PROPOSAL
To: John Prescott Deputy Prime Minister H.M. Government
Cllr. Barbara Janke, Leader, Bristol City Council
Paul Barnett – Head of Culture & Leisure Services, Bristol City Council

Background
On 28th October 2005, a meeting was held between the Deputy Prime Minister, the leader of Bristol City Council and African heritage young people and elders. The Deputy Prime Minister called for suggestions of ‘meaningful, measurable and sustainable’ ways to commemorate 200 years since the passing of a bill that outlawed the trans-Atlantic slave trade in the British Empire. It was also requested that some suggestions include ways that Bristol could make practical links with Liverpool and Hull to encourage a significant national impact.

Five formal group consultations and countless informal ones have been held with a range of people from African & Caribbean and other communities. It was generally agreed that it is important to mark 2007, which was an opportunity to understand, reflect on, and redress the legacy of the African trade. It is also thought to be a chance to get a broader understanding of African, Caribbean, British and Bristol’s history and identities.

These consultations are encapsulated in the recommendations and suggestions from a meeting held at the Malcolm X Centre on 4th December 2005. (see APPENDIX ONE)

The final consultation at the Black Development Agency (BDA) identified the Consortium of Black Groups as the most suitable body to lead in the co-ordination of local activities relating to 2007, while working with a wide range of community, regional, national and international agencies to ensure a fitting commemoration is achieved in Bristol and the UK. The need for black groups to take leadership and ownership was deemed to be a fundamental issue.

Propose:

1. To establish a local Co-ordinating Committee in Bristol for activities relating to the 2007 Bicentenary.

2. To use the 4th December 2005 recommendations as a starting point for the ‘Bristol objectives’

3. That the Consortium of Black Groups (CoBG), as a forum for all Black and Minority Ethnic Groups within the Bristol, takes the lead in organising and facilitating the local Co-ordinating Committee, with support from and co-ordination with Bristol City Council.

4. That the membership of the group should be initially be determined by CoBG and developed by the members. It would include or co-opt any figures who can influence delivery in the following areas: 1)Education and Research, 2) Monuments and Gestures, 3) Arts & Media, 3) Links & Networks. It would ensure a wide representation and allow for further consultation while focussing on assessment, prioritising and effective delivery of the agreed objectives.

5. That the Committee would be responsible for:

i. Evaluating the ‘Bristol objectives’ in terms of their impact, feasibility, desirability and their ability to be “meaningful, measurable and sustainable”.

ii. Agreeing priorities.

iii. Identifying ‘lead agencies’ within the group to champion agreed priorities; research and communicate likely timescales and resource-requirements for delivery of objectives.

iv. Developing a strategic plan for delivery of agreed priorities

v. Supporting ‘lead agencies’ in their work towards 2007 commemorations through information exchange, and working with the Black Development Agency to deliver capacity building.

vi. Networking to raise awareness, identify synergies, leverage resources, and attract energy to the 2007 commemoration in Bristol and beyond. Key links should include – the National Advisory Group on 2007, (Chair: Deputy PM, Member: Head of Leisure & Culture, Bristol City Council), Bristol Partnership (Local Strategic Partnership), Bristol City Council, Government Office South West, the universities, the media and other relevant partners, whether private, voluntary or statutory.

vii. Promoting links with other National Bodies and international bodies relevant to 2007 Bicentenary Celebrations. (Including Core Cities/West of England Spatial developments).

viii. Working with the National Advisory Group to identify resources that would enable the agreed priorities to be delivered.

ix. Regularly reporting and communicating with local and other stakeholders through a range of media and methods including print, internet and DVD.

6. The Co-ordinating Committee should be resourced with 2.5-3 workers and the appropriate resources to support its objectives.

7. The Co-ordinating Committee should be established immediately and reviewed in March 2008.

APPENDIX ONE: Ideas, Themes, Proposals

2007 bicentenary of the British parliament’s abolition of the slave trade

Community debate in St Paul’s, Bristol - 4th December 2005
Summary of issues raised and suggestions for commemorations

This debate was attended by approximately 30 – 40 people. Participants were adults mainly from the different community organisations, e.g. St Pauls Youth Promotion, Kuumba, Synergy, the Black Development Agency, and the Malcolm X Elders, Rastafarian elders; also some interested individual residents.

EDUCATION & RESEARCH
General/National:
• Stronger emphasis in the National Curriculum on the history and legacy of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in Britain. Involve African Caribbean academics and representatives to identify the realities of the past – not sanitised versions.
• Ensure teachers are properly trained in, feel confident about, and are required to teach the history and legacy of the slave trade.
• Ensure availability of well-informed teaching materials reflecting the African Caribbean perspective.
• Greater integration of African Caribbean culture and achievements across the schools curriculum subjects, e.g. scientists, authors, etc.
• Fund community-led education, empowering African Caribbeans to learn about their past history – including what came before slavery.
• Commission some African Caribbean writers to re-write the history books.
Local:
• Use/fund programmes at the Malcolm X Centre, Kuumba and other African Caribbean community self-learning organisations in Bristol.
• Ensure that all schools in Bristol teach about the local connections with and visible legacies of the slave trade – not just the national/general involvement.
• Fund a Chair and scholarships at Bristol University for African History.

HEROES, MONUMENTS AND GESTURES
General/National:
• Establish a national annual remembrance day, starting from 2007, to commemorate the victims of the slave trade, and those who suffered and struggled to achieve its end [perhaps also include contemporary relevance].
• Set up a voluntary repatriation scheme, fully funded by reparations, to help those who want to re-settle in the Caribbean or Africa.
• Create a national monument to commemorate the victims – based in Bristol.
• Identify and use positive role models in the African Caribbean community today to instil a sense of pride amongst the youth – e.g. involve celebrities
Local:
• Have sculptures/figures of African heroes and heroines placed prominently around Bristol and in its centre.
• Name streets after prominent African and African Caribbean people, past and present.
• Ensure that the new Broadmead development is not called Merchants’ Quarter – understand that ‘merchant’ has a specific connotation in Bristol.
• Highlight/ publicly recognise the contribution that African people have made to the assets and prosperity of Bristol and Bristolians today.

ARTS & MEDIA
General/National:
• Create a nationally co-ordinated website for 2007 for information (and dialogue between different communities)
• Commission films that tell the story of Britain’s involvement in the slave trade
• Drama /plays – theatre in education
• Give out long-term community radio licences
Local:
• Provide financial support for a new building/centre for Kuumba (arts and education organisation).
• Radio licences for Passion FM and some of the pirate community radio stations.
• Fund community groups to produce and present plays, music, dance, etc. in response to 2007 and contemporary issues.

LINKS & NETWORKS
General/National:
• Create a national committee with representatives from the African Caribbean community to co-ordinate responses to 2007 and with access to and influence on financial and political structures.
• Create projects (e.g.plays/exhibitions) that tour to different cities.
• Create e-forums for young people to communicate about 2007 and other issues for 2007 and beyond (national/international)
• Use live radio link-ups for discussions between young people in different communities (local/national/international)
Local:
• The community needs to set up their own Committee to co-ordinate further dialogue/ events/ activities and take forward ideas locally.
• Young people from Bristol, Liverpool and Hull could communicate through web and radio links – needs some co-ordination.
• Exchange programmes for young people to visit Liverpool and Hull, and reciprocate.