(Image: T&A)
Numerous events will be held across Bradford to mark Black History Month, and a top Reform UK councillor says the programme will “celebrate the valuable contributions and achievements of our African and Caribbean communities.”
The month of activities began with the traditional raising of the Black History Month flag in Centenary Square on Thursday morning, along with the Nigerian flag to mark Nigerian Independence Day.
However, the flag raising took place just days before Bradford Council’s Executive will decide whether to adopt a new policy for the district.
This could prevent the Black History Month flag being flown in future years.
Policy to be discussed next week
The policy, which will be discussed next Thursday, sets out an approved list of flags that can be flown on council buildings and the flagpoles in Centenary Square.
These include the Union Flag, St George’s Flag, the Commonwealth flag and a Bradford City flag to be flown on the anniversary of the Valley Parade fire.
The Yorkshire Day flag can also be flown.
The Black History Month flag is not included on this list.
Leader of council gets final say if flags not on list
According to the new flag policy, the only way a flag not on the approved list could be flown is with the say so of the Leader of the Council based on their “political judgement.”
Reform UK Councillor Stephen Place is the current Leader of Bradford Council.
What is happening for Black History Month in Bradford?
The council this week issued a press release detailing events that are taking place to mark Black History Month, a programme compiled by the Bradford Black Heritage Arts & Culture planning group and partners, including Bradford Council.
Events include:
- Various writers at Ilkley Literature Festival, including Colin Grant, Melissa Thompson, Emma Conally-Barklem, Emily Zobel Marshall and the announcement of the SI Leeds Literary Prize for unpublished fiction by Black and Asian female writers.
- Monday 5 – Friday 9 October, 9.30am to 10.30pm (closes at 2pm on Friday) – The Real McCoy: an Introduction to Black Inventors – a Rich Heritage’ Black Inventors Travelling Exhibition at David Hockney Building, Bradford College.
- Monday 5 – Sunday18 October, 9.30am to 6pm – Windrush Stories: ‘Don’t Give Up’ pop up exhibition at Entrance Foyer, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Smith Lane BD9 6DA.
- Monday 5 October, 6.30pm to 8.30pm – Black Men’s Health & Prostate Cancer Awareness Evening with Mr Raj Singh, Consultant Urologist, Bradford Teaching Hospitals, at the Dominical Association, 10 Worthington St, Bradford BD8 8ET.
- Friday, 9 October, 4-7pm – 10 Decades theatre and stage play at Bradford Arts Centre, Church Bank, Bradford BD1 4TY.
- Saturday, 17 October, 3pm - 8.30pm – Black Roots and Voices Expressed (BRAVE) Presents: an afternoon and evening of workshops and performances in arts that originate from Black Culture at Bradford Arts Centre. Tickets from £1 to £15 via https://bdartscentre.co.uk/whats-on/events/brave-presents/
- Sunday, 18 October, 11am – 1pm – Walking Cricket at Horton Park, organised by Windrush Generations. No need to book, just turn up at 11am.
- Saturday, 24 October – African Market at DAMART, Bingley.
The event programme gives more details of the above events and lists many more taking place across the District throughout October.
Councillor Ian Walker
'Move forward together by creating opportunities'
Councillor Ian Walker (Reform, Wyke) Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods and Communities, said: “This is a packed programme of events to suit all ages and interests which reflects and celebrates the valuable contributions and achievements of our African and Caribbean communities and to mark Black History Month.”
Nigel Guy of Bradford BHAC Planning Group, in his event programme foreword, said: “The aim is to move forward together by creating opportunities for people to engage, learn, celebrate and be inspired.
"Through shared experiences, we can build stronger relationships and connect more communities.”
Latest on Bradford's flag policy
The decision to draw up a new flag policy was narrowly approved at a full council meeting in July.
A motion was put forward by Conservative Councillor Paul Sullivan (Bingley West), who said the council’s flag flying policy was “riddled with anomalies and tensions that can be enflamed.”
Listing flags he felt should not be flown, Cllr Sullivan said: “We commemorate the Windrush affair, many residents view this as selective tokenism.”
Conservative and Reform UK councillors voted to amend the current flag policy, with the other parties voting against.