The Price of Memory: Reparations, PLUS Q&A
About this Event
This event is organised by Black History Walks as part of 61 Years Since 1965, the first ever Race Relations Act, and 20 years of the African Odysseys film series (2007)
Queen Elizabeth II, visits Jamaica for her Golden Jubilee Celebrations in 2002. While there, she is petitioned by a group of Rastafari for slavery reparations. The film traces this petition, as well as a reparations lawsuit against the Queen. We follow Ras Lion a mystic farmer who petitioned the Queen, and Michael Lorne; the attorney who brought the lawsuit. In the background are the stories of earlier Rastas who pursued reparations in the 1960s, and who undertook a historic mission to Africa to organize official repatriation. The Price of Memory explores the impact of slavery on independent Jamaica, following the filmmaker on a journey over the course of a decade, during which the question of reparations reaches Parliament in both Jamaica and the UK.
This award-winning documentary feature film which was shot over a period of ten years, features appearances by: Queen Elizabeth II, British MPs, Bernie Grant, Rastafari, scholars, reparations activists, lawyers, and everyday Jamaicans talking about the legacy of slavery in Jamaica.
A milestone in filmmaking. The best documentary I've ever seen about slavery and reparations."Dr. Ray Winbush, Morgan State University
British slavery in Jamaica lasted from the their arrival in 1655 until enslavement ended in 1838. The free labor of enslaved people in Jamaica and other British colonies in the Caribbean contributed greatly to the wealth of Britain. Some made personal fortunes. The products created led to industries and jobs in Britain. British industries, institutions and cities were built from this wealth.
There were 22 documented uprisings and revolts in Jamaica.
When the end of slavery came, Britain paid its slave owners 20 million pounds to compensate them for the loss of their slaves. They only finished paying the debt in 2015. Britain paid the enslaved people and their descendants nothing.
This film is a testament to the type and quality of films African Odysseys screens as when first shown in London 2014/15, the idea of reparations was seen as far-fetched and marginal. Nowadays African and Caribbean governments are tabling motions and making demands to the King.
African Odysseys, the director, the people in the film and indeed Bernie Grant himself were ahead of their time. Similarly, members of the African Odysseys curatorial team were the first to screen Ava Duvernay's film 'Middle of Nowhere' (2012) starring a young David Oyelowo, in the UK and and African Odysseys premiered 'Hero' by Frances Anne Solomon at the BFI in 2019 which then went on to get international deals with BBC and Amazon.
Black History Walks website / Black History Walks Instagram
Other coming films at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre: Part of the Roots to Routes season: Stories of migration, memory and reparative justice
- 60 years of Black British Civil Rights Professor Gus John
- Black history Bus tour/ Steam train trip/River cruise
- Frantz Fanon film and talk
- Reparations, new film by 90s TV icon Chrystal Rose
- Remembering Joy Gardner: Black Lives Matter 1993
- Black Women and Film Exhibition
- Graphic Novels: Publishing Black History and movies
- Mayfair, Hackney,Notting Hill, Southbank, Trafalgar Square, Regents Canal and Soho walks
- I fought the law and I won, a Black judge of 60 years of Equality legislation
- Champion Black Boxers and businessmen in 1800s London:
- South Africa’s London Recruits
This is an African Odysseys screening. Previously at the BFI Southbank for 18 years, African Odysseys is now hosting films across London due to systemic racism at the BFI which ignored a18,400 strong petition and cancelled the popular,monthly programme there. Full details HERE
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 5.04
