BHM 2009

®

2009 THE OFFICIAL GUIDE TO BLACK HISTORY MONTH

www.blackhistorymonthuk.co.uk

THE

KING POP

OF

Michael Jackson

1958 – 2009

How he made his mark on Black British Music

Inside

BHM events National Listings WHAT’S ON IN YOUR AREA

Supported by

putting diversity in the spotlight

For further information about our publications and websites please visit: www.talentmedia.org

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This year’s BHM Guide...

Diane Abbott MP

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INTRoduction caroline king interview Michelle Ogundehin interview Sokari Douglas Camp interview Baroness Patricia Scotland interview Gurinder Chandra interview

EVENTS

24 25 26 29 30 32

Michael Jackson: The Official Exhibition

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BOOM! THE STORY OF HOME GROWN HIP-HOP

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Picture This

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celebration of life

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soft lights and sweet music

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event lisings

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^38 Black Britannia; portraits by John Ferguson

WELCOME

Isabel Appio Foreword Gordon brown pm Foreword Archbishop John Sentamu foreword

4 6 14

FEATures

TV 4 ALL

you rock my world

Michael Jackson’s influence on British Black Music by Mykaell Riley

a call for change

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Greens in the hoods black history: green history

20 22

all action hero

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many rivers to cross

Caribbean contributions in the NHS

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52

K Factor

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Stephen K Amos drops in

A sense of pride

BHM and the LGBT community

our hidden history month Chukwudum Ikeazor, Metropolitan Police Diversity Directorate

life & health becoming a foster carer case study: Cultural understanding the adoption process

46 48

onwards and upwards

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braided beauty

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Chief Inspector Sunita Gamblin Hair of natural beauty

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teach uk

The knowledge

Test your Black History Knowledge

Photographs of Elisabeth Welch National BHM listings

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Ade Adepitan interview

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i love to read Bellavia Ribeiro, Black Student’s Officer for NUS Black Students Campaign

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Oona King talks about her new role at Channel 4

The Metropolitan Black Police Association presents a night of music

Why we need Black History Month more 72 than ever Taking the lead 74 Lessons for life 76

good food for the whole village 79 57

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Black History Month in our prisons

30 years of caring

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black in fashion

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The Sickle Cell Society Celebrates a Milestone Fashion tribute to BHM heroes

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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WELCOME Isabel Appio Black History Month introduction

BHM - more than just a month Isabel Appio Editor

Credits

Published by Talent Media Ltd Directors: Darren Waite, Danielle Carter Development Director: Isabel Appio Listings: Shaun Newport Design: Jon-Paul Daly & John Blanco – Entwurf.co.uk GUEST EDITOR: DIANE ABBOTT Michael Jackson Front Cover Image Courtesy of Universal Music Group http://classic.motown.com Talent Media Ltd Studio 37, The Riverside Building Trinity Buoy Wharf, 64 Orchard Place London E14 OJW Tel: 0207 001 0754.

Fax: 0203 070 0017 Email: info@talentmedia.org Web: www.talentmedia.org BHM (The Official Guide to Black History Month) © is published by Talent Media Ltd. No material in this publication may be used without permission from the publisher.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in BHM are not necessarily the views of the publisher.

www.blackhistorymonthuk.co.uk

Welcome to BHM (The Official Guide to Black History Month) 2009 Since we first launched BHM magazine/www. blackhistorymonthuk.co.uk over a decade ago, Black History Month just keeps on growing and growing. With thousands of events being organised each year (and even more this year than ever before!), October’s Black History Month has now burst its seams, spilling over into November and beyond.

In the run up to BHM, we are always inundated with emails and calls from both our regular, long-term BHM friends as well as new people and groups each with their own inspired ideas of celebrating BHM. BHM has become so much more than just a month’s focus on all things black. It’s the perennial catalyst to dig deep, uncover hidden histories and to listen and record unique, untold stories.

It’s a nationwide launching pad for creativity and talent, which, born out of the month is given the momentum to rise to even greater heights throughout the year.

One of our key passions has always been to promote Education and Worklife Opportunities. BHM is a time to call to the forefront people from all walks of life who are doing great work in all sorts of areas.

We aim to promote as many worklife and educational options as we can. And as we hear every year, many, many young people have been motivated to say: “Hey, that looks interesting, I could do that.”

Each year we see that BHM has enabled a burst of challenging, new social and political ideas, many of which help shape policies of the future.

What’s more, each year it’s a good reason for No. 10 to boogie on down...

So while BHM is propelled by a national groundswell of collective enthusiasm, hunger for knowledge, by talent and creativity and by that simple force urging us all to be the best we can - we are proud to provide this annual platform and guide.

And perhaps the biggest plus about BHM is that each year, I always learn something new.

Enjoy the read……

Isabel Appio

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I mark with Edexcel because...

“I’m able to work at home in my own time”* *A response from our 2008 annual survey.

Our examiners and moderators undertake a vital role in education, shaping the future of thousands of students. Being an examiner will give you valuable insight into national standards and keep you in touch with developments in education. Do you want to make a difference?

Visit www.edexcel.com/aa-recruitment to apply.

Edexcel is committed to equality of opportunity for all.

WELCOME Message from the Prime Minister

Pride in our history

Gordon Brown PM

‘‘

From members of the Government to inspirational school heads, pioneering business people to stars of the arts, in every single walk of life you find people of African or African-Caribbean descent making an amazing difference to Britain.

‘‘

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“I’m tremendously proud to be supporting Black History Month once again.

In 2007, we marked the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade and had the chance to reflect on the appalling suffering caused to millions of people. At the conclusion of the Bicentenary, the Government announced our intention to commemorate the slave trade and its abolition every year, and incorporate it as a compulsory part of the national curriculum in schools. And I am proud that in April, Britain made a financial contribution to a permanent memorial in the halls of the UN which will act as a poignant and lasting acknowledgement of the tragedy of the slave trade.

But Black History Month is also a great occasion to celebrate our achievements. Modern Britain is stronger because of the contributions made by our diverse ethnic minority communities. We’re proud to be a modern, open nation and I am determined to do more to encourage and support the very best of British talent. I want to build a Britain where it is someone’s ideas and abilities, and not their race, which counts, and that’s why we recently introduced a new Equality Bill which will protect people against unfair discrimination.

But protecting people from racism is only part of the picture. Equally important is ensuring that the tremendous leadership of the black community is as visible and as celebrated as it deserves to be. From members of the Government to inspirational school heads, pioneering business people to stars of the arts, in every single walk of life you find people of African or African-Caribbean descent making an amazing difference to Britain.

I look forward to hosting a reception at No 10 to celebrate Black History Month, as I did last year.

This important occasion will help inspire the next generation of young people - both men and women, black and white - to write their own chapter of history. That’s something worth celebrating.”

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PROFILE: Channel 4

We are proud of our diverse mix Following a trajectory much like that of its main character, a Film4 film about a boy from the slums of Mumbai who goes on to win Who Wants To Be a Millionaire managed to captivate audiences, critics and awards ceremonies alike.

Receiving a staggering 8 Oscars, it’s hard to believe that the starring role in Slumdog Millionaire was given to a young actor from Harrow, Dev Patel, whose only previous experience had been in the E4 series Skins. Dev went on to be voted Best Newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards.

The success of Slumdog Millionaire was a fantastic start to 2009 for Channel 4, and is a key example of how we can be industry leaders in on screen diversity. But there is no denying that times are challenging and like everyone else in the UK, we are exposed to the financial climate. But despite budgetary constraints, Channel 4 has not wavered on it’s commitment to diversity – and arguably, 2009 has seen our most active involvement in the agenda yet.

This year, Channel 4 is chairing the Cultural Diversity Network (CDN), and in March this year we were joined by Oona King, in the newly created role of Head of Diversity. It is Oona’s firm believe that in an economic downturn, the business case for diversity is stronger than ever. It’s important

that all companies reach as broad and diverse audience as possible, and in order to do so, you need people who understand those audiences.

A significant diversity moment in 2009 was the launch of the CDN Diversity Pledge – a cross industry pledge that was about action, and bringing real change to the TV sector. The Pledge is a public commitment by independent production companies and in-house producers to take measurable steps to improve diversity in the industry. At Channel 4 we expect the production companies who make our programmes to sign up to the pledge, and why wouldn’t they? The link between diversity and creativity is well established programme makers benefit from a diverse workforce who can bring fresh outlooks and experiences, adding value and authenticity to their output.

In the casting of our mainstream shows, such as The Secret Millionaire, Deal or No Deal, Come Dine With Me, Jamie’s Ministry of Food, Property Ladder, The IT Crowd and Celebrity Wife Swap, Channel 4 strives to reflect the rich mix of cultures, lifestyles and ethnicities in Britain today.

We are proud of our diverse mix of on screen talent - In The Queen on Tour actor and playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah

(pictured below) retraced the young Queen Elizabeth’s commonwealth tour, the most ambitious royal tour ever undertaken, and one which would change Britain’s relationship with the world forever.

Skins series 3 brought a brand new cast, including Merveille Lukeba in the role of Thomas (pictured left). Chiwetel Ejiofor played Thabo Mbeki in our feature length drama, Endgame, which charted the fall of apartheid. David Akinsanya, an adoption campaigner and journalist who grew up in care, led a pioneering project that aimed to find homes for the children who are harder to place in Find Me A Family. Miquita Oliver (pictured bottom left) is a T4 stalwart.

And our drama talent strand, Coming Up, showcased new black writing and acting talent in both Raising Baby Rio and Apples and Oranges.

We have continued to nurture diversity off screen (we have committed £1.5million over 3 years to the training and development of ethnic minority talent) as we believe that fostering diverse talent behind the camera leads to fresh approaches and new perspectives on screen. For example with Hunger, Turner prize winning artist Steve Macqueen made one of the most extraordinary films by a first time director, both in its controversial subject matter and it’s cinematic quality.

The film has won 15 awards worldwide, including the Camera d’Or at Cannes.

The media landscape is changing unrecognisably, but in these uncertain times one thing that will remain certain is Channel 4’s commitment to diversity, both in our output and the people making it. And throwing open our doors to diverse people and talents can only help us towards our ultimate ambition – world class content for the digital age.

Who wants TV without colour?

Channel 4 is proud to promote diversity in all parts of our business. On and off screen.

To find out more, go to channel4.com/diversity

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TV

ALL

Oona King has recently been appointed Head of Diversity at Channel 4. Her top priority is to address diversity in television broadcasting in its widest sense and to raise the profile of the CDN (Cultural Diversity Network).

BHM: What is your top priority in your new role?

Oona King (OK): In a nutshell I would like to change the face of British TV so that diversity is entirely normal; so it’s normal to see ethnic minorities as well as other under-represented groups such as disabled people and older women, (older women have a much shorter screen life than men). I am also looking at opportunities in TV in terms of class or people from low incomes who have far less chance of getting into the TV industry.

Off screen diversity is just as important, or even more so. In terms of race it is common place to see black or Asian people reading the news, however it is not common place to see them as directors or producers, or technicians.

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‘‘

The CDN aims to get broadcasters to look at diversity in its broader sense which also includes class and race.

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FEATURE Oona King talks about her new role at Channel 4

BHM: Can you tell us about your own cultural heritage?

OK: My father is African Amercian, from Georgia, and my mum is a white, Jewish, Geordie whose father was Hungarian and mother was half-Scottish and half-Irish.

On my dad’s side it turns out that both my grandparents had Native American parents.

I also found out recently that it was not unusual for Native Americans to have black slaves. I nearly fell of my chair when I heard that! I learnt that there was a difference in the way Native American Indians treated their slaves. But still, ownership of one human being by another is all part of the same thing. You learn something new everyday when you look into your family tree.

I made a documentary on Martin Luther King and we went to Moorehouse College, the black college where he went. My dad works at the college and when we interviewed him for the programme he said: ‘Well, when I met Martin Luther King and spoke to him…..’. I said to my dad: ‘You never told me you met him – he said: ‘You never asked!’

BHM: What is the purpose of the (Cultural Diversity Network) CDN? OK: The CDN is the tool that helps me achieve my priority of improving diversity. The CDN was set up by the main television broadcasters around eight years ago to address the fact that there weren’t enough black people on or off screen.

There has been success in getting ethnic minorities on screen, but now we have to move to the next stage which is off screen and wider diversity, like disability.

The CDN aims to get broadcasters to look at diversity in its broader sense which also includes class and race. It’s about giving people from different backgrounds the opportunity to get ahead in the media whereas the people who currently get ahead it the media are very similar. Samir Shah talked about ‘cultural cloning’ and it is the case that the average person at any of the main broadcasters is white, middle class and male. The CDN is trying to shake that up. So I hope to make more people aware of the CDN, and as part of that we are also planning the CDN Awards. n

Changing the Face of Television The CDN… …aims to modernise the portrayal of ethnic minorities in mainstream programming, reflecting multicultural Britain. …aims to provide a platform for collective action on the key issues of diversity in the media.

This year the CDN launched its crossbroadcaster Diversity Pledge. The Pledge aims to help independent production, post production, in-house producers, and other suppliers make measurable change to improve diversity in the industry.

Over 100 companies have already signed up and are taking action to fulfil their pledge.

If you’re in production or supply broadcasters, visit www.culturaldiversitynetwork.co.uk/ pledge.php to find out more and sign up to the Pledge.

CDN Diversity Awards On Tuesday the 24th of November the inaugural CDN Diversity Awards will celebrate all the great work being done across the production and broadcasting sectors.

The event brings all Britain’s major independent production companies under one roof, as well as the CDN broadcasters.

The Diversity Awards celebrate people in the broadcasting industry who go the extra mile to seek out talent, regardless of background.

Two awards will recognise programme content.

Keep an eye out on Broadcast (www.broadcastnow.co.uk) in the coming weeks for a chance to vote on the programme you think has made the biggest impact.

RIGHT: Michael Jackson as the Jackson 5. BELOW: A young MJ.

Mich ael Ja ckso n wa shap s a ta e d t Ex-St he fa lent t ce of eel P hat s ulse m musi hook c embe the w in eve Riley r and orld a ry co , pays r b nd n l e a r c legac of th tribut k mu e y and sic hi e to M globe storia his in J . , e x n, My fluen plorin ce on kael g his l wide Black -reac Britis hing h mu sic of toda y.

YOU

ROCK MY WOR LD

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H

FEATURE Michael Jacksons and British black music

ow does one begin to talk about an individual like Michael Jackson? If you grew up in the 70’s or the 80’s in the UK, or anywhere else on the planet that had electricity and radio, you knew his name. If you had access to a TV you were dazzled by his footwork, having already been seduced by his voice.

Back then, he exploded from that canon we call, American Black music to inspire, empower, and in some cases, locate an ambition in those that were struggling to find one. He was appealing, regardless of your sexuality, race or place of origin. If you were young, black and growing up in the in 70’s Britain, he offered hope and a new sense of confidence.

Few spoke of British Black music in 1972 as he received his Billboard Award for ‘Pop Artist of the Year’. The writing was on the wall for the Jackson 5. In little over a decade Michael was announced the King of Pop. Soul and R&B as descriptors of his music had given way to Disco and Dance, but soon all of these terms would

Left: New creativity in British black music; Speech Debelle.

Bottom right: Writer Mykaell Riley

be superseded by the term ‘Pop’. ‘It doesn’t matter if your black or white’, but where did all the references to black music go?

Growing up in Britain, the gatekeepers of Pop, the question ‘what is black music?’ used to be a big deal – especially if you were ‘Black’, more so if you were a musician. In the 80’s to witness another Black individual receiving accolades such as, ‘Best Black Music Album of the Year’, ‘Best Black Single of Year’, and ‘Best Black Male Artist of Year’, from the likes of; Rolling Stone, Billboard, Cashbox and numerous other international institutions – suggested to many Black British musicians, that it might just be possible to have a music career in the UK. But this was the early 80’s when Britain was the European capital for black music; and reggae dominated while the UK’s assimilation of black culture produced acts such as: The Police, UB40, Paul Young, The Beat, Madness and the Specials. Many view this period as a major turning point in the history of British pop, and a missed opportunity to recognise the contribution of the indigenous black music scene. It was also the moment Michael Jackson was being crowned ‘King of Pop’.

Like a ‘Smooth Criminal’, pop remained king whilst stamping its authority and control over any commercially variable genres. The British music industry was equally successful in eventually branding all the above British acts as pop, regardless of the extent to which their music was born out of the British Black music experience. The accumulative effect is the general absence of the UK’s Black music contribution to the story of pop.

In an industry that is built on the exploitation of creative talent, via its well-oiled sophisticated promotional arm, it should be no surprise that, the control and ownership of marketing terms such as ‘pop’ and ‘urban’ remain paramount.

It should be a crime to allow this cultural contribution to remain hidden from black British youth, given that many are already disconnected from their heritage and contributions that have given them a stake in the past, the present and potentially the future of British music. Here’s a reminder of just a few the acts that managed to punch through the armour of British pop; Eddy Grant, Labbi Siffri, Billy Ocean, Omar, Steel Pulse, Sade, Soul 2 Soul, Apache Indian, Craig David, Estelle, Dizzie, Beverly Knight, and most recently Speech Debel.

In the UK, the musicians who dare to describe their music as black, continue to find resistance from those, one would expect the most support. Over the last two decades the British Black music scene has given birth to more new genres than any other indigenous music scene. British black music represents multiculturalism, it’s where the ‘Ebony and Ivory’ effect is most evident in our eclectic musical output.

This prolific creativity has given the world ‘Jungle’, ‘Drum & Bass’, ‘Trip Hop’, ‘Two Step’, ‘UK Garage’, ‘Grime’, ‘Dub Step’, not to mention what has gone down before, and there’s more to come. But call it what it is, ‘BRITISH BLACK MUSIC’. A most recent example being Jay Sean’s top ten success in the US Urban music charts.

Having worked within the British music industry for over twenty five years, I’m no stranger to its capacity to market and establish new concepts in pursuit of increased profits, with no regard to the residual impact on the audience, or the musicians. In an effort to better understand the historical relationship between British record companies and the accumulative experience of black music in Britain, The National Centre for Black Music Research at the University of Westminster, has been established.

We are affiliated to the Centre for Black Music Research in America and continue to produce researched based content for education and the music industry. n

Mykaell Riley’s music career started out in the 70’s with Grammy award-winning reggae band Steel Pulse, he then went on to develop Britain’s first black orchestra, The Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra in the 80’s. In the 90’s as a professional writer/producer, his work encompassed TV, Film and Theatre, but mainly albums, over twenty of them - resulting in over eleven top twenty positions, and three number ones. Mykaell has worked with a wide range of artists including Soul II Soul , Jamaroqui, Peter Andre, Bjork, East 17, Gabriel, Dina Carroll, Wet Wet Wet, Mark Morrison, The Chimes, China Black, Sly & Robbie, Shara Nelson, Baba Maal and Maxi Priest to name but a few.

As Senior lecturer at University of Westminster, he has assisted in the development of the BA Commercial Music Course, over the last 15 years. More recently in association with the University of Westminster, he has been instrumental in establishing The National Center for Black Music Research (UK). He is also an educational consultant and advisor for the music industry, arts organisations, Open University, City University, South Themes College, and is external examiner for Leeds College of music and a Fellow of Arts & Business & Royal Society for the Arts.

Contact: Mykaell Riley Head of Music Production, Director – Centre for Black Music Research UK, University of Westminster,, Harrow Campus, Northwick Park HA1 3TP, rileym@wmin.ac.uk, www.cbmr.eu

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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Archbishop John Sentamu

Archbishop John Sentamu John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, recalls how the words of Bob Marley, James Baldwin, Langston Hughes and Marcus Garvey are still relevant to us all today

POSITIVE PEOPLE PRODUCTIONS Barbara Kelly is the founder and Director of ppproductions, Positive People Productions, an independent company that produces documentaries. These programmes are educational, informative and diverse.

The programmes are shown in schools, libraries, universities and other institutions.

Barbara, who is a former youth worker, radio and TV presenter, teacher and life coach, decided to make programmes to inspire and uplift individuals.

Born in Northampton and now living in London, Barbara flew to Jamaica to produce

and direct House of Sugar. The documentary has been shown in America and is now showing to audiences throughout the UK. The film shows the opulent lifestyle of the slave-owners on plantations in Jamaica in the 17th and 18th centuries. Barbara says: “I produced House of Sugar because I felt the need for our children to know about their history. Growing up as a child I didn’t know about my history, apart from Marcus Garvey and Mary Seacole. Knowing your history gives you a sense of belonging, purpose and dignity.”

THE VENUES HOUSE OF SUGAR WILL BE SHOWN AT ARE: Walthamstow Library Tuesday 6th October 6.30pm - 7.30pm Admission free Walthamstow High Street Tel: 0208 496 1100

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The Nettlefold Friday October 9th 8pm - 9pm Admission free West Norwood Library 1 Norwood High Street SE27 9JX Tel: 0207 926 0750

WWW.BLACKHISTORYMONTHUK.CO.UK

Birmingham Central Library Monday 19th October 6.30pm - 7.30pm Admission free Chamberlain Square Birmingham B3 3HQ Tel: 0121 303 4511

Email: bbarbara2007@yahoo. co.uk Tel: 07904 97 33 77

I

T was the great Bob Marley who wrote in his song Buffalo Soldiers: “If you know your history then you would know where you coming from”. While this lyric will be familiar to many, less familiar will be the story behind the song, the story of those black men who, having fought in the American Civil War, became the 24th and 25th United States Infantry almost 150 years ago in 1869.

But when we speak of history we are not simply dealing with the past, we are also dealing with its impact upon our present and future.

The great black American writer James Baldwin put it another way when he wrote: “history is not merely something to be read…the great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it within us, are unconsciously controlled by it in many ways, and history is literally present in all that we do. It could scarcely be otherwise, since it is to history that we owe our frames of reference, our identities, and our aspirations.”

Black History Month recognises the need to learn from the past, but this is done keeping an eye on the future whilst being rooted in our every day life. This means viewing Black History from a British perspective, with events that celebrate the particular experience of Black people in this country.

This year we have more than ever to celebrate. As British History Month becomes an increasing part of our shared cultural life, the events of each year bring us new ways in which to recognise those particular cultural, economic, religious and political contributions that Black people have brought to life in modern Britain.

As we learn more about our heritage, history and culture, the realisation of how much we have to celebrate is tied up in those events and struggles which Black people have overcome. Only then do we begin to realise how very strong Baldwin’s force of history has become, and how we have discovered our own voices. It was Marcus Garvey who wrote: “we must liberate our minds from mental slavery.” Bob Marley popularised this in his “Redemption Song”. Black History Month calls us to popularise Garvey’s words and to take them seriously.

As Langston Hughes wrote: “But someday, someone’s going to stand up for me, and sing about me and write about me - black and beautiful. It’ll be me I reckon, yeah, it’ll be me”.

EVENTS Remembering Michael Jackson

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Showcasing some of the most personal and iconic memorabilia from The King of Pop’s extraordinary life, Michael Jackson: The Official Exhibition will celebrate his unparalleled career, opening for a limited run starting 28th October 2009 at The O2 bubble. This extensive, never before seen collection will be exhibited across nine different themed galleries and include more than 250 objects. Michael Jackson’s estate has opened up his extensive archives from his homes, Neverland Ranch, concert collections and video vault. These items include an original Jackson 5 contract, his personal Rolls Royce and the famous sequined glove.

Michael Jackson: The Official Exhibition will show for only three months at The O2 bubble from 28th October 2009. For ticket details and opening times see www. michaeljacksonexhibition.co.uk.

Copyright: Shaan Kokin/Julien’s auctions

Michael Jackson:

The Official Exhibition

Family Mosaic is a housing association that provides good quality, affordable homes and housing services to over 45,000 people in communities across London and Essex.

Family Mosaic has over 20,000 homes for rent, and its house building programme aims to deliver a thousand homes every year to people who otherwise would not be able to afford their own home. Family Mosaic also has an excellent reputation for providing homes for people with extra support needs.

Family Mosaic is proud to support Black History Month.

For more info please visit www.familymosaic.co.uk

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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Join us as a non-executive director or chair and have the opportunity to lead, influence and shape the future of these services. If you have senior management experience and can offer just a few days per month, find out more at:

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FEATURE Star Reads

I LOVE TO READ

Join Kano, T2 and Addictive are all crazy about books! The Star Reads campaign aims to inspire young people, particularly those from inner-city and minority ethnic backgrounds, to read more.

T

he campaign is supported by the National Literacy Trust and government agencies across the UK. Star Reads provide an array of topics and themes to reflect today’s diverse society. The aim is to promote a love of reading and an understanding of the world we live in, and to inspire young people to live their dreams.Reading and entertainment can help all young people to improve their skills and broaden their minds. The cultural ‘melting pot’ of today’s society has created a generation that can truly understand others, only when they can understand themselves.

It is vital that children and young people read as much and as widely as possible to gain confidence and enjoyment in reading.

Star Reads offers books that will inspire anyone who thinks they don’t like reading to think again, as well as some great new

recommendations for avid readers. Reading is the key to success - at work and at play - and it can help you to understand other people and yourself. Tim “The Apprentice” Campbell’s message to young people is: “Reading has the ability to transport you into any world; the knowledge of self is the path to development and preparation for success. So much can be found within the pages of a book.”

Star Reads operates by providing schools, libraries, youth centres and other government run agencies with multicultural posters, books and teaching resources.

The campaigns feature top British urban celebrities highlighting the importance of reading, and the teaching resources are designed to help promote a multicultural and fun approach to reading for all. n www.starreads.org

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Reading is the key to success - at work and at play and it can help you to understand other people and yourself.”

Above: The Star Reads reads series of posters including Rapper Kano, Apprentice winner Tim Campbell, Actor Noel Clarke and Producer K2.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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FEATURE Students unite for BHM

c

A call for

ha

e ng

Bellavia Ribeiro, Black Student’s Officer for the NUS, urges us to unite by looking back and learning from our downfalls and victories in history

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from Dr Carter George Woodson. He recognised that ‘those who have no record of what their forbearers have accomplished lose the inspiration for change that comes with the teaching of history’. No price can be put on the impact it makes to learn where you are coming from.

Looking over the achievements of our ancestors should remind us that Black people have always been at the forefront of human development. Also, that we have, and can do anything. They said we would never bring an end to slavery and through our resistance we did; they said we could never be educated and we have produced some of the greatest scholars and inventions in history; they said a Black person would never run a western nation and that we would never be equal. If we are to move forward with conviction and pride we need to look back and learn about the unity that created our victories, as well as the divisions that lead to our downfalls. n

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Bellavia Ribeiro, Black Student’s Officer for NUS Black Students Campaign The NUS Black Students’ campaign is working with colleges and universities all around the country to address issues of under-representation, the rise of racism, inequalities in education and international peace and justice. As part of this wide agenda, Black History Month is an excellent means of engaging Black students on campus and raising awareness of the issues that affect them.

Last year there were more Black History events than ever on campuses and this year we hope to see even more.

…The Black community along with the student community in this country are the two groups with the lowest voter turnout. The politicians know this and we will never gain their full respect and co-operation unless we use our democratic rights. Things need to change.

‘‘

F

or me, each year Black History Month comes with a lesson. This year it is undoubtedly the need for unity amongst Black people.

September 21st marked the Birthday of Kwame Nkrumah, the 1st president of the first country in Africa to gain independence from colonial rule, Ghana. What he is also well known for was his attempts to unite all of Africa as one nation, the United States of Africa. Nkrumah said that if they did not do it, then it would be so much more difficult to do this in the future. This is certainly true, however, the history of Black people teaches me that we can achieve anything.

Internationally, Black civil rights movements have come a long way, from de-segregation the United States to the end of apartheid in South Africa and from the independence of Black countries to the national recognition of Black History in the UK. In the time of Nkrumah African, South Americans, Caribbeans, Indians and African Americans all supported each other’s liberation struggles. They didn’t have iPhones, blackberries or facebook and twitter but their solidarity spanned the globe and they accomplished so much.

The unity of the African, Arab, Asian and Caribbean communities in this country as politically Black people brought about the more privileged position we find ourselves in. These groups worked together and fought hard for the rights we have and we need to respect this not just by celebrating them but also utilising them. For example the right to vote is something that Black people have shed blood for all around the world. Despite this the Black community, along with student community in this country, are the two groups with the lowest voter turnout. The politicians know this and we will never gain their full respect and co-operation unless we use our democratic rights. Things need to change.

Celebrating the achievement and contribution of Black communities came

The CPS is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

FEATURE Caring for our environment

Hood in the

Judy Ling Wong

Shared Heritage

Participation through

The presence of ethnic minorities within European nations is a feature of the 21st Century. Through the centuries, the continual movement and settlement of people have created our shared cultural and environmental heritage. All national cultures are unique combinations of different multicultural elements.

the Black Environment

Making multicultural heritage visible

promotes Multicultural Heritage and Environmental

Network (BEN). Here she urges us all to protect our neighbourhoods and make the most of our local green spaces and in doing so connect to our collective cultural heritage.

Below: Getting out to explore shared green spaces

Who we are and what we can achieve depends on how we see ourselves against the enormous pressure of how others see us. How shared multicultural histories are represented within cultural institutions powerfully shapes national identity and influences the life opportunities of citizens. This is true for the historic and the green environment.

There is no definitive history. Each era writes its history according to its values and beliefs. Historians who believed in the rightness of slavery wrote the history of slavery. It is our responsibility to constantly re-interpret and re-present history to reflect the contemporary values of society.

A lot was achieved in the year 2007, the Commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of Trans-Atlantic Slavery.

It is our privilege to pass our judgement on history and move positively into the future by re-positioning intercultural relationships within our nations.

“In Nottingham, the Sikh community created woodland in Bestwood Park, planting 300 native British trees to mark the birth of Khalsa, the Sikh scriptures. It is now simply a community woodland for everyone.”

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Promoting equal participation in the Green Environment Our neighbourhoods and local green spaces can be linked to heritage alongside providing outdoor activities, which directly affect physical health and well-being. Multicultural festivals in local parks can feature mainstream cultural aspects at the same time and purposefully promote intercultural understanding and social cohesion through bringing people together to have fun. All of us love what we enjoy and we protect what we love. Starting with providing enjoyable and educational activities ultimately leads to the care and protection of the environment.

Many ethnic minority communities also have traditional environmental skills and knowledge that can be highlighted and shared.

Most of all, what makes a space one’s own are the invisible layers of memory, resulting from everyday use of the space, or from the meaningful marking of a space with memory through a special activity. In Nottingham, the Sikh community created woodland in Bestwood Park, planting 300 native British trees to mark the birth of Khalsa, the Sikh scriptures. It is now simply a community woodland for everyone. One sees nothing but trees, but for the Sikh community, the memory of the colour and pageant of the day, and the meaning of the planting are awakened every time they play or rest in the woodland. The echoes will always be there.

Care, share and dare to negotiate heritage in the Green Environment People are a force for change. We are living in a complex and optimistic era that aspires to equality and social inclusion. Working with disadvantaged and socially excluded groups is not about doing favours to small groups of people. It is about working towards a 21st Century vision of an inclusive society of which we can all be proud. We need to care, share, dare to negotiate heritage and increase participation on all fronts! n Judy Ling Wong CBE, FRSA, HonFCIWEM, Hon PhD is Director Black Environment Network (UK)

PROFILE: The Forestry Commission

Enjoy the outdoors for free!

Did you know that the Forestry Commission is the biggest provider of outdoor recreation in the UK, and that most of that recreation is free?

Every year we welcome more than 50 million visits by people who come to relax and have fun in the forests and woodlands that we look after in England, Wales and Scotland.

We’d like to welcome you too, whether for the first time or back again. There is so much to do.

Searching for some peace?

Just come and chill: the quiet, woodland-scented air will revive your spirits. Bring the family for a picnic and games, or stay a few nights in a stunning Forest Holidays camp or cabin site.

Fancy getting close to nature? Join one of the many inspirational events run by our forest rangers, who’ll help you to see and understand the wonders to be found in our woodlands.

Need some exercise? Try our forest trails for a brisk run, walk or bike ride. Our paths are well sign-posted and suit every fitness level – enjoy our natural (free) green gym.

Looking for an adrenaline rush? We have worldfamous mountain bike trails for daredevil experts and beginners alike. Or swing through the trees on a Go Ape aerial adventure trail.

Many of our forests have children’s play parks, cafes, shops and information centres.

We strive to make our forests accessible to all, and have hundreds of paths and trails that are suitable for people with

Every year we welcome more than 50 million visits to Britains forests and woodlands.

different abilities.

Why not visit us? There’s almost certainly a wood or forest not too far away. Visit our website and easily discover your nearest woodland and what you will find there. If this is your first time, ring your local Forestry Commission office (details on the web) and they will happily help you to get the most from your visit.

The Forestry Commission is a public-sector organisation managing, on your behalf, the country’s forests and woods in an environmentally and socially sensitive way. We aim to increase all the benefits these wonderful places can bring to everyone.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Find out more at www.forestry.gov.uk/ whatson, /places to go, and /contact; or call 0845 FORESTS 90845 367 3787.

Forest Holidays: www.forestholidays.co.uk; call 0845 130 8225 (cabins) or 0845 130 8226 (caravan and camping).

Go Ape: www.goape.co.uk; call 0845 643 9215.

education rangers economists

engineers

recreation rangers

auditors

forest craftspeople community rangers statisticians

IT specialists

scientists admin assistants

apprentices

HR practitioners

ecologists oh...and foresters!

It’s your skills that are important to us. diverse woodlands, diverse communities www.forestry.gov.uk/vacancies

FEATURE Environment - What will happen to the developing nations?

Top: Massa Gold Banner.

Bottom: Boat, Brandon Bay

Green History Black History:

At the UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen this December, industrial nations including China and India will be hammering out a new treaty as a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, phase one of that agreement expires in 2012. What is in it for poor developing nations in Africa and the Caribbean? asks Dionne C. Walker

C

limate scientists say that to limit global warming to a 2C average rise the world must reduce the growth of greenhouse gas emissions by 80% in 2050 and ensure that there is appreciable decline from around 2015 to 2020.

Major aspects of the current debate that leaders hope to thrash out at the conference stem from the issue of “burden-sharing”.

For example, the Prime Minister of Russia, Vladimir Putin has said he would reject an agreement of plans of carbon cuts if China and the US fail to sign up. In a speech to academics in Moscow he said: “The United States and China are leading economies and leading polluters. Should we restrain our development because of them?”

Another contentious issue is finding the “money” to make these changes. For

“Unless African nations are equipped with proper and adequate information on the climate, the continent may not benefit from solutions being sought to the climate problems.”

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example, richer developing economies such as China and India along with developed countries, United Kingdom and US must make up a budget to help poorer nations in Africa and the Caribbean adapt to the cost of going green.

At the World Climate Conference in Geneva last September, John Odey, Nigeria’s minister of environment stated: “Unless African nations are equipped with proper and adequate information on the climate, the continent may not benefit from solutions being ssought to the climate problems.” He also said that Africa’s massive infrastructure deficit added to the challenges of endemic poverty and huge disease burden and it’s absolutely essential to agree on the innovative mechanisms for funding a science and information based adaptation”.

However, NGOs such as Oxfam argue

that some of the challenges of poverty Odey mentions, are a consequence of the industrial development of G8 countries. The historical context is that developing countries in Africa and the Caribbean have never possessed the infrastructure of industrial nations and to date they are not manufacturing to the extent of China and India, therefore they have not played a significant role in the depletion of the Ozone. Oxfam suggests that people in poor developing countries don’t have to be told about the impact of climate change they already know. They say it will have devastating impact on the already poor countries and it will cost several thousand lives.

So what are the solutions and what innovative means are being sought to increase awareness and bring about change in developing countries? NGOs and some governments are investing in sustainable initiatives which include the development of alternative means of energy. In the Caribbean and Latin American region, H.E Liz Thompson, winner of the Champions of the Earth award 2008, in her role as Environmental Minister in Barbados and member of the Small Islands Developing States has implemented policies and initiatives that have increased awareness and action.

The Solar Energy Foundation has opened up new horizons for 10,000 villagers in Rema, Ethiopia. They won a 2009 Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy. And in nearby Uganda, the Kampala Jellitone Suppliers are Uganda’s first producer of briquettes made from agricultural waste, they also won the 2009 Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy.

Chaired by Dionne C. Walker, a panel will discuss, some of the issues raised above at the British Museum, 17 October 2009 17:00 hrs.

Black History: Green History Film Series and Discussion, Series Curator: Dionne C. Walker is part of Camden Black History Season: Science Fact Science Fiction, BP Lecture Theatre, British Museum 17 October 2009 13:00 to 18:00 hrs. Book tickets at www.britishmusuem.org. n

Could you help put sustainable development at the heart of government policy?

SDC is the government’s official independent advisor on sustainable development, reporting directly to the Prime Minister, to the First Ministers of Wales and Scotland and to the First and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland. Through advocacy, advice, capability building and scrutiny, we help to put sustainable development at the core of government policy.

Our success is built on the quality of our people – our Commissioners, Secretariat and Board Members.

SDC strives through its policies and practices to achieve equality of opportunity in the employment and fair treatment of all our people.

We are working to mainstream diversity and create a sustainable working environment where everyone can take full part.

As an employer we welcome people from all walks of life, in so doing we benefit from the diverse perspectives of different cultures.

For more information about the SDC and the job opportunities that arise from time to time in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast, please visit www.sd-commission.org.uk

Individual.

Creative and unconventional approaches.

The highest academic standards of teaching and research.

Part of the internationally recognised University of London.

Undergraduate, postgraduate and return-to-study learning opportunities.

Open days in November, February and June.

Committed to equality and diversity

www.goldsmiths.ac.uk

DIANE ABBOTT GUEST EDITOR Diane Abbott MP Introduction

Welcome W hen I was invited to Guest Edit BHM (The Official Guide to Black History Month) this year, I chose to highlight Women as a central theme. We talked to a range of inspirational women from all sectors and all walks of life who are making a difference to our community, and our world, in their own individual way.

Caroline King, Deputy Headteacher in Hackney, is one of our bright, young community leaders.

Her motivation is to inspire and educate young people and at 34, she is well on her way to becoming Headteacher within the year.

In the world of publishing and design, Michelle Ogundehin, Editor-in-chief at Elle Decoration, has transformed the magazine into a must-have mag for every style-conscious household. An innovative force in publishing, she describes herself as passionate, determined and optimistic, with a leadership style that is “firm but fair”.

Director/writer/producer Gurinder Chadha is

one of the shining lights of the UK film industry and in addition is one of the few female, Asian directors to have worldwide box-office success.

Gurinder has been instrumental in opening up the film industry to new, diverse audiences and to new talent working behind the scenes.

Sculptor Sokari Douglas Camp has a list of commissions and awards which are testament to her distinct artistic talent. Her work is deeply rooted in both her Nigerian ancestry and her Britishness.

She urges all aspiring, young artists to break out and see the world to broaden their global perspective.

In the world of politics and law, Baroness Patricia Scotland is the first black woman to hold the post of Attorney General. Throughout her career she has been proactive in supporting young BMEs to work hard, aim high and forge a successful career in law.

These are just a few of the many inspirational women here in the UK, who are achieving great things and creating a change for the better.

Finding the Leaders of Tomorrow Last year’s awards

Lenny, Cynthia Akpobi,

Child (LSBC) Awards Celebrate

Below L-R: Diane, Foad

Top Achieving Black Students

T

he annual LSBC Academic Achievement Awards will return to the House of Commons on 2nd October with the highest standard of students yet.

The awards, which were set up by Diane Abbott MP in 2006 and have been supported by UBS since then, aim to celebrate top achieving Black students. Mayor Boris Johnson,

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Right L-R: Diane,

London Schools and the Black

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Baroness Scotland.

Mohamed, Lenny Henry and David Charles

BBC comedy star “Little Miss Jocelyn”, Sky News presenter Gillian Joseph, England football coach Hope Powell and Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu will all be speaking at the event.

The LSBC initiative aims to raise the achievement levels of Black students. The Academic Achievement Awards recognise the young Black students who are contradicting negative stereotypes by achieving very high academic grades.

Many of the students

have overcome barriers such as racism, poverty and starting life in a new country.

Speaking about the event, Diane said: “I am thrilled to announce that the fourth LSBC Academic Achievement Awards will take place on the 2nd October.

The ceremony is a great chance for us to celebrate the highest achieving Black students and this year looks set to be bigger than ever. It is vital that we recognise the fantastic results Black students are getting to counteract the negative press around young Black people. I am very much looking forward to awarding the leaders of tomorrow.”

DIANE ABBOTT GUEST EDITOR Carole King interview

BHM: As a child what did “you want to be” when you grew up?

Caroline King (CK): I actually still have a piece of work which I did when I was in primary school and I was around nine years old. On the list then was a musician, concert pianist or teacher. My mum has always said that I have always known exactly what I’ve wanted to do.

BHM: Who or what has been your biggest influence on your career choices?

CK: The biggest influence on my career choices have been the children I have taught.

I realised quite early on that my impact could reach beyond the 30 children who were in my class. I worked closely with my parallel class teachers which then began to shape a year group, then a key stage and now I’m a Deputy Head Teacher influencing and shaping policy across the whole school.

BHM: How would you describe the challenges and rewards of being a teacher/Head Teacher today?

CK: The rewards are that you get to see impact and changes every day whether that comes in the classroom, with a member of staff or a parent. This job means that every action and thought impacts on a child. It’s great waking up every morning knowing that your inspired idea, smile or way of communicating with children is moulding and shaping the future.

The challenges must be reflected upon, learnt from and I like to consider if there is something that needs to be done in my place of work to turn those challenges into learning points.

BHM: If there was one key change/ improvement you would like to see implemented in our educational system, what would it be?

CK: I would look at teacher training policy and teacher recruitment within inner cities. In order for a teacher to make the greatest impact they need to able to connect with children beyond the academic realm. You hear a lot of people say they want to work in a ‘challenging’ school so they can ‘make a difference’. Define challenging? I often feel that this is based on a perception and can lead to people entering the profession or an establishment with a pre-conceived notion of what children are capable of or what communities are able to achieve. The ‘challenge’ then becomes educating teachers so they understand that what challenge

Caroline King Deputy Head teacher in Hackney

Using Everything He gave me Caroline King, born and raised in Hackney, is passionate about, and dedicated to, the education of young people.

Caroline has just entered her tenth year of teaching and, as she says: “is still excited by the prospect of inspiring children every day.” Caroline aims to become a Head Teacher within the next 12 months. is in their eyes is real life for children and to that end education and opportunity is what we’re here to provide; not a watered down version of it based on low expectations.

BHM: How do you evaluate the need to recognise Black History Month in schools?

CK: I feel Black History, Literature and achievement should be an intrinsic part of any school curriculum. Throughout the year schools should be considering how lessons and topics are taught and this should be done with a diverse perspective. In a school it is everyone’s responsibility to educate young people in a global and balanced way. Having emphasis just in October does not create balance. Realistically though, it might be the one time teachers go the extra mile in researching Black History themselves – the commercially produced resources are still not in abundance and this makes it difficult for teachers to provide a balance when it’s lacking in the real world.

“"This job means that every action and thought

impacts on a child. It’s great waking up every

morning knowing that your inspired idea, smile or way of communicating with children is moulding and shaping the future.”

BHM: Who is your top Black History Month Hero?

CK: My mum and she is my heroine every day of the year. Aside from that, the people who I look to for inspiration and whose stories I connect with on a personal level are Maya Angelou and Oprah Winfrey.

Those three women have influenced me to become self-motivated and self-assured.

BHM: How would you describe yourself in three words?

CK: Determined; Passionate; Reflective BHM: Favourite proverb/motto and why?

CK: “When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I would have not a single bit of talent left and could say “I used everything You gave me.” Erma Bombeck AND “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” Aristotle I started playing the piano with my grandmother aged four, from then on my mum provided me with opportunities to explore life and grow. I can honestly say that in teaching, every day, I am able to draw on those experiences and impart them onto the children I work with now.

By the end of my life I hope I would have used everything He gave me. n

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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DIANE ABBOTT GUEST EDITOR Michelle Ogundehin Editor-in-Chief

Michelle Ogundehin Editor-in-Chief of Elle Decoration UK

Saying Yes to Life Michelle Ogundehin has contributed to publications all over the world and is internationally recognised as an authority on interiors, style and design.

Trained as an architect, she cut her journalistic teeth at Blueprint Magazine and her energy and enthusiasm led to her being headhunted by style guru Ilse Crawford to join ELLE Decoration as Features Director.

She was appointed Editor in Chief of Elle Decoration UK in 2004.

“"I have an

insatiable need to keep growing, in

a spiritual sense,

to know I’m alive.

I’m motivated

by challenge! I can’t sit and be bored.”

Michelle is also director of her own design consultancy MO:studio.

Michelle was born in Manchester; grew up in London; lived in New York and currently divides her time between homes in Brighton and London.

BHM: As a child, what did you want to be “When you grew up?”

Michelle Ogundehin (MO): I don’t recall wanting to “be” anything in particular…

I certainly never went through a phase of aspiring to become a ballerina, or a nurse, or an air-hostess or any other of those idealised female occupations. I think I was always quite content exploring my own world. However, I guess it was clear quite early on that I’d pursue something creative.

I roamed around a lot in my imagination!

BHM: Who or what has been the biggest influence on your career choices?

MO: Me (see above!), followed by my father.

His constant advice was: “By God’s grace we go, so worry not, just be yourself and do your best… no-one can ask more of you than that.” And so creative roaming led to Architecture (my father’s an engineer) and I was definitely encouraged to pursue a vocational degree rather than a single subject (I’m too squeamish for Medicine and Law didn’t inspire). Architecture led me to NY, 26

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where ELLE magazine crossed my path by virtue of a neighbour who worked there; thus my love of magazines became an opportunity, and the rest, as they say is history!

BHM: Best career move?

MO: No single move was the best. It’s all been an organic flow of moving on when it felt right, following my gut and primarily needing to apply my skills to full effect. I have an insatiable need to keep growing, in a spiritual sense, to know I’m alive. I’m motivated by challenge! I can’t sit and be bored.

BHM: How would you describe yourself in three words?

Passionate. Determined. Optimistic.

BHM: Any great ambitions left?

MO: To bring a child into this world: the most selfless thing I believe you can do. And to own a Bassett Hound!

BHM: Worklife Balance? What kinds of activities do you enjoy

outside the workplace?

MO: Friends, family and the entertainment of both; love; climbing; decorating; reading; live music, concerts and festivals; a healthy amount of pottering about at home; movies; parties, picnics, champagne and Sambuca!

BHM: You head-up a leading style magazine, how would you describe your own particular leadership and personal style?

MO: Firm but fair! Motivational, and inspiring… I expect people to give me their best, and in return I hope I give them enough encouragement and support for them to realise that goal, for themselves, as much as me and the magazine. I look for honesty, integrity and courage of one’s convictions. And then enthusiasm and energy: we all have to have some fun! No point working hard if you don’t enjoy it.

BHM: Favourite proverb/motto and why?

MO: Say yes to life! n

We don’t mind what genes you have All shapes, all sizes, all styles. Diversity has always been in fashion at the GMC; it’s an integral part of everything we do and – as one the key aims in our business plan – very high on our agenda.

Contrary to popular belief, we don’t employ doctors. As the regulator of the medical profession, we take on people from all kinds of backgrounds who want to help us protect the public by ensuring proper standards in the practice of medicine.

You’ll enjoy a real career from the start. Whatever your strengths, we’ll build on them with exceptional training and development. And we’ll reward you with a fantastic package that includes a final salary pension scheme, private medical insurance and generous holiday allowance. So whatever your genetic makeup, find out about opportunities at jobs.gmc-uk.org The GMC values diversity and has made a public commitment to processes and procedures that are fair, objective, transparent and free from discrimination.

The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750).

jobs.gmc-uk.org

A lot of people hAve

good intentions. the difference here is that we make sure they count.

Here at the Charity Commission, it’s our job to make sure charities really deliver on the promises they make. So we understand that there’s big difference between saying the right thing and actually doing it.

It means that when we talk about our commitment to diversity, our welcoming culture and our variety of roles, you can be sure that they are a lot more than words. These are not just good intentions, they are our everyday reality. to find out more about exactly what’s on offer, visit our new recruitment website: www.charitycommissionjobs.org.uk

Making good intentions count

We welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of gender, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or age.

HM Treasury is one of the leading departments in government. The department’s aim is to raise the rate of sustainable growth and achieve rising prosperity and a better quality of life, with economic and employment opportunities for all.

The Treasury aims to be: ·a n excellent place to work, where staff can feel proud to work, can develop the right skills and feel valued for their contribution; ·e xpert at delivery, responding swiftly and effectively to Ministers’ changing priorities and to new issues as they arise; and · s killed at working with and through others, winning respect for the quality of its policy making, its integrity, and its ability to deliver.

To meet these objectives the Treasury needs highly skilled, talented people from a wide range of backgrounds, committed to achieving excellence.

We are committed to fair and open competition and equal opportunities. Applications from underrepresented groups are particularly welcome.

Further information about the Treasury is available at: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk 28

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Sokari Douglas Camp interview

BHM: Your work is rooted in your Nigerian cultural background.

What are the influences that this particular background has brought to you and your work?

Sokari Douglas Camp (SDC): Everything . A love of movement, costume and environment and also a sense of identity and place.

Sokari Douglas Camp Sculptor

Living Heritage Sokari Douglas Camp completed an MA in sculpture from the Royal College of Art in 1986. Since then she has been shortlisted for the fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square 2003. She collaborated with BBC’s Ground Force programme to create an African Garden for the British Museum in 05.

Douglas Camp was commissioned by Platform to make a Living Memorial to the Environmental Activist Ken Saro-Wiwa in 2006. She exhibits nationally and internationally, and was awarded a CBE in 2005 honours list.

BHM: You have received numerous and varied awards and accolades for your work. Can you describe the core nature of your work which has attracted such international attention?

SDC: The main driver to my work is an interest in costume, movement, Theatre, panoramic views. I worked with museums creating shows that were similar to West African masquerade performances, it was a way of enlivening ethnographic shows. In recent years my subjects have been political; work about the situation in the Niger Delta, the Iraq war, and my relationship with England and Nigeria, the main concern is to expose humanities vulnerability.

My work has been totally informed by living in England. I am what I am because I live here. My work as an artist, confirms my heritage and my life in London as a person of African decent”.

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6/8/09

14:48

t

BHM: How would you describe yourself in three words?

SDC: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.

BHM: Will you be participating in any particular events to celebrate Black History Month?

SDC: No. I am finding it hard to tolerate why Black artists do not have this attention throughout the year, we are here all year round.

BHM: What would be your advice to any aspiring, young artists looking to establish themselves in the UK today?

SDC: My first answer was leave the country, what I mean to say is travel, gain an identity – see yourself from a global perspective.

BHM: Who are the artists that you admire or who have influenced you?

SDC: Peggy Harper (Peggy Harper was a dancer and choreographer who dedicated much of her life to the study of traditional Nigerian dance. She made important documentations of ancient, West African dance forms and she also encouraged and promoted contemporary African dance theatre).

BHM: Favourite proverb/motto and why?

SDC: Once you do not succeed try try, try again (with a Nigerian accent) I like this because it is good advice. n

The National Trust is about more than stately homes and conservation. Working with local black and minority ethnic communities we are connecting people to places in ways which inspire the involvement of both individuals and families, and help us understand our cultural heritage.

You’re never far away from us, so come along for a visit, finding time for each other is time well spent.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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DIANE ABBOTT GUEST EDITOR Baroness Patricia Scotland Attorney General

“"We are living in an age where anything is

possible with hard work. So when people ask if we’ll see a black prime minister in our lifetime, I say: why not?”

BHM: Can you tell me about our “Less talk, More Action” bi-annual event.

Baroness Scotland: The event aims to give legal professionals from all across the UK the chance to meet and exchange ideas, but more importantly, offers BME students the opportunity to meet role models.

The event aims to inspire young students that anything they set their mind to was possible, as long as they work hard.

Baroness Patricia Scotland Attorney General

Anything is possible with hardwork Baroness Patricia Scotland was born in Dominica in 1955. After graduating with LLB Hons (London), Baroness Scotland was called to the Bar, Middle Temple, in 1977, she received Silk in 1991 and became a Bencher in 1997. Appointed as Attorney General by Prime Minister Gordon Brown on 28th June 2007, the Rt Hon Baroness Scotland QC is the first female and ethnic minority person to hold the post.

“The order went White Male, Black Male, White Female, Black Female. That might have been a totally incorrect perception, but that was the perception then,” recalls Baroness Scotland of when she started at the Bar. Now the foremost legal advisor to the Government as Attorney General of England and Wales, she has successfully fought against these perceptions. One of her priorities is to encourage young BME students looking to go into the legal profession. Here she gives advice to young people with an interest in Law.

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BHM: Can you describe how attitudes have changed since you were fist called to the Bar in the 70s?

Baroness Scotland: When I came to the Bar, someone was telling me ‘The Bar is dead’. There was no future and certainly there was no future for someone who was black or female. This is in no way meant to belittle the battles students face today, but that being successful in the legal profession will always be a question of resilience and courage and determination.

BHM: In the light of Obama’s historic victory in the USA, what is your view of a black Prime Minister making it into No 10?

Baroness Scotland: We are living in an age where anything is possible with hard work.

So when people ask if we’ll see a black Prime Minister in our lifetime, I say: “why not?”

BHM: What would be your key advice to minority graduates/young professionals who are pursuing a career in the legal profession?

Baroness Scotland: Work hard. Nothing worth achieving is easy. Never let anybody else’s issues hold you back or become your burden and don’t be afraid to believe in yourself, your dreams and talents. I would also recommend every single law student to get involved with a law clinic at university.

And if their university hasn’t got one, I recommended that they go and make one.

Most universities that have done this have seen that those who participate in law clinics do about 25% better than anybody else.”

BHM: What would you say were the four key qualities you had or still have which helped you to succeed in a career in Law? Baroness Scotland: Passion, courage, strength and resilience. n

PROFILE: GLS

Black Oxford Scholars Hall of Fame

Above: Edward Theophilus Nelson, (far left, back row) with fellow students.

4

Untold Stories is the brainchild of Pamela Roberts, founder and executive director of Artistry Events. Black Oxford: Untold Stories, the first black heritage walking tour celebrating Oxford’s black scholars.

•E dward Nelson, who attended St. John’s College, was secretary of the Oxford Union, became a barrister and was involved in a famous case of the day, the Stalybridge murder of 1909.

•N orman Manley, attended Jesus College as a Rhodes Scholar in 1914, and was one of the most successful barristers in Jamaica.

•A lain Locke, the first black Rhodes Scholar, attended Hertford College 1907 – 1910.

•A nia Moore, the first African woman to achieve a degree from St. Hughes in 1935.

•L ushington Wendall Bruce-James, born in Antigua in 1891 and brought up in British Guiana, went to Keble College in 1910 studying Classical Moderations. He served in the University and Public School Corps of the Royal Fusiliers in the Great War and later embarked on a musical career in London.

•C hristian Frederick Cole, was a student from Sierra Leone, whose charm and determination in the Oxford of the 1870s made him a highly popular and respected student. He was called to the Bar in 1883 and went on to become the first black African barrister in the English courts.

For more information see www.blackoxford.net

Climate Change. The Criminal Justice System. Education.

Energy. Health. Housing. Transport. We all recognise these as some of the biggest challenges facing us today.

But did you know that as a lawyer in the Government Legal Service (GLS), you could be involved in shaping these and many more of the issues that affect you, your community and the country as a whole?

What is the Government Legal Service?

The GLS is the collective term for the 2000 lawyers working in the legal teams of approximately 30 of the largest government departments and agencies.

These include departments such as the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice, DEFRA, HM Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions / Department of Health but there are many more.

So, is the GLS like any other law firm?

In many ways, yes. Law firms have their own clients and it is the job of lawyers to advise them on their legal obligations and, where necessary, represent them in court. GLS lawyers only have one client, but that is the government of the day and it requires its lawyers to advise and represent it on almost every aspect of its work - just like lawyers in any other law firm.

But that’s only part of the story. The newspapers and TV news are full of stories about the government’s aim and objectives. GLS lawyers are part of the teams that breathe life into policies and turn them into reality. They advise ministers and policy officials on what can (and can’t) be done under existing legislation. If new legislation is required, GLS lawyers will help to draft and take it through Parliament in the form of a Bill.

So, you could say that GLS lawyers interpret existing laws and are involved in making new ones. No other law firm can offer that kind of experience.

Does the GLS recruit trainee lawyers?

Yes. The GLS recruits around 25 trainee solicitors or pupil barristers each year.

Like many law firms, the GLS recruits its trainees two years in advance. Those applying in the summer of 2010 will start their training in 2012. For full details, please see the graduate recruitment pages at www.gls.gov.uk.

Where can I find out more?

You can visit the GLS website at www.gls.gov.uk. Or you could pick up a newspaper. Somewhere, behind the front page headlines, you’ll start to notice 2009 Leaving School.qxp 18/08/2009 13:14 Page 1 the work of GLS lawyers.

LAUNCH A FANTASTIC CAREER Thinking about a career in law?

Want to be involved in issues that affect your community and the country as a whole?

As a lawyer in the Government Legal Service, you ll only have one client the British Government.

You ll advise its ministers on their powers and responsibilities, represent it in court and even prepare new laws which will change the lives of millions of people.

For more details about how to get your career off the ground, please visit our website at www.gls.gov.uk.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

31

DIANE ABBOTT GUEST EDITOR Gurinder Chadha interview

BHM: What first inspired you to get into filmmaking?

Gurinder Chadha (GC): I first started to get into film in the early 80’s when I began to realise the power of the media in constructing images of people. I remember seeing Stuart Hall’s documentary “It Ain’t Half Racist Mum”. It opened my eyes to how powerful television was in telling mistruths.

Then I did a dissertation of images of women in Indian media and it was later on that I thought I would like to get behind the camera and tell more stories about people like me.

"The industry thinks that people

like us are not going to make films

that appeal to the wider population, but it’s not true, Bend it like

Beckham appealed to everybody.”

BHM: What was your biggest film break?

(GC): I used to work for BBC radio and bhangra music happened in big way and I loved everything – the fashion, the music and the whole sense of being British Asian and I wanted to make a pop promo for a bhangra band. The more I talked about it, the more it made sense to make a film about bhangra music. My friend Kate pushed me to apply for a new director scheme at the BFI and it was then I made my first film. Then I got the development through for Bhaji on the Beach.

BHM: What are the key themes that run through your films?

GC: Foremost it’s women on top, women achieving, women with a voice. Then there’s always a big wedding or a big party. Also lots of warm affectionate scenes with the community.

BHM: Why so few women Asian film directors?

GC: That’s part of the bigger question of why so few women directors generally. It’s hard balancing all the work, the long term focus and relentlessness you have to show to get a movie of the ground, whether you are a man, woman, black or white. I wish there were more women British filmmakers, like Amma Asante who has made some great films – I wish there were one or two coming through every year, that would make me very happy. The industry thinks that people like us are not going to make films that appeal to the wider population, but it’s not true, Bend it like Beckham appealed to everybody.

BHM: Can you tell me about your current project.

GC: The current film is called It’s a Wonderful Afterlife – an Ealing caper comedy with a spiritual element. The script was written with my husband – we always write together.

What is your favourite motto?

A Sikh blessing which means “keep on rising”. n

32

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Gurinder Chadha Film Maker

Keep on Rising Gurinder Chadha OBE is one of the UK’s best loved film makers. Gurinder began her career as a BBC news reporter and went on to direct a series of award-winning documentaries. Her first feature, Bhaji on the Beach, won numerous international awards including a BAFTA and in 2002 Bend it Like Beckham went on to break all UK records with its box office success. Gurinder is working on her next feature film – It’s a Wonderful Afterlife.

We value all manner of things: power stations; farms; lighthouses; leisure centres; airport runways; stately homes; your ambitions; your hobbies; everything that makes you, you.

Hands up who’s heard of the Valuation Office Agency. We thought as much. It’s a shame really because, from a career point of view, we have a lot to offer. Stability. Progression.

Flexible working. Great benefits. Whatever your priorities are, there’s a good chance we value them too. Just ask the thousands of brilliant minds already working for us – everyone from chartered surveyors, property inspectors and administrators, to experts in IT, Finance, and HR. Discover your true worth. Visit www.voa.gov.uk/recruitment The VOA recognises and values the qualities that different people bring to the organisation and encourages applications from all backgrounds.

FEATURE Ade Adepitan interview

BHM finds out what drives the unstoppable Ade...

ALL ACTION HERO Ade was never was never one to sit Photography Ellis Farrinder.

Copyright: Invacare.

and watch the grass grow. Not only has he forged a successful career as a TV presenter, he is also a keen sportsman, competing at Olympic level, a try-anything-once traveller and a sought-after motivational speaker.

Having survived polio as a youngster, Ade excelled at sports, particularly wheelchair basketball - Ade’s current sporting passion is wheelchair tennis.

As part of his TV presenting work, Ade has travelled the world exploring South American rainforests, scuba diving in Mexico, skiing in Canada and swimming with sharks in Australia. In 2005, Ade was awarded an MBE for his contribution to disabled sport.

34

WWW.BLACKHISTORYMONTHUK.CO.UK

BHM: Childhood ambition?

Ade Adepitan: I wanted to do so many things when I was growing up but football was always my first love and I desperately wanted to play football for England. Then at 14 I started playing wheelchair basketball, and that’s when winning a paralympic medal became my focus.

BHM: What was your first career break?

AA: I was introduced to wheelchair basketball at the age of 14 by two physiotheraptst who asked me to play for their team. This gave me a taste for the sport which changed my life.

I was given my TV break by two guys who ran a Production Company called Two Hand productions (Jonathan Frisby and Luke Guille). They asked me to film a basketball video diary called Hoop Dreams for Cable TV and afterwards I became the lead presenter for a kids wildlife show called Tiger Tiger on Five.

BHM: Describe your personality in three words?

AA: Focused, Warm, Adventurous.

BHM: Top Black History Month Hero and why?

AA: Nelson Mandela – his strength of character is inspirational. To be able to forgive so much after enduring so much injustice is astonishing. If there were more people in positions of power that followed his example, the world would be a better place.

BHM: You are a motivational speaker – what motivates you?

AA: Life motivates me every day. I see lots of things that excite me, it might be watching an amazing piece of sport or it could be seeing my mother working so hard. Or even the people who have supported me throughout my career. All of these things motivate and inspire me to keep striving to be successful and to share my success!

BHM: Where would you like to be in five years time?

AA: I want to be hosting my own TV or radio show and also I want to be married with kids. n

A free and confidential sexual health testing service.

A registered charity in England & Wales (no.288527) and in Scotland (no.SC039986).

Getting to your local sexual health clinic for a check-up can sometimes be difficult, or the opening times may be awkward for you. That's why we run Fastest - a free, confidential HIV and sexual health testing service.

There are Fastest clinics across the country.

To find your nearest clinic, visit www.tht.org.uk/fastest or call

4

From producing some of Britain’s most esteemed artists, to helping spawn almost every major British dance music genre of the last twenty years, the Home Grown Exhibition makes for a showstopping story. But surprisingly it is one that has never before been told. Co-curated by Urbis’s Andy Brydon in collaboration with hip-hop writer James McNally and artist / musician Kid Acne, ‘Home Grown’ will showcase never before seen photography from the personal collections of DJ Milo (The Wild Bunch) and DJ 279; rare film footage sourced directly from Malcolm McLaren and cult documentary director Dick Fontaine; and exclusive documentation from seminal early hip-hop clubs like Spats and the Language Lab, right through to influential latter day spots such as Deal Real record store. It also will include rare – and sometimes unique -audio, flyers, posters, clothing and

Boom!

THE STORY OF HOME GROWN HIP-HOP

Top to bottom: Roots Manuva Album Flyer,

Million Dan, Skinnyman and Inja, Doc Brown and Lily Allen, Westwood Capital sticker.

‘Home Grown’ focuses on the wonderful, unpredictable story of UK hip-hop: a music and culture that erupted up from the streets with a little help from some surprisingly eminent friends - to change the face of British music and style.

36

WWW.BLACKHISTORYMONTHUK.CO.UK

EVENTS The story of home grown hip-hop Left: W-B Jam milo DJ. Below: Ms Dynamite photography

unseen photographs from the private collections of artists including the legendary Beezer, photographer of the Wild Bunch before they became Massive Attack; the inimitable Normski and former Hip-Hop Connection lensman Richard Reyes.

Andy Brydon commented: “British hip hop has never had the recognition and kudos it deserves. We have a wealth of talent in this country that has developed and grown in the last 30 years to become a respected musical force to be reckoned with and the artists that are consistently breaking through continue to push boundaries and take hip hop further. Many people are unaware of how British hip hop has evolved and of how influential it has been. Through this exhibition visitors will be able to trace the history of the UK scene before discovering what and who will be the next to make their mark.” n

by Spiros Politis from the ‘Devotional series’ exhibition

“With MS you need a wheelchair, right?”

“I don’t, but some do. Everyone’s MS is different.”

Dan

ny W alla

ce li

ving

with

MS

MS devastates people’s lives in many ways. For me, it ended a successful football career with Manchester United. But with the MS Society’s support, I’m still active. They’ve got a freephone helpline 0808 800 8000 and a website www.mssociety.org.uk where you can find out more or make a donation.

MS Society. Putting the pieces together.

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a charity registered in England and Wales (207495) and Scotland (SC016433)

MSS_BHMUK_HALF_HZ-V2.indd 1

14/9/09 12:19:51

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

37

Picture This This page, top to bottom: Estelle - Photograph by John Ferguson C, Gina Yashere, Ellery Handley Photograph by John Ferguson C, Shevelle Dynott - Photograph by John Ferguson C,

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EVENTS Black Britannia International Slavery Museum Albert Dock, Liverpool Liverpool

4

Black Britannia showcases 30 inspirational portraits of Black Britons by photographer John Ferguson, celebrating their contribution to British culture and public life over the last few decades.

Surgeons, teachers and fire-fighters feature alongside celebrities such as Lewis Hamilton, Frank Bruno, Charlie Williams and Ms Dynamite.

Each photograph demonstrates the individual’s strength of character and determination to succeed in their chosen field, establishing them as someone to look up to.

A broad range of professions are represented and the portraits include comedian Gina Yashere, jockey Royston French, singer Estelle and firewoman Vicky Henry.

Black achiever’s from Liverpool are also represented in the exhibition. Including boxer John Conteh, who was the first British boxer to hold the World Light Heavyweight crown in 25 years, and Gloria Hyatt, founder of the country’s first independent school to cater for Black and racial minority pupils and Liverpool’s first Black headteacher.

Ferguson’s vision for his photography is to inspire Britain’s Black youth in a society where he believes the kinds of Black role-models people grow up with are almost entirely negative.

Ferguson said: “Growing up, I had my own heroes who helped me challenge prejudice in my own life - individuals like Charlie Williams, John Conteh, Joan Armatrading and Bill Morris all included here. This exhibition is my own attempt to give something to the next generation of young Black people.” n

Black Britannia is on from 7 August 2009 to 28 February 2010, International Slavery Museum Albert Dock, Liverpool, Admission FREE, Open 10am-5pm, information 0151 478 4499. Website liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

This page, top to bottom: Allan Wimott Photograph by John Ferguson C, Joan Armatrading Photograph by John Ferguson C, Lewis Hamilton Photograph by John Ferguson C, Rudolf Walker

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

39

HS SCOTLAND AD

9/7/09

12:42

Page 1

Vocation, vocation, vocation

Management Training Scheme for Graduates c. £22,000 Show us real passion for healthcare, and we’ll show you one of the future leaders of NHS Scotland.

You. Our two-year graduate training scheme takes you to the heart of healthcare management. From day one you’ll be learning on the job, working in various management roles alongside some of our best clinical and non-clinical professional.

In return you’ll get a competitive salary and the chance to study for a Master’s qualification. On completing the programme you'll have a guaranteed job for 12 months. After that there’s no limit for the most talented and ambitious.

Applicants need a 2.2 degree. In addition you’ll show us commitment and dedication to healthcare for all. And pride at the prospect of managing on of Scotland’s most valued public services.

Or, as we say, vocation, vocation, vocation.

Check out: www.mts.scot.nhs.uk Website opens for applications on November 2nd 2009.

We’re an equal opportunities employer.

Closing date January 2010

“It offered me the chance to gain management experience; - I had a lot of support. I felt my job was making a difference. I also felt there were more opportunities for women due to flexible working, greater equality.”

“The NHS Management Training Scheme I undertook was fantastic. I had a host of opportunities for development and felt supported and guided.”

“The NHS graduate scheme offered a chance to experience lots of different parts of the NHS, we well as part time study, mentoring support, - the whole package attracted me because it meant I could do lots of the things I wanted to do, all at the same time”

FEATURE Caribbean contribution to the NHS

Many

RIVERSTOCROSS NHS Covers21/9/06 21/9/062:38 2:38 Page NHS 0 0 Covers pmpmPage 1 1

Left: Cover of the

Many rivers rivers to to cross cross Many

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FollowingWorld WorldWar WarTwo, Two,British Britishhospitals hospitalswere weredesdesFollowing peratelyshort shortofofstaff. staff.The Thegovernment governmentrecruited recruited perately throughoutthe theCaribbean.

Caribbean.The Theresponse responsewas wasenorenorthroughout mous.Between Between1948-1969 1948-1969thousands thousandsofofCaribbean Caribbean mous. women and men came work the health service. women and men came toto work inin the health service.

Youngrecruits recruitscame cameononboats boatsand andplanes. planes.They Theydid did Young essentialwork workininthe theNHS NHSasasnurses, nurses,doctors, doctors,cooks, cooks, essential porters, cleaners and administrators.

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NHS would not have survived.

Life Britain was someNHS would not have survived.

Life inin Britain was sometimes difficult but the Caribbean newcomers stayed, put times difficult but the Caribbean newcomers stayed, put downroots rootsand andmade madea avital vitalcontribution contributiontotoBritish British down society and the nation’s health. society and the nation’s health.

Usingarchive archiveand andcontemporary contemporaryphotographs photographsand and Using oralhistory historythis thisbook booktells tellsthe thefascinating fascinatingstory storyofofthe the oral Caribbeanmen menand andwomen womenwho whostaffed staffedthe theNational National Caribbean Health Service during formative years.

Health Service during itsits formative years.

ISBN 0-11-322721-3 ISBN 0-11-322721-3

www .tso.co.uk www .tso.co.uk

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Created Sugar Media Ltd, Studio 65-66, The Maltings, Created byby Sugar Media Ltd, Studio 65-66, The Maltings, Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 3LJ 169169 Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 3LJ 020 7407 7747Fax: Fax: 020 7407 6800 TelTel 020 7407 7747 020 7407 6800 Email info@sugarmedia.co. k. www.sugarmedia.co.

Email info@sugarmedia.co. uk.uwww.sugarmedia.co. ukuk

ollowing World War Two, British hospitals were desperately short of staff. The government recruited throughout the Caribbean. The response was enormous. Between 1948-1969 thousands of Caribbean women and men came to work in the health service.

Young recruits came on boats and planes. They did essential work in the NHS as nurses, doctors, cooks, porters, cleaners and administrators.Without them the NHS would not have survived. Life in Britain was sometimes difficult but the Caribbean newcomers stayed, put down roots and made a vital contribution to British society and the nation’s health.

Using archive and contemporary photographs and oral history Many Rivers to Cross tells the fascinating story of the Caribbean men and women who staffed the National Health Service during its formative years. n

780113227211 227211 9 9780113

Author:Ann AnnKramer Kramer Author: Interviews:Abigail AbigailBernard Bernard Interviews:

McMillan School of Teaching, Health & Care

Open your mind and…

Our mission is to help you make a rewarding and positive contribution to your community.

That’s why we have a wide range of courses that provide the perfect foundation for a career in Early Years environment, Schools, the Care Professions, Counselling, Youth and Community Development work, Social Work, or Post-compulsory education.

Our guiding principle is to ensure the well-being of all. Whatever subject you choose to study, we will develop your potential so that you can make a difference where it matters the most.

...develop others For more information about our courses: 01274 433333 www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

41

PROFILE: NMC

Proud of nurses and midwives The Nursing & Midwifery Council is delighted to support Black History Month and is a proud sponsor of www.manyriverstocross.co.uk, which charts the contribution of nurses from the Caribbean to the National Health Service over the past sixty years. Then, as today, nurses and midwives come from every part of the world, and every section of society, to work in healthcare in the UK, and as the registering and regulating body for the professions, the NMC ensures that they have the necessary skills and experience to practise safely.

An important function of the NMC is hearing Central to this is the Code, which sets out the allegations of misconduct against nurses and standards of conduct, performance and ethics midwives, and we can strike people off our you can expect from the nurses and midwives register if they are not fit to practise. While the who care for you and your family. Every nurse number of cases we hear every year is small, and midwife in the country is signed up to it, and compared to the 675,000 people on our register, you can get a copy of the Code by calling us on we take this responsibility seriously and look 020 7333 9333 or visiting our website at www. for high quality panellists, both healthcare nmc-uk.org.

NMC ad for BHM 20080901:Layout 1 01/09/2008 12:20 Page 1

professional and lay people, to judge these cases. We want to ensure that the panellists who hear cases reflect the UK’s diversity and we’d warmly welcome more applicants from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. If you want to help us to safeguard the public’s health and wellbeing, you can find more information about getting involved on our website.

You’re in safe hands

From the time you’re born until the end of your life, nurses and midwives care for you and your family. Thanks to the work of the Nursing & Midwifery Council in setting standards and dealing with people who aren’t safe to practise, you can be assured that you’re in safe hands.

The Code sets out the standards of conduct, performance and ethics you can expect from the people who care for you.

Every nurse and midwife in the UK is signed up to it. You can read it on our website or we can send you a copy.

Go to

www.nmc-uk.org

or call

020 7333 9333 www.blackhistorymonthuk.co.uk

| BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2008 | 69

FEATURE Caribbean contribution to the NHS

Many

RIVERSTOCROSS

Left: Dr Nola Ishmael at preliminary training school, Whittington hospital, 1969

A

fter World War Two, there was a strong recruitment drive in the Caribbean for workers to come to Britain, not just to help the newly formed NHS but also to provide much needed labour in other fields. Contributors to this book responded.

Denzil Nurse came to theDenzil Nurse came to the UK through British recruitment for workers. Nursing was not his first choice. He “wanted to go into the air force. In those days you had people from Britain coming to recruit from the different services, for example the army, the air force and transportation, and other services. I had a choice of nursing and air force but my first choice was the air force.When I went for the interview I was deemed immature!

In fact the sergeant recruiting officer said, ‘does your mother know that you’re leaving home?’ I said, ‘Of course, she brought me here!’ Due to that, I took my second choice, which was nursing. At that time we had choices of different hospitals and places. I threw the arrow and it landed on Stanley Royd Hospital in Wakefield, Yorkshire.”

Dr Neslyn Watson-Druée says her “interest in coming to England really was as a direct recruitment through Enoch Powell, the then Minister of Health who came into the Caribbean and, as they are doing now, was recruiting from the Caribbean … ” Dr Nola Ishmael started her working life as an infant school teacher in Barbados but changed to nursing. “I’ve always been interested in what nurses did from the books I’ve read. So when recruitment in the West Indies was at its peak, in the late 1950s, early 1960s, some of my school friends had come to England to be nurses. They had written to me to tell me how wonderful it was and so I went to the recruitment office and sought to go to England to do nursing.”

Dr Victor Eastmond’s main interest was always dentistry, but he did not have the qualifications to enter university. He “attained a job in the government service in Barbados … I worked in the sector where we were sending immigrants to London.

I realised a lot of people were getting this opportunity and I decided to enter that programme myself and I applied to work on London Transport. I left Barbados in 1964 at the age of 19 to emigrate to England, which was considered the mother country.”

After leaving school, Caswell Jeffrey trained as a carpenter in Jamaica. “They were advertising for people to come to this

country from the West Indies. I had a friend and he came over and he encouraged me to come. I came over in 1960 by ship.”

Some recruitment programmes were intended to equip Caribbeans with the necessary qualifications to return and use their expertise in their homeland. Dr Anthony Lewis left Jamaica in 1962 to study dentistry at the University of Leeds. At the time “there was a big need for dentists in Jamaica and the government was offering these scholarships and I was successful. I came to the UK in 1962. I remember it was a very, very bad winter that year. I came over by British Airways and landed at Heathrow Airport.” n

Remembering the EARLYdays Welcomes Black History Month

Above: Lynette Richards-Murray in Guyana working as a civil servant

East London NHS Foundation Trust Launch of BME recognise Staff Network 2009 and celebrate the achievements of Black people in this Country and elsewhere, and look forward to a society where disadvantages and discrimination in all its forms are eliminated.

Visit our website for details: www.eastlondon.nhs.uk

CAREERS East London NHS Foundation Trust could use your experience and skills to support and provide the very best care in mental health services across East London.

We are constantly looking to recruit the very best staff and provide them with excellent training and career opportunities.

All our vacancies are advertised on www.jobs.nhs.uk

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

43

ADVERTORIAL: Abbott

Treating the World; Abbott’s global AIDS programme Medicines without doctors to prescribe them or clinics and laboratories in which to treat and monitor individual patients is almost as bad as no medication at all.�

84 | BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2008 |

www.blackhistorymonthuk.co.uk

Global AIDS Care

More people than ever are receiving HIV drugs in the developing world. Although World Health Organisation targets to treat 3 million people with HIV meds by 2005 were not realised until late last year, burgeoning HIV treatment programmes are now stretching existing healthcare systems to the limit. It’s clear that one cannot exist without the other. Focus is now turning globally to ensuring healthcare systems can cope with the rapid expansion in treatment and care saving the lives of countless individuals with HIV around the world.

It’s just possible that AIDS treatment programmes will not just save the lives of people with HIV but the lasting legacy will be a greatly improved global health system.

US pharmaceutical giant Abbott is playing its part through a comprehensive Global AIDS Care programme which focuses on four key areas: strengthening health care systems, helping children affected by HIV/AIDS, preventing motherto-child transmission of HIV, as well as expanding access to testing and treatment.

most comprehensive initiatives in Africa to strengthen the country’s health care system.

Over 80 hospitals from the leading teaching hospital in Dar es Salaam to health centres in the most rural areas are benefiting from a far-reaching programme to modernize their facilities, improve patient and hospital management systems as well as vitally expanding capacity for testing and treatment. In the first six years of the project alone the Abbott Fund has invested more than $50 million in the scheme.

So far more than 7,800 health care workers have been trained to provide HIV care and HIV tests have been provided to test over 180,000 people.

This past summer work began on the first of 23 hospital laboratories to be modernized or newly built across Tanzania. The project will run for the next two years.

The long-term goal of a project like Tanzania Care is to create a public/private model that other countries can adopt to fight their own HIV epidemics.

Strengthening health care systems

Helping children affected by HIV

In 2005, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that unless urgent investments are made in health systems across the world, most of the health related Millennium development goals will not be met. The Millennium development goals represent a global partnership that has grown from the commitments and targets established at the world summits of the 1990s.

Responding to the world’s main development challenges and to the calls of civil society, the Millennium development goals promote poverty reduction, education, maternal health, gender equality, and aim at combating child mortality, AIDS and other diseases.

The World Health Organisation has cited a lack of health infrastructure as a key barrier to expanding access to HIV treatment in resource-limited settings. The limits of current systems are becoming increasingly apparent as HIV drugs become increasingly available in African countries. Health systems will need adapting to facilitate long-termrather than just emergency care.

Medicines without doctors to prescribe them or clinics and laboratories in which to treat and monitor individual patients is almost as bad as no medication at all.

Like many countries in Africa, Tanzania has a huge HIV problem. Tanzania plans to eventually offer HIV treatment to 2 million people. Back in 2002, the Abbott Fund and the Government of Tanzania formed a unique public-private partnership, implementing one of the

HIV is having a devastating effect on the world’s children. By 2010 one in five children in the hardest hit countries will be orphaned by AIDS. There are currently 15 million AIDS orphans in addition to around 2.3 million kids living with HIV in the developing world.

Nine out of ten children with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa. Abbott has worked hard to expand treatment options for kids with HIV. Abbott’s drug Kaletra (called Aluvia in the developing world) is now available as a reduced strength tablet suitable for positive kids and is recommended by the WHO for children who have experienced previous treatment failure. Since 2001, more than 700,000 children and families affected by AIDS have received services through Abbott Fund programmes.

Abbott works in partnership with UK based Non governmental organization the International HIV and AIDS alliance in Burkina Faso and India to help local organizations integrate child-focused activities into existing HIV prevention and AIDS care programmes. This approach ensures ‘buy in’ from local communities as well as a commitment to sustain the projects long into the future. So far around 20 schools have been renovated in Burkina Faso and Tanzania and countless children have been provided with food and clothing as well as funds for school fees.

The Abbott Fund supported a model paediatric HIV treatment programme that reduced child death rates by 90 percent;

Health

this model is now being expanded across the whole of Africa.

A partnership with the Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation in Tanzania and Uganda is working to accelerate enrollment of HIV positive children into care and treatment and develop the capacity of health care workers.

Preventing Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission

The transmission of HIV from a woman to her child during pregnancy or delivery causes the majority of childhood HIV cases in the developing world. An estimated 1,800 become newly infected with HIV each day.

It is possible to prevent the transmission of HIV from a mother to her child by treating the woman and baby with HIV drugs. Testing is the first step in preventing HIV transmission. Over the past five years Abbott donated more than 8 million rapid HIV tests free of charge in 69 developing countries, including all of Africa. Rapid tests produce results in minutes. Once a woman is diagnosed she can be offered free therapy to prevent her child becoming HIV positive.

The Abbott Fund is working with the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) to provide prevention of mother to child HIV transmission services in 70 faithbased health facilities in six provinces in Kenya. Through the partnership care and treatment will be provided to pregnant women and exposed babies and infants.

Abbott Fund’s partnership with Family Health International in Malawi and Tanzania focuses on the reduction of HIV transmission from mother to child; increasing access to comprehensive care and treatment for HIV positive children; and support of the government in creating an enabling environment through policy formulation and guidelines on paediatric HIV and AIDS management and ensuring the sustainability of scale-up over the life of project.

Expanding access to testing and treatment

Abbott previously manufactured a rapid HIV antibody test called the Determine test. It made over 100 million tests available at no profit or free of charge.

Abbott’s HIV medicines are broadly available at significantly reduced prices or at no profit in the developing world.

Taken together, these initiatives which combine providing treatment and care with skills and infrastructure building are a powerful attempt to improve the lives of people living in the most destitute of circumstances. But the lasting legacy has to be the community development projects, that skill people up to take control of their lives despite their circumstances. n

www.blackhistorymonthuk.co.uk

| BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2008 | 85

foster carer Becoming a

“There are different types of foster care depending on the needs of both the child and their family.

These include short-term care for just a few days or weeks, to long-term placements.”

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Anyone can apply to be a foster carer, so long as they have the qualities needed to look after children who cannot live with their parents. There is no maximum age limit for being a foster carer.

You can be a foster carer...

• whether you have your own children or not • if you are single, married or living with a partner • i f you are in or out of work • whether you live in your own home or rent • whatever your race, religion or sexuality Applying to become a foster carer If you are interested in becoming a foster carer, the first thing you should do is contact your local fostering service (either the social services department of your local council or an independent fostering agency) and arrange a meeting. They will explain what fostering involves and will help you decide whether you are right for fostering.

Once it has been decided you are suitable to become a foster carer, The Criminal Records Bureau will check that you have not

committed an offence which would exclude you from fostering. You will also have a health check, to rule out any health problems.

A social worker will then help you fill in an application form and you will be asked to attend a group preparation session with other people who are applying.

Finally your application will be sent to an independent fostering panel, which will recommend whether or not you can become a foster carer. This can take up to six months.

LIFE & HEALTH How to become a Foster carer

Types of Fostering

There are different types of foster care depending on the needs of both the child and their family. These include short-term care for just a few days or weeks, to long-term placements, as well as care for disabled children or children with behavioural problems.

• Emergency: When children need somewhere safe to stay for a few nights.

• Short-term: When carers look after children for a few weeks or months, while plans are made for the child’s future.

• Short breaks: When disabled children, children with special needs or children with behavioural difficulties regularly stay for a short time with a family, so that their parents or usual foster carers can have a break.

• Remand: When young people are remanded by a court to the care of a specially trained foster carer.

• Long-term: Not all children who need to permanently live away from their birth family want to be adopted, so instead they go into long-term foster care until they are adults.

• ‘Family and friends’ or ‘kinship’: A child who is the responsibility of the local authority goes to live with someone they already know, which usually means family members such as grandparents, aunts and uncles or their brother or sister • Specialist therapeutic: For children and young people with very complex needs and/or challenging behaviour. n adv.CS fostering 190x130

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Interested in

fostering?

We need foster carers who have space in their home to care for young people from birth to age 17.

We offer ongoing training and support, essential equipment, a professional fee and allowance.

We need carers aged 23 to 62, from all backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures and religions. We welcome male and female carers, single or with a partner. Working or not, with or without children, disabled or able bodied, from all sexualities.

Fostering can be challenging and rewarding. You will join a team that values your contribution in making a real impact on a young person’s life.

For more information contact: The Family Placement Unit, 2nd Floor, Barclay House Effie Road, Fulham, London SW6 1EN

Freephone 0800 169 3497 or visit www.lbhf.gov.uk

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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LIFE & HEALTH Fostering case study

Cultural understanding Case Study

The following case gives an example of two children from an Indian background that needed to be removed from their family of origin and taken into foster care.

Please note that the names and picture of the individuals have been altered to protect those concerned.

“Rohit and Mina were much happier since their move to Mohan and Rita’s. Not only were their religious and cultural needs were met but also they had support in facing the harsh reality of racism.”

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Background of the Family.

Mina aged 8 and Rohit aged 6 came into care of the local authority (looked after) because their father and mother had not been able to care for them. The father Vikram, used to physically chastise the children, and the mother Rani used to collude with him. Rani also suffered from mental health problems and was hospitalised for long periods of time. When she would come home she wanted the children to keep quiet, as she needed to take some rest. There were some incidences of domestic violence also that the children used to get caught into.

Mina and Rohit’s experiences in Foster Care.

Mina and Rohit were placed with white foster carers in an area where they were the only children from a Black Minority Ethnic background. Rohit used to get upset when other children and older people called him names and bully him. He used to ask why they bullied him – the foster carer would say to just ignore them and that it will go away. Over the two-year period that he lived there, he became angrier and used to lash out at children or the teachers. Often at home he would scream if the foster carers said something and latterly had also started to wet his bed.

Due to these reasons the children were moved to an Indian family – Mohan and Rita who had a 16 year old son Raj. Mina was unhappy at first as she enjoyed the attention she got at the previous foster carer- she said she liked wearing jeans and tops rather than Shalwar Kameez. However as time passed by she enjoyed the festivals – Holi and Diwali being celebrated with lots of gifts, sweets and colourful clothes. Mina started to take pride in her appearance and chose clothes from Indian shops. Being of Hindu religion Mina and Rohit also started to attend the temples along with the foster carer and also started to attend the religious education on Sundays.

Rohit started to look up to Raj and felt safer going out with him and talking to his friends. Mohan, Rita and Raj shared their experiences of racism with Rohit and Raj told him how to avoid getting into situation where he could be bullied. Rohit said he did not share his experiences of bullying with the previous foster carer as he didn’t want to trouble them, but he said that bullying used to make him angry and he wanted to scream.

Mina also enjoyed the Indian food. She said it reminded of her home, she liked going to the Asian superstore with the foster carers.

Mina and Rohit’s parents were vegetarian and these foster carers made various vegetarian dishes. With the previous foster carer the children used to have hamburgers when they went to McDonalds and at their house they were mostly given egg and bread and they missed the Indian food.

The birth parents also stopped complaining about their children’s standard of care and were appreciative of Mohan and Rita’s care.

The experiences of Rohit and Mina, demonstrates the importance of culturally matched placements, and how the children felt understood by Mohan and Rita.

As they were from the same cultural background they could help Rohit and Mina to value and celebrate their heritage, and to provide them with positive role models which they had been missing in their lives in the past.

Case history provided by Sahara, www.bmeadoptionandfostering.co.uk n

Helping children in care

The Sahara Adoption and Fostering Project publicise the need for more Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) foster carers and adoptive parents.

BME Adopters needed

Adoption is where you provide a permanent new family for a child or children. This can be a single child or a sibling group. You become their legal parents, with the same rights and responsibilities as if they were born to you. Adoption is a lifelong commitment and it’s one of the most positive and rewarding things you can do.

The child will call you mum and dad or equivalent in his or her own language.

There is a shortfall nationally in adopters from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, and many children and sibling groups spend long periods in foster care waiting for the right family that can meet their needs.

All kinds of children need adoptive families, from toddlers to teenagers, disabled and non-disabled children. The vast majority of children placed with adoptive families are under the age of five. Children from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds would benefit from being placed with families from their own cultural and religious backgrounds. There will be a child who is right for you and you for them.

Many of these youngsters will have had a difficult start in life but they all have one thing in common. That is they want to be loved and needed, and to be part of a loving, family home.

For more information please see www.bmeadoptionandfostering.co.uk

Is there an

empty space in your family?

We are currently looking for local people to foster and adopt with Islington. Please contact us on the numbers below to really start making that difference.

To find out more contact Fostering 0800 073 0428 Adoption 0800 123 4567 www.islington.gov.uk/fostering

About the Sahara adoption and fostering project?

Sahara Adoption and Fostering project is supported by 12 local authorities across the North East region. They are; Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Redcar & Cleveland, Stockton, South Tyneside and Sunderland.

Sahara’s aims are: • To publicise the need for more Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) foster carers and adoptive parents, and to help to increase the number of carers for Black and Minority Ethnic children.

• To recruit foster carers and adoptive parents on behalf of the 12 local authorities.

• To offer training and consultancy to local authority staff in the recruitment of Black and Minority Ethnic foster carers.

LIFE & HEALTH The adoption process

adoption The

process and where to get support

O

nce you have made the decision to adopt a child, the first thing you will need to do is contact your local adoption agency to make an initial inquiry.

After this, your adoption agency may ask you to a meeting where you can meet and chat with social workers and adoptive parents.

Initial application for adoption If you decide to proceed with the application and it is accepted by the adoption agency, you will be assigned a social worker to undertake what is called a home study assessment.

Home study assessment

The social worker will make a number of visits to your home and will: • ask you detailed questions about your own family background, your childhood and your present circumstances.

• speak with your partner, children and other members in the household (if any) .

• interview two personal referees (who you supply).

You will need to have a full medical examination with your own doctor, who will then give the adoption agency’s medical advisor a report. This report will outline your own and your family’s health history. This information allows the agency’s medical advisor to properly assess the health implications of adoption.

They can advise the adoption agency of any known health reasons why you would be unable to care for a child under 18.

The home study assessment is demanding, it can feel intrusive, and will take several months to complete. Everything is explored in depth with you. Adoption is for life, and the agency must be sure you are right for the role. Just as importantly, you must be certain you can make a success of it.

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Adoption panel Once you have seen and agreed with the home study report made by the social worker, it will be considered by an adoption panel. An adoption panel is a body of people who are empowered to consider whether:

• a child in the care of a local authority should be made available for adoption.

• potential adopters should be approved to adopt.

• particular adopters are suitable for a particular child or children.

The report will then be seen by the agency’s decision maker, who will be a senior manager in the Children Services Department. The panel’s written recommendation is passed to the decision maker for a final decision to be made.

Celebrate Black History Season

“A child who is placed for adoption will have a lot of questions about what it means and why it is happening. The following leaflets might be helpful when talking to a child or young person about adoption.”

September – November 2009 Black History Month was originally developed in the USA by scholar and teacher Carter G Woodson. The origins of BHM go back to 1926 when Carter G Woodson, editor for thirty years of the Journal of Negro History, established African Caribbean celebrations in America. It is still celebrated there in February each year.

The celebration was brought to Britain in the late 1980s and was pioneered in the East Midlands by Len Garrison. In Britain, the BHM has now grown to over 6,000 events. (updated October 2007 its 20th anniversary) People from our British African–Caribbean community have been promoting our arts and culture for many years. Examples can be traced to Berry Edwards in Manchester (Caribbean Week in the 70s), or Eric and Jessica Huntley from Ealing who regularly organised a Caribbean week in the late 70s and early 80’s.

In Derby a forum was established in the early 2000s to celebrate and organise BHM. It was decided in 2009 after a broad community consultation to upgrade the event to Black History Season which exists from September to November every year.

Please contact Akin Sankofa at cdw@derbyrec.org.uk for more information about the season and events.

How long does it take to adopt?

The assessment and approval process should take about eight months from your initial phone call to the adoption agency. Once approved, the process of matching you to a suitable child within the UK can take from a couple of weeks to over a year.

The earliest time a court can make an Adoption Order is 13 weeks after a child has lived with you. On average the adoption process takes two years from the time of the home study assessment to the making of an adoption order. Each case is different however, and it may take longer.

For full details of all events happening across the City, visit the following websites: Derby Cultural Diversity Arts Network http://dcdan.org.uk Derby City Council www.derby.gov.uk Derby Equality and Diversity Network www.derbyequalityanddiversitynetwork.webs.com

RACIAL EQUALITY GROUP

Adoptive families can ask their local authority to assess their needs for adoption support services, including financial support.

Local authorities will consider this assessment and decide whether to provide support services accordingly, taking into account the family’s views. Any services provided will be described in a plan, which will clearly outline how these services will be delivered.

This is designed to ensure that everybody is clear about what will be provided, when and by whom.

Talking to a child about adoption A child who is placed for adoption will have a lot of questions about what it means and why it is happening. www. direct.gov.uk has information which might be helpful when talking to a child or young person about adoption. n For more information please see

OR (PL ON D US L

Support for adoptive families

Reaching the heart of the Black Community

Subscriptions help support Keep the Faith

BRITAINʼS LEADING PUBLICATION FOR BLACK FAITH

DISTRIBUTED DIRECT INTO BME CHURCHES & COMMUNITY GROUPS NATIONWIDE

Get your copy now! Call 01284 760033 or email admin@keepthefaith.co.uk

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or

Advertisers: Reach over 375,000 people of all ages and backgrounds each month in the BME community with Keep the Faith and Black UK Online www.blackukonline.com

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www.direct.gov.uk

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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The Knowledge

Are you a Black History buff? Find out if you are in touch with your roots, or if you need to go back to the BHM learning zone, with Recognize’s BHM Quiz…

1. Which 1940’s musical starred Cab Calloway, Fats Waller and Lena Horne, the title of which has become Lena Horne’s signature tune?

A Strange Fruit B Stormy Weather C Hearts in Dixie 2. Which two brothers performed the legendary dance routine in the film Stormy Weather?

A Nicholas Brothers B Harris Brothers C Jones Brothers 3. Which Shakespearean actor’s first known British performance was at the Royal Coburg (now known as the Old Vic) in 1825?

A Idbra Ellis B Ira Aldridge C David Harewood 4. Who is known as the Mother of Notting Hill Carnival and the founder of the West Indian Gazette?

A Clarissa James B Claudette Johnson C Claudia Jones 5. Name the space shuttle on which Dr. Mae Jemison was an astronaut, when in September 1992 she became the first black woman in space.

A Star Ship Enterprise B Challenger C Endeavour 6. What branch of science was pioneered in Europe before World War II, by the zoologist Dr Ernest Just?

A Human Biology B Marine Biology C Brain Surgery 52

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7. On 7th June 1892 George Sampson received a patent for which utility appliance?

A Clothes Dryer B Washing Machine C Dish Washer 8. Which scientist has the distinction of being the very first person to successfully transform electric current into light?

A Lewis Latimer B Oliver Bulb C Alexander Bell 9. Why was the illiterate Jededia Buxton, heavily featured in the popular English paper, The Gentlemen’s Magazine in 1788?

A He spoke 5 languages B He was a mathematics genius C He invented shoe polish 10. In what business did Madam C.J. walker and Annie Turnbo specialise before becoming the first black women selfmade millionaires?

collection Annie Allen in 1960?

A Sterlin A. Brown B Gwendoline Brooks C Frank Yearby 14. Which English poet of Jamaican descent wrote the masterpiece The Ring and the Book in 1969?

A William Blake B Walt Whitman C Robert Browning 15. In 1773, twelve years after she was taken from Cameroon, Phillis Wheatley became the first Diaspora based African woman to do what?

A Own a newspaper B Publish a book C Paint a masterpiece 16. On the 24th August 1981 Charles Chapman became

A Cosmetics B Cotton C Food 11. Which Caribbean island has produced a Nobel Prize winner for both Economics and Literature?

A St Vincent and The Grenadines B St Lucia C Barbados 12. Name the famous poem

by Claude McKay that was adopted by Winston Churchill during World War II. A Flanders Fields B If We Must Die C Shape of Kings to Come 13. Who became the first black writer to win the Pulitzer Prize for literature with the poetry

the first black swimmer to swim across a geographical water region. Name it.

A Atlantic Ocean B Mediterranean Sea C English Channel 17. Which player became the first black captain of the West Indian cricket team in 1960?

FEATURE Black History Month Quiz

21

4

A Althea Gibson B Venus Williams C Gail Devers 20. Which British police force did Norwell Roberts join in 1967, Ron Hope become its first black Chief Inspector in 1994 and Superintendent in 1996?

A South Yorkshire Police B Greater Manchester Police C Metropolitan Police

we must die, 13 c Frank Yearby, 14 c, Robert genius, 10a Cosmetics, 11 b St Lucia, 12 b If Dryer, 8 a Lewis Latimer, 9 b Mathematics 5c Endeavour, 6 b Marine Biology, 7a Clothes Brothers, 3 b Ira Aldridge, 4 c Claudia Jones, Answers: 1b Stormy Weather , 2a Nicholas

22. The late Bernie Grant MP was the elected honorary life president of which political organisation?

A Human Rights Commission B The Equal Opportunities Commission C Law Commission

Browning, 15 b Publish a book, 16 c English, 17

A 1987 B 1988 C 1992

24. Before being elected leader of the British House of Lords, Baroness Valerie Amos became the first black Chief Executive with which independent organisation?

c Frank Worrell, 18 a Viv Anderson, 19 a Althea

21. Give the year Briton’s Labour Party national executive member, Diane Abbott become the first black woman elected to Parliament.

www.recognizeonline.co.uk, www.myspace.com/ recognizebirmingham, www.facebook.com/recognize. birmingham

Gibson, 20c Metropolitan Police, 21 a, 1987,

19. Who was the first black female tennis champion?

A Barbara Jordon B Shirley Chisholm C Yvonne Braithwaite Burke

Recognize is a community based social organisation committed to raising the profile of Black History and culture within the African and Caribbean diaspora. Our mission is based on the well known notion that whilst we can all name the well known Nelson Mandela, Muhammed Ali, Rosa Parks how would we fare with unsung heroes Olaudah Equiano, Ignatius Sancho, Walter Tull or Mary Prince.

In a time when the British media thrives on publishing negative stories on the black community here is an event aimed at raising the consciousness of the historic contributions by the Black community. We applaud those figures who names and achievements have been omitted from their rightful places in the history books and school history classes.

22 a Standing Conference on Racial Equality

A Viv Anderson B Andrew Watson C Ricky Henderson

23. Who in 1968 became the first African American woman to win a seat in Congress?

Recognize

in Europe, 23 b Shirley Chisolm, 24 b Equal

18. Who became the first black footballer to represent England?

A The Standing Conference on Racial Equality in Europe B One National Forum C Operation Black Vote

Opportunities Commission

A Clive Lloyd B Leary Constantine C Frank Worrell

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

53

Five years ago Juliana Campbell became Britain’s first BME ombudsman in financial services, when she joined the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Black History Month catches up with her as Juliana tells us what it’s like being a key member of the largest ombudsman service in the world ...

what is an ombudsman?

... and how her high flying legal credentials and a passionate commitment to justice, have helped her find career success – and a great deal of job satisfaction – in her role as a financial ombudsman.

I hope you don’t mind if we ask you up front – what is the Financial Ombudsman Service?

It’s a good question to ask! The ombudsman service was set up by law to offer a free service for consumers who’ve been unable to resolve a complaint with a financial firm.

The service can help with a wide-range of financial issues; ranging from car insurance and mortgages to banking, credit cards, pensions and loans.

So, what does being an ombudsman actually involve?

An ombudsman has a quasi-judicial role, so I have the power in law to settle disputes by making formal decisions that are legally binding on banks, insurance companies and other financial firms. I specialise in consumer-credit disputes, which covers a range of products from unsecured loans to debt collection.

And is an ombudsman needed to investigate every complaint that people make to the service?

No, the majority of disputes that come to the ombudsman service are resolved informally by our team of adjudicators,

but for cases that are more complex or contentious, either side can appeal to an ombudsman. Ombudsmen can order financial businesses to pay consumers compensation of up to £100,000 – although the majority of disputes involve much smaller amounts of money.

Is there anything in your life that prepared you for the kinds of complaints you see at the ombudsman service?

Well, I come from a family of ten children, so I’m used to sorting out disputes. With a large family, you learn to make your voice heard – and I also know from personal experience that you can’t always please everyone!

In the disputes I decide, emotions often run high. Important issues are at stake, and one side or the other may be disappointed with the decision I arrive at. My job is to look into both sides of the case. I have to consider the underlying facts and circumstances, carefully and impartially.

Tell us about your career before you joined the ombudsman service ...

I was encouraged by my family to believe that you can achieve anything with hard work and perseverance.

I was given the Sweet & Maxwell award for best student while studying law at university and passed my professional law qualifications with distinction, qualifying as a solicitor in 1995.

I later joined the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, where I was Head of Professional Conduct, overseeing the disciplinary process.

One last thing, do you have any advice for people who might not feel confident about making a financial complaint?

Often, people feel they’re just little cogs in a complex and faceless financial world. But no one need be afraid of dealing with big financial institutions – or of asserting their rights if they’re unhappy with the service they get.

This is exactly where the Financial Ombudsman Service comes in – to help level the playing field between ordinary consumers and powerful financial organisations.

Key facts you need to know about the ombudsman service Free service, set up by law to help settle financial complaints. The ombudsman doesn’t take sides and is able to stand back and take a fresh look at your complaint, often coming up with a quick and informal solution that satisfies both sides.

It’s not like going to court. If you have a financial complaint that can’t sort out, you can contact the ombudsman service by phone or in writing. The ombudsman will ask you to put your complaint in your own words – so you don’t need to have legal knowledge or expert help.

It’s not just about investments. Every year, the ombudsman service helps settle complaints about a wide-range of financial disputes – from problems with a credit card or an insurance policy, to disputes about pawnbroking and debt collection.

If you aren’t sure if your complaint is covered, you can call the ombudsman and ask them.

It has legal powers. The ombudsman service has legal powers that can require a financial firm to pay up to £100,000 to settle a complaint. If you aren’t happy with the ombudsman’s decision, you don’t have to accept it – and your legal rights remain unaffected subject to the usual court time limits.

consumer helpline

0845 080 1800 or visit

www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

If you are interested in pursuing a career at the ombudsman service email: recruitment@financial-ombudsman.org.uk

‘‘

FEATURE

BHM gets quickfire with Stephen K Amos

‘‘

As a kid there were no black role models for me so I used to tell all of my friends that Daley Thompson was my dad and Grace Jones was my mum.

K

FACTOR

Stephen K Amos is a new force in comedy. Charming and original, Stephen’s material challenges and laughs in the face of all the old stereotypes. A gifted actor, he has also won praise for his more serious acting roles.

BHM finds out what makes the funnyman tick…..

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BHM: Childhood ambition?

Stephen K Amos: From a young age my ambition was to become a lawyer. Or maybe it was my mum and dad’s ambition for me?

However I now do a job that’s in many ways similar to being a lawyer. I stand up in front of a room full of strangers telling lies. And they’re always judging me.

BHM: Life before standup ...3 other jobs you’ve had?

SKA: I worked as a train guard on the Orient Express. I saw the advert and thought that I’d travel the world and mix with the jet set. It ended up with me guarding the both empty train in London every week before it went into transit. I never left Kings Cross. My next favourite job was working as a meat packer in Sainsburys. I was the mince man. And when I say mince, I don’t mean I was voguing in six inch stilettos saying ‘Oh matron! I like your beef!’ I mean I made the mince. My other job was less soul destroying. I was a vet’s assistant.

BHM: Career breakthrough moment?

SKA: I knew I had made it when in the space of a week I appeared on Live at the Apollo and at the Royal Variety Show. People were stopping me at the bus stop after that and asking if I was Lenny Henry. To which I replied “yes”.

BHM: Best and worst things about stand-up?

SKA: I get to do a job I love and travel all around the world and meet different types of people. But I hear the funniest things at times.

I went to Avimore in the Scottish Highlands and at the gig the owner came up to me and said ‘Have you met black Tony?’ I thought I have to meet black Tony. I found him.

He was Spanish. On the other hand always being on the move can be lonely at times.

BHM: Who do you think you are? Can you give us a brief rundown of your family tree?

SKA: I’m a twin and so I’ve always had a best friend. People always ask if we are identical. I can assure you she’s not six foot two with side burns. As a kid there were no black role models for me so I used to tell all of my friends that Daley Thompson was my dad and Grace Jones was my mum.

I knew no-one would bully me if they thought that Grace Jones was my mum. n Stephen K Amos Tour Dates October 2009 25th Worthing Assembly Hall 27th High Wycome - Wycome Swan 28th Halifax Victoria Theatre 29th York Grand Opera House 31st Jersey Opera House For full tour dates for 2009 please see www.gloriousmanagement.com

FEATURE BHM LGBT Cast from Finding Me, The Movie

A sense of

PRIDE “The month is an opportunity for ALL of us to learn more about the histories of ALL black people. If we leave out any part, it’s not a true or complete history.” So says Andrew Prince, as he leads the way in breaking down misconceptions and prejudices surrounding the LGBT community.

B

lack History Month is the month in which we bear witness to the progress, richness and diversity of black achievement. It should be seen as a time for black people to reflect on how far we have come and how far we still have to go. It is a time for black people all over to reflect on both the history and teachings of black people whose contributions are still too little known.

The Month’s primary focus is on acknowledging the achievements of the black community, as well as providing an opportunity to acknowledge the historical legacy of the slave trade and colonialism across the world.

Until very recently, if you objectively review the black press, there remains a negative response to anything to do with being LGBT during the month. It’s as if there’s a deliberate ongoing suppression of black LGBT culture and history. It is ironic because one of the founders of Black History Month in the UK, Linda Bellos, is an out black lesbian and was former leader of Lambeth Council in 1986.

The month is an opportunity for ALL of us to learn more about the histories of ALL black people. If we leave out any part, it’s not a true or complete history. The church,

with its ex-colonial religion, plays a big part in resisting LGBT inclusion - coupled with male machismo and the idea that being LGBT is somehow “foreign” to black culture. When we start to break down these misconceptions, we will be able to make some headway and all of us will be able to celebrate Black History Month in a positive way.

The way of building strong communities and individuals is to give them a sense of pride irrespective of sexuality. Because of this non-inclusion for a very long time, since 2006 we have decided to organise our own events during the month, and so far we have had a good response from organisations we have contacted.

We have to use the Month as a vehicle through which we can showcase this contribution, and so help to provide a model for our young, who are so badly in need of example. The growing self-destructiveness that we see in our young leads us to the question, what models are they following?

The central lesson of Black History Month is that with courage and initiative, we can change things. To this end, for 2009 Outburst UK will be screening a film entitled “Finding Me”, with financial assistance from Southwark Council. The London Southbank University

has kindly donated the use of their 200 seat cinema for screening. This year the theme is “The Journey: past, present future”. n

Andrew Prince is the founder and director of Outburst UK, he is also an Associate Director of Pride London and the editor of www.UKBlackOut. com, the largest black lesbian and gay resource website in Europe. Andrew has had a long involvement with the community promoting events, advocacy, communications and campaigns.

In 2007, he was the recipient of the Black LGBT Community Awards for Communications.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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Career going places?

We offer all of our employees a challenging and rewarding work environment, whether you choose to be a firefighter, engineer, craftsperson, HR professional, Control operator, Logistics Support worker or one of our many other behind the scene’s roles, we value everyone’s contribution.

To find out more: Visit www.essex-fire.gov.uk Contact: Human Resources: 01277 222 531 Ext 2281 and speak to Jayne Dando

Our Values: Respect, Accountability, Openness and Involvement

FEATURE Chukwudum Ikeazor from the Metropolitan Police Diversity Directorate

Why should we celebrate Black History Month?

Chukwudum Ikeazor from the Metropolitan Police Diversity Directorate explains the “Whys” and the “Ifs” behind Black History Month.

OUR HIDDEN HISTORY

MONTH Words Chukwudum Ikeazor, Diversity & Citizen Focus Directorate, Metropolitan Police Service

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espite its uneasy early years, Black History Month (BHM) today has endorsement at the highest levels of government in the United Kingdom and the United States where it was founded in 1926. American Presidents since 1976 issue Black History Month proclamations every February. In Britain, every October, the Prime Minister, Mayors, Police Chiefs all have something to say about Black History Month and the contribution of Black people to Britain. The history of Black people teaches me that we can achieve anything.

In spite of this, there are still questions being posed about BHM, the most searching being “Why?” BHM is a child of necessity and history, surrounded by many “Ifs” that explain its rationale.

If Black History had not been sidelined or subjected to the level of denial, distortion and deconstruction it has been through, there would no need for special measures to redress any imbalance.

If millions of Africans had not been forcibly shipped into slavery to the Americas, had their ancestral memory wiped out, their racial and continental history hidden from them, there would have been no need for BHM. Black History Month is relevant in the same way that the International Women’s Day, the Holocaust Memorial Day, the Remembrance Day or Inter-Faith Week. They only arose because things had gone very badly wrong in the past.

If Black/African achievers and achievements, the Nubian pharaohs, the West African empires, the 18/19th century abolitionists, the writers, the Ancient Rome African soldiers, and administrators (including one emperor), African popes, First and Second World War soldiers and officers, and so many others had not been sidelined or airbrushed out of conventional history then there would have been no need for special measures

to restore them to their rightful places.

If black singers, entertainers, boxers, footballers and other sports people were not repeatedly and exclusively paraded and repeatedly proclaimed as “role models” as though their endeavours were the only areas where black people have or could excel; then perhaps there would have been little point to BHM. As the European child may, consciously or subconsciously, take pride in the ancient empires and civilisations that sprung from their continental home, from Rome and Greece, though he may not be Greek or Italian, that African child, African-American child, African-Caribbean child deserves too to know the truth that his ancestral continental homeland is also home to great civilisations, great edifices, great men and women who have contributed to history.

Other communities with particular histories and experiences of destructive discrimination have also seen it fit set up their own History Months. History Months are children of circumstances. Were those circumstances not to have occurred, there would have been no Jewish Heritage Month (USA), no Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month (UK), no Black History Month (UK, USA and Canada) and Carter Woodson might have made his name in other ways.

I look forward to, someday, the celebration of what may be called “Our History Month”, where every child of every race, religion or region will have a sense of belonging and part-ownership of our history. n

Top: President Obama: Black History is now documented. Above: West African Air Corps, 1945: BHM highlights hidden histories

PROFILE:Hertfordshire HertfordshireConstabulary Constabulary PROFILE: PROFILE: Hertfordshire Constabulary

HertfordshireBlack BlackPolice PoliceAssociation Association AsAs Hertfordshire celebrates yearanniversary, anniversary,there’s there’saanew new celebrates itsits1010year ordinator headingititup. up. coco ordinator heading And Ashley Johnson keentotopromote promote As Hertfordshire Black Police Association And PCPC Ashley Johnson isiskeen working Hertfordshire Constabulary celebrates its 10 year anniversary, there’s working forfor Hertfordshire Constabulary asasaaa new andexciting exciting careeropportunity opportunitytoto cochallenging ordinatorand heading it up. challenging career those ethnic minority backgrounds.

And PC Ashley Johnson is keen to promote those ofof ethnic minority backgrounds.

Ashley, whohas hasbeen beenConstabulary withthe theforce force for seven working forwho Hertfordshire asfor a seven Ashley, with years, said: “There’s so much variety working for challenging and exciting career opportunity to years, said: “There’s so much variety working for Hertfordshire Constabulary andit’s it’san anexciting exciting those of ethnicConstabulary minority backgrounds.

Hertfordshire and career.

Ashley, who has been with the force for seven career. day you so could bevariety dealingworking with a road years,“One said: “There’s much for “One day you could be dealing with a road traffic collision, the next you helping to Hertfordshire Constabulary andcould it’s anbe exciting career. traffic collision, the next you could be helping to resolve a dispute and be another daywith dealing with a “One day you could dealing a road traffic resolve a dispute and another day dealing with a robbery.the ” next you could be helping to resolve a collision, robbery.”

Theand Hertfordshire which represents dispute another dayBPA, dealing with a robbery.”

The Hertfordshire BPA, which represents visible ethnic minority people African, AfricanThe Hertfordshire BPA, whichof represents visible visible ethnic minority people of African, AfricanCaribbean, Mid-Eastern, Asian and Asian subethnic minority people of African, African-Caribbean, Caribbean, Mid-Eastern, Asian and Asian subcontinent origin, has grown since its inception in Mid-Eastern, Asian and Asian sub-continent origin, continent origin, has grown since its inception in June 1999. has grown since its inception in June 1999.

JuneThen 1999.

Then the membership stood just before the membership stood atat just 9, 9, before Then to the membership stood atnow just before growing to over 2001 and it9,stands growing over 3030 byby 2001 and now it stands at at growing to over 30 by 2001 and now it stands at over 150. over 150. overIt150.

It follows the footsteps the National BPA, follows inin the footsteps ofof the National BPA, It follows in set the footsteps ofwith the National BPA, which was first set up deal problems Black which was first up toto deal with problems Black which wasofficers first setwere up toexperiencing, deal with problems Black and Asian officers were experiencing, including and Asian including and Asian officers were experiencing, including racism, victimisation, injustice and unfairness. racism, victimisation, injustice and unfairness. racism, victimisation, injustice and unfairness.

Ashley, who feels her experience a Hate Ashley, who feels her experience asas a Hate Crime Ashley, whoyears feels her experience Hate Crime officer for two years herasana invaluable officer for two gives hergives an invaluable insight Crime officer forissues, two“The years gives her anBPA invaluable in the added: “The Hertfordshire BPA ininsight the issues, added: Hertfordshire is going insight in the issues, added: “The Hertfordshire is going from toeach strength each year. BPA from strength tostrength strength year. is going from strength to strength each “So there’s never been a better time to apply “So there’s never been a better time toyear. apply for “So there’s never a better time to apply for a career with thebeen Constabulary. a career with the Constabulary. for a“We career with the you Constabulary.

“We can support you and provide invaluable can support and provide anan invaluable “We can support you provide anfirst invaluable sounding board you as you take your first steps sounding board forfor you asand you take your steps sounding board foror you as youof take your steps as a student officer member staff, andfirst right the way through your career with us.”

asaastudent studentofficer officeror or member member of of staff, staff, and and right as right theway waythrough throughyour your career career with with us. us.”” the

Ashleyanswers…

Ashley Ashley answers…

What is the HBPA answers…

Whatfor? is the the HBPA there What is HBPA there for?works with The HBPA there for?

TheConstabulary HBPA works works with the The HBPA with the Constabulary to support its staffto the Constabulary to support its staff by providing a by support its staff by providing a network network where providing a network where people people can share where people can share their their experiences. can share their experiences.

Itexperiences. also acts as It a also It also acts as a listening listening ear for its membersacts and as highlights a listening ear forBlack its members and highlights issues Black issues Minority Ethnic staff may ear for its members and highlights issues Black Minority Ethnic staff may face in the police face in the police service.

Sometimes the service.

Minority Ethnic staff may face in the police service.

Sometimes the Hertfordshire BPA plays a part Hertfordshire BPA plays a part in forming newin Sometimes the Hertfordshire BPA plays a part in formingto new policies to deal withas these policies deal with these issues well.issues as forming new policies to deal with these issues as well. well.

What are the opportunities in the police?

What are the opportunities in the Opportunities as a police officer canpolice? extend from What are the opportunities in the Opportunities a police officer canpolice? extend working in the as immediate response units tofrom Opportunities as a police officer can extend working in the immediate response units to from neighbourhood teams to traffic to community working in the immediate response units to neighbourhood teamsresponse. to traffic to community safety or even armed neighbourhood teamsresponse. to traffic to community safety or even armed As police staff, you can be a Police Community safety evenstaff, armed Asor police youresponse. canofbeCrime a Police Community Support Officer, a Scenes Officer, a Crime As police staff, you canofbeCrime a Police Community Support Officer, a Scenes Officer, a Crime Analyst or even a Credit Controller.

And that is but Support aa Scenes of Crime Officer, a Crime evennumber CreditofController.

And that is but aAnalyst few of or aOfficer, vast opportunities.

Analyst a Creditof Controller.

And that is but a few ofora even vast number opportunities. aWhy few choose of a vastthe number opportunities. policeofas a career?

Why choose the police asof a career?

There is just such a variety opportunity and Why theexciting police as a career?

Therechoose is just but such a variety of opportunity challenging areas you can getand There is just such a variety opportunity challenging butclichéd exciting you can getand involved in. As asareas itofsounds, no one day challenging but exciting areas you can get in.and As clichéd it meet sounds, no one dayall isinvolved the same you getasto people from involved in. As clichéd it sounds, one day walks of life.

But I think,asabove that,no working for the police stretches you as well and encourages

isis the thesame sameand andyou youget getto tomeet meetpeople peoplefrom fromallall walks walksof oflife. life.But ButI Ithink, think,above abovethat, that,working workingfor for the thepolice policestretches stretchesyou youas aswell welland andencourages encourages you youto todevelop developskills skillsyou youmight mightnot noteven evenknow know you to develop skills you might not even know you youhad. had.These Theseare areskills skillslike likeproblems problemssolving, solving, you had.

These are skills like problems solving, decision-making, decision-making,public publicspeaking, speaking,working workingon on decision-making, public speaking, working on your a aa yourown owninitiative initiativeand andalso alsoworking workingasas aspart partofof of your own initiative and also working part team teamtogether togetherto toachieve achievepositive positiveresults. results. team together to achieve positive results.

And Andoften oftenyou youcan canactually actuallysee seethose thoseresults results And often you can actually see those results of ofyour yourhard hardwork workfrom fromsatisfied satisfiedcustomers customersinin in of your hard work from satisfied customers the communities you serve.

So you too get job the communities you serve.

So you too get job the communities you serve. So you too get job satisfaction satisfactionininknowing knowingthat thatyou youhave havemade madea a satisfaction in knowing that you have made a person personfeel feelsafe safeinintheir theirown ownhome homeororhelped helped person feel safe in their own home or helped protect protecttheir theirproperty propertyfrom fromburglary burglaryororeven even protect their property from burglary or even brought broughtan anoffender offendertotojustice. justice. brought an offender to justice.

What Whatdo doyou youdo doother otherthan thansupport supportstaff staffand and What do you do other than support staff and officers officersin inthe theHertfordshire HertfordshireBPA? BPA? officers in the Hertfordshire BPA? As Asan anassociation associationwe weare arecommitted committedtotoimproving improving As an association we are committed to improving relations relationsininthe thecommunities communitieswe weserve servebetween between relations in the communities we serve between the theConstabulary Constabularyand andpeople peoplefrom fromVisible VisibleEthnic Ethnic the Constabulary and people from Visible Ethnic Minority backgrounds.

We promote the Minority backgrounds.

Wealso also promote the Minority backgrounds.

We alsoand promote theinin importance ofofcultural importance culturaldiversity diversity andequality equality importance cultural diversity andour equality in employment and aim solve employmentof and aimtoto solveissues issues ourmembers members employment and aim to solve issues our members may mayencounter. encounter. may encounter.

We also We alsoliaise liaisewith withother othervisible visibleethnic ethnicminority minority We alsoorganisations, liaise with other visible support ethnic minority or including orrelevant relevant organisations, including support or relevant organisations, including support groups. groups. groups.

To find out more about a career with

ToHertfordshire find out more about a career Constabulary, go towith To find out more about Hertfordshire Constabulary, go towith www.herts.police.uk or a career Hertfordshire Constabulary, go to www.hertspolicecareers.co.uk www.herts.police.uk or www.herts.police.uk or www.hertspolicecareers.co.uk You can also email Hertfordshire BPA www.hertspolicecareers.co.uk hertsbpa@herts.pnn.police.uk

Our officers are exposed to all aspects of police work. From surveillance operations enquiries.

From work. burglary to Our officers are exposedtotofraud all aspects of police From organised crime.

So if you’re looking for a full-on police career, surveillance operations to fraud enquiries.

From burglary to the only place crime. you have go to islooking hertspolicecareers.co.uk organised So to if you’re for a full-on police career, the only place you have to go to is hertspolicecareers.co.uk

THERE ARE SOME THINGS THERE SOMECAN’T THINGS POLICEARE OFFICERS EXPERIENCE POLICE OFFICERS CAN’T EXPERIENCE IN HERTFORDSHIRE. IN HERTFORDSHIRE. SUCH AS BOREDOM, TOO MUCH SUCH AS BOREDOM, TOO MUCHDAYS. PAPERWORK AND UNEVENTFUL PAPERWORK AND UNEVENTFUL DAYS.

Working together for a Safer Hertfordshire Promoting Diversity

Working together for a Safer Hertfordshire Promoting Diversity

LIFE & HEALTH Uniformed services - More than a career.

Sunita Gamblin is Chief Inspector and Community and Partnerships

UPWARDS

Manager for Derbyshire

ONWARDS AND

International Training and Education Conference hosted by GMP in 2006).

We are working towards becoming a truly diverse organisation and are crime and protecting people.

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the police for 19 years, Sunita is dedicated to the force and to her local community.

“

I first had the idea of joining the force when I was 16, after leaving education with a few GCSEs. Although I had always wanted to join the force, the school careers advisor felt that because of my few qualifications, my height (5ft 4 inches) and my physical stature, I’d never get in. It was my brother who persuaded me to apply after seeing an advert in the local paper. I’ve never looked back since.

As an Asian female officer, with over 19 years service, I’ve seen a lot of changes in the force.

I feel that my cultural background gives me an invaluable insight into the communities I work for and enables me to communicate with groups that are sometimes labelled as ‘hard to reach’. We are making some headway to attracting more ethnic groups to the organisation and, although I’m extremely proud of my achievement of becoming the first and only Asian female Chief Inspector in Derbyshire, I look forward to the day when I’m not the exception.

This role is so rewarding and allows me to keep close to my community, who are at the forefront of every decision that I make. I would encourage all women, from all backgrounds to consider a role in the force, providing you have ambition and the willingness to succeed.

Some of the key qualities that have helped me in my career are as follows: I am a team worker and like to listen, build positive relationships and people tell me I am diplomatic – that said I am very honest and direct.

I am also disciplined, well organised and have an ability to take practical steps and actions, I have a common sense approach to my job and like to get things done.

I am determined and ambitious, but have always been respectful of my peers and of the public. Manners cost nothing, but can get you a long way ahead of the game.

I am willing to go wherever my career takes me and look forward to my future challenges within the force. Onwards and upwards.” n

“Although I’m extremely proud of my achievement of becoming the first and only Asian female Chief Inspector in Derbyshire, I look forward to the day when I’m not the exception.”

We are proud to support Black History Month 2009.

BHM_GMP.indd 1

Constabulary. Having served in

18/9/08 14:42:30

FIREFIGHTING FIREFIGHTING DOESNʼT DOESNʼT HAVEHAVE TO BE TOINBE YOUR IN YOUR PASTPAST TO BE TOABE PART A PART OF OUR OF OUR FUTURE. FUTURE. No one isNo born onetoisfight bornfires. to fight Andfires. in our And experience in our experience there certainly there isn’t certainly a firefighting isn’t a firefighting ‘type’. We‘type’. have We have people ofpeople all shapes, of all sizes shapes, andsizes backgrounds and backgrounds in our team. in our And team. we actively And weencourage actively encourage that diversity. that diversity.

PROFILE: PROFILE: Greater Greater Manchester Manchester

Because Because it puts usit inputs a better us in position a better to position meet the to meet needsthe of needs the different of the communities different communities we work we in. work in.

If you want If a you career wantwhere a career youwhere can actively you canprotect actively those protect closest those toclosest you, visit towww.gmfrs-thinkagain.com you, visit www.gmfrs-thinkagain.com THINK YOU THINK KNOW YOUWHAT KNOW ITWHAT TAKESITTO TAKES BE ATO FIREFIGHTER? BE A FIREFIGHTER? THINK AGAIN. THINK AGAIN.

Vibrant Vibrantand andDiverse Diverse

Greater Greater Manchester Manchester has has a vibrant a vibrant The The role role of a of firefighter a firefighter involves involves andand diverse diverse community community andand we we much much moremore thanthan working working on fires on fires feel feel thatthat it is it important is important thatthat as as and and roadroad traffic traffic collisions. collisions.

We We an organisation an organisation we reflect we reflect this this spend spend a great a great dealdeal of time of time talking talking diversity diversity in our in our workforce workforce to to to people to people about about fire safety, fire safety, which which ensure ensure we can we can reach reach out out to alltoour all our means means we place we place as much as much emphasis emphasis communities communities andand strive strive to make to make on personal on personal qualities qualities as we asdo weon do on Greater Greater Manchester Manchester a safer a safer place place physical physical attributes. attributes.

Many Many people people still have still have the view the view thatthat to betoabe firefighter a firefighter you you havehave to to be over be over 6ft and 6ft and wellwell built.built.

People People whowho havehave the potential the potential to become to become excellent excellent firefighters firefighters maymay rule rule it outit as outa as viable a viable career career option option because because theythey believe believe thatthat height height restrictions, restrictions, physical physical strength, strength, lack lack of qualifications of qualifications and and eveneven theirtheir background background / gender / gender can rule can rule them them out. out.

However However the Fire the Service Fire Service is not is just not just about about firefighters, firefighters, we also we also havehave a a dedicated dedicated support support teamteam whowho are are as important as important as our as firefighters our firefighters in in the running the running of the of service. the service.

WithWith a a variety variety of jobs of jobs which which range range fromfrom working working in HRinto HRFinance to Finance and and IT, from IT, from administrative administrative staffstaff to to mechanics mechanics and and electricians, electricians, therethere is is something something for everyone. for everyone.

For more For more information information about about firefighter firefighter The The reality reality is that is that therethere are no areheight no heightopportunities opportunities go togo to restrictions restrictions or any or qualification any qualification www.gmfrs-thinkagain.co.uk www.gmfrs-thinkagain.co.uk or why or why entryentry requirements. requirements.

Instead Instead we are we are not book not book a place a place on one on of one our oftaster our taster looking looking for people for people withwith a range a range of of daysdays on: taster_days@manchesterfire. on: taster_days@manchesterfire. personal personal qualities, qualities, suchsuch as good as good gov.uk, gov.uk, For support For support rolesroles visit:visit: communication, communication, the ability the ability to to www.manchesterfire.gov.uk. www.manchesterfire.gov.uk. workwork wellwell withwith others, others, calmcalm under under pressure pressure and and non non judgemental. judgemental.

Lincolnshire Police

www.blackhistorymonthuk.com www.blackhistorymonthuk.com

LINCOLNSHIRE POLICE

We believe it’s the individual skills you bring that make us the successful organisation we are today.

It’s your personal qualities that are important, so in short, you’ll only be judged on your ability to take on the unique responsibilities of working for us – and nothing else.

Diversity is in our nature. After all, if you join us as a Police Officer or in one of our many Police Support Staff roles – which could be anything from administration to forensic science to vehicle maintenance – they’re about as varied, and as vital, as it gets. Or you might wish to join us as one of our trained volunteers, either as a Special Constable or Community Volunteer you’ll soon realise no two days will be the same. No matter where you’ll join, you’re helping look after the community.

For information on careers with Lincolnshire Police visit www.lincs.police.uk or call the Recruitment Team on (01522) 558235.

We provide a comprehensive range of attractive benefits including a generous holiday allowance, final salary pension scheme, flexible working and development opportunities.

Lincolnshire Police are committed to fair treatment and providing Equality of Opportunity

www.lincs.police.uk

FIREFIGHTING FIREFIGHTING DOESNʼT DOESNʼT HAVE HAVE TO BE TO IN BEYOUR IN YOUR PAST PAST TO BE TO A BE PART A PART OF OUR OF OUR FUTURE. FUTURE. No oneNo is born one istoborn fightto fires. fightAnd fires. in And our experience in our experience there certainly there certainly isn’t a firefighting isn’t a firefighting ‘type’. We ‘type’. have We have people people of all shapes, of all shapes, sizes and sizes backgrounds and backgrounds in our team. in our And team. weAnd actively we actively encourage encourage that diversity. that diversity.

Because Because it puts itusputs in a us better in a position better position to meettothe meet needs the of needs the different of the different communities communities we work wein.work in.

If you want If you a career want awhere careeryou where canyou actively can actively protect protect those closest those closest to you, visit to you, www.gmfrs-thinkagain.com visit www.gmfrs-thinkagain.com THINK THINK YOU KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT IT TAKES IT TAKES TO BE TO A FIREFIGHTER? BE A FIREFIGHTER? THINK THINK AGAIN.AGAIN.

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takingPride

BLACK BLACK HISTORY HISTORY MONTH MONTH 2008 2008

We take pride in keeping Suffolk safe.

Do you want to join our team?

Suffolk Constabulary is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes individuals from all backgrounds.

Policing provides a variety of roles from front line uniformed positions, including Special Constables, to administrative vacancies, all of which contribute to providing a high level of Policing across the county.

To find out more about the exciting roles in the Suffolk Constabulary and to see our current vacancies please visit www.suffolk.police.uk

EVENTS The Metropolitain Police Showcase

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Met Police officers stage their

annual showcase in support of local communities

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The Metropolitan Black Police Association is once again proud to present its annual Celebration Of Life concert, bringing together some of the finest names in contemporary music for a night of fantastic entertainment and raising awareness in support of the MetBPA’s antiviolence initiative ‘Revival’.

What is VOYAGE?

R&B and reggae star Maxi Priest will headline joined by soul/jazz vocalist. Carleen Anderson, winner of the 2008 MOBO award for Best Jazz Artist, YolanDa Brown and The London Community Gospel Choir.

The Metropolitan Black Police Association is once again proud to present its annual Celebration Of Life concert, bringing together some of the finest names in contemporary music for a night of fantastic entertainment and raising awareness in support of the MetBPA’s anti-violence initiative ‘Revival’.

R&B and reggae star Maxi Priest will headline joined by soul/jazz vocalist. Carleen Anderson, winner of the 2008 MOBO award for Best Jazz Artist, YolanDa Brown and The London Community Gospel Choir.

Revival, is a series of community-

VOYAGE is a journey of empowerment, knowledge and capacity building, designed specifically for young people. VOYAGE endeavours to help young people navigate their way through the issues of Governance, Leadership, Community, Social Responsibility and Citizenship.

VOYAGE is a series of programmes created by the Metropolitan Black Police Association to ensure that the voices of young people are heard and listened to, and that they are seen as contributors to healthy and successful community life.

VOYAGE aims to create and nurture young leaders from local communities, who in turn will help local communities combat issues of crime, improve environments within schools, assist the improvement of services from local public and private sector providers to the community. n

WWW.BLACKHISTORYMONTHUK.CO.UK

based anti-violence initiatives aimed at highlighting social issues both in London and across the UK at large.

It was set up in 2002 during Black History Month to combat gun and knife crime and promote a respect for life. The MetBPA is proud to work in association with two youth based programmes including Voyage.

Top left: Bevan Powell, Director of MetBPA Community Engagement and Deputy Chair of MEtBPA. Above: Yolanda Brown.

Below: Carleen Anderson.

Celebration of Life is on at Royal Festival Hall, South Bank, London, 16TH OCTOBER 2009, 7.30PM, Tickets: £15, (£10 Conc) + Bkg Fee, Book: 0871 663 2505 / www.southbankcentre. co.uk. Website: www.metbpa.com

In successful teams, not everyone plays the same role.

Whether it’s eleven players or a 4,000 strong police force, every member of a team contributes something different. That’s why, at Hertfordshire Constabulary, not everyone works on the frontline.

Behind the scenes are dozens of different professionals from Neighbourhood Watch Liaison Officers and Vehicle Technicians to Business Support Administrators and Facial Imaging Officers. Indeed, it’s probably not a case of whether you’d fit into our organisation, simply a question of where.

Whatever your background we’d like to talk to you – and we’re looking for people who reflect the community in which they live and work. For details of a career that will do more for the people around you, visit hertspolicecareers.co.uk

It’s not just our Officers that make us a force.

A N C E S E R V IC E L U B M A N O D N J O IN L O We employ more than 4,000 people, and everyone has a role to play in keeping our service w orking for the benefit of our patients.

We have more than 2,500 frontline staff based at our 70 ambulance stations across the 620 square miles of the Greater London area, and nearly 400 people w ork in our control room in Waterloo.

Our support services departments also play a vital role in our day-to-day w ork, from managing our finances and keeping our IT systems w orking to recruiting new staff and keeping them informed.

A nd w herever you w ork in our organisation, there are opportunities for you to develop your skills and progress your career. For all our staff, there is the job satisfaction of know ing that w hat you do makes a difference.

We offer a range of other benefits as well.

A minimum 27 days’ holiday each year, increasing w ith service.

New NHS employees from A pril 2008 w ill be eligible to join the A mended NHS Pension Scheme w hich provides membership to a final salary scheme w ith pension linked to pay near retirement. Other benefits include life assurance, dependent benefits, voluntary early retirement, ill-health retirement benefits and the option to increase retirement benefits.

A ccess to a round-the-clock employee assistance programme.

Personal and professional development and training opportunities.

Interest-free travel season ticket loan.

Childcare voucher scheme.

A ccess to occupational health and counselling services

For an up to date list of our current job opportunities please visit www.londonambulance.nhs.uk

EVENTS Photographs of Elisabeth Welch

A new photographic exhibition puts the great Broadway performer Elisabeth Welch under the spotlight once again. Stephen Bourne pays tribute to the American star who made her home in the UK...

SOFT LIGHTS AND SWEET MUSIC

4

Born in New York 1904, Elisabeth Welch made her professional stage debut in Blackbirds in America in 1928 and from there began her long and successful transatlantic stage and film career, also becoming a trailblazing figure in the world of popular music.

Throughout the Jazz Age she worked on stage with some of the great names of the Harlem Renaissance, including Josephine Baker and Bill Bojangles Robinson.

Ivor Novello wrote songs for Welch, Paul Robeson was her leading man in films, and she enjoyed popularity as a cabaret star of London’s café society. From 1934 to 1936 the BBC broadcast her own radio series Soft Lights and Sweet Music. When war broke out in 1939, Welch remained in her adopted country and supported the British war effort by entertaining the armed forces.

In 1979 Welch’s appearance in Derek Jarman’s film of Shakespeare’s The Tempest (singing Stormy Weather) won her new audience. At the age of 61 she returned to the Broadway stage, and her performance in Jerome Kern Goes to Hollywood earned her a nomination for a Tony award.

Elisabeth Welch: Soft Lights and Sweet Music by Stephen Bourne (Scarecrow Press, 2005) is available from the National Portrait Gallery bookshop. n

Soft Lights and Sweet Music: Photographs of Elisabeth Welch, National Portrait Gallery, from 15 March –25 October 2009, Room 31 case display.

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This page, top to bottom: Photograpahy

by Gee Watson, 1946.

Photograpahy by Spender, 1933.

Photograpahy

by Rolf, 1936.

Photograpahy by Cannons, 1934.

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LIFE & HEALTH Hair of natural beauty Charlotte Mensah: Passionate about natural beauty

Charlotte Mensah Creative Director and proprietor of Hair Lounge praises the benefits of natural beauty

B

raided extensions are a beauty idea which originated in Ancient Africa where Nubians and Egyptian women wore many styles of wigs made from natural hair, plant fibres and wool. These intricately designed head coverings protected the scalp from the sun’s rays and were worn for social festivals and ceremonial rituals. Ancient warrior Queens such as Hatshepsut, Cleopatra and the Queen of Sheba wore military wigs that were braided short and helmet- like. African women often shaved their natural hair close and wore wigs for religious, social and hygienic reasons.

Creative director and proprietor of Hair Lounge, London, Charlotte Mensah, is extremely passionate about bringing more awareness to the Natural hair and beauty industry. Charlotte has won a number of prestigious awards recognising her solid background in the Hair and Beauty industry as well as her acumen in business.

In her spare time Charlotte mentors young mothers by helping them develop their self motivational skills in the Hair & Beauty Industry. She is also a leading fund raiser for the Fresh2O charity that promotes clean water and sanitation for Africa. n

Hair Lounge, 347 Portobello Road, North Kensington, London W10 5SA. Tel: 0208 969 9444 www.hairlounge.co.uk

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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Take control of your asthma Black people are 2 times as likely to have an emergency hospital admission for their asthma *

Asthma UK can help you take control of your asthma Discuss your concerns about asthma in confidence with an asthma nurse specialist in the language of your choice.

Asthma UK Adviceline 0800 121 62 44

9am–5pm, Monday–Friday Interpreting service for more than 100 languages Calls are free from a BT landline

Information is also available on our website in 25 languages, including Yoruba, Igbo and French:

asthma.org.uk/faqs

*compared to the white population

Asthma UK is a registered charity in England 802364 and in Scotland SC039322

0800 121 62 44.

PROFILE: Asthma UK

Calls are free from a BT landline.

How can you help?

Asthma UK is offering Black and minority ethnic people affected by asthma a unique opportunity to help influence the charity’s work.

Who are Asthma UK ?

Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 5.4 million people in the UK whose lives are affected by asthma.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a condition that affects the airways – the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. If you have asthma your airways are almost always sensitive and inflamed. When you come in to contact with something you are allergic to, or something that irritates your airways (a trigger), your airways will become narrower, making it harder to breathe.

What are asthma symptoms?

Asthma symptoms can vary. You may find that you start to cough or wheeze, get short of breath, or have a tight feeling in your chest. Despite what many people think, wheezing does not always occur. In fact, coughing is the most common asthma symptom.

Where can I get advice about asthma?

The Asthma UK Adviceline is open

Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and provides confidential and independent advice on asthma from specialist asthma nurses.

How are Black people affected by asthma?

Research has found that compared to the white population, black people are two times more likely to have an emergency hospital admission for their asthma. As part of our endeavours to develop a better understanding of the reasons for this, we would like to talk to more people from Black and Minority Ethnic communities who have asthma, and/ or care for people with asthma, to find out more about their experience of managing their asthma.

What can I do to help people with asthma?

We are looking for people to join Asthma UK’s Black and minority ethnic (BME) forum to advise us on how we can ensure that your community can access the best possible healthcare and information for people with asthma.

Members will be asked to attend and contribute to meetings, as well as engaging in email discussions where necessary. In addition, they may be asked to act as case studies, ambassadors and spokespeople for the charity when appropriate.

This is your chance help make a real difference to the lives of people with asthma.

A key objective of the forum is that it reflects the diversity of all people with asthma. If you express an interest in joining we will ask for details of your age, ethnic background, gender, geographical location, relationship to asthma and severity of asthma symptoms where relevant. Please be aware that healthcare professionals are welcome to join this forum.

If you are interested in joining the Asthma UK BME forum, contact our Supporter and Information Team on 08456 03 81 43 or email info@asthma.org.uk and we will send you a pack with more information.

TeachUK

LIFE & HEALTH Cultural History in schools

Why we need Black History Month more than ever Secondary School Teacher Leslee Wills notes the value of teaching black history in schools, seeing it as a positive reminder that ‘Black History Is World History’ and a cultural sign post of the real world that we now live in.

A

British - born friend of Sierra Leonian parentage, whose entire family went through our educational system, responded to recent attempts to play down this important month with the response: ‘’Because they have the rest of the year!”

Inspite of stacks of evidence, in the form of facts, data published in books, on websites, in the media and everywhere around us, students and teachers still need to routinely ‘download upgrades ‘on Black historical achievement. Preparation for BHM acts as a reminder for this as when we note lessons from lived experiences and update our personal reference points then, and only then, will we produce a relevant and interesting contemporary curriculum.

For all pupils and pupils of African and Caribbean origins in particular, Black History Month continues to re-ignite Issues of ownership and authorship. Detractors may ask why is there still the need for highlighting black achievement now that we have an American black president , in the same year that we have an African American female Wimbledon tennis champion on the world stage. And even more exciting, a Jamaican sprinter breaking world records.

Why encourage black pupils to feel any more confident than they seem to be? But who

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knows whether this hollow confidence lies at the root of some of the current ‘black on Leslee Wills: black’ violence. Some inspirational teacher claim that, black youth violence is due wholly or partly, to their ‘crisis of identity’. The truth is whilst some students of African ancestry do well in our state and private schools, many others of indeterminate backgrounds are encouraged to forget their origins and to grope around in a hotch-potch hand-me-down cultural mix with no clear framework for winning in any area. In short, without this celebration some trade in any sense of ancestry, and turn their backs on available survival templates!

On the other hand, if we feel in some way shunted to the periphery by a black focus we are wrong. As most of our urban western value system is heavily injected by non-westernised cultural mannerisms – the mood has already been set for knowledge about other cultures denied them until recently. Many British kids are bored by the pallid curriculum that their parents and older brothers and sisters endured. Bringing the contribution of the past and present black men and women to the centrestage is a reminder of the real world that they now

live in. This asserts more than ever that ‘Black History is World History’! Schools need to continue to underline that the histories of all peoples and nations are linked so that learning about one alone gives a distorted and incomplete view.

Schools in Britain can now change tack and reassure their cynical populations that cultural difference, individuality and genius can go hand in hand.

Seemingly irrelevant Shakespeare plays can now be viewed in the light of David Dabydeen’s assertions of a black populated London in his day and even a black Shakespearean muse Lucy Negro. Yr 10 and Yr 11’s can be temporarily muted with Lawrence Fishbourne’s agonising Othello (if you can get hold of the DVD!).

The annual ritual expression of Black History Month in many schools has evolved out of necessity.

Our celebration of our history is a necessary spiritual affirmation for the wider society and its communities.

What if all we learnt was about the contributions of women and not men in history? n

Leslee Wills is a Secondary School Teacher who also has experience in teaching and arranging cross cultural activities during Black History Month - Leslee is available in East/West Midlands and London for BHM planning and activities. Leslee is also currently working on an art and textile range linking black history with several curriculum areas. Contact: Email: willsdamara@aol.com, mobiles: 07907 670 428 & 07948046414.

Do you teach Black History in Schools?

Order your Black HistoryMonth Teacher’s Pack Talent Media is a specialist Educational, Careers and Diversity publisher. We have been publishing BHM (The Official Guide to Black History Month) every October for the past 14 years. Due to ongoing demand from schools, libraries and other educational and community organisations, we have produced a BHM Teacher’s Pack as an educational resource. The Teachers Packs are linked to the National Curriculum Key Stage 2 and 3 and we have consulted with the Historical Association.

Key Stage 2 Black Presence in the Tudor Times Britain since the 1948 The Windrush Generation Britain since the 1948 The Black British Experience

Key Stage 3 Britain 1750-1900 European Study before 1914 Britain since the 1948 The Windrush Generation Britain since the 1948 The Black British Experience

Each Teacher’s Pack includes: Laminated, colour worksheets, 2 Full colour posters and a DVD (Price per pack £19.95 + £4.75 + PP)

To order your pack, please email: info@talentmedia.org or tel: 0207 001 0754.

MMU Institute of Education

Knowledge is precious...pass it on At MMU you don’t just learn theory, you practise it.

Students participate in school based placements to get a feel of what the teaching profession is all about.

With its commitment to high quality training, MMU students can be confident in playing a key role in raising standards to improve lives of young people.

The wide range of education programmes on offer at MMU has been developed to include the latest in government policy. This ensures you are kept updated with changes that affect your education course, and you can be confident that your course will give you the essential skills, knowledge and qualification for a future career in education.

Students from a range of educational and cultural backgrounds are drawn to the warm, friendly and supportive atmosphere and the commitment to equal opportunities within the Institute.

MMU is able to meet the challenges of the teaching profession head on because our teaching staff actively engage with relevant agencies and organisations to increase awareness of developments and policies in the field of education. In turn, you get to be properly informed.

Once you have qualified as a teacher, the Institute is here to support and develop your career with full and part-time Continuing Professional Development programmes leading to Diploma, MA, MEd, MSc, MPhil, EdD and PhD qualifications.

The Institute also provides degrees in Early Childhood Studies, Childhood Studies, Youth & Community Work, Careers Guidance and Education Studies.

For more information, please visit our website at www.mmu.ac.uk/ioe

www.mmu.ac.uk The University for World-Class Professionals

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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LIFE & HEALTH Leadership in education

TeachUK

TAKING THE LEAD Recent reports have shown a shocking shortfall in the number of ethnic minorities in Headteacher positions or in leadership roles in our schools.

Many local authorities are now taking steps to address the issue.

“I really feel that the coaching I received has allowed me to constructively break down barriers that had previously felt insurmountable and progress my personal development with confidence…”

Viv Grant: Director, Integrity Coaching

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I

n September 2008 a report into Diversity in School Leadership reported that: “At the moment there’s not enough data available to say with certainty exactly what percentage of all school leaders come from non-white backgrounds, but the research that has been done doesn’t look good. For example, 1 percent of primary heads and 3 percent of secondary heads appointed in 2005/06 came from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.”

Many Local Authorities are now looking seriously at what can be done to increase the numbers of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic [BAME] teachers who move into senior leadership positions in their schools. One such LA is Wandsworth Borough Council.

Brendan Ryan, recruitment manager for Wandsworth wrote in The Times in June 09 that: “Although 29 per cent of teachers in the London borough of Wandsworth come from black and minority ethnic [BME] backgrounds, the number who go onto Headship is very low – only 8.7 percent of Headteachers come from these backgrounds. If you compare the number of Headteachers with the population in Wandsworth it is not representative – about 65 percent of the pupils in Wandsworth schools come from BME backgrounds. These communities should be represented at the highest level. But in teaching, the further you go along the leadership spectrum the fewer the number of people from BME backgrounds.”

In a bid to find a positive solution to this, Wandsworth Borough Council partnered with Integrity Coaching, a company which specialises in the provision of coaching services for BAME teachers and school leaders.

Integrity Coaching

works with Local Authorities to enable them to put in place successful strategies for enabling BAME teachers to achieve their career hopes and aspirations. In Wandsworth, Integrity Coaching delivered its ‘Learning for Leadership Transformation Programme’, with a mixed group of aspiring BAME school leaders and social workers.

As testimony to the impact of this programme, Colette Morris, who was appointed to her first headship whilst on the programmes said; “With the ongoing support from highly skilled and qualified BAME coaches who were sensitive and understood the challenges of professional development within the BAME context, I was able to increase my awareness and confidence. I really feel that the coaching I received has allowed me to constructively break down barriers that had previously felt insurmountable and progress my personal development with confidence, alongside my career as a teacher in Wandsworth.” n

About Integrity Coaching Ltd Integrity Coaching, is an ILM [Institute of Leadership & Management] approved centre and was founded by former head teacher Viv Grant in 2007.The company specialises in providing personal performance coaching for leaders and managers in the education sector and other parts of the private and public sector. It is also London’s leading coaching company for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) professionals working across the Children’s Workforce.Web: www. integritycoaching.co.uk. Email: enquiries@integritycoaching. co.uk. Tel: 0208 767 7664

4

More to offer...

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We’ve literally every kind of school you can imagine in the London Borough of Bexley.

Rural, urban, large, small, primary, secondary, special needs, selective – whatever you want from a school, you’ll find it in our borough...

ursery Nurse Premises ManagerSEN N Science NQT Technician Teaching Assis tant M a T t A e n h a a i d s r c m a h r i b n i L i s r e t g a r n a M ator r ss e n si u e B l o o h h c S c h is a gl En e Bursar Head TMidday SupervisorFinance For further information on the London Borough of Bexley and for details of current vacancies within our schools please visit www.bexley.gov.uk/schoolworkforce or call us to discuss opportunities on 020 8836 8395 / 8402 Listening to you, working for you

www.bexley.gov.uk

TeachUK

Lessons

Life

for

From an early age Patrick Cozier knew that he wanted to be a teacher.

Twenty years later he is now Headteacher at Highgate Wood School, North London and still enjoying the challenges and rewards of the teaching profession.

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What led you to become a teacher?

I was one of those fortunate people who knew at a young age what I wanted to do. I decided I wanted to become a teacher when I was 17 and doing my A levels. The school I attended had a scheme in place where Post 16 students did community service within the main school. I helped out in the Learning Support department supporting about eight students with their reading and writing skills.

It was brilliant – such a rewarding thing to do. The thanks and appreciation that I received from the students was great and inspired me to become a teacher. Now, 20 years later, I’m in the very privileged position of being a Headteacher with the opportunity to have am impact on a much wider scale.

You recently said teaching poses specific challenges for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) teachers.

Tell me about that.

I have experienced both positives and negatives as a result of being a BAME teacher.

In most ways it has been advantageous, such as my ability to relate to students from a wide variety of backgrounds. Many people of BAME origin who have grown up in the UK (like me) have had to work hard and learn to switch between relating

Patrick Cozier: a chance to make a difference.

to their home (BAME) culture and that of the indigenous UK culture when at school. I think that this can equip you with particular skills of adaptability, insight and understanding when it comes to being able to connect with students from all cultures.

Another challenge is the high level of expectancy that can exist within the BAME student body and their parents of you as a BAME teacher. However, I tend to interpret this as a positive pressure. I value their trust and support and I accept that it comes hand in hand with the territory.

LIFE & HEALTH Leadership in schools

What’s the best thing about your job?

The chance to make a difference! This opportunity makes whatever obstacles and challenges that exist more than worth it.

When you experience the positive feedback from students regarding the impact that you have had on preparing them for their future ambitions it is very pleasing. When you see young people overcome significant barriers to thrive and be successful it is inspiring. Isn’t that why we all do the job?

How do you relax?

With my family – My wife, and my children (I have two girls and a boy) keep me measured and grounded and remain, despite the importance of my job, the most significant part of my life. Plus I’m a huge football fan and spend many a Saturday afternoon down at the Emirates Stadium watching the Arsenal.

Who has been your biggest influence?

My parents, undoubtedly! They were on my case from day one when I probably didn’t really believe I’d manage to achieve what I have. I was the first person in my family to attend university and receive a degree… something that my mother in particular always predicted and ensured that I aspired towards.

“I was the first person in my family to attend university and receive a degree… something that my mother in particular always predicted and ensured that I aspired towards.”

What has been your biggest achievement?

Firstly, achieving headship in the timescale that I did was something that fills me with a personal sense of pride. It wasn’t something I’d necessarily anticipated happening as quickly as it did. Secondly, (and this is more of a team achievement than a personal one) the progress that Highgate Wood School has continued to make in the last few years. The results achieved by our students in the last

two years have been the best that the school has ever had. This is down to the dedication of my fantastic staff and our brilliant students.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

This is a difficult question to answer, as I have been given so much valuable advice from so many different people. I think that ultimately, being told by my mother to ‘stay true to who you are, keep your values close by, and believe in yourself ’ probably resonates with me more than anything else.

What’s your biggest influence on the school – your stamp, if you will?

This is something that is always easier for other people to judge – however, I would like to think that I have a calming, reassuring, positive and cheerful influence on my school. I am determined that we will continue to strive to be the best that we can be, but that our focus remains on the young person being at the heart of all that we do.

On a physical and structural level, there are some noticeable changes that I have made since becoming Headteacher, like some key curriculum changes and the introduction of a school uniform (something that made me wholly unpopular with most students!). n

Brighter school careers.

Career Opportunities in Schools Teaching and Support Staff If you are looking to begin a career in a school, or look for a new challenge, our high standards in education make Essex one of Britain’s brightest places to start.

With over 570 schools in the County, we can offer superb opportunities for everyone from teaching assistant to Headteacher, from catering staff to school Bursar.

Visit essexschoolsjobs.co.uk or call 01245 436252 to find out more.

www.essexschoolsjobs.co.uk

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

Looking for a new challenge?

Make the right choice...

We offer…

• • • • •

a diverse, skilled and supportive workforce access to high quality professional development and guidance outstanding induction programmes well resourced and friendly schools with excellent national recognition a vision for excellence for children and young people

We are committed to giving you the best opportunity to maximise your potential, whatever your career stage.

To find out more about joining the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames children’s workforce visit: www.richmond.gov.uk or contact the School Workforce Development team: 020 8891 7599 or email: schoolworkforce@richmond.gov.uk

Are you training to teach, looking for your first job? All NQTs can submit applications online: www.richmond.gov.uk/nqtrecruitment

Teach in Herts School of Education PGCE courses for graduates

Please telephone 0121 414 4866 or email education@bham.ac.uk

www.education.bham.ac.uk

We have a real need for Maths, Science, English and ICT specialists, and all our teachers enjoy a dedicated programme of Continuing Professional Development within supportive working environments.

As soon as you join us, you could be at the forefront of local and national initiatives, working in an Authority with an excellent reputation for innovation and success.

We pride ourselves on our young people’s record of achievement and are constantly striving to help every student realise their potential.

Combining the best of urban and rural living within easy reach of London, Hertfordshire is a great place to build a career.

With a fully interactive online recruitment system with job alerts, applying to join us couldn’t be easier.

Make an entrance at there is un so that th der ey can rep activ ely p rese action an employee may ut t nta r th e tak hi s ti clea e values and expecta e if s/ po on i ake tions h a n d th • m u n d e rst li c n o of t e fe e mitment to equal pay y he ls s is ur com in ur ye e re o to all aspects of loca imple Cou unf plo l au a nsu rtunity in tho men nty irly em oe utting Policy Into P po nt op s. P ncourage partn ractic rity a ted, Cou tre ti o of ers e. live ed. • e c in n ate ac d lity wn d. ntary sectors by en hip a Th ti ke ua nd r o xclu volu qually ac su nd e ta rin eq n a thei t e and t are e ol the cess ir ow ibl tr g osate tha th con e iv ces nors ployee will be n re to r m d ve l e ithin the co i s w r de m al ali ou n in indiv

m the r ees loy om ll ou p t fr mp e pec ure a eu nt e hir re ak e ex l eva ns rds he rel v i o u r w • e ertfo e m e in to a nw r e nt ers H y tio in g b e h t div tatem nity of s a li c ac train s of ay s e the u i c e il p o o u n rc take ide dard qual p ct s mm act c fo e o f t h e c o t h a t r e fl e a n d p r o u n c o a c r • ov n rk e pr sta our ce f C int es a ct wo ctic • the rkfo r tion o en l p o li c th t o w dir e a a wo ure that al d applica ully tak wi el y f ue pr nd ce val • ens ment an ns are activ , both n to la work n ci rda t and l will: evelop nsideratio se ies. • iminatio i d nd co rui d co t ra t e g nc he cr na Sc ac rec Cou in t es an g major s unfair dis n a tio • ty ion issu lopin c rim i s of t y Equ ve ll form d unfair di s ty. n a vi ou icipa ualit de omaprejudice asnes, an adapted versi on o C art eq e fr ro ces ethnic o , fre lection p m f p at ple se because of age, colour, r nati a eo and ainst dis o a a l p nt d ag al itme nate re given full opportunity to nd job bili i u op r and in the be cr rim ity a ch othe w w sc un ith ea e pro m sw vi en g al is titled idu ignity an d

Teaching information line: 0845 6000 991

Primary courses are also offered as follows: Early Years General Primary

We’re home to an exceptional variety of schools – Hertfordshire includes over 550, from small village primary schools to large comprehensives.

www.teachinherts.com

in an e ds d el w h n im e o p s iti v a n d in a n e t e o f to i n d i i n the the rec Po n e e t . lic y. d e equa according l access to all service users and potential servic to need e us s er v .• e ices the opp give peopl e who use or might use County C rs oun • se e k to i n flue ortunity to in fl uence the way s are me cil n c e pa t. t heir n eed rtner or equ ality of g a nisation o p p or s in a colle ctive com mitment to organi s ations tunity. • whe r e legally poss i ble, require voluntary to provi de evidence of th eir commitment t o equality in term s their personnel of poli cies and d elivery o f their services a s a criterion in dete rmining award of gran t aid ire that those u q e r from the County Council. • half of the who provide services o n be es in place nty e polici C ou ncil hav ices Cou lt in s e r v that resu

• provid

of

We welcome applications from all ethnic groups who are currently under represented in the teaching profession.

The following subjects are available English Geography History History and Citizenship Mathematics one year Mathematics two years Modern Foreign Languages (French, German, Spanish) Physical Education Religious Education Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)

anti d good p iscr racti •i • ce g • enhan i nt ce the • targ uide minat e cho et s ity ion gra mun p ractices resources to groupice and con . leg te trol s and com ns of needs ribution of partner organisationcommun of peop isla tio ec e to the nt le ti rvices we deliver. s from ities d co d the se the wh ov o itiv ork an tion an l our e pu o a entions: These are al b ar r ew : • pr nis able es and Int th ovi lic, pe m rga en ip l s and services. Wh r o and Princ n te e r ilst S de se r ou volu union activities. cho rv in ces lying yees, r traden i ol e user, employee o Go er plo s, o y ma e rvic rp nd em lief ga ntial s that all groups and ot e e a e in ure cil b ng pot ss and e divid ntia r enne qu . ns u op ro e a r in embe s of the lity om s t mmunity. Ever y o pect. res

If you are looking for responsibility, intellectual challenge and interaction with young people you will be interested in teaching. The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) programmes, which lead to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), help students to translate those interests into practical expertise.

If you’re looking to build your career in an environment that encourages success, then look no further.

em a l p lo y ees ls • se t e o ek t that o t p e l n l u t f i r a a i e h l, crea t c e h v c i e o ti o n t lue people ting vita o influ are f all he s of t se s mmunity. • va and li t y e t h i h e co wi nce ns s p olicy will be commended to Sch thei th o r applies to all Cou ols. O diffe This policy nty r C ur U en tus, political o lity r re oun sta al li s, race, rit gen giou rigin lo de s No ser na y, vice r, b t us ei tun e por ities w ep ro W v it from e aim id nef the t ay We serv o e be ice lie de servic ve s e the c to d

Tempted to teach?

on

lity ua eq

Making our mark on equality. mark

Hertfordshire is committed to the protection and safety of children and young people.

LIFE & HEALTH Black History Month in our prisons

T

he Black History Month (BHM) Magazine has been, in my work as pastor/chaplain a tool of credible, professionally presented information about “things black”. It has lifted and inspired during the vital if not often contentious work of BHM planning. In particular, I was impressed that the BHM Magazine consistently neglected to display “blackness at the lowest common denominator” but provided food good for the whole village.

My introduction to the BHM Mag came during my tenure as pastor of the Clapham Junction Church of the Nazarene in South London in 2005. I was visiting the Wandsworth Council Offices for a meeting and I picked up a copy of the magazine in the waiting room. The material made an immediate impression on me both for professionalism of display and breath of coverage of material. I used it during a Black History focussed segment in Sunday morning worship; the article on Black inventors was read by two young men, one of whom went on to take responsibility for multimedia presentations for the church.

In 2007 when I joined HMP Lowdham Grange (a private Sector prison run by the SERCO Group) as Free church Chaplain, it was natural that I contacted BHM Mag. Information from the magazine provided an important part of readings by prisoners during the Black History/Cultural Diversity Day. More than 150 prisoners attended.

More than one prisoner expressed an interest in writing for the magazine the following year; but prisoners get transferred...

In 2008 we ordered 150 copies of BHM Mag. Copies were placed in the prison library. Those displayed during the highlight event of the month were taken by the multiracial mix of 120+ prisoners who attended.

Feedback was unanimously positive. Copies of the magazine were also taken by persons from Churches from Nottingham and Derby who were part of our Chaplaincy Volunteer network. Supporting Communities (a major partner with the prison the delivering of BME programs) found themselves unable to resist grabbing a few copies.

With Barack Obama and family splashed all over the cover; there was a sense that BHM was “almost prophetic!” According to Danny, “it was very informative”, with all the latest and traditional knowledge one should know inside and outside of black history”.

For 2009, the HMP Lowdham Grange/BHM partnership deepens it involvement with BHM with the use of the BHM teacher’s pack as a tool in Black History Month Workshops.

BHM Mag has also been sent to the Caribbean – organisations with which I network in Jamaica sent feedback that this was “wow deep reading”. n

Many of our prison population have embraced Black History Month as a time of inspiration and learning. Leon Dundas, Deputy Chaplaincy Manager at HMP Lowdham Grange tells how Black History Month uplifts and elightens those he works with, or as he puts it: “provides good food for whole village.“ Left: Leon

“Supporting Communities (a major partner with the prison the delivering of BME programs) found themselves unable to resist grabbing a few copies.”

Dundas, Getting positive feedback to his BHM

Good Food

planning.

Below: Previous editions of BHM have proved a vital source of historical information for prisoners.

for the Whole Village

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

79

LIFE & HEALTH Celebrating 30 years of support

1979

Formation of the Sickle Cell Society by Ms. Elizabeth Anionwu, Mrs. Sherlene Rudder and Mrs. Millicent Simpson.

1981 The Sickle Cell Society donates £1,800 to Central Middlesex Hospital to purchase screening equipment.

1982 The Sickle Cell Society donates £5,000 to

Willesden General Hospital for the purchase of a computer.

1985 The Society presents two ‘on-demand’ analgesia computer pumps to Central Middlesex Hospital London.

1988 The first respite holiday for children with sickle cell disorder started with a trip to Bognor Regis.

1993 The first national conference on sickle cell takes place at Aston University, Birmingham.

1996 The Society’s Ralma Faulkner Welfare Fund and its Cutting celebratory cake from L-R: Archbishop of York, Rt. Hon. Dr John Sentamu, Professor Elizabeth Anionwu CBE (Society patron and founder member) Annie McDonald, service user, Dr Jane Wai-Ogosu,

30

Trustee and Mrs Sherlene Rudder MBE (patron and founder member)

Years of Caring The Sickle Cell Society Celebrates a Milestone

T

hirty years ago in a small, backroom in Brent, a group of patients, parents and health professionals gathered together to listen to and share experiences about the lack of understanding and poor treatment available for people with sickle cell disease in the UK. Thus began the birth of the Sickle Cell Society, the national charity whose mission is to enable and assist individuals with sickle cell disorder achieve their full economic and social potential. The Society does this by raising awareness through education, the provision of welfare services, advocacy and by assisting in research. As the Sickle Cell Society celebrates its 30th anniversary, it can look back with pride at some of what has been achieved over the years4

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Bryon Jones Educational Fund are established.

1998 Launch of Brent Sickle Link and Lambeth Outreach Project – the Society’s support services for families affected by sickle cell disorder.

2001 Lobbying by the Society results in the formation of the NHS Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme on whose steering committee the Society subsequently gets representation.

2003

Cherie Blair makes a visit to the Society’s Harlesden Headquarters.

2004

Launch of the Society’s Regional Care Advisors’ Programme covering 5 regions in the UK.

2006

The Sickle Cell Society and key stakeholders including service users are hosted at 10 Downing Street by Mrs. Cherie Blair.

The World Health Organisation declares sickle-cell disease a global public health priority, the Society having been involved with the lobby.

2008

The Society launches the first-ever Standards for the Clinical Care of Adults Living with Sickle Cell Disease in the UK, a unique collaboration involving the Society, NHS and Department of Health.

An All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia chaired by Diane Abbott (MP) is established.

The UN General Assembly in a resolution passed in December declares 19 June as the annual World Day for sickle cell & thalassaemia.

2009

The first World Day for sickle cell and thalassaemia is celebrated. n For information about sickle cell disease contact: Sickle Cell Society, 54 Station Rd, London NW10 4UA Tel: 020 8961 7795 Fax: 020 8961 8346 Email: info@sicklecellsociety.org Website: www.sicklecellsociety.org Save the Date! Saturday, 12th December 2009 – Fund-raising Carol Service on behalf of the Sickle Cell Society. Details will soon be on our website.

PROFILE: Sickle Cell Society

A historic year for sickle cell campaigners Archbishop says: sickle cell disease finally gets recognition it deserves The first ever World Sickle Cell Day was celebrated in June this year; the day was adopted following a resolution of the UN General Assembly that recognised sickle cell disease as a global health issue.

The UK Sickle Cell Society hosted a tea party to celebrate both the Day and their own birthday: recognising 30 years of campaigning to raise awareness of sickle cell and supporting families living with the disease. Attended by VIPs including mayors from all over London, healthcare professionals and people with sickle cell, the event was hosted by the Reverend Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York. He is chair of the NHS Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme and commented: “I congratulate the Sickle Cell Society sincerely as it celebrates World Sickle Cell Day. Their work has been invaluable in providing better care and tackling serious health inequalities in the UK. When you consider that even 10 years ago, never mind 30, many clinicians had no understanding of this disease it is astonishing to see what the Society has achieved. I am pleased that sickle cell disease is finally getting the recognition it deserves as a serious genetic disease affecting a great number of people worldwide.”

There is a strong feeling of momentum

Above: The Archbishop of York and some of the London Mayors in attendance at the the Sickle Cell Society’s 30th birthday ‘tea party’

among sickle cell activists, Dr Jane Wai-Ogosu, Chairperson of the Sickle Cell Society captured this feeling: “The adoption of the UN resolution demonstrates how far we have come since the Society was founded 30 years ago. Lacking experience and knowledge of a disease which had not been seen to any great extent in England, understanding of the disease was non-existent in 1979 and screening was not even thought of. World Sickle Cell Day will help us reach out to a wider audience and address the stigma surrounding this serious condition.

There are still great challenges to meet so it’s wonderful to have this chance to remember how far we have come.”

With 13,500 patients and 240,000 carriers, sickle cell is one of the most common genetic conditions in the UK. About 350 babies are diagnosed with the disease every year, making the disease even more common than cystic fibrosis in England.

Find out more about the work of the Sickle Cell Society here: www.sicklecellsociety.org.uk Reverend Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York

KEY FACTS: ­• Sickle cell is a serious blood disease which runs in families ­­• There is a family of sickle cell diseases. Some are more serious than others. The most serious form is called sickle cell anaemia ­­• Sickle cell is one of the most common diseases in the world that is passed through families ­• ­In England about 240,000 people ‘carry’ the sickle cell gene ­­• Being a carrier can help protect against malaria. That’s why sickle cell is more common in areas with malaria such as Africa ­­• All babies and all pregnant women in England are offered testing for sickle cell ­­• You can have the test at any time in your life. It is a good idea to find out about the test before you decide to have a baby

Ask your midwife or GP about early testing for sickle cell and thalassaemia

For further information please visit our website – www.sickleandthal.org.uk

LIFE & HEALTH Solent University styling showcase

“The resulting collections included outfits combining, amongst other things, the looks of Eartha Kitt and Malcolm X, Erykah Badu and Flavor Flav and M.C. Hammer and the Black Panthers.”

Left to Right: 1. Styled and shot by Melissa Chartan, combining the looks of Grace Jones and the Black Panthers.

2. Styled and shot by Michaela Fuller, Fashion styling student. 3. Styled by Jenny Dayton, shot by Christopher Lee.

FASHION

BLACK IN

Students at the Southampton Solent University Styling programme get creative and pay tribute to their Black History Month heroes.

T

he role of the stylist is becoming increasingly acknowledged, both in the fashion industry, for catwalk shows and photography, and in the advertising industry, where the stylist provides creative direction and sources clothing, props and accessories.

The Media and Fashion Styling programme at Southampton Solent University has recognised the importance of this role, offering four new degree courses covering specialist subject areas such as make-up and hair design, media styling and fashion styling.

Since the courses were introduced in 2007, the team have been active supporters of Black History Month, working closely with local organisers and community members. Students and staff have, this year, been involved in a series of collaborative projects which will culminate in a photographic exhibition in the university’s Concourse Gallery space, to open during Black History Month.

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“Level Two students assisted last year, styling hair and designing make-up looks for a smaller scale fashion show, but it was felt that there was potential to further expand on this,” explains Philip Clarke, programme leader of the Media and Fashion Styling courses.

The theme of this year’s Black History Month is ‘Heroes’. “We asked students to come up with three styled outfits, with appropriate hair and make-up,” says Clarke. “In the same way that Hip-Hop and R ‘n’ B music fuses elements of existing songs to create a new sound, they are taking two existing styles and ‘mixing them up’ to create a new look.

The resulting collections included outfits combining, amongst other things, the looks of Eartha Kitt and Malcolm X, Erykah Badu and Flavor Flav and M.C. Hammer and the Black Panthers. We were keen for the list to include an eclectic mix of both contemporary and historical black icons, incorporating musicians, actors and political activists”

For October’s exhibition the Media Styling team have worked with members of Southampton’s black community,photographer Chris Lee, and vintage clothing specialist Catherine Wright, to produce a series of styled images reflecting both the subjects own fashion ideas and the creative vision of the stylist.

“Vogue Italia produced an issue in 2008 devoted to black fashion but this type of coverage is the exception rather than the norm,” says Clarke, explaining why the team see the Black History event as an important cause. “Black models are still frequently shown in outfits, or photographed in situations, that reinforce clichéd ideas of ‘blackness’.

Despite heightened awareness there is still scope for fashion magazines and designers to work with more black models and consider the interests of black communities.” n For more information see www.solent.ac.uk

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London Find out what’s on in your local borough

two days, £15 for one day or £4 per screening, under 11s go free. For a full list of screenings and times visit. www.gabrielmediainternational.com

General Events

Sat 12 & Sat 19 Sept

Throughout September November 2009 V&A Beneath the Surface Black Heritage Season. Full Details see www.vam.ac.uk Join us at the V&A for Beneath the Surface and discover a treasure trove of objects from the African Continent.

Sat 28 & Sun 29 Nov Generation to Generation British Caribbean History and Culture Weekend. Step back in time to the mid to the late 1960s and discover Caribbean people’s contribution to Britain’s public services. Free, drop-in Suitable for families, Supplementary Schools and young people 11-16 Jointly organised with The British Caribbean Association and Gabriel Media™ International.

Throughout the V&A, 10.30am-16.00pm.

Sat 28 & Sun 29 Nov Caribbean (UK) Film Festival An Exploration of 60s British Caribbean Heritage. There will be contributions from a number of prominent black Britons, including actor Geff Francis (Ashes to Ashes, BBC1, Desmonds, C4) and Charles Thompson, CEO, Screen Nation Awards.

Hochhauser Auditorium, Sackler Centre, 10.30am-17.30pm. £25 for

Talks and Tours Hidden Histories: Africa Black Heritage Collections Revealed A unique and rare opportunity to meet some of the museum’s curators and keepers of collections, who take care of objects including some that relate to the Black experience. The following tours are FREE. Suitable for colleges, youth clubs, day centres, faith groups and voluntary and public sector organisations.

Sackler Centre Reception Desk.

Booking essential for groups 15 +Call 020 7942 2211 or email bookings.office@vam.ac.uk

Fri2 Oct Claudia Jones Inaugural Carnival Arts Lecture Claudia Jones created the first indoor Carnival in St Pancras Town Hall in 1959 in reaction to the Notting Hill race riots.

To commemorate 50 years’ of Carnival, Pat Bishop, Lecturer in Art and Critical Reading at the University of the West Indies, will deliver the inaugural lecture, ‘The Globalisation of the Carnival Culture and Its Impact on the Caribbean Diaspora’.

Hochhauser Auditorium Sackler Centre, 19.30-21.30, free, booking essential.

Fri 20 Nov Hair Stories Practice, Culture, Theory Investigate the cultural and historical significance of hair in a multi-disciplinary event that covers fashion, art, film, gender, politics and identity, with leading academics, hair practitioners, journalists and cultural commentators.

Hochhauser Auditorium Sackler Centre, 10.30am-17.30, £25, concessions available Jointly organised with the London College of Fashion

Brief Encounter with ANDRYA OUAMBA (Senegal) & MATTHIAS SPERLING (UK) Britain’s Matthias Sperling and Senegal’s AndrÈya Ouamba present their improvisional-based duet Diplomacy 2.

Royal Opera House, 7.15pm tel: 0207 304 4000

Fri 9 Sat 10 Oct

Sackler Centre, 11.00-17.30, free, drop-in Suitable for families and groups from Supplementary Schools under 12.

Throughout October

Royal Opera House, 8pm tel: 0207 304 4000

Africa Connected, Explore objects through interactive storytelling, music, films, toy making and jewellery workshops and family friendly tours.

Science Museum Celebrate the work of black scientists and achievers

Sat 3 Oct The Real McCoy storytelling A storytelling adventure for the under 7s about the life of Elijah McCoy, an African-American who changed the way trains work for ever.

Science Museum, 13.30 and Monday 26 - Friday 30 October at 11.30.

Mon 26- Fri 30 Oct

Science Museum, 13.00 and 15.00.

Sat 3-1 Sun 8 Oct Science Secrets An interactive gallery tour for ages 5 and up uncovering the work of black inventors whose bright ideas and burning ambition helped to shape our lives today.

Science Museum, on Saturdays and Sundays at 11.30am, 13.30 and 15.30.

Fri 9 to Sat 24 Oct

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Fri 9 & Sat 10 Oct

VINCENT MANTSOE (South Africa) - Ebhofolo UK premiere of his latest solo, Ebhofolo (this madness). Sowetoborn dancer and choreographer Mantsoe has an international reputation as a teller of rich stories through dance, incorporating history, spirituality, traditional African music and a phenomenal physical presence.

Sat 24 Oct

Revolting Remedies An entertaining show for ages 5 and up about disgusting diseases and messy medicine.

London Dance Umbrella: Kettly Noel

www.danceumbrella.co.uk tel: 0844 412 4312 for full details of programming.

African Crossroads: Confounding preconceptions about Africa contemporary dance. African Crossroads is running from as part of Dance Umbrella 2009 This is the first time that such an ambitious programme of new dance from Africa has been presented in the UK.

Mon 19 & Tue 20 Oct KETTLY NOÀL (Mali) & NELISIWE XABA (South Africa) – Correspondances A duet between Mali’s Kettly NoÎl and South Africa’s Nelisiwe Xaba In Correspondances Kettly NoÎl and Nelisiwe Xaba explore the intimate fabric of a friendship between two striking women with laughter, dance and seduction.

Robin Howard Dance Theatre, 8pm tel: 0207 121 1100

Fri 23 & Sat 24 Oct OPIYO OKACH (Kenya) - shift... centre Breaking down conventional performance boundaries, Opiko Okach’s shift...centre blurs the edges between participants and audience.

The Place, Fri 23 7 & 9.30pm, Sat 24 8pm, tel: 0207 121 1100

Fri 16 & Sat 17 Oct AFRICAN CURRENTS: KAOLACK (Senegal) - J’Accuse, PAPY EBOTANI (Dem Rep of Congo) Na Tempo, MICHAEL KOUAKOU (Ivory Coast) - Behind Me, ANDREYA OUAMBA & FATOU CISSE (Senegal) Contre Poids An evening of solos and a duet featuring five of the continent’s most significant young dance artists. African Currents features Danse L’Afrique Danse 2008 winner Kaolack (Ivory Coast) with his provocative solo J’Accuse; AndrÈya Ouamba (Democratic

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Republic of Congo) and Fatou Cisse’s (Senegal) intimate duet Contre Poids: Michel Kouakou’s meditative solo Behind Me, in which he reflects on his history and origins; and Papy Ebotani’s (Democratic Republic of Congo) autobiographical solo Na Tempo, in which he combines mundane actions with ritualistic behaviour.

Food and music in the foyer will round off this Dance Umbrella festival event.

Stratford C ircus, 7.30pm, tel: 0208 279 1015

Fri Oct 30 Ghana’s Traditional Engagement & Marriage An exploration of Ghana’s traditional engagement and marriage practices relating to acquiring a partner, courtship, marriage ceremonies and married life.

Venue TBC, London Waterloo area, 7pm, free but booking in advance required Contact details: Richard Tandoh, richard@star100.org, 07725 886848

Barnet Thu 1 Oct – Fri 2 Oct Jonzi D Productions presentsMarkus The Sadist Written and directed by Jonzi D who continues to set a precedent within Hip Hop theatre and dance, this modern rap fable features jazz innovator Soweto Kinch. The lead role of Markus is played by rising UK star Bashy. Suitable for ages 14+.

Artsdepot, 8pm, £14 / £12 concs tel: 020 8369 5454 www.artsdepot.co.uk

Sat 10 Oct An Audience with Sir Trevor McDonald Britain’s most popular newscaster, Trevor McDonald delivers anecdotes and reminiscences from his 50 years in broadcasting.

Artsdepot, 8pm £16 / £14 concs, tel: 020 8369 5454 www.artsdepot.co.uk

Camden Thu 01 Oct The Science Museum comes to the library with two stories: The Real McCoy and The Golden Coconut Two stories suitable for 8 to 11 year olds about inventions, engineering and fun in science.

Kentish Town Library. 10.30 – 11.15 and 11.30 – 12.15. Free. www. camden.gov.uk/blackhistory

Camden Black History Season: Camden carnival costume.

Thu 01 Oct

science fiction.

Carnival 50 years ago.

Origins and meanings: Shomarka Keita on ancient Egypt Shomarka Keita (physician and anthropologist, affiliated with Howard University and the Smithsonian Institution, USA) will speak about the history of comments on ‘race’ and the Egyptians.

Wellcome Collection, 6.30pm

Camden Centre / local schools 2pm - 5pm- £10 / £15 per student.

Followed by A Claudia Jones reception, Camden Centre 5.30pm – 7.30pm, £4.

Institute of Archaeology, 6.30pm – 8pm, Free

Petrie Museum 6pm – 8pm, Free

Tue 6, Tue 13, Tue 20 Oct and Thu 12 Nov

Rainforest people, the best conservationists?

A short film ‘Carving up the Congo’ about the destruction of the rainforest.

Healing and medicine in ancient Egypt: A workshop from the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology Workshops for Key Stage 2 students. These interactive sessions look at medicine in Ancient Egypt from the Pharaohs to the Greeks.

Kilburn/ Holborn/ Camden Town/ Regents Park libraries, 1pm- 3pm, Free

Fri 9 Oct – Fri 6 Nov Black comic book superheroes Exhibition curated at Swiss Cottage Library Gallery, focusing on the history of English speaking black comic book superheroes throughout the last hundred years.

Swiss Cottage library (gallery), Free

Mon 12 Oct Black History Season launch Limited spaces, booking essential - Free The launch of Camden’s Black History Season, science fact,

Thu 15 Oct Ancient Egypt, racial construction and Robert Knox A talk on the nineteenth-century anatomist and racial scientist Robert Knox’swork on Egypt in ‘Races of Men’.

Thu 22 Oct

Swiss Cottage library (gallery), 7pm - 9pm, Free

Wed 28 Oct Angostura bitters and malaria; the history of tropical medicine and your family cures An interactive workshop on the early days of colonial interest in tropical medicine, followed by a discussion on memories of cures for childhood ailments.

Kilburn Library Centre, 7.15pm – 9.15pm, free

Thu 29 Oct Exhibitions and education festival All levels welcome. Part of the two-day Carnival Festival. This educational workshop aimed at schools will have a special emphasis on carnival arts through the achievements of Claudia Jones, credited for the start of Notting Hill

Sat 30 Oct National carnival network seminar Part of the two-day Carnival Festival. This seminar will be led and run for delegates interested in carnival arts from all cultural traditions.

Camden Centre 9.30am – 5.30pm £75 to include refreshments and light lunch. Concession available

Sat 30 Oct 20th Century Mas and Mask Ball Part of the two-day carnival festival. An opportunity to make your own carnival masks guided by mask making artists, which you can then wear at the evening’s mask ball.

Camden Centre 6pm – 8pm mask-making; 8pm onwards mask ball, £15

Sun 08 Nov Sci-fi film festival Screening and discussion of ‘Cosmic Africa’ and ‘The Brother from Another Planet’, exploring the sci-fi world of conslations and aliens.

Birkbeck Cinema, 1pm – 6.30pm.

Mon 16 Nov The whole world is Africa ‘Why are seven out of eight 100m Olympic finalists African or of BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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James Brown Muhammad Ali Don King B.B. King Bill Withers Miriam Makeba The Spinners Celia Cruz

From the Oscar winning team who created

When we were Kings

On DVD &

16/11/09 Soul Power will be screening as part of Black History Month at the Albany, Deptford London SE8. For more details see www.thealbany.org.uk

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COMPETITION

B. King rown Muhammad Ali Don King B. Celia Cruz rs Miriam Makeba The Spinners

BHM giveaway

4

In 1974, the most celebrated American R&B acts of the time came together with the most renowned musical groups in Southern Africa for a 12-hour, three-night long concert held in Kinshasa, Zaire. The vision of musician Hugh Masekela and producer Stewart Levine, the music festival became a reality when they convinced boxing promoter Don King to combine the event with “The Rumble in the Jungle”, the epic fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, previously chronicled in the Academy Award winning documentary “When We Were Kings”. Soul Power is a verité documentary, entirely composed of footage shot in 1974 at the legendary music festival (dubbed “Zaire ‘74”). It shows backstage and live performances of musical luminaries as James Brown, BB King, Bill Withers, Celia Cruz, Miriam Makeba, among a host of others. At the height of their careers, these artists were inspired by this return to their African roots, as well as by the enthusiasm and adoration of the Zairian audience, to give the performances of their lives. The concert has achieved mythological significance as the definitive Africa(n)-American musical event of the 20th Century.

BHM GIVEAWAY

WIN SOUL

POWER DVD’s

Take it to the Bridge who created teaam ngwin winnito carchance e Os From th Here is your copy of the Soul Power DVD featuring historical s ingfootage eK erand hen we wrare W which has remained vaulted for the past 35 years. Filmed live in Zaire, Soul Power captures one of the great events in R&B history, showcasing James Brown, BB King, Bill Withers and other great artists of the 70s at the height of their careers.

On DVD

How to enter BHM/ Soul Power giveaway

&

16/11/09 part of Black History Soul Power will be screening as ndon SE8. For more Month at the Albany, Deptford Lo details see www.thealbany.org.uk

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BHM has five copies of Soul Power to give away.

To enter the BHM/Soul Power Giveaway, email your name, address and contact number to info@talentmedia. org. Closing date for entries November 14th 2009. Five winners will be drawn randomly and notified by email/post.

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LISTINGS What’s going on in your town

African descent? And why is the opposite true of swimmers?’ In order to create an equal society we first need to understand why it is unequal. Discussion led by Steve Jones, a professor of genetics.

British Library 6.30pm – 9pm £6 / £4 concession

Ealing Sat 3 Oct Caribbean celebration Come along and join in the fun with a Caribbean event to launch Black History Month.

Ealing Central Library, 10am-4pm, Free

Sat 3 Oct-Sat 31 Oct Wire-bending artist, Carl Gabrielle Meet local wire-bending artist and sculptor, Carl Gabrielle who will be exhibiting his twisted artwork throughout Oct. Ealing Central Library, 2pm – 2.30pm, Free

Sat 3 Oct Film screening: A Charmed Life: Stories of London Director Patrick Vernon, presents a screening of A Charmed Life. The film examines the life of London resident Eddie Martin Noble, a Jamaican airman who lived 1917 – 2007.

Tue 13 Oct Black presence in Britain before 1948 An illustrated talk with author and historian, Robin Walker on the black presence in Britain before the arrival of Caribbean immigrants on the ship SS Empire Windrush in June 1948.

Ealing Central Library 6.15pm £3 tel: 020 8567 3670.

Tues 20th Oct What Colour were the ancient Egyptians?

A dynamic presentation by world renowned black historian and author, Robin Walker which looks at life and culture of black ancient Egypt.

Ealing Central Library, 6.15pm, £3, tel: 020 8567 3670.

Tue 27 Oct Slavery to Freedom – the fight for rights in Grenada A fascinating talk by Dr Gemma Romain, Fellow of Newcastle University, which examines the neglected experiences and life histories of enslaved and apprenticed Grenadians in the Caribbean during the transition from slavery to Freedom in the 19 Century.

Ealing Central Library, 6.15pm, £3, tel: 020 8567 3670

Ealing Central Library, 2.30pm-4pm, £3, tel: 020 8567 3670

Greenwich www.greenwich.gov.uk/blackhistory.

Mon 7 Sept – Mon 19 Oct Dance Classes Street Dance: Each class will include a mix of locking, popping, breaking and old and new hip hop dance styles. Booking essential.

16yrs +.

The Borough Hall, £52.50 (£45.50 concessions, £49.00 Greenwich Card), tel: 020 8293 9741 www.greenwichdance.org.uk

Mon 7 Sept – Mon 26 Oct NRgDANCE Learn inventive, high energy hip hop and street dance and create a dance for a live fashion show on 30 Oct. 13-18yrs Plumstead Manor School, 4pm5.30pm , £3.00 (£1.50 concessions), tel: 020 8293 9741 www.greenwichdance.org.uk

Until Thu 15 Oct Milestone An exhibition marking the 10 anniversary of the Macpherson Report.

The Stephen Lawrence Gallery, 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, free, tel: 020 8331 8260 www.greenwich.ac.uk

Sat 3 & Sun 18 Oct Meet John Deman Meet John Deman, a black Greenwich pensioner who left his West Indies home to join Admiral Lord Nelson’s fleet. Hear about his life at sea as a young boy and in the Royal Hospital for Seamen as a pensioner. 7yrs + The Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval College, 12pm, 1pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm , free, tel: 020 8269 4799 www.oldroyalnavalcollege.org

Mon 5 – Fri 30 Oct Integrated Youth Support Service’s Celebration of BHM 2009 A jam-packed programme of music, dance, craft-skills, themed workshops, trips, sports and multicultural cuisine. 5-19yrs (25yrs special needs) 3pm-9pm, free.

Sat 10 Oct Literary Nightclub featuring Lemn Sissay Lemn Sissay, the Southbank Centre’s Artist in Residence, is just one of the stars lighting up this year’s Literary Nightclub.

Refreshments provided. Booking essential.

Dr Maggie Aderin: astro-physicist and one of the first African women to go into space will attend the Camden Launch event

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Greenwich Heritage Centre, 7pm10pm, free, tel: 020 8317 4466 www.lemnsissay.com

Tue 27 Oct & Wed 28 Oct Pulse Young men from Greenwich interested in beat boxing, MCing and singing are invited to form a new music group. Full training will be provided by Sense of Sound.

Booking essential.

Trinity College of Music, 10am-4pm, free, tel: 020 7229 6633 www. senseofsound.net

Fri 30 Oct Call Mr Robeson A journey through the remarkable life of Paul Robeson, highlighting his radical activism and featuring speeches and songs including a rendition of Ol’ Man River. 12yrs + Greenwich Theatre, 7.30pm £12.50 (£10 concessions), 020 8858 7755, www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

Fri 30 Oct “Rhythms of London” Fairtrade Fashion show A Fairtrade fashion show with dance performances, designs by local fashion students and a 10-minute musical.

Greenwich Heritage Centre, 7pm8pm, free, tel: 020 8854 2452 www.greenwich.gov.uk

Tue 17 Nov Rebirth of the Cool The finale of a 10-week project between youth arts organisation, Rolling Sound, and jazz faculty students from Trinity College of Music. The project explores the links between jazz and hip hop.

Blackheath Halls, 7pm, free, tel; 020 8463 0100, www.blackheathhalls.com

HACKNEY Throughout Oct Dalston Photo Booth Hackney photographer Tara Darby has been photographing portraits of people in the midst of the bustle in Dalston’s Ridley Road Market, inspired by the street photography of Seydou Keita and Malick Sidibe.

20 Dalston Lane www.taradarby.com

Thu 1 Oct Black History Month Launch Day at Hackney Central Library Bun, cheese and plenty of chat on hand and a Free raffle for children’s books. Also meet Mr Felix Joseph, Steel Pan designer.

Hackney Central Library, 12pm 4pm, free, www.hackney.gov.uk/ black-history-month

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Making people at home for over 25 years

Proud to support Black History Month Visit www.mho.co.uk or call 020 8920 7777

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LISTINGS What’s going on in your town

booking required www.website.co.uk

Thu 8 Oct Building Bridges (Documentary) Adult Event. In July 2008 Full Spectrum Productions held three oral history workshops in London for the ‘Building Bridges’ project involving interviews and discussions with elders from the community about their experiences in seeing large groups of Caribbean people arriving in Britain after the Second World War. Hackney Museum, 6pm - 7.30pm Booking required

Greenwich: African childrens choir.

Thu 1 Oct Carnival Celebration Join Tropical Isles Youth Carnival Troupe and Homerton Library in reliving the carnival.

Homerton Library, 6pm- 8pm, free.

Ongoing until Dec 2009 Journeys of Change: Hackney Museum working with Supplementary Schools Showing the first year work of three Hackney supplementary schools which took part in this unique pilot project exploring the topics of leadership, poetry and African literature. Also with African dress from the African Women’s Organisation in Hackney.

Hackney Museum, all day, free

Sat 3 Oct – Sat 12 Dec ‘Survival’: Black British History and Culture 1945 to the Present - A short course being run by Birkbeck College at Hackney Archives For 11 weeks: This module takes a wide-ranging approach to Black British social, cultural and political history from 1945 to the present.

Hackney Archives, 2pm – 4pm, Free www.bbk.ac.uk/study

Sat 3 Oct The History of Black Authors with Kola Oluhin Kola will present The History of Black Authors giving personal examples of what he has achieved in this eld. Attendees will be inspired to follow their aspirations and in their ability to attain success.

Hackney Central Library, 5.30pm -7pm Free

Mon 5 Oct (also on 12, 19 & 26 Oct) Cross Currents Days Be part of a creative project with Lydia Julien who will be making a 90

collage of immigration, emigration and crossings whatever your native land. Souvenirs or keepsakes of passage are welcome, which will then be photographed.

Hackney Central Library, 12pm - 4pm, Free

Mon 5 Oct The History of Black Leadership with Kola Oluhin and Thandi Haruperi Adult only event. Motivational speakers Kola Oluhin and Thandi Haruperi.

CLR James Library, 6pm - 7.30pm

Tue 6 Oct Make Musical Instruments For children 5 and under (children must be accompanied by an adult).

Make musical instruments and join our ‘orchestra’ in making music!

Homerton Library, 11am -12pm Free

Wed 7 Oct Teenage Reading Group Discussing Street Boys by Tim Prichard with Special Guest Author and Poet Kwame M A McPherson For ages 13 -19. Kwame will examine how you can create a story that teaches and inspires the reader.

Hackney Central Library, 6 pm -7.30pm

Wed 7 Oct Adult Poetry For age 18 years and over. A chance to write poems and celebrate the work of Black inventors and educators.

Shoreditch Library, 10.30am-12pm, free, Booking required - only 10 spaces Available.

Thu 8 Oct Poetry Advice 1-2-1 An amazing opportunity to get feedback or advice from author, poet, motivational speaker and mentor Kwame McPherson.

Hackney Central Library, 4pm -7pm,

Fri 9 Oct Black History: The Forgotten Pioneers of Horseracing Education Consultant David Lewis presents the history of Black people in horse racing and the personal achievements of exceptional and inuential, yet largely unknown, characters within the history of sport.

Woodberry Down Library, 3.30pm-5pm, free.

Mon 12 Oct I-Storians - Dee Two-Four Carat Silver & Oma-Ra For children 7 and 8 years.

Interactive storyling with Bishop Ngoma and invited guests from Princess May School.

CLR James Library, 10.30am - 12pm,

Mon 12 Oct The History of Black Educators with Thandi Haruperi This session will encompass and provide the history of Black people in education, alongside personal examples of what Thandi has achieved.

Shoreditch Library, 2pm-3.30 pm, free.

Wed 14 Oct Open Mic Speakeasy A poetry open mic night including local poet Joyce Edwards, celebrating literature, creativity, poetry and writing in Black History.

Hackney Central Library, 6.15pm - 7.30pm, free

Thu 15 Oct Exploring London’s Communities through their Archives Adult only event .A talk by Maureen Roberts from London Metropolitan Archives (LMA), exploring the contribution of the African- Caribbean and Chinese

community to the story of London, through the Eric and Jessica Huntley collections and the Chinque family archive deposits at LMA. Hackney Archives, 2 – 4pm, Free, but please book in advance.

Sat 17 Oct Jewellery Making For age 5+ (children aged 5 must be accompanied by an adult). Come along and have fun designing and making your own African style jewellery.

CLR James Library, 2 - 4pm, Free

Wed 21 Oct Black Inventors Quiz & Drawing Competition Quiz for children 8+, drawing competition for children 12+ Including a treasure hunt for the answers to the quiz with a prize draw for the winner.

Stamford Hill Library, 2 - 3pm, Free

Wed 21 Oct How to Get… Writing! With journalist, writer and editor Joy Francis Experienced journalist, editor and trainer, Joy Francis will help all budding writers to generate ideas, develop your unique selling point, find an agent and most importantly get a commission.

Hackney Central Library, booking required, 6.30pm -7.30pm, free

Thu 22 Oct Healthy Eating Fair Adult event – but families are welcome. Sample food from different parts of the world and pave the way for a healthy lifestyle.

Stamford Hill Library, 2-4pm, free

Thu 22 Oct The Hidden History of Black Classical Musicians For age 11+ .Which African became Beethoven’s best friend?

Which Caribbean did Mozart travel miles to copy? Find out how Black musicians inuenced over 500 years of classical music in a fascinating audio- visual presentation.

Homerton Library, 6.30 -8pm, free.

Thu 22 Oct Operation Black Vote: Black Leadership in the UK and Shadowing, Mentoring and Citizenship Schemes Adult only event. Operation Black Vote will talk about the status of Black leadership in the UK and the opportunity to participate in their political education programme.

CLR James Library, 7pm -8pm, free.

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Autumn at the Empire!

Sat 10 Oct

Fri 16 & Sat 17 Oct

The Real McCoy

Will E Robo

Comedy Xplosion!!

Starring Felix Dexter, Leo Muhammad, Robbie Gee, Eddie Nestor and Judith Jacob, alongside special guests Mr Cee and the people’s favourite, Dibbi.

Animated, energetic, charismatic, and hilarious are just a few words that describe Will-E Robo, America’s unique, award winning comedy talent. This is a show for all lovers of great comedy!

Tue 20 - Wed 28 Oct

Fri 30 Oct - Sun 1 Nov

Zambezi Express

Peppa Pig’s Party

Zambezi Express is 90 minutes of edge-of-the-seat action from kick off to nal whistle. So join Zilli on the musical adventure of a lifetime as he battles against the dangers of the big city and tries to make it as a football star of the future.

This BAFTA Award winning children’s TV favourite is recreated live on stage for the rst time from the producers of LazyTown Live! And Roald Dahl’s The BFG.

Fri 6 - Sat 7 Nov

Fri 13 Nov

Common Law

Jocelyn Brown

Blue Mountain return to the Empire with a thought-provoking comedy examining the pitfalls of the ‘Common Law’ relationship. When misguided misogynist Oliver Samuels tries to trade in Patsy - his Common-Law wife of 15 years for a younger model, all hell breaks loose.

Jocelyn Brown is a singer and performer of the highest standard.

Jocelyn’s recording career denes itself, having worked with many of the best Soul and Disco producers and artists of our time.

Sat 14 Nov

Sat 28 Nov - Sat 9 Jan

Daniel De-Gale Memorial Tribute Show

Aladdin

Featuring Bashy, Donaeo, Felix Dexter, Eddie Kadi, Wayne ‘Dibbi’ Rollins, Eddie Nestor, Robbie Gee & Glenda Jaxson.

London’s No1 pantomime team is back with another smash-hit Christmas cracker. The classic adventure story of Aladdin and his magic lamp is brought to life in Hackney Empire’s own unique style.

020 8985 2424

www.hackneyempire.co.uk

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Fri 23 Oct

of internationally acclaimed artists Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy (MBE), Alvin Kofi and Jerry.

Drawing a Caribbean Style Still Life For age 16+. Lydia Julien will teach techniques in drawing tropical still life, in a variety of mediums, for absolute beginners.

All materials will be provided, booking required

The Original Gallery, Mon to Fri 1 to 7pm Sat & Sun 12 to 4pm tel: 020 8489 1419 www.haringey.gov.uk/ theoriginalgallery

Throughout Oct

Hackney Central Library, 10am – 12pm 6 – 7.30pm, Free

Caribbean treats at pieceofplenty Why not pop into our café for a special Caribbean treat, after a visit to the Original Galley?…we are just next door!

Sat 24 Oct Film Night Serving popcorn and red bush tea! Film to be confirmed, check for information, including age suitability.

pieceofplenty at Chapter One Café, Tue to Sat 9.15 to 4.45p, free www.pieceofplenty.co.uk

Hackney Central Library, 5.15pm – 7.30pm, Free

Thu 1 Oct to Fri 30th Oct

Tue 27 Oct

The Journey: Mbuyisa Maphalala Mbuyisa Maphalala was born in Soweto, South Africa, but raised in the neighbouring Kingdom of Swaziland in the seventies. The effect of Mbuyisa’s art is at once both traditional and current.

Poetry Workshop Poet Joyce Edwards will be holding an informal and friendly workshop on getting started in poetry.

Hackney Central Library, 6 – 7.30pm Free No booking required but arrive early

Stroud Green Library, Mon to Fri 9am to 7pm Sat 9am to 5pm, free, tel: 020 8489 1419

Wed 28 Oct An Audience with Tameka Empson You may know her as one of the Three Non-Blondes (BBC 3) but who is the real Tameka Empson?

Actress and comedian Tameka will talk about her origins, inspirations and achievements followed by a Q&A session.

Diane Shaw: Croydon celebrates black history

Hackney Central Library, 6.30pm- 7.30pm Free

Thu 29 Oct

Thu 29 Oct A Taste of Africa Children’s event – but all ages welcome. Come and enjoy a taste of African cultural dance, food, singing, and storytelling (Gbam Gbam) with Clementina.

CLR James Library, 2 - 4pm, Free

Thu 29 Oct Black History Month Party A party to celebrate the work of Black inventors and educators.

Shoreditch Library, -4 pm, free

Thu 29 Oct Hackney Routes Project.

A Charmed Life: An Eddie Noble Film Adult Event . Come and explore cultural and international routes into Hackney by contributing your stories to this unique project. Seek inspiration from the story of one Hackney resident, Eddie Martin Noble (1917-2007).

Hackney Museum, booking required, 5.30 -7.30pm, free.

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Thu 1 Oct to Fri 30 Oct

Black Heroes and Sheroes: 1500’s to the year 2000 Adult event. Talk by Mr Tony Walker from Black History Walks on African History in London, which will focus on the scientific innovations of Black people. Also including advice to help you start up your own business or invention.

Hackney Museum, 6 - 7.30pm, free. Booking required

Thu 12 Nov Opt to Adopt To find and out how you could become an adoptive parent attend this special event. contact the Hackney Adoption team on tel: 08000 730 418.

Stamford Hill Library, 6 -8pm, free.

Haringey BHM

Sat 31 Oct

Until February 2010

Sizzling Salsa with Gilly Gill For age 16+ . Join in this fun Salsa session for beginners. Please dress comfortably.

Spurs 1909: The Era of Walter Tull Tottenham Hotspur FC in the Edwardian period saw the significant contribution of a Black player named Walter Tull. A few years later Tull was to become the first Black British Army Officer to lead white troops into battle during the Great War.

Hackney Central Library, 5.30pm -7pm, free.

Thu 5 Nov Kement, Kush and the Ancient Nile Valley Adult Event . An insight and full historical exploration of the lives of Kings and Queens of the ancient Nile Valley focusing on the region of Kemet (ancient Egypt) with writer Kandace Chimbiri.

The Journey: Ayesha Ogunlabi Ayesha Ogunlabi (nee Feisal) is an artist of African and Lebanese origin. Her art is an inspired mix of African culture and personal experiences spanning all artistic disciplines.

Alexandra Park Library, Mon to Fri 9am to 7pm, Sat 9 to 5pm tel: 020 8489 1419

Thu 1 Oct to Fri 30 Oct The Journey: Christopher Lakony Christopher Lakony is a Ugandan born artist, poet and musician who fled from his beloved motherland due to the war of genocide against his people - the Acoli (of Northern Uganda) in 1986 and has lived in the UK ever since. His work reflects the intensity and, in stark contrast, the tranquillity of his life and the world, as he sees it.

St. Ann’s Library, Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm Sat 9am to 5pm, free

Thu Oct 1 - 7

Thu 1 to Fri 30 Oct

‘Want to see more of me?’

An exhibition of beautiful portraits of the UK’s top Black actors, on loan from the UK Film Council.

Discussion with photographer Donald Maclellan. Call for details.

The Journey: Cultural Expressions An exhibition featuring the work

Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Opening Hours, Free, www.diversityinfilm.org.uk,

Bruce Castle Museum, Wed to Sun 1.00 to 5.00pm, tel: 020 8808 8772

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LISTINGS What’s going on in your town

www.berniegrantcentre.co.uk

Thu Oct 1 Film: ‘SKIN’ Starring Sophie Okonedo .Screening followed Q&A with Skin director Anthony Fabian.

Bernie Grant Arts Centre, 7pm, free, tel: 020 8365 5450 www.elysianfilms.com/skin.htm, www.skinthemovie.net, www.berniegrantcentre.co.uk

Fri 2 Oct Haringey BHM Official Launch The Original Gallery 7.00pm to 9.00pm, tel: 020 8489 1419 www.haringey.gov.uk/ theoriginalgallery

Mon Oct 5 ‘From Bessie to Beyonce’ An illustrated talk on the roots of Black music from Bessie Smith to the bootilicious Beyonce given by the Queen of Lovers Rock Carroll Thompson.

Bernie Grant Arts Centre, 10am and 1.30pm,tel: 020 8365 5450 www.berniegrantcentre.co.uk

Tue 6 Oct Haringey Charmed Life Project Launch The Haringey Charmed Life Project aims to enable local, young people to interview and learn about the experiences of African Caribbean WW2 veterans and servicemen and women from modern day conflicts and peace keeping missions.

St Ann’s Library Hall, 7.00 to 9.00pm Free tel: 0208 489 5352/5350 Selma.Ibrahim@haringey.gov.uk

Thu 8 Oct Ancient Egypt and the Origin of Science and Technology First in a series of history seminars by the popular historian Robin Walker.

This seminar addresses the role of Ancient Egypt in the origin and development of astronomy, mathematics, medicine and surgery, navigation and cartography, and architecture.

Marcus Garvey Library, 7pm to 9pm, free

Sat 10 Oct SHOUT OUT LOUD! Celebrate Black History Month and National Poetry Day with an afternoon of African-Caribbean poetry recitals.

Hornsey Library, 2pm to 4pm, free, tel: 0208 489 1429

Sat 10 Oct Buy Now Pay Later: How dept is used to create financial slavery.

Paul Ifayomi Grant will discuss his latest book. The talk will be followed by the film Colour of Money made with contribution from A. Greenidge, a North London resident.

Marcus Garvey Library, 5pm to 7pm

Mon 12 Oct Meet the Author Shirla Philogene’s author of Between Two Worlds charts her career through hospital nursing to policy advisor in the Nursing Division of the Department of Health. This book is a nostalgic look back at how things used to be done in the NHS. Marcus Garvey Library, 5pm to 7pm

Tue 13 Oct Talk: Black Spartacus A talk on Toussaint L’ Ouverture and his leadership of the 1791 slave revolution in Haiti where they successfully defeated Napoleon’s forces.

Jacksons Lane, 8pm, 12.50 (£10.50), tel : 020 8341 4421 www.jacksonslane.org.uk

Thu 15 Oct

Mon 19 Oct An evening with Bonnie Greer Bonnie talks about her new novel Entropy.

The Gallery Talks: A Thin Line Between Love & the Black Arts The Gallery Talks occur on the 3 Thu of every month at 7pm…

The Colour and Movement Artist Collective will outline their proposal for a programme of development for Black Arts; followed by a panel discussion, Q&A and networking opportunity.

Marcus Garvey Library 7pm- 8pm, free

The Original Gallery, 7 to 9pm, free, tel: 020 8489 1419 www.haringey. gov.uk/theoriginalgallery

Bruce Castle Museum, 12.15pm, free, tel: 020 8808 8772

Thu 15 Oct

Bob Marley: The Untold Story Come and listen to rare Bob Marley tunes while Chris Salewicz reads from his latest book, which looks at the entire life of Bob Marley.

Sub Saharan African and Black American contributions to Science and Technology Second in the series of seminars

by Robin Walker, this lecture addresses the role of Sub Saharan Africa in the evolution of astronomy, mining & metallurgy,

Mon 19 Oct Your Family Tree: Where to Start Are you interested in tracing your family tree in the Caribbean or in Africa? Leading expert Patrick Vernon shows you how to get started.

Tue 20th Oct

Marcus Garvey Library, 7pm - 8pm, free

St Ann’s Library Hall, 6pm-8pm, free, tel: 020 8489 1419

Tue Oct 13 Cleo Sylvester re-enacts Mary Seacole A rare chance to see a remarkable new photograph of the Jamaican born doctress Mary Seacole. See a re-enactment of her famous speech by actress Cleo Sylvester.

10am and 2pm, £tbc, tel :020 8365 5450 www.berniegrantcentre.co.uk

Tues 13 & Tues 20 Oct Blues, Gospel and all that Jazz Join us for two Free fantastic workshops, where you will first learn the basics of posture, breathing and vocal production; Idit Gold, founder and musical director of Singing In London, will take you through different styles of singing: Blues, Gospel, Jazz and Musicals.

Highgate Library, 7.15pm to 9.15pm, free, tel: 020 8489 1419.

Wed 14 Oct Film night: Round Midnight Director Tavernier’s critically praised jazz masterpiece with a score by Herbie Hancock.

Hornsey Library, 7.00pm, free.

Thu 15 Oct Adventures in Anti-Cool Three knock-out Hip Hop theatre performances in one night!

Banxy presents his new solo piece Ikky Wakk.

Harinegey: Chinwe Chukwuogo Roy: Yellow Fishing Boat

medicine & surgery, navigation, architecture, as well as addressing the African American pioneers of science and invention from the eighteenth century to the nuclear age.

Marcus Garvey Library, 7pm to 9pm, free.

Sat 17 Oct Big Band plays Jazz Come and listen to the highly acclaimed, 40 piece, Haringey Young Musicians Big Band play Jazz, with styles ranging from Swing and Latin to Afro-Cuban and Reggae.

St Ann’s Library Hall, 5pm to 6.30pm, free.

Wed 21 Oct All Nation Poetry A potpourri of poems from around the world.

Marcus Garvey Library, 2 pm to 3.30pm, free.

Thu 22 Oct Magnificent traditions of Ancient African arts and crafts Third in the series of Black history seminars by Robin Walker. This visually stunning lecture examines the theories behind early African art and craft. We also discuss, in detail, the Rock Paintings of the Sahara, the Sculptures of BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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Ancient Nigeria, the Royal Arts of Yoruba and Benin. The lecture also considers the Wooden Masterpieces of Central Africa and the Illuminated Manuscripts of Ethiopia.

Islands, with a focus on political developments from the late 15 century to late 20th century.

Londoners, stuck in an area of high unemployment, high crime and low investment.

Marcus Garvey Library, 7pm to 8pm, free.

West Green Learning Centre, 7pm, £3 waged & £2 unwaged, www.haringey.org.uk/hic

Marcus Garvey Library, 7pm to 9pm, free.

Thu 29 Oct

Fri 23 Oct Seminar: Economic selfdetermination for cultural and political rebirth.

This seminar will explore how we can promote economic sustainable development of businesses, trade and commerce amongst African people.

Bernie Grant Art Centre 6.30pm to 9.30pm, free, tel: 07719 658 200

Fri 23 Oct A Day to Remember Michael Jackson A day of videos, dancing, karaoke, moon-walking and reminiscing about Michael Jackson for users of Haringey Day Opportunities for adults with learning disabilities.

Haringey Day Opportunities Gym, 11am to 1pm, free, tel: 020 8489 8762/020 8800 8155

Sat 24 to Wed 28 Oct 2009 Handa’s Hen Handa’s Hen, adapted from the book based in Africa by Eileen Browne.

Markus the sadist in talks - credit IrvenLewis

Mon 26 Oct Freestyle – an introduction to making a low budget feature film Join us for an evening with the cast and crew of this new British feature film. The film-makers will be on hand to discuss the making of the film, which was made through Film London Microwave – the highly successful micro-budget feature film fund (Shifty and Mum & Dad) backed by BBC, LDA, UKFC.

Jacksons Lane, call for details.

Wood Green Central Library, 7pm to 9.30pm, free, tel: 020 8489 1419

Sat 24 Oct

Mon 26 Oct

Sound and Taste of Africa Enjoy an afternoon of some of the most popular African music (including Ghanaian Highlife) plus a taste of glorious Ghanaian Joll of and finish off with Kelewele (spicy fried plantain).

Black Family Book Fair Come and meet your local book sellers - The Big Green Bookshop, BIS Publications, New Beacon Book Shop and Pepukayi Book Distribution Services. As well as your favourite authors - AAD, Darren Meade, Barbara Ellis, Olayinka Bandele, Ama Adu.D and Onyeka.

St Ann’s Library, 2pm to 4.30pm, free

Sat 24 Oct Blues, Gospel and all that Jazz Performance Join us for a performance with a live band, showcasing the various styles of the Black music where the audience will be able to sing along too!

The Original Gallery, 2pm-4pm, free, tel: 020 8489 1419

Mon 26 Oct Social and Economic History of the Caribbean Islands This is a taster lecture, in Afro-Caribbean studies run by Heather Pascall for WEA London (Workers Educational Association).

Heather looks at the social and economic history of the Caribbean 94

Marcus Garvey Library, 1pm to 6pm, free.

Wed 28 Oct Afro-Caribbean Singing and Gospel Workshop Join Haringey U3A for an afternoon of Afro -Caribbean singing and Gospel. This workshop, with Celia from Black Voices, runs in association with Music for Change.

Wood Green Library, 2pm to 3.30pm, free

Thu 29 Oct Babylon & A Place in the City Babylon is the tale of Brixton in the early 80s, specifically the story of second-generation Black

Somali Poetry and Folk Song

By Shams Mohamed Jimale (Maryan Love) Buraanbur is a traditional celebratory poem and Somali folk song which is recited at weddings and cultural festivals.

Buraanbur waa hido iyo dhaqan Soomaaliyeed kaasoo laga tiriyo xafladaha meherka, guurka, iyo xafladaha kale ee dhaqan ahaan la xuso. Waxaa kaloo loo isticmaalaa marka laga hadlaayo taariikhda dalka Soomaaliya iyo dadkiisa.

Waxaa tirinaysa Shamso Maxamed Jimcaale (MARYAN JACAYL) St Ann’s Library Hall, 2pm to 4pm,.

Thu 29 Oct Leather Bookmaking Workshop This is unique chance for you to make your very own leather notebook using African fabrics with Melonie. These mini journals can then be used to tell your own stories.

Hornsey Library, 1.30 to 3.30pm & St. Ann’s Library, 4.30 to 6.30pm, free, Tel: 020 8489 1419

Wed 28 Oct Zulu: People of Heaven, the episode of Rorke’s Drift 1879 Leading authority on the history of the Zulu wars, John Young of the Anglo-Zulu War Royal Research Trust gives a scintillating account of the most well-known episode in the history of the Zulu people.

Bruce Castle Museum, 7.30pm, Free, 020 8808 8772

Thu 29 Oct Roots of Black Music Who really invented Rock and Roll? Fourth in the series of Black history seminars by Robin Walker, on the origin and development of Black Music from the 18 century to the present day.

Tue 3 Nov Will Britain have an Obama?

This workshop will explore the rise of Black leadership in Britain in comparison to that in America. It will analyse the last 100 years of leaders, from John Archer to David Lammy. The workshop will be lead by Narrative Eye. Marcus Garvey Library, 7.00 to 8.30pm, Free

Wed 4 Nov The Devil Has Quentin’s Heart Benji Reid returns to the stage with an explosive new production. A modern day tragedy based on the acclaimed novel Iced by Ray Shell.

Jacksons Lane, 8pm, £12.50 / £10.50, tel: 020 8341 4421 www.jacksonslane.org.uk

ISLINGTON Mons and Tues During term Waterstone’s children’s books showcase Waterstone’s is running workshops featuring children’s authors and their books. The events are for children and their parents.

Waterstones Islington Green, 10am-3pm, free, tel: 020 7 704 2280 Booking is essential.

Thu 1 Oct Celebrating Islington’s female literary talent.

Focusing on women writers who either work, live or were educated in the borough.

Speakers include Dreda Say Mitchell, Winsome Pinnock and Tina Shelton.

Islington Local History Centre, 6pm8.30pm, free, tel: 020 7527 8293.

Fri 2 Oct Activism and resistance Colin Grant reading from ‘Negro with a hat’; Yvonne Archer reading from ‘Life according to Maas Roy’.

Marcus Garvey Library, 7pm to 9pm,.

Waterstone’s Islington Green, 6.30pm – 9pm, free, tel: 020 7704 2280.

Fri 30 Oct

Thu 8 Oct

Evening Talk: Politics Aside with David Lammy MP MP for Tottenham and Minister for Higher Education and Intellectual Property, David Lammy, invites you to join him for this relaxed occasion when he talks frankly about his influences and his wider interests.

A pioneering black arts movement: the Keskidee Centre and Britain’s black arts scene.

An evening of debate assessing the impact of Britain’s first centre for black arts on the country’s arts scene. Hosted by Alex Pascall.

Bruce Castle Museum, 7.30pm, tel: 020 8808 8772

Islington Local History Centre, 6pm8.30pm, free, tel: 020 7527 8293.

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LISTINGS What’s going on in your town

Fri 9 Oct

including Robert Wedderburn, James Somersett, Jonathan Strong and Phillis Wheatley

Mind, body, soul: black health and well-being Jackee Holder reading from ‘Be your own best life coach’ and ‘Soul purpose’; Ken Barnes reading from ‘The iFactor’ and ‘The seven principles of RESPECTisms’.

Church of The Holy Redeemer, 2pm-4pm, free, tel: 020 7332 3851 maureen.roberts@cityoflondon. gov.uk

Fri 23 Oct

Waterstone’s Islington Green, 6.30pm – 9pm, free, tel: 020 7704 2280.

Secrets and lies: exploring isolation and separation Jacob Ross reading from ‘Pynter Bender’; Yaba Badoe reading from ‘True Murder’.

Thu 15 Oct Samuel Ajayi Crowther’s legacy: the church and black clergy in Islington An inter-denominational panel of prominent Islington clergy will discuss how Bishop Crowther’s appointment influenced the church, black clergy and their congregations. Panelists include Reverend Mark Shelton and Father Howard James.

Islington Local History Centre, 6pm8.30pm, free, tel:020 7527 8293.

16 Oct Hidden songs: women’s voices Bonnie Greer reading from ‘Entropy’; Bernadine Evaristo reading from ‘Lara’; Tina Shelton reading from her portfolio.

Waterstone’s Islington Green, 6.30pm – 9pm, free, tel: 020 7704 2280.

Mon 19 Oct Film: Akeelah and the bee In spite of the objections of her mother Wanda, Akeelah enters a spelling contest.

Islington Screen on the Green Cinema, 10am-12.45 pm, free, tel: 020 7527 8293.

Wed 21 Oct ‘Walter Tull: forgotten hero’ and ‘Mary Seacole:

Waterstone’s Islington Green, 6.30pm – 9pm, free, tel: 020 7704 2280

Fri 30 Oct Islington BHM Grand finale Music, speeches activities and The Science Museum is even bringing its giant bubble machine!

Islington: Movement Angol productions

real angel of the Crimea’ Walter Tull was a pioneering black British footballer and the first black officer in the British army. Mary Seacole was a nurse during the Crimean War in the 1850s.

Islington Screen on the Green Cinema, 10am-12.45 pm, free.

Thu 22 Oct ‘The first black Britons’ and ‘Mutiny’ ‘Mutiny’ is a documentary about West Indian participation in the First World War. Islington Screen on the Green Cinema, 10am-12.45 pm, free.

Thu 22 Oct A history of activism: Islington’s radical roots and traditions.

The final episode in our season

will trace Islington’s radical roots – exploring its place in national and international activism. Hosted by Lela Kogbera.

Islington Local History Centre, 6pm8.30pm, free, tel: 020 7527 8293.

Fri 23 Oct ‘Endgame’ In the dying days of the apartheid regime, the ANC and the National Party hold secret talks in a country house in England.

Islington Screen on the Green Cinema, 10am-12.45 pm, free.

Sat 24 Oct Heritage Tour .Led by staff from the London Metropolitan Archives, the twohour walk takes us through the City of London describing the lives of African and Asian people connected with the borough,

City of London Academy, 1pm, free, tel: 020 7527 8293

KENSINGTON Fri 2 Oct – 30 Oct 50 Years Of Carnival: Exhibition Launch ‘50 years of Carnival’ is a new exhibition by historytalk exploring the roots of the London Caribbean Carnival. The exhibition will be officially opened on Fri 2 Oct by Colin prescod (Chair of historytalk) and exhibition curator Tom Vague.

The Tabernacle, 6.30 to 8.30pm, free but booking required, tel: 020 7361 2062, arts@rbkc.gov.uk until 15 Oct

Fri 2 Oct The Claudia Jones inaugural carnival lecture Claudia Jones created the first indoor Carnival in St Pancreas

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town hall in January 1959 in reaction to the Notting Hill race riots the previous year.

To commemorate 50 years’ of Carnival, Pat Bishop, Head of the Carnival Institute, University of the West Indies, Trinidad and tobago, will deliver the inaugural lecture, ‘the Globalisation of the Carnival Culture and its impact on the Caribbean Diaspora’ followed by a drinks reception.

Victoria and Albert Museum, 7.30 to 9.30pm, free but booking is essential, tel:020 7942 2211

Tue 20 Oct Debatable: “Cultural Diversity Initiatives Reinforce Stereotypes Rather Then Removing Them” Is there a place in a 21 century city like London for cultural events that focus primarily on ‘diverse’ cultures? Plus live performances from Cultural Co-operation’s unique artists’ network.

The Tabernacle, Doors 6.45pm, debate and performances 7.30 to 9pm, free, tel: 020 7361 2062 arts@rbkc.gov.uk

Mon 26 to Fri 30 Oct The Brazilian Active Arts Project The Brazilian active arts project presents: living traditions – a series of events celebrating the development of Brazilian arts in Europe.

Tel: 07910 288 091 baa@ capoeiracanal.co.uk

27, 28, 29 and 31 Oct Platform Xpression – Where Creative Talent Meets The Black Experience Follow the trail of often hidden and rarely seen objects related to black heritage and take a historical tour in search of the black presence in Kensington and Chelsea based on Vanessa Walters book Smoke!

Othello!

Free. To book contact Jennifer Kirk on tel: 020 8350 5651 or text platform X followed by your name to 07973 124238.

Fri 30 Oct Representing World Cultures In The Victorian Home An exploration of the interiors of 18 Stafford Terrace looks at the non-Western decoration and objects owned by the Sambourne family who lived at the house from 1875.

18 Sambourne House, free, tel: 020 7471 9156.

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Fri 30 Oct Mama Africa A glorious evening of wonderful women’s music created and performed by leading African musicians in a myriad of styles.

The Tabernacle Arts Centre, £8 /£5 concs, tel:020 7221 9700, info@carnivalvillage.org.uk

KINGSTON Thu 1 Oct

Tudor Drive Readers’ Group The Tudor Drive Readers’ Group will be discussing “Small Island”

by Andrea Levy.

Tudor Drive Library, 10.30 -11.30am, free, tel: 020 8547 6499

Wed 7 Oct New Malden Readers’ Group The New Malden Readers’ Group will be discussing “Half of a Yellow Sun” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

New Malden Library, 11am - 12 noon, free, tel: 020 8547 6499

Wed 14 Oct Old Malden Readers’ Group The Old Malden Readers’ Group will be discussing “A Mercy” by Toni Morrison.

Old Malden Library, 11am – 12 noon, free, tel: 020 8547 6499

Tue 27 Oct Surbiton Library Readers’ Group The Surbiton Library Readers’ Group will be discussing “Scottsboro” by Ellen Feldman at their Oct meeting Surbiton Library, 7pm - 8pm, free, tel: 020 8547 6499

Tue 27 Oct Hook Library Readers’ Group The Hook Readers’ Group will be discussing “Cloth Girl” by Marilyn Heward Mills at their Oct meeting.

Hook Library, 10.30 -11.30am, free, tel: 020 8547 6499

Thu 29 Oct Kingston Children’s Library Readers Kingston Readers’ Group will be discussing “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett at their Oct meeting.

Kingston Children’s Library, 7pm 8pm, free, tel: 020 8547 6499

LAMBETH Fri 2 Oct Lambeth Black History Month Launch Including performances from poet and Radio DJ Lady S, and Churchboyz, a gospel tribute band.

Nettlefold Hall, 7pm, tel: 020 7926 1075. This is an invitation only event with limited seating.

Sat 3 Oct Children’s theatre with Winston Nzinga The Nettlefold proudly present Winston Nzinga, an amazing percussionist and storyler from the Caribbean. Under 7s show Nettlefold Hall, 2pm, free.

Sat 3 Oct

Foundation which works to support local communities in Central and West London. A film that traces the evolution of Ladbroke Grove from the 1958 race riots to the present day and includes the historical development of the Nottinghill Carnival. The film contemplates the opulent life-style of the slave-owning planters in Jamaica. 17 and 18 century antiques are discovered on the island provide the clues to their riches.

The Lambeth Quilt – Our Quilt Lambeth Libraries and Lambeth Arts will be hosting a series of intergeneration workshops in Oct to create a reminiscence quilt that reflects and records the diversity and history of Lambeth. Sessions will take place on Sats through Oct

Nettlefold Hall, 7pm, free

Nettlefold Lower Hall, 1 – 3pm, free.

Minet Library, 2pm, free

Sat 3 Oct

Sat 10 Oct

‘Crunch’ Come and join us for the screening of Wayne G Saunders new film “Crunch” along with some of his shorts and a special performance

Travelling Films: ‘People, Signs and Resistance In Brixton from the late 50s to the present day’, Clovis Salmon aka ‘Sam the Wheels’ has captured accounts of everyday life, protest and people.

Nettlefold Hall, 7.30pm, free.

Tue 6 Oct Lambeth Sustainable Transport Team present……….an evening with cycling legend Maurice Burton Maurice made cycling history in 1974 by becoming Britain’s first black senior champion.

Maurice will be talking about his experiences as a professional cyclist in the 70s followed by a Q & A session.

Streatham Library, 7pm, Free

Tue 6 Oct and Tue 27 Oct Arhcitecture and Poetry Writing Course Taking inspiration from Khadambi’s house Lambeth Libraries and The National Trust are offering 6 new poets the chance to work in the house, creating work over two weeks that draws on experiencing Khadambi’s work from the inside.

Khadambi Asalache’s House, Free, tel: 020 7926 1075.

Booking necessary

Thu 8 Oct National Poetry Day 2009 Lead by Lady S, popular poet and radio host for a Somali radio show, Nomad Radio.

Streatham Library, 7pm, free.

Sat 10 Oct Travelling Films: ‘Birth of Ska film’ a film by Gus Berger A look at the beginnings of Ska which started in the Caribbean and spread to London in the 1950s

Nettlefold Hall, free

Mon 12 Oct Dreda Say Mitchell – Geezer Girls Dreda Say Mitchell was born in London’s East End and has worked as an education consultant and a teacher in both primary and secondary schools. Join Dreda in conversation and reading from her book Geezer Girls.

West Norwood Library, 7pm, free

Tue 12 Oct Thu 29 Oct Calypso Workshop Ages 7 plus. Alexander D Great is a specialist in the Caribbean Calypso tradition. Learn a little about the history of Calypso and learn to write songs about pioneers - so have a think about famous inventors or explorers you know.

Central Library, 4 – 5pm, free

Mon 12 Oct Steel Pan Workshops Ages 11 years and over. Limited places, book in advance. Join Marlon, Director of Endurance Steel Pan Orchestra and other members to show you how steel pans really work.

Streatham Library, 5.30pm, free

Fri 9 Oct

Wed 14 Oct

Travelling Films:’ Groove Roots’ House of Sugar’ Produced by the Octavia

Black History Month Challenge: Filmmakers’ Forum and Screening

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A celebration of local filmmaking talent with Q&As and live performances.

The Albany, Workshops from 4pm, Screening 7.30pm, free

Wed 14 Oct Steve Smith – British Black Gospel: The Foundations of This Vibrant UK Sound Steve traces the roots of modern black gospel from 19 Century black pioneers such as Thomas Rutling and the Fisk Jubilee Singers, who performed for Queen Victoria, to the contemporary sound of the London Community Gospel Choir and Tyndale Thomas who was awarded the MBE for contribution to British Gospel in Nov 2008.

Olive Morris?

Did you know Olive Morris? In 2007 Lambeth Libraries and Archives joined up with artist Ana Laura Lopez de la Torre and community activist Liz Obi to uncover the hidden history of one of Lambeth’s unsung residents.

Brixton library, 7pm , free, http:// rememberolivemorris.wordpress. com/

Fri 23 Oct and Sat 24 Oct African Diaspora “African Diaspora”. Cross generational show suitable for all the family and don’t forget to invite Grandparents too.

South Lambeth Library, 7.30pm, free

Nettlefold Hall, 7.30 pm, £5 , tel: 0207 738 66 33, www. whippersnappers.org

Fri 16 Oct

Sat 24 Oct

Percussion Workshop Ages 12 years and over Winston will demonstrate his skills as a percussionist to young people at West Norwood Library Teenage Reading Group. Places are limited to 20.

The Leopard and The Drum A family show suitable for Nursery, reception and primary aged children.

West Norwood Library, 4.30pm, free

Sat 17 – Fri 30 Oct Family Learning Festival Sun 18 Oct David Simon Family workshop Brixton Library 1-4pm

Sat 17 Oct Health and Wellbeing Day for all the family Shaka services –yoga and relaxation taster sessions, face painting and much more, come along and join in this family day South Lambeth Library, 7pm-9pm, free.

Sat 17 Oct Black History Series: Green History Short films, documentaries and talks examine climate change and poverty in developing countries in Africa and the Caribbean.

BP Lecture Theatre, British Museum, 1-6pm, Free, www.britishmuseum.org

Wed 21 Oct ‘Science and Silence’ (HIV event) (film) Panel discussion on the way HIV has impacted upon the African and Caribbean communities in the UK. Screening of the documentary “Courage and Hope”, about the experience of HIV positive teachers living in Kenya British Library, 6.30 – 9pm, free.

Wed 21 Oct Do you remember

Nettlefold Hall, 2.30, £5, tel: 0207 738 66 33, www.whippersnappers.org

1867: 27th-31st October at the Brockley Jack Theatre, Brockley.

the style of an urban soap opera.

Funded by The Lambeth Youth Opportunity Fund.

puppets/dolls workshops Limited spaces, book in advance Carnegie Library, 2.30pm, Free

Nettlefold Hall, 6pm, £2.50, tel: 0207 738 66 33

LEWISHAM

Wed 28 Oct

Throughout Oct

West Norwood Library, 7pm, free.

An Imitation of Life (1934) Will the love between a mother and her daughter conquer the pervading racial discrimination of 1930s America? Followed by Q&A

Wed 28 Oct

Shortwave Cinema and Cafe Bar, 7.30pm, free, tel: 020 7525 3569

Tracing your Caribbean Roots Getting you started tracing your Caribbean family history. Online sources for finding you Caribbean roots will be available.

Mon 26 Oct R.C. Ofodile - THOU SHALT NOT R.C. Ofodile will be launching and reading from his new book Thou Shalt Not, a poignant portrait of personality and principle.

10 Anniversary of the Caine Prize for African writing with Brian Chikwava 2009 marks the 10 anniversary of the leading literary prize for African fiction – the Caine prize, named after the late Sir Michael Caine, former Chairman of Booker plc.

Ben Okri, Chairman of the judges, The Caine Prize 2000 Brixton Library, 7pm

Thu 29 Oct Caribbean Healthy Living Day Diabetes UK are hosting a Free African and Caribbean Healthy Living Day open to those with diabetes and those at risk of diabetes. Plus a healthy Caribbean cook and eat session by Chef Barrington Palmer.

Nettlefold Hall, 10am-3pm, free, tel: 020 7424 1108

Sat 24 Oct Film: ‘Brukdown Estate’ Explores the life experiences of young people, living in inner city London in the 21 Century. A film made by the Whippersnapper Youth Department and filmed in

Wed 28 Oct Storytelling African and Caribbean Tales. Ages 5 – 11 years. Performance artist Winston Nzinga is an accomplished storyler, percussionist, dancer, singer and teacher. Sessions are limited to 30 places.

Durning Library, 2.30pm, free.

Wed 28 Oct A Story of Saleah’s Journey This interactive storyling performance is based on the true life experiences of Saleah – a story of an elderly Jamaican woman now living in England.

Streatham Library, 2.30pm, free.

Fri 30 Oct Lodon Southbank University Travelling Films: ‘Finding Me’ Faybien Allen begins his journey to self-discovery with the aid of his two best friends.

The Keyworth Centre Main Auditorium, London Southbank University, 7pm, Free

Fri 30 Oct Nzinga Dance -African

Lewisham Library Open Learning Centre, Opening Hours, free, local. studies@lewisham.gov.uk

Throughout Oct Nadine Walker: Caribbean Proverbs An exhibition exploring the literal translation of Caribbean proverbs.

Limelight Space at Lewisham Library, free

Thu 1 Oct, In association with Flipped Eye publishing: Roger Robinson introduces Suckle In a world where black music and writing is often criticised for macho posturing, Roger’s choice of book is interesting and his selfdeprecating wit makes his work hugely enjoyable both off the page and on the stage. For ages 16 and over.

Lewisham Library, 8-9.30pm, tel: 020 8314 9800

Thu 1 and Fri 2 Oct Adventures in Anti-Cool Banxy presents his new solo Ikky Wakk. KnoLove Productions present their solo Cool Rules, BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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finishing with brand new duet, Adventures in Anti Cool.

BHM Public Speaking Contest - Final Round The final round for the speech and reading competition on Black History Month and National Heroes.

The Albany, 7.30pm, tel: 020 8692 4446, www.thealbany.org.uk

Sat 3 Oct, Mad Professor The Guyana-born reggae king of South London, featuring John McLean, Sister Audrey, Lorna Gee and many Ariwa Artists.

Goldsmiths Community Centre, 5.30pm-8.30pm, free, tel: 020 8695 9118 or 0798 5798 710

The Albany, 7.30pm, tel: 020 8692 4446, www.thealbany.org.uk

Why Vote? Why Bother? How Obama mobilised American voters and could it happen here?

Ashok Vismanathan, Assistant Director, Operation Black Vote and author/journalist Anthony Painter debate and take questions. Signed copies of Anthony’s biography of Obama available on the night. For ages 16 and over.

Thu 15 Oct

Sat 3 Oct Grandma’s Sat Soup A popular story with related craft activity. For accompanied children aged 5-7.

Wavelengths Library , 2-3.30pm, Free, tel: 020 8694 2535

Sat 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Oct Guided Tour for the general public ‘Rotherhithe: An Old East India Company Town’ A walk along the river to Rotherhithe and visit to the tomb of Prince Lee Boo. An adventure story with treasure, shipwreck, and a young black hero.

Start Bermondsey tube station, end Brunel Museum, 10.45am – 12pm, free, tel: 020 7231 3840, www. brunel-museum.org.uk

Mon 5 Oct Writers’ Block Have you got an idea for a play but stuck for ideas? Get inspiration and guidance from award winning playwright, Bola Agbaje and the Albany team.

Places limited, to book contact Sophie.Bradey@thealbany.org.uk The Albany, 6pm, free, tel: 020 8692 4446 www.thealbany.org.uk

Mon 5 Oct Lewisham Council Black History Month Launch This civic occasion announces the reprinting of Windrush to Lewisham: Memoirs of Uncle George (the life of W. George Brown edited by Joan Anim-Addo) augmented by performance from Jan Blake with Sandra Agard as MC. Civic Suite, 7pm, by invitation only

Tue 6 Oct

Lewisham Library, 8-9.30pm, free, tel: 020 8314 9800

Fri 16 Oct

Dreda Say Mitchell: Author & broadcaster

Thu 8 Oct,

Tue 13 Oct,

Yes We Can: Esther Austin and Nnamdi Samuels Accomplished motivational speakers and mentors echo Obama’s mantra as they talk about how we can set our personal goals and accomplish them.

Lewisham Library; 8-9.30pm, free, 020 8314 9800

Inspired Word: ‘Sharing Space’ Sharing Space is the culmination of five workshops on the theme of generational history and culture.

Come and enjoy a night of rhyme, prose and monologue based upon cultural dialect, visual stimuli and musical influence.

Sat 10 and Sun 11 Oct

Lewisham Library, 8-9pm, free, tel: 020 8314 9800

When the Cat’s Away Audrey Reid stars the hilarious Jamaican comedy.

Broadway Theatre, 8pm, Prices TBC, tel: 020 8690 0002

Sun 11 Oct Downham Tamil Association BHM Public Speaking Contest - First Round A speech and reading competition on Black History Month and National Heroes.

Goldsmiths Community Centre, 11.30am–2.30pm, free, tel: 020 8695 9118 or 0798 5798 710

Self-motivation and goal setting A Free workshop for adults who want to discover the tools to personal success. 15 places.

Tutored by Esther Austin. Places must be pre-booked

Mon 12 Oct

Lewisham Library, 6-7.30pm, free, tel: 07903 359179.

Carers Lewisham, 6.30-9.30pm, free, tel: 0208 699 8686

98

History of Caribbean Food and Music Also Wed 28 Oct, 11am-3pm.

Exploring the history of Caribbean/ BME folklore, food recipes and music

Tue 13 Oct Entrepreneurship and Business Dynamics A Free adult workshop for aspiring entrepreneurs wishing to develop a business idea. 15 places. Tutored

by Yana Johnson MBE Places must be pre-booked.

Lewisham Library, 6-7.30pm, free, tel: 07961 797555.

Tue 13 Oct Tea and Cake from Around the World with Friends 55+ Pensioners are invited to sample hospitality from around the world with varied cakes and sweet meats on offer and the chance to exchange recipes.

Risin’ From the Dust Charting the connection between grime and spoken word, this show brings together dub poet Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze, MC Rinse, jazz artist Soweto Kinch and grime star Ghetts. Also launching the film Grit Story: Still Risin’ From The Dust, exploring the roots of British grime music.

The Albany, 7.30pm, free, tel: 020 8692 4446 www.thealbany.org.uk

Sat 17 Oct Downham Tamil Association BHM Cultural Celebration An evening of traditional Indian dance, folk dance, music and related talks. Winners of the Association’s recent public speaking contest will perform.

Goldsmiths Community Centre, 5.30– 9.30pm, free ,tel: 020 8695 9118 or 0798 5798 710

Sat 17 Oct Love Sax and all that Jazz Focus Arts Promotion at the Albany. Written by Mobo nominated spoken word, rap and gospel artiste Alan Charles, the production chronicles the experiences of four female friends as they come to terms with their individual circumstances The Albany, 7.15pm, tel: 020 8692 4446 www.thealbany.org.uk

Sun 18 Oct

Wed 14 Oct

Dance Physics: Dance workshops for ages 8-15 This workshop will mix African and Caribbean dance forms, as well as Capoeira, Jazz and Street dance, in a fun, energetic way.

Downham Tamil Association

Downham Library, 2.30pm, free,

Lewisham Pensioners Forum at the Saville Centre, 11.30am-2.00pm, free, tel: 0208 690 7869

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tel: 020 3049 1980

Thu 20 Oct Multi Cultural Family History Begin to trace your family history online.

Torridon Road Library, 3-4pm, free, tel: 020 8698 1590

Thu 22 Oct Will Gaines Tap dancing star Will Gaines was born in Baltimore in 1928 and has since performed across the world.

He celebrated his 80th birthday with a show at the South Bank Centre last year.

Tue 27 Oct, Obama: The Path to the White House How much do you know about the inspirational Barack Obama?

Find out the facts with fun puzzles, word searches and more. For ages 8-11 Catford Library, 2.15-3.15pm, free, tel: 020 8314 6399

Tue 27 Oct

The Albany, 2.30pm and 7.30pm, tel: 020 8692 4446 www.thealbany.org.uk

Who were the Ancient Egyptians? Presented by Robin Walker with music from Sophie and Stephen One of the UK’s foremost historians explores ancient black history with contemporary music before and after the talk from Lewisham favourites, Sophie and Steve.

Thu 22 Oct

Lewisham Library, 8-9.30pm, free, tel: 020 8314 9800

Love the way you look: Yana Johnson MBE with Jaq Norris Yana (from Yana Cosmetics) and Jaq Norris (from roots2ends) promise Free product demonstration as well as an entertaining canter thorough the history of black beauty.

Tue 29 Sept,

Lewisham Library, 8-9.30pm, free, tel: 020 8314 9800

Yes You Can: Developing your self-esteem and assertiveness A Free workshop for adults wishing to build confidence and become more assertive. 15 places.

Tutored by Esther Austin. Places must be pre-booked.

Sat 24 Oct

Lewisham Library, 6-7.30pm, tel: 07903 359179

The Black History of the Manor House, Lee: S.I. Martin Eminent historian S.I. Martin provides an illuminating portrait of the black history of the Lee and Blackheath areas with a particular focus upon the Georgian building hosting this event.

Thu 29 Oct

Manor House Library, 3-4pm Free but booking advised, tel: 020 8852 0357

In association with Arcadia Books: Doing the right thing: Jim Pines on the Spike Lee phenomenon Jim Pines is well qualified to explore the contribution of Lee in highlighting African-American themes and images in mainstream popular films since the 1980s.

Sat 24 Oct

Forest Hill Library, 6.30-7.30pm, tel: 020 8699 2065 free

Walking tour of New Cross and Deptford Historian S.I. Martin leads a walking tour revealing the hidden histories of black people in New Cross and Deptford over the past 500 years. All places must be prebooked through New Cross Library and paid in advance.

Thurs 29 Oct Hands On Africa for Adults

Find out about African cultural heritage and handle objects from the continent in the Horniman’s Hands On Base.

Horniman Museum, 7– 8pm, free, tel: 020 8699 1872 ext 196.

Please book in advance by emailing marketing@horniman.ac.uk www.horniman.ac.uk

Sat 31 Oct What’s in a book? Verna Wilkins Award winning author, founder and Managing Director of Tamarind Books, Verna Wilkins, talks about how stories get to the printed page and how she ensures that black families see their heritage and culture represented in the picture. Children aged 5-11 must be accompanied.

Lewisham Library, 11am-12 noon, free, tel: 020 8314 9800

Sat 31 Oct

Merton Thu 1 Oct Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) forum Vestry Hall, 12.30pm-3.30p, free, tel: 020 8648 9551, www.merton.gov.uk

Fri 2 Oct Family Music Event Lovers Rock,music and entertainment Taylor Road Day Centre, 7pm-12pm, £5 includes food, tel: 020 8545 4712

Sat 3 Oct Book reading by Wilfred LB Fraser Reading from’The Brotherhood of the Unicorn’. Signed copies of this book will be available on the day Mitcham Library, 3pm-4pm, free, tel: 020 8648 9551

Kwéyòl Swaré (Creole Soirée) Soul Food 4 All An informal evening promoting traditional French Creole culture, through conversation, cooking, film, and the performing arts.

Tue 6 Oct & Sat 10 Oct

Family Health Isis, 7pm-12 Midnight, tel: 07846 651 976

Mitcham Library, 5.30pm-6.30pm, free, tel: 020 8648 9551

Wed 4 Nov

Mon 12 Oct

‘Imani’ – a solution for sustaining Black-led community development?

A discussion forum on the issue of Imani [trust], within and between Black-led organisations. At a of unprecedented competition for funding in the current economic downturn, the need for collaboration has never been more needed.

In Partnership with LEMP and Family Health Isis.

Merton Excursion Trip to Brighton and visit to Momma Cherri’s Soul Food restaurant

Family Health Isis, 6-9pm, tel: 0208 691 7201, free

Meet outside 439 New Cross Road, 11am–12.15pm £5 Under 16s free, tel: 020 8694 2534

26 Oct – 3oth Oct

Book reading by Tony Esenwa ‘Jaja King of Opodo’. Signed copies of this book will be available on the day

Care Connect, 10am-8pm, £10 for children (£25 with food) £15 for adults (30 with food),

Southwark Sat Oct 3 Southwark Black History Month launch You are invited to attend an afternoon of thought provoking discussion, and debate from some of the U.K’s leading academics in the field of Black History. Hosted

by Henry Bonsu of Colourful Radio.

Harris Academy at Peckham, 1.00pm to 6.00pm. Workshops 4.45pm to 5.45pm, free, tel: 020 7525 3569 Wheelchair accessible: Yes BSL interpretation Provided upon request blackhistorymonth@southwark. gov.uk. www.southwark.gov.uk/ blackhistory

The power of verse: Halfterm poetry tour Sandra Agard and Coda Quashie will bring poetry to life for family audiences as they take in all Lewisham’s libraries in a whistlestop tour.

Oct 1 to 29 The one hour show Our event will present 10 ‘One Hour Shows’ to the public to give black people a ten-minute

Free, www.lewisham.gov.uk for venues etc.

Lewisham : Simon Hughes & Renaissance

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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Theatre Classes Contemporary Caribbean-African Dance project. During Black history month 2009 the company will be working with parents and young people between the ages of 7 to 12+.

There will be guest speakers and an opportunity for an open discussion aimed at the youth. The discussion will highlight black on black crime and identifying how the community can go forward in a positive way.

Peckham Pulse Healthy Living Centre, 4:30pm-6:00pm, £1. 50 per person, tel: 020 7639 4875 www.ccdc7.co.uk

Damilola Taylor Centre, 6.00pm to 9.00pm, free, tel: Sharon Ellis 07956 157 197 SharonEllis_signature@ hotmail.co.uk

Sat Oct 10

Thu Oct 22, 29

The British music scene & the influence of SKA music This event is a celebration of SKA music and its influence on the evolution of reggae music, punk and two-tone music.

‘Black History, what do you think?’

Discover more about your identity; create a video message for your ‘future kids’ about black history... want more? COVO Connecting Voices will run 2 workshops at the Old Bellenden School during Black History Month, so come along! Get creative!

Jessie Duffet Hall, 12.00pm to 6.00pm, free 020 7701 9555 / 07868 471 640, Wrgm6@aol.com www.michaelarkkmuzik.com

Wed Oct 14

Rich Mix: Shabaka Hutchings

opportunity to have their say and to express themselves about our past, present and future, before an audience, Free of charge and without red tape.

Caribb Youth and Community Association, 7.30pm to 8.30pm, free, tel: 020 7701 9400, Caribbyouth2005@yahoo.co.uk

Oct 1 to 30 Sat Oct 31 The salmon youth centre Black history month celebrations Dance, Film, Art, music, drama and sport clubs and workshops running through the course of the Black History Month.

The Salmon Youth Centre in Bermondsey, 4.30pm to 9.00pm (workshops & Clubs); 6.00pm to 9.00 pm (Showcase performance), 50p per person, 020 7237 3788, Godiva. apedo@salmoncentre.co.uk

Sat Oct 3 Silver sounds: Black History Month special Music and dance for mature clubbers of all backgrounds who want to shake a leg to their favourite rocksteady, ska, soca and reggae tunes InSpire, The Crypt, 5.30pm to 8.30pm, £3. Must be bought in advance from Southwark Pensioners Centre, 305-307 Camberwell Road, SE5 0QH, tel: 07960 318 055 100

gelarti@hotmail.co.uk

Sats 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Oct Carl Campbell Dance Company 7’s Contemporary Caribbean Dance Class. This is an open dance class for members of the community from 14 to 50 to experience contemporary Caribbean dance.

Peckham Pulse Healthy Living Centre,1:30pm-3:00pm, £3.00, tel: 020 7639 4875 www.ccdc7.co.uk

Every Tues 6, 13, 20st, 27, Oct Carl Campbell Dance Company 7’s Recycled Teenagers Dance Classes The Carl Campbell Dance Company 7’s Recycled Teenagers Dance Theatre Classes is a Contemporary Caribbean-African Dance project for Older learners. The project is geared for the over 50’s giving members an opportunity to experience Caribbean-African Dance and culture in a warm and friendly environment. Music ranged from Reggae, Soukouss, R& B, Classical, Salsa to Hip Hop. Peckham Pulse Healthy Living Centre, 1:00pm-2:30pm, £1.50, 020 7639 4875, www.ccdc7.co.uk/ recycled-teenagers.co.uk

Every Tues 6, 13, 20st, 27, Oct 2009 Carl Campbell Youth Dance

SAF film and photography network meeting: the history and future of black film The Film and Photography SAF networking event is a platform for panellists and guests to debate about the ‘Past, Present and Future’ of black film and of the meaning of Black History month throughout the years and today.

Shortwave Cinema and Cafe Bar, 6.30pm to 8.30pm, Free, tel: 020 7252 8672, wendy@ southwarkartsforum.org, www.southwarkartsforum.org

Fri Oct 16 Southside Young Leaders’ Academy (SYLA) - hidden heritage family project The Hidden Heritage Family Project is a week long exhibition which explores and celebrates the historical journeys of 20 SYLA families.

House Café & Gallery, 10.00am to 4.30pm, tel 020 7701 9055 www.southsideyla.org.uk

Sat Oct 17 The Hidden Heritage Project Drilling Southside Young Leader’s present readings from boys “My Journey, Your Journey, Our Journey”.

African and Caribbean finger buffet.

House Café & Gallery 10.00am to 5.00pm, free, tel: 020 7701 9055 www.southsideyla.org.uk

Sat Oct 17 The way we were…

The event will capture the memorable arrival of the first set of West Indians on the Windrush.

Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP), Thu 22 (6.00pm to 8.00pm) & Thu 29 (3.00pm to 5.00pm), free, tel: 020 7635 0007 admin@covo.org.uk www.covo.org.uk

Sat Oct 24 Educational social and cultural workshops The SMWA Black History Month event will run several cultural workshops that combine different Muslim traditions from Africa and Asia.

Southwark Muslim Women’s Association, 10.30am – 2.30pm, free, tel: 020 7732 8053 smwasmwa@ aol.com www.smwa.org.uk

Sat Oct 25 Southwark Black history walk The walk takes us from the Cuming Museum to the Oval. We travel through nearly 300 years of the Black presence in Southwark and meet those that changed history (Mary seacole & William Cuffay) and those whose lives were unsung.

The Cuming Museum, 2.00pm, free blackhistorymonth@southwark. gov.uk

Tue Oct 27 - Thu Oct 29 Youth workshops with guest speaker Andrew Muhammad Three workshops will be delivered looking at the relationship between Africa and the West Indies.

Violet Room, Royal Festival Hall, 6pm, free, tel: 020 7401 2890 Jacob@se1united.org.uk www.se1united.org.uk

Wed Oct 28 Unveiling the Dr Harold

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Moody bust An event to celebrate Peckhambased Doctor Harold Moody, who was an ambassador for Britain’s black community and a founding member of the League of Coloured Peoples.

Cllr Lewis Robinson will unveil the bust in its new permanent location, followed by a talk by historian Stephen Bourne.

Peckham Library, 6pm to 8pm, free, tel: 020 7525 0212 Linda.foster@southwark.gov.uk

Thu Oct 29 Diaspora Youth Art An art exhibition featuring the work of trained youths to develop their artistic skills from a Black/ African perspective.

Walworth Methodist Church, 11am to 5.30pm, £5 Adults; under 16 £2.50; children and babies, free, tel: 020 7252 6655 / 07947 119 348 / 07956 964 179, Idalecommic2@ yahoo.co.uk, www.into.org.uk/ic2

Fri Oct 30 Impact youth projects presents: Revive us again Historic gospel revival concert event to unite the generations by calling together youth & youth Choirs to sing Spirituals, Gospel songs and Hymns from the past.

St. Jude’s, The Crypt, St. George’s Road, 6.30pm to 9.30pm, free, tel: 07957 135 892 dbarnett.impact_ projects@hotmail.com

like Sade, Astrud Gilberto, Miriam Makeba and Ravi Shankar.

Rich Mix, 8pm, £8 in advance, £11 on the door, tel: 020 7613 7498 www. richmix.org.uk/aandc_sparlha.htm www.sparlhaswa.com

Rich Mix, 8pm, £10, £8 Concessions, Tel:020 7613 7498, www.richmix.org.uk

Wed 7 Oct

Tue 20th Oct

Coming to England with Floella Benjamin Introduced film screenings for primary schools Coming to England is a stunning film adaptation of Floella Benjamin’s autobiography, charting her journey from Trinidad to Britain in the 1960s. These screenings are designed for Key Stage 2 pupils and teachers.

Heart of Darkness by Tavaziva Dance Take a raw dance voyage into modern Africa through the eyes of Zimbabwean-born choreographer/ composer Bawren Tavaziva.

Rich Mix, 10.30am – 12.30pm and 1pm – 3pm, £3.50 per pupil, £1 per accompanying adult, tel:020 7613 7498 www.richmix.org.uk

Switch Dance Workshops by ACE Dance and Music Combine and develop contemporary dance with the aesthetics of African and Caribbean movement. Suitable for GCSE or A-Level students, or for students following the Dance units in Key Stage 3 and 4 PE.

Mon 12 Oct – Sat 31 Oct Posters and Poetry - Eye2Eye This exhibition highlights Black theatre and companies of the past that created ground-breaking work and nurtured the prominent Black artists, actors, directors and writers of today.

Rich Mix, All day, free, tel: 020 7613 7498 www.richmix.org.uk

Mon 12 Oct – Wed 14 Oct I Cover The Waterfront – the Spirit of Billie Holiday Join us to celebrate her life and

Rich Mix 7.30pm, £12, £10 concs, tel:020 7613 7498 www.richmix.org.uk

Thu 22 Oct

Rich Mix, 10.30am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 3.30pm, £5 per student, £1 per accompanying adult tel: 020 7613 7498 www.richmix.org.uk

Thu 22, Fri 23 and Sat 24 Oct Nu Century Arts presents Not Quite Gospel Written By Don Kinch and featuring a star cast.

Rich Mix, 8pm, £12, £10 Concessions, tel: 020 7613 7498 www.richmix.org.uk

TOWER HAMLETS Throughout Oct Migration Films: Soleil O, Touki Bouki and L’Afrance, Teza and Waiting for Happiness This season of films have the issues of identity and migration at their heart and highlight how the policies and politics of then and now still play a central part in the lives of Britain’s diverse communities.

Sat 24 Oct Struggles for Black Community – Featuring Colin Prescod

Rich Mix, 4pm, £8, £6 concs, tel:020 7613 7498 www.richmix.org.uk

Suns in Oct until 13 December IN THE MIX: FREE JAZZ by Soweto Kinch Soweto Kinch returns to the Rich Mix bar, with Femi Temowo and Shabaka Hutchings.

Rich Mix London: Billie Holiday Remembered

Rich Mix, 1.30pm – 2.30pm, £3.50, £6 Joint ticket for Around the World in 60 Minutes – Family Concert & Grand Union Music Workshop, tel: 020 7613 7498 www.richmix.org.uk

Sat 31 Oct Grand Union – the Next Generation The next generation of dynamic world musicians will perform alongside their world-class mentors, covering calypso and reggae through township and hilife to bhangra and Bollywood.

Rich Mix, 8pm, £11, £8 advanced, 020 7613 7498 www.richmix.org.uk

WALTHAM FOREST Fri 2 Oct The Best of Black Comedy With Geoff Schumman, Richard Blackwood and guests. UK’s funniest and best-know black comedians gather together for a sensational night of comedy.

Walthamstow Assembly Hall, 7pmmidnight, £8, Children £6.

Sun 4 Oct Every Generation A Charmed Life: Film The Life and s of E.M.Noble a Jamaican Airman, who served in the British armed forces during WW2. Q&A session with Film maker Patrick Vernon afterwards Vestry House Museum, 2pm-4pm, free, tel: 0208 496 4391 Vhm. enquires@walthamforest.gov.uk

Tue 6 Oct

Rich Mix, 4pm, £8, £6 concs, tel: 020 7613 7498, www.richmix.org.uk

Leytonstone Library, 6.30pm-8pm, free.

Wed 28 and Thu 29 Oct

Thu 8 Oct

Switch by ACE Dance Switch is about change, choice, breaking the mould, embodying new rituals and living again.

Jan Blake Stories for young and old – inspired

by Caribbean folktales .

Sat 31 Oct

Tues 6 Oct

Musicians from the Grand Union Orchestra, hailing from as far afield as the Caribbean, Latin America, Bangladesh and Africa. For family audience of all ages.

Colin Prescod, Chair of the Institute of Race Relations, presents two documentaries focused on contemporary Black history - ‘A Town Under Siege’ and ‘From You Were Black, You Were Out’ followed by a Q&A.

Rich Mix, 7.30pm, £12, £10 Concessions tel: :020 7613 7498 www.richmix.org.uk

Rich Mix, 2pm - 5pm, free, tel: 020 7613 7498, www.richmix.org.uk/ aandc_inthemix_soweto.htm

Sparlha Swa Born in Kingston, Jamaica, the artist pulls her inspiration from around the globe with mentors

her work. A play by Troy Andrew Fairclough / Produced by Tramfare ProductionsI

Around the World in 60 Minutes – Family Concert performed by Grand Union Orchestra (+ Workshop 3pm-4.30pm)

African Heartbeat With Soulforce panthers. A vibrant performance by a group of young accomplished Drummers-including the opportunity to learn for yourself.

Leytonstone Library, 6.30pm-8pm, free.

Fri 9 Oct Poetry Nite With Floetic Lara and guests Budding poets welcome.

Leytonstone Library, 6.30pm-9pm, free, tel: Jonathan Bell 0208 496 1190.

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Fri 9 Oct Constance Briscoe Come and meet the author of Ugly and Beyond Ugly, and one of first black women to sit as a judge in the UK. Walthamstow Library, 6.30pm-8pm,

Sun 18 Oct Minority Report - a History of The African Caribbean community in Waltham Forest.

The first of a series of films that will document Waltham Forest’s diverse communities. Places need to be booked in advance.

The Vestry House Museum, 3pm5pm, free, tel: 020 8496 4391 vhm. enquires@walthamforest.gov.uk

Thu 29 Oct RAP Workshop Young Dynamic Rappers from the local area will be performing their work as well as taking young people through the history of rap and hip hop.

Higham Hill Library, 6pm-8pm, free

WANDSWORTH Fri 2 Oct Dan Lyndon : Mainstreaming Black History into the National Curriculum Dan Lyndon is an Advanced Skills Teacher with 15 years experience teaching history in schools in London. He is also the webmaster of www.blackhistory4schools.com the leading website in the UK for teaching Black and Asian British history.

African Caribbean Community Library, 7 -8pm, free , tel: 020 8871 7466

Sat 3 - Sun 4 & Sat 10 - Sun 12 Oct Wandsworth Artists’ Open House 2009 Ken McCalla is one of over 200 local artists who will be opening their homes and studios to show and sell their work at 85 places across the borough.

Pick up a guide at your local library, various locations, free, tel: (020) 8871 8711 www.wandsworth.gov

Sat 3 Oct Ubuntu!

Join in this annual celebration of African culture with Alex Pascall, OBE aka The Barry White of Broadcasting and friends.

and the Beaker People Presented by Black History Studies Ltd The term ‘Beaker People’ was coined by John Abercromby, based on their distinctive pottery drinking vessels. This civilisation existed around 2800 to 1900 BC and is the term for a widely scattered cultural phenomenon of Prehistoric western Europe starting in the late Neolithic or Chalcolithic running into the early Bronze Age. African Caribbean Community Library, 7 - 8.30pm, £4 - booking essential, (020) 8871 7466 www. blackhistorystudies.co.uk

Revd. Dr Vrej Nerses Nersessian Ethiopian studies and manuscripts Our speaker is the Curator of Christian Middle East section of the British Library.Dr Nerses Nersessian will talk about the history of the collection illustrated with illuminations from the most important manuscripts.

Saris, spice and splendour – Asian walking tour of Tooting This repeat of the popular walking tour with Blue Badge Guide Rachel Kolsky, between Tooting Bec and Broadway, is a feast for the senses.

Meeting place provided on booking, 2.30pm, £5 - booking essential, tel: 020 8883 4169, info@goeastlondon.co.uk

Bollywood Film Screening Westminster Academy

Tue 6 Oct

Tue 13 Oct/Wed 21 Oct

Tue 20 Oct

Cliff Pereira African presence in Asia This illustrated talk by BombayAfrican specialist Cliff Pereira, seeks to demonstrate the African presence in Asia and includes recently collected material.

Nadifa Mohamed Nadifa Mohamed’s debut novel, Black Mamba Boy is to be published later this year. Set in 1930s Somalia, the novel charts one boy’s long walk to Freedom through dangerous, conflict- ridden East Africa, based on the true story of the author’s father’s life.

Dr Caroline Bressey White women Black history Caroline Bressey’s research focuses on the presence of black women in Victorian Britain.

African Caribbean Community Library, 7 - 8.30pm, free, tel: 020 8871 7466

Tue 6 Oct Yaba Badoe Yaba Badoe is a Ghanaian documentary maker and visiting scholar at the University of Ghana.

Her first novel, True Murder, was inspired by work with women who are accused of witchcraft in Ghana and reflects a tragedy in her own childhood.

Balham Library Hall, 7 - 8pm, Free booking essential, tel: 020 8871 7195

Wed 7 Oct Dr Kathleen Chater Untold histories As author of the book Untold Histories, Dr Chater focused on Black people in England and Wales, during the period of the British Slave Trade, c.1660-1807.

African Caribbean Community Library, 7 - 8.30pm, Free - booking essential, tel: 020 8871 7466

Fri 9 Oct Von Mozar With author Von Mozar.

African Caribbean Community LIbrary, 7 - 8.30pm, free - booking essential, tel: 020 8871 7466 www.vonmozar.com

Sat 10 Oct

York Gardens Library, 11.30am 4pm, £4 - booking essential, tel: 020 8871 7471

Salina Carty : Stonehenge

African Caribbean Community Library, 2 - 5pm, free - booking

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Mon 12 Oct

Sun 18 Oct

African Caribbean Community Library, 7 - 8.30pm, free - booking essential, tel: 020 8871 7466

World Mental Health Day An afternoon to showcase works from the Happy Soul Festival and to explore the mental, physical and spiritual well-being in London’s Black and Asian communities.

Mon 5 Oct

essential, tel: 020 8871 7466

African Caribbean Community Library/Roehampton Library, 7 - 8.30pm/ 6 - 7.30pm Free

Wed 14 Oct Hakim Adi West Africans Students Union: a photographic history Dr Adi is Reader in the History of Africa and the African Diaspora at Middlesex University.

His talk will be illustrated from his collection of photographs.

African Caribbean Community Library, 7 - 8.30pm, free - booking essential, tel: 020 8871 7466

Fri 16 Oct Arriving in Wandsworth Meet the exhibits! The exhibition from the Arriving in Wandsworth project is about Wandsworth people: when they arrived, where they came from and what they have witnessed over the years..

African Caribbean Community Library, 11.30am - 1.30pm, free booking essential, tel: 020 8871 7466

Sats 17, 24 and 31 Oct Get published Award winning black British novelist Alex Wheatle presents three creative writing workshops to build narrative and character.

He is joined by new author Nadifa Mohamed and at the last session there will also be advice from a top literary agent.

African Caribbean Community Library, 11am - 1pm, £5 per session booking essential, tel: 020 8871 7466

6-8pm, 16 plus, free. www. westminster.gov.uk/bhmevents.

African Caribbean Community Library, 7 - 8.30pm, Free - booking essential, 020 8871 7466

Wed 21 Oct Katherine Bing Multicultural chick-lit Katherine’s book Singleholic is the story is of mixed-race 30-year-old Sarah being dumped by her Muslim Boyfriend.

Sarah learns to alter her game with hilarious consequences.

Southfields Library, 7.30 - 8.30pm, free – booking essential, tel: 020 8871 7466, www.singleholic.com

Fri 23 Oct Robin Walker : Legacy of Cheikh Anta Diop Cheikh Anta Diop (1923–1986) was a Senegalese historian, anthropologist, physicist and politician who studied the human race’s origins and pre- colonial African culture. Robin is a writer and teacher in African World studies, Egyptology and Black History.

African Caribbean Community Library, 7 - 8.30pm, free – booking essential, tel: 020 8871 7466

Sat 24 Oct Black History walk Centred in and around Clapham Junction, Battersea plays an important role in the history of the London Afro-Caribbean community.

Blue Badge Guide Rachel Kolsky leads a walking tour profiling the social development of the area.

Meeting place provided on booking.

11am - 1.15pm , £5 - booking essential, tel: 020 8883 4169, info@goeastlondon.co.uk.

Tue 27 Oct Sulaiman Addonia Born in Eritrea, The Consequences

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of Love is his Sulaiman’s first novel and is a brilliant subtle study of love, desire and sexuality in Saudi Arabia.

African Caribbean Community Library, 7 - 8.30pm, free – booking essential, tel: 020 8871 7195

Thu 29 Oct Cultural Journey Do you remember the fashions, colours and food of London in the 40s, 50s and 60s? The Library and Heritage Service is collecting these memories. Come along and share your memories and join in the discussion.

Tooting Neighbourhood Centre, 2 - 4.30pm, free - booking essential, 020 8767 1619.

Fri 30 Oct An evening of song and poetry Presented by the Casandra Learning Centre CLC’s intention is to raise awareness and educate young people about domestic violence in young adult’s relationships.

African Caribbean Community Library, 7 - 8.30pm, free - booking essential, 020 8871 7466

Sat 31 Oct Post traumatic slave syndrome Screening and discussion on the film Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome, where Dr Joy Degruy Leary delves into the primary values that have shaped African culture.

Celebrate Westminster BHM - for full programme details see www.westminster.gov.uk

trip down the River Thames.

All attendees received a goodie bag with historical information including the Black History in Westminster Booklet and Road to Abolition leaflet.

Abbey Community Centre, 12am4pm, free, www.westminster.gov.uk

Festival Pier, 10am-1pm, free, www.westminster.gov.uk

Find out what’s on in your local area

Arnolfini Bristol, 6pm, £7/£6 concs, tel: 0117 917230 www.arnolfini.org.uk

Wed 14 Oct

Bristol

Kent

Sat 3 Oct- Sun 29 Nov

Throughout Oct

C Words: carbon, climate, capital, culture.

Artist-activist group. Based on PLATFORM’s 25 years of research, art and action, C Words crossexamines the present and looks to the next two decades.

Kick Racism Out Of Football (KROOF) Kent Youth Service in conjunction with Kick It Out, have arranged events during Oct. Kick It Out is football’s equality and inclusion campaign. The football tournament / festivals in each area will be combined with a series of activities, including: street dance workshops, Kick it out Theatre production, Show racism the red card presentation, MC workshop, Poetry and poster competition.Have your say on what we should do to combat racism.

MARY SEACOLE PLAY Followed by a Q&A session on the life of Mary Seacole.

African Caribbean Community Library, 2 - 5pm, free - booking essential, tel: 020 8871 7466

Beethoven Community Centre, 12pm-3pm, free, www.westminster. gov.uk

WESTMINSTER

Thu 15 Oct

Until 25 Oct Soft Lights and Sweet Music: Photographs of Elisabeth Welch The life of the 1920s actress and songstress.

National Portrait Gallery, free, www.NPG.org

Thu 8 Oct HEALTH FAIR – FEATURE EVENT Health advice and information on mental health, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, thalassaemia, Lupus and sickle cell. Planned opening by Deputy Lord Mayor.

Greenside Community Centre, 12pm-4pm, free, www.westminster.gov.uk

Tues 13 / Tues 20th Oct HISTORICAL BOAT TRIP A fully narrated and enjoyable

WALTER TULL FILM SCREENING Discussing the life and experience of black soldiers during the turn of the century. An exhibition about Walter Tull will be held at City Hall from 5 -16 Oct. City Hall, 6pm-8pm, free, www.westminster.gov.uk

Tue 27 Oct GRAND CELEBRATORY EVENT To provide an event, celebrating Westminster’s diverse communities and promoting community cohesion with a mixture of art, exhibitions and multicultural food.

To be opened by the Michael O’Connor, Director of Children Services and attended by Mark Page, Lord Mayor of Westminster, (TBC). We will be showcasing a Gospel Choir from Grey Coat School. A crèche will be provided to enable families to attend.

South

Arnolfini Bristol, Free, tel: 0117 917230, www.arnolfini.org.uk

Thu 22 Oct Victor Gama & David Gunn Acrux Variations Angolan/Portuguese instrument designer and musician Victor Gama performs on his unique ‘acrux harp’ while David Gunn adds live electronics recorded during Gama’s field trips to the Namibe desert on the SouthWestern coast of Angola.

Arnolfini Bristol, 8pm, £7 /£6 concs, tel: 0117 917230, www.arnolfini.org.uk

Wed 7 Oct Sequelism Exhibition Event Sonia Boyce As part of the Bristol Poetry Festival: Sonia Boyce came to

prominence as part of the Black British Cultural Renaissance of the 1980s. Sonia will discuss her work to coincide with her new exhibition Like Love at Spike Island.

These events will target 13-19 year olds. See www.kickitout.org/ for full details.

Tue 20th Oct Africans in Britain – a two thousand year history A talk by author Marika Sherwood Africans have lived in Britain at least since they arrived as part of the conquering Roman army.

Canterbury Library, 7.15pm - 8.15pm

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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Wed 21 Oct

joyful live music from around the world Raising funds for Oxfam.

An African Evening: Author event Yaba Badoe, African food and talks Yaba comes to Gravesend library to talk about her new book True Murder.

CB2 Bistro, 7.30pm, £5, tel: 07790 996845 www.matoke.co.uk

Sat 10 Oct WEST AFRICA WITH BATAFON ARTS ‘Carrefours de l’Afrique’ Meet us at the crossroads of West Africa, Guinea Conakry,and visit the village of Ali Baba Bangoura, all without leaving Cambridge!

Master drummer, dancer and artistic director of Batafon Arts, Ali Bangoura will be your guide and teacher for a day of workshops exploring West African Cultural traditions.

Gravesend Library, 6pm - 7:30pm, tel: 01474 352758

Thu 29 Oct Music for ChangeGeorge Fiawoo High –energy West African dance event aimed at families. = Cliftonville Library 11am-12pm, Free but ticketed as places limited, tel: 01843 226979

Sat 3 Oct

Alex Wood Hall, 11am-4pm, £12 each or £20 for the day, tel: 07790 996 845 www.batafonarts.co.uk

Ramsgate - Roopa Farooki author event Roopa will be available for book signing and copies of her books will be for sale.

Norfolk Throughout Oct

Ramsgate Library, 11am, tel: 01843 593532

Tue 27 Oct Sevenoaks Kaleidoscope Music for Change Winston Nzingo This family event will be a blend of traditional and contemporary storytelling with Afro-Caribbean drumming and percussion.

Sevenoaks Kaleidoscope, 10.3011.30, 50p, tel: 01732 453118

Somerset Slavery and the Slave Trade (an in-school session) Discover Somerset’s involvement and connection with European trading patterns with an audiovisual dramatisation of Coleridge’s Lecture on the slave trade, fascinating authentic plantation records, original objects and other documents.

Somerset and Slavery CD Use documents and transcripts to research conditions on West Indian plantations owned by Somerset families. Look at the agitation for the abolition of the slave trade, and the putting down of the illegal slave trade.

An Audience With Sir Trevor McDonald: at Artsdepot, London, Sat, 10 Oct.

2274 or Jayanti Shah at Positive Message Limited Tel: 02380 235280 /jayanti@positivemessage.co.uk

or archaeoanna@yahoo.co.uk

Thur 1 Oct

10 Oct - 13 Dec

Black History Month Launch A formal launch of the activities with the opening of the “Black Gold” portrait exhibition at the City Art Gallery, featuring local black people.

A Healthcare History.

Brighton and Hove Black History present stories from Black and Minority Ethnic people who, from the 1950s to 1970s, came from former British colonies to train and work for the NHS

Southampton City Art Gallery, Civic Centre. Contact: Alice Workman on 023 8063 1537 or Don John 023 8083 2274

Mon 12 Oct

Diabetes Workshop organised by the PCT

BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION Worthing Library and the West Sussex County Council BME staff group welcome you to an exciting evening celebrating the best in contemporary writing.

Council Chamber, Civic Centre. For further information contact Kate Strickland 023 8082 5442

Sat 10 Oct Community Cohesion Cup – For further information Jazz Bhatti

Mon 12 and Sun 18 Oct Performances from Love Soul Choir a gospel group

Southampton

West Quay Shopping Centre. For further information contact Steve Giles info@lovesoulchoir.com

For more information please contact: Don John, Southampton City Council don.john@ southampton.gov.uk / Tel: 023 8083 104

Royal Pavilion & Museums, tel: 01273 – 292864 www.royalpavilion. org.uk www.virtualmuseum.info

Mon 5, 12, 19 Oct

Cost: £7.00. Tel: 01823 362847 heritagelearning@somerset.gov.uk

Southampton Black History Month 2009. is dedicated to the concept of “Heroes” and many of the events and activities relate to that theme.

SUSSEX

Tue 13 Oct A lecture on the wreck of the SS Mendi.

Forgotten history of the loss of 600 black South Africans off the coast of the Isle of Wight.

St Josephs Hall. Contact: For further information contact 07812 851095

Worthing Library, 7pm, tel: 01903 704809. This event is free but spaces are limited. To reserve your ticket, Use the telephone number provided.

East BHM Find out what’s on in your local area

CAMBRIDGE Fri 9 Oct Oxjam! With Matoke and friends!

Description A night of uplifting and

African stories & activities and Adrinka art Come along and join in with African stories, art and craft activities and an Adinkra trail!

Children under 8 must be an accompanied by an adult.

Please see website for details, Varying times, Across Norfolk, Free, www.libraries.norfolk.gov.uk

Various dates Ignatius Sancho & William Stevenson of Norwich The Millennium Library’s Local History expert Clive WilkinsJones will tell you more about this intriguing and illuminating friendship.

Wed 7 Oct, Dereham Library, 7.30pm to 8.30pm, free, 01362 656 971, brigitte.morton@norfolk.gov.uk, www.libraries.norfolk.gov.uk

Sat 10 Oct , Norfolk & Norwich Millennium Library, 11am to 12pm, tel: 01603 774781 www.libraries.norfolk.gov.uk

Wed 14 Oct Great Yarmouth Library.

2.30pm to 3.30pm, Free, tel: 01493 842279, yarmouth.lib@norfolk.gov. uk, www.libraries.norfolk.gov.uk

Thu 1 Oct David Honeyboy Edwards David “Honeyboy” Edwards is literally a living piece of Delta blues history. Before Seasick Steve, Fat Possum, the sixties British blues boom, before even Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, Honeyboy was among a group of pre-war itinerant Mississippi Delta blues musicians

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who wrote the blues template in the 1930’s. This will be his last UK tour.

Norwich Arts Centre, 8pm, £10 adult / advance £12 door / £12 / £10 concs www.norwichartscentre.co.uk

Throughout Early Ocober AfroCeilidh! by Boka Halat Formed by an exceptionally talented group of musicians, Boka Halat offers an absorbing and participatory show based on the harmony between African and English traditions. This event is running as part of Creative Arts East’s ‘Village Stage’ rural touring scheme.

Various venues and prices, tickets from above number and also in person at Brundall Pets & Hardware store. www.creativeartseast.co.uk

Fri 2 Oct Courtney Pine - Transition In Tradition Jazz legend Courtney Pine is back on tour promoting his long-awaited new album, Transition in Tradition, the debut release for his own label, Destin-E World Records.

The Playhouse, 8pm, £25.50, tel:01603 598598 www. norwichplayhouse.org.uk

Fri 2 Oct The Official Launch of Norfolk BHM 2009 This year’s invited national speaker is director Paulette Randall.

Entertainment provided by comedy duo Jefferson & Whitfield and Jazz musician Pete LeTanka not to mention the sweet taste of Caribbean food tickle your tastebuds.

Open, Bank Plain, 7pm, Free but advanced booking are required as places are limited tel: 01603 611644 malika.rahman@nnrec.org.uk www. norfolkblackhistorymonth.org.uk

Fri 2 Oct / Sat 10 Oct / Sat 31 Oct An evening of music and film to celebrate 50 years of Motown as the backbone of popular music!

DJ Hilary Spinn takes the audience down Motown memory lane with half an hour of her favourite 45’s played on an original Dansette record player before screening What’s Love Got To Do With It, the moving and intimate portrayal of the life of Tina Turner.

Blofield Court House / North Creake Village Hall / Tittleshall Village Hall, tel: 01603 715253 / 01328 738959 / 01328 700952 www. creativeartseast.co.uk

Sat 3 Oct Black History Month Launch 2009 Norfolk BHM has started and GYIA is inviting the Great Yarmouth Borough community to come and join us in this year’s celebration.

Great Yarmouth Market Square, 10am to 4pm, Free, tel: 01493 851598 / 07769934196 gyia1@ btconnect.com www.gyia.org.uk

Sat 3 Oct

more number one hits than The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, and Elvis Presley combined.

Cinema City, St Andrew’s Street, Norwich, NR2 4AD, 8:30pm £7:50 adult, £5:50 members, £5 concessions, £4 concessions members, £21.00 family ticket (family of four, minimum two children) tel: 0871 704 2053 www. picturehouses.co.uk

African Market in Great Yarmouth Once again Black History Month in Great Yarmouth kicks off with the eagerly awaited African Market with its foodstalls, bookstalls, clothing, educational resources, jewellery and so much other great stuff you won’t find anywhere else.

Thu 8 Oct

Great Yarmouth Market Square, 10am to 5pm, Rashid@opentrade. org.uk www.opentrade.org.uk

The Playhouse, 8pm, £17.50, £15 concs, tel: 01603 598598, www.norwichplayhouse.org.uk

Sat 3 Oct

Fri 9 Oct

The Voice Project presents: A Vocal Workshop with Anita-Mahdia Daulne Born in Congo, Anita Mahdia Daulne is a founding member of the world renowned vocal ensemble Zap Mama. Bring your voice and join her on a magical journey through diverse African musical forms!

Rebel Lion ft. Chanter & Kingiay Two floors of musical delight....

Upstairs Rebel Lion, Norwich’s roots reggae ambassadors, present for you a BHM special featuring two of the UK’s finest veteran MCs of the UK sound system business – Chanter and Kingjay – with over 50 years experience between them.

The Chapel, 64 Park Lane, Norwich NR2, 10.30am to 4pm, £20 - booking necessary, as places are limited. info@voiceproject.co.uk

Mustard Nightclub, 10pm – 3am, £5, tel: 07891 782971, info@rebel-lion. co.uk www.myspace.com/rebel_ lion_sound_system

Tue 6 Oct

Sat 10 Oct

Community spirit: The Minns Family Contribution to Thetford and the Nation A Lunchtime Lecture by Frank MeeresAn illustrated talk with a chance to view original documents.

We have previously celebrated Alan Glaisyer Minns, the first black mayor in Britain, this is a chance to find out more about his family and their contribution to civic life in Thetford.

Love the Funk This is a music event to celebrate BHM concentrating on Jazz Funk, Soul and Disco from the 70s and 80s. It is hoped this event will be a Norfolk version on the MOBO’s (celebrating Music of Black Origin). The event is an adults only event and primarily aimed at the 35+ age market due to the years the music will be selected from. However that is not to say that young people (over 18) will not enjoy it and they are more than welcome to attend.

The Archive Centre 12.45pm to 1.30pm, free, tel:01603 222599 norfrec@norfolk.gov.uk, www. archives.norfolk.gov.uk

Wed 7 Oct Standing in the shadows of Motown (Plus Introduction) Starring: Joe Hunter, Jack Ashford, Uriel Jones, Richard ‘Pistol’ Allen, Bob Babbitt.

The Funk Brothers played the background music on the seemingly endless string of Motown classics in the 1960s and 1970s, resulting in them having

Ruby Turner in concert Starting out as a member of Culture Club, Ruby Turner has since released 13 solo albums and has built up an enviable reputation to become known as one of the UK’s favourite and finest jazz singers.

Thorpe St Andrew Social Club, 7.30pm to 12am, £6.50, tel: 07828 247145 (John Inns) or 07960 449379 (Mark) Discostew1712@ yahoo.co.uk (John) or musicology@ fsmail.net (Mark) www.musicologydisco.com

Tue 13th Oct African Art in East Anglia – a BHM lunchtime lecture

by Professor John Mack John Mack is Professor of World Art Studies at UEA and Head

of the School of World Art and Museology. He was Director (Keeper) of the Museum of Mankind in London and Senior Keeper of the British Museum itself - in which capacity he was in overall charge of the African galleries at the British Museum – until moving to UEA in 2004.

Norfolk & Norwich Millennium Library, 12.30pm to 1.30pm, free tel: 08707 33 44 55 office@ dmcconsultancy.co.uk www. norfolkblackhistorymonth.org.uk

Tue 13th Oct African Market at UEA For the second consecutive year the BHM African Market visits the UEA, giving students a chance to find books, music, resources and some great African, Caribbean & South American food. he African Market will take place alongside the regular Farmers Market.

University of East Anglia, 10am to 6pm, free, rashid@opentrade.org.uk www.opentrade.org.uk

Wed 14 Oct Am I black enough for you?

Billy Paul’s, ‘Me and Mrs Jones’ was a smash hit on both sides of the Atlantic in the seventies, but follow up single, ‘Am I Black Enough For You’ flopped, and was a failure that nearly cost Paul his career. The answer lies in the relationship between Paul and record executive Kenny Gamble.

Gamble was prepared to encourage the release of a single that could irreparably damage Paul’s career for the sake of the message it contained.

Cinema City, 8:30pm, £7 adult, £5:50 members, £4 concessions, £21.00 family ticket (family of four, minimum two children) tel:0871 704 2053 www.picturehouses.co.uk

Fri 16 Oct The Colour Purple Starring: Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Margaret Avery, Adolph Caesar, Oprah Winfrey. Release date: 1985. Genre: Drama. Director: Steven Spielberg. A rich feast of emotionally involving incidents in the lives of one family in the deep South of the early 20 century.

Sheringham Little Theatre, 2pm and 7pm, £5, £2 under 16s tel: 01263 822347 boxoffice@sheringhamlittletheatre. com www. sheringhamlittletheatre. com

Sat 17 Oct The taste of African allotments BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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Experience the freshness of some of the vegetables grown organically from this award winning allotment site.

Plot 211, 11am to 4.30pm, free, £5 for food, tel: 01603 625470 ashwondi@hotmail.com, www.n-ac-a.org.uk

Sat 17 Oct Egyptian Drumming Workshop with E. Meniawy, (Professional Egyptian drummer) Bring your own drum if you have one, but don’t worry if you don’t, as we will be offering a few professional drums (to rent or purchase) on the night.

Sahara House, 5pm to 7pm, £30 for 2 hours, tel: 07783 124 381 azzah@saharahouse.co.uk

Sat 17 Oct

Wed 21 Oct – 8:30pm

Tue 20 Oct

Wondrous Oblivion Young Jewish eleven-year-old David Wiseman loves cricket. He has all the equipment, but unfortunately none of the skill. When a Jamaican family move in next door and set up a cricket net in the garden David can’t believe his luck – they even offer to coach him.

Trade, Aid, Aids & Africa: Separating Myth from Reality – a BHM lunchtime lecture by Amal Abdalhakim- Douglas Mention Africa, and for many it conjures up a picture of famine, corrupt leaders, aids and poverty with the only hope being through NGOs and aid packages. Yet after fifty years and allegedly billions in aid so many African countries are much worse off. How can this be? What is the real solution?

The answers will be given in this fascinating talk.

Cinema City, tel: 0871 704 2053 www.picturehouses.co.uk for times & prices.

Sun 18 Oct Music & storytelling from West Africa with Gambian Griot, Seikou Susso Norfolk & Norwich Millennium Library, 2.30pm to 3.30pm, free, tel: 01603 774781 www.libraries.norfolk.gov.uk

Norfolk & Norwich Millennium Library, 12.45pm to 1.30pm tel: 08707 33 44 55 office@dmcconsultancy.co.uk

Cuban Orishas – workshops These workshops are an opportunity to learn some of the sacred rhythms and dances used to honour the African gods (Orishas) that have become syncretised with Catholic Saints through the Cuban religious tradition of Santeria. Learn the intricate rhythms of the sacred bata drums with master drummer Jose Ferrera Mulen. Workshops are suitable for all levels of ability, ages 8 and above.

Sat 17 Oct Cuban Orishas – Performance This performance, with former members of the acclaimed Cuban dance group Danza Libre, will present aspects of Santeria worship alongside some of the stories of the Orishas and their exhilarating songs, rhythms and dances.

St Gregory’s Centre for the Arts, 8pm to 10pm, £7, tel:07857 260 799 casparlj@yahoo.co.uk www. timbaferreraconga.com, www. eliyawo.co.uk, www.stgregorysart.co.uk

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Fri 23 to Sun 25 Oct African Market at Chapelfield Plain The Open Market returns to Norwich with a distinct African/ and Caribbean flavour.

Fri 23 Oct Nightshift – Motown Karaoke Nightshift – Motown Karaoke is inspired by the celebration of 50 years of music on the Motown label. Why not become Marvin, Stevie, Diana or even a young Michael by giving us a rendition of these spectacular songs. Listen out for Future Radio’s ‘Cellar of Soul’ programme throughout the month of October.

Sat 17 Oct

Great Yarmouth Library, 2.30pm to 3.30pm, free, tel: 01493 842279 yarmouth.lib@norfolk.gov.uk www.libraries.norfolk.gov.uk

office@dealingwithdiversity.co.uk www.dealingwithdiversity.co.uk

Chapelfield Plain, 9am to 6pm, free, rashid@opentrade.org.uk www.opentrade.org.uk

St Gregory’s Centre for the Arts tel: 07857 2607 99 casparlj@yahoo.co.uk.

Music & storytelling from West Africa with Gambian Griot, Seikou Susso Griots are West African poets, singers and musicians who keep the history and values of their people alive through words and music. Seikou Susso is descended from a long line of Gambian griots.

inspiring workshop, is such that all participants will gain an understanding of the vying issues that surround equalities and discrimination in the UK while having also gained an improved insight into the realities of diversity, and perhaps more importantly, how to deal with it positively through best practice.

Millennium Library, 9.30am to 4.30pm, £265 per delegate (50% discount for non-profit organisations, individuals and small enterprises) tel: 08707 33 44 55

Norfolk National Speaker : Paulette Randall

Take 5, 7.30pm to 12am, £4, tel:01603 763099 www. norfolkblackhistorymonth.org.uk, www.futureradio.co.uk

Mon 19 Oct

Thu 22 Oct

Sun 25 Oct

Mon Night Alternative featuring Mr Gee Mr Gee started off as a DJ playing mainly Hip Hop and Funk grooves in clubs and bars. He then became interested in Spoken Word and for many years has hosted the highly acclaimed poetry night in London called “Brix-Tongue.

The Economics of Aid In the past fifty years, more than $1 trillion in development-related aid has been transferred from rich countries to developing nations.

Has this assistance improved the lives of people? Come and discus why poverty levels continue to escalate and growth rates have steadily declined – and millions continue to suffer. Dr Shawn McGuire, from School of DevelopmentStudies, University of East Anglia and Abraham Eshetu, will facilitate the seminar.

The Wiz Produced by Motown Productions and Universal Pictures, The Wiz is an urbanized retelling of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz featuring an entirely AfricanAmerican cast.

Norwich Arts Centre, 8pm, £5, getonthesoapbox@hotmail.co.uk www.norwichartscentre.co.uk

Sun 18 Oct Black Hair Care Workshop Founder of London’s Silhouettes hair Salon, Sharon Grey will explain and perform demonstrations.

Method Hair Salon, 10am to 4.30pm, £12 registration fee for adults, £6 concessions (students/under 16s/OAPs etc). Entry for children under 5’s is free tel: 07960 366 330 assiya@black-stone.net

The Curve Auditorium, 6pm to 8pm, abraham.diversity@gmail.com www. norfolkblackhistorymonth.org.uk

Thu 22 Oct Dealing with Diversity and Equalities: A Dynamic OneDay Workshop The nature and structure of this very enjoyable and

Cinema City, tel: 0871 704 2053 www.picturehouses.co.uk for details.

Tue 27 Oct Adventures in Anti-cool Catch three knock-out and very individual hip-hop theatre and dance performances in the same evening! Hip-hop theatre artist Banxy presents his new solo piece Ikky Wakk. Suitable for age 9+ The Playhouse, 7.30pm, £10, £8 concessions, £7 student group, tel: 01603 598598 www.norwichplayhouse.org.uk

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Tue 27 Oct

Course, Thurs Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing was one of the first Black films to gain critical acclaim and mainstream audience attention for a ‘serious’ attempt to represent African/American culture. Tutor: Roy Stafford All are welcome, no previous knowledge, experience or qualifications are required for any Film Extra courses.

African Market at County Hall A special event to allow Norfolk County Council staff to get a chance to participate in Black History Month. With food, clothing, books, music, educational resources, artwork and crafts right in the heart of County Hall for both staff and visitors County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, 10am to 4pm, free rashid@ opentrade.org.uk www.opentrade.org.uk

Norfolk : African market

Tue 27 Oct

Thu 29 Oct

The End of White History – a BHM lunchtime lecture by Uthman Ibrahim- Morrison Lecturer, author and community activist Uthman Ibrahim-Morrison is perhaps one of the only people brave enough to tackle such a subject and will no doubt ensure this Lunchtime Lecture series finishes on a memorable note.

Tiny Tots Rhyme Time For Black History Month, the repertoire will be expanded to include African themed action rhymes and stories within the usual format. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Norfolk & Norwich Millennium Library, 12.45pm to 1.30pm, free, tel: 08707 33 44 55 office@ dmcconsultancy.co.uk www. norfolkblackhistorymonth.org.uk

Tue 27 Oct The Stephen Lawrence inquiry ten years on?

Ten years on from the publication of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry led by Sir William Macpherson and his panel of advisors, we seek through this seminar, to understand the extent of progress in meeting the Inquiry’s recommendations. .

Abraham Eshetu will facilitate the seminar and panel discussion.

The Curve Auditorium, 6pm to 8pm, Free, abraham.diversity@gmail.com

Wed 28 Oct Blacula Cult classic Blacula is the story of Manuwalde, an African prince who, after visiting Count Dracula, is turned into a vampire and locked in a coffin.

Cinema City, tel: 0871 704 2053 www.picturehouses.co.uk for details.

Thu 29 Oct Patterns of the world – make your own t-shirt Be inspired by eighteenth century Norwich pattern books and traditional African patterns and be part of the rich textile industry tradition of Norwich.

The Archive Centre, 2pm to 3.30pm, free, tel: 01603 222677 norfrec@ norfolk.gov.uk, www.archivesnorfolk. gov.uk

Norfolk & Norwich Millennium Library, 2pm to 2.30pm, free, 01603 774781, tonia.mihill@norfolk.gov.uk www.libraries.norfolk.gov.uk

Fri 30 Oct Norfolk BHM 2009 Finale Headlining this year’s Finale is funky house King Donaeo, with the support of UK rappers Ghetts, Wretch 32 and Jungle, comedy by Slim and drama by Norfolk’s group ‘Youth In Action’! Music provided

by BarX. Get ready for a night to remember!

can all name the well known Mandela, Muhammed Ali, Rosa Parks how would we fare with unsung heroes Olaudah Equiano, Ignatius Sancho, Walter Tull or Mary Prince. In a time when the British media thrives on publishing negative stories on the black community here is an event aimed at raising the consciousness of the historic contributions by the Black community.

The Drum, 5.15pm, £3 adults £2 children, www.the-drum.org.uk

Sun 11 Oct Diwali Mela Kathak dancing worshops and performances with Sonia Sabri Dance Company, Diwali themed storytelling and nail art and mendhi artist.

Norwich Arts Centre, 7.30pm, £10 adult / advance £12 door / £8 Concessions tel:01603 611644 admin@nnrec.org.uk www. norfolkblackhistorymonth.org.uk

Soho House Museum, 12.004.00pm, free, tel: 0121 554 9122, www.bmag.org.uk, www. matthewboulton2009.org

Sun 1 Nov

African Drumming and Percussion Workshop Join us for a fun afternoon of drumming and percussion with African musician Nicky Reid, and enjoy making lots of loud and wonderful music!

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Great Yarmouth BHM 2009 Finale This year’s Great Yarmouth BHM finale brings together a mix of performers for an extraordinary evening of entertainment, lively music and traditional dances.

It promises to be a fun family evening in which the different communities of Great Yarmouth will interact.

3pm tel: 07769 934196 gyia1@ btconnect.com www.gyia.org.uk

Midlands & North

Wed 28 Oct

Soho House, 12.30-3.30pm, tel 0121 554 9122, www.bmag.org.uk, www. matthewboulton2009.org

Thu 29 Oct Fred D’Aguiar Celebrated poet, novelist and playwright Fred D’Aguiar will be appearing at the Library.

National Media Museum, 6.30pm - 8.30pm, £60, £45 concessions. (film tickets cost £5.75/£3.90 concs each if not attending the course) tel: 0870 70 10 201 www. nationalmediamuseum.org.uk

Thu 8 Oct Film: EVE’S BAYOU Set in Louisiana in 1962, this multi-award winning film creates a family drama set in a fragile and complex emotional landscape.

National Media Museum, 6.30pm, £5.75/£3.90, concs www. nationalmediamuseum.org.uk

Thu 22 Oct Film: JUNGLE FEVER Spike Lee’s fifth film shows Flipper Purify, a successful architect, a married black man who begins an affair with his beautiful Italian/ American secretary. The all-star cast drums up an explosive social melodrama.

National Media Museum, 6.30pm, £5.75, £3.90, concs www. nationalmediamuseum.org.uk

DERBY September – November 2009 RACIAL EQUALITY GROUP For full details of all events happening across the City. visit the following websites: Derby Cultural Diversity Arts Network http://dcdan.org.uk Derby City Council www.derby.gov.uk Derby Equality and Diversity Network www. derbyequalityanddiversitynetwork. webs.com. Please contact Akin Sankofa at cdw@derbyrec.org. uk for more information about the season and events.

Sat 3 Oct

Find out what’s on in your local area

Woeley Castle Library, 1pm-2pm, Free, tel: 0121 464 1664

African Storytelling Derby Museum and Art Gallery, The Strand, Derby, DE1 1BS, 11:00 AM - 3:00pm.

BIRMINGHAM

Bradford

No need to book, just drop in.

Enquiries: Telephone 01332 641 901.

Tue 6 Oct

Thur 17 Sept – Thur 29 Oct

Sat 10 Oct

Recognize Our mission is based on the well known notion that whilst we

Soul Food: Family and community in AfricanAmerican Cinema Evening

Celebrating Diversity Derby West Indian Community Centre, Carrington St, Derby DE1 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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2ND, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Entry to the event is free. Enquiries: www. ntcgderby.org.uk Tel: 01332 371 529

Drumming Workshop Sat 10 Oct

The Waterfall, opposite Derby railway station, 10am to 4pm £15 or £10 concession. Contact Beth on 01332 345 508 or visit http://www.kaleidoscope-music. org.uk/drumming.htm

Mon 5 Oct Am I black enough for you?

QUAD, Market Place, Derby, 8:20 pm - 9:50pm

Music at QUAD, Black History Season film screening (12a).

Tickets for this event are £6 adults, £5 concs. Enquiries & online booking: www.derbyquad.co.uk Tel: 01332 295 858

Sat 24 Oct Slavery Museum Trip A coach will depart from St Marys Wharf Police Station, Derby at 8am with a return departure at 5pm.

Places on the trip are £5 for adults and £3 for OAP’s and children.

8:00am - 5:00pm. To book contact Vinnie Sanghera on 01773 572 812 or 07736 176 388.

Newsic Vol 1 Newsletter celebrating hip hop culture, history and heritage from early 1970s New York to its global presence today.

Various events. For more information, contact inviziblecircle_ education@yahoo.co.uk

Fri 2 Oct Lumen: Film screening: Ingrid Pollard - My Father’s Hands Internationally acclaimed artist Ingrid Pollard presents a screening of her film, a portrait of her parents and their migration from Guyana to the UK in the 1950s.

Hyde Park Picture House Cinema, 7pm, tel: 0113 275 2045

Sat 3 Oct Lumen: Creative workshop: Sound Art for Beginners Gain hands on experience of basic sound recording and editing, including using sound equipment for creative ideas.

Wandering Abroad by Corinne Silva A film installation on the tragedy of David who was a Nigerian whose life fell apart in Leeds.

Sat 10 Oct

Tue Oct 13 – 23

Drumming Workshop The Waterfall, opposite Derby railway station, 10am to 4pm, £15 or £10 concession. Contact Beth on 01332 345 508 or visit

Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah:Ruby’s Walk Inspired by the true story of Ruby Bridges 1960 Ruby Bridges was one of the first African-American children to go to an all white school in New Orleans. If you have a group interested in hosting a performance of Ruby’s Walk, please contact Ruth Cooper on 0113 2740030 ruth@blahs.co.uk for details.

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Sun 11 Oct

Tue 27 Oct Getaway Girls: Gun and Knife Crime in the Black Community Explores why young black people are at risk of gun and knife crime through discussion of cultural heritage and the fight for equality.

Rising Notes Project and Arrows of Promise: Faith Revealed Through music, dance and poetry, explore faith in the lives of slaves and the free and discover the impact that it has on our lives today.

Fri 9 Oct – 31 January 2010

Invizible Circle Education:

Wrangtorn Church Hall, 3pm, Open to public. No booking required, tel: 0113 243 8041.

West Yorkshire, 7.45pm, £16, £13 concs, tel: 0113 213 7700, www.wyp.org.uk.

Sat 17 - Sun 18 Oct

Derby West Indian Community Centre, Carrington St, Derby DE1 2ND, 9.00 PM - TILL LATE. Tel: 01332 371529 Limited tickets £10. More on the door. Enquiries: 07843097482 / 07890083857

Various dates

Leeds Sudanese Community Association: Sudan – Trying to Make CoExistence in Diversity a Possibility Celebratory event including dancing, a talk about Sudan history, drama, food and a poster display.

Jonzi D presents: Markus the Sadist – A Rap Opera Written and directed by Jonzi D. Includes new music from MOBO-award winning musician Soweto Kinch. Features Bashy (Most Inspiring Act - Urban Music Awards 2008) as Markus.

Contains strong language.

Space@Hillcrest, 6pm, free, booking required tel: 0113 240 5894.

Halloween Affair (DJs on the night)

Leeds

Sat 10 Oct

Mon 26 -Tue 27 Oct

Leeds West Indian Centre, Laycock Place, Leeds, LS7 3AJ, 2pm. Open to public. No booking required.

Sat 31 Oct

aspects of Black history. Enquiries: afrocaribbean1@hotmail.co.uk

H.M.P Wealstun, Not open to the public, by invite only.

Roscoe Methodist Church Hall, 11am, free, tel: 0113 262 5131.

Sun 4 Oct

Leeds West Indian Centre, 2pm, tel: 0113 217 8704

The University of Derby and the Students’ Union with the Afro-Caribbean Society, will be putting on a range of events that remembers all

H.M.P Wealstun:Celebrate Black History Month Various events, including displays, speakers and a gospel choir.

West Indian Family Counselling Service and Roscoe Luncheon Club Learn about black history and cultural heritage with participants of all ages, through discussion, poetry and art.

Women, Work and Money in the 21 Century Celebratory drama play, displays, guest speaker, songs and poems and exhibition of arts and crafts.

Leeds UK Guyanese Association Official Launch

Running all week from Mon 26 Oct

Wed 7, Wed 14, Wed 21, Wed 28 Oct

Tue 27 Oct

Patrick Street, 12pm – 3pm, Free workshop, tel: 0113 246 9850, Contact Lucy Dusgate for more information: 0113 246 9850, info@ lumen.org.uk

Museum weblink: http://www. liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ism/

http://www.kaleidoscope-music. org.uk/drumming.htm

St Martin’s Institute, 6pm -7.30pm, Not open to public but for more information call Caroline Campbell on 0113 295 7173.

Leeds City Art Gallery, Daily, Free

Ruby’s Walk is a partnership project between Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah, the Arts and Regeneration Unit at Leeds City Council and Artforms (Education Leeds).

Wed 7, Wed 14, Wed 21 Oct Leeds Brownies: What Black History Month Means to Our Community and Us

LINKtogether: LINK, Black History Project Meet each other and share community interests Visit Maureen’s Afro Carribean food outlet. LINKtogether (above BMF Motors)109a Roundhay Road, Leeds, LS8 5AJ 3pm, free, tel: 0113 249 9449, nvlink@yahoo.com for more information

Wed 28 Oct

Leeds West Indian Centre, 5.30pm, free, tel: 07834 624 153.

Wed 28 Oct

Kinara:Black History Month BHM event for black women fleeing domestic violence. Staff members and service users share food, songs, poems, dances, and experiences about life in their native country.

Leeds Bicentenary Transformation Project: Voluntary Sector Black History Training Half day training for voluntary sector educators in Leeds, who wish to teach a new African / British history to children and young people.

St Matthias Church, 12pm, Not open to the public, by invite only, tel: 0113 245 8489.

Space@Hillcrest, 10am, free, booking required, tel: 0113 262 2270.

Sat 24 Oct

Fri 30 Oct

St Kitts and Nevis Association and Young People’s 10 – 2 Club and Chapeltown Independent After School Club:An Appreciation of Black Literature.

Art Workshop with Leeds Rasta artist Marcia Brown Family Learning activity - children aged 7+ with parents. Drop in, first come first served, maximum of 20 per session.

Wed 21 Oct

Mandela Centre, 5pm, free, tel: 0113 307 0303.

Leeds City Museum, 11am-12.30pm and 2.30pm-3pm, free.

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Sat 31 Oct Barbados Association (Leeds): Bajan Heritage Discover Bajan cultures, history and humour including presentations, traditional music, comedy sketches and plays.

Barbados House, 3pm, free, tel: 0113 260 4762.

Fri 6 Nov Yorkshire Dance, with the Association for Dance from the African Diaspora (ADAD) presents: A Focus on Dance Supported by Leeds City Council’s Arts and Regeneration Unit.

Leeds has produced a generation of pioneering and internationally renowned black dance artists and companies. How can we nurture, present and appreciate the artists of today?

Yorkshire Dance, 4pm – 6.30pm, £4 inc refreshment / Free to those with a performance ticket tel: 0113 2438765.

Fri 6 - Sat 7 Nov

A selection of short films will be shown in the Treasure House Theatre including, Equiano A Son of Africa telling the story of Olaudah Equiano who rose from slavery to become one of the most prominent figures in the 18 century movement to abolish slavery.

World Museum Liverpool, 10am5pm, free, tel: 0151 478 4393 www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Sun Oct 4 Handling collection Meet our demonstrator and learn about life in West Africa before transatlantic slavery.

International Slavery Museum, 1pm–4pm, free, tel: 0151 478 4499 www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Oct Sat 10 – Sun 11 African woodcarving See African woodcarving on the Life in West Africa gallery.

International Slavery Museum, 1pm–4pm, free, tel: 0151 478 4499 www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Mixed Bill Under Sharon Watson’s Artistic Directorship, Phoenix Dance Theatre performs works by Douglas Thorpe, Alesandra Seutin, Sharon Watson and Darshan Sing Bhuller.

Sun Oct 11

Phoenix Dance Theatre, 7.30pm.

International Slavery Museum, 1pm–3pm, free, tel: 0151 478 4499 www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Sat 14 Nov Colin Poole – Joyride and Company Chameleon – Rites Exhilarating double bill by three of the most inspiring male dance artists in Britain. Includes nudity.

The Riley Theatre at NSCD, 7.30pm, £10, concs £6.00 tel: 0113 219 3018. Supported by Northern School of Contemporary Dance

Liverpool Until 28 Feb 2010 Black Britannia Lewis Hamilton, Ms Dynamite and John Conteh all star in this exhibition of inspiration photographs by John Ferguson.

International Slavery Museum, 10am–5pm, free, tel: 0151 478 4499 www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Until Feb 2010 Trafficked Contemporary photographs highlighting the ongoing struggle to combat human trafficking around the world.

International Slavery Museum, 10am–5pm, free, tel: 0151 478 4499 www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Throughout Oct Film Series

Destination freedom Based on the true story of William and Ellen Craft, this performance tells of Ellen’s personal journey from enslavement to freedom.

Sat Oct 17 - Sun Oct 18 Threads of life: Textile workshop Visit our special exhibition of handmade quilts and take part in a hands-on textile workshop to design and create your own. (over 7’s)

Caribbean Centre,

Fri 9 Oct

6.30pm, free, www. mainstreampartnership.co.uk

Choosing Health for World Mental Health Day Come along and enjoy some relaxation with therapeutic activities such as reflexology, aromatherapy, nail art and Tai Chi. Sample Caribbean and Asian food and find out more about the work of the Akwaaba Ayeh Advocacy Project.

Fri 2 Oct For Young People by Young People Young people from across Leicester unite to celebrate the launch of Black History Season 2009 with a variety of workshops and discussions followed by a diverse range of performances delivered by young people.

African Caribbean Centre, 10.00am-3.00pm, (11-16 year olds),7.00pm-9.00pm, (16 years plus), free, tel: 0116 253 3450 www. mainstreampartnership.co.uk

Sun 4 Oct Dancing in the Streets Experience the energy, excitement, emotion and the electricity of Motown with this award winning production of the hit show, Dancing in the Streets.

De Montfort Hall,7.30pm, £24.50 / £23 / £22.50 / £21 / £19.50 / £18

Tue 6 Oct WORD! Black History Season Special A Black History Season special for WORD!- the region’s longest running and most established poetry and spoken word night. If you’d like to perform, get there for 7.30pm and register with poet and compere, Lydia Towsey.

The Y Theatre, 8.00pm, £3/£5, www.myspace.com/wordleicester

African Caribbean Centre,10.00am – 4.00pm, tel: (0116) 247 1525 Akwaaba@akwaabaayeh.com

Sat 10 Oct Kings and Queens Music Explosion Leicester’s Kings and Queens DJ’s play the best in reggae and soul, taking you into a musical time walk.

African Caribbean Centre, 9.00pm3.00am, £5

Tue 13 Oct Seckou Keita Quintet The Seckou Keita Quintet, who hail from Senegal, Italy, Egypt and The Gambia, are quickly becoming a real international treasure.

Peepul Centre,7.30pm, £12.50 / £10.50 or £15 on the door.

Wed 14 Oct & Wed 11th Nov Elders Afternoon Bringing elders together through various activities including poetry, singing, dancing and story-telling.

African Caribbean Centre, 1.00pm3.00pm Free

World Museum Liverpool, 1pm - 4pm / 2pm - 4pm, free, tel: 0151 478 4393 www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Thu Oct 29 The wonderful adventures of Mrs Seacole An inspiring performance about the amazing life of Mary Seacole.

Performances will be BSL interpreted International Slavery Museum 2pm, 3pm, free, tel: 0151 478 4499 www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

LEICESTER Thu 1 Oct Black History Season Launch 2009 Join us to celebrate the launch of Black History Season 2009 and enjoy live entertainment, guest speakers and taste traditional Caribbean cuisine. African

Leeds: St Kitts and Nevis Association Leeds

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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Thu 15 Oct

Group.

Wed 4 Nov

to pieces!

Showcase Women: Creative Arts Workshop A workshop for women with poet extraordinaire, Alison Dunne, and lyrical songstress, Mellow Baku.

Particularly targeted at women of BME descent, new arrivals and others keen to explore their cultural origins. Advance booking essential.

Peepul Centre, 5pm, £5 / £3

Working with ‘Difference’ This one-day conference explores how “difference” and diversity is being managed in the public sphere.. Advance booking essential.

The Y Theatre, 8pm, £8 / £6

Peepul Centre, 2.00pm – 4.00pm, tel: 0779 549 6610 secretagentartist@hotmail.com

Thu 15 Oct ‘Showcase Live’ The return of this ground breaking show, featuring powerful and poetic contributions from young black men with experience of mental health issues. ‘Showcase Live’ is a live literature show with a difference.

Directed and mentored by the internationally acclaimed poet and performer, Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze, a cast of young and culturally diverse men will discuss their experiences of being alive in the 21st century.

With thanks to Akwaaba Ayeh, Brightsparks and Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.

Peepul Centre, 7.00pm - 9.30pm, £3 / £5 www.showcaselive.co.uk

Sun 18 Oct Eat & Meet An ‘eat and meet’, celebrating 100 Black Greats that have been created and researched by young people.

African Caribbean Centre, 12pm – 3pm, Free

De Montfort University, 1pm - 4pm, £65 / £35, tel: 0116 271 2199 msallah@dmu.ac.uk

Thu 22 Oct

Fri 6 Nov

Courtney Pine: Transition in Tradition Saxophonist Courtney Pine is back with a new tour showcasing his new studio album, Transition In Tradition.

The !Gubi Family The !Gubi Family are six San (Bushman) musicians from the Kalahari and Namib Desert in Southern Africa. As originators of a unique form of trance dance, the San’s music is specifically designed to evoke an altered state of consciousness through rhythms and beats.

De Montfort Hall, 7.30pm £16.50 / £15 / £13.50 / disabled 2 for 1.

Fri 23 Oct Pampering for Women Come along for an evening of pampering including makeovers, hair braiding, body and foot massage, nail art and more. 50p entry, small charge for sessions.

African Caribbean Centre, 5.00pm – 9.00pm

Fri 23 Oct

Annual Expressive Arts for Black History The school’s annual expressive arts for Black History day, including steel pans, drumming, drama and poetry.

Simphiwe Dana with 10 Piece Live Ensemble Internationally acclaimed, Simphiwe Dana is one of South Africa’s shooting stars. Her unique sound, lulling tones and rich, sonorous choruses have real lyrical depth, contrasting with flicks of streetwise and savvy jazz.

City of Leicester College, 8.30am – 3.20pm, Free

Peepul Centre, 8.00pm, £12.50 / £10.50

Fri 16 Oct

Sat 17 Oct

Sat 24 Oct

Credit Union Information, advice and promotional leaflets about the credit union.

Stars in your Eyes: King of Pop Tribute A night not to be missed, be entertained

by Leicester’s local talent paying tribute to Michael Jackson

African Caribbean Centre, 12.00pm – 5.00pm, Free

Sat 17 Oct Island Meltdown An opportunity for all islands to come together under one roof to celebrate with food, music, crafts and workshops. For further details on hosting a stall, please contact venue.

African Caribbean Centre, 12.00pm – 5.00pm, Free

Sat 17 Oct Urban Arts Dance 7 Music Showcase A showcase evening of homegrown talent. Urban arts dance and music performed, presented and produced by Leicester’s up and coming young artists. Featuring performances from2Funky Arts and Capta Rootage 110

African Caribbean Centre, 7.30pm, £5 / £3

Wed 28 Oct Culturally Diverse Leicester An evening of talks and discussion about multicultural Leicester with a focus on the African Heritage community.

De Montfort University, Youth & Community Division, 7.30pm, free

Fri 30 Oct Slam Dunk – Poetry Slam A spoken word event by young people giving them the opportunity to profile their poetry to an audience.

African Caribbean Centre, 7pm 10.30pm, £1 / 50p

The Y Theatre, 8pm, £12 / £10

Wed 4 -Thu 5 Nov Not Quite Gospel Pastor Morris has been dead for two months and Robert Johnson has just become Pastor of Friary Road Pentecostal Church. Not Quite Gospel is about the tensions that emerge when change is about to happen.

Peepul Centre, 7pm, £8 / £6

Sun 8 Nov Gospel Meets Michael Jackson LCGC are celebrating their tenth anniversary year and this promises to be another sold out explosion of contemporary gospel with the sound of Michael Jackson.

Peepul Centre, 7.30pm, £10 / £7 tel: 0797 404 5661 / 0116 220 1160. basil.dixon@ntlworld.com / bizzidixon@hotmail.co.uk

Fri 27 Nov Leicester School’s Got Talent A showcase for acts from local schools, providing an opportunity to perform songs, lyrics and dance.

Peepul Centre, 7.30pm, £8 / £5 0707 404 5661 / 0116 220 1160 basil. dixon@ntlworl.com / bizzidixon@ hotmail.co.uk

Sat 28 Nov A Festival of Choirs Kainé Management are proud to present ‘A Festival of Choirs’.

Featuring gospel and inspirational music of both contemporary and traditional styles.

Performed by community choirs from across Leicester, including our very own Kainé Gospel Choir.

The Y Theatre, 7.30pm – 9.30pm £7 / £5, 0116 261 6840, info@ kainemanagement.org.uk

Sat 28 Nov Black Achievers Award The 8th Annual Community Achievement Award where eight people, nominated by the community, will be presented with an award for outstanding achievement for working with the African / African Caribbean community.

African Caribbean Centre, 8pm, £20 / £10, Advance booking essential

Mon 30 Nov Heather Small & The Snake Davis Band M People’s Heather Small De Montfort Hall, 7.30pm, £25 / £22.50 / disabled 2 for 1.

Sat 14 Nov

Mon 26 Oct – Mon 30 Nov

Rep Your Island Performances by young people representing each Caribbean island.

Yes We Have Across the UK, the ground breaking proposition of a Black President in the White House inspired an otherwise unseen level of interest in the US election. One of the aims of this exhibition is to gather the experiences and opinions of ordinary people of all ages and backgrounds towards the presidential election and views towards words such as “hope”. f you have something to offer, please email info@ peepulcentre.com and title the message “YES WE HAVE”.

African Caribbean Centre, 7.30pm – 11pm, free.

Sun 15 Nov Inner Soul Music Night A night of live, local entertainment, expressive poetry and music.

African Caribbean Centre, 7pm, £10 (including meal)

Fri 20 Nov Pieces: Unity Through Comedy Have you ever wondered why the state of your hair is the root to your struggle?

Well, Pickiesha can tell you all about it. Then there’s old Brudda Brown who believes that twist is a dance, not a hairstyle and many more characters who will tickle your ribs

Peepul Centre, Opening hours, free

Thu 1 - Sat 31 Oct Urban Legacy The exhibition features words and pictures from some of Leicester’s finest singers, bands, rappers,

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dancers, musicians, DJ’s, producers, sound systems and record labels of the last 40 years.

African Caribbean Centre, free, 0116 222 0639 vijay@2funkyarts.co.uk

banner Weekend National Waterfront Museum.

Swansea. Theme - Famous Black Historical Figures in Welsh and British History

Thu 17 Oct to Dec

National Waterfront Museum, All day, Free, tel: 01792 470298

Mix-D: UK Mix-D: UK is brought to you by Manchester based The Multiple Heritage Project.

New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, free

Wales Find out what’s on in your local area

Tue 20 Oct Letters Of A Love Betrayed ROH2 and Music Theatre Wales present a new opera by Eleanor Alberga. Letters of a Love Betrayed, is a captivating new opera that unashamedly touches the heartstrings. Jamaican-born composer, Eleanor Alberga’s vivid, exotic rhythms and rich orchestral pallet brilliantly evoke the boldly drawn characters.

Sherman Cymru, Cardiff 7.45pm, £14, Reductions £12 Under 19s £8, FREE Pre Performance Talk 6.45pm, tel: 029 2064 6900 www.shermancymru.co.uk

Sat 17 Oct Black History Event at National Waterfront Museum Swansea.

Including Drumming and Dancing performance and workshops, Capoeira Performance, Banner Parade, Art and Craft workshops plus awareness stalls.

Participants will also be invited to attend the Wales wide Black History Event which will take place at the Millennium Centre, Cardiff on Saturday 31st Oct. Transport/Coach to this event will be provided - FREE OF CHARGE from Swansea. National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. All day, tel: 01792 470298

Sat 31 Oct Black History Event Wales-wide Black History Month event. Transport/Coach to this event will be provided - FREE OF CHARGE from Swansea.

Millennium Centre, All day, Free.

Thu 1 - Sat 31 Oct

Wed 21-24 Oct

Beyond the Barrage (transformation, not extinction) Photographic & film exhibition looking at Tiger Bay, a Cardiff community where all peoples were made welcome, that has been slowly destroyed over the last 50 years.

CAPE TOWN OPERA FIRST EVER UK TOUR South Africa’s only repertory opera company, Cape Town Opera (CTO), makes its UK debut in Oct 2009 with nine fully-staged and two semistaged concert performances (Royal Festival Hall) of the Gershwins’ landmark opera Porgy and Bess.

The Workshop Gallery, Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-3pm, tel: 029 2078 8334 Organisered by Leon Charles: 07837 048 583 charles_ leon@hotmail.com

Wales Millennium Centre, 7.30pm daily, 2pm on Thur and Sat, £18 to £32, free pre-show talks 22-24 Oct, tel: 08700 40 2000 www.wmc.org.uk

Fri 6 Nov African Community Centre Youth Forum presents ACCís Got Talent!

An evening of the very best Music, Dance and Performance from the African and African Caribbean community and Friends. Organized and Judged by the Young People themselves.

Dylan Thomas Centre, Contact Emily Robertson on 01792 470298 for more information, African Partnership Events(Contact Sue James at National Waterfront Museum on 01792 638960.

Sat 10 – Sun 11 Oct Public and Community

Scotland Find out what’s on in your local area

Throughout October Homecoming Scotland 2009 This year’s BHM celebrations will link in with the Homecoming Scotland 2009 events across the country to provide a vibrant and diverse programme of events. The events will highlight and celebrate the achievements made by Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) people to the Scottish society. The month long celebrations will provide a unique opportunity to educate, document and acknowledge the positive role

Liverpool: BHM 2 C Simon Webb

the BME people have played in shaping Glasgow’s history. It will also provide us with the opportunity to engage in critical debate about the importance of history and its influence on our future. GARA are publishing a promotional booklet for events happening in Glasgow during BHM 2009, see acnglasgow.org for full details

Thu 1 – Sat 31 Oct Object in Focus The ‘object in focus’ display will change each week during black History Month, and will feature original artefacts that reflect the diversity of our acclaimed collections.

The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, 9.30am - 5pm, tel: 0141 330 2838, www.hunterian.gla.ac.uk

Thu 29 Sept – Thu 15 Oct She settles in the Shields and Pardesi Heroes Exhibition of migrant communities settling in Glasgow since the 1950’s, including untold stories of migrant women in the Pollokshields area (conducted by Glasgow Women’s Library and Pollokshields Development Agency), complemented with photographic archives of South Asian pioneers by artist Basharat Khan.

University Chapel, Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm, Free, tel: 0141 330 2838, www.gla.ac.uk/ services/chaplaincy

Sat 3 Oct The Art of Sari Draping The workshop is an introduction to Art of Sari Draping.

Hunterian Museum, 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm, £10.00, tel: 0141 330 2375 www.hunterian.gla.ac.uk

Sun 17 October Glasgow’s contribution to the campaign to abolish slavery in the United States.

Bernard Aspinwall will relate how Glasgow and the West of Scotland made significant contributions to the abolition movement through support for American anti-slavery societies.

Glasgow University campus, 10am-12 noon, Free tel: 0141 330 1860 Africa Centre Scotland – Black History Month Event, Saturday 17th October 2009

Sat 17 Oct Black History Month the Africa Centre Scotland As part of Black History Month the Africa Centre Scotland is holding an event at the City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh on Saturday 17th from 12.00pm – 4.00pm.

There will be displays from different organisations, an opportunity for discussion, youth and children’s activities and a performance by the Zawadi Women’s Choir. The programme for the day includes a light lunch and refreshments, followed by talks from Nick Croft, Equalities Manager, the City of Edinburgh Council; Dr Eric J Graham, Maritime Historian and Author, University of Edinburgh.

Further information is available from the Africa Centre Scotland on 0131 557 6145 and to book a place email Korstiaan.allan@edinburgh.gov.uk by Friday 9 October 2009.

Thurs 22 Oct to Sun 1 Nov Africa in Motion 2009 – Edinburgh African Film Festival AIM 2009 is taking place at Edinburgh Filmhouse Cinema and other venues. The deadline for registration for this event is 15 October 2009 (but places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment).

For all venue details go to page 114.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009

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Venue Directory Abbey Community Centre 34 Great Smith Street London, SW1 3BU 020 7222 0303 African Caribbean Centre Maidstone Rd Leicester Leicestershire, E2 0UA 0116 221 1784 African Caribbean Community Library 265 Lavender Hill, SW11 1JB 020 8871 7466 The Albany Douglas Way Deptford, SE8 4AG 020 86920231 Alex Wood Hall 75 Norfolk St Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB1 2LD 01223 360977 Alexandra Park Library Alexandra Park Road, N22 7UJ 020 8489 8770 Arnolfini Bristol 16 Narrow Quay Bristol Avon, BS1 4QA 0117 917 2300 Artsdepot 5 Nether St Tally Ho Corner North Finchley London, N12 0GA 020 8369 5454 Balham Library 16 Ramsden Road SW12 8QY 020 8871 7195 Barbados House 15 Reginald Row Leeds, LS7 3HP 0113 260 4762 Battersea Library 265 Lavender Hill SW11 1JB 020 8871 7466 Battersea Park Library 309 Battersea Park Road, SW11 4NF 020 8871 7468 Beethoven Community Centre

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174 Third Ave London, W10 4JL 020 89695881 Bernie Grant Arts Centre Town Hall Approach Road, N15 4RX 0208 365 5450 Birkbeck Cinema Gordon Square London, WC1H 020 7636 7121 Blackheath Halls 23 Lee Road Blackheath, SE3 9SQ 020 8463 010 Blackheath Village Library 34 Blackheath Grove, SE3 0DD 020 8852 5309 Borough Hall Royal Hill Greenwich, SE10 8RE 020 8293 9741 British Library 96 Euston Road London, NW1 2DB 0870 444 1500 British Museum Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG 020 7323 8000 Brixton Library Brixton Oval, W2 1JQ 020 7926 1075 Broadway Theatre Catford Broadway Catford, SE6 4RU 020 8690 0002 Brooke Parish Hall Norwich, NR15 1AB 01508 558 526 Bruce Castle Museum Lordship Lane, N17 8NU 020 8808 8772 Brundall Memorial Hall Links Avenue Brundall Norwich Norfolk, NR13 5LL 01603 713327 Camden Centre Bidborough Street London, WC1H 9DB 020 7974 5633 Canterbury

Library 18 High Street Canterbury Kent, CT1 2JF 01227 463608 Caribb Youth and Community Association 166 Benhill Road Camberwell London, SE5 7LL 020 7701 9400 Carnegie Library 188 Herne Hill Road, SE24 0AG 020 7926 6050 Catford Library Laurence House Rushey Green SE6 4RU 020 8314 6399 CB2 Bistro 57 Norfolk St Cambridge, CB1 01223 508 503 The Chapel 64 Park Lane Norwich, NR2 Chapelfield Plain Chapelfield Norwich, NR2, 01603 621 112 Church of The Holy Redeemer 24 Exmouth Market London, 020 7332 3851 Cinema City St Andrew’s Street Norwich, NR2 4AD 0871 704 2053 City Hall The Queen’s Walk London, SE1 2AA 0845 900 1234 The City of Leicester College Downing Drive Evington Leicester, LE5 6LN 0116 241 398 City of London Academy Prebend Street N1 8PQ Clapham Library 1 Northside Clapham Common SW4 0QW 020 7926 0717 Cliftonville Library Queen Elizabeth

Av, Margate Kent, CT9 3JX 01843 226979

276 Magdalen Rd SW18 3NY 020 8871 6389

1 Reading Lane E8 1GQ 020 8356 5239

CLR James Library 24- 30 Dalston Lane E8 3AZ 020 8356 1665

Family Health Isis 185 Rushey Green Catford, E6 4BD 020 8691 7201

Hackney Museum 1 Reading Lane E8 1GQ 020 8356 2509

Forest Hill Library Dartmouth Road SE23 3HZ 020 86992065

Haringey Day Opportunities Gym 2 Ermine Road N15 6DB

Goldsmiths Community Centre Castillon Road Catford, SE6 1QD 020 8698 3741

Harris Academy at Peckham Wide Wy Mitcham Surrey, CR4 1BP 020 8623 1000

Crofton Park Library Brockley Road SE4 2AF 020 8692 1683 The Cuming Museum Old Walworth Town Hall 151 Walworth Rd London, SE17 1RY 020 7525 2332 The Curve 2 Millennium Plain Bethel Street Norwich, NR2 1TF 01603 727 950 Damilola Taylor Centre 1 East Surrey Grove London, SE15 6DR 020 7703 9996 De Montfort Hall Granville Rd Leicester Leicestershire LE1 7RU 0116 233 3111

Gravesend Library Windmill St Gravesend Kent, DA12 1BE 01474 331291 Great Yarmouth Library Tolhouse St Great Yarmouth Norfolk, NR30 UK 01493 844 551 / 842 279 Greenside Community Centre 24 Lilestone Street Lisson Green London, NW8

Dereham Library 59 High St Dereham NR19 1DZ 01362 693184

Greenwich Heritage Centre Artillery Sq London, SE18 4DX 020 8854 2452

Downham Library Health & Leisure Centre 79 Moorside Road BR1 5EP 020 8695 8886

Greenwich Theatre Crooms Hill Greenwich, SE10 8ES 020 8858 7755

The Drum 144 Potters Lane Aston Birmingham B6 4UU 0121 333 2444 Durning Library 167 Kennington Lane SE11 4HF 020 7926 8682 The Dylan Thomas Centre 1 Somerset Place Swansea West Glamorgan SA1 1RR 01792 463980 Ealing Central Library 103 Broadway Centre Ealing, W5 5JY 020 8567 3656 Earlsfield Library

Grove Park Library Somertrees Avenue SE12 OBX 020 88575794 The Guildhall Leicester Guildhall Lane Leicester, LE1 5FQ HMP Wealstun Wetherby West Yorkshire LS23 7AZ 01937 444 400 Hackney Archives 43 De Beauvoir Road N1 5SQ 020 7241 2886 Hackney Central Library Hackney Technology and Learning Centre

Higham Hill Library North Countess Road Walthamstow E17 5HS 020 8496 1173 Highfields Library 98 Melbourne Rd Leicester Leicestershire, LE2 0DS 0116 299 5494 Highgate Library 1 Shepherds Hill Highgate London, N6 5Q 020 8489 8772 Hindolveston Village Hall The Street Hindolveston Dereham, NR20 5DD 01263 860 583 Homerton Library Homerton High Street E9 6AS 020 8356 1690 Hook Library Hook Centre Chessington, KT9 1EJ 020 85476480 Horniman Museum 100 London Road Forest Hill London, SE23 3PQ 020 8699 1872

Gallery Gilbert Scott Building University Avenue GLASGOW, G12 8QQ 0141 330 4221 Hyde Park Picture House Cinema 3 Brudenell Road Headingley Leeds, LS6 1JD 0113 275 2045 Ikon Gallery 1 Oozells Square Brindley Place Birmingham, B1 2HS 0121 248 0708 Imperial War Museum North Trafford Wharf The Quays Manchester, M17 1TE 0161 836 4000 Indian Percussive Arts Centre 4A Clarendon Rise Lewisham SE13 5ES 020 8473 3746 InSpire The Crypt Liverpool Grove Walworth SE17 2HH 020 77406767 Institute of Archaeology UCL 3134 Gordon Square London WC1H 0PY 020 7679 7495

Wyndham and Comber Estate London, SE5 0UB 020 7525 088 Kentish Town Library 262-266 Kentish Town Rd London, NW5 2AA 020 79746253 Kilburn Library Centre St Johns Wood High Street London, NW8 020 7974 1965 Kingston Children’s Library Wheatfield Way Kingston Upon Thames, KT1 2PS Lambeth Archives and Minet Library 52 Knatchbull Road SE5 9QY 020 7926 6073 Leeds City Art Gallery The Headrow Leeds West Yorkshire LS1 01904 656507 Leeds City Museum Millennium Square Leeds, LS2 0113 395 1262 Leeds Museum Discovery Centre Carlisle Rd Leeds, LS10 0113 214 1548

International Slavery Museum Hartley Quay Liverpool L3 4 AQ 0151 478 4499

Leeds West Indian Centre 10 Laycock Pl Leeds West Yorkshire LS7 3JA 0113 262 9496

Islington Local History Centre Finsbury Library 245 St John Street EC1V 4NB 020 7527 7988

Lewisham Carers Centre Waldram Place Forest Hill SE23 2LB 020 8699 8686

Islington Screen on the Green Cinema 83 Upper Street N1 0NU

Lewisham Library 199-201 Lewisham High St, SE13 6LG 020 8314 9800

Hornsey Library Haringey Park London, N8 9JA 020 8489 1118

Jacksons Lane 269a Archway Road London, N6 5AA 020 8341 4421

House Café & Gallery 70 Camberwell Church Street London, SE5 8QZ 020 73584475

Jessie Duffet Hall 92-94 Wyndham Road, Wynham Comber Estate SE5 0UB

The Hunterian Museum and Art

Jessie Duffet Hall Wyndham Road

Leytonstone Library 6 Church Lane Leytonstone London, E11 1HG 020 8496 1190 London Southbank University The Keyworth Centre Main Auditorium Keyworth Street London, SE1 6NG

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LISTINGS Venue Directory

020 7815 6060 Mandela Centre Chapeltown Rd Leeds, LS7 Manor House Library 34 Old Road London, SE13 5SY 020 8852 0357 Marcus Garvey Library Tottenham Green Centre 1 Phillip Lane N15 4JA 020 8489 5309 Merton Abbey Mills Watermill Way Merton Abbey SW19 020 8542 5511 Millennium Centre Bute Place Cardiff, CF10 0870 040 2000 Mitcham Library 157 London Road Mitcham, CR4 020 82745745 Mustard 28 All Saints Green Norwich, NR1 3NA 01603 619 561 National Media Museum Pictureville Bradford Bradford, BD5 01274 203 354 National Waterfront Museum Queens Buildings Cambrian Pl Swansea, SA1 01792 638 950 Nettlefold Hall West Norwood Library 15 Norwood High St London, SE27 020 7926 8070 New Cross Library 28-35 New Cross Road, SE14 6AS 020 86942534 New Malden Library 48 Kingston Road New Malden KT3 3LY 020 8547 6490 New Walk Museum & Art Gallery 53 New Walk Leicester, LE1 7EA 0116 255 4100 Norfolk & Norwich

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Millennium Library The Forum Millennium Plain Norwich Norfolk NR2 1AW 01603 77474 Northcote Library 155e Northcote Road SW11 6QB 020 8871 7469 Norwich Arts Centre 51 St Benedicts St Norwich Norfolk NR2 4PG 01603 660352 Old Malden Library Church Road Worcester Park KT4 7RD 020 8547 6467 The Original Gallery Hornsey Library Haringey Park London, N8 9JA 020 8489 1118 Paddington Library 45 Porchester Road Paddington London, W2 5DP 020 7641 4496 The Painted Hall King William Walk Greenwich London, SE10 020 8269 4747 Patrick Studios St Mary’s Ln Leeds West Yorkshire LS9 0113 248 0040 Peckham Library 122 Peckham Hill Street, SE15 5JR 020 7525 2000 Peckham Pulse Healthy Living Centre 10 Melon Rd London, SE15 5QN 020 75254999 Peepul Centre Orchardson Ave Leicester, LE4 0845 310 3344 Petrie Museum 6 Gower St London, WC1E 020 76792884 Phoenix Dance Theatre St Peters Buildings 3 St Peters Sq Leeds West Yorkshire LS9 8AH 0113 242 3486

Photobooth 20 Dalston Lane E8 3AZ pieceofplenty at Chapter One Café Hornsey Library N8 9JA 020 8489 1118 The Place 17 Duke’s Road London, WC1H 9PY 020 7121 1000 The Playhouse 42-58 St Georges Street Norwich, NR3 1AB 01603 612 580 Plumstead Manor School Old Mill Rd Greater London SE18 07970 239 337 Polka Theatre 240 The Broadway Wimbledon SW19 1SB 020 8543 4888 Positive Activities for Young People PAYPOld Bellenden School 165 Bellenden Road London, SE15 4DG 020 7732 6291 Putney Library 5/7 Disraeli Road SW15 2DR 020 8871 7090 Ramsgate Library Guildford Lawn Ramsgate Kent, CT11 UK Rich Mix 35 – 47 Bethnal Green Road London, E1 6LA 020 76137498 The Riley Theatre 98 Chapeltown Rd Leeds West Yorkshire LS7 4BH 0113 219 3018 Roehampton Library 2 Danebury Avenue SW15 4HD 020 8871 7091 Roscoe Methodist Church Hall Francis St Leeds West Yorkshire, LS7 0113 262 2332

Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre London, SE1 8XX 08703 800 400 Royal Opera House Covent Garden London, WC2E 9DD 020 7304 4000 Royal Pavilion & Museums 4 Pavilion Buildings Brighton, BN1 1EE 01273 292 792 Sahara House 7 St Benedicts St Norwich Norfolk, NR2 4PG 01603 621166 The Salmon Youth Centre in Bermondsey 43 Old Jamaica Road London, SE16 4TE 0207 237 3788 Sambourne House 18 Stafford Terrace Greater London W8 7BH 020 7602 3316 Saville Centre 436 Lewisham High Street Lewisham, SE13 6LJ 020 8690 5213

Soho House Museum Soho Avenue Handsworth Birmingham West Midlands B18 5LB 0121 ​554 ​9122 South Lambeth Library 180 South Lambeth Road, SW8 1QP 020 7926 0705 Southfields Library 300 Wimbledon Park Road, SW19 6NL 020 8871 6388 Southwark Muslim Women’s Association First Floor Bellenden Old School Bellenden Road London, SE15 4DG 020 7639 4215 St Gregory’s Centre for the Arts St Gregory’s Church Norwich, NR2 1ER St Ann’s Library Cissbury Road N15 5PU 020 8489 8775

Screen on the Green 83 Upper St London, N1 0NU 0870 066 4777

St Jude’s The Crypt St George’s Road London, SE1 6EZ 020 7928 9840

Sevenoaks Library Buckhurst Lane Sevenoaks, TN13 01732 452 384

St Martin’s Institute St Martin’s View LS7 3LA

Sheringham Little Theatre 2 Station Road Sheringham Norfolk, NR26 8RE 01263 822347 Sherman Cymru 4 Woodville Rd Cardiff, CF24 029 2064 6900 Shoreditch Library 80 Hoxton Street N1 6LP 020 8356 4350 Shortwave Cinema & Cafe Bar 10 Bermondsey Square, SE1 3UN 020 7357 6845

St Matthias St Matthias Street Leeds West Yorkshire LS4 2DZ 0113 230 4408 Stamford Hill Library Portland Avenue N16 6SB 020 8356 1700 The Stephen Lawrence Gallery Old Royal Naval College Park Row Greenwich, SE10 9LS 020 8331 8000 Stoke Newington Library Stoke Newington Church Street N16 0JS 020 8356 5231

Stratford Circus Theatre Square Stratford London, E15 1BX 0844 357 2625 Streatham Library 63 Streatham High Road, SW16 1PL 020 79266768 Stroud Green Library Quernmore Road N4 4QR 020 8489 8776 Surbiton Library Ewell Road Surbiton, KT6 6AG 020 85476444 Swiss Cottage Central Library 88 Avenue Road London, NW3 3HA 020 7974 6522 Sydenham Library Sydenham Road SE26 5SE 020 8778 7563 Taylor Road Day Centre Taylor Road MItcham, CR4 3JR 0208 640 3057 The Tabernacle Powis Square London, W11 2AY 020 7361 2062 Thorpe St Andrew Social Club Yarmouth Road Thorpe St Andrew Norwich NR7 0SQ 01603 435696 Tooting Neighbourhood Centre 28 Glenburnie Road SW17 7PJ 020 86726797 Torridon Road Library Torridon Road SE6 1RQ 020 86981590 Trinity College of Music King Charles Court Old Royal Naval College Greenwich SE10 9JF 020 8305 4444 Tudor Driver Library Tudor Dr Kingston upon Thames Surrey, KT2 5QH

020 85476456

020 8980 4171

University Chapel 4 Lilybank Gardens Glasgow City, G12 0141 330 6749

Wellcome Centre 83 Euston Road London, NW1 2BE 020 7611 2222

University of East Anglia Chancellors Dr Norwich Norfolk, NR4 01603 456161 University of Glasgow 77 Oakfield Avenue Glasgow, 12 8LT 0141 330 2000 Urbis Cathedral Gdns Manchester Lancashire M4 3BG 0161 605 8200

West Green Learning Centre Park View Academy Tottenham, N15 3RB 020 8826 9185 West Norwood Library Norwood High Street SE27 9JX 020 7926 8092 West Yorkshire Playhouse Playhouse Square Leeds, LS2 0113 213 7700

Vestry Hall 336-338 London Road MItcham CR4 3UD 020 8640 5587

Woeley Castle Library 76 Beckbury Road Birmingham B29 5HR 0121 464 1664

Victoria and Albert Museum Cromwell Rd London, SW7 2RL 020 7942 2000

Wood Green Central Library High Road Wood Green London, N22 6XD 020 8489 1419

Walthamstow Assembly Hall Forest Road Walthamstow London, E17 4JD 020 8496 8018 Walthamstow Library High Street Walthamstow E17 7JN 020 8496 1100 Walworth Methodist Church Theatre Hall Camberwell Rd Walworth London SE5 0EN 020 7701 0233 Wandsworth Town Library 11 Garratt Lane London SW18 4AQ 020 8871 5588 Waterloo Library 114-118 Lower Marsh SE1 7AE 020 7926 8750 Waterstone’s Islington Green 11 Islington Green N1 2XH 020 7704 2280 Wavelengths Library Giffin Street SE8 4RJ

Woodberry Down Community Library Robin Redmond Centre 440 Seven Sisters Road, N4 2RD 020 8356 1791 World Museum Liverpool William Brown St Liverpool 0151 478 4393 Worthing Library Richmond Rd Worthing West Sussex BN11 1HD 01903 704809 Wrangthorn Church Hall Hyde Park Terrace Leeds, LS6 1BJ York Gardens Library 34 Lavender Road SW11 2UG 020 8871 7471 Yorkshire Dance St Peter’s Square Leeds 0113 243 8765 The Y Theatre 7 East Street City Centre Leicester LE1 6EY

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LISTINGS Advertising List

Advertising List Abbott The Appointments Commission Asthma UK Bexley Council/School Workforce Bradford College Cambridge University Channel 4 Charity Commission CPS Craig Park Community Centre East London NHS Edexcel Essex County Council Essex County Fire & Rescue Service Family Mosaic Financial Ombudsman Service Forestry Commission General Medical Council (GMC) Goldsmiths, University of London Government Legal Service (GLS) Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service Hackney Empire Hammersmith and Fulham Council Hertfordshire Constabulary HM Treasury Islington Council/Adoption & Fostering London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames London & Quadrant Group London Ambulance Service Manchester Metropolitan University Metropolitan Home Ownership National Trust Newham College NHS Scotland NHS Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Nursing and Midwifery Council Places for people RAF Soul Power South London Group Suffolk Constabulary Sustainable Development Commission THT University of Birmingham/School of Education VOA Wandsworth Primary SCITT 114

Portrait of the family

Above: Africa Family by Jerry Blankson.

Jerry Blankson will be exhibiting in Haringey, during Black History Month. Jerry Blankson was born in Ghana and took an interest in art at a young age. As a young artist, Jerry worked with top advertising companies in Ghana and became particularly interested in figure painting. Relocating to Nigeria, it was during his time in Lagos that Jerry developed his style in mixed media and subsequently had his first exhibition of paintings Called Craft Heritage with a group of local artists. Jerry says,’ My paintings for me represent my cultural heritage, the colourful sights and sounds of Ga Mashie and stimulate feelings of peace, unity and love within the viewer’. The Journey: Cultural Expressions; An exhibition of work by internationally acclaimed artists Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy (MBE), Alvin Kofi and Jerry Blankson. Is on at The Original Gallery, Hornsey Library, N8 9JA.

WWW.BLACKHISTORYMONTHUK.CO.UK

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YOUR KIND OF PLACE. YOUR KIND OF PEOPLE.

Kush – supporting local communities Various roles North East London Kush Care and Support service is now managed through Places for People, Individual Support. We provide culturally sensitive care and support services primarily to African Caribbean and other black and minority ethnic people. Currently operating in the North East London boroughs of Hackney, Waltham Forest, Newham and Haringey, we are also looking to expand locally and nationally. As a result of a recent review we have a number of staff vacancies in North East London.

We are looking for exceptional workers with a ‘can-do’ mentality and a passion for improving mental health service delivery to African Caribbean People.

Administration Assistant/Receptionist c£16k - c£20k p.a. pro rata + benefits – 21 hours per week

Ref: 336/09

You will provide an efficient and high quality reception service to the scheme and assist with office administration in order to enable the business to operate effectively and meet performance targets and customer requirements.

Support and Activity Worker c£18k - c£22k p.a. + benefits

Ref: 337/09

You will provide a high level of individualised care to African Caribbean people in mental health crisis, ensuring that residents benefit from a place of calm and achieve their maximum potential whilst respecting their rights to privacy, dignity and confidentiality.

Employment Support Worker c£24k - c£30k p.a. + benefits

Ref: 338/09

To provide a high standard of support, advice, practical help relating to education, training and employment to young African Caribbean people with experience of mental health problems. To liaise with the staff within Kush and other relevant agencies to engage and motivate men who have an interest in education, training and/or work.

Senior Crisis Worker c£24k - c£30k p.a. + benefits

Ref: 339/09

You will oversee the running of the scheme, ensuring a quality service is delivered and continuously improved.

Knowledge of African and African Caribbean Mental Health issues, application of policies, procedures, best practice and of relevant legislation is required for the above posts. Experience of First Line management is essential.

These positions are only suitable for African and African Caribbean people. This conforms with section 7.1.3 To provide personal services (s 5(2)(d)) of the Race Relations Act 1976. All posts are subject to a satisfactory disclosure form the Criminal Records Bureau.

For further information and to apply online, please visit our website below. Alternatively please contact Joan Robinson on 020 7502 0964 for application details. Email: kcss@kush.org.uk We’re also happy to take speculative enquiries about other roles which may become available as we continue to expand our services further afield.

Closing date: 9th October 2009.

www.placesforpeople.co.uk/careers

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Celebrating history.

And planning for the future.

Newham College is proud to be playing an active part in Black History Month 2009 by welcoming Robin Landman – Chief Executive of the Network for Black Professionals – to address our staff members.

Our commitment to equal opportunities and diversity is, however, an important focus right throughout the year. The majority of our workforce – some 53.6% - comes from BME communities and we’ve seen a 3.1% increase in BME managers in the past year.

We’re pleased with all our achievements so far - we have just been awarded Outstanding Grade 1 at our 2009 Ofsted inspection - but there’s no room for complacency. Our Equality & Diversity Steering Group is fully representative of the College and monitors our work on an ongoing basis. And we’re always looking for new ways to enhance our recruitment, induction and training processes to ensure they continue to be some of the very fairest.

Let’s make Black History Month a launchpad for further progress in the year ahead. If you’re interested in working or studying in a unique environment, where you can make the most of your talents, interests and aspirations, then please visit us at www.newham.ac.uk or call 020 8257 4450.

Talk by Text users please call 020 8257 4461.

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