Last modified on Sun 23 May 2021 19.40 EDT
A major national survey, launched by Cambridge University, I-Cubed Ltd and the Voice Newspaper, will explore the evolution of black British identity, from the generations who lived through the 1970s and 1980s to the students leading the Black Lives Matter movement today.
At the launch of the Black British Voices Project, the Guardian asked three people, from different generations, what it means to them to be black British.
Rhammel Afflick
Rhammel Afflick. Photograph: Handout
For me being black and British is an abundance of joy, resilience and creativity all under one roof. I think of the fusion of great Caribbean staples with British dishes. I think about the immeasurable contributions to society and culture. Itâs really hard to describe. I think itâs interesting that irrespective of being of Caribbean descent, or more of African descent, thereâs something celebratory about coming together.
Sun 11 Apr 2021 10.00 EDT
Last modified on Mon 12 Apr 2021 10.58 EDT
Itâs been 40 years since Ros Griffiths watched her neighbourhood burn to the ground. Then 15, she wandered the streets through one of the most devastating civil disturbances England has seen, in a state of shock. âAs I got into the area, you could see the fighting. It looked like war.â
But even amid the smoke, fire and police cars that tore through the streets, Griffiths still remembers the reggae music that played softly into the night.
Brixton was then the centre of the UKâs black community, Griffiths said, with young people from across the country coming down for the weekend to enjoy its cultural vibrance. From the protests and literature to the sound systems, the street corners reverberated a simple yet powerful political message: black is beautiful.