Norfolk Black History Month 2008
It's that time again… October is Black History Month!
We're proud to say that we've done it again – with an amazing array of events and activities from comedy to drama, lectures to exhibitions, film to music – we've got it all.
Highlights this year include: MOBO Award-winning Hip Hop artist SWAY, the inaugural Norfolk Black Film Festival, The Gentlemen of Motown, comedian Richard Blackwood, and the the legendary reggae artist Macka B.
Download Programme (PDF, 7.4 MB)
This year is the 40th anniversary of what was a truly historic year, one of assassinations, riots and student protests across the globe. 1968 was particularly important for Black people, with the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King Jr, the stand of John Carlos and Tommie Smith at the Mexico Olympics, the passing of the Race Relations Act and the appointment of the first female Black Police Officer here in the UK.
In recognition of this momentous year we have dedicated the cover of this year's Events Guide to the great leader and activist Dr Martin Luther King Jr, who was assassinated on 4th April 1968.
This year also sees the inaugural Norfolk Black Film Festival in partnership with Creative Arts East and Cinema City. We hope to see the Festival develop further in the future and become a platform for local Black filmmakers.
Norfolk BHM is recognised as one of the best BHM celebrations in the country. This is quite a feat for a county with relatively low levels of diversity. As such this is an achievement that Norfolk should be extremely proud of and is further proof that Norfolk BHM is a celebration that everyone can participate in regardless of race or ethnicity.
As a result of the Film Festival and the excellent work of the Norfolk Library Service in particular, we have gone further to achieving our aim of making Norfolk BHM a truly county-wide celebration. This year's programme again includes strong representation from Great Yarmouth but we have also managed to reach the likes of Caister, Sheringham, Thetford, Harleston, King's Lynn, Bunwell and Hockwold, to name a few.
Finally I'd like to thank all our sponsors, in particular Norfolk County Council, NHS Norfolk, and Norfolk Constabulary, and also the members of the Norfolk BHM Steering Group for all their support and efforts over the last twelve months. Without their efforts Norfolk BHM '08 would not be possible.
Sean Whyte, BHM Coordinator, Norwich & Norfolk Racial Equality Council
SANKOFA
‘Look to the past to create the future’
