Enough is enough |
Back in June, Platform, Leeds Young Authors and University of Leeds academics from the MA in Activism and Social Change put in an application to the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2011. Unlikely context for Shake you think?? Well, talking with Shake’s Simon Murray who also works with Leeds Young Authors, we realised that Shake! and LYA are in fact not just doing ‘social science’ but creating it. The two groups of creative young people have loads of analysis, loads to teach the world about Britain’s rough justice and countless injustices, north and south. On top of that, another incredible step in the search for justice for Stephen Lawrence had just been announced: a re-trial of two defendents due to start in November 2011, testament to the extraordinary determination of Doreen Lawrence. The Festival was also a great opportunity to have conversations with Leeds’ radical academics about the work.
In the morning, there’ll be short presentations by young people and speakers on racism, media, and justice, followed by discussion. Esther Stanford from Pan-Afrikan Reparations Coalition in Europe is honouring us as Chair, and speakers Dr Carl Hylton from Leeds Bi-Centenary Transformation Project and Dr Stuart Hodkinson from Leeds University will present alongside young people from LYA and Shake, and the artists!
Then a delicious lunch.
Britain on Trial, Daytime workshops and discussion: 10.30am – 5pm
ESRC Festival of Social Science details here.