This event is organised by Black History Walks as part of 60 Years Since 1965 the first ever Race Relations Act, and 20 years of the African Odysseys film series
Professor Washington will speak on the kind of attacks on Black history happening at venues like the Kennedy Centre, New York, the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia , and comparisons that can be made with venues like the British Film Institute, London which in 2025 deleted the 20 year old African Odysseys film programme after agreeing a 20 year celebratory season for 2026.
He will also give an updates on Mumia Abu Jamal, the Move bombing and how institutions used body parts of the victims as ‘teaching materials’
Since 2007 the African Odysseys film series has made a point of hosting films, events on racial injustice such as:
- Mumia Abu Jamal: In Prison my Whole Life (2007) Marc Evans
- Let the Fire Burn (2013) Jason Osder. The 1981 Move bombing where Philadelphia police dropped a bomb on the Black community and stood by while the area burned and 11 adults and children died
- Blood Ah Go Run: Black Peoples day of Action (1981) Menelik Shabbazz. 13 Black children are burned to death in London, England 1981 in a suspected racist arson attack.
- Injustice (2001) Ken Fero. Who polices the police ? (2012) Ken Fero. Ultraviolence (2020) Ken Fero films about police killings in Britian and the fight for justice
About the Speaker
Professor Linn Washington Jr. of Temple University Philadelphia is an award-winning journalist who specializes in analytical/investigative coverage of issues involving social justice, race-based inequities, the news media, and law. His reporting has included news coverage from four of the world’s seven continents. Washington’s news career spanned positions from reporter to executive editor.
As a faculty member in Temple University’s Department of Journalism, Washington regularly teaches skills courses in reporting and writing.
He co-founded the Journalism Department’s PhiladelphiaNeighborhoods.com, the acclaimed hyper-local news site. Student work during Washington’s PN.com tenure earned over 50 regional and national journalism awards, including a number of awards for best college news website.
This is an ONLINE event. Zoom Link will be sent 24 hours in advance please check junk mail
Other coming events www.blackhistorywalks.co.uk HERE
- Black History Steam train tour
- Black History Bus Tour/ River Cruise
- Afeni Shakur and the trail of the Panther 21
- 6 African Leaders removed by the French
- Hackney, Mayfair, St Paul’/Bank, Theatreland and Soho Black History Walks
- African Odysseys, Racism in Academia and @BFI Southbank
- Fearless Windrush Women Speak out
- Ismahil Blagrove season of films and books
- Frantz Fanon weekender
- 60 years of Black British Civil Rights, racism @BFI with Professor Gus John
- Kung Fu and anti-racist street fighters with Professor Lez Henry
- World Wars and Black soldiers. African Odysseys @BFI with Professor Patrick Vernon
- Financial slavery? The CFA in Africa
- Sign petition to save African Odysseys and Black film history at BFI Southbank HERE
About African Odysseys
The volunteer-run, African Odysseys film programme screens educational, popular, anti-racist, films with Q&A’s . It regularly filled the BFI Southbank 450 seater at 2pm on Saturdays when cinemas are typically ‘dead’.The British Film Institute refused to answer 8 simple questions or meet the volunteers, then cancelled the programme so they could ‘cut costs and promote diversity’ HERE
African Odysseys continues to show films across London as can be seen HERE