National Museums Liverpool

BLACK HISTORY MONTH Events

A series of exciting free Black History Month events including performances, talks, music, dance, craft workshops and other activities are being staged at National Museums Liverpool venues throughout October 2011.

Highlights this year include talks about Black sailors in Nelson’s navy and Pride and Prejudice author Jane Austen’s links with slavery. Cherie Blair takes part in an anti-slavery discussion on Tuesday 18 October (see below).

Black History Month is held nationally every October to promote and celebrate Black contributions to British society and foster a general understanding of Black history. Most of the thought-provoking events are at the International Slavery Museum which examines the history and legacy of Britain’s transatlantic slave trade, abolished in 1807. Liverpool was the biggest European slave trading port at the end of the 18th century.

Black History Month focuses on a wide spectrum ranging from the lives of enslaved people before and after leaving Africa and traditional crafts and the role of African sailors in Nelson’s navy to the Toxteth riots.

Dr Richard Benjamin, head of the International Slavery Museum, says: “Black History Month is an essential part of the International Slavery Museum's calendar of events which highlights and promotes the diversity of Black History. We have a varied series of events for all ages which will both inform people of the many positive Black contributions to British society as well as raise awareness of the legacies of slavery."

There are fascinating true-life talks illustrating many examples of Black History. For example:

Do you remember Olive Morris? looks at the life of the Brixton Black Women’s Group founder and member of the British Black Panther movement (1400 hrs 3 Oct).

Liverpool and West Africa examines the controversial role of soap magnate William Hesketh Lever in palm oil collection (1400 hrs 5 Oct Lady Lever Art Gallery).

Black Salt: Early Black Sailors and Nelson’s Navy is presented by Liverpool author Dr Ray Costello (1300 hrs 21 Oct).

Jane Austen, Slavery and the Search for Salvation – find out what connects Austen with slavery and its abolition (1530 – 1700 hrs 28 Oct).

Other high points of Black History Month include a drop-in event focusing on Haitian voodoo flags 1100 – 1600 hrs on Sat and Sun 22 / 23 Oct. Find out about these beautiful flags and help to make some to decorate an activity room.

African masks – learn about the design of colourful West African masks and make your own (1300 to 1600 hrs 2, 25 and 30 Oct).

There is a Caribbean focus at the genealogy event Who you be? Do you know your family tree? (1100 – 1630 hrs Sat 15 Oct). Learn the basics of family tree research and trace your ancestry at this enjoyable event.

Learn the meanings behind the patterns on African American quilts at a quilt pattern workshop (1300 – 1600 hrs Sun 9 Oct). Make your own colourful patchwork pattern, perhaps inspired by the quilt on display at the museum.

Life in West Africa – find out about the International Slavery Museum’s collection of traditional West African objects and what they tell us about life in the region before transatlantic slavery (1300 – 1600 hrs 16 and 24 Oct).

UK Anti-Slavery Day Liverpool launch and panel discussion featuring Cherie Blair, contemporary artist Nicola Green and Anti-Slavery International director Aidan McQuade (times tbc 12 noon – 1600 hrs 18 Oct).

Pre-booking is essential for some events but some are drop-in with no booking required. See http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/events/black-history-month_events.aspx

About National Museums Liverpool

National Museums Liverpool comprises eight venues. Our collections are among the most important and varied in Europe and contain everything from Impressionist paintings and rare beetles to a lifejacket from the Titanic.

We attract 2.5 million visitors every year. Our venues are World Museum, the Walker Art Gallery, Merseyside Maritime Museum, International Slavery Museum, UK Border Agency National Museum, Sudley House and the Lady Lever Art Gallery.

On 19 July 2011, our eighth venue, the Museum of Liverpool, opened at the city's Pier Head, part of the city's World Heritage Site. The museum tells the definitive story of Liverpool and its people and contains more than 6,000 items. www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/