newsletter young people learn about black · pdf filehuruma peace club is being mentored and...
TRANSCRIPT
Newsletter Volume 7, Issue 2 Summer 2009
by Monica Babb: NBHA was invited to facilitate a series of workshops at Oakway
Junior School in Wellingborough for their Black Heritage
After School Club. It was a bit daunting and at the same
time exciting for the three facilitators. Each session had
around 20 children aged between 7–11 years who were
committed to coming and seemed to enjoy the activities
planned for each session. Considering the differences in
ages they all produced very good work according to
their ability and were supportive of each other. There
was a wonderful painting of Nebamun, medals for Mary
Seacole and a large collage of Mansa Musa’s camels on
their way to Mecca.
A party was held and
some elders of the
community were invited to engage the children
in interviewing. They were brilliant and asked the
elders very good questions. The feedback from
the visitors was positive and they praised the " the
well behaved children". The parents were invited
to the party so that the children could show them
their efforts and learn what the Heritage Club had been doing. The facilitators were
happy to share their knowledge of black history and thank the school for inviting
NBHA to work with them.
A special thank you to Ms Clare Wallace and Ms Claire Dorling. "The children involved
in our heritage club thoroughly enjoyed the activities they were involved in. This was
evident in the quality of involvement in the sessions and their enthusiasm when
presenting to a whole school assembly. I had children asking if they could join the
club next time... which in itself is an indication of success. The tea party to finish off the
club sessions was a great idea with visits from elders, friends and families.”
Young People Learn about Black Heritage
Northamptonshire Black History Association would like to invite all members, supporters
and friends to the Annual General Meeting at the Doddridge Centre on Thursday 9
July 2009 from 6.30pm. There will be refreshments, reports and elections as well as
fascinating talks and a musical performance. NBHA is a voluntary members’
organisation and relies on good people like you to continue the vital work.
Annual General Meeting - Thursday 9 July 2009
Nebamun painting
by Heritage Club
Mansa Musa’s Camels by Heritage club
Vol 7 Issue 2 - Summer 2... page 1
Cyan
Magenta
Yellow
Black
Cyan
Magenta
Yellow
Black
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:06
Page 2 Page 2
Heroes Day Celebration
Teaching for Diversity
Promotion of the educational resources produced as part of the
Shaping The Future project continues to gather pace. Leaflets
detailing the high quality teaching and learning packs available
are now being
sent to schools
and educators
around the
country.
“Brilliant materials
for both history and diversity” - Alf
Wilkinson, National Subject Lead,
Historical Association
Have you got your copy ?
Call the office today to find out
how to get your free packs worth
£40 (available free to download).
Left to right: June White-Gulley, Phil Vasili,
Monica Babb
by June White-Gulley : On the evening of Tuesday April 28th 2009, Monica Babb and
June White Gulley were invited by Barbados High
Commissioner Mr Hugh Anthony Arthur and other
distinguished Barbadians to the Barbados Embassy
in London UK to commemorate war heroes from
the island.
The evening had a full programme including a
presentation and discussion on Walter Tull by Phil
Vasili, author of the book ‘Colouring over the White
Line’ about the history of black British footballers
and was a guest speaker at the launch of the
NBHA Walter Tull educational resource packs in
Northampton (December 2007).
The star of the night was Mr Victor Richards who wrote and performed “Streets Paved
with Gold” a spoken word piece. In his one man play Victor Richards introduces the
character of Augustus Cleveland Johnson who arrives in London at Tilbury Docks in
1948 on the Empire Windrush.
Victor Richards states: “The story line weaves together a thrilling and informative
picture of the collective experiences of Black British Citizens resulting from their new
experiences.”
Phil Vasili acknowledged NBHA’s efforts to commemorate Walter Tull and asked the
representatives to say a few words. The Walter Tull educational resource packs were
displayed and June White-Gulley briefly spoke about the launch and closed by
informing those present on how he is remembered in Northampton by the monument
on Walter Tull Way. There was a great response to NBHA’s work.
Vol 7 Issue 2 - Summer 2... page 2
Cyan
Magenta
Yellow
Black
Cyan
Magenta
Yellow
Black
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:06
Volume 7, Issue 2 Page 3 International Penpals Wanted
Located in an area of Nairobi Kenya, Huruma Peace Club was started by a group of
young people in June 2008 and has been meeting every Sunday since then.
Currently there are 20 members ages 14-
20. Activities carried out so far include:
community clean-ups, charity work,
reconciliation work between members
and their parents, workshops and training,
and a visit to an exhibition called “Kenya
Burning” on the violence that erupted
after the elections at the start of last year.
One of the founding members Sharon
Wilander Achieng states: “The reason we
started the club was because of the
violence that took place last year, where
there was hatred among different ethnic
groups. Schools were also affected on ethnic lines. We wanted to reconcile the
different groups by taking people from different backgrounds to join the group. The
club is now working well because, through training and discussions and joint activities
there are no more quarrels and people work together well now. Also, in schools there
are no divisions now and people have also realised there are other people who need
help in the community.”
The group has been receiving the NBHA newsletter through contact with the son of
an NBHA member and is encouraged by the interesting and important work being
done. Group members are interested to get penpals and would be glad to hear
from any young people who want to communicate with them. Anyone interested
can contact Sharon through [email protected]
Huruma Peace Club is being mentored and supported by Ngei 1 Development Youth
Group, a youth organization in Huruma, Nairobi, Kenya. Further information can be
found on the website www.ngei1youth.org
Black History Rulers – Huge Demand! Over 9,000 rulers have been ordered by local schools, publicity for NBHA curriculum
materials and the NBHA book,
Sharing the Past: Northamptonshire
Black History will also be sent out.
Members of Parliament, Borough
Councillors and many NBHA
members helped to launch the
Black History Ruler at the Doddridge
Centre, Northampton on 28 March.
Speakers included Ifemu Omari
and Norma Pearson of English
Heritage, the main funding body.
Members of the Huruma Peace Club
Celebrating the launch of the Black History rulers
Vol 7 Issue 2 - Summer 2... page 3
Cyan
Magenta
Yellow
Black
Cyan
Magenta
Yellow
Black
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:06
Page 4 Page 4 Oral Histories of the Black Women’s Movement
by Mia Morris and Tamsin Bookey of the Black Cultural Archive
Black Cultural Archives is a Black-led community organisation established to collect,
preserve and celebrate the history of Black people in Britain. The organisation is
currently engaged in a £6.5m capital project to create a Black heritage centre for the
UK in Brixton, South London, to open in 2011.
The oral history project on the Black Women’s Movement is funded by the Heritage
Lottery Fund as part of the Documenting the Archives cataloguing project which has
seen Black Cultural Archives’ collections fully catalogued to professional standards.
“With a few notable exceptions, the story of the British Black Women’s Movement has
by and large remained invisible, unarticulated and uncelebrated. It deserves a voice
that is as clear, impassioned and committed as the women whose story it conveys.”
Rev Dr Kate Coleman, Birmingham, Baptist Minister
The project captures the oral histories of women involved in the Black Women’s
Movement in Britain. The first national Organisation of Woman of African and Asian
Descent (OWAAD) conference took place in Brixton in 1979. OWAAD served as a
national umbrella organisation for Black Women’s groups up and down the country.
Women have been interviewed who participated in OWAAD or its related groups
during the 1970s and 1980s, or who were inspired by its work. Interviewees have
included women working in the arts, trades unions, churches and local and national
government. So far over twenty women in London, Leicester, Birmingham and
Manchester have been interviewed, sharing their stories and journeys as part of the
movement.
The project was initially funded for just 6 months but has been successfully extended
for a further 12 months until May 2010. During the second phase of the project more
women outside of London will be
interviewed and an exhibition
based on the oral testimony will be
created and toured around the
UK, hosted by partner
organisations.
A steering group of academics,
cultural and heritage practitioners
and activists knowledgeable about
the Black Women’s Movement was
set up and meets regularly to
advise on the oral history project.
There was also huge interest in
volunteering on the project.
Volunteers were trained in oral
history interviewing, transcription
and sound editing, and meet monthly as a group to share experiences.
http://www.bcaheritage.org.uk
Oral history volunteers on a training course photograph by Black
Cultural Archives
Vol 7 Issue 2 - Summer 2... page 4
Cyan
Magenta
Yellow
Black
Cyan
Magenta
Yellow
Black
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:06
Volume 7, Issue 2 Page 5
by Elnora Latchman: The struggles of Black communities in Britain over past
generations have been recorded for the education of this and future generations.
The film was made for Channel 4 relating the actual experiences of people who
came to live in Britain during and after World War II, many of whom
served in the armed forces fighting along side or with the British army
and lost friends and relatives in the war. The film addresses four
different communities, Tiger Bay in Cardiff, Southall, Ladbroke Grove
and Leicester.
The Cardiff section looks at the difficulties faced by people settling in a
typical Welsh port town. Uniting these people was a sense of Britishness
which had been taught through their colonial education which gave
them a sense of equality with their white English peers. The community in Southall
describes experiences of racism from the National Front. It looks at discriminatory
policies in all areas of life from education to airports and shows the determination of
African Caribbean, African and Asian people to fight for human dignity and respect.
We hear stories from those who heeded the call to help the mother country in the
Ladbroke Grove section. It includes the personal accounts of racist attacks and the
consequent efforts to build a close supportive community and demonstrate the
talents of the various cultures and abilities are wonderful to hear. From Leicester we
hear about racist abuse suffered at work and the refusal of Trade Unions to accept
Asians and West Indians as members. It was a great surprise to discover that Enoch
Powell oversaw the recruitment of workers from the commonwealth as health
minister. Despite all this, the immigrant community did not give up on their hope for
better education and better economic prospects for their children.
This film shows how far the Black community has come in the fight for equality and
argues that we must continue to be vigilant and to make our voices heard whenever
and wherever racism raises its ugly head. The film is on sale now from the Institute of
Race Relations and can be bought from the website
(http://www.irr.org.uk/2008/november/ha000017.html)
Struggles for Black Community - DVD review
Commemorating Mary Seacole
In June 2009 the winner of the competition
to create a statue to commemorate Mary
Seacole was announced.
This ceremony was preceded by a church
memorial service at St Mary’s Catholic
Church, followed by a Royal College of
Nursing Fundraising Lunch at Kensal Green
in London.
Picture: Members of Mary Seacole Memorial
Association, June White-Gulley, NBHA
Trustee, at the memorial service and wreath
laying ceremony.
Vol 7 Issue 2 - Summer 2... page 5
Cyan
Magenta
Yellow
Black
Cyan
Magenta
Yellow
Black
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:06
Page 6 NBHA On The Road!
NBHA members and supporters recently travelled to
Coventry and London in search of Black History
education and fun.
On Saturday 28 April 2009 our group set out for the
Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry, where we
were hosted by NBHA Committee member Anne-Marie
Sandos. The Gallery is situated alongside the famous
Cathedral,
destroyed
during the War and rebuilt as a peace
monument. Some Northampton visitors
toured the Cathedral while others began
their day with an African drumming
workshop.
Our visit coincided with a special
exhibition commemorating the Trans-
Atlantic slave trade and the different
forms of oppression that continue around
the world today. Artist Romuald Hazoume
has created an installation which includes
an artwork representing a slave ship, a photographic exhibition, and a film about
motorcyclists who transport petrol illegally between Nigeria and Benin. Deeply
impressed by this exhibition, we next created our own artwork: a large painted
banner which will be on display at the NBHA Annual General Meeting on 9 July at the
Doddridge Centre, Northampton.
On 17 May NBHA supporters made their way to the British Museum in London. This was
a first visit for many people, and we found the size
and scope of one of the world’s greatest
museums very impressive - and exhausting! There
was just time for lunch and a quick exploration
before nineteen of us joined a special Black
History tour led by the well-known historian Robin
Walker.
Author of When We
Ruled and other
popular textbooks,
Robin Walker is now
a free-lance educator running his own Black Studies
company. He led the Northampton group through the
African and Egyptian galleries, exploring a selection of
Black History treasures. From the Benin Bronzes to the
Ancient Egyptian sculptures, Robin explained how
African artefacts have often been misinterpreted by European colonisers. The tour
was an exciting and stimulating introduction to major debates over the African past.
Herbert Art Gallery and museum
Getting creative–banner making at The Herbert
The steps of the British Museum -
travellers prepare to explore
Discovering the fascinating objects
Vol 7 Issue 2 - Summer 2... page 6
Cyan
Magenta
Yellow
Black
Cyan
Magenta
Yellow
Black
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:06
Page 7 Volume 7, Issue 2 Remembering an Education Pioneer
Northamptonshire Black History Association continues to work in a productive
partnership with the University of Northampton. During 2008-09 a record number of
students successfully completed Black History courses at the University. Associate
students from the local community joined full-time undergraduates to study three
evening courses, jointly delivered by University lecturers and expert speakers from
NBHA.
Highlights included sixteen Special Studies on subjects ranging from Rastafarianism to
the history of Indian soldiers in the First World War and the stories of Victorian
entertainers. Thanks are due to all our visiting speakers, including Cliff Pereira, chair of
the national Black and Asian Studies Association. His lecture on ‘Bombay Africans’
opened up the little-known subject of the East African slave trade and its role in both
African and Indian history.
Monica Babb attended a thanksgiving service at St Marys Church West London to
commemorate an educational pioneer in Barbados.
Mr Louis Lynch (1916 – 1969) was the founder and principal of the Modern High School,
Roebuck Street, Barbados, West Indies. He lived from 1916 to 1969. He was an
Educator, Philanthropist, Member of Parliament 1961 and 1966, City Councillor and
Mayor of Bridgetown in 1962. It was very difficult to gain entrance to the grammar
schools on the islands. He had the foresight to open a fee-paying school on the island.
This meant that the poor working class could access higher education. The education
Mr Lynch provided gave everyone a chance to learn and develop their potential.
Mr Lynch was a very strict disciplinarian and using the same curriculum the examination
results were comparable to those of the grammar schools. He and his teachers
prepared the pupils academically, spiritually and socially.
Monica Babb says “I remember going
in single file every Ash Wednesday to
St Michael’s Cathedral in Bridgetown.
On Graduation Day there was always
a performance of one of William
Shakespeare’s plays. Sports day at
the Oval, Kensington was an exciting
day out for the pupils and competitors
alike.”
The Right Reverend Dr John Holder,
Bishop of Barbados and a former pupil,
was invited to London to give the sermon. His Excellency Mr Hugh Anthony Arthur, High
Commissioner for Barbados in London and also a former pupil attended the service. Mr
Elkin Neblett, the treasurer of the Modernites Association (London) attended the school
when I was there. Unfortunately the school did not survive after Mr Lynch’s death but
there is a Louis Lynch Foundation Trust set up in his memory. The Barbados chapter will
be having their celebrations in August 2009.
Black History at the University
Left to right: Monica Babb, His Excellency Anthony Hugh
Vol 7 Issue 2 - Summer 2... page 7
Cyan
Magenta
Yellow
Black
Cyan
Magenta
Yellow
Black
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:06
3-5 July Northampton Cultural Library Festival: Featuring a Womens Writing
workshop, Performance Poetry, Young Persons Writing and Childrens
reading. Must be booked in advance.
Delapre Abbey, London Road, Northampton, NN4 8AW
For more information: 07738 386 261 or [email protected]
9 July NBHA Annual General Meeting
Doddridge Centre 6.30pm
3 Sept Consumer Behaviour of Northamptonshire Caribbean People
Historical Association - Details to be confirmed, contact George
Watley [email protected] or 01604 892512
10-13 Sept Heritage Open Days - NBHA at the Guildhall, details to be confirmed
24 Sept NBHA Full Committee Meeting - Doddridge Centre, 7pm.
Page 8 Volume 7, Issue 2
Where can you find us?
Northamptonshire Black History Association is based at
Doddridge Centre, 109 St James Road, Northampton NN5 5LD
Phone: 01604 590967 Email: [email protected]
Website: www.northants-black-history.org.uk
Please contact us at this address for further information on all NBHA’s plans and
activities, and please come and join in!
Forthcoming Events
Interested in getting involved in NBHA?
On 3 September at 745pm, George Watley will address the local branch of the
Historical Association at the University of Northampton. The topic will be:
Northamptonshire Caribbean people pre-1980: construction of identity through
consumer behaviour. This is the first presentation as part of the three-year project on
the consumer behaviour of Northamptonshire Caribbean people c.1955-1980. For
further details, please contact: George Watley: [email protected]
or 01604 892512
Here are some ways to support the Northamptonshire Black History Association and its
future work:
• become a member of NBHA today - contact the office for a membership form
• encourage your organisation to become a corporate member
• read the NBHA Newsletter, and contribute your own news/ photos/ suggestions
• Join NBHA’s ongoing work, for example by helping to develop schools’ materials in
Black History; studying University/NBHA courses on Black British History; taking part in
NBHA social events, meetings and outings.
Consumer Behaviour of Northamptonshire
Caribbean People 1955-1980
heritagelottery fund
Vol 7 Issue 2 - Summer 2... page 8
Cyan
Magenta
Yellow
Black
Cyan
Magenta
Yellow
Black
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:06