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Update to Baldwin's debate at Cambridge university 1965 linking US /Black British Civil Rights and the fight for positive imageryJames Baldwin fought for equality on both sides of the Atlantic. At Cambridge University in 1965 he debated the right wing William Buckley . The title "The American Dream is at the expense of the American Negro." Baldwin argued that the American Dream was indeed at the expense of African Americans, while Buckley countered that the American Dream was available to all, regardless of race.
The debate was explosive and a significant moment in British- American history, as it highlighted the deep-seated racial tensions and inequalities that existed in the US and UK at the time.1965 was the first time Black people in Britain had any legal protection against racism despite being here for hundreds of years
About this event
We will run clips from the original debate and update it with what's happening in 2025. We will cover
-Black British Civil Rights 1960s to 2025
-Baldwin's briliance and link to UK anti-racist activists
-The fight for control of the Black Image and African Odysseys at the BFI
-The 1965 Race Relations Act
-Trump/Starmer and the rise of the right wing
-Actions for change, what you can do and how you can do it
-Film and the fight for racial equality
-The Malcolm X connection
Join us for a screening/presentation of the 1965 debate plus Q&A
About the speakers:
Dr Michelle Asantewa is an award-winning author, independent educator, cultural consultant and publisher. Her publications include the young adult novel, Elijah, The Awakening and Other Poems, Guyanese Komfa: The Ritual Art of Trance and Something Buried in the Yard, published byWay Wive Wordz Publishing, which she co-founded in 2014. She is the editor of the anthology In Search of Mami Wata, which centres on African and Caribbean water spirits. Mama Lou Tales, a biography of her mother Lucille Davis received a prize for the Guyana Literary Prize in 2022. Dr Asantewa is the co-organiser of the Annual Osun River Ritual at Morden Hall Park. She is co-course leader of the Amazing James Baldwin, African Women Resistance Leaders, Toni Morrison: Her life Her Work and Andrea Levy short courses, as well as numerous writing workshops. Her first collection of short stories, Rupunnuni Affair and the Mami Wata, Children’s Activity Book were published in 2024.
Tony Warner is the founder of Black History Walks www.blackhistorywalks.co.uk . He is also Chair of the African Odysseys Steering Committee which has organised a 16,000 strong petition to Save 17 Years of Black film history at the BFI https://www.change.org/p/save-17-years-of-black-film-history-at-british-film-institute?recruiter=1352234396&recruited_by_id=9664f560-7bc4-11ef-8258-bfe60cea7920&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=share_for_starters_page&utm_medium=copylink
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
309 Regent Street,London,W1B 2HW,GB, United Kingdom
Tickets
