By Thomas L Blair 25 October 2018 ©
How do you make Black History and celebrations meaningful for Black Britain’s survival and advancement? It’s a good question. Answering it requires urgent remedies more than thoughtless obeisance to idols.
Read about some danger limiting and opportunity enhancing actions. Scroll to the following Chronicleworld Black History articles previewed below.
Your comments are welcome.
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UNSHACKLING THE AFRO-BRITISH MIND
OCTOBER 7, 2009 © THOMAS L BLAIR, AUTHOR
October’s Black History month comes again – full of contradictions. Local worthies recite undigested “facts” and add swatches of colour, comedy and music to the events. However, the back-up money and thematic control is firmly not in their hands.
October 11, 2009
BLACK BRITISH CULTURE IN CRISIS
By Thomas L. Blair , 11 October 2009
Complacency is the greatest threat to Afro-Caribbean culture in Britain. Only a plan for rescue, revival and representation can save its carriers from a life sentence of cultural illiteracy and dependency. This article suggests the ways that a triad of Black youth, cultural scholars and policymakers can empower local Black communities and revolutionise their relationship with providers of cultural services.
January 29, 2013
FUTURE OF DIGITAL BLACK BRITAIN AT RISK, STUDY REVEALS
By Thomas L Blair © January 2013
“Erasure” controversy foreshadows loss of the digital Black Experience in the information age. Black communities and scholars are firmly on the internet and social media, but are overlooked by Britain’s heritage institutions. So how to ensure a place in the gigabytes of national heritage?
CARNIVAL ON THE FRONTLINES OF HISTORY
By Thomas L Blair ©24 August 2014
Age-old traditions heat up the tempo of urban life once a year at Carnival. But few realise the transplanted arts and crafts are not just for flesh and frolic… and masquerading ‘round the streets. Carnival is Black humanity on the frontlines of history.
October 30, 2014
BLACK HISTORY UK – A PROUD PAST. AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE
BY THOMAS L BLAIR ©TEXT AND PICTURE OCTOBER 2014
What is the state of her future?/Thomas L Blair
Ideally, a rise in living standards and esteem would be the marker for celebrating Black History and advancement. However, the message from the grassroots is poetry won’t feed us always”.
The precipitating signs are noticeable. “No justice, no peace” has become a standard rallying cry across beleaguered Black communities. Indeed, they face issues across almost every sphere:
These changing perceptions mark the end of Black History Month as we know it and a steady progression toward the view that Black history is more about the upward struggle than harmonising race relations in a divided society.
Clearly, Blacks have to develop danger-limiting strategies and progress enhancement institutions in all the spheres of life.
BRITAIN’S BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND ITS DISCONTENTS
BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND ITS DISCONTENTS OFFERS A SERIES OF ARTICLES WRITTEN OVER DECADES OF STUDY AND OBSERVATIONS. THEY AIM TO ENRICH OUR UNDERSTANDING OF BOTH THE PROBLEMS AND THE FUTURE POSSIBILITIES OF THE BLACK PEOPLES OF BRITAIN.
By Thomas L Blair © 4 October 2016
Figure in wood, Thomas L Blair all rights reserved
Too many people use Black History Month as a convenient pose, a rationalisation for the refusal to take risks in contemporary affairs. In my view, celebrating Black History can only be beneficial if it rescues, revives, and represents Britain’s peoples of continental African and Caribbean heritage. This is the foundation for debate and action on the problems facing Black communities today.
BLACK HISTORY — FROM CULTURE CRISIS TO LIBERATING ACTION
By Thomas L Blair 13 October rev— 20-12-10 ©
Black women — force for change/copyright Thom Blair
At its best, Black culture offers rich cultural experiences, the drive for achievement and an endless love of justice – along with some rhythmic soul. African and Caribbean women, rooted in cultural awareness, are a powerful presence in Black British Culture and social change.
AFRO SUPER HEROES – NEW CRUSADERS FOR BLACK HISTORY
By Thomas L Blair 30 October 2016 © Part Two of BLIND SPOT in Black History
Afro Cyborg/Atlanta Black Star
Once parents saw comic books as mind-numbing tripe. Fodder to keep kids out of the way on the weekend. Times have profoundly changed.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH POST-GRENFELL – TIME TO SAVE THE INCUBATORS OF BLACK URBAN CULTURE
By Thomas L Blair 10 October 2017 copyright
Public housing, the incubators of most of Black urban culture, could be destroyed by the rising tide of displacement and homelessness post-Grenfell unless the Black History Month culturalists join forces with threatened local people.
Windrush Generation solidarity march
Black Londoners will descend on polling stations across the capital 3 May to make their voices heard. This insightful read chronicles the recent fightback issues likely to affect their votes
By Thomas L Blair 28 May 2018 ©
In the course of one week in April the Windrush Generation rose in solidarity against the spectre of uncaring immigration policies. Black journalists, politicians, faith leaders and celebrities curbed the Government’s appetite for deportation – needlessly tainted with racial bias.