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Explore what the GPI has to offer. Watch our films, listen to audio, take a look at our publications and delve into a range of resources.

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Celebrating the life of Sarah White at the British Library

Watch the celebration of the life of Sarah White at the British Library.
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I Survived the Unprecedented Times, and All I Got Was This Lousy T-shirt: Beyond the Mantra of ‘Unprecedented Times’ and the Negation of Archives (May 2020)

By Kolya Abramsky
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Audio

Linton Kwesi Johnson reads the poem 'Song to an Imperishable Sunlight' by John La Rose

John La Rose, co-founder of the George Padmore Institute, published his first collection of poetry in 1966. Foundations includes the poem 'Song to an Imperishable Sunlight', read here by the award-winning poet, activist and GPI Trustee Linton Kwesi Johnson.

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Les Back recounts his experience of the New Cross Massacre and curating an exhibition of the Black People's Day of Action with archive material from the GPI

Les Back teaches Sociology at Goldsmiths University. He recounts how, in 2017, he curated an exhibition of photographs of the Black People's Day of Action by Vron Ware. This was a protest to denounce police and establishment indifference to the deaths of 13 young black people in a suspected arson attack in London. The exhibition also portrayed the political and social landscape of those events in 1981 with archive materials provided by the GPI.

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The New Cross Massacre: Reflections 40 years on

In 1981, 13 young black people died in a suspected arson attack. Hear five personal reflections on the New Cross Massacre and the ensuing Black People’s Day of Action protest march. GPI Trustees Roxy Harris and Linton Kwesi Johnson along with academic and photographer Vron Ware, playwright Rex Obano and poet Jay Bernard talk about the impact of those events and the importance of the GPI in ensuring the tragedy is never forgotten.

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Reflections on the Caribbean Artists Movement

George Padmore Institute co-founder and Trustee Sarah White and Trinidadian artist, poet and filmmaker Christopher Laird talk about the early days of the Caribbean Artists Movement, its international impact and the importance of the GPI CAM archive.

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Black Supplementary Schools

Roxy Harris, current chair of the GPI, reveals what it was like to teach at the George Padmore Black Supplementary School, while Victor Sylvester provides personal insight into being a student at the Albertina Sylvester Black Supplementary School and eventually teaching at a supplementary school himself. Both talk about how important the archives at the GPI are for the next generation.

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International Book Fairs of Radical Black and Third World Books 1982-1995

Margaret Busby, the first black woman publisher in the UK when she co-founded Allison & Busby in the late 1960s and Janice Durham, a trustee of the GPI and director of New Beacon Books, talk about the impact and vital importance of the International Book Fairs of Radical Black and Third World Books 1982-1995.

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John La Rose Collection of Ephemera

Sarah Garrod, GPI senior archivist, reveals how ephemeral material sets the context for historical, social and cultural moments in history and the value these items hold for anyone interested in understanding and researching archives. David Abdulah, trade unionist, activist and long-time friend of John La Rose, shares the passion with which John collected ephemera with the view of recording accurately events and important moments in history.

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Film on the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners in Kenya archive collection

GPI Trustee Chris Moffat and solicitor and member of the Black Solicitors Network Yvonne Brown talk about the CRPPK archive collection at the GPI. Watch Yvonne's fascinating insights into campaigning as a member of the Committee alongside GPI co-founder John La Rose and Chris' unique perspective of working on the materials held at the archive.

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Watch Professor Gus John speak about the Black Education Movement

Watch renowned scholar and activist Professor Gus John talk about the campaigns and activism of the Black Education Movement.

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Hear how the GPI's children's book, Dream to Change the World, came to life

Award-winning uthor and illustrator Ken Wilson-Max talks with GPI Trustee Sharmilla Beezmohun about creating a children's book that honours John La Rose, founder of GPI. They are joined by the GPI's archivist Sarah Garrod and another award-winning author Catherine Johnson.

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The Joan Goody archive at the GPI

Joan Goody was an English teacher and a pioneer in introducing Caribbean, African and Asian literature into British schools. Watch the GPI’s archivist Sarah Garrod along with Joan's colleagues Jenny Green and Lawrence Scott talk about her work, legacy and the importance of the GPI archive.

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Fiilm on European Action for Racial Equality and Social Justice

GPI Trustee Azim Hajee and journalist and activist Mogniss H Abdallah talk about the organisation, its legacy and the importance of the GPI archive.

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Chronicles of a Black Filmmaker: Imruh Bakari Talks to Linton Kwesi Johnson

GPI Trustee Linton Kwesi Johnson talks to pioneering filmmaker, lecturer, writer and poet Imruh Bakari about his long career in films, as director and producer; the challenges faced by young black aspiring filmmakers during the 1980s and early 1990s; working with the late Menelik Shabazz and the late Henry G Martin; and curating film festivals in Africa.

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Film: A Tribute to Jean Binta Breeze

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Audio

Linton Kwesi Johnson reads the poem 'Word Creatures' by John La Rose

John La Rose (1927-2006) is a Trinidadian poet, essayist, publisher, filmmaker, trade unionist, and cultural and political activist. He was co-founder and chair of the George Padmore Institute (GPI). His first collection of poetry Foundations (1966) includes the poem 'Word Creatures', read here by award-winning poet, activist and GPI Trustee Linton Kwesi Johnson.

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Easy Read

1927-2006 - The Life of John La Rose

By Paul Christian, with Sue Ledger, Sarah Garrod, Nicola Grove and Generate Voices

An easy read summary to help people with learning disabilities find out more about John La Rose and his work to fight racism.

Developed with support and funding by The Open University.

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Easy Read

The 1981 New Cross Fire

By Paul Christian, with Sue Ledger, Sarah Garrod, Nicola Grove and Generate Voices

An easy read summary to help people with learning disabilities find out about the 1981 New Cross fire.

Developed with support and funding by The Open University.

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Easy Read

Introduction to the George Padmore Collection Easy Read Series

By Paul Christian, with Sue Ledger, Sarah Garrod, Nicola Grove and Generate Voices

An easy read introduction to help people with learning disabilities find out about the George Padmore Collection easy read series.

Developed with support and funding by The Open University.

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Beacon of Hope: New Beacon in Poetry and Prose: ‘New Beacon Books – the Pioneering Years’

By Ruth Bush and ‘Surge’ introduction and poem by Jay Bernard

Contains research and creative work done under the auspices of the George Padmore Institute. In 2018, Jay Bernard won the Ted Hughes award for new poetry with a multimedia sequence of 'Surge', the poem created after exploring the New Cross Massacre Action Committee archives at the GPI in 2016. (2016, 76pp)

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Building Britannia: Life Experience With Britain

Edited by Roxy Harris, Sharmilla Beezmohun and Sarah White

Building Britainnia continues the history of the black British experience begun in Changing Britannia (1999). With Dennis Bovell, dub musician; Gus John, education and social justice consultant; Aggrey Burke, psychiatrist; Yvonne Brewster, theatre director and actress; Wilfred Wood, Anglican bishop; Althea McNish, textile designer and painter; Alexis Rennie, engineer. (2009, 294pp)

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Dream to Change the World: The life and legacy of John La Rose – the book of the exhibition

Edited by Sarah Garrod, Nicole-Rachelle Moore and Sarah White

John La Rose (1927-2006) was a poet, publisher, film maker, trade unionist, and cultural and political activist. This exhibition, held in 2015 in Islington, north London, attempted to show what John believed in and how, through his life and his political and cultural activism, he lived his ‘dream to change the world’. His vision was for a world of racial equality and social justice. (2018, 64pp)

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Mangrove Nine (DVD)

Produced by John La Rose and Franco Rosso

40-minute film about the trial and charges that arose from a demonstration to protest against police harassment of the popular Mangrove Restaurant in Notting Hill, London in the early 1970s. An historic event in the life and political development of the black community in Britain. (2012 [1973], DVD)

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A Meeting of the Continents: the International Book Fair of Radical Black and Third World Books – Revisited: history, memories, organisation and programmes 1982-1995

Edited by Sarah White, Roxy Harris and Sharmilla Beezmohun

Details how the Book Fair came into being, was organised, the role of the founder John La Rose, how and why it ended. With memoirs by participants from around the world. Includes the 12 brochures accompanying the Book Fairs and an index. (2005, 560 pp)

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The New Cross Massacre Story: interviews with John La Rose

Prologue by Linton Kwesi Johnson and epilogue by Gus John

The New Cross Fire took place in 1981 and claimed the lives of 13 young black people at a birthday party. This is a reprint of the original booklet published in 1984 by the Alliance of the Black Parents Movement, the Black Youth Movement and Race Today Collective. The significance of the period and the event today are also explored by Linton Kwesi Johnson and Gus John. (2011 [1984], 80pp)

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Unending Journey: selected writings

By John La Rose. Introduction by Linton Kwesi Johnson.

A selection of short essays and writings that reflect John La Rose’s varied activities: politics, literature, music, artistic creativity, culture and society, technology, trade union and worker solidarity, social equality and racial justice. 'There is both clarity and complexity in his ideas; and his prose exhibits the art of a consummate communicator.' Linton Kwesi Johnson. (2014, 86pp)

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Politics and Peoples’ Power After Obama plus DVD

By David Abdulah

The text and discussion of one of three John La Rose Memorial Lectures held between 2010 and 2013. It reflects and explores ideas and concerns close to John La Rose’s heart. Accompanied by a DVD. (2010)

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The Changing Nature of Black Cultural Politics 1960-2010 plus DVD

By Jayne Cortez

The text and discussion of one of three John La Rose Memorial Lectures held between 2010 and 2013. It reflects and explores ideas and concerns close to John La Rose’s heart. Accompanied by a DVD. (2011)

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Resisting Metaphysical Empires: language as a war zone

By Ngugi wa Thiong’o

The text and discussion of one of three John La Rose Memorial Lectures held between 2010 and 2013. It reflects and explores ideas and concerns close to John La Rose’s heart. Accompanied by a CD and photographs. (2013)

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Art in the Caribbean: an introduction

By Anne Walmsley and Stanley Greaves

The first section contains a gallery of 40 artworks created in the Caribbean between the 1940s and 2000s. The second section provides a historical background to the Pre-Columbian period (5000BC-AD1500); the colonial and early independence period (1500-1900); the modern and contemporary period (1900-2010). (2010, 184pp)

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The Caribbean Artists Movement 1966-1972: a literary and cultural history

By Anne Walmsley

The classic history of this major cultural movement of Caribbean writers and artists founded in 1966 by Kamau Brathwaite, Andrew Salkey and John La Rose. CAM flourished in Britain in the late 1960s and influenced many later intellectual and artistic developments. (1992, 356pp)

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Dream To Change The World: a film about John La Rose (DVD)

Directed by Horace Ové

Based on an interview between John La Rose and Errol Lloyd concerning the Caribbean Artists Movement, New Beacon Books and the relation between culture and politics. Includes John’s background, childhood in Trinidad and activities in London. A celebration of the man who ‘dreamed to change the world’. Horace Ové is a distinguished Trinidadian photographer and filmmaker. (2006, DVD, 76min)

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Foundations of a Movement: tributes to John La Rose

Edited by Roxy Harris and Sarah White

Over 60 friends and colleagues write about their relationship with John, how their activities were affected by his political and cultural perspectives and by his methods of work. Political and personal memoirs, essays and poems from the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, the USA and the UK are all included. (1991, 196pp)

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New Beacon Review No 1 (July 1985)

Edited by John La Rose

Contains a reprint of the document of the West Indian Standing Conference issued around the struggle against the colour bar on London buses in the 1960s. (1985, 112pp)

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New Beacon Review Nos 2/3 (November 1986)

Edited by John La Rose

Contains a reprint of the 1966 document on ‘Nigger Hunting in England’ by Joseph A. Hunte. (1986, 160pp)

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Dream to Change the World: The Story of John La Rose

Written and Illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max

Ages 5 to 8

A magical story about the childhood of John La Rose, a tireless activist and co-founder of the GPI. Readers will learn about John's life through a fascinating timeline.

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Jump Up! A Story of Carnival

Written and illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max

Ages 5 to 8

Jump Up! tells the story of Cecille, a young black girl living in the Caribbean, and how her community develops their very own Carnival, based on their long-remembered African traditions.

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Black People's Day of Action 02.03.1981

Vron Ware

16 double page photos of the biggest protest by black people seen in Britain, when 15-20,000 marched from New Cross Road through Central London to Hyde Park. A unique social resource of a historical moment for the black community. 14cm x 20cm booklet, 36pp

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Exploring Archives Teachers' Resource Pack - History and Citizenship Key Stages 3-4

BY ROSHI NAIDOO

Funded by MLA London, the pack includes a handbook with learning activities, 30 image cards of archive items which are used for discussion points. Themes covered: Why do People Protest?, The Caribbean Artists Movement, International Book Fairs.

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