Many Caribbean countries, linking up with their closest neighbours do not celebrate Black History Month in October as we do in the UK, but in February.
So it was a rather lovely that our final piece funded as part of Slough Libraries and Culture's Black History Month celebrations 2020 arrived right at the end of February 2021. It took us a few days to get it live and out there to share with you all.
This is the last of 4 projects that were funded as part of our Black History Month grants, each of which have been amazing to support. A combined total of £2,100 was awarded to these projects.
Lydia - SBC Cut by Theophina Gabriel
Many people have heard of Lydia Simmons - Slough's local hero and claim to fame. This film represents some months of research but also a conversation with Lydia Simmons herself about her experiences. Lydia is so much more than a first, however momentous - the first Black woman as Mayor in Europe - she worked hard as a councillor and her work on housing was groundbreaking as well. Lydia was a councillor 1979-1994, 1999-2007, Deputy Mayor 1983-1984, and Mayor 1984-1985, and was one of the longest serving councillors. She continues to live in Slough and recently a new housing development was named after her.
Theophina Gabriel is a local freelance writer and artist, she founded Onyx magazine which showcases the work of Black artists and was founded during her time at Oxford University and still continues. This piece about Lydia Simmons combines her own original music, poetry, as well as scripting. Videography by Theo Angus, who also did the videography for "Aint gonna let nobody".
Theophina is continuing to refine this piece so look out for a special updated version in the near future.
What were the other 3 projects?
Fatherless Fathers Podcast
One of the first projects to be finished - this amazing podcast by Corin Vanterpool and Jonny Britcher is an open and honest talk about what fatherhood means, when your childhood experiences of fatherhood were not perfect.
Corin and Jonny are working on forming a support group for Dads in Slough.
Aint Gonna Let Nobody by The Soulful Sistas and Des'ree
All of these projects were selected by a panel of local people who were all members of Slough's Black community. However this particular project was partially suggested by the panel who wanted to combine the proposal of Des'ree to create a poem about Black joy, Soulful Sistas wanting to record a protest song, and the skills of Theo Angus as videographer. This video is the result.
Black Butterfly workshops by Christina Brooks-Abraham of VIBE
These sessions have been truly special. Commissioned to create 4 storytelling and drama sessions, she was so inspired by the reaction of children to her virtual storytelling, Christina added an extra session for children, running 5 sessions in total. There were 3 sessions for children and 2 for adults, and overall 82 people attended the sessions. The themes were all about loving the skin you're in, but also what do you do next to move on and create a better world after everything that happened last summer with George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement.
The inspiration continues
It is important to remember that although we celebrate Black History for one or two months a year, really we need to be acknowledging it throughout the year and making sure education includes it in all that it does.
Inspired by these projects, Slough Caribbean Forum has now started up two reading groups supported by Slough Libraries that will run year round.
Let's Read Together is for families and is on the third Saturday of the month at 10am (Book online for 20 March's Let's Read Together)
Ebony Book Club is for adults (18+) and is on the 4th Tuesday of the Month. (Book online for 23 March Ebony Book Club)