THINK PROGRESS New Models for Black History Month Political Action, Comics and Black Studies 1 THINK PROGRESS New Models for Black History Month Political Action, Comics and Black Studies Thomas L Blair 2 PUBLISHING DETAILS THINK PROGRESS - New Models for Black History Month Thomas L Blair © 04 January 2017 978-1-908480-58-3 Published by Editions Blair e-Books 2016© No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both copyright owner and the publisher of this book. The greatest care has been taken in compiling this book. However, no responsibility can be accepted by the author and publishers or compilers for the accuracy of the information presented. Opinions expressed do not necessarily coincide with the editorial views of author or copyright holder Edition Blair. Editions Blair has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet websites referred to in this publication, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. Every effort has been made to reach copyright holders. The publishers would be pleased to hear from anyone whose rights have been unwittingly infringed. This eBook adds a critical perspective to the British Black History Month celebrations. Prof Thomas L Blair publishes the Editions Blair series and edits his pioneering Black Experience web sites archived in the Social Welfare Portal of the British Library http://socialwelfare.bl.uk/subject-areas/services-activity/community- development/pub_index.aspx?PublisherID=149777&PublisherName=Editions+Bl air 3 CONTENTS Preface: THINK PROGRESS - New Models for Black History Month 1. Black History — From Culture Crisis to Liberating Action No one can ignore the common challenge. 2. Making Black History Month Political People have begun to dream of winning 3. Popular Arts fill Blind Spot in Black History Month Comics with a Black Perspective are in vogue, Part 1 4. Afro Super Heroes – New Crusaders for Black History Black Hero comics are educational and going global, Part 2 5. Powering Black Diaspora Studies Citizens, educators and policymakers build social capital and inspiration. Notes on the Author 4 Preface THINK PROGRESS - New Models for Black History Month re-shapes the celebrations with innovative ideas that inform, entertain, educate and inspire. It’s mission complements the emergent forces for change in the 21st century. Black culture is going digital. People are creating a mass of gigabytes of news, opinions and ideas. Commerce rules in the Black History Month 365 listings. The Voice, Black newspaper, aims to inspire youth, parents and teachers with History supplements. Black political history features in many archives. Patrick Vernon OBE, founder of Every Generation Media, tweets that politics are essential parts of Black British culture. The Hackney Museum’s current exhibit says it all in ‘People Power: Black British Arts + Activism in Hackney 1960s-2000s’. Furthermore, the digitised Bernie Grant MP archives at Bishopsgate Institute honour the rebel politician. Indeed, “Nobody Benefits from Hidden History, That’s The Beauty of the Black Cultural Archives” said Paul Reid, director of the BCA centre in Brixton, the historic first landing of post-war West Indians. Third, information professionals and national archivists are recognising that Black cultures are important representations of British Culture. Embedding them in the treasure troves of knowledge is an urgent and worthwhile task. Poster: People Power, Hackney Museum 5 BLACK HISTORY — FROM CULTURE CRISIS TO LIBERATING ACTION By Thomas L Blair 13 October rev— 20-12-10 © photo At its best, Black culture offers rich cultural experiences, the drive for achievement and an endless love of justice – along with some rhythmic soul. As Paul Robeson, once resident in London said “In my music, my plays, my films, I want to carry always this central idea: to be African. Multitudes of men have died for less worthy ideas: it is even more eminently worth living for.” No one can ignore the common challenge. It’s not the best time to be Black – in any rank or class. Times are harder than ever. Peoples pride and identity erode. Self-hatred sets in. Complacency limits horizons. Furthermore, household budgets are tight. Traditional job markets are bleeding at an alarming rate. Moreover, the colour bar is high in the new info-tech industries. Hence, all must plan for a “new Black History” that charts the positive present and future prospects. One in which all can share in the rescue, revival and representation of Black culture. Moreover, ad hoc and ill-informed celebrations have to give way to a deeper public understanding of difficult issues. The best talents in all walks must pledge to: . Link the gigabytes of Black culture to “people power” . Use Black comics to fill the “pride gap” . Affirm Black Culture’s role in community and university education The antidote for the Black Culture Crisis is Liberating Action. As poet-writer-activist John La Rose said, this means inspiring “cultural creativity, influence policy and effect change in the interest of social justice.” New Models for Black History Month promotes one basic idea. Cultural power without educational, economic and political power is No Power. Photo/Black women — force for change/copyright Thom Blair Useful Books Well-written books by Black social scientists include The Oxford Companion to Black British History by David Dabydeen, Black British Culture and Society by Kwesi Owusu (Editor) and After Empire: Melancholia or Convivial Culture?: Multiculture or Postcolonial Melancholia by Paul Gilroy. Readers will benefit from Susan Okokon, Black Londoners 1880-1990, Hakim Adi, West Africans in Britain 1900-1960 and Harry Goulbourne, Race Relations in Britain since 1945. Cultural theorist Stuart Hall examined prejudice in racially constructed societies and influenced contemporary cultural studies. John La Rose, founder of the George Padmore Institute the advocate of Black and working class unity demonstrated the power of poetics and collective protest. His colleagues Roxy Harris and Sarah White mark the progress of Black Britons in “humanising and transcending the limitations of British society” in two volumes on Changing Britannia and Building Britannia. 6 MAKING BLACK HISTORY MONTH POLITICAL By Thomas L Blair 27 October 2016 © Black Britons have begun to dream. They’ve begun to dream of winning …not only a place in the post-Brexit race for resources but strive for a culture of equality for all. David Shosanya’s 2009 rally for the State of Black Britain glimpsed the cherished ideals. It offered strong political-cultural models, and stirred healthy controversy. Clearly now, we see that Black Britons have an historic cultural role to play in the 21st century. This fits seamlessly with four bread and butter issues. They could do more to make Black Lives Matter. They could do more to curb pollution where they live. They could vote for access to emerging job markets and investment in mass transit. They could campaign against the cuts to their jobs in the NHS and support union rights in the health sector. What stands between Black people and this progressive wish list? One of the biggest weaknesses does. They are not very good in the cut and thrust of politics in the public realm. Moreover, they haven’t yet hit on a successful strategy for consistent political leadership. To make history theirs, they have to build a strong bench of candidates with sturdy supports from communities. They have to abandon the false, opportunist culture of Black History presentations — and favour the hard slog of community political action. They have to power their aspirations with the single tactic that makes the difference. The key is door-to-door campaigning by enthusiastic volunteers. Street by street, in every housing estate and in every Zone of Desperation. At all hours and in snow, wind and rain. The stakes are too high to lose. Today’s State of Black Britain is in crisis. Why? Well, Culture Months “ain’t gonna feed us, always”. It is not enough to be angry and shocked. Black History Month is not the Balm of Gilead. People should work together to shape the politics of opportunity, of culture, of economics – and thereby the course of future history. Photo/The Rev David Shosanya/© Thomas Blair 7 Popular Arts fill the Black History “pride gap” By Thomas L Blair 29 October 2016 © Part 1 Comics with a Black Perspective are valuable additions to Black History. They promote reading through pictures and make kids smarter. And can’t be beat for pride-inducing social commentaries. Our expert review tells you why. Afro Super Heroes are on the rise in the Black World of Africa and the Diaspora. Everywhere, comic images in strip cartoons add “our own national cultures, needs and identity”. This identity factor is nothing new. White American comic book super heroes have mirrored their ethnic and nation’s image of itself since World War II. Fearless Superman fought Japanese saboteurs in the 1940s. Batman tackled crime in Metropolis, the mythical US city. Barbie-doll-like Wonder Woman saved her tribe of Amazons from the villainess Strife, who sowed confusion and collective murder among them. Invincible Afro Super Heroes pose a new demand for “our own heroes with our own cultural identity”. This emphasis on indigenous Black action makes Black comics a prime form of social commentary. Here are some of the most exciting examples I have discovered, and presented by topics and global spread. Black Action Heroes in the United States of America Creative designer Jon Daniel’s Afro Supa® Hero, shown here, chronicles the surge of African American comics (1).