North East Labour History

A film by Janet Behan about her grandmother, Kathleen Behan. Not just a portrait of this extraordinary woman, but a vivid, eye-witness account of the birth of the Irish Republic. It’s full of great stories and songs, some of them written by Kathleen’s brother, Peadar, writer of the lyrics to The Soldier’s Song. Kathleen also […]

From Ed Waugh I worked with Dave Harker who kindly allowed me to use his incredible research for my play The Great Joe Wilson. Many of you came to see the show (and Mr Corvan's Music Hall, based on Dave's excellent book about Ned Corvan) so you may be interested in Geordie Plays (Volume One). The […]

Taste of Africa events is an annual celebration of Black History Month in Tees Valley. The events are aimed at celebrating Black History Month, promoting diversity and inclusion in the Tees Valley. This year due to Covid restrictions all our events will be held virtually with the aim of returning to normality next year. See: […]

Teakisi is happy to announce the third annual Teakisi Woman Talk conference. This event takes place in October, which is also Black History Month. The annual Teakisi Woman Talk allows black women, plus the general public to have a conversation on topics that really matter to us - however uncomfortable they may be. You can book tickets here.

This booklet, authored by the African Lives in Northern England project and edited by Beverley Prevatt Goldstein, celebrates the history of Black lives in northern England and dispels the myth that the North East is exclusively white and monocultural. From Septimus Severus, the Roman Emperor, to 19th century Cumbrian John Kent who was believed to […]

When the Anti-Slavery Society was founded in 1823, it was confronted by a formidable lobby comprising slaveholders, merchants, politicians, journalists and intellectuals. This talk explores the ferocious campaign of the British pro-slavery lobby to preserve the institution of colonial slavery – even, in 1833, securing £20m in compensation for the slaveholders. Michael is the author of The […]

“Full Canadian powers” or “Ireland’s right, full independence and nothing short of it”? The Anglo-Irish Treaty and its consequences. On 6 December 1921, Irish negotiators signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty providing for the establishment of the Irish Free State as a dominion of the British Empire. One of the most controversial documents in modern Irish history, the […]

Stand Up to Racism - North East are hosting a double-bill of documentary film screenings on Saturday 23 October at Culture Lab in Newcastle University. The events starts at 5pm. They will be screening the award-winning short film 'The Felling of Colston' (2020 / 10mins) by Arthur Cauty, about the magnificent toppling of the Colston […]

Black History Now! is an online panel discussion that reflects on the state of the field in Black British History and affirms its centrality to the discipline of History more widely. What is going on in Black History in Durham and the North East? How can historians in Durham and the wider region continue to […]

Mary Macarthur, trade unionist and socialist, died 100 years ago in 1921. In this talk, her biographer, Dr Cathy Hunt, looks at the fascinating life and work of this pioneering leader, who founded the National Federation of Women Workers, which improved working conditions for thousands of some of the worst paid women in Britain. Cathy […]