Black Activism in Britain during the 1800s with Danny Thompson(5-weeks)

The History of Black activism in Britain began long before the arrival of the 'Windrush' generation. However, most of this history is unknown. This course serves as an introduction to this complex and hidden history. Knowledge of this history will instil and strengthen cultural pride, community cohesion, and identity.

The aim of this course is to raise awareness of social justice and to challenge inequality and systemic racism.

Activists from Britain's colonies brought their liberation movements and advocacy to the heart of the Empire. In doing so they played a major part in changing the political landscape of their homelands and that of Britain itself. As well as their impact on the struggle for racial and cultural equality, they influenced the growing British trade union and suffragette movements.

This groundbreaking course explores how Britain became the hub of Pan-Africanist activism during the C19th. The influence of the 'Ethiopianism' movement which was the ideological pre-cursor to the global Pan-African movement. London as the centre for Pan-Africanist activism in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Identifying the main characters involved and exploring the legacies left by these activists. This course will reveal hidden histories of black activism in London and the U.K.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES:

Students will:

· Acquire a deeper understanding of the British history of black activism. In London, Liverpool, Bristol, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and the global roots of that activism

· Acquire a deeper knowledge of the history of black activism within British educational institutions. Universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Liverpool, and Edinburgh. And law schools Lincolns Inn and Grays Inn.

· Be able to demonstrate a clear and precise timeline of Global Black activism during the nineteenth century.

· A clear understanding of the work of black activists in the U.S. Africa, the Caribbean, and Britain during the nineteenth century.

· A deeper understanding of history of nineteenth and early twentieth century Black activism in London and the U.K.

· A greater ability to analyse and interpret historical data

The course will be presented in five 2-hour sessions and will take place in North Kensington Library Community Room.

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR SPACE IS NOT CONFIRMED UNTIL YOU FILL THE ENROLLMENT FORM WHICH WILL BE SENT TO YOU BY THE TUTOR.

*Eligible: Full UK / London residents aged 19+ (RBKC residents will be given priority)

DATES:

Tuesday 17 February - 5.30 to 7.30pm

Tuesday 24 February - 5.30 to 7.30pm

Tuesday 03 March - 5.30 to 7.30pm

Tuesday 10 March - 5.30 to 7.30pm

Tuesday 17 March - 5.30 to 7.30pm

*Please note the names and email addresses of all who book will be shared with the tutor, who will contact you to send you an enrolment form. You can only have one of these GLA-funded courses free in an academic year.

Contact [email protected] if you have any queries about booking.

Class 1

What was Ethiopianism? What were its core ideologies and philosophy? How did it come into being? What was its role in the creation of Black Liberation Theology?

Class 2

Ethiopianism and the rise of Black Liberation Theology in the U.S. Exploring the works of Edward Blyden, David Walker, W.E. Dubois. And organisations such as the Exodus Associations, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, led by Rev. Richard Allen and Rev. Henry McNeal Turner. And their missionary drive to train radical church activists and send them around the black world. We explore their ideology and their activist strategies.

Class 3

Ethiopianism and Black Liberation Theology on the African continent. The rise of a radical Christian Liberation Theology movement in Africa. The African Independent Church movement. The Independent Bantu Church Movement and their secessionist activities. The role of radical Missionary schools such as Kimberley and Lovedale. The influence of the AMEC. Activists including Nehemiah Tule, John Chilembwe, Charlotte Mange, Mangena Mokone, and Alice Lenshina Mulenga.

Class 4

Ethiopianism and Black Liberation Theology in the Caribbean. The rise of the radical Ethiopianist Baptist Movement in the Caribbean. Its influence on the liberation struggle in the Caribbean and its leading activists such as George Lisle, Moses Baker, Alexander Bedward, and the birth of the Rastafari movement.

Class 5

Ethiopianism and the rise of Black Liberation Theology in the U.K. How and why Britain became the centre of the anti-colonial struggle. The influence of radical students in British Universities and Law Societies. Organisations including 'The Ethiopian Progressive Association', the 'Afro-West African Literary Society', the 'African Association'. Activists such as Samuel Jules Celestine Edwards, H.C. Bankole-Bright, Bandele Omoniyi, Alice Kinloch.

Methodology

All classes will combine visual presentations with prepared texts and group discussion

· PowerPoint presentation and Interactive discussions.

· Each class will include a short multiple-choice quiz to record the progress of the students in understanding the material.

· Small group discussions resulting in written/oral feedback to encourage critical thinking on points raised.

· Students will be asked to provide short written reflections/summations of their learning points.

Danny Thompson MRes

Danny Thompson is multi-faceted educator, artist, historian and author. A thirty-year career in the arts as a filmmaker, musician, music teacher and writer equips him well for a tutoring role. Danny is a qualified historian, currently a PhD student having completed his MRes in 'The History of Africa and the African Diaspora'.

Danny is the author of two books on African history: The Afrikan Literary Heritage and Ethiopianism - The Forgotten Movement, about a nineteenth century proto-Pan-African movement. Danny has taught in schools, community groups, mental health institutions. He has devised and delivered Black history workshops for TFL, the Probation Service, The National Fostering Association and others. He ran 'Decolonizing the Curriculum' workshops with four education services in England and Wales. He has also devised and delivered self-empowerment workshops for black men in prisons across the UK.

Danny is a co-director of 'Theblacksecret.co.uk', an online Black history education platform for adults, working as content creator alongside the renowned Robin Walker, better known as ‘the black history man’.

Before starting this latest adventure, they created the 'Everyday Life in an Early West African Empire', a DVD education series telling the histories of Ancient Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.

Danny also conducts tours of African artefacts in the British Museum and the Petrie Museum for schools, international students, and history interest groups.

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