New jewels: why Britain should be proud to fund the Black Cultural Archives
By turning a black lens on social history, the BCA does something unique—and vital. In the year of the Windrush scandal, proper funding is the least the government could offer
Publisher: Prospect Magazine
20 December 2018
Text: Bee Tajudeen
In the last few days of October, Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna confronted the government for the lack of financial assistance given to the Black Cultural Archives (BCA), accompanied with a letter signed by 100 MPs urging the government to step in to secure the institution’s future.
Since then, supporters have used the #backBCA to put pressure on the government to support the largest archive dedicated to preserving the history of Black people in Britain.
Not only was the hashtag used persuasively, it was also used to rally membership and donations from the public. Black Girls’ Book Club auctioned off a signed copy of Michelle Obama’s new memoir Becoming, with the winning bid being distributed to the archives and other black-centric platforms.
In December, a small victory was won, when the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport announced they would provide an interim payment of £200,000 to support the BCA.
Quite frankly, this is not enough—especially in the year the government was exposed for wrongfully classifying the Windrush generation as illegal immigrants.
Over the last few months, we have witnessed heated debates around the place of black citizens in Britain’s recent history and in its present, including Amber Rudd’s resignation as Home Secretary and subsequently an effective ongoing campaign to ensure Windrush victims are properly compensated.
Read More: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/arts-and-books/black-cultural-archives-funding-museum-brixton-windrush?fbclid=IwAR3s2SumXF2gNhr68F8fOLZZ5gRARF00VsEmv-pOUCMaiXoUs4kHJ5ABucA
