Pen to Print is gearing up for another Black History Month in times that are more challenging than we would have ever thought 12 months ago!
It has always been our aim to give a voice to those from minority and underrepresented communities and at this time of year our work becomes even more relevant. For too long the publishing industry has been slow to pick up on the strength and power of voices that come from writers from more diverse backgrounds, but we are pleased to see this is starting to be addressed.
Supporting our own writing community here in Barking and Dagenham we are still meeting writers who are struggling to get their voices heard by mainstream publishers and agents. They are still are not sure how to promote an author who comes from a significantly different background than from the mainstream white middle class that up until now, has been their main stay.
So, by no means is our job done. Our programme of writer support gives a no-strings, free opportunity for everyone to develop writing skills and by giving people the tools to develop what they want to say and how they want to say it, we build on the strengths a diverse writer can bring to the table.
In October 2020 we are looking back at the contribution people of colour have brought to the culture of our world. We are also facing up to the reality that everyone has a duty to become more accepting of people that are different to us. The deaths in the US of people such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor along with the focus on similar UK deaths prompted the Black Lives Matter movement, bringing into prominence the discrimination that is still prevalent in our society. More and more people are now saying ‘this is enough’.
We are all looking at an unfamiliar ‘new normal’ life after the pandemic. It has starkly brought to the fore the inequalities that have impacted on the victims of the Covid-19 virus, which has disproportionately affected those from the Black, minority, and those on a limited income in our society. But it has also offered us an opportunity to rebuild differently, we should all strive to ensure this happens.
Black History Month is a time to celebrate the richness of our culture, made better by its diverseness. Pen to Print has sought out some of the best writing talent in Barking and Dagenham to bring you a rich slice of what diverse writers can bring to the table.
Connect with Pen to Print
Email: pentoprint@lbbd.gov.uk
Visit our website: https://pentoprint.org
Call us: 020 8227 2267/ 020 8227 5063
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Last year during ReadFest we played host to Miranda Kaufman who gave a wonderful talk based on her fascinating book about the little-known history of Black people in Britain The Black Tudors.
We are pleased to share with you a video version of the talk she presented in 2019.
