The 300-year-old story of Black Cockneys – and their future
Online discussion event 6pm on Tuesday March 26th
Why is the 300-year-old history of Black Londoners ignored or overlooked?
What was their story and imprint on the ever-evolving culture of working-class Londoners?
Does a myopic telling of our stories impact on how we live today? Do we need to recast our story of London’s communities to recognise, commemorate, and celebrate all its rich diverse contributions? And what does this tell us about the social identity that emerges from ‘non-posh Londoners’ aka Cockneys?
In the telling of our histories what important lessons do we need to consider? What needs to be done to avoid mistakes of previous generation? How do we go about telling a richer, more authentic, and inspiring stories of ourselves?
How do we frame a narrative where people can gain greater self-compassion, pride, and purpose from their heritage and identities?
Explore hidden histories and unexplored cultural avenues. Hear new provocations to challenge the status quo and what constructive steps be taken for creating a better legacy for future generations.
Our panel includes:
Lloyd Bradley author, whose books include ‘Sounds like London: 100 years of Black music in the Capital’. He celebrates how Black music has been part of London’s landscape since the First World War, when the Southern Syncopated Orchestra brought jazz to the Capital. Following the wave of Commonwealth immigration, its sounds and styles became the foundation of the city’s youth culture.
Ife Thompson is the founder of BLAM (Black Learning Achievement and Mental Health), a Community Interest Company committed to improving the wellbeing and self-esteem of people of African descent.
She works to unify and strengthen the links with the Black diaspora in the UK and worldwide by offering Black history lessons, to tackle lower educational attainment, and ensure history is taught to empower pupils of African and Afro-Caribbean descent.
Tony Thompson is cofounder of not-for-profit company Sweet Patootee, producers of documentaries and heritage interpretations based on a belief that people from all backgrounds have stories that deserve to be heard.
He shares his research, from his work with Tower Hamlets Archives, into African peoples in the East End 1567. He reveals how there is little public recognition of African people who lived in London’s East End centuries ago. Researching in the archives and producing new creative work brings-to-light these neglected lives and stories of Black Londoners.