Harrow African History Season Gets Off To A Fine Start; Young Writers And Performers Wanted

Harrow's African History Season, which was launched last week Monday with an engaging presentation by political and community activist Lee Jasper, wants young people to engage with this year's theme. The Word Power: Together We Can! event on October 29 will begin with a presentation by motivational speaker Andrew Muhamad a.k.a. The Investigator speaking to the 'African British Civil Rights Since The 1960s' theme in the Council Chamber. After which young Harrowvians interested in collaborating on a rap or spoken based on the Season's theme will take part in a workshop facilitated by Music4Causes rapper/songwriter Kimba. The finished work will then by performed by the youths at the end of the event.

The Season's events continue until December 10,  when Harrow Mayor Cllr Nana Asante will present prizes for young people who memorise and recite a stanza of ‘Eku McGred's 'The African Child’ poem at a forum meeting which will be preceded by a presentation by community activist Marc Wadsworth on the legacy of Stephen Lawrence.

For more details of the Season’s events: www.harrowbhm.eventbrite.com, harrowbhm@hotmail.com.
 

Click for full details of Youth Opportunities.
 
Tuesday October 29th 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Word Power: Together We Can! Keynote speaker: Motivational speaker Andrew Muhammed's family-friendly presentation highlights African British civil rights, followed by Q&A. Creative writing and performance speaking to civil rights theme from youth workshop facilitated by Music4Causes rapper Kimba. Light refreshments available.
Harrow Civic Centre, Station Road, Harrow HA1 2XY
Harrow & Wealdstone station or Harrow On The Hill station
Free
For more information or to book: www.harrowBHM.eventbrite.com.

All photos by Linda Panford

Harrow African History Season Launches Monday Sept. 30 With Focus On African British Civil Rights

Harrow African History Season Launches Monday Sept. 30 With Focus On African British Civil Rights

Lee Jasper, race and policing advisor of former London Mayor Ken Livingstone, will give the keynote speech to launch the Harrow African History Season theme ‘African British Civil Rights Since The 1960s’ on Monday September 30 in the Council Chamber of Harrow Council.

The other events include a ‘surprise’ film screening at Flash Musicals in Edgware on Friday October 4. Film-maker and media lecturer Imruh Bakari will facilitate the post-screening Q&A topic: How far have we come in the quest for civil rights?

Jurisconsult and community advocate Esther Stanford-Xosei will highlight the activism of Claudia Jones and Amy Ashwood Garvey – the former is better known for the introduction of the Notting Hill carnival, and the latter for being an aide and first wife of pan-Africanist icon Marcus Garvey.

Young people get a chance to create and perform a collaborative work on Tuesday October 29 at the Together We Can! event after being inspired by motivational speaker Andrew Muhammad and a facilitated workshop by Music4Causes rapper/songwriter Kimba.

There will also be prizes for young people who memorise and recite a stanza of ‘The African Child’ poem at the last event, a forum meeting which will be preceded by a presentation by community activist Marc Wadsworth on the legacy of Stephen Lawrence.

For full details or to book: www.HarrowBHM.eventbrite.com, harrowbhm@hotmail.com. 
Facebook & Twitter: /harrowBHM

Harrow BHM 2013 Season Events And Youth Opportunities Flyers

 

For more details or to book: www.harrowbhm.eventbrite.com

 Click for more details about Youth Opportunities

Opportunities For Young People To Engage With Harrow BHM 2013 'African British Civil Rights Since The 1960s' Theme

Harrow BHM turns the focus on domestic activism with the 2013 African History Season's 'African British Civil Rights Since The 1960s' theme, to provide some balance to the recent commemorations of the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's 'I Have Dream' speech.

Also, great effort is being made to get young people to engage with the Harrow BHM 2013 theme and events. If you're a young person, or know any youths who may be interested, here are the details of the Harrow BHM Youth Opportunities:

Harrow BHM 2013 Youth Opportunities
Contact: Harrow BHM  harrowbhm@hotmail.com      www.harrowbhm.eventbrite.com

This year, as part of Harrow BHM’s 2013 African/Black History Season, there are 3 opportunities for young people aged 13-17, from all communities who live or study in Harrow to win prizes through engagement with the theme:

1) an essay competition (winners will be revealed during 2013 Season launch 30/09). Closing date: 25th September 2013

2) a collaborative spoken word or rap creation & performance (created and delivered during Word Power: Together We Can! event 29/10). Closing date 25th October 2013, and

3) a poem recitation (delivered during the Stephen Lawrence/evaluation event  10/12). Closing date 3rd December 2013

1. Essay Competition for any young person in a Harrow school, or resident in Harrow, aged 13-17.

Purpose is to engage young people with Harrow BHM’s 2013 theme. Entrants and their families and friends are invited to the launch, where the winners will be announced, and prizes presented by the Mayor in the Council Chamber, Harrow Civic Centre on September 30, 6.30-8.30pm.

Topic: Write in not more than 600 words on ‘What civil rights mean to me, and why they are important’.Give at least one example of a civil rights issue in Britain affecting people of African heritage, any time between 1960 and 2013.

Guidelines
Harrow BHM does not use the term Black to describe persons of African heritage. The preferred terminology is African to describe Africans from the continent of Africa, from the Caribbean or born in the UK. African Caribbean or African British are also acceptable.

Prizes
1st Prize:  Tea at the Mayor's Parlour with family and/or friends and the Mayor of Harrow + £40 WHS Voucher
2nd Prize: Tea at the Mayor's Parlour with family and/or friends and the Mayor of Harrow + £30 WHS Voucher
3rd Prize:  Tea at the Mayor's Parlour with family and/or friends and the Mayor of Harrow + £20 WHS Voucher

Please email entries to harrowbhm@hotmail.com by 25th September 2013, and be prepared to attend the launch on 30th September, 6.30-8.30pm at Harrow Civic Centre. Please make submission with the approval of a parent or guardian.



2. Together We Can! for any young person in a Harrow school, or resident in Harrow, aged 13-17.

Purpose is for young people to use their creative skills, be it as writers and/or performers, to work collaboratively with their peers to create a work that engages with Harrow BHM’s 2013 theme with the help of inspirational speaker Brother Andrew Muhammad, and Music4Causes artist Kimba. The resultant work from the workshop, be it a poem or rap, will be performed at the Word Power: Together We Can! event in the Council Chamber, Harrow Civic Centre, on October 29, 6.30-8.30pm.

The participants will watch a brief presentation, and backed with relevant resources and facilitation by experienced songwriters and artists, participants will be helped to collaboratively write a Together We Can! piece that speaks to the ‘African British  Civil Rights Since The 1960s’ theme.

Guidelines
Harrow BHM does not use the term Black to describe persons of African heritage. The preferred terminology is African to describe Africans from the continent of Africa, Caribbean or born in the UK. African Caribbean or African British are also acceptable.

If you are interested in participating (you do not have to be a writer, singer or rapper), please email your interest to participate to harrowbhm@hotmail.com by 25th October 2013, and be prepared to attend the Word Power: Together We Can! event. Please get the approval of a parent or guardian.



3. The African Child Poem Recitation for any young person in a Harrow school, or resident in Harrow, aged 13-17, irrespective of ethnicity.

Purpose is to engage young people in wrapping up Harrow BHM’s 2013 season of events reciting a poem of hope. Entrants and their families and friends are invited to the Stephen Lawrence discussion and evaluation event, at Harrow Civic Centre on December 10, 6.30pm-8.30pm, where each participant will recite a stanza (verse) from Eku McGred's 'The African Child' poem before an audience, which includes the Mayor.

The words of The African Child Poem can be found on Youtube.com via http://bit.ly/14YfHeO. Prizes will be awarded according to level of memorising and delivery of a chosen stanza.

Prizes
To be presented by the Mayor:
1st Prize: £30 WHS Voucher
2nd Prize: £20 WHS Voucher
3rd Prize: £10 WHS Voucher

If you are interested in participating, please email your interest to participate to harrowbhm@hotmail.com by 3rd December 2013, and be prepared to attend the Does The Conviction Of Stephen Lawrence's Murderers Signal A Turning Point In African British Civil Rights? discussion and Evaluation event. Please get the approval of a parent or guardian.