An evening of reflection, resistance, and creative expression will take place as part of Manchester’s Black History Month 2025 programme.
The event builds on last year’s powerful conversation with journalist and author Gary Younge, who returns to explore the significance of Black histories in today’s world. His address will be followed by a collective discussion on how to honour these histories amid rising racism, Islamophobia, and hostility toward migrants and refugees.
The evening will also commemorate the Fifth Pan-African Congress, held in Manchester in 1945—a defining moment in Black internationalist history. Attendees will have the chance to explore archival records that bring the Congress to life, while creative partners Young Identity present spoken word performances responding to its enduring legacy. The event will conclude with a specially commissioned poem by Shirley May, celebrating the Congress and the resilience of Black communities.
Together, participants will reflect on the past, confront the present, and imagine a future shaped by solidarity, creativity, and joy.
Schedule:
- 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Explore Pan-African Congress archive items
- 5:00pm: Doors open, with food and conversation
- 5:30pm – 7:30pm: Main programme
