SAFE: Black British Men

SAFE: Black British Men
Saturday 6 July, 12:30 – 13:45
British Library Knowledge Centre, Bronte Room

With Derek Owusu, Yomi Sode, Okechukwu Nzelu and Alex Wheatle.

What is the experience of Black men in Britain? With continued conversation around British identity, racism and diversity, there is no better time to explore this question and give Black British men a platform to answer it. SAFE: On Black British Men Reclaiming Space is that platform. Featuring essays from poets, writers, musicians, actors and journalists, this anthology brings together a selection of powerful reflections exploring the Black British male experience and what it really means to reclaim and hold space in the landscape of our society.

Where do Black men belong in school, in the media, in their own families, in the conversation about mental health, in the LGBT community, in grime music – and how can these voices inspire, educate and add to the dialogue of diversity already taking place? Following on from discussions raised by The Good Immigrant and Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race, this collection takes readers on a rich and varied path to confront and question the position of Black men in Britain today, and shines a light on the way forward.

Taking up space with their own words, join Derek Owusu, editor of SAFE: On Black British Men Reclaiming Space, with contributors Alex Wheatle MBE (award winning novelist of Liccle Bit and Crongton Knights), Okechukwu Nzelu (teacher and author of forthcoming The Private Joys of Nnena Maloney) and Yomi Sode (poet and playwright of COAT).

Open to all. Aimed at young people 16+.

Listen to the event on Mixcloud!

 

Included in Weekend Pass and Saturday Day Ticket.

Image: Derek Owusu by Josima Senior, Okechukwu Nzelu by Martin Glackin, Alex Wheatle by Mr. White and Yomi Sode by Jolade Olusanya