Black History Season
Find out about the time Bob Marley played in Dalston, explore Hackney’s links to the Caribbean and look at how Black British music has shaped the borough. Hackney Council is celebrating Black history and culture with a season of free events and activities.
The Council’s Black History Season has something for all ages, including the hoisting of a Black History flag above Hackney Town Hall, a screening of the 1980s film ‘Babylon’, free steel pan lessons, and craft workshops for children.
One of this year’s highlights is ‘Doing it for Ourselves’ a discussion on jazz history in the borough at Hackney Archives. The event includes speakers from the internationally renowned band ‘Jazz Warriors’ alongside music documentary maker Anthony Collins.
Another key event to to get involved in is the Black History Month book club, pick up a copy of ‘Blood Sister’ by Hackney author Dreda Say Mitchell from your local library and share your thoughts on the book by tagging @HackneyLibraries on Twitter and Facebook.
There will also be a tea party event for Caribbean Elders, part of the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of Windrush. Alongside the tea party, on 3 October between 10am-4pm, the BBC will be visiting Hackney Town Hall Square to collect migration stories from Hackney’s older people to record Windrush histories.
From discussions on Black British music in Hackney, to free film screenings, there is plenty for residents to get involved with this Black History Season. I would encourage all residents to come along, and take part. It is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the history and significant cultural contributions of the African and Caribbean communities in Hackney.
Black History Month is a national annual celebration of the contribution that African and Caribbean communities have made both locally and across the globe.
Events are free and will take place at Hackney Museum, Hackney Archives, Youth Hubs and at libraries across the borough, until January 2018.
Some events require advance booking. For more information, pick up a programme of activities from libraries and other venues across the borough, visit the Black History webpage or follow the year-round Black History awareness campaign in Hackney on Facebook.