The Black Cultural Archives has announced it will be presenting an exhibition that features the collection of acclaimed photographer Neil Kenlock.
This new exhibition is formed of the work of Neil Kenlock, who was the official photographer of the British Black Panthers and founder of Choice FM.
Funded by a grant of £79,700 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, Expectations: The Untold Story of Black British Community Leaders in the 1960s and 1970s is a celebration of British Black community leaders, many of whom come from that same Windrush generation.
The exhibition will be comprised of 70 photographic images to celebrate the 70-year anniversary of the Windrush, a selection of these images will be shown across the Black Cultural Archives with three themes of challenges, collaboration and change.
Expectations will cover two decades between the 1960’s and 1970’s, featuring some breath-taking images from Kenlock’s vault, including the notorious ‘Keep Britain White’ from 1972 that depicted the resistance to black immigration.
It will offer an insight into the lives and experiences of the first generation, African and Caribbean leaders who settled in the UK and influenced the community in Lambeth and the surrounding boroughs. The exhibition features a number of stories such as that of Darcus Howe (broadcaster and civil rights campaigner), Olive Morris (anti-discrimination, womens and squatters’ rights campaigner), Lord David Pitt (Baron of Hampstead, Labour Party politician, GP and political activist), Arthur Stanley Wint OD MBE (first Jamaican Olympic gold medallist and Jamaica’s High Commissioner) and Steve Barnard (first black BBC radio presenter with a reggae music show).
Talking about the exhibition Paul Reid, Black Cultural Archives Director said: “With the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, BCA are proud to host ‘Expectations’, it will be the first ‘exhibition takeover’ project of its kind at the BCA, that aims to increase public access to Black cultural heritage whilst documenting past and present histories using unseen images. We would like to thank the trailblazer and thought-leader that is Neil Kenlock, for the access to such an incredible and unique collection of images.”
Expectations: The Untold Story of Black British Community Leaders in the 1960s and 1970s will be on display at the Black Cultural Archives from the 7th August until the 28th September. For more information visit: https://blackculturalarchives.org/