What does it mean to be Black and British in modern Britain? First, we will show the documentary produced by Black South West Network in partnership with 8th Sense Media on our Heritage Lottery Funded project #ThereISBlackInTheUnionJack that is focused on the relationships between heritage of race, identity, and belonging for the Black and Ethnic Minority (BME) community in Bristol. Then we will engage the BME community on their views of the documentary and where Bristol as a city is headed in terms of racial politics, heritage, and belonging. This event is organised in partnership with Journey to Justice. This discussion will be chaired by writer, historian, programme-curator Dr. Edson Burton, and speakers will include the director of Black South West Network Sado Jirde, director of Voice4Change England Kunle Olulode, the documentary main protagonist Delano Gournet – Moore, documentary producer Michael Jenkins, founder of Growing Futures Desmond Brown, and Dr. Madge Dresser.

About the speakers:

Dr. Edson Burton is a writer, historian, programme-curator and performer based in Bristol. His academic specialisms include: Bristol and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, Black History in the USA, Cultural continuities between Africa & the New World. Edson has maintained a parallel career as a poet (Seasoned 2008) and writer for theatre and radio.

Kunle Ololude is the director of Vocie4Change England. He has a wealth of experience gained from running policy teams in the voluntary sector and local government. Kunle has keen interest in the arts particularly Black History and Film and was a founder member of the award winning Camden Black History Forum.

Delano Gournet – Moore is a 24 year old musician currently studying Anthropology & Archeology at the University of Bristol. His developmental journey has seen him running workshops in the Aboriginal communities settled in the Northern Territories of Australia, as well as volunteering as a director of Bristol's Malcolm X Community Centre. Whilst he is currently focused on his university studies, in his spare time he is involved in several creative endeavours, ranging from informative documentaries to (performing) arts films.

Michael Jenkins is a young film director from Bristol. Michael is the founder of 8th Sense Media production company, their services range from imaginative and cost-effective productions as well as engaging training workshops for people of all ages.

Desmond Brown
Over the past two years Desmond has developed several successful programmes working with vulnerable groups which have been rolled out across Bristol, with more exciting projects to come for Growing Futures in 2015.

Dr. Madge Dresser is an associate professor in social and cultural British history at the University of the West of England. Recent projects include co-editing the book Slavery and the British Country House for English Heritage and appearing on various BBC broadcasts on slavery and black history. She is also the coordinator for Journey to Justice.

Cllr. Estella Tinknell is a Cabinet Member for Equalities, Culture and Events. She is also the Associate Professor in Film and Culture at the Faculty of Arts, Creative Industries, and Education at the University of West of England.

We look forward to seeing you at the event,

BSWN Team

This event is the last event in the series of three events organised by Black South West Network and Funded by Heritage Lottery Fund. Please see below details about the two other events hosted before this community launch:

Race, Gender and the Future of Cities
Friday 20th October 2017, 12.40 - 2.00 pm
Watershed

This event marks the beginning of a series of events organised or facilitated by Black South West Network as our contribution to the Black History Month and the Festival of the Future City 2017.