Black lives matter

Just over 2 years ago, on 25 May 2020 George Floyd was killed in police custody. Whether due to lockdown, viral video on social media, or just the world finally waking up to injustice - but after seeing a police man hold his knee while Mr Floyd could not breathe for over 8 minutes until he was dead, the world woke-up and said “not in our name”. Black Lives Matter movement was amplified overnight and what was for a lot of people - an issue for people of colour, became an issue for everyone who wanted to live in a just society.

Two years on and the movement is still going strong, media organisations and other platforms are much more aware of representation, Bristol’s own statue wars have provoked big debates across the world about symbols of injustice. However, cost of living crisis, war in Ukraine and the myriad things we cope with in day to day life can make the agenda slip down our awareness. But change takes time, campaigns are fine, but the real business of change comes in the stories we tell our children, the statues commissioned, the people in power, who we see and hear in our media, how people get recruited and promoted, what teachers expect from all pupils, how many judges are people of colour, how many doctors and so on. In other words, change takes time, it is a long walk in a new direction and we all need to encourage each other to keep focus.

Thankfully, there are amazing committed people who are championing rights and tackling injusitce, educating us and encouraging us to think and question. Here are a few examples you might be interested in:

Troy Deeney: Where’s my history? - footballer and anti-racism campaigner challenges the curriculum to be more diverse.

More Fiya - a celebration of Black British Poetry featuring discussions and performances from Kayo Chingonyi, Vanessa Kisuule, Eric Ngalle Charles and Kim Squirrell 23rd June - Tickets via Festival of Ideas

Bristol Welcomes Little Amal - Little Amal captured the world’s interest in 2021 as the giant, 3.5m tall puppet that walked nearly 5,000 miles across Europe, focussing our attention on the urgent needs of young refugees.  That attention is now more urgent than ever, and on Friday 24 June, Little Amal, the living artwork of a young Syrian refugee child comes to Bristol – and you’re invited to welcome her and walk with her around our city. Free