This year marked the launch of Govanhill Baths’ first Black History Month celebration. From the 24th – the 30th of October we ran a week-long programme of events as part of Scottish Black History Month.
This programme aimed to highlight the structural inequalities which operate on many different levels – personal, social and institutional – and draw attention to the stories of the struggle for racial equality and broaden local knowledge of the accomplishments of BME communities in Glasgow.
Events were free to attend and feature prominent Southside activists, artists and cultural historians including Daniel Mwangi, Cheif Amu, Sarra Wassu, Keng Keng, Zamard Zahid and Timm Nunn with the Govanhill Baths Culture Collective..
White Is… (Grove Press): Relaunch and Response
In 1969 a group of young people in the US shared what it meant to be white from their own racial and economic vantage points. This formed White Is… – a book compiled by Preston Wilcox and illustrated by Sandy Huffaker. After its unearthing by Tim Nunn, Grove Press, and the two authors’ estates have permitted the book to be reproduced online for Black History Month 2022. From 1st of October 2022 the book will be available at A Small Drop of Ink with an open response function inviting you to lodge your reactions and interpretations.
Festival of Resistance – Film and Exhibition
As part of the Festival of Resistance celebrations in May to mark a year since the victory against the home office, Govanhill Baths commissioned Cameron Nicoll to produce a short film of the day. This film was screened and accompanied by a photographic exhibition of the events by Marilena Vlachopoulou.
How wars are fuelled by climate change
Human rights and climate activist Sarra Wassu led a panel discussion in which she explored the struggle for migrant justice and its link to climate justice. Sarra Wassu is 19 years old & currently studying medicine. A well-involved activist who is passionate about climate justice, anti-racism and human rights, Sarra is passionate about educating, raising awareness, and leading protests while working with marginalised communities to build a better future full of equality and equity for all.
The Fabric House – South Asian Women and Resistance.
Zamard Zahid, writer and advocate for racial justice and equality within education, read from her recent writings on South Asian women, resistance and community, explored through her mother’s fabric shop in Govanhill in the 80s and 90s. This reading was followed by an audience Q&A session.
After 22 years of teaching Zamard left recently to take her activism and writing more seriously. She completed the HarperCollins Black Authors Academy and has had articles published by Holyrood Magazine and The Scottish Black Writers Network. She is also a member of Pass The Mic as a WOC commentator in Scotland. She has made appearances for STV expert voices on issues related to race. She has three children and became a grandmother for the first time last year.
Our Streets, Their Statues: Glasgow’s Colonial Legacy
In this presentation, cultural historian and anti-racist activist Daniel Mwangi explored the bloody history behind Glasgow’s public statues.
Art and Activism
KengKeng has been immersed in producing activists inspired by and for justice movements from Extinction Rebellion to BLM and migrant justice events for the past 8 years in East London and Glasgow. She discussed how she creatively responds to community-based racial and social justice movements.
Keng Keng is art activist and experimental milliner based in Glasgow. She has been involved with various community-based racial, social and environmental justice movements around Scotland and in London and regularly runs art workshops. Making banners and flags for demonstrations together with other people creates not only a sense of solidarity between participants but also fosters conversations which might otherwise struggle to emerge.
