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Race Today: Black History is British History


Black Cultural Archives proudly presents the exhibition 'Race Today: Black History is British History'

This exhibition explores the profound legacy of the Race Today journals, with a focus on the influential period from 1973 to 1988 when the Race Today Collective spearheaded its publication. 'Race Today: Black History is British History' showcases how the journal tackled transnational issues, serving as a critical platform for conversations about both British and global conflicts, while continually pushing boundaries by uncovering the dynamics behind these movements.

The 1970s and 1980s were a turbulent yet defiantly hopeful time for Black communities in Britain. Race Today often captured the challenges and triumphs of this era, addressing a wide range of pressing issues from austerity, workers' strikes, the housing crisis, and police brutality to grassroots activism and uprisings. The journal also amplified the cultural contributions of Black and Asian communities worldwide. This exhibition reflects on the parallels and differences between the narratives and activism covered in Race Today and those shaping society today.

Featuring film, including Wayne G. Saunders’ documentary 'Race Today: The Untold Story of Black Britain's Political Journal', alongside collage and archival materials, this exhibition examines how Race Today positioned Black history as British history. It invites visitors to consider how today’s society has built upon this foundation, striving for a more representative and inclusive understanding of the lived experiences of Black British people and the African and Caribbean diasporas worldwide.

This exhibition is curated by Black Cultural Archives. 

 
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12 September

In Conversation: Creative Expressions of the Windrush Legacy

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4 October

BEHIND THE REELS: VOLUNTEERING AT BCA (FILM ARCHIVES COURSE)