No11: Icon. David Olusoga
I could award this for his Twitter feed alone. In a year of racial reckoning his insights and cultural crusade stood strong. Book. Talks. Essays. Bristol TV series https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b09l64y9/a-house-through-time and the BBC Obama interview. Peerless.
No12: News. Christine Amanpour. CNN
An extraordinary year at home and abroad with podcasts and TV programme on in-depth interviews from Covid to Black Lives Matter. She also graciously shares interviewing duties with her team. I really enjoyed BBC interview with her on her journalistic career from her birth in Iran to her coverage on the Iraq War. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000jf7v
https://edition.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/amanpour
No13: News. Marcus Rashford Feeding Britain’s Children. BBC
In a year of heart-breaking news quite how a kid born into poverty Marcus Rashford and his Mum made child hunger & #foodbanks an issue in the 6th richest country in the world is extraordinary. Both a national treasure and a national disgrace. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000qq41
No 14: Theatre: National Theatre – Death of England – Delroy
One thing I’ve missed more than anything is live performance @national theatre tried to re-imagine the process with their back catalogue shown online Bristol Old Vic also kept the home flag flying during the summer. Delroy was my personal fave. https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/death-of-england-delroy
No15: Online Events: St Pauls Carnival and Bristol Museums.
The innovation of Latoyah McAllister-Jones, Marti Burgess and Edson Burton as the creative juice for the first British Digital Caribbean Carnival meant we could still keep the culture and connect safely. https://www.stpaulscarnival.net/carnival2020 Enjoyed being part of Brizzle Week too and my article here. https://www.bristol247.com/opinion/your-say/bristol-my-brizzle-1/
No16: TV. I May Destroy You. BBC
Rarely do I watch something as ground-breaking and innovative as this jaw-dropping BBC drama from Michela Cohen that stuck two fingers up at any red lines… Great to see a different view of modern Black-British life. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000jyxy/i-may-destroy-you
No17: Book: The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
Rarely make the time to read fiction but Colson Whitehead writes about the horrors of racism with such economy and skill. Back-to-Back Pulitzers after Underground Railroad. https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/colson-whitehead-0
No 18: RIP Good Trouble John Lewis
A fitting tribute to an extraordinary life in this poignant documentary gave a wonderful guide to his life of public service and fighting injustice. https://www.johnlewisgoodtrouble.com/
No 19: Music: Fight The Power 2020 by Public Enemy
Fight The Power Public Enemy Do The Right Thing had reboot from Nas, Rapsody YG & Black Thought Video depicts Black Lives Matter protesters during pandemic. Chuck D Flava Flav and crew still unapologetic after all these years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNUl8bAKdi4
No 20: TV. Grayson Perry’s Big American Road Trip Channel 4
Quite simply if we are to dismantle structural racism it will need more understanding for people to go on journey’s and understand its toxicity and (effect). Perry does so in wonderful insightful style in the Black capital of US Atlanta not only opening up but showing a lot of joy and love too. https://www.channel4.com/programmes/grayson-perrys-big-american-road-trip
