Black History Bootleg
I believe in the Negro race: In the beauty of its genius, the sweetness of its soul, and its strength in that meekness that shall yet inherit this turbulent earth.
W.E.B. Du Bois (1860-1963)
We are a group of multi-racial socially conscience organisers, civil rights workers, friends, musicians, artists…… from Staffordshire (Stoke-on-Trent) and Cornwall (Falmouth-Penryn) who for many years have been organising socially conscience projects and venues in both regions.
As you can imagine the 2 regions are completely different to each other with Stoke-on-Trent a multicultural zone and Falmouth-Penryn not. However, both regions have a deep history in Black History, and both areas view Black History in a blinkered prejudiced way.
Before we continue we would also like to invite other localised groups from around the country to have regional input into the site. Do you deal with projects involving Black residents in your region, do you work on community, arts or political projects where under the national umbrella your work goes unseen and unheard. We are the same as you so please talk to us.
Civil Rights activist Robert Burns currently co-ordinates the twinning of the North-South projects. He moved to Falmouth from Stoke in 2013 and has had the help and support of a lot of colleagues of all shades from both regions.
Having worked with Hughie Lawrence, Colley Sykes, Leroy Chevolleau, Alleyne Williams, Jas Bansal, Robbie Campbell, Tom Hill, Toni Kennerley, Carol Burt and many others from NORSACA (North Staffs African Caribbean Association) and STOCCA (Six Towns One City Carnival Association) on many diverse socially conscience projects, including immigration disputes, community centre arts/crafts projects, the Six Towns One City Carnival and Black History Month for many years in Stoke-on-Trent.
Since 2013 he has introduced the Cornish to Black History Month teaming up in the South with the Fish Factory Arts Space in Penryn, headed by Rose Hatcher, also with artists and individual organisers Lee McIntyre, Steve Mole, Amy Lawrence, Camilla Stacey, Marie Mawonero and others adding the International Women's Day Festival to our many socially conscience arts events.
In recent times socialist activist Kate Thomas has thrown her hand in, she had organised a moving tribute to those BAME NHS Health Workers who had paid the highest price during the Coronavirus and she is now researching and producing the Black History Bootleg website with the aid of Rob Burns, collating all the information and events from the past and for the future.
If Black people in Britain and around the world are to get human equality and rights, we need the support of the White people and those of other denominations, we need them to get their hands dirty too, fight against any form of racism, any form of stereo-typing and of course the constant onslaught of fake history and news. In the end getting this right, benefits everyone.