The Black Cultural Archives

In the afternoon of Sunday, June 23rd, we had the opportunity to visit the Black Cultural Archives. This was not a formal visit, and so we were allowed to choose whether we attended and when. This museum was small and sparse, yet the history of the area is rich and the mission of the BCA is vital to the non-white community that has been living in London for generations. 

Built in Brixton in South London, the BCA celebrates and amplifies Black British history. The museum sits in Windrush Square, so named for the Windrush Generation, a whole generation of Caribbean immigrants who were promised a good life in England but instead were met with racism and resistance. The displays available for viewing by the public at the time of our visit were focused on stories from the Windrush Generation and their descendants, as well as other Black, frequently Caribbean immigrants. The stories told of casual racism, housing discrimination, and police brutality are hauntingly similar to those we here in the US. The multi-modal way of telling stories, with art, poetry, recorded videos, and spoken word, created an impact. The current exhibition, Ties that Bind, exemplifies this well, telling a story of pain, fear, resilience, and healing. 

My only complaint was not being able to see more of the physical archives and a dearth of digitized materials available off site. I may see if I can find a way to access any of their holdings before the week is up. 

A statue dedicated to Claudia Vera Jones. 

Out front sits one of the 103 globes created by The World Reimagined. 

A visual on mental health impacts on the Windrush Generation.

One of many covers turned into posters in the halls. 

Information on further research.