The 37 page publication is a useful addition to the growing body of material related to Black British History. There are one or two typos re. dates and the spelling of names eg. Boscawen is listed as Boscowen. In addition the book would benefit from having a contents page, an index page and a map of the region which also specifies boundary changes.
My main concern about the book is that so much of the pioneering work in Black History, of recent years, especially in the W. Mids, is not being acknowledged.
From time to time various projects are funded to promote Black History, but until current and future projects begin to acknowledge and make links with the projects of the past & present, I fear that they too will become the forgotten and unacknowledged projects of the future.
The criteria for the funding of such projects should insist on an acknowledgement of similar projects of the past & present, within the region & nationally. Only then should such projects be funded, if they can demonstrate how they can add to the history and move things forwards, rather than repeating more of the same.
Perhaps the recent econic climate may make such criteria more likely. Unless this occurs no REAL progress in Black History will be made.
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