Screenings of 'After the Flood: the church, slavery and reconciliation' continue to take place around the UK and other countries. Coming up during Black History Month are two in Greater Manchester. Both followed by discussion.

• ​Monday October 23, 1pm, Brunswick Church. Free, no booking necessary.
• Wednesday October 25, 6:30pm, the Light Cinema, Stockport. Free, click here to book a ticket.

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This article by Jane Shaw in the November issue of Prospect magazine discusses the Church of England's new £100m fund for “projects focused on improving opportunities for communities impacted by historic transatlantic chattel slavery”, saying it should be called what it is: reparations. Coming out of an admission of complicity in the trade of captive human beings known as the transatlantic slave trade, the church seeks reconciliation with the communities who suffered. The article asks if this can be found and looks at the history of calls for reparations from within the church.

In setting up this fund the Church of England has joined other institutions such as Lloyd's insurance and Greene King Brewers and the group 'Heirs of Slavery, composed of descendants of some of Britain's wealthiest slave-owning families, in taking action. Though welcomed as a first step it is pointed out  that the £100m sum "is less than 1 per cent of the Church Commissioners’ £10.3bn fund and will be taken from its income over a period of nine years, so that the original endowment remains untouched." 

A useful read to go alongside watching the MJR documentary ‘After the Flood: the church, slavery and reconciliation'. Read the article here.

This is the title of a new report from the Runnymede Trust to mark 30 years since the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence. This is from the introduction:

Racism is often a matter of life and death. This was never more true than for Stephen Lawrence, a bright young man who dreamed of becoming an architect. 
Stephen was murdered by racist strangers as he made his way home with a friend in South East London, 30 years ago. The fight for justice that followed, led by Stephen’s grieving parents, has brought us all to know Stephen’s name, and carry forward his legacy. 
Stephen’s murder changed the country, and was core to progressing racial equality in the UK. This report, produced in partnership by the Runnymede Trust and Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, is intended as a small contribution to mark this difficult anniversary and assess just how far we have come as a nation in the last 30 years. 
In 'Dear Stephen', we reveal the points of hope and connection in our communities, at a time when the UK feels increasingly polarised. Data from the British Social Attitudes Survey shows that, although people feel the world around them is becoming more hateful and prejudiced, people’s own attitudes are shifting in a much more positive trajectory, and that race, inclusion and belonging are not such divisive issues as we are led to believe.

​Download the report here.

The MJR documentary film 'After the Flood' was one of 6 nominees in the TV/Video category at this year's Sandford Awards, which took place in Manchester on June 21. The deserving winner was 'Children of the Ukraine', runner-up 'David Baddiel: Jews Don't Count'. The other nominees were all BBC, ITV C4 and RTE commissions, so we felt proud to be there at all! It says much about the amazing job director Sheila Marshall and her team did with the comparatively small budget we were able to give them. Lots of nice things were said to us about 'After the Flood' on the evening, and our hope is that it will open new opportunities for the film to be screened more widely and to access more resources for MJR to promote the film. Like to help? Please email us.

Photos L-R (click for a larger image): Sheila Marshall and Paul Keeble with Rev Ian Rutherford (host of the first Manchester screening), and Rabbi Warren Elf (Faith Network 4 Manchester), Alton Bell on the ATF preview film, presentation to the winners, ATF Commendation.

The screening of MJR documentary ‘After the Flood: the church, slavery and reconciliation' at the University of Manchester on April 19 was followed by a Q&A session with an appreciative but questioning audience. The panel consisted of: ​

• Professor Robert Beckford, Director of the Institute of Climate and Social Justice, University of Winchester.
• Dr Elizabeth Henry, Racial Justice Advisor/Consultant and Activist, former National Advisor for Minority-Ethnic Anglican Concerns.
• Phyllis Thompson, Former Director of Education for the New Testament Church of God, England and Wales.
• Fr Azariah France-Williams, Rector of Ascension Church, Hulme.
• Dr Natalie Zaceck, Senior Lecturer, English and American Studies. Research areas: social and cultural history, race, slavery and abolition, gender and sexuality, material culture, the history of urbanism and the built environment.

Organiser Prof Dawn Edge commented: "My overall sense was that the questions from the attendees reflected a general desire to see real change, reconciliation and  reparations. Your responses were informative and provided practical solutions to a difficult discussion, reflecting  that whilst Manchester University has acknowledged the need to move beyond discussion,  the work must continue in earnest. I do hope that we  can continue to work with you to ensure that together  we can move this agenda forward."

The event was fully booked meaning some were turned away. This meant a number of 'no-shows' was a disappointment.

'After the Flood' continues to have an impact and generate discussion and reflection as it is screened in various places around the country. As we approach and pass milestones such as the 30th anniversary of the murder of Stephen Lawrence and the 75th anniversary of Windrush, the issues it raises remain important. If you would like to host a screening where you are please send MHR an email. If you would like to hire or purchase the film click here.

The biggest and most comprehensive survey of race inequality in the UK for more than a quarter of a century has found that more than a third of people from ethnic and religious minorities have experienced racially motivated physical or verbal abuse. The two-year research project declares that “Britain is not close to being a racially just society.” Its detailed evidence of discrimination and unfairness directly challenges the findings of the government-commissioned Sewell report on racial disparities of 2021, agreeing with many at the time who argued it downplayed the existence and impact of structural and institutional racism in the UK.

The study was led by Nissa Finney, professor of human geography at the University of St Andrews, who said it showed racism was “part of the daily lives” of people from ethnic minorities. Halima Begum, chief executive of the race equality thinktank the Runnymede Trust, said:  “Sadly, few ethnic minority Britons will be surprised by the findings."

Commenting on the report on Channel 4 News, Professor Jason Ardey, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, said: "There are no immediate shocks or surprises. In some respects it's more of the same. It reflects the glacial change that's transpired in the last twenty or thirty years in relation to race, equality and mobilising greater race equality in the UK. What we are seeing is that racism is a systemic and institutional problem. It's ability to re-invent itself and pivot to the prevailing inequalities that exist is in some respects quite impressive in a strange way."

The research, produced by the Centre on the Dynamics of Ethnicity at Manchester University, will be published this week in a book Racism and Ethnic Inequality in a Time of Crisis. It claims to be the most extensive survey of racial inequalities since 1997. Read more here.

King Charles has given his support for research into the monarchy's links with the slave trade for the first time as an American historian unearthed a a ledger which reveals his predecessor King William III was given shares in the Royal African Company - transatlantic slaving firm - by Bristolian slave trader Edward Colston in 1689. Buckingham Palace said “This is an issue that His Majesty takes profoundly seriously. As His Majesty told the Commonwealth heads of government reception in Rwanda last year: ‘I cannot describe the depths of my personal sorrow at the suffering of so many, as I continue to deepen my own understanding of slavery’s enduring impact.’" The document, published by The Guardian was found in a royal archive by Virginia-based historian Dr Brooke Newman. Dr Newman's research is being supported through access to the royal collection and the royal archives

MJR welcomes this bringing of another piece of hidden shameful history into the light and looks forward to the results of the research. Read more in this Guardian article, and in this Daily Mail article (which states King Charles was "forced to support probe into royal family's slavery links".)

A special course, based on the MJR film ‘After the Flood: the church, slavery and reconciliation' will be a part of the summer term at Manchester Bible School, based at our partner Nazarene Theological College. The course will take place over 4 Monday evenings from June 12 to July 3, 7:30-9:30pm.

• June 12: Screening of After the Flood. followed by refreshments (facilitated by MBS/NTC and Beatrice Smith, MJR)
• June 19: Reflection session led by Dr Clara Rushbrook (Luther King House)
• June 26: Informal Q&A and discussion on film themes – Part 1. Led by Beatrice Smith (Churches Together in England, Spring Harvest & MJR Trustee) .
• July 3: Informal Q&A and discussion on film themes – Part 2: ’So what?' led by Ven Karen Lund (Archdeacon of Manchester & MJR Trustee).

Cost is £25 unwaged; £35 waged. The film screening on June 12 is open to all and will cost £5. More info and booking will be available shortly on the Manchester Bible School website.

The University of Manchester have acquired the rights to use ‘After the Flood: the church, slavery and reconciliation' in any of its courses and teaching material and is having a special screening of the film' on Wednesday April 19. Venue is St Peter's House Chaplaincy, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9GH. Hosts: Professor Dawn Edge (Academic Lead for ‘Race’, Religion, and Belief), Banji Adewumi (Director, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Paul Keeble (Movement for Justice and Reconciliation).

​Guests for a keynote and Q&A include Professor Robert Beckford, who narrates the film, and Dr Elizabeth Henry, one of the interviewees. 

The event begins at 4.15pm with light refreshments and the screening will commence at 5pm. Places are free, but due to high demand, to ensure yours, please register here.