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A new documentary launched tomorrow in Westminster provides some answers
May 13 2015 London, UK
Whilst recent events have put the 'race' focus on the US, it's 50 years since the enactment of UK's first Race Relations Act (the Act) in 1965. A conversational documentary entitled 'Look How Far We've Come: Commentaries On British Society And Racism?', launched tomorrow at The Abbey Centre in Westminster, aims to provide viewpoints drawn from a wide cross-section of British's multicultural society.
The contributors opine on how far Britain has come in dealing with racism and ‘race’ equality issues. The list includes some of those whose work led to the Act: Bristol Bus Boycott leader Paul Stephenson OBE, Labour Society Of Lawyers member Ian Macdonald QC, WISC (West Indian Standing Conference) executive Clarence Thompson MBE; some of those who helped draft, or vote for the Act, such as Labour Society Of Lawyers member Lord Anthony Lester QC, and Labour politician Tony Benn.
Contributors include launch event special guest Dame Jocelyn Barrow, whose work as a CARD (Campaign Against Racial Discrimination) co-founder, led to the 1968 amendment of the Act; plus some of those who had to implement the Act, as 'race' relations officers, councillors or council leaders such as Lord Herman Ouseley, Russell Profitt, Sam King MBE, Linda Bellos, Baroness Ros Howells, and Ken Livingstone.
There are contributions from some of those whose work led to the recent amendments of the Act, which is now superseded by the Equality Act 2010, such as Prof Gus John, Cllr Lincoln Beswick MBE, Michael Mansfield QC, Dr Richard Stone, and Leroy Logan MBE. In academia, some of those who've intellectuallised the Act are Prof Harry Goulbourne and Prof Paul Gilroy.
Whilst it's all good having this law, for the likes of Jessica & Eric Huntley, Mavis & Fabian Best, Laila & Darcus Howe, Sybil Best, Toyin Agbetu, Marc Wadsworth, and Lee Jasper, the challenges they've dealt with on the community level remind us that it can not just be about the enactment of laws, but its proper implementation, that matter.
To hear what the contributors have to say on the state of Britain and racism, you are welcome to the screening on Thursday May 14, 6-9pm at The Abbey Centre, 34 Great Smith Street, Westminster SW1P 3BU.
For more details or to book: http://bit.ly/1AUU6R0
ENDS
Kwaku
Look How Far We've Come...? project leader
editor@BritishBlackMusic.com
btwsc@hotmail.com
www.AfricanHistoryPlus.eventbrite.com
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