-
Title
-
George Padmore Institute
-
short title
-
George Padmore Institute
-
Description
-
The George Padmore Institute (GPI) is a community heritage archive of Black British history which also operates as an education and arts centre. We grew from a network of activists, artists and organisations connected with New Beacon Books, the first black publisher and bookshop set up in north London in the 1960s. Visitors from around the world access materials on grassroots movements of historical significance related to racial equality and social justice, knowledge which is excluded from mainstream history. Success stories of black-led movements such as the Black Parents Movement and the Black Education Movement from the 1970s hold lessons on creativity, resilience and self-actualisation as well as evidence of the vital political, economic and social contributions people of colour have made to the UK. Alongside the archive, our teaching workshops for both UK and international students (including, eg Queen Mary University London and University of Chicago) enable us to uphold the positive legacies handed down by previous generations of black and brown people, who organised through collaboration and alliances. This also provides inspiration to respond to today’s continued challenges of social and racial inequality.
