Even as a female of African-Caribbean decent, raised in the UK, I have never quite understood Britain’s Black History Month, recognised every year during the month of October. Why? Because I believe enriching myself about my culture and heritage is something I should be doing all the time. For example, I had never heard of Joyce Bryant until I came across this stunning portrait and delved further. She was a sassy African American singer/actress in the 50’s, renowned for her 4.5 octave range, silver hair and pioneering stances against racial discrimination. She faded into obscurity until she was tracked down for a documentary about her life titled, ‘Joyce Bryant: The Lost Diva’.
That being said, the month of October is the only time when numerous events highlighting African, Caribbean and Black British culture are accessible in mainstream spaces. This allows open-minded Londoners, from a diverse array of racial backgrounds to be enlightened by talented creatives of black origin.
Since the 1st of October, THE NEW BLACK – a network of film exhibitors, educators and programmers, have put on screenings at Picturehouse cinemas around London, featuring international and domestic films of black content. Last night Hackney Picturehouse played host to the 2nd UK screening of ‘Better Mus Come’ with a live panel discussion with producer Paul Bucknor (read interview with director Storm Saulter here). And, tonight Stratford Picturehouse will screen ‘One Mile Away’, a film directed by Penny Woolcock (watch trailer here)
Producer Paul Bucknor at the director Q&A at BFI’s UK film screening of ‘Better Mus Come’ – photographed by Frederique Rapier
Political Gang members in ‘Better Mus Come’
Set in the ghettos of downtown Kingston, Jamaica, ‘Better Mus Come’ delivered a strong message, ‘if you live by the gun, you die by the gun’. While, ‘One Mile Away’, focuses on gang culture in Birmingham, conveying the human side of gang violence by getting up close and personal with the young men who are right at the heart of British gang violence.
Ex-members of Birmingham gangs featured in the film One Mile Away
Complexd Woman Penny Woodcock, who has directed award winning documentaries; television; feature films and operas, is not of black origin and was born in Argentina. But she is an individual whose concerns about the has resulted in a film exposing the truth about escalating gang violence through speaking to the young black men involved. Unbeknown to me, it was reported that the police tried to prevent ‘One Mile Away’ from being shown at city cinemas in Birmingham.
Penny Woolcock with the One Mile Away cast – photographed by Eoin Carey Image via edfilmfest
Last night another young black male was stabbed to death in a nightclub in South West London. A few years ago I witnessed the stabbing of an unsuspecting black male, also at a nightclub in London. I was so affected I stopped going out for a few years. As a Londoner I am no longer far removed from street violence and crime and through these films I was able to see how senseless these gang related atrocities were. Although I feel despondent, I am reassured by the fact that film directors of all cultures are voicing their concerns through compelling films. I can only hope that if the perpetrators of these crimes could see these films and look in from the outside, it might just be effective enough to communicate some sort of message. Screenings like this arranged by THE NEW BLACK during Black History Month provide a platform that hopefully reaches the right people. Whether it does or not, there is a platform, which could have an effect on someone’s life.
Portrait by Lebwait Girma taken in January 2012 for the Women of Strength issue 
