.

From my perspective, we’re talking about whether BHM should be traded in for events throughout the year, about Cultural Appropriation, possibly about Culture Vultures, as described by Lawrence Hoo, and are we showing true solidarity, should be forcing the issue around the reality of young black males at risk, not that Black males are the only demographic with unanswered questions. We’re talking about Identity, speaking of which, is the main theme of Lyrically Justified 3 (2019), featuring an array of accomplished creative writers, exploring, shedding light, super exposing. www.urbanwordcollective.co.uk

“ Part of my

Identity is the need to face my fears, overcome and explore my potential.

“

COMMUNITY CONNECTION Fostering in Bristol There is a disproportionate number of black, Asian and minority ethnic children in care in Bristol and we are very keen for more BAME people to come forward as foster carers so that we can best meet the cultural, faith and ethnic needs of these children and young people. More than a quarter of children waiting to be fostered or adopted in the UK are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. It is tough enough leaving your family, but to also leave your community and join a family, even if for a short while, where the food, the smells, the customs and routines are so very different from what you are used to it - that’s really tough. Angela, pictured on the next page, a foster carer of 2 children with Bristol City Council says “I would never want any child I look after to feel as though they were outside their community that connection is so important to maintain.” “As someone from a minority background I do feel it’s easier to understand the children who are also from BAME communities - having that insight is a bonus because it’s something you’ve actually lived through and can understand at the most basic level.” Lloyd, a foster carer of Caribbean decent says he started fostering because he could see the need in his community to ensure children coming into care could stay within their neighbourhoods, schools and friendship groups. “Looking back at my childhood I remember a very happy, secure and nurturing upbringing here in Bristol. Sadly, that is not the same for all children. I’ve now witnessed the plight of children whose life experience has been far from ideal, and I’m glad to be part of the process of trying to turn that around for them. I have a love for Bristol, its streets, its shops, parks and its people, it’s where I grew up happily and I’m proud to be giving back to Bristol, the place where I was born.”

www.bristol.gov.uk/fostering 0117 353 4200

20 20

‘‘More than a quarter of children waiting to be fostered or adopted in the UK are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.’’

21 21

Bristol City Council needs more black, asian and minority ethnic people to consider fostering Bristol is a multicultural city with people from many different ethnicities, cultures and religions and the children that come into care are equally diverse. We make every effort to place children who need a foster family with carers who can reflect their ethnicity, meet their religious and cultural needs and enable them to stay within their community. But we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do this without you.

BD12236

Bristol City Council is calling on more black, asian and minority ethnic people to consider fostering.

Foster carers are ordinary people who are willing to open up their hearts and homes to provide care to other peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children. For many different reasons these children are unable to live with their own family at this point in time. Some children and young people need to live in foster care for a short period of time whilst others need a home for a longer period. If you would like to join our fostering family and support and care for a local child, contact us on 0117 353 4200 Or find out more at www.bristol.gov.uk/fostering

Angel Mel Hello my name is Angel Mel, I am DJ Selector & Radio Presenter on Ujima Radio. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been a member of the Ujima team for several years. My work has taken me to some exciting places including: radio presenting for Worthy FM covering Glastonbury Festival, teaming up with Ujima presenters at BBC Bristol Radio for Pick Of The Week. Most recently I took part in a brand new documentary series called The Dog House on Channel 4, which looked at the stories and journey of homeless dogs and the people that adopt team. This opportunity was a truly life changing changing experience, which was made possible through the links between channel 4 & Ujima radio.

Kwibuka 25

Remember By Peninah Achieng-Kindberg On April 6, 1994, a plane carrying Habyarimana and Burundi’s president Cyprien Ntaryamira was shot down over Rwanda’s capital city of Kigali, within an hour of the plane crash, the Presidential Guard, together with members of the Rwandan armed forces (FAR) and Hutu militia groups known as the Interahamwe and Impuzamugambi set up roadblocks and barricades and began assassinatingTutsis and moderate Hutus with impunity. The mass murder ended on the 15th July 1994. This year the Rwandan government held a commemorative ceremony to mark 25 years of recovery after this tragic event. It was an honour to visit the Genocide Memorial Centre in Kigali, the final resting place for more than 250,000 people, the emotion created by the visit of this genocide memorial will stay printed in my heart forever. It is a place of remembrance and learning and its aim is to prevent future mass atrocities and genocides, in Rwanda and the world.

Genocide Memorial Centre, Kigali, Rwanda

“I was drawn by the memorial gardens that provide a place to reflect on how we all have the personal responsibility to prevent discrimination and mass atrocity.” During the tour of the Centre, I learnt about other Genocides that had taken place in Armenia, Namibia, Cambodia, The Balkans and of course the Jewish Holocaust. Belgium, a former colonial power in Rwanda, sowed the initial seeds of division and hate among Rwandans that led to decades of exclusion, persecution, expulsions and killings against Tutsi, eventually culminating into the 1994 Genocide that claimed the lives of over a million people. It was the Belgian colonialists that introduced fake ethnicities in Rwanda and subsequently introduced ethnic designation on national cards, a key factor that facilitated the killers to easily identify their targets for slaughter twenty-five years ago.

I was drawn by the memorial gardens that provide a place for quiet contemplation about the history of the Genocide against the Tutsi. They allow visitors to reflect on how we all have the personal responsibility to prevent discrimination and mass atrocity. The gardens that remain imprinted in my mind are the Gardens of Unity, Division & Reconciliation and the Garden of Self Protection, they symbolise the period before the Genocide and the Hope-filled Journey that the country has gone through to Reconciliation. I marvel at a country that is so painfully beautiful, filled with lush green plains and mountains that take my breath away, a people who are very kind and friendly, a nation filled with young people because their parents and grandparents were taken too soon, a people who have been so traumatised but live everyday with hope and gratitude; patriotic and loyal to each other. All across Rwanda the message I see is “Kwibuka25 kwibuka twiyubaka”- Kwibuka means ‘remember’ in Kinyarwanda, Rwanda’s language. I am currently volunteering for Ahazaza at an Independent Primary School based in Muhanga District through a placement programme facilitated by the Accounting For International Development in a professional capacity. The children I see every day as I walk into school rush up to me with joyful smiles - looking into their eyes I know that they will never experience the trauma that their parents and grandparents went through. Here is Rwanda’s hope for the future, everyone speaks Kinyarwanda and there is no distinction between them. I feel the deepest honour and privilege to share their space.

black history

month We never had a Black History Month when I was at school. We had reading, writing and arithmetic, as a general rule. No mention of Carter G Woodson, the U.S Historian, who created Black History Month in America, and not just for fun. We didn’t get to celebrate the achievements of our race. But what we got was slavery, slapped right up in our face. No hearing of how Harriet Tubman, an American Activist, freed hundreds of plantation slaves, regardless of the risks. We never learned of great icons, such as Mary Seacole, who tended to sick and wounded soldiers and made that her role. We learned only of Florence Nightingale, the other British Nurse. It’s as if Seacole did not exist, to make matters worse! No mention of Frederick Jones, Inventor and Engineer, who pioneered refridgerated transport, that today we hold so dear. I wonder, if not for Frederick and his brilliant mind, would it have been possible to transport goods, of the perishable kind? As for Black History Month in England, that was started by a man, who gleaned information from the States, and with it he just ran. But we never heard of Ghanaian, Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, yet without his inspiration, would Black History Month go? So for all these great Black icons, who I’ve acknowledged up above, Black History Month gives us a chance to tell them that we love, their innovation, determination, strength and courage too. They’ve helped to make Black History Month a worthwhile thing to do.

Written by Pearl Kofi 20thSeptember 2019

AVON

FIRE & RESCUE

If you’re considering a role working with us there are some things you can progress now to prepare for potential roles in the future. • Team building • Making a difference in your community • Improve your fitness

Keep up to date with the latest via Facebook and Twitter @AvonFireRescue or join our mailing list

www.yesyoucan.careers to find out more.

YES YOU CAN be a firefighter

www.yesyoucan.careers

Education Through Sport By Khalil Abdi, Chairman of Bristol Horn Youth Concern Bristol Horn Youth Concern (BHYC) works to prevent anti-social behaviour and promote community cohesion among disadvantaged young BAME in Bristol, who are regarded as hard to reach and often at risk of joining gangs. BHYC creates opportunities for young people to develop employability skills through training workshops and mentoring. We work with young people from BME backgrounds in the St Pauls, Lawrence Hill and Easton areas in Bristol. BHYC also organises sports activities to help young people to be active and avoid anti-social activities through taking part in regular football and basketball sessions, and participating in tournaments. BHYC promotes inclusiveness and community cohesion by providing opportunities for young people from different ethnic backgrounds and communities to play together. We offer: • Sports-oriented activities (football , basketball & swimming) • Drugs awareness • Sex and relationships • Education - including school appeals • Life skills and youth leadership/employability training • Culture training In 2019, we consistently worked with 120 -170 young people each week at St Pauls Sports Centre, Easton Leisure Centre and City Academy. Our aim is to scale up this work to reach more young people, using a Public Health model to tackle some of the key issues for young people in an urban environment. From this engagement work we have provided input on: • Healthy relationships • Obesity • Drugs & alcohol • Anti-social behaviour • Knife crime and tackling gang membership • Waste and litter 30

What’s on? FREE FOOTBALL Every Friday 19:30 - 21:00 City Academy Sports Centre Russel Town Avenue, Bristol BS5 9JH

FREE BASKETBALL - GIRLS ONLY Every Saturday 16:00 -17:00 Easton Leisure Centre Thrissell St, Easton, Bristol BS5 0SW

FREE BASKETBALL Every Friday 17:30 – 19:30 St Pauls Community Sports Academy Newfoundland Rd, Bristol BS2 9NH

FREE BASKETBALL - GIRLS ONLY Every Sunday 17:30 – 18:30 City Academy Sports Centre Russel Town Avenue, Bristol BS5 9JH

Opposite; BHYC boys’ basketball team with Mayor Marvin Rees and Khalil Abdi, above; under 18s football players in action 31

@DOCKLANDS, ST PAULS

FREE MUSIC SESSIONS TUESDAY 5.30PM - 7.30PM (8 TO 12 YO) WEDNESDAY 6.30PM - 8.30PM (12 TO 16 YO) THURSDAY 7PM TO 9PM (17 TO 21 YO) For more info, visit our website www.aspirationcreationelevation.com

In Search Of My Mother’s Garden

In 1974 the African American Author Alice Walker published an article entitled ‘In search of our mother’s Garden’ where she discussed the history of black women’s creativity.

Walker compares her creative output as an author, to that of her mothers’ creativity which she expressed through the medium of gardening and quilt making. In the article Walker pays homage to generations of artistic black women whose artistic potential and creative freedoms were choked by their position in society. Women who somehow found creative expression through the situations of enslavement, segregation and the confines of gender. Through paying homage to these creative women, Walker not only recognises the challenges that black women from generations before her had faced, but also gives them the title of artist. By naming them, and their creative genre, she gives status and recognition to both.

What happens then to the cultural heritage of generations of South Asian, African Caribbean and African communities. Many of whom moved to the UK from 1948 onwards with what we now call the Windrush generation? How has this heritage changed and developed with migration? And what will happen to all those oral stories and histories, when the people who first told them have gone? What happens to the skills and experience that they have passed down to younger generations?

Like Walker, we have also been strongly influenced by this generation and the intangible nature of heritage that they have passed on. But we also need this heritage to be preserved and show cased. We need to pay homage to the “Her face as she heritage of this generation, so that it prepares the Art can proud, alongside or independent that is her gift, is a of, museum collections and artefacts.

legacy of respect she leaves to me, for all that illuminates and cherishes life”.

Intangible Cultural Heritage is a term used to describe the type of heritage that is not found in museums. It is the parts of life that we might not immediately think of as heritage in the first instance but are there as part of our daily existence, sometimes passed down from generation to generation between family and friends. This heritage can take many forms, it might take the form of carnival or performance. It may be in the food we eat and the recipes we pass on. It may be in the stories we tell or the sewing and craft we create.

Through naming it, like Walker, we pay homage to its status and worth. I work for Black South West Network, an organisation that works for race equality in the private, public and heritage sectors. We have been fortunate enough to secure funding to do just this and record and raise the status of intangible cultural heritage from South Asian, African and African Caribbean communities. The form that this project takes depends on your input. We are keen for you to decided what type of Cultural heritage you value and would like to see recorded and preserved. It is for you to suggest the form you would like to see this taking. You can do this by visiting our website and filling out a short survey, giving us your views and suggestions.

In 2003 UNESCO recognise that this type of heritage was in danger of disappearing due to a number of different causes such as climate change, globalisation, cultural appropriation to name a few. UNESCO backed a pledge to preserve this type of cultural heritage which was signed by 171 countries to preserve their intangible cultural heritage, the UK did not sign up to this agreement.

So, next time you make some food, create something that you learned from a family member or even think about a phrase that you grandparents might have used, that is your intangible cultural heritage, and it deserves recognition. “Her face as she prepares the Art that is her gift, is a legacy of respect she leaves to me, for all that illuminates and cherishes life”. Alice Walker

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Intangible Cultural Heritage is the parts of life that we might not immediately think of as heritage in the first instance but are there as part of our daily existenceâ&#x20AC;? By Jennifer Sharratt Cultural Heritage Manager Black South West Network

Open Events 2019/20

Come along to one of our Open Events and ﬁnd out what you could be studying next!

Saturday 12 October, all centres, 10am – 1pm Tuesday 26 November, all centres, 5pm – 7.30pm cityofbristol.ac.uk |

facebook.com/cobcollege

0117 312 5000

@CoBCollege

@cityofbristolcollege

Overcoming

Anxiety

I wanted to write an article on anxiety, as it is an issue that affects a number of people in the UK, including myself. I have had this problem since I was a child, and it gradually got worse until adulthood, reaching its peak last year. I am going to detail some of the ways my anxiety has affected me, along with a selection of coping mechanisms that I use. One of the things that I have suffered with due to my anxiety is constantly making up unlikely and terrifying scenarios in my mind. For example, I have had times when I’ve put my headphones in and found that the volume was too high, shocking my ears. On several of these occasions I’ve thought ‘What if I wake up tomorrow and I’m 38

deaf?’ It had felt like a reasonable consequence at those times, but looking back, the volume I was using was, although too high, not strong enough to induce deafness. Anxiety has also had me repeatedly questioning who I am as a person, as well as my motives. I could do something nice for someone because I genuinely want to do it, but I’d still be asking myself if I was just doing it for praise. This would then lead me to wonder ‘am I really a person who enjoys doing good deeds or do I have ulterior motives’. The things I just mentioned are only two of the ways anxiety has affected me and can affect oth-

]

‘What if I wake up tomorrow and I’m deaf?’

ers. Fortunately, there are ways to combat these things. When it comes to being fearful over the thought of unlikely scenarios occurring, you should check what the most likely outcome is. Each time one of those thoughts come into your head, you should ask yourself if the feared outcome is honestly likely to come to pass. If the answer is no, then that’s what you should base your response on. So, if you find yourself accidentally looking into the bright light on your phone at night and you get a thought saying ‘tomorrow you will wake up blind’, take a moment to acknowledge that is highly unlikely, and make a decision to put that thought out of your mind. Of course, this is easier said than done, but it is likely to get easier the more you practise doing this. If one of the ways anxiety affects you is by making you question the type of person you are, take some time to sit down and remember who you are as a person. From that memory, form a concise conclusion about yourself in your mind. After doing that, you can bring up that conclusion whenever you get thoughts trying to taint your view of yourself. The conclusion should help you combat those thoughts quickly and effectively, so that it is easier to remove them from your mind. Both the strategies I just described are a lot easier to implement when you are breathing well (long, deep breaths) and all the muscles in your body are relaxed. Because of this, I would advise you

to regularly ‘check in’ with how you are breathing and how relaxed your muscles are – especially around stressful occasions, when your anxiety is likely to be worse than usual. I would really recommend using these strategies, as I have seen a huge decrease in my anxiety levels within the past year since I’ve started using them. They are likely to not only help you to ignore anxious thoughts, but also decrease how often they come into your mind. Another thing that has helped me is looking at it from this perspective: ‘You can’t let your anxious thoughts control you forever, so you might as well stop now’. Acknowledging that basing your life on anxiety is not practical or sustainable could help you to gradually let go of it – because it shows you that ditching anxiety is an outcome that is inevitable, bound to happen at some point.

[

]

‘You can’t let your anxious thoughts control you forever, so you might as well stop now’.

The Ubuntu Education Programme is an extracurricular character development programme for young people aged 11-16 years. It supports students to develop resilience, interpersonal skills and their sense of identity, to equip them with tools to succeed at school and beyond.

Ubuntu Education Programme

I am because you are

We are currently looking to partner with a school to run a pilot of our programme. For further details, please get in touch with us on ubuntu@cognitivepaths.co.uk

The International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD) 2018 - 2024

Ade Olaiya, M.A. is a member of IDPAD Coalition U.K., former Director of the Malcolm X Community Centre in Bristol, and Steering Group Member of the Bristol Manifesto for Race Equality. Between 2015 and 2018, Ade participated in Roundtable Meetings on Afrophobia, hosted by the European Parliamentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ARDI in collaboration with the European Network against Racism, specifically relating to issues affecting people of African descent, e.g. ethnic profiling by law enforcement and border controls. In 2017 and 2019, he also participated in regional meetings between UN OHCHR and civil society. His doctoral research at the University of the West of England, critically evaluates the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and advocates IDPADâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thematic objectives of recognition, justice and development in policy interventions.

Ade Olaiya

GREETINGS! Black History Month 2019 provides an opportunity for us all to reflect on our achievements as members of the global African diaspora, as we approach the midway point of IDPAD 2015-2024. The realities of past and present manifestations of racial discrimination and inequality are well documented and understood, and our resilience as a people in the face of such oppression is therefore noteworthy. Here in the UK, despite the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and other parties advocating the state party implement a suitable programme of policies to officially recognise IDPAD, to date this has not been forthcoming. Rather, fiscal austerity and the rise of anti-immigrant populist sentiment present further challenges to be surmounted by people of African descent, such as BREXIT, the recent Windrush Scandal, and decline in numbers of BAME led sector organisations. Nonetheless, some members of civil society in Bristol have actively sought to achieve IDPAD’s programme of action with its’ thematic objectives of recognition, justice and development for our communities. For example, recognition of Bristol’s Afrikan migrant communities’ resistance to Afriphobia/Afrophobia is documented, in the launch of African Voices Forum’s publication “Inspirational Women”, on the IDPAD website. In addition, inclusive and equitable participation by local African diaspora communities in the implementation of Bristol City Council’s One City Plan should be recognised as imperative for social, economic and environmental development of the urbanism. Global resurgence of the Reparations Movement also highlights intergenerational effects of effects of

enslavement and colonisation of African peoples still resonates in our daily lives. Reparative justice is therefore being championed by Pan Africanist members of international civil society, as well as Black politicians and academics. This is recognised by the Resolution on the Fundamental Rights of People of African Descent and Black Europeans in Europe, which was adopted in the European Parliament in March 2019. Acknowledging measures taken by some EU Member States, “toward meaningful and effective redress for past injustices and crimes against humanity (and) bearing in mind their lasting impacts in the present, against people of African descent”, the Resolution calls for further reparations by European Union state parties and institutions including restitution of stolen African artefacts. The Resolution also “stresses the important role of civil society organisations in combating racism and discrimination, and calls for increasing financial support at the European, national and local level for grassroots and People of African Descent-led organisations.” Public and private sector organisations are therefore encouraged to collaborate with and facilitate development of African-descent led civil society locally, nationally and internationally. This is necessary to achieve Bristol’s One City Plan, as a successful outcome of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which addresses inequality by empowering local socioeconomically marginalised African diaspora communities, as well as the city’s other ethnic and sub-cultural minorities.

By Ade Olaiya

How this man is changing the lives of young people in Bristol By Rema Mukena An amazing initiative has been running in Bristol for the last 6 years, in order to create access to opportunities for young people. This initiative provides guidance, support and the director described it as “everything a parent would do”. Anton Brown, 29, is the brains behind the programme and decided to launch it in recognition of the cuts of services for young people, predominantly in the areas of St Pauls and Easton. His commitment to reducing inequalities, improving the mental health of young people and increasing access to opportunities has proved to be effective, having recently enrolled 3 young people into college. Anton said: “I feel like it’s important to help young people because, like I said, I come from this community and I’ve seen so much and I wish there was more people doing stuff when I was younger. “I feel like if they were, we wouldn’t have experienced any of the things we went through. I know that’s not completely true because some of us are very hard of hearing, but I do feel like if we were given opportunities then we might’ve reached out for them and there isn’t enough of that. It’s like everybody’s closed their doors and eyes.” Anton Brown lived in Easton and St Pauls throughout his childhood and began to develop his entrepreneurial vision from a young age. He always had a hunger to help others, so when his initiative for Eco Sheen came along, he struck gold. Eco Sheen is the cleaning businesses set up by him, in order to hire young people and provide them with a sense of routine and give them the courage to believe they are able to have routine and work consistently. He is currently caring for 8-9 young people and feels as though it was his calling in life to provide guidance for them and show them their worth. “My age is vital because I’m young and I’m so relevant to the streets. I’m an icon to my streets and my area, so there’s nobody better than myself to provide this service for these young people. I’m someone who’s relatable and has real life experience. Im saying this from my heart and I’m genuine about this, I feel like I’m the only one who could lead them, so that’s why I took on this role.” Good mental health is the foundation on which young people can build their confidence and skills, so Eco Sheen aims to do just that by giving them the opportunity to complete their education, gain skills and prepare for a career. Anton explains: “I feel like what I’m about to do in the community, is going to be the biggest thing that’s happened for a very long time. Young people are finding themselves in hard situations and that’s why they can only go out and get themselves a cleaning job. Not knocking cleaning because that’s what I run. But, I’m just saying, wouldn’t it be a lot better if you just had a cleaning job for an extra bit of cash, but you had a main job? Not making it your main food.” “So, my whole thing with these young people - I dont give them a job for wanting them to be cleaners. 44

“I don’t want to label them, because they’re already labelled in life.” I want them to get a job to get some stability. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, but just saying that when you do that, you get the perfect job that makes you happy. A job you’re not stressed about when you go there. When you ask a lot of people who have jobs there’ll say ‘Oh, that’s long and I don’t really wanna be here.” “We need to make sure that we’re feeding these young people with great ideas. My 9 year old son has asked me about running his own business, but he wouldn’t have been able to do that if he hadn’t seen his own parents, running their own businesses.” Growing Futures UK C.I.C, founded by Desmond Brown is what became the catalyst for this outstanding programme. Desmond and Anton work closely together to provide young recruits for Eco Sheen. The 45

group provides connections with people with nature, using horticulture. They have created an educational programme in order to teach students building and growing techniques, as well as design, cooking skills and looking into why nutrition is beneficial. They do this whilst also pushing forward the practical applications for Maths, Science and English curriculum. These two programmes joined forces to help young people see their value. Anton performs as a mentor for those working for him at Eco Sheen, by supporting them with internships, work experience and a wide range of skill sets.“These young people are doing amazing right now because I’ve just stepped into their life. I’ve enrolled three of them into college and given over three of them jobs.” “They’ve found themselves in unfortunate circumstances because of their parents, so therefore, their parents should be doing the most. But, the parents are failing because they didn’t get a looking to the way they needed when they were young. It’s a generational thing. So, I’ve now put my foot down and said, ‘Okay, yeah, we’re not knocking you for what you’ve done or how you’ve raised your child but now you need the community to “We need to make sure that we’re feeding these young people with great ideas.” back you with your child’,” Anton said. He explains that although this is a generational issue, it can also be down to the influences of those around you and your surrounding environment, adding: “In a group of friends where you’ve all grown up together, one person might be a doctor, one person might be a mechanic and then the others might be road men, but you all grown up together. So, then you’re labelled and your name is tarnished by who you move with, so sometimes it can’t be helped. That means that you might not be doing anything bad, but your name gets touched with it by the police or council of community, your name is now on a register.” “So, you may not be successful in school, but then your friends are doing crimes and you’re not, but due to you not doing good in school you’re all linked. So, you all sit at the same level of high risk. I would call the the people I work with, young people who are in less fortunate places in their lives. I don’t want to label them, because they’re already labelled in life.” Anton meets people from all different walks of life, but his job is a position he wouldn’t trade for anything, especially due to the feeling of fulfillment it provides him with. “It’s been the easiest job, but very rewarding. Me having a cleaning business, that’s a very good thing for my mental health. I feel credible. I feel like I’ve succeeded at something in life. I run my own business. I’m the director. I can provide for my own family. But, me working with these young people is a reward I’ve never felt, apart from obviously having children is different. But, being able to shape them for what they’re gonna be for their future, that’s an amazing feeling.”

Award Winning Apprentices The South West Apprenticeship Company provides an award winning impartial service across the whole of Bristol helping any business looking to take on an apprentice. We can support you right from the initial seed of an idea to taking on an apprentice right through to the employment and management of the apprentice. We will make the whole process a much simpler one for you, taking away a huge proportion of the associated processes and providing you with the most up to date funding and provider information as a one stop point for you to get everything that you need.

Enhanced Recruitment Support Fully Managed Apprentice Employment Support This model offers a number of benefits such as HR support, Mentoring, Payroll and full recruitment support. Recruitment Support Provide a full recruitment service for your apprentice position; from writing the job description, advertising, screening, telephone interviews, face to face interviews and CV preparation so the candidates are fully prepared for you to interview. The Benefits of our services: - You define the role and the wage - We will help to write the job description - We advertise and market the vacancy across a range of platforms - We will screen and interview candidates - We provide you with a shortlist of the most suitable candidates for your job role - We organise the appropriate apprenticeship training - We can employ the apprentice Find out moreâ&#x20AC;Ś To find out more about how The South West Apprenticeship Company can support you please do get in touch we would love to hear from you. EMAIL: info@theswac.org.uk

PHONE: 01452 733962

WEBSITE: www.theswac.org.uk

The journey of a war veteran in the 60s “I don’t pick fights either. I defend myself”

By Rema Mukena John Farquharson, 77, moved from Kingston, the capital of the island of Jamaica, lying on its southeast coast, to the bustling city of London when he was 19, in 1961. He decided to take on the role of a bus conductor on the 27 bus, then joined the Royal Air Force at the ripe age of 20. Racism in the RAF John spent 12 years in the RAF, but with that also came the experience of racism and microaggressions. He grew up in a generation where it was acceptable to display “No blacks, no irish or dogs allowed” in public venues. He grew up in a time when it was acceptable to perform on television with black face and get a humorous reception from the audience. For John, racist experiences are all too familiar. He feels as though the racist slurs and jokes he had to endure day in, day out was just part of the course. In fact the RAF issued a promulgation, from the off set of the war, that any expression of racial discrimination by word or deed, would be treated as the most serious disciplinary breech, although John wishes the British society had recived the same warning. 48

“The Air Force was very racist. They asked me why I came to England and very tiredly I said ‘I wanted to see the world so I decided to start at the bottom.’ They never asked me again. “Another time, I was in the meze sitting at the table with this young lady and I went to sit beside her. Then this corporal who was white was there and he said ‘Get up and move’, so I moved. You know, he didn’t want me to sit there, so I went somewhere else. But, I didn’t say anything about it because I never lost a fight when I was in school. I don’t pick fights either. I defend myself,” John recalls. Despite John’s racist encounters, with resilience he continued his journey in the RAF and went on to serve 3 years in Cyprus, as well as 2 ½ years in Singapore during the Indonesain confrontation and received a General Service Medal. GSM was awarded between 1918-1962 to army and RAF personnel who met the qualifying criteria for service in a range of geographical locations. In 1972 he also played cricket for the RAF in the Middle East against the army in Malta and won, stating that according to his qualifications, his service was “excellent”.

Moving to Bristol In 1973 he moved back to England when he was 34 and moved to his base at RAF Lyneham, where he completed his 12 year service, as a Computer Room Supervisor. He laughed: “I would foresee everything that came and went and then it goes to the Sergeant who takes all the credit.” In the same year, him and his wife divorced, followed by his next marriage in 1975 for 10 years, then he met his third wife, with whom he separated in 2013. During his time in Bristol, he also went on to teach maths at St Mary Redcliffe School. The Housing Crisis Unfortunately, after the completion of John’s servicing he hadn’t the pension that he was hoping for, and he found himself in a housing crisis. He also had severe health issues which led him to living in Brunelcare supported housing on Cherry Tree Close. John said: “I was living there from 2013. I didn’t have a lot of money on my return from the RAF because during those days you didn’t get a pension - even though

I served for 12 years, it had to be 22 years. Even worse than that, your pension rights are taken away from you unless you start working with an MOD agency. If you didn’t work with an MOD agency, you lost it. So, all I got was £250. That’s it - after 12 years.” He was in desperate need of a two bedroomed accommodation, due to his spondylitis and curvature of the spine preventing him from easily moving around, therefore needing extra care and support to carry out his day to day activities. “I was in the sheltered accommodation which was on the first floor. At the time I was having problems with my legs which weren’t severe, but did get worse. “I’ve got spondylitis in my spine and I’ve also got a curvature of the spine, which means that the spinal cord is rubbing against the vertebrates and causing problems in my legs and lower back pain. I’ve had it since 2010. I had an operation at the top of my spine which was successful but I’m still in pain,” John said. He was later discharged from the hospital, but said he was provided with “no instructions on how to behave”, which led him to feel confused as to what steps to take next. 48

“So, they discharged me because they said I was interfering with the patients. They gave me no documentation. I went home and sat on the couch watching TV for about three days. Then I was going to bed and I seized up completely.

“I needed a two bed so someone could stay with me, especially during the night. So, I bidded for a 2 bedroom bungalow in St Anne’s and I didn’t get it. The local authorities didn’t understand what I was trying to say.

“My wife then took me to Frenchay Hospital and it seemed as though there was a blood clot where there was a gap in my spine.

“I went to protest outside the council. A friend was doing the bidding for the accommodation on my behalf. One was in Clifton, one was somewhere else and I said I wanted the one in St Pauls.

“I then had a stroke and my left side fell. My speech went and then I had to get a speech therapist to help me speak. Since I had a blood clot in my spine and the stroke, I have been like this ever since. “I have been taking every tablet you name under the sun. Gabapentin would make me have voices in my head and if someone would speak to me, I would hear ‘Kill them’. It made me hear voices. It would say ‘Jump off the bridge’. I went to the doctor and told them it was making me hostile. “So, I got off it and they put me on Pregabalin, which is the sister drug. It’s not as strong as the mind-changing Gabapentin is. The Pregabalin was just as bad but in the end I stopped hearing the voices a bit. So, I just came off both of them all together.”

“I’m here now in my 2 bed flat in St Pauls with my carer. It’s great because I feel much happier here and I have banana trees and pear trees.” On request for comment, a Brunelcare spokesman emphasised their tenants’ health and wellbeing is their first priority. He said: “We work with everyone who lives with us to assess their individual needs, and we’re happy to arrange internal moves if appropriate. “However, we have a very limited number of two-bedroom properties and so it is not always possible to fulfil every request. In such instances we will continue to work with tenants, and the local authority, to provide whatever support we can in the circumstances, or aid a move to another provider if necessary.”

Finding refuge “Where I was living until a week ago, I had to go up two flights of steps. This was at Cherry Tree Close in Fishponds, a one bedroom assisted accommodation. “But all the people on the ground floor over there can walk. I can’t walk. I’m using a zimmer frame and I had to go up two flights of stairs. I wanted to get a ground floor apartment because walking up and down was hard. “I put in a bid for a two bedroom accommodation in Bristol somewhere because I kept fainting mainly because of lack of sleep. I had sleep deprivation. “I had knocked my head a couple of times when I was in Cherry Tree Close because I was living alone and kept falling over and had to go to hospital because of it. One time I was sitting on the toilet, knocked my head and couldn’t get up, so I pulled the cord. It got to 5 o’clock and the ambulance hadn’t turned up yet. “Luckily I managed to get up and get my medication because that was the main thing. I was due to take my medication and I was cramping all over. I was in agony for 3 hours.

Opposite and previous page: John in his new flat 51

Event Listings Bristol’s Big Conversation on Ujima Radio – Local Hero Season

Bristol’s Big Conversation with Roger Griffith returns to the Ujima Radio airwaves with interviews with five more leading local figures choosing their favourite records. Join him for a mix of conversations, classic tunes and archive recordings. When: 3,10,17,24,31 October 10am-12 noon Tune in to Ujima Radio 98FM https://www.ujimaradio.com/

Urban Word Collective South Gloucestershire Race Equality Network and South Gloucestershire Council are hosting Urban Word Collective, a diverse collective of storytellers and musicians. The event takes place at Bradley Stoke Library, where they will be performing poetry and music, hosted by Roger Griffith. When: Tuesday 22nd October, 7.30 - 9.30pm Where: Bradley Stoke Library

Black 2 Nature - Race Equality in Nature A conference to highlight the next generation of BAME environmental activists. This event is for anyone working with children and young people tackling race equality, diversity and inclusion or fighting racism. It will be supported by Ujimaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Green and Black project and community activists. When: 2nd October, 8.30 am - 6.30 pm Where: UWE Bristol, Room IR 026 Price: ÂŁ50 with discounted and free places available To book: https://bit.ly/2m1ojSI

Dark Girls A special screening and expert panel of the documentary film on the negative impact of colourism and shadism within Black Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. The film contains powerful interviews with women sharing their experiences including Oscar winning actress Viola Davis. When: Wednesday 23nd October Where: UWE Bristol, Glenside Campus

Nihiloxica Colston Hall presents Kampalaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s afro-techno fusion act Nihiloxica. Blending the dark sensibilities of Buganda percussion with European club music, the intoxicating live project is designed to combine traditional influences with a modern vision. When: Wednesday 2nd October, 8:00pm Where: Colston Hall Foyer (standing event) BS1 5AR Price: ÂŁ13.08 incl. booking fee To book: www.colstonhall.org

Trophies of Empire - Traces and Legacies Arnolfini and Afterall present this afternoon of talks and discussions looks back at the landmark 1992-1993 exhibition “Trophies of Empire”. Participating artists were invited to respond to the histories of British imperial power and the transatlantic slave trade, and their imprint on the present, particularly in relation to the three host port cities. When: Saturday 5th October, 2:00 - 6:00pm Where: Arnolfini, 16 Narrow Quay, Bristol, BS1 4QA Price: £8 / £6 concessions To book: https://www.headfirstbristol.co.uk info@arnolfini.org.uk

Antojologia de Carl Rigby Bristol Link with Nicaragua proudly presents the UK Premiere of the new Nicaraguan documentary about the famous Caribbean Coast poet Carl Rigby. Introduced by the Nicaraguan Ambassador HE Guisell Morales and followed by a Q+A with the director Maria Jose Alvarez. Local poet Edson Burton will also make a special contribution. When: Tuesday 8th October, 8:00 - 9:00pm Where: The Cube Cinema, Dove St South, BS2 8JD Price: £5 / £4 concessions To book: https://cubecinema.com/pages/about/tickets/

Ancestral Roots and Football Boots - Steve Stacey Steve Stacey rose from kicking a ball in the streets of post-war Bristol to becoming the first African-American to play professional football in the UK. The son of a Black GI based in Bristol during WW2, Steve will be revealing his story from his origins and upbringing in Bristol to playing for Bristol City FC and top-flight football. His autobiography ‘The Colour of Football’, published by Bristol Books, will be available at this event at £12.00 (cash only) When: Wednesday 9th October 2019 Time: 6:00pm to 7:30pm Where: M Shed, Wapping Wharf, Wapping Road, Bristol, BS1 4RN Price: Free, No booking Call: 01173526600

Readlist for South Gloucestershire Libraries Local author Roger Griffith has been commissioned by Libraries West in partnership with South Gloucestershire Race Equality Network (SGREN) to create a readlist from local, national and international authors for Black History Month 2019. Readers will be asked for their favourite books to add to build interest for future readlists. When: All month Where: Your local library Contact: Roger.Griffith@uwe.ac.uk

Launch of The Windrush Generation Intergenerational Project Roger Griffith delivers a public lecture about the Windrush Generation. Alongside him Black Bristol Windrush elders will share their experiences in an interactive session with students and audience members. This launches the new intergenerational project with UWE students to explore why sharing these stories and experiences still matter. When: Wednesday 9th October 2019 and Wednesday 6th November 2019 Where: UWE Campus Call: roger.Griffith@uwe.ac.uk

ESDR Presents: Bob’s Comedy Funhouse A feature length evening of comedy from the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 8 and friends When: Thursday 10th October, 6:00 - 10:00pm Where: Anson Rooms, University of Bristol Students’ Union, Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1LN Price: Tickets via ESDR £20 - £40 To book: bristolsu.org.uk/blackhistorymonth Contact: bristolsu-events@bristol.ac.uk

Defence of Europe by Sikh Soldiers in the World Wars During his talk Mohindra will take us on a journey from the beginnings of Sikhism and the persecution of its followers to their almost unrecognised bravery in both World Wars. Mohindra will be signing copies of his much acclaimed book for those who wish to purchase copies. When: Thursday 10th October, arrive from 6:15pm, main event 7:00 - 8:30pm Where: Commonwealth House, 14 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1PD Price: £6.00 to include homemade Indian snacks To book: 0117 9734720, info@bcsbristol.org.uk

David Olusoga: We Need to Talk about Windrush The Windrush Scandal of 2018 didn’t come out of nowhere. It is intricately connected to the history of post-war British politics and the longer histories of racism and empire. In this talk Professor David Olusoga of the University of Manchester places the Windrush Scandal within the context of Black British History. When: Friday 11th October, 7:00pm Where: Anson Rooms, University of Bristol Students’ Union, Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1LN Price: £5 To book: bristolsu.org.uk/blackhistorymonth Contact: bristolsu-events@bristol.ac.uk

Farming Actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje writes and directs the story of his own life as a young British-Nigerian man whose parents gave him to a white foster mother in the hope of a better future, but he instead grows up to join a violently racist skinhead gang. When: Friday 11th – Thursday 17th October, various times daily Where: Watershed Price: £8 - £10 / £5 - £8 concessions To book: https://www.watershed.co.uk/whatson/9962 /farming/ Watershed Box Office: 0117 927 5100 / info@watershed.co.uk

Business Plan Fundamentals This workshop covers a broad spectrum of key items you must consider when developing a business plan with the intention of helping the attendee producing a better plan. The workshop also covers how the plan is used to either raise investment or become the base upon which to run the business. When: Monday 14th October, 1:30 - 5:00pm Where: Engine Shed Price: limited Free tickets To book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ setsquared-workshop-how-to-lean-into-building-an -effective-b2b-brand-for-business-success-tickets-70122864375 Contact: Bristol@setsquared.co.uk

Crossing the Cultural Divisions in the Northern Territory of Austraila The Aboriginal People of Australia are believed to be the oldest civilisation in the world but since colonisation they have been the subjects of genocide and dispossessed of their lands. The Rev Andre Hart who has worked in the Northern Territory asks whether the Church can help them recapture their culture. When: Thursday 17th October, arrive from 12:15pm, main event 12:30 - 2:30pm Where: Commonwealth House, 14 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1PD Price: £4 for talk only or £10 for talk and buffet lunch Email: info@bcsbristol.org.uk

The Slave Trade in Bordeaux with Senegalese author Karfa Diallo Come and join us for this wonderful opportunity to meet Karfa Diallo, French/Senegalese writer and listen to him talking about his research about the slave trade in Bordeaux. Please note this event will be conducted in French only. Audience questions welcome. There will be some Senegalese musicians joining us, and you will be able to sample a selection of Senegalese finger food. A fantastic evening organised by the Bristol Bordeaux Partnership and Alliance Française de Bristol with support from Quartet as a contribution to the 2019 Black History Month programme. When: Thursday 17th October, 7:00 - 10:00pm Where: Colston Hall Foyer Price: £5 for members of AF and BBP, £8 for general admission To book: www.afbristol.org.uk/events/ info@afbristol.org.uk

Festival of Future Cities - featuring 100 Years of Council Housing Homes for Heroes 100 is a programme of coordinated community projects, events and publications marking the centenary of the Housing Act 1919 and the development of large-scale council estates in Britain. David Olusoga and Roger Griffith have contributed brand new essays’ on their experiences of growing up in Council Housing. When: Wednesday 16 - Friday 18th October, 9:00am - 6:00pm Where: Watershed

Poetry Evening with Tjawangwa Dema and Vanessa Kisuule Join us for a night of poetry celebrating Black art with Bristol based poets Tjawanga Dema and Vanessa Kisuule. Run in association with Africa Writes Bristol, this event includes poetry readings from both poets, followed by a discussion and Q&A. When: Friday 18th October, 7:00pm Where: Anson Rooms Bar, University of Bristol Students’ Union, Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1LN Price: £2 To book: bristolsu.org.uk/blackhistorymonth Contact: bristolsu-events@bristol.ac.uk

Anna Mudeka Colston Hall and Afrika Eye Festival present Zimbabwean musician Anna Mudeka, who brings a vibrant workshop to Trinity Centre as part of her international tour of the thought-provoking live show Kure Kure / Faraway. When: Sunday 20th October, 2:00pm Where: Trinity Centre, Trinity Rd, BS2 0NW Price: £5 To book: www.colstonhall.org

Afrika Eye Presents: Rafiki Screening and Post-Film Discussion Join Afrika Eye and the BME Network for an internationally award winning film, despite being a banned film in Kenya. Set in Nairobi, Rafiki is a blossoming romance between two young women despite raising tensions around homophobia and criminalisation in Kenya. Stay after the film for a discussion around being Black, African and LGBT+. When: Saturday 21st October 2019 Time: 6:30pm Where: Winston Theatre, University of Bristol Students’ Union, Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1LN Price: £2 To book: bristolsu.org.uk/blackhistorymonth Contact: bristolsu-events@bristol.ac.uk

Black Bristolians Focus Group with Lois Francis The Bristol Black Archives Partnership (BBAP) protects and promotes the history of African-Caribbean people in Bristol. Produced in partnership with Bristol City Council and Firstborn Creatives, the education resource pack contains 25 biographies of Black Bristolians and lesson plans covering Key Stage 1, 2 and 3. Join us for part two of the One Bristol Curriculum Mapping workshops exclusively for Black teachers and practitioners, to explore how this resource could be updated. When: Wednesday 23nd October, 5:00 - 7:00pm Where: Redbrick House York Court, 6, Wilder St, Bristol BS2 8QH To book: education@cognitivepaths.co.uk

Our Bristol, Our World Babbasa Youth Conference We invite young people, community and business leaders to come together, to shape the One City Plan (a vision for Bristol in 2050), in partnership with the City Office and the Mayor of Bristol. When: Tuesday 22nd October, 5:30 - 9:00pm Where: City Hall, College Green Price: Free To book: https://obow2019.eventbrite.co.uk Contact: zoe.lynes@byep.org.uk

Untold Stories: From Oxford’s first Black graduate to Bristol’s Black students today An evening of performance and panel discussion exploring the experiences of Christian Cole, the first Black scholar at the University of Oxford, and the contemporary relevance for today’s Black students in Bristol. The evening explores the themes of heritage, identity, class, social mobility, hierarchy of colour, belonging and acceptance, and the outsider within the establishment via imaginative performance followed by a panel discussion on how these issues are still relevant within today’s framework for Black students. Presented by Oxford Black Untold Stories, M Shed and the University of Bristol Students Union. When: Friday 25th October, 7:00 - 9:00pm Where: M Shed, Wapping Wharf, Wapping Road, Bristol, BS1 4RN Price: Free Contact: 0117 352 6600

Shades of our Lives and Q&A with Inspirational Women Black Women Let Loose Theatre Company returns with their show Shades of our Lives. The production reflects personal and collective experiences through a series of dramatic extracts exploring identity, connection and belonging. After the performance, there will be a Q&A with individuals featured in the book Inspirational Women produced by African Voices Forum. The book compiles the narratives of 23 women from Bristol who continue to inspire and make a difference to their communities. When: Friday 25th October, 7:30 - 10:30pm Where: St George’s Bristol Great George Street (off Park Street) Bristol, BS1 5RR Price: Tickets £8 To book: St George’s website or call the box office

Diwali Family Fun Day Celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs Jains and Buddhists, the Festival of Lights (Diwali) reaffirms the things in life that matter most. Join event organiser Meena Malde for fun family activities, dressing up, crafts and Indian food. When: Monday 28th October, 11:00am - 3:00pm ; drop in anytime Where: Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Road, Bristol, BS8 1RL Price: Free Contact: Bristol Museums 0117 922357

African Queens: Family Fun Day Africa is a continent with an extensive and glorious history, with hundreds of distinctive cultures, values and traditions. From the ancient Egyptians to the Ashanti people of West Africa, each culture has produced some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest leaders. Join event organiser Elizabeth Small in making royal crowns and jewellery inspired by what powerful African Queens wore and loved. When: Tuesday 29th October, 11:00am to 3:00pm Where: Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Bristol, BS8 1RL Price: Free Contact: Bristol Museum 0117 922357

Do The Right Thing: 30th Anniversary Screening A special screening and panel talk on the seminal film, featuring one blisteringly hot summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day and night of racial tension in Brooklyn. The film was written, directed and stars the most prominent Black film-maker of all time to celebrate its 30 th anniversary of this all too relevant classic. When: Monday 28nd October, 5:00 - 7:00pm Contact: Roger.Griffith@uwe.ac.uk

Being Black and Politically Active: Desmond Brown, Asher Craig and Bristol Representatives With a focus on the city of Bristol, join panellists in discussing politics, activism, and taking up space in political spheres as a Black individual. When: Tuesday 29th October, 7:00pm Where: Anson Rooms, University of Bristol Students’ Union, Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1LN Price: £3 for members of the BME Network, £5 for general entry To book: bristolsu.org.uk/blackhistorymonth Contact: bristolsu-events@bristol.ac.uk

The Link 4th Annual BAME Professional Networking Event Race & Representation in Sports & Sports Media We welcome BAME students and BAME professionals from the wider community to join us for this very exciting 4th annual networking event, the largest of its kind in the South West. Enjoy canapés, network with students and professionals, and join the panel discussion with some inspirational speakers that represent the best of Britain’s BAME talent. When: Monday 30th October, 6:00 - 9:00pm Where: UWE Bristol Frenchay Campus Price: Free To book: https://uwe.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/ SV_dmPmC3ghseDhUKF Contact: equity@uwe.ac.uk

Pan-African Festival Join Bristol SU and all of the fantastic groups that have been involved in planning Black History Month in celebrating the end of a successful campaign, with food, fashion, performance and speeches. The Pan-African Festival aims to celebrate and appreciate the rich and diverse culture that hails from the continent of Africa. When: Wednesday 30 October, 6:00pm Where: Anson Rooms, University of Bristol Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union, Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1LN Price: Free Contact: bristolsu-events@bristol.ac.uk

MeWe: Inclusion and Diversity in the Film and Media Sector followed by The Jam band Only 2.8% of a 14 million pound industry is commissioned to BAME, disabled and working class business or freelancers in Bristol. How does this affect the social mobility and the creative display in the Film and Advertising sector? Join the solution focused discussion featuring Cables and Camera, Ujima Radio, Bristol Media, 2Morrow 2Day, Sharp Shotz, Bristol Black History Month Magazine, I See Bliss and moreâ&#x20AC;Ś The event is followed by a wine-tasting session with Makulu Wines and The Jam Band Collective, a fluid group of musicians who gather and explore making rhythms and songs together. When: Thursday 31st October, 5:00 - 7:00pm, music from 7:30 - 10:00pm Where: Colston Hall Foyer, Colston St, Bristol BS1 5AR Price: Free, no booking

Bristol Museum Winter Lecture: How the Black Female Image was Whitewashed from the Renaissance Art and Onwards This presentation by Michael Ohajuru (Senior Fellow Inst of Commonwealth Studies) seeks to explain why the Bible’s Queen of Sheba and the Classic’s Andromeda are both invariably depicted as white in Renaissance Art and onwards although both were known to be black and considers why and how these images might be recovered: the Queen of Sheba came from the land of the black king found in biblical Adoration paintings and Andromeda was the daughter of the king and queen of Ethiopia When: Thursday 7th November, 7:30 - 9:00pm Where: Priory Road Lecture Theatre, University of Bristol, 8 Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UQ. Price: Free, No booking Contact: Bristol Museum 0117 922357

The World In Bristol Celebrate Bristol’s diverse cultures with a fun day of music and dance performances, have a go activities, and opportunities to chat with people from around the world. Enjoy amazing musical performances including traditional Jamaican song and Syrian lutes; and participate in dance workshops including Bollywood, African and South American led by experts from those regions. Share your own migration history on our giant map, dress up and take a selfie, enjoy the stalls and activities and enjoy the opportunity to chat with people from different countries now living and working in Bristol. When: Saturday 9th November, 11:30 am - 3:30pm, drop in anytime Where: Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Queens Road Price: Free, Contact info: www.bristolmuseums.org.uk

Dressing on Purpose – Live Radio show The team at Imperial Voice Radio welcome you to be part of a studio audience on Fashion Rendez-Vous to discuss “Dressing on Purpose” and how your clothes tell a story about you, your mood and identity. Radio show is followed by an evening of music and networking. When: Friday 15th November, 7:00 - 10:00pm Where: Fairfield House, 2 Kelston Road, Bath, BA1 3QJ Price: Free, donations welcome for Fairfield House Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imperialvoiceradio/

SETsquared #Idea2Pitch Do you have a great technology business idea, but don’t know where to start? Unsure what to do next to grow your technology company? Then sign up for this interactive workshop to help hone your ideas and shape them into a pitch for gaining interest or support in your venture. When: Friday 25th November, 1:00 - 5:00pm Where: Knowle West Media Centre Price: Free To book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/setsquared-idea2pitchevent-tickets-71372219229 Contact: Bristol@setsquared.co.uk

Ghana & Togo Dance Workshop We are privileged to have a renowned dance artist live and direct here from Ghana in our midst for a short time. Fofoo Attiso is an incredible dancer and will take us through his cultural dance forms from Ghana and Togo then on to more contemporary creative choreographies. Book for one or two days. Not to be missed. When: Saturday 16th & Sunday 17 November, 1:00pm to 4:00pm each day Where: Piloexercise ; LA Combat; 7 Easton Road, BS5 0BY Price: 1 day £25, both days £45 To book: cleo@baotm@gmail.com

Sabar Family Dance Festival A top class line-up of Senegalese artists teach masterclasses in dance and drum: Batch Gueye, Landing Mane, Aida Diop, Dembis Thioung, Mor Sabar Rekk, and Jessica Rönn, ending with an evening of live music and performance. When: Saturday 30th November 2019 & Sunday 1st December 2019 12pm - 6.30 pm each day, live music from 8pm on Sunday Where: Hamilton House / Canteen, Bristol Price: £20 if you book one class £35 if you book two classes £50 if you book three classes Live music evening only: £5 To book: booking@batchgueye.com

bristol BLACK

HISTORY MONTH Bristol Black History Month Magazine is not a council or grant funded initiative. If you would like to sponsor the 2020 edition, please contact: support@cognitivepaths.co.uk

Huge thanks to the City of Bristol College BTEC Graphic Design students, who designed this magazine: Olivia Kingdon, Poppy Cornborough, Cameron Williams, Abbie Wheeler, Jacek Lorenz, Jack Henley, Lois Fox, Faye Knowlson, Patryck Golebiewski, Ambrose Povey, Alice Payne and Ona De Mearns

@Cognitive_Paths @CognitivePaths https://cognitivepaths.co.uk

2019 CognitivePaths is a registered Company limited by guarantee 10085634 Emmaus Bristol Business Incubator, Backfields House, Upper York Street, Bristol, BS2 8QJ