History Matters is presenting a series of talks and in-conversation events chaired by Professor Hakim Adi to support the legal campaign against Chichester University. Adi’s postgraduate students will deliver these fundraising events. We will be inviting past and current students on the MRes in the History of Africa and the African Diaspora, as well as PhD students under Professor Adi’s supervision to present a historical talk based on the topic of their dissertation or thesis. The MRes is the only Master-level programme in the UK that focuses on the interconnected histories between Africa and its Diaspora from an African-centred perspective. The events last approximately one hour, including an audience Q&A.

Our second event is on Radical Black Women presented by A.S. Francis.

“The white capitalist media portray black women in degrading conditions. Until black women aspire above these conditions and start to educate themselves, these oppressive conditions will continue…” – The Manchester Black Women’s Co-operative (MBWC), 1978

A.S. Francis is the author of the recently published political biography, Gerlin Bean: Mother of the Movement. She is also a contributor to the anthology, Many Struggles: New Histories of Africana and Caribbean People in Britain edited by Professor Adi. Francis’s essay, entitled, ‘A Luta Continua: The Political Journey of Manchester Black Women Activists, 1945-80,’ highlights that British cities, such as Manchester, have had an African presence before the coming of the Windrush, and that Black women played a significant role in political organisations in the ongoing struggles for reparatory justice and liberation.

Francis has been studying for her PhD with Professor Adi for six years, researching women’s involvement in Britain’s Black radical organisations during the 1960s-1980s. She is currently in the final stages of her thesis entitled, ‘All Power to the Sisters – and Power to all!: A History of Britain’s Black Women Radicals from 1965-1985’.

In this presentation, Francis will feature highlights from her research findings.

Join us for what promises to be an informative presentation by A.S. Francis as she brings to light Black women’s activism in 20th-century Britain.

This event will be presented on Zoom. For the best experience, we recommend using either a laptop or desktop computer. You will receive a reminder email, including a link to join in advance of the event.