Aspire Black Suffolk: Celebrating the Windrush Generation and Marvel’s Black Panther

We talk to three community leaders in Suffolk - Imani Sorhaindo, Angelle Joseph and Charles Challenger - about the exciting new exhibition and the contribution made by the Windrush Generation.

A new exhibition celebrating Marvel’s Black Panther and Black history is set to launch in the UK.

The Power of Stories exhibition will feature three iconic costumes from the Black Panther film. Marvel has loaned the outfits of T’Challa, Shuri and Okoye to the exhibition in Suffolk and will also tell local Black history stories.

The project’s Community Curator, Imani Sorhaindo, told The Voice she is extremely excited about the exhibition. She said:

“To have the real costumes from the film is incredible. The film created a cultural shift in the Black community, not just in the UK but around the world. It had a profound impact on so many of us, that we started to wear our hair natural and embrace who we are and not assimilate to European beauty standards.”

Ms Sorhaindo describes the global phenomenon of Marvel’s Black Panther as “revolutionary” and said it has helped to decolonise the Black history our children are taught in school.

Telling our own stories

She said: “The film was a reminder we come from a great legacy and completely contradicted what we are taught in schools – that our history begins at slavery. This film showed us the opposite and actually helped dismantle a lot of the negative stories we have been told about Africa and our ancestors.”

Ms Sorhaindo believes the exhibition will give local people the opportunity to tell their own stories as there will be several interactive stages – something which is fundamental to the feel of the project. We wanted local people to see themselves reflected and we have given them a safe space to share things they may have been silenced about,” she added.

Speaking to The Voice, Ms Sorhaindo says she hopes the exhibition will inspire the black community but also act as an educational resource for those in the wider community. When asked to describe the late actor Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal of Black Panther, she said: “I couldn’t imagine anyone else playing that role, he was perfect!

Imani Sorhaindo

“He brought so much to the character. He embodied the strength, grace, humility and power of an African man.”

She believes more needs to be done to combat the influx of negative images of Black men within media, and hopes the new exhibition at the Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich will help. Many of the museums she is working with have taken on a new commitment to decolonise public spaces and look at how Eurocentric they have been in the past and recent years.

Ms Sorhaindo acknowledges historically some of the messages in museums and exhibitions have been racist in telling Black stories. However, she said the key to combating this to to have Black curators and decision-makers within art spaces to ensure the storytelling is accurate and not steeped in racist ideals.

She said: “It has been quite crucial for me to be the community curator for this project. It has been a healing journey and it has bought up some emotions. Sometimes you have to sit with the uncomforting feeling, in order to show your true history in its true light and for the community to benefit,” she added.

“It has been quite crucial for me to be the community curator for this project. It has been a healing journey and it has bought up some emotions. Sometimes you have to sit with the uncomforting feeling, in order to show your true history in its true light and for the community to benefit

She said her interest in the Black Panther superhero film stems from the political and social organisation, the Black Panther Party. Founded in 1966, in Oakland, California, by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale, the Black Panther Party became one of the most influential Black activist groups in American history.

She said: “They demonstrated all the amazing things people could do in their community and they created positive change. “They really inspired me to get into community work and make a difference.”

Reflecting on how the party were portrayed by the media in the 1960s, she said: “They were portrayed as very negative.

“There wasn’t much coverage of all the good they were doing and the focus was simply, they are Black men carrying guns. People didn’t know about the Saturday school, the Sickle Cell clinics and breakfast clubs they provided.”

Ms Sorhaindo is a community activist, teacher and holistic health practitioner and has lived in Ipswich ever since she came to England with her family from the Caribbean. Her passion for telling Black stories can be traced back to her upbringing and being one of the only black children in her school.

She said: “What those early challenges taught me, was to be passionate about equality and justice and they shaped my whole future as a community activist.”

The recent calls for more Black history to be included on the National Curriculum is a step forward, but for Ms Sorhaindo, she believes its success will depend on who is teaching the history.

She told The Voice: “In my view, Black history has to be taught by someone very interested in the subjects. We pick up body language and nuances and it is very important we do not distort the history and enable children to see the truth and be inspired. Unfortunately, I am not that confident the majority of schools are there yet.”

In the spirit of the Black Panther Party, Ms Sorhaindo, added, “If the Black community want anything changed, we must do it ourselves.”

At eight years old, she came to the UK with her family from Dominica, and says she will be paying homage to the Windrush generation with another special exhibition launching in July. She said: “Many came to Suffolk to work on the Ipswich transport services, to become teachers and to work in the NHS. It is important we tell these local stories, so people know about the contributions our grandparents and parents.”

If the Black community want anything changed, we must do it ourselves.”

Ms Sorhaindo is a member of the Suffolk Black Community Forum and has mobilised the community since the Black Lives Matter movement to address inequality and covert and overt racism. She is encouraging the community to come to the Power of Stories exhibition, as it will be the only time the ground-breaking costumes will be in the UK. But also, to send a message to museums that there is a demand for exhibitions telling our history and it is of interest to the public.

Respecting the legacy

For the younger generation, the news of the Black Panther costumes coming to Ipswich is compelling.

Angelle Joseph is a broadcaster, rap and spoken word artist and community youth worker and she will be broadcasting live at the launch of the exhibition. She said: “I can’t believe the Black Panther costumes are coming to my hometown, it is so exciting and inspiring.”

Angelle Joseph

Ms Joseph is a Diversity and Engagement Lead for Ipswich Community Media and says she was inspired to do more work around combating inequality after the murder of George Floyd in the US. She said: “The cultural movers come from the Black community and it is important for me to support the next generation in and out of media.”

Ms Joseph said being Black and British in 2021, is a plethora of things.

She is of both Antiguan and Nigerian heritage, something she says has allowed her to see the world differently.

Ms Joseph said: “I get the best of all worlds! It allows me to see everyone and that impacts my passion to help my community.”

Ms Joseph believes so much of modern British culture can trace its origins back to the Windrush generation and it should be celebrated and not erased. She said: “Black British music is doing so well at the moment, but if we look at the UK Top 40, how many people will know those artists are there because of the contributions the Windrush generation made to Britain? It is important we don’t forget what they brought to this country.”

Ms Joseph who is from Ipswich said the area is rich in history. She said: “In Ipswich, we have streets named after Thomas Clarkson and William Wilberforce and there is a direct link to slavery and Windrush and I don’t think many people are aware of this. Activism has always been at the heart of the Black community in Ipswich according to Ms Joseph and she describes the older generation as being “amazing”.

Black British music is doing so well at the moment, but if we look at the UK Top 40, how many people will know those artists are there because of the contributions the Windrush generation made to Britain? It is important we don’t forget what they brought to this country

Ms Joseph sites the death of George Floyd as a tragedy which bought the community even closer together and says all generations are now working to build a strong and prosperous future. When asked how she will be celebrating Windrush Day this year, Ms Joseph said she will be heading to a local event and will be listening to a special radio broadcast about the Windrush generation.   Ms Joseph said it is important for the younger generation to know what Windrush day is all about.

She said: “There needs to be a balance between the history taught it schools, we do not just need all the traumatic stories but ones of celebration and triumph too.”

Ms Joseph says a Reggae album is being made in Ipswich to help with suicide prevention and is an example of the incredible initiatives and community spirit coming from the town in Suffolk. She said she hopes to see positive change towards race across Britain, which will allow her younger family members to feel safe in their future workplaces and communities. According to Angelle, this will be the real test of how far we have come in creating a more equal society in Britain.

Greater recognition for the Windrush Generation

Charles Challenger has been the chair of the Suffolk Windrush Select Committee for the last two years and he also says more recognition is needed for the Windrush generation.

Charles Challenger

Speaking to The Voice he said: “We do need to bring the Windrush generation to the forefront and it needs to be added to our history curriculum in schools, so we all have a better understanding of our history.”

Mr Challenger moved to Suffolk from Antigua with his parents in 1968 and describes coming to the UK as an “adventure”. He said: “When I came here at 12, I embraced my new surroundings and it didn’t feel like a challenge to make England my new home.”

Mr Challenger recalls being a part of large Caribbean community in Ipswich, but says at the time there wasn’t any representation of his community in positions of power. He would read the work of prominent Caribbean figures and The West Indian World Newspaper to understand who he was.

He recalls these articles as a catalyst which inspired him to challenge authorities about the lack of West Indian representation in their institutions.

Mr Challenger is a successful businessman and has operated Challenger Shipping and Export Agency for over 30 years and says his key to his success has been collaborating with both black and white businesses.

Throughout his life in the UK, he has always worked hard and been at the forefront of his community. He faced some levels of discrimination and while working at a supermarket on a Saturday, he was told he shouldn’t be working at the business.

Something which he says stayed with him because his manager at the time (who was white) said “if you go, I am coming too.”

He said this incident made him realise the only way to combat discrimination and racism is together and since then, he was always keen to link the Black community to the wider community to build connections and friendships.

Mr Challenger is a popular member of the Ipswich community and has been active politically and socially since his teenage years. He set up Hair Trends, the first Black hairdressing shop in Ipswich town centre after seeing a demand for Afro hair products. He would travel back and forth to London to buy hair products to sell in the Ipswich West Indian community.

He said the Caribbean community have contributed significantly to many industries in the UK and should be celebrated. Mr Challenger says the traditional custom of sending barrels back to relatives in the Caribbean has economically contributed to keeping the shipping and export industry going.

The contribution Caribbean people made to small towns and villages in the UK is tremendous and continues to improve.”

He said: “The act of sending a barrel back home, is an act of trading. To send a barrel, you are keeping so many people employed. Sending a barrel doesn’t only benefit your family in the Caribbean but all those who are working to ensure it reaches its destination.”

As a historian, he also encouraged people to research into the history of their local areas and said there is a lot of untold history in Ipswich which needs to be revealed. He said: “They use to make Steel bands on an allotment in Ipswich and that was in the early 1960s. A lot of Caribbean musicians were employed by cruise ships when people were coming to England and it is these stories which need to be shared”

“The contribution Caribbean people made to small towns and villages in the UK is tremendous and continues to improve.”

When asked if he has any last words of advice for the younger generation of Black Brits, Mr Challenger said: “Love yourself! You will have challenges, but use them as a vehicle and see the challenges as part of your adventure and use them to go forward.”

He said will mark this years annual Windrush Day by reflecting on the sacrifices of the Windrush generation and how their existence means he no longer has to look over his shoulder and has been able to flourish in the UK.

Power of Stories exhibition launches on June 26th at the Ipswich Mansion and runs until October.

To book tickets or for more information visit: https://www.powerofstories.co.uk/

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