Spotlight
Latest news and interesting features about Walthamstow Town Centre
Black History Month: Walthamstow and Beyond
Beautiful autumnal colours have morphed our landscape. University freshers have began a new exciting chapter. Parents have (just about) recovered from what seems like an eternal summer holidays. Yes, it’s October, a time of change, reflection and celebration, and as such a perfect time for the nation to celebrate Black History Month.
Black History Month is the recognition of black struggle, achievements, influence, and culture in Britain. Today, it’s impossible to imagine Britain without black people. Their contribution’s to British society is evident in so many aspects of British culture, that it’s easy to take it for granted, especially because it’s forged in a history of racial struggle. The progress Britain has made on racial justice since it’s empire is clear – the racism which still exists and looms over society today is comparatively more complex. But it’s the coming together for this important month that helps us understand black history… our shared history… to learn, reflect, and build a future free of racial prejudice.
The theme of this years Black History Month is “Saluting our Sisters”, which provides further emancipatory context of black history through a feminist lens. To find out more about this interesting theme, you can read this the BHM article by Cherron Inko-Tariah MBE.
It’s with great pride that Waltham Forest’s own black residents are curating events for the Waltham Forest’s Black History Month programme. Walthamstow specifically has a proud heritage of immigration, including Windrush generation Caribbean’s, Africans, and the younger generations of black and mixed raced British people who are the decadents of black migrants. Therefore it’s only fitting that WoW highlights some of the amazing #BHM2023 events taking place in Walthamstow Town Centre.
GENERAL ECHO REGGAE DISCO WITH WASSIE ONE
A longstanding presence on the Brixton reggae scene, Wassie One began playing house parties in the early 80s, before launching the Prosecutors and Brothers by Nature outfits. He ultimately became the leading light of Twelve12 Sound System, a focal point of the annual Brixton Splash. Wassie’s stylistic touch means that maximum niceness is guaranteed, when classic, old-school reggae will be delivered with love and affection by a true Brixtonian. Check out his long-running radio show on Venture FM for a taste of what to expect.
Come and listen, dance, and vibe to some of the greatest music ever made from this rare appearance from one of London’s finest slectas! Details of the tour are as follows, which you can click on for further details:
WALTHAMSTOW BLACK HISTORY TOUR
Peter Ashan, an educator who grew up in Leyton in the 70’s and 80’s, hosts a fantastic free tour of Walthamstow through the lens of black history. Details of the tour are as follows, which you can click on for further details:
Although this event is free you will need to book in advance, so please follow the link on the event page to RSVP.
BLACK WOMEN OF WWII
From history books to Hollywood blockbusters, it’s a common phenomenon that black people ceased to exist in depictions of World War II. The truth is of course vastly different, and creative director Alison Ray and film director Ben Moulougui challenge popular discourse with this powerful short film depicting black women of the second world war. There are two opportunities to attend this screening, which you can click on for further details:
If you go on the Saturday at Crate, you can also catch an amazing performance on afro contemporary dance which takes place just before the screening. Click here for more details.
If you are an event organiser, or know of any other #BHM2023 events taking place in Walthamstow Town Centre, please let us know via our contact page.
We hope you enjoy these events and we’ll leave you with a positive, powerful and thoughtful quote
“A race of people is like an individual man; until it uses its own talent, takes pride in its own history, expresses its own culture, affirms its own selfhood, it can never fulfill itself.”
Malcolm X