By Thomas L Blair 11 August 2019 ©

Winning Black civic empowerment and esteem is never easy. The drive to exceed and excel has stretched for several life times. Some say centuries.

Sometimes every setback seems like utter defeat.  The language of the hostile Brexit environment threatens a baleful and chilling effect. Yet, Black folks keep coming on in their own matchless ways. Coping and capturing every victory they can.

These thoughts came to mind as I compiled this August month’s web chat. Clearly, optimistic persistence remains the right attitude to Act, Aspire, Achieve and Advance.

Youngsters deliver letter to Boris Johnson for swift action on knife crime
100 Young people have called on the new Prime Minister Boris Johnson to take urgent action to tackle the knife crime crisis. They urged him to make it a “top priority” and presented a 12-point manifesto on what they think would make the streets safer.
https://www.itv.com/news/2019-08-08/youngsters-call-on-johnson-to-take-urgent-action-on-knife-crime/

Why it’s vital to put the local community at the heart of Notting Hill Carnival
Organisers say “It’s a community event so it needs to be led from within the community”.
https://nhcarnival.org/#/936691967557/

Grenfell: make tower blocks safe. #DemandChange say campaigners
Two years after Grenfell people are still going to bed at night with no sprinklers, dangerous cladding and unfit fire doors. It is time to demand change. This message of survivors and bereaved families of the Grenfell Tower fire. “We’re determined that a tragedy like this never happens again”. https://support.grenfellunited.org/

Walking Tour: Island of Brixton
Led by Kelly Foster, London Blue Badge Guide and Public Historian, This walk explores the forgotten stories and lost sites of post-war Brixton, its connection to the passengers on the ship MV Empire Windrush, and the men and women from the Caribbean who made their home in Lambeth. Saturday, August 31, 2019, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Black Cultural Archives

Lord Herman Ouseley says football needs coaches “from all backgrounds”
Why aren’t there more black and Asian managers in English football? Lord Herman Ouseley says the game needs to “build a base of coaches from all backgrounds”. https://twitter.com/bbc5live/status/930328473129963520

Graduating Young Leaders Applauded
Campaigner Leroy Logan says we’ve just started our #YoungLeadersGraduation2019 at @WestminsterCath. He reports the heartfelt keynote speech from @JennetteArnold to graduates and their family & friends. Logan is a former superintendent in the Metropolitan police and of the Black Police Association Charitable Trust. Twitter@LeroyLogan999

“Massa day done”
Over fifty-seven years ago, Trinidad’s Dr Eric Williams rocked the West Indian psyche with his speech at the ‘University of Woolford Square’ in Port of Spain. That iconic moment spawned a new consciousness among our peoples and political class.
https://guyanatimesgy.com/massa-day-done/

Throwing off the shackles
August marks 181st anniversary of Emancipation of Africans in British Caribbean where their ancestors had been enslaved.  #emancipationday BlackHistoryStudies @BlkHistStudies

Tribute to Dorothy Kuya, Liverpool anti-racism campaigner
The high-profile Dorothy Kuya Memorial Lecture  takes place in the city on the eve of Slavery Remembrance Day (23 August). Johny Pitts, a well-known commentator on Afro-European identity will praise her work at the National Museums Liverpool.

Black British women writers helped shape world culture
Ignored in most history books, New Daughters of Africa, An International Anthology of Writing by Women of African  Descent by Margaret Busby sets the record straight. Showcasing the work of more than 200 women writers of African descent, this major collection celebrates their contributions to literature and world culture.
https://myriadeditions.com/books/new-daughters-of-africa/

Jamaica celebrates with 3 gold’s at Pan Am Games athletics
It was Jamaica’s day. The gold medal wins came just a day after Independence Day on Aug. 6. “It’s great to give our country something to cheer about” said the winners as  Reggae music blared from the loudspeakers at the Atletico stadium.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-7335863/Jamaica-celebrates-3-golds-Pan-Am-Games-athletics.html

Black British History Book Launch with Hakim Adi
Leading Black British Historian, Professor Hakim Adi , and a panel of guests discuss untold stories and share themes from his new book, Black British History. Friday, August 16, 2019 6:30 PM 8:30 PM Black Cultural Archives

Black Legislator Condemns Prime Minister Johnson’s No-Deal Plan
David Lammy MP slams Boris Johnson for plotting to force the UK out of the EU with No Deal even if he loses a no-confidence vote in Parliament. “These are the actions of a dictator, not a democrat”, he says.
Twitter @DavidLammy

Momentum Black Caucus [MBC] to re-invigorate Black political mobilisation
As the UK prepares to leave the EU, the Caucus is on a national speaking tour of Black Communities.  Organisers are promoting a Black Agenda – of immigration, education, employment and housing topics. The Labour Party focused group avows is “this is a key moment in our nation’s history”.
https://blackmomentum.org.uk/

Pupils Need Inspirational Black Volunteers
‘The Lambeth Schools Partnership is looking for inspirational Black volunteers to share their personal, academic and professional experiences with Black Caribbean pupils from year 7 – 9.
Patrick Vernon @ppvernon

London Africa Centre gets 21st Century refit
Leaders say “We are very excited for the redevelopment and regeneration of the Africa Centre to become a fully fit for purpose cultural space for the 21st Century and beyond”. Twitter@TheAfricaCentre

British Black Panther Movement’s political ideas, leaders and legacy remembered
Kehinde Andrews remembers the UK Black Panthers and the generations that followed them. The professor of the first UK Black Studies degree in Birmingham draws on a wealth of archive material to explore the Panther legacy in a BBC program series.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0007b0y

The African Perspective on Brexit
The political commentator Asari Sobukwe’s video focuses on educating the African and African Caribbean communities of Britain about Brexit. The trade union activist, with parents from Barbados and Dominica, views Brexit through the prism of African History and world affairs. https://www.panafricanthought.com/video/the-african-perspective-on-brexit/

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