Black History Month
WORDS: Danny Champken (Youth Editorial Group)
October has once again hosted Black History Month, with the city of Cardiff in particular playing a huge part in spreading the word this year. It may seem a bit late in the allotted 31-day celebration time to discuss it, but there is still plenty of opportunity to catch up with the exhibitions and activities taking place across the Welsh capital. The Diversity Awards Wales, coordinated by the Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales (BVSNW), on Fri 31 Oct, will begin the closure of Black History Month 2008, followed by the height of the celebrations in Grangetown on Sat 1 Nov. Formed as a potential solution to the prejudice, discrimination and racism experienced by ethnic minorities in Wales, the success that the BVSNW has enjoyed is clear to see by the existence of such institutions as the Diversity Awards, and of course, the annual Black History Month itself.
The Diversity Awards Wales will take place at Cardiff County Hall in Atlantic Wharf, confirming Cardiff Bay as the city’s cultural epicentre. The annual awards ceremony was established in order to formally recognise and celebrate those that in turn have celebrated ethnic diversity and racial equality. The BVSNW says of the ceremony that it aims to ‘establish cooperation and partnership between organisations working towards race equality’.
If you are looking for a taste of Cardiff’s involvement in Black History Month, the Butetown History and Arts Centre (BHAC) is ideally located (see map above) to reflect the centre of Cardiff’s own rich Black history, and plays host to a mine of information and photography to chronicle just that. Having recently exhibited Portraits From Multi-Ethnic Wales, the BHAC is an excellent example of the commemoration of Cardiff’s multiracial culture, and the recognition of how this has shaped the current community.
As previously indicated, the remarkable celebrations of this month are due to culminate on Sat 1 Nov with an event at Channel View Centre, Grangetown from 11am?6pm (free entry). Due to be opened by a traditional African ceremony, the event promises to be steeped in cultural heritage, and will be introduced by Judith Woodman, the Deputy Leader of Cardiff Council, Leanne Wood, the Welsh Shadow Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration, and a senior representative of the Arts Council For Wales. Amongst the events taking place on the day will be presentations, performances, films, displays, workshops, exhibitions of arts and crafts, and cultural and information stalls. Attendees will also be able to sample a selection of foods from Africa, the Caribbean and Arabia.
Undoubtedly, this year’s Black History Month has already seen a hub of activity in Cardiff to promote awareness and commemoration of the distance that the city’s Black communities have travelled in the strive for social equality. By displaying and honouring countless examples of fascinating culture and heritage, this year’s event aims to raise awareness, particularly amongst ‘children, young people, families and women’, of positive achievement. This goes to prove that the event, apart from being nostalgic and moving, is also motivational and diverse in its own progressive intent. Open to anyone and everyone, the events can appeal and are inspirational for all!
LINKS
http://www.bvsnw.org.uk/
http://www.bhac.org/