"We have come to reclaim the house of history. We are dedicated to the revision of the role of the African in the world's great civilizations, the contribution of Africa to the achievement of man in the arts and sciences. We shall emphasize what Africa has given to the world, not what it has lost."-- Dr. Ivan Van Sertima

 

 

"When the history books are written, let future generations say that there lived a great people, a Black people, who injected new dignity into the veins of civilization."-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

 


"The events which transpired five thousand years ago; Five years ago or five minutes ago, have determined what will happen five minutes from now; five years From now or five thousand years from now. All history is a current event."-- Dr. John Henrik Clarke

 


"It is one thing not to know your history. That is bad enough. But it is much worse, actually deplorable, not to want to know. Knowledge of self is fundamental."-- Runoko Rashidi

 


"When there is no enemy within, the enemy without cannot hurt you."-- African proverb

 


All strong peoples emphasize their history all of the time. Weak peoples do not."-- Asa Hilliard III

 


"African people have a history that is second to none. It is a history that must be known to the world. We cannot heal ourselves and be whole again until we know who we are and what we have done."-- Runoko Rashidi


 

"All the knowledge you want is in the world, and all that you have to do is to go seeking it and never stop until you have found it. You can find knowledge or the information about it in the public libraries, if it is not on your own bookshelf. Try to have a book and own it on every bit of knowledge you want. You may generally get these books at second hand book stores for sometimes one-fifth of the original value." - Marcus Mosiah Garvey

 


"Sometimes people hold a core belief that is very strong. When they are presented with evidence that works against that belief, the new evidence cannot be accepted. It would create a feeling that is extremely uncomfortable, called cognitive dissonance. And because it is so important to protect the core belief, they will rationalize, ignore and even deny anything that doesn't fit the core belief." -- Frantz Fanon


 

"Don't run from Blackness; run to it. Don't flee from your Africanness; embrace it. Learn your history, lift your head and get comfortable with you who are. Free your African mind. And the rest will follow!"-- Runoko Rashidi

 

 

"You can only make the best out of life by knowing and understanding it. To know, you must fall back on the intelligence of others who came before you and have left their records behind"- Marcus Mosiah Garvey

 

 

"An individual that loses his or her memory is disabled. So it is with a people. African and African diasporan people have, in large measure, been deprived of the most important memories of history. Those who have enslaved and colonized Africans have understood fully the powerful role that history plays in the life of a people."- Dr. Asa G. Hilliard

 

 

"To manipulate history is to manipulate consciousness: to manipulate consciousness is to manipulate possibilities; and to manipulate possibilities is to manipulate power." - Prof. Amos Wilson

 

 

"Imperialism, like the prehistoric hunter, first killed the being spiritually and culturally, before trying to eliminate it physically.The negation of the history and intellectual accomplishments of black Africans was cultural, mental murder, which preceded and paved the way for their genocide here and there in the world." - Cheikh Anta Diop Civilization or Barbarism

 

Film Screenings

 

 

Black History Studies will be showing engaging and educational films, movies and documentaries on various topics on Black History and Black Studies.

 

Premiere of 'Pass the Comb' & 'Kickin' It With the Kinks'

 

Monday 27th May 2013

 

Black History Studies in association with The New Black Film Collective will host the Premiere of 'Pass the Comb' along with a screening of the main feature, 'Kickin' it with the Kinks' on Monday 27th May 2013 at 6.30pm at the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton.

 

Pass the Comb - CS Trailer from Pass The Comb on Vimeo.

 

PASS THE COMB is a short film telling the story of a young brother in conflict and his older sisters calming influence using the cultural tradition of braiding hair. With each stroke of the comb, the pressure reduces as brother reveals and releases his stress and frustrations. Each completed corn row demonstrates the benefit of sisters 'hair therapy', words of wisdom and advice which help brother find his way out of his frustrations. But how did sister get so wise? And is she really the picture of innocence she portrays?

 

Pass the Comb is part of CHANGE THE STEREO, an initiative born out of a need to create art through the medium of film and theatre to tell stories you wouldn't necessarily see about 'Urban youth' as they are so often labelled. With Pass the Comb we are portraying layers and diversity through alternative lenses.

 

 

 

 

 

KICKIN' IT WITH THE KINKS began as Cynthia Butare's self-funded university project at Manchester Metropolitan University's Department of Information and Communications where it received Best Documentary Prize. Cynthia was deeply moved to explore the subject further with the help of her friend Mundia Situmbeko, blogger and co-founder of blackgirlflow.

 

More than a project, it was now an urgent quest to study and share the thought-provoking emotional and physical realities and complexities of hair care for black women, its roots in slavery and colonization, and ultimately to ask the question, 'what is the true meaning of beauty?' The journey has not only inspired Cynthia and Mundia to gain incredible insights but also gave them strength to embrace their own beauty and spearhead an intensive drive to involve other fellow women to do the same. Indulge in this journey of self-realization and merge with the confidence to embrace your true and unique identity... "

 

The screening will be followed by a short Q&A with Yvette Griffiths of Pass the Comb, the director of Kickin It with the Kinks Cynthia Butare and special guest Ansylla Ramsey.

 

Anyslla Ramsey, the owner of My Hairitage Holistic Hair Care Salon in Clinton, Maryland and planner of the First Hairitage Holistic Hair & Wellness Cruise. In addition to the event planning and salon owning, Ansylla Ramsey is also a warrior against thinning hair. To combat that problem, Ms. Ansylla has created The LOC WEAVETM.

 

The screening will take place at 6.30pm at the Ritzy Cinema, Brixton Oval, London SW2 1JG.

 

For venue details, click here

 

Join us for a drink at the Bar before and after the screening.

 

Tickets cost £11.00.

 

To book your tickets, please call the Ritzy Cinema Box Office on 0871 902 5739 or book online: http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Ritzy_Picturehouse/film/Kickin_It_With_The_Kinks/


 

 


Definition of Freedom:
The Revolution Shall Be Televised

 

Monday 10th June 2013

 

 

 

 

 

Rated 12. Contains some swear words

 

Throughout South Africa's history, young people have played a pivotal role in the country's struggle for democracy. In 1976, young students in Soweto and other parts of the country stood up and challenged the apartheid state's policies. Hundreds died and thousands fled the country. This period saw young people fighting for the liberation of a free South Africa.

 

In the 1980s a movement was born that reflected the harsh and violent realities of ghetto youths in South Africa. Pioneering this movement were groups like Prophets of the City and Black Noise who used Hip Hop as a rebellion against the oppressive apartheid regime.

 

The voice of Hip Hop has become the new weapon to challenge the status quo. It has become the new weapon to challenge the status quo. It has become the younger generation's outcry to challenge the present realities and use HIP HOP as their new DEFINITION OF FREEDOM.Produced and Directed by Kurt Orderson & Sharmin Mackay

 

THIS DOCUMENTARY FILM IS NOT TO BE MISSED!!!

 

This event will take place on MONDAY 10TH JUNE 2013 from 7.00pm to 9.00pm. The event will be held at the PCS Headquarters (CLAPHAM JUNCTION), 160 Falcon Road, Clapham Junction, London SW11 2LN, (3 minutes walk from Clapham Junction mainline station. Buses to the venue 35, 37, 39, 49, 77, 87, 156, 70, 219, 239, 295, 319, 337, 334, 345, C3, G1).

 

Doors open at 6.30pm. The documentary will start at 7pm sharp! Hot food will be on sale.

 

There will be an admission charge of £5 per person. Children under 16 are free (ID required).

 

PLEASE ARRIVE AT LEAST 15 MINUTES EARLY. Places for the film screenings are limited so if you are interested in attending please reply as soon as possible to acknowledge your place. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis, so don't delay. Please confirm via email info@blackhistorystudies.com how many of you will be attending this event. Please can you also notify any cancellations made after confirmation.

 

 


Strange Fruit

 

Wednesday 19th June 2013

 

 

 

 

Strange Fruit (2002) is the first documentary exploring the history and legacy of the Billie Holiday classic. The song's evolution tells a dramatic story of America's radical past using one of the most influential protest songs ever written as its epicenter. The saga brings viewers face- to- face with the terror of lynching even as it spotlights the courage and heroism of those who fought for racial justice when to do so was to risk ostracism and livelihood if white - and death if Black. It examines the history of lynching, and the interplay of race, labour and the left, and popular culture as forces that would give rise to the Civil Rights Movement.

 

The tale of "Strange Fruit" - its genesis, impact and continuing relevance - is an amazingly complex one that weaves together the lives of African Americans, immigrant Jews, anticommunist government officials, civil rights leaders, radical Leftist teachers and organizers, music publishers, record company executives and jazz musicians. In many ways, the story of the song and its writer and interpreters is as moving and oddly haunting as the song itself." This film is an invaluable illumination of how a singer and a song helped to permanently awaken Americans to a horrifying part of our past that still affects the present. I knew Billie Holiday and how deeply Strange Fruit effected her -- as this film vividly shows." - Nat Hentoff, Village Voice"

 

A devastating yet inspiring reminder of when racial terror raged through this country and when Blacks and whites worked together to stop it. This film can help strengthen this same struggle in our own era." - Morris Dees, Co-Founder, Southern Poverty Law Center

 

Winner! 2004 American Library Association Notable Video Award

 

THIS DOCUMENTARY FILM IS NOT TO BE MISSED!!!

 

This event will take place on WEDNESDAY 19TH JUNE 2013 from 7.00pm to 9.00pm. The event will be held at the PCS Headquarters (CLAPHAM JUNCTION), 160 Falcon Road, Clapham Junction, London SW11 2LN, (3 minutes walk from Clapham Junction mainline station. Buses to the venue 35, 37, 39, 49, 77, 87, 156, 70, 219, 239, 295, 319, 337, 334, 345, C3, G1).

 

Doors open at 6.30pm. The documentary will start at 7pm sharp! Hot food will be on sale.

 

There will be an admission charge of £5 per person. Children under 16 are free (ID required).

 

PLEASE ARRIVE AT LEAST 15 MINUTES EARLY. Places for the film screenings are limited so if you are interested in attending please reply as soon as possible to acknowledge your place. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis, so don't delay. Please confirm via email info@blackhistorystudies.com how many of you will be attending this event. Please can you also notify any cancellations made after confirmation.