Liverpool Black History Month promises an inspirational line-up
Man Booker Prize winner Marlon James is among the line-up in a series of online events planned for Liverpool Black History Month.
The city’s Writing on the Wall has brought together a programme of performance, film, writing, discussion and debate between October 1-31 featuring local, national and international Black artists, creatives and activists.
Jamaican writer James will join the event from America on October 14 when he will be ‘in conversation’ with Irenosen Okojie, discussing his new Africa-inspired saga Black Leopard, Red Wolf.
Liverpool-born Berkeley Professor of African Diaspora Stories Stephen Small will also take part in the month from his home in the States.
Closer to home, Riverside MP Kim Johnson and Tracey Gore, newly appointed chairman of the city’s Race Taskforce, will take part in So We Marched, What Next? on October 1.
Other events include Black Right Matter, a keynote talk on human rights by lawyer and campaigner Shami Chakrabarti; Friday storytime from October 2-30 with writers including Yvonne Battle-Felton and Patrick Graham; the stars of forthcoming Netflix documentary Rising Phoenix, and the Art of Disruption with Magid Magid.
Liverpool Black History Month 2020
Top: Marlon James
The events will take place on Facebook apart from two walking tours – on October 4 and 18 – which will examine the 1919 Liverpool Race Riots.
Writing on the Wall Co-Director Madeline Heneghan said: “The global Black Lives Matter protests that characterised our summer were truly inspirational. Black communities and anti-racists across the globe are demanding change.
“We’re proud to announce our programme and shine a light on the issues and questions that are arising like ‘What’s Next?’
“Throughout October, we’ll explore this question, and invite you to celebrate great writing and performance and engage in discussion and debate on these vital issues.”
Black History Month @ Writing on the Wall runs from October 1-31. More on the full programme HERE