Hackney’s Black History Season launches with screening of critically-acclaimed Ama
Hackney council is inviting residents to join together in celebration of Black history for Hackney’s annual Black History Season from October to November 2023.
Over the next two months, Hackney Libraries, Hackney Museum, Hackney Archives, Children and Education services and Young Hackney will host an interactive and thought-provoking line-up of events and exhibitions acknowledging the significant contributions of Black and Global Majority communities in Hackney.
This year’s programme, recognising Black culture and achievement in the borough, launches at Dalston’s Rio Cinema with a free director’s cut and Q&A screening of the critically acclaimed film Ama: An African Voyage of Discovery (15) at 3pm on Sunday 1 October.
More highlights of the season include:
- Cllr Carole Williams discusses life in Hackney since the Windrush scandal with campaigners Glenda Caesar, Patrick Vernon and Jacqueline McKenzie
- Writing workshops with Words Of Colour at Dalston Library
- Knit & Natter with Hackney Caribbean Elders at Hackney Central Library
- Talk with the award-winning children’s author and illustrator Ken Wilson-Max
- Book launch and reading of “An interactive tour around your amazing body!” by Dr Ronx
- Plus a series of community events funded by our Black History Season culture grant including: Jerk Grill’s Black History Family Brunch, Uprising Caribbean Community’s Show And Tell event, documentary screening of the history of Clapton Park TMO, staged play reading of Jackie Kay’s Chiaroscuro - the first Black lesbian play staged in Britain, a launch event for the oral histories project ‘Voices of Change’, and a young Black women’s mentorship programme
As a council, we are committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, across Hackney. Black History Season offers a moment to reflect on the historical and contemporary contributions of the Black diaspora, paying recognition to their achievements and acknowledge the ongoing fight for racial justice. This period is an opportunity to realise positive change and amplify Black voices in our community.
While we strive to be an anti-racist borough, it remains important to have focused time to learn, share and celebrate African and African-Caribbean heritage and culture in Hackney and around the world. This year’s programme is another opportunity to acknowledge and recognise the historical and contemporary contributions made by the Black community to life in the borough. I welcome everyone across the borough as we share, enjoy and learn from a history that enriches us all.
Visit Love Hackney for further updates and information
Reserve your free spot for the Sunday 1 October screening of Ama here
Check the Black History Season calendar for more events as they are added