This year’s Off the Shelf literary festival features a number of events taking place during October to celebrate Black History Month , which highlights the enormous contribution Black Britons have made to our vibrant and diverse society. Our culture has been enriched and our society has been made stronger because of the people who travelled here to build new lives in the UK, as well as the achievements and contributions of their descendants. See below for some of the events highlighted to celebrate Black History Month 2020:
My Name is Why – Lemn Sissay In conversation with Auriel Majumdar
Saturday 17 October, 7.30pm
Black History in the Age of Black Lives Matter – David Olusoga in conversation with Colin Grant
Thursday 29 October, 7.30 – 8.30pm
Black Women Write Now
Author, broadcaster, DJ and mentor, Désirée Reynolds, has curated a strand of events for the festival, focussing on the voices of black women. Here are a list of events to look out for:
Loud Black Girls – Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinené in conversation with Sharna Jackson
Tuesday 13 October, 6pm
Write Now – Creative Writing Workshop with Yvonne Battle-Felton
Saturday 17 October, 11am
I’m Not Your Baby Mother – Candice Brathwaite in conversation with Désirée Reynolds
Tuesday 20 October, 7.30pm
Poetry and Prose – Selina Nwulu , Keisha Thompson and Irenosen Okojie
Thursday 22 October 6pm
Kit de Waal In conversation with Désirée Reynolds
Saturday 31 October, 6pm
You can book your tickets to attend these sessions from the Off the Shelf events page .
