North Tyneside Council is proud to support and celebrate the Black History Month again in 2021.
Literature
A selection of books will be available to borrow from North Tyneside libraries.
‘Great Reads for discovering Diverse Voices’ is a collection that focuses heavily on the work of Ugandan novelist, Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi. The multi-award winning writer, who lectures in creative writing at Manchester Metropolitan University and holds a PHD from Lancaster University, was selected as one of the 100 Most Influential Africans by New African magazine in 2020.
Other celebrated authors whose books are featured include Lola Akinmade Akerstrom, Rosanna Amaka, and Natasha Brown.
All titles are available to order and reserve at libraries across the borough.
Guest lectures
Guest speakers will appear at Whitley Bay and North Shields Customer First Centres to give talks ‘In Honour of Black History Month’
‘Beyond Jimi, Martin and Muhammad: Celebrating Two Hundred Years of African Americans on Tyneside’
Brian Ward, Professor of American Studies at Northumbria University, is set to speak at Whitley Bay Customer First Centre on Monday 18 October, 2.30pm. His talk is entitled: ‘Beyond Jimi, Martin and Muhammad: Celebrating Two Hundred Years of African Americans on Tyneside’.
Two Talks Towards Freedom: Frederick Douglass and Charles Udor Minto MBE’
David Young of The North Shields Heritology Project is to appear at Whitley Bay Customer First Centre to deliver a two-part talk about the 1846 visit to North Shields of Frederick Douglass, one of the great antislavery activists, who orated at the Baptist Church on Howard Street.
His talk will also explore the remarkable life story of Charles Udor Minto MBE, a Nigerian former boxer who settled in North Shields.
‘Two Talks Towards Freedom: Frederick Douglass and Charles Udor Minto MBE’ takes place on Wednesday 20 October, 2.30pm
Show Racism the Red Card
The council will once again be teaming up with Show Racism the Red Card to mark Black History Month.
St Mary’s Lighthouse will be illuminated red from 18 – 23 October and staff are invited to wear something red to show their support for the campaign on Wear Red Day, Friday 22 October