Hackney to Celebrate World Afro Day with new learning resources at Hackney Libraries
Hackney to Celebrate World Afro Day with new learning resources at Hackney Libraries
On 15 September Hackney Council will celebrate World Afro Day for the first time by introducing a series of books to local libraries that empower people with Afro hair and raise awareness in wider society.
World Afro Day was founded by Michelle De Leon, who launched the event in 2017 and is celebrated on 15 September - the date when, in 2016, Alabama in the United States, passed a law allowing companies to deny jobs to people with dreadlocks.
Since 2017, World Afro Day has become a global day of change, education and celebration of Afro hair, endorsed by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human rights and tackles discrimination against Afro hair and celebrate both its power and beauty.
New books available to loan in Hackney’s libraries include 10 copies of Hair Love by Matthew Cherry - also an Oscar-winning animation short - and multiple copies of Daddy Do My Hair by Tola Okogwu, My Hair by Hannah Lee, Happy to be Nappy by bell hooks, I Love My Hair by Natasha Tarpley and Hair Like Mine by Latashia M. Perry. The Libraries team will also be posting to relevant podcasts, films, motivational talks and natural hair tips via their social media channels on Twitter and Facebook.
The new books complement the Council’s previous work in celebrating the significance of Afro hair and cultural identity. In 2019, Hackney Museum curated the Hackney’s Got Style exhibition, which welcomed record numbers to explore the impact and influence of African and Caribbean hair and fashion. And earlier this year, the Council pledged to look into school uniform policies to ensure cultural appreciation was welcomed rather than rebuked.
Books are available now to loan via the libraries, which are operating via an order and collect service while the buildings remain closed due to covid restrictions. Clapton, Dalston CLR James, Homerton, Shoreditch, Stamford Hill and Stoke Newington libraries will be open from 11am to 4pm, Tuesday to Friday and 11am to 5pm on Saturday, for you to collect books and other items. Phone your nearest library, 11am to 4pm, or email your request to libraries@hackney.gov.uk.
Cabinet Member with responsibility for Equalities, Cllr Carole Williams, said: “Embracing World Afro Day complements our legacy of celebrating all identities and how we welcome the self-expression of our large Black community. Afro hair has deep, historical roots in the cultural expression of many Black identities. By providing context via our learning resources we hope to highlight the importance of celebrating that fact.”
Notes for editors
You can reserve and collect items from the following libraries:
- Clapton: 020 8356 7480
- Dalston CLR James: 020 8356 8935
- Homerton: 020 8356 1066
- Shoreditch: 020 8356 4351
- Stamford Hill: 020 8356 1708
- Stoke Newington: 020 8356 5235
Follow @HackneyLibs on Twitter and Facebook for information on the new books and learning resources around Afro hair.
Hackney’s forthcoming Black History Season will begin from 1 October - December. Programme announcement will be published on the Hackney Black History Facebook Page and https://hackney.gov.uk/black-history
Read more on the Council’s Anti-racism Black Lives Matter motion.
More information on Hackney’s Got Style 2019 exhibition
Ruby Williams from Hackney will judge this year's World Afro Day.
