"Unchain our voices"

Towards the preservation and cultivation of Black culture and expression in Britain. From many (is)lands, yet a common struggle for expression.

Caption: Olaudah Equiano
circa 1766

"Black people will always be forcing these issues onto the cultural agenda whether through literature, film, performance arts, visual arts practices, or music". - Professor Lola Young, in the Windrush Legacy.

Essays on Black Culture - Browse our Archives
The Chronicle has published the extraordinary essays of Pearl Connor-Mogotsi exploring the influence of major African Caribbean writers, and performers in modern Britain. Trinidadian-born activist intellectual John La Rose has told in our pages of the impact of labour exploitation on cultural expression in the Caribbean, North America and Britain. Alex Pascall offered an understanding of the humanity and humour of the immigrant workers who streamed off the boat-trains at Victoria, Waterloo and Paddington to forge new black communities in Britain. Michael La Rose pursued the Carnival theme and its meaning to black youth and cultural workers today.

Contemporary African Caribbean Voices in Europe
We have also given voice to the work of colleagues in Europe. In Paris, a remarkable personality and publishing house keeps the dream alive. Mme. Y.C. Diop presides over Presence Africaine, a social and literary review of the Black intellectual world. Founded by M. Alioune Diop, the influence of Presence Africaine has spread throughout Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and North America, particularly in French-speaking areas. Contact details: Mme. Y.C.Diop, Présence Africaine, 25 bis, rue des Ecoles, 75005 Paris, France. Tel: 33-0143541374, Fax: 33-0143259667.

Caption : From the top, Y C Diop, Pearl Connor Mogotsi, John La Rose, Hombeats, IRR

Towards A Fuller Record - an African American example
From all these strands in the tapestry of black life will come one day a fuller record of the memory, vision and struggle of Black Culture for expression in Britain and Europe. This work will take its place with other esteemed collections within the Black Diaspora.

The Schomburg Centre for Research in Black Culture on African-Americans, African history and the black diaspora, is one prime example. Located in Harlem, N.Y., and part of the public library system, the richness of its books, serials and pamphlets is known by researchers throughout the world. The centre provides documentary evidence of the black experience in political, economic and public affairs and in the arts, film, theatre, dance, jazz, sports, among more than 7000 topics.

Weaving together threads of Black Culture in Britain
Perhaps it is time to start planning for a world-class research centre for the preservation and cultivation of Black Culture in Britain. The elements are at hand, and some examples are given below, but it is the plan and funding that needs to be addressed.

Black Cultural Archive and Museum, Brixton
The Black Cultural Archive and Museum in Brixton was developed during the 1980s to "collect and document the history and life experiences of black peoples in the UK," says Sam Walker, its director. Supported by Lambeth Council, the archive continues its laudable work with a new publication, The Windrush Legacy: Memories of Britain's post-war Caribbean Immigrants. It is based on oral history interviews of black people from the Caribbean in the 1940s and 50s, with an introduction by Prof. Stuart Hall. Contact details: Sam Walker, Black Cultural Archives, 378 Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8LF. Tel: 0171-738-4591; Fax: 0171-738-7168.

Institute of Race Relations, King's Cross
The Institute of Race Relations at King's Cross, London holds an important collection on black history and anti-racism in Britain and Europe. A. Sivanandan and his staff are expanding the collection to include CD-ROMs, video recordings, multi-media and Internet access. The resources are available to researchers, students and the wider community. Contact details: Tel: 0171-833 2010, and Internet: http://www.homebeats.co.uk/

New Beacon Books, North London
The doyen of the modern black cultural renaissance in Britain is, of course, John La Rose. His New Beacon Books publishing house and book shop highlight Black life in Britain and links in Europe, the Caribbean, Africa and North America. The George Padmore Institute, chaired by John, is an educational library and research centre housing materials relating to the black community of Caribbean, African and Asian descent, in Britain and continental Europe. For further details contact: New Beacon Books, 76 Stroud Green Road, London N4 3EN, England. Tel: 0171 272 4889. Fax: 0171 281 4662. Internet: http://www.newbeacon-books.com

National Conference for a Public Research Centre
In contrast with the USA, in Britain there are no public research centres or archives devoted to the collection, preservation and dissemination of information on archival materials, or to the fostering of research on Britain's population of African and Asian origins and descent.

• Such archives are essential not only for the use of researchers but for the education of teachers and students and the wider community.
• The lack of readily accessible archival sources might be a contributory factor in the paucity of research in this area and in the omission of Black peoples from British history texts.

To begin to remedy this situation, a national conference for a public research centre has been proposed. Contact details, Marika Sherwood, BASA, 28 Russell Square, London WC1B 5DS. Fax: 0171-862-8820. E-mail: marikas@sas.ac.uk

Undoubtedly there are other initiatives taking place around the country and in Europe, and The Chronicle would like to hear about them. Send details to: editor@thechronicle.demon.co.uk