Films recall Black history

Films and a talk from the NHS equality director are among events organised by Leeds Beckett University to celebrate Black History Month.

Roger Kline, equality director for the NHS, will give a free public talk on October 18 at the university’s Rose Bowl building, discussing ‘sustaining change in workplace race equality: what works and what doesn’t’ as the latest Leeds Beckett Annual Race Lecture.

Two films by Martinican-born director Euzhan Palcy will also be screened at the Hyde Park Picture House. The screenings have been organised by Dr Emily Zobel Marshall, course director for English Literature and senior lecturer in Postcolonial Literature at Leeds Beckett.

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‘Black Shack Alley’ (also known as ‘Sugar Cane Alley’), based on a book by Dr Zobel Marshall’s grandfather, Joseph Zobel, about his childhood in colonial Martinique, will be screened on Sunday. Palcy’s ‘A Dry White Season’ will be shown on October 22. The films will be introduced by Dr Zobel Marshall and her mother, Jenny Zobel, and will be followed by a question and answer session.

Dr Zobel Marshall said: “Alongside Palcy’s ‘A Dry White Season’, based in apartheid South Africa, ‘Sugar Cane Alley’ is a film that reminds us of the injustices suffered by people of African descent as a result of slavery, colonialism and racial prejudice and a fitting choice for Black History Month.”

On Wednesday at 12.30pm at Leeds Central Library, Dr Rob Burroughs will explore the important roles played by Africans in the abolition of slavery. To book visit http://bit.ly/LCCBlackHistory. To book the Roger Kline talk visit http://bit.ly/RogerKline.

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