Black History Month at HOME

Like many organisations, HOME celebrates Black History Month in Manchester throughout October.

We have a short season of films by Euzhan Palcy. You’d be forgiven for not having heard of this incredible film director, widely acclaimed as one of the most significant of her generation. She was the first black filmmaker to be awarded a Cesar (French Academy Award), for her first feature Sugar Cane Alley, and was the first black female director to make a feature for a major Hollywood studio, A Dry White Season for MGM.

We’re screening both.

Hero, directed by Frances-Anne Solomon, is the story of Ulric Cross who, in 1941, left Trinidad and became the RAF’s most decorated West Indian airman of WWII. It’s a remarkable story, too long ignored.

On stage, Queens of Sheba will be telling hilarious, moving and uplifting stories of four passionate Black Women battling everyday misogynoir – where sexism meets racism.

Meanwhile Here is an exhibition of glorious portraits of members of Rainbow Noir also runs until Monday 14 October. They are a volunteer led group celebrating, platforming and connecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) people of colour based in and around Manchester.

And yet these events from our October programme reflect Black history in no greater way than our programme does every month. Whilst the seemingly obvious value of ’diversity’ in all aspects of society feels like a current topic, most arts organisations have been reflecting diverse communities within their programme, staffing and audiences for a long time. Whether it be LGBTQI communities, BAME audiences, disabled visitors – the arts thrive when difference and inclusivity are celebrated and the lived experience and history of all of us is part of what we do and who we are.

So enjoy Black History Month and remember to celebrate its message for the other eleven months of the year as we continue with our diverse programme of cinema, art and events.