Black Brits & Kidney Disease

see https://blackbritskidneydisease.blogspot.com/2020/06/black-brits-kidney-disease.htmlhttps://blackbritskidneydisease.blogspot.com/2020/06/black-brits-kidney-disease.html

End of project presentations...

https://twitter.com/WindrushStrikes/status/1191072102461382657

How I learned to stop worrying & love local history…

How I learned to stop worrying[1] & love local history…

Two very important people I need to thank, before I start: my sister Emma & the storyteller, James Pogson. 

Without their feedback on my 1st draft, of this taster, intended to whet your appetite, I would’ve left you all thunderstruck.

What is there to love about local history?

It’s relevant, it’s on our doorstep. It’s topical/current. & it concerns us.

What is not to love? Right? 

So, what was I worrying about? Why did I find it hard to love local history?

I’m local. Born & raised in Leamington Spa

My parents were local. They may’ve been born & raised in Jamaica, but they lived in Leamington Spa for over 50 yrs.

But local history didn’t seem to include people like me. It didn’t seem to include people like my parents.

We don’t seem to be included in the local history books, in the local collections of local museums & in the local media coverage of local news.

Why are our lives being overlooked? & we make up over 20% of the population of Coventry & Warks.

We pay our way, but we’re being short-changed. But you’re being shortchanged too. You’re missing out on our stories. Think what that inclusivity would bring to all of us.

Have you ever been to a well-attended event, having a great get-together, lots of community spirit, & I don’t just mean weddings & funerals. 

I mean Coventry’s annual Caribbean carnival, Jamaican Independence Day celebrations at Hector Ashwood’s Talbot Inn pub in Leamington Spa, (Hector’s is commemorated in a 2015 poem was called Rushmore St, by Brenda Tai Layton). I mean a whole range of arts & cultural events… 

And naturally, in the 1980s & early 1990s, you look in the local newspapers, you listen out on local radio, looking to see & hear coverage of the event. & there’s nothing,

So, you call into the local museum to look at the coverage. Maybe, in previous years, there was better coverage. So, you look. & there’s nothing.

Or if there is any coverage it is on the white people in attendance, eg. On the Lord & Lady Mayor. The event they’re attending becomes incidental in the way that it is reported.

How does that make you feel?

It made me feel as if people like me were unwelcome. 

We’re not being celebrated in the coverage of local history. & yet we’ve lived here since the 1950s, in the case of my own family. Generations of us have been born & raised here. We are local history, & yet we’re not being given status.

It made me feel as if we’re not supposed to belong. 

So, given that situation, what was I worrying about?

I worried that, if I challenged people about the lack of black & Asian representation, in the local history provision, I’d be disregarded as hostile & antagonistic. Just an angry black woman.

I worried that whenever I attended local history talks, walks, etc., I was usually the only black face in the room. 

What does this mean? Does it mean that it shouldn’t be for me?

Am I welcome at local history events? Does my non-white presence make the other history group members feel uncomfortable?

I worried that, because I’m not an historian, there might be nuances and issues of local history that I’m misunderstanding.

Local history pays attention to the local places where things happened, right? 

But which local history books make any meaningful reference to black & Asian places of worship, education, socializing? 

Aside from the religious aspects, why has there been and, to some extent, why is there still, a need for such specialized provision?

Local history pays attention to the local people who made and/or who make things happen… 

It pays attention to the ordinary people & the way they live, work & play… 

But which local history books make any meaningful reference to black & Asian lives at work & play, or to any meaningful reference to particular black & Asian people? I’ve done more than look. I’ve been actively searching.

So, given all this omission and lack of representation, how did I learn to stop worrying & love local history?

I was lucky enough to read the 1994 book by Jim & Brenda Layton: an inter-racial couple who’ve lived in LSpa since the 1970s. The well-illustrated book documents the early black presence in Coventry & Warks. 

I was hooked. I was seeing people like me, and people like my parents, in local history books!

Representation matters. The book, by the Laytons, gave me a feeling of being included. 

Yes, local history was for me. I am local history. 

My strange love for local history no longer seemed strange. (see what I did there?)

From that point onwards I began to actively seek out publications & events that focussed on the local black presence, past & present. Now that I knew it existed, I was determined to find more. 

That’s how I came across the Bham-based Barbara Willis-Brown and the work produced by her team of SCAWDI detectives.

            As a 2ry school English teacher, I create materials for BH school assembles & for in-school BHM displays. But this isn’t enough. I want to make more people so aware of the black presence in local history, that the local history shelves will be forced to reflect this.

            And so, I began to think about giving talks to local history groups. & that’s when the real problems started.

I still had the love, but I was starting to worry again:

By this time, I’d accumulated so much material that I couldn’t structure it. 

Consequently, the two talks I did give, one to a group in Kenilworth & one to a group in Coventry, were not as effective as I wanted them to be. Garbled is the word that comes to mine, when I think of how I splurged out information & images.

Volunteering for local history projects (at least 7 since 1994) has helped me to find my focus. 

Each time I explained what I’m archiving, and why, things became more coherent. 

I waded through my material, focusing on the 5s. Not 6 degrees of separation, but the 5s. Eg. The 5 Erics, the 5 Glorias. 5 welders, 5 auxiliary nurses. & so on. 

            Behind every name, in every 5, is a face & a story, related to factors that led to the arrival of my selected person (or to the arrival of their antecedents), the settling-in experiences, positive & negative, the returning (if applicable) & the legacy – the impact of this person’s presence in the local area. 

But all the 5s lead back to my own family. You can probably guess in what ways.

Each talk that I give, each chapter that I write, sheds light on 5 black lives in Coventry & Warks, past & present, to illustrate an aspect of local history that has, so far, been largely overlooked in the local history provisions that I’ve scrutinized. 

And the future?

The future is looking bright. A range of national commemorations gives rise to local opportunities respond & becomes a benchmark against which we can measure how well we’re doing. 

·      The UK’s October BHM – celebrated since 1987, & growing in significance & impact, every year 

·      Windrush Day – inaugurated in 2019.  re. the contribution of black immigrants to the UK, post WWII

·      Stephen Lawrence Day – inaugurated in 2019, re. the destructive, blighting impact of racism, at various levels, and the initiatives to counter such blights.

And then there are local initiatives. 

·      Every local history project involves local BBC Radio, promoting the launch & the impact of the project. Eg. In October 2019, Garry Stewart was on BBC Radio Gloucester's Jon Smith show, talking about the Stories of Omission project,  and Black soldiers in HM armed services. Consequently, the BBC websites also carry the story, with online links to similar stories/projects. Often local newspapers carry the stories too. [see strong rooms newspaper article of me & martin]

·      At the launch of Maureen Cottle’s Windrush exhibition, at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre, on 5^th October 2019, the Lord Mayor, Linda Bigham, talked of how crucial the black & Asian presence is to Coventry & how, with 2021just around the corner, we want to showcase Coventry’s multicultural community. 

·      Let’s hope that the content of the local history books will also showcase this presence. 

·      And with the 2022 Commonwealth Games, coming to Bham, there’s a similar opportunity for the UK’s 2^nd city. 

·      A good starting point would be reprints of the 1994 book by the Laytons, and the 2008 and 2010 books by Barbara Willis-Brown and her Scawdi team. I was lucky to read these, and you can see the impact they had on me.

·      Initiatives to encourage contributions to the local history archives is the way forward. 

·      Promoting the procedures for staging local exhibitions at libraries, etc. is the way forward.

·      If the material is there, it is harder to ignore, omit & erase.

But a big mistake I made was to assume that provision would occur because local authorities would want to be inclusive. But funding cuts has drastically affected this. In addition, I’ve realized that many well-meaning white people are hesitant to  make reference to black history, for fear of being “another white voice stomping over black experiences.” 

To the hesitant, I say, Black History is for anyone & everyone who is prepared to be sensitive & considerate. It's not about pigmentation.

Thank you for listening!

-->

---

[1] Cf. Dr Strangelove or: How I learned to stop worrying & love the bomb (1964) Peter Sellers

Black History Blog at the Our Warwickshire website!

Added October 2019

Now it's easier to contribute...

https://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/blog/black-and-asian-history-in-the-archives-at-warwickshire-county-record-office

Brodie Swain's October 2017 interview for BHM

Thought some of you might like a listen to the 10mins Brodie Swain's BBC Cov & Warks October 2017 interview for BHM with Becky Hemsley from the Warwick Record Office.
I'm not sure how to upload them online.
If anyone knows...

The last part of the interview, involved Becky telling listeners about the Our Warwickshire website at https://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk

Heritage Training Placements, 2019

Heritage Training Placements, 2019

Fancy working in a palace or a castle, looking after precious artefacts or finding ways to get people excited about their local history?

Applications must be received by 9am on Friday 3 May 2019.

See

https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/training-skills/work-based-training/paid-training-placements/

for details.

National Diversity Awards, 2019

Eunice McGhie-Belgrave has been nominated for the lifetime achievement award, as part of the National Diversity Awards, 2019. 

Voting is via the following link:
https://nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/nominate/22534/

A few things to consider...

A few things to consider...
https://www.facebook.com/notes/black-in-coventry-warwickshire/a-few-things-to-consider/2628977987118021/

Windrush Strikes Back

Windrush Strikes Back
A project that began in March 2019
see https://windrushstrikesback.com for more details.

Black in Warwickshire - Archives at the Record Office

Join the 'Black in Coventry & Warwickshire' facebook group at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/119073618108483/


Listen to Warwick Record Office's Becky Hemsley on Brody Swain's programme - 20/10/2017 - @BBCCovWarks. 

Becky was discussing Black and Asian residents of, and visitors to, Warwickshire over the centuries. She outlined what kinds of records there are for Black History in the Warwickshire County Record Office and spoke of what records there aren't and what steps can be taken to add to the archives. See 2hr 10 mins into the programme:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05hlh80


County Record Office: Wednesday 18th October 1 pm to 1.30 pm

A talk discussing and celebrating Black and Asian residents of, and visitors to, Warwickshire over the centuries. We'll be looking at what kinds of records there are for Black History in the Warwickshire County Record Office and, perhaps more importantly, what records there aren't. FREE, no need to book.

http://mailchi.mp/72a6c3284d0f/whats-on-in-warwickshire-may-1804841?e=cd58587dd3

Black History Month & PRIME MINISTER THERESA MAY

Join the 'Black in Coventry & Warwickshire' facebook group at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/119073618108483/

Black History Month, October 2017

MESSAGE FROM PRIME MINISTER THERESA MAY

I am proud to support BHM & I want to pay tribute to everyone who, over the last 30 years, has helped to support this opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary contribution that our African & African Caribbean communities make to our UK.

Today, in every walk of life, from business to politics, sport to culture, there are African & African Caribbean men & women whose achievements are not just making our country a better place but inspiring others to follow in their footsteps to even greater success.

So as we mark the 30th anniversary of Black History Month, it is right to look back with pride on the progress that has been made in taking on racism & discrimination. But I am also clear just how far we have to go, not just in rooting out hatred & prejudice from our society, but in tackling injustices that still hold back too many people in our country today.

That is why this BHM I am publishing the first results of the work which I commissioned within months of becoming PM – an unprecedented audit of public services to reveal racial disparities right across government. It exposes some uncomfortable truths about the injustices that still exist in our society today – from health & education to the welfare & criminal justice systems.

As PM I make no apology for exposing these truths. I believe it is my duty to shine a light on these injustices & I want to lead a national effort to address them so that Britain can truly become a country that works for everyone. That is my pledge this BHM & I hope you will work with me to make it a reality.

Show and Tell: Black and Asian presence in the Warwickshire Archives

Join the 'Black in Coventry & Warwickshire' facebook group at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/119073618108483/


Listen to Warwick Record Office's Becky Hemsley on Brody Swain's programme - 20/10/2017 - @BBCCovWarks. 

Becky was discussing Black and Asian residents of, and visitors to, Warwickshire over the centuries. She outlined what kinds of records there are for Black History in the Warwickshire County Record Office and spoke of what records there aren't and what steps can be taken to add to the archives. See 2hr 10 mins into the programme:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05hlh80


County Record Office: Wednesday 18th October 1 pm to 1.30 pm

A talk discussing and celebrating Black and Asian residents of, and visitors to, Warwickshire over the centuries. We'll be looking at what kinds of records there are for Black History in the Warwickshire County Record Office and, perhaps more importantly, what records there aren't. FREE, no need to book.

http://mailchi.mp/72a6c3284d0f/whats-on-in-warwickshire-may-1804841?e=cd58587dd3

see https://m.facebook.com/groups/119073618108483?view=permalink&id=1865069106842250

Rhodes Must Fall - Racist Monuments/Statues

Join the 'Black in Coventry & Warwickshire' facebook group at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/119073618108483/


BBC R4's Archive on 4 - 16/9/17

From Saddam Hussein in Iraq, Cecil Rhodes at Oriel College or Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville - public statuary is a lightning conductor for popular protest and unrest. But why are these figures of the past - often erected in another era with different moral expectations - so often in the front line of political conflict today? Lawrence Pollard and guests gather in the sound archives to listen to the symbolic moments that statues fall and explore the difference between iconoclasm by the powerful and powerless and what these events tell us about history, identity and nature of collective memory. With Dr Madge Dresser, Dr Rahul Rao, Afua Hirsch and Tiffany Jenkins.

Black actors & Shakespearean plays

Join the 'Black in Coventry & Warwickshire' facebook group at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/119073618108483/

Romeo and Juliet

Productions details to follow, as an when I find them...

Henry VI

Productions details to follow, as an when I find them...

David Oyelowo had the role in Sept 2000, but this is an Oct 2006 production.

Medical Matters

Join the 'Black in Coventry & Warwickshire' facebook group at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/119073618108483/

The Horror of Deaths in Custody

Join the 'Black in Coventry & Warwickshire' facebook group at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/119073618108483/

Darren Cumberbatch
(1985-2017)
Bell Green, Coventry

Student of Foxford School, Longford, Coventry

Windrush Generation

Join the 'Black in Coventry & Warwickshire' facebook group at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/119073618108483/

see http://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/soho/whats-on/the-extraordinary-lives-of-everyday-people

see https://www.facebook.com/events/2036108813082136/?ti=cl

Join the 'Black in Coventry & Warwickshire' facebook group at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/119073618108483/