October is Black History Month, when people all over the UK come together to highlight and celebrate the achievements of the black community with a programme of art, entertainment and culture.
Barnet libraries are hosting a series of events to mark Black History Month, including talks, music, food, stories and workshops.
Whetstone author Ellie Daines will be at Grahame Park library on Tuesday, October 9, talking about her debut children’s book Lolly Luck from 4.30pm. Lolly Luck is one of very few books around for children with a strong, black, female protagonist and Ellie does a lot of visits to local schools and libraries.
On Saturday, October 20, Hendon library has a whole series of events, including a talk at 10am by Hugh Petrie on Barnet’s first black people. It is common to think that black history starts with the mass migration of the 1950s, which established many of the African and Caribbean communities that we see today, but it in fact dates from the 17th Century.
At 11.30am is An introduction to tracing your Caribbean ancestors, a talk by Guy Grannum, who has worked at The National Archives since 1988 and specialises in colonial history and genealogy, and especially Caribbean genealogy. He has published two editions of Tracing Your West Indian Ancestors and has written several articles on Caribbean and African-Caribbean genealogy.
Stay till the afternoon for an exciting session of stories of integration from different generations of African and Caribbean residents in Barnet, with author Frances Williams, mentor Grace Elias and other panel members , followed by the Caribbean family history drop-in clinic, where Guy Grannum will help you to research your ancestors.
Rounding off the day is a live jazz book discussion on The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, to mark the book’s 60th anniversary, at 3pm. Join in a discussion on this seminal jazz-influenced novel, listen to live jazz and some jazz tinged poetry.
The following weekend at Hendon library, on Saturday, October 27, join in Black History Family Fun Day from 12noon. African drumming and dancing will take place between 12noon – 2pm, followed by creative crafts for children between 2pm – 4pm.
- For further details, contact Hendon library on 020 8359 2869 or email justina.gore@barnet.gov.uk, www.barnet.gov.uk/libraries
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