Black History

William Cuffay: the black Chartist revolutionary

As a contribution to Black History Month, Dominic Alexander casts a light upon the remarkable, if little-known, life of the black Chartist revolutionary, William Cuffay
All out for 5 November: Unite against the Tories - Counterfire freesheet October 2022

Tories in meltdown, the movement we need, protests in Iran, NHS workers balloting to strike, why they don't want us to talk about class and more in this month's Counterfire freesheet
Child Q: 'we stand united against your oppression'

After the appalling police assault on Child Q, protesters in Hackney confront the racism and sexism of the state, reports Elly Badcock
Sidney Poitier broke the mould of what a Black actor could be

John Clarke pays tribute to the man who refused to accept the degrading roles set aside for Black actors and who played an important role in challenging racism
Darcus Howe: Honouring an anti-racist giant

Cici Washburn reports on the unveiling of a new plaque in Brixton commemorating anti-racist activist Darcus Howe
Panther Power: the life and legacy of the young Tupac Shakur

Rapper Tupac Shakur opened up a fork in the road for the music argues Mayer Wakefield
Summer of Soul - film review

The recently released Summer of Soul shows us a side of the counterculture that deserves to be better known, argues Jim Aindow
Fred Hampton, the Black Panthers and the US state - video

Yonas Makoni discusses Fred Hampton, the Black Panthers and the US state as part of Counterfire's Revolution! Festival
Where there’s people, there’s power – Judas and the Black Messiah review

The revolutionary life and politics of Fred Hampton, and the violence of the state against him, provide timely lessons for the movement today, writes Shabbir Lakha
Black Power: A British Story of Resistance - review

The BBC’s new documentary offers an examination of the strengths and weaknesses of the British Black Power movement and the lessons we can take today, finds Yonas Makoni
Jazz and Justice: Racism and the Political Economy of the Music - book review

Gerald Horne’s Jazz and Justice is an illuminating history of the material conditions of African-American Jazz musicians in its classic decades, finds Martin Hall
One Night in Miami: civil rights at the crossroads - review

One Night in Miami provides a vivid depiction of segregated America and an exploration of the meaning of Black liberation, finds Yonas Makoni
Small Axe: a history of racism in 5 episodes

Steve McQueen's Small Axe is essential viewing; it provides a powerful history of racism and the black struggle in Britain, argues Unjum Mirza
CLR James: a revolutionary life - video

Unjum Mirza gives an introduction to the revolutionary life of CLR James, a Marxist, historian, novelist, playwright, and cricket lover
The use and abuse of Black History Month

We cannot let the revolutionary fervour of the black struggle be downplayed, nor forget the lessons to be learned
Paul Robeson: fighter for liberation - video

A presentation on the revolutionary life of singer, actor and activist Paul Robeson by Tayo Aluko
Why Black History Month matters

Floyd Codlin responds to right wing attacks on Black History Month
Walter Rodney: Marxist, Pan-African, organic intellectual

Sean Ledwith recounts the socialist revolutionary Walter Rodney's many accomplishments and intellectual prowess
Black Power Afterlives: The Enduring Significance of the Black Panther Party - book review

Black Power Afterlives provides a range of views on the Black Panther Party, some of which hint at what a revival of the radical core of the Party could mean, argues Yonas Makoni
Theatre and the struggle against apartheid

Jacqueline Mulhallen on theatre and the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and Britain
Confronting boxing's segregation history

Imperialist and racist tactics were used to attempt to ensure both literal and symbolic white dominance of the sport, argues Gavin Lewis
Claudia Jones: Communism and the Notting Hill Carnival

As well as founding the Notting Hill Carnival, Claudia Jones lived a revolutionary life fighting for black liberation and socialism, writes Lucy Nichols
What about the beat?

While much of the discourse around popular music might emphasise the importance of singers, it’s really all about the beat, argues Martin Hall
'True Black music will be heard tonight': the life, music and politics of Rahsaan Roland Kirk

The political activism of this talented jazz musician is often overlooked, but it's a legacy worth remembering, writes Dave Randall
The Sharecroppers' Union: against landlord, sheriff and Klan

The Alabama Sharecroppers' Union was one of the most impressive social movements in 20th century America, writes Reuben Bard-Rosenberg
Olive Morris: British Black Panther, squatter and radical activist

In the week Olive Morris would have turned 68, Julie Al-Hinai remembers the radical black activist and her contribution to the movement
Erasing empire has to end: why schools need to decolonise the curriculum

Decolonising the curriculum and supporting BAME children at school is a critical step towards tackling systemic racism, argues Jamal Elaheebocus
Reconstruction in the USA: Black freedom denied - part 2

In the second of a two-part analysis, John Westmoreland explores the successes of Reconstruction, and the subsequent attempt to airbrush them from history
Reconstruction in the USA: Black freedom denied - part 1

In the first of a two-part analysis, John Westmoreland examines the contradictions of American society which laid the basis for black oppression to persist after the Civil War
I Am Not Your Negro - film of the week

I Am Not Your Negro is an unforgettably powerful film that you must not miss, writes Dragan Plavšić.
Black history you can’t be without: Nine books on the struggle

A reading list of nine essential books on black history and the struggle against racism
Democratic history challenges imperialist and racist history

Dominic Alexander explains how black history is intrinsically connected to the history of the working class
Fred Hampton: Black Panther and red revolutionary

Fred Hampton's politics are a lesson in how to fight racism and capitalism together, argues Sean Ledwith
From BLM to decolonising Bristol

Black Lives Matter protests in Bristol brought its citizens face-to-face with its ugly past, a ground report by Susan Newman and Jeni Van Heerden
The revolutionary life and legacy of Malcolm X

On the 95th anniversary of Malcolm X’s birth, Alyssa Cassata looks at his radical life and ideas which continues to inspire millions today
The Jackson State massacre: the savagery of state-led racist violence

50 years on from the massacre of black students at Jackson State College, systemic racism and police brutality remain prevalent in the United States, writes Alyssa Cassata
James Baldwin: Living in Fire - book review

Living in Fire is a pithy yet powerful introduction to James Baldwin’s political life as a street fighting intellectual, raging against the world’s racist and reactionary forces, finds Adam Tomes
England’s Other Countrymen: Black Tudor Society - book review

A history of the black people of Tudor England shows large numbers and varied circumstances before systematic racism developed, finds Elaine Graham-Leigh
Black British History: New Perspectives - book review

Black British History reveals neglected and hidden histories of the African diaspora in Britain from the Romans to the twentieth century, finds Paul Fredericks
7 black heroes that changed the world

For Black History Month, Counterfire asked activists today to tell us about their black hero and how they provide inspiration in our struggles today
The Centenary of the 1919 Race Riots

One hundred years after the race riots of 1919, author, activist and co-director of Writing on the Wall, Madeline Heneghan reflects on racism then and now
The Common Wind charts the black resistance movement that won - book review

Scott’s classic The Common Wind shows the world-historic impact of the Haitian Revolution of 1791, the first successful slave revolt in history, finds Dominic Alexander
North West London come out in voice against police violence in Harlesden and racism in wider society

Protestors came out in support of a man who was violently attacked by police in Harlesden, and called for a fightback against racism in society
An African in Imperial London - book review

Danell Jones’ biography of an African man living in Edwardian London reveals a remarkable life amid the racism and imperialism of the time, finds Jacqueline Mulhallen
How to understand racism: A review of Great War to Race Riots

A new history of the 1919 race riots locates the dynamics of racism in the context of class, imperialism and wider popular struggles, argues Chris Nineham
Darcus Howe (1943 – 2017): the Mighty Lion remembered

A trailbreaking activist, writer and broadcaster is remembered by Madeline Heneghan
Tupac Shakur: Rap Revolution

A look at the political life of Tupac Shakur, and the implications for today's black movement, from Sean Ledwith
Like Mandela, Palestinians are prisoners of an apartheid system

The occupation of Palestine by Israeli forces is not dissimilar to apartheid South Africa, argues Koos Mohammed
Paul Robeson: erased from history - podcast

Portraying Paul Robeson on the 40th anniversary of his death, actor Tayo Aluko talks to us about this prodigiously talented singer, actor and socialist
Rock against racism: when black and white united

Jim Aindow looks at the history and impact of an inspirational anti-racist movement told through the photos of Syd Shelton in an exhibition at the Rivington Place gallery
The Black Panthers: the hidden history

Director Stanley Nelson tells the story of one of the most influential radical movements to emerge from the United States, whose legacy is both enduring and politically misunderstood, writes Season Butler
Black History Month matters

Amandla Thomas Johnson on the importance of Black History Month

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Black History

Black History

As a contribution to Black History Month, Dominic Alexander casts a light upon the remarkable, if little-known, life of the black Chartist revolutionary, William Cuffay

Tories in meltdown, the movement we need, protests in Iran, NHS workers balloting to strike, why they don't want us to talk about class and more in this month's Counterfire freesheet

After the appalling police assault on Child Q, protesters in Hackney confront the racism and sexism of the state, reports Elly Badcock

John Clarke pays tribute to the man who refused to accept the degrading roles set aside for Black actors and who played an important role in challenging racism

Cici Washburn reports on the unveiling of a new plaque in Brixton commemorating anti-racist activist Darcus Howe

Rapper Tupac Shakur opened up a fork in the road for the music argues Mayer Wakefield

The recently released Summer of Soul shows us a side of the counterculture that deserves to be better known, argues Jim Aindow

Yonas Makoni discusses Fred Hampton, the Black Panthers and the US state as part of Counterfire's Revolution! Festival

The revolutionary life and politics of Fred Hampton, and the violence of the state against him, provide timely lessons for the movement today, writes Shabbir Lakha

The BBC’s new documentary offers an examination of the strengths and weaknesses of the British Black Power movement and the lessons we can take today, finds Yonas Makoni

Gerald Horne’s Jazz and Justice is an illuminating history of the material conditions of African-American Jazz musicians in its classic decades, finds Martin Hall

One Night in Miami provides a vivid depiction of segregated America and an exploration of the meaning of Black liberation, finds Yonas Makoni

Steve McQueen's Small Axe is essential viewing; it provides a powerful history of racism and the black struggle in Britain, argues Unjum Mirza

Unjum Mirza gives an introduction to the revolutionary life of CLR James, a Marxist, historian, novelist, playwright, and cricket lover

We cannot let the revolutionary fervour of the black struggle be downplayed, nor forget the lessons to be learned

A presentation on the revolutionary life of singer, actor and activist Paul Robeson by Tayo Aluko

Floyd Codlin responds to right wing attacks on Black History Month

Sean Ledwith recounts the socialist revolutionary Walter Rodney's many accomplishments and intellectual prowess

Black Power Afterlives provides a range of views on the Black Panther Party, some of which hint at what a revival of the radical core of the Party could mean, argues Yonas Makoni

Jacqueline Mulhallen on theatre and the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and Britain

Imperialist and racist tactics were used to attempt to ensure both literal and symbolic white dominance of the sport, argues Gavin Lewis

As well as founding the Notting Hill Carnival, Claudia Jones lived a revolutionary life fighting for black liberation and socialism, writes Lucy Nichols

While much of the discourse around popular music might emphasise the importance of singers, it’s really all about the beat, argues Martin Hall

The political activism of this talented jazz musician is often overlooked, but it's a legacy worth remembering, writes Dave Randall

The Alabama Sharecroppers' Union was one of the most impressive social movements in 20th century America, writes Reuben Bard-Rosenberg

In the week Olive Morris would have turned 68, Julie Al-Hinai remembers the radical black activist and her contribution to the movement

Decolonising the curriculum and supporting BAME children at school is a critical step towards tackling systemic racism, argues Jamal Elaheebocus

In the second of a two-part analysis, John Westmoreland explores the successes of Reconstruction, and the subsequent attempt to airbrush them from history

In the first of a two-part analysis, John Westmoreland examines the contradictions of American society which laid the basis for black oppression to persist after the Civil War

I Am Not Your Negro is an unforgettably powerful film that you must not miss, writes Dragan Plavšić.

A reading list of nine essential books on black history and the struggle against racism

Dominic Alexander explains how black history is intrinsically connected to the history of the working class

Fred Hampton's politics are a lesson in how to fight racism and capitalism together, argues Sean Ledwith

Black Lives Matter protests in Bristol brought its citizens face-to-face with its ugly past, a ground report by Susan Newman and Jeni Van Heerden

On the 95th anniversary of Malcolm X’s birth, Alyssa Cassata looks at his radical life and ideas which continues to inspire millions today

50 years on from the massacre of black students at Jackson State College, systemic racism and police brutality remain prevalent in the United States, writes Alyssa Cassata

Living in Fire is a pithy yet powerful introduction to James Baldwin’s political life as a street fighting intellectual, raging against the world’s racist and reactionary forces, finds Adam Tomes

A history of the black people of Tudor England shows large numbers and varied circumstances before systematic racism developed, finds Elaine Graham-Leigh

Black British History reveals neglected and hidden histories of the African diaspora in Britain from the Romans to the twentieth century, finds Paul Fredericks

For Black History Month, Counterfire asked activists today to tell us about their black hero and how they provide inspiration in our struggles today

One hundred years after the race riots of 1919, author, activist and co-director of Writing on the Wall, Madeline Heneghan reflects on racism then and now

Scott’s classic The Common Wind shows the world-historic impact of the Haitian Revolution of 1791, the first successful slave revolt in history, finds Dominic Alexander

Protestors came out in support of a man who was violently attacked by police in Harlesden, and called for a fightback against racism in society

Danell Jones’ biography of an African man living in Edwardian London reveals a remarkable life amid the racism and imperialism of the time, finds Jacqueline Mulhallen

A new history of the 1919 race riots locates the dynamics of racism in the context of class, imperialism and wider popular struggles, argues Chris Nineham

A trailbreaking activist, writer and broadcaster is remembered by Madeline Heneghan

A look at the political life of Tupac Shakur, and the implications for today's black movement, from Sean Ledwith

The occupation of Palestine by Israeli forces is not dissimilar to apartheid South Africa, argues Koos Mohammed

Portraying Paul Robeson on the 40th anniversary of his death, actor Tayo Aluko talks to us about this prodigiously talented singer, actor and socialist

Jim Aindow looks at the history and impact of an inspirational anti-racist movement told through the photos of Syd Shelton in an exhibition at the Rivington Place gallery

Director Stanley Nelson tells the story of one of the most influential radical movements to emerge from the United States, whose legacy is both enduring and politically misunderstood, writes Season Butler

Amandla Thomas Johnson on the importance of Black History Month