Black in the British Frame 1936-1996. Plus Q&A

8 June 2021

Illustrated and inspiring talk on Black actors on British TV from 1930s to 1990s and their fight for equality of portrayal.

With this rare presentation, Stephen Bourne will take us through a fraction of his thirty years of research into the African/Caribbean experience on television with this book as a reference.

Black in the British Frame: Black People in British Film and Television, 1896-1996 by Stephen Bourne. First published 1998, currently out of print.

‘…Informative and accessible…an indispensable work of reference for anyone with an interest in this crucial area of study.’ — Dr. Lola Young, Black and Asian Studies Association

‘…a valuable book which uncovers an almost hidden history of a wealth of talented men and women.’ — Film Review

Focusing on drama and light entertainment, this text documents a range of experiences and representations of people of African descent in British film and cinema. It includes chapters about silent films, the British films of Paul Robeson, black film extras of the 1930s, Trinidadian singer and actor Edric Connor, early black filmmakers and writers, including Lionel Ngakane, Lloyd Reckord and Michael Abbensetts, actor Gordon Heath, black women in early British television, entertainer Winifred Atwell, actress Carmen Munroe, soaps, film and television drama since 1959, lesbians and gays, actor and writer Errol John and two landmark television plays: the BBC’s “A Man from the Sun” (1956) and Channel 4’s “The Final Passage” (1996)

This event is organised by Black History Walks in conjunction with the Sarah Parker Remond Centre at U.C.L.

This is an online event at 6.30pm UK/GMT time. The Zoom link will be sent to your email. Check your JUNK MAIL when you register and just before the event starts . Look out for our new book Black History Walks in London Volume 1 from Jacaranda Books

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