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George Padmore Institute
@gpadmoreinstitute.bsky.social
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Community archive of black grassroots activist and cultural movements associated with John La Rose and Sarah White, co-founders of New Beacon Books, and many others. Testimony to the creativity and resilience of black resistance.

https://linktr.ee/thegpi
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What is the Black Archive? Reparations and Transformation

Sat, 29 Nov, British Library

On Presenting the Past: Black Archives in Britain Today – GPI Archivist will be talking at this first discussion of the day, along with the BFI and the Stuart Hall Archive

See British Library website to book
A photo of a handwritten sign in black ink on white paper, posted on an arched window. The text reads '1st Conference Black Parents Movement 27th-28th October 1979'
November 10, 2025 at 3:40 PM
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Tomorrow, GPI Artist in Residence, Dominique Le Gendre, will host a workshop on the power of art and culture to transform lives. Storytelling, creativity and imagination are fundamental to change and activism – something profoundly espoused by co-founder John La Rose.

Free. To book see link in bio
Haringey Creates Cultural Education Summit. The Power of Arts and Culture to Transform Lives. Friday 7th November 3pm – 8pm. Collage Arts, Collage Artspace2, 4 Coburg Rd, London, N22 6UJ. Join us for a powerful afternoon where stories, movements and imagination collide. Whether you're a teacher looking for new ideas or an artist seeking to connect with the community, this is the place to be. For further information contact leigha.fearon@haringeycreates.com or james.fornara@haringeycreates.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:07 AM
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On 1 November, we spent an uplifting afternoon celebrating the Black Parents Movement and being inspired to write creative reflections on the idea of resistance by the amazing Kat François. Visit our website and sign up to our mailing list for news of future workshops.

📸 George Padmore Institute
November 5, 2025 at 2:49 PM
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It's rewarding to hear the projects our archive supports. Journalist Yvonne Singh shared how indispensable archives were to her book INK! 
'The GPI keeps the history of the marginalised communities in this country preserved and intact, and so plays an important role in safeguarding these histories'
A photo of Yvonne Singh on the right and a cover of her new book INK! From the Age of Empire to Black Power – The Journalists Who Transformed Britain.
October 27, 2025 at 4:16 PM
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Still time to book! Free Creative Writing Workshop with the author, poet Kat François.

Sat, 1 November at Marcus Garvey Library, Tottenham N15 4JA

Celebrate Black History Month and stories of local Black activism.

With Haringey Culture and Communities Team.

Email: info@georgepadmoreinstitute.org
A photo of Kat François. She is leaning on her elbows with her hands around her head. She is looking directly at the viewer and is wearing a lacey grey long-sleeved top.
October 22, 2025 at 1:03 PM
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This month GPI Chair spoke about the Black Parents Movement:

‘The BPM played a leading role in developing strategies and action in Britain for Black people to fight back against the racism and discrimination in the schooling system and against police corruption and violence...'
Roxy Harris pointing at a printout cover of Race Today magazine. Paulette Henry is next to him. Roxy Harris is sitting, holding a microphone and speaking to the audience. His left hand is raised. Paulette Henry from Black Rootz is sitting next to him, her head turned towards him A photo of the panellists talking about the Black Parents Movement. From left to right: Nels Abbey, writer and satirist; Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp, Director of Culture and Communities at Haringey Council; Paulette Henry from Black Rootz; and Roxy Harris, Chair of the George Padmore Institute. The event took place on 7 October to launch Black History Haringey 365. The panellists at the event on 7 October who spoke about the Black Parents Movement and other members of Haringey Council
October 21, 2025 at 8:44 AM
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Free Creative Writing Workshop with the talented author, poet, teacher Kat François.

Sat, 1 November at Marcus Garvey Library, Tottenham N15 4JA

Celebrate Black History Month and stories of local Black activism.

With Haringey Culture and Communities Team.

Email: info@georgepadmoreinstitute.org
October 19, 2025 at 9:37 AM
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Explore the Archive: This month is the 40th anniversary of the Broadwater Farm Uprising in north London. On 5 Oct 1985, a police incident led to a woman's death, which sparked demonstrations by the local black community. The aftermath is depicted in this one-page document in our archive.
A document held in the Black Parents Movement archive collection at the George Padmore Institute. The one-page report depicts the aftermath of the uprisings in Tottenham, north London in 1985. Titled 'Attack on Broadwater Farm: Black People Campaign for Justice', the document also includes a timeline of 'Significant state police activities' and a list of five 'Demands of the Black Community'. Visit our website to search our online catalogue and discover more documents relating to the uprisings and the Broadwater Farm Youth Association: www.georgepadmoreinstitute.org
October 16, 2025 at 11:14 AM
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We are excited to announce two Young Adult (YA) novels inspired by Black British history will be published by the GPI in 2026.

Authors Kat François and Anna Jane McIntyre will address the lack of Black history in stories for young people aged 11–13. Visit our website to find out more. Link in bio
Anna Jane McIntyre is looking directly at the viewer with a gentle smile. She has brown afro hair and is wearing a blue polo neck top with a dark blue pinstriped jacket. Kat François is looking directly at the viewer with a gentle smile on her face. She is wearing a black polo neck jumper and her long dreadlocks are placed over one shoulder. Photo Credit: Sloetry
October 14, 2025 at 8:46 AM
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Free Creative Writing Workshop with the talented author, poet, teacher Kat François.

Sat, 1 November at Marcus Garvey Library, Tottenham N15 4JA

Celebrate Black History Month and stories of local Black activism.

With Haringey Culture and Communities Team.

Email: info@georgepadmoreinstitute.org
A graphic including text which reads Standing Firm in Power and Pride:Creative Writing Reflections on the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Black Parents Movement. Creative Writing Workshop. A black and white photograph is centred on the graphic, which captures a demonstration organised by the Black Parents Movement in the 1970s. A photo of Kat François, the talented author, poet, teacher, performer who will facilitate the creative writing workshop on 1 November. Kat is looking out of the frame, she is wearing her long dreadlocks over one shoulder and she has on a black polo neck jumper.
October 8, 2025 at 10:18 AM
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Free event tomorrow, 7 October at 6pm.

Hear the Chair of the George Padmore Institute reflect on the achievements of the Black Parents Movement. An activist organisation which ran in the 70s and 80s.

Book here bit.ly/4nK9bmu
Graphic showing imaged of four panellists: Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp, Nels Abbey, Paulette Henry and Roxy Harris. The text reads: Black History Haringey 365 launch event. Join us for speeches, a panel discussion, live music and poetry. Tuesday 7 October, 6–9pm, Wolves Lane Centre N22 5JD. Book your free ticket via Ticket Tailor or scan the QR code.
October 6, 2025 at 8:40 AM
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Calling Haringey Residents!

Free Creative Writing Workshop celebrating Black Haringey History 365

Inspired by the creativity, resilience and activism of the Black Parents Movement.

Saturday 1 November at 12 to 2pm. Venue: Marcus Garvey Library.

Book: email us at info@georgepadmoreinstitute.org
Free Creative Writing Workshop on Saturday 1 November at 12 to 2 pm. Inspired by the resilience, creativity and activism of the Black Parents Movement. Free for Haringey Residents At the Marcus Garvey Library, Tottenham N15 4JA Email info@georgepadmoreinstitute.org to book your place.
October 1, 2025 at 10:17 AM
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We had a great time chatting with our visitors for this year’s Open House Festival.

To hear what our visitors had to say about their time with us, take a look at this video.

#OpenHouseFestival #OpenCity #GeorgePadmoreInstitute #archives #history #blackbritishhistory #JohnLaRose
September 29, 2025 at 12:01 PM
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Join us for the launch of the Black History Haringey 365 programme at Wolves Lane Horticulture Centre on Tuesday 7 October where there will be a panel discussion reflecting on 50 years since the Black Parents Movement was established.

To book your free ticket, head over to this link: bit.ly/4nK9bmu
September 23, 2025 at 9:27 AM
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Thank you to everyone who has booked their ticket to visit us on Tuesday 16 September for this year’s Open House Festival.

For anyone who hasn't, there is still time. Head to the following link and book your free ticket: programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/13098
Landscape graphic. Grey border bar at the top features black text reading 'Date: Tuesday 16 September Time: 30-minute visits from 10:30-5pm' on the left hand side and 'Location: 76 Stroud Green Road, N4 3EN Tickets: Free but booking essential' on the right. Bottom grey border bar features Open House Festival logo on the right and GPI logo on the right. middle of graphic features 'George Padmore Institute at Open House Festival' in black title text on the left hand side and an image of the reading room on the right hand side against a white background.
September 10, 2025 at 3:03 PM
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Join the symposium using the Zoom details in the graphic or watch the live stream on YouTube.

#YusufuBalaUsman #YusufuBalaUsmanInstitute #NewBeaconBooks #JohnLaRose
September 9, 2025 at 3:15 PM
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🚨Reminder

Places to visit us on Tuesday 16 September 2025 for this year's Open House Festival are going quickly so head over to the following link in our bio to book your free ticket today: programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/13098

We look forward to seeing you!

#OpenHouseFestival
A white poster reading 'George Padmore Institute at Open House Festival' in black title text at the top of the document. Below/in the middle of the poster is a colour image of the reading room at the George Padmore Institute, featuring a bust of co-founder John La Rose on the mantel piece with three red poster depicting John just about. The bottom of the shot has a table with some archival materials in the bottom right corner. Below the image is the Open House logo in the bottom left of the poster ('Open House Festival' in black capital letters with a black key to the right of the logo) and the GPI logo in the bottom right.
September 2, 2025 at 12:10 PM
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Pictured is GPI Trustee and renowned reggae poet Linton Kwesi Johnson, captured taking part in one of the demonstrations to support George Lindo, a Jamaican-born worker residing in Bradford, who was falsely accused of the armed robbery of a betting shop in 1978.
Black and white photograph of Linton Kwesi Johnson outside of a police station in Bradford holding a megaphone speaking to a crowd of people. He is wearing a knitted hat and 2 policemen are pictured behind him.
August 24, 2025 at 10:14 AM
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The sculpture served as an inspiration for the CAM journal published between 1970 and 1979.
Image of the front cover of CAM journal ‘Savacou’ featuring a drawing of Moody’s sculpture by the same name in the top right hand corner. Reads ‘Announcing a Journal of the Caribbean Artists Movements’ in the top left hand corner in capitals with ‘SAVACOU..’ in emboldened font, capitalised, below. Bottom left hand corner reads ‘General editors: L. Edward Brathwaite Andrew Salkey Kenneth Ramchand’ in capitals.
August 22, 2025 at 3:03 PM
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Moody was also a key member of the Caribbean Artists Movement (CAM) and his sculpture 'Savacou', depicting a birdlike figure, was commissioned by and is currently sited at the epidemiological research unit at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.
Postcard with image of ‘Savacou’ sculpture with the epidemiological research unit of the University of West Indies campus in Mona, Jamaica in the background.
August 22, 2025 at 3:03 PM
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On 12 August 1900, sculptor Ronald Moody was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Moody’s work has featured in multiple national galleries including Tate Britain and the National Portrait Gallery, as well as in his home country in the National Gallery of Jamaica.
Postcard with image of ‘Johanaan’ wood (elm) sculpture (1936). The sculpture is dark brown against a pale blue background.
August 22, 2025 at 3:03 PM
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The George Padmore Institute (GPI) is pleased to announce that we will be part of this year’s Open House Festival🏠

Join us on Tuesday 16 September for a visit between 10.30am and 5pm. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about the GPI's history and handle some of our collections📰
August 19, 2025 at 11:00 PM
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📰 Pictured here is a document entitled 'Justice for the Mangrove 9', 1 Oct 1971 issued by the Black Peoples’ Information Centre detailing the case. From our archive’s Newspapers, UK and Caribbean collection (Ref: NEW/5/7/1).
Document issued by the Black Peoples’ Information Centre titled ‘Justice for the Mangrove 9’, which appears in bold black capitals at the top of the page. Just below in the centre is a black and white image of many police approaching a black demonstrator towards the left hand side of the image. The bottom of the image reads ‘Police Attack Notting Hill Demo August 1970’ in white text. Below in bold text reads ‘We Demand To Be Tried By Black Jurors’.
August 19, 2025 at 10:13 AM
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Pictured here is 'Day Trip to the Seaside', 1975, the second of Vanley Burke’s prints which he has kindly donated to the George Padmore Institute (GPI). Funds will go to support our ongoing fundraising activities in aid of renovation work of the GPI’s building.
black and white photograph capturing 7 young black people at the beach. A ferris wheel appears in the background in the centre-right of the image, with a sign for go-karts captured just in front.
August 11, 2025 at 12:56 PM
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On 6 August 1962, Jamaica gained its independence from the British Empire. ere, we’re taking #ACloserLook at a six-page document entitled ‘Socialism for Jamaica: Q & A' (1965) from the Jamaican Young Socialist League (YSL). To find out more, visit our online catalogue: bit.ly/45Bzo09
Photos of all 6 pages of the Jamaica YSL document ‘Socialism for Jamaica: Q & A' published in 1965 as a background. The centre image is from page 2 entitled ‘How would a socialist system differ?’ in a red-outlined rectangle.
August 6, 2025 at 10:12 AM