Ever wish you were somewhere else? This coming week
I wish I was in Glasgow- yes for the Commonwealth Games but also for this
fantastic opportunity to discover a great deal of history relating to slavery
and Emancipation day. Education is a great thing provided we accept history as
history and put our efforts into working together to create understanding and
unity rather than division and resentment. This programme is funded and
provides opportunities for everyone to take part in workshops and celebrate
together.
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| Drumming workshops |
I find myself more and more involved with covering
social justice projects (write Journey To Justice in search!) and it is great
to come across this event which highlights one of the greatest victories
society has ever known. Yes, there is still too much fear and racial hatred in
society but this is an excellent way of providing people with a mix of
education, fun and a chance to try out some new skills.
Looking through photo's for this article brought tears to my eyes and I have avoided the most harrowing images.
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Slaves- Glasgow shipping yards |
The Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme is a national
celebration. Culture 2014 will showcase dance, theatre, music, visual arts,
comedy and much more in the run up to and after the Commonwealth Games, with
Festival 2014 transforming the Host City at Games time. The Cultural
Programme is a partnership between the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee,
Glasgow Life, and Creative Scotland through National Lottery funding.
Project lead: Glasgow Life in association with African Caribbean
Cultures Glasgow
Join us for the inaugural Scottish celebration of Emancipation Day,
celebrated annually across the Caribbean on August 1st. Make your way around
locations in Glasgow’s Merchant City as we bring to life the story of the
city’s role in Caribbean slavery using drama, dance and music.
'How did plantation slaves keep their spirits up when life was so bleak and harsh?
They sang. And eventually singing became not just a way of keeping going
emotionally but a way of passing on coded messages.' Speaking about Negro Spirituals
Find out why the Gallery of Modern Art would not exist but for the slave
trade. Tread the path taken by wealthy Glasgow merchants on their return from
the slave plantations. Hear about the abolitionist movement and the Glaswegians
who supported emancipation.
Directed by Alan McKendrick, inspired by an original idea from
African Caribbean Cultures Glasgow and historian Stephen Mullen’s
book It Wisnae Us.
'It Wisane Us ,written by former CRER Researcher
Stephen Mullen, focuses on the buildings and streets of the Merchant City and
highlights Glasgow's tangible links with slavery. For instance there are a
range of streets in the city centre which pay tribute to the plantation
colonies and the merchants who gained vast fortunes in trading with them, these
streets include Buchanan Street, Virginia Street and Jamaica Street. In
addition to this, the palladian magnificence of townhouses such as the
Cunningham Mansion, now the Gallery of Modern Art, built by one of the
wealthiest 'tobacco lords' demonstrate better than any historical work the huge
profits Glasgow made through the colonial trade.'
If you are unable to attend but would like to find out more about the
slave trade in Scotland here is a valuable site link National Library of Scotland
‘The role played by Scots in the slave trade and in its abolition has
only recently been recognised. We hold both printed and manuscript resources
recording Scotland’s links with slavery.
Wed 30 July, Thurs 31 July, Fri 1
August
TICKETS ARE FREE BUT MUST BE BOOKED IN ADVANCE
by calling
0141 353 8000, ONLINE HERE or
in person at the City Halls Box Office.
Graham
Campbell - Joint Coordinator
African
Caribbean Cultures Glasgow LLP
(Partnership
No SO304789)
Aspire
Centre
135
Wellington Street
Glasgow
G2 2XD
Tel: 07855 303604
blog: ACC Glasgow Blog
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